Robert McConnell Black Parrot
(2.95)
Virginia, Carolina & pure Louisiana perique, this unique square-cut tobacco emcompasses flavor, maturity and mellow smoking.
Notes: Previously produced by Ashton, this mixture is now under the flag of R. McConnell, but the manufacturer is always Kohlhase & Kopp.
Details
| Brand | Robert McConnell |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.95 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 2015 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This Va/Per comes as a coarse ready rubbed flake of tan and dark brown color, effusing a slightly sour ketchup-like scent from a fresh tin. Since the tobacco is rather on the moist side, letting the opened can rest for a while does it some good and gets rid of the acrid smell. After that, what's left is a sweetish tin note reminiscent of dried figs or prunes and brown bread.
In order to fill my pipe I like to make small balls of tobacco, which I stuff lightly into my bowl, because Black Parrot tends to expand upon setting fire to it. It helps lighting to put some broken bits and pieces on top. After the charring light you need to level out the ashes before applying a thorough true light to get it burning evenly.
From the first puff on there's a full boddied tobacco taste. Smoked with leisure, it develops a tangy sweetness from the Virginias together with some pleasant fruity acidity from the Perique, which lasts throughout the bowl, as well as some dark chocolate kind of aftertaste. Nicotine content is fairly high. It burns down leaving only a little moisture and some dark graying ash.
The room note is dominated by a sweetish, typical pipe-tobacco-like smell.
In order to fill my pipe I like to make small balls of tobacco, which I stuff lightly into my bowl, because Black Parrot tends to expand upon setting fire to it. It helps lighting to put some broken bits and pieces on top. After the charring light you need to level out the ashes before applying a thorough true light to get it burning evenly.
From the first puff on there's a full boddied tobacco taste. Smoked with leisure, it develops a tangy sweetness from the Virginias together with some pleasant fruity acidity from the Perique, which lasts throughout the bowl, as well as some dark chocolate kind of aftertaste. Nicotine content is fairly high. It burns down leaving only a little moisture and some dark graying ash.
The room note is dominated by a sweetish, typical pipe-tobacco-like smell.
Pipe Used:
Vauen Oxford 024
PurchasedFrom:
Esterval's Pipe House
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 15, 2011 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Picked up a 100g European can at my local tobaccoist. It is a nice blend of the three tobaccos. An open can has a mild molasses or carmel smell to it. The flavor is very mild, and I simply can not distinguish any peppery undertones from the perique - not a complaint, I just prefer a strong perique. It is a good mildness, perhaps better reserved for after a long day on the trail. Be forewarned: I found this to be an extremely moist tobacco upon opening. As such, I feel a finer cut would be better, as it seems not to ash very well. Perhaps upon aging, this tobacco may leave a firmer impression upon me.
As an aside, I have been enjoying it with an oloroso (Lustau Almacenista, Lot 0259) It's mildness does complement the strong overtones of the sherry wonderfully, and helps bring out the undertones of the solera flavors.
As an aside, I have been enjoying it with an oloroso (Lustau Almacenista, Lot 0259) It's mildness does complement the strong overtones of the sherry wonderfully, and helps bring out the undertones of the solera flavors.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 06, 2006 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
EU version: I don't know why they call it square cut, since it's a broken flake similar in looks to Rattray's Brown Clunee (made by the same manufacturer, Kohlhase & Kopp). The tin aroma is delicate, fruity and sour. It packs easily and burns nicely if dried a little, with a delicate taste typical of a good Virginia with a moderate amount of Perique. It's good, but I have smoked more interesting tobaccos in this genre (including Ashton's own Old London and some McClellands), and at times it can become a bit dull and ashy. Recommended if you want a lighter approach to this classic type of blends, otherwise too delicate and undistinguished.
Update on the US version: I like it more! The taste is richer, sweter and fruitier, although undistinguishable from many McClelland offerings (after all it IS a McClelland!). If you like the Virginias from this Kansas City brand, get this Ashton if you can still find it. Tasty, not bitey, and very enjoyable. The US version deserves a "Recommended".
2022 Update: While I still have reservations about the cut (it's NOT a square cut! It's a VERY rubbed out flake, and they didn't even bother to update the tin description in so many years!), I have improved my rating on this EU version: it's delicate, but very easy to smoke, fragrant and low maintenance. Not as exciting as Old London Pebblecut, but definitely a fine smoke. But still, I remember the departed US version as much superior.
Update on the US version: I like it more! The taste is richer, sweter and fruitier, although undistinguishable from many McClelland offerings (after all it IS a McClelland!). If you like the Virginias from this Kansas City brand, get this Ashton if you can still find it. Tasty, not bitey, and very enjoyable. The US version deserves a "Recommended".
2022 Update: While I still have reservations about the cut (it's NOT a square cut! It's a VERY rubbed out flake, and they didn't even bother to update the tin description in so many years!), I have improved my rating on this EU version: it's delicate, but very easy to smoke, fragrant and low maintenance. Not as exciting as Old London Pebblecut, but definitely a fine smoke. But still, I remember the departed US version as much superior.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 20, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Read my pointless review on Ashton Old London Pebblecut. My review of Black Parrot follows that one word for word, and is equally as pointless.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 09, 2005 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
Whew! Vinegar 'n Heinz! And that should be enough said about this McClelland product. However - as most of the Ashton products - that sour smell disappears during the smoke. Black Parrot is quality VA with a good dose of the smoothest Périque I've ever had; peppery yes, but newcomers to Vapers might enjoy this anyway.
I love to smoke Vapers once in a while, but because of the vinegar aroma, I'd rather have some Elizabethan or some Escudo. If, however, you like the base of Black Parrot but would like some of this without Périque, I highly recommend Old London Pebblecut from Ashton. The similarities are quite many, but with no added Pepper.
Ok but not great either.
Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark
I love to smoke Vapers once in a while, but because of the vinegar aroma, I'd rather have some Elizabethan or some Escudo. If, however, you like the base of Black Parrot but would like some of this without Périque, I highly recommend Old London Pebblecut from Ashton. The similarities are quite many, but with no added Pepper.
Ok but not great either.
Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 30, 2004 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I typically like McClellands blends but for some reason this one did not work for me. The tin had 5 years of age on it and it was still moist in the tin but Black Parrot seemed to taste like vinegary soot with a cigarette like aftertaste. This is the only time the famed McClelland vinegar smell came through the taste. I hope it works for you.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 19, 2009 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
If you like any number of the McClelland Flakes with Perique in them this could be for you. I did not like it. Sharp and astringent.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 08, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Black Parrot is not a bad blend at all but suffers from having so much staunch competition. I originally bought this based solely on name to take to a Jimmy Buffett concert and was quite pleased. Unfortunately, once I tried other VaPers such as Dorchester, I haven't reached for this again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 08, 2003 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is a full-bodied VA/P, a full step up from its cousin St. James Woods. I fully expected to love this, but I don't. My guess is that it has the same type of red Virginia that turns me off to blends like McClelland 5100 and Virginia Woods. An unpleasant chemical reaction. For most people's body chemistry, though, I can imagine this would be a nice addition to the VA/P rotation, just a notch in strength down from Haddo's.
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