Robert McConnell Black Parrot

Black Parrot has a nice tin note, sweet with some sort of liqueur fragrance. It is cut in coarse ribbons and some pieces of broken flakes. It’s quite dark in appearance, almost black. Though rather moist it can be smoked as is without producing a particularly wet experience.

In the beginning it almost innocuous, very smooth, mellow, elegant but not much taste in it. Gradually the taste evolves but it never becomes a full flavored tobacco. Black Parrot is marketed as a Va/Per but it’s not very similar to most Va/Pers I’ve tasted. The taste is subdued, and there’s only a hint of spicyness. The overall feel is of a very smooth tobacco akin to pure Black Cavendish and it does not taste of any flavouring. It’s not bad at all, I like it, it’s just that sometimes I need something more.

I am disappointed about this mixture. Honestly I thought it was better. I haven’t still found a perfect Virginia Perique and also this mixture didn’t satisfy me. Neither very negative nor very positive it is a simply perique mixture. In my personal rating (from 0 to 10) my score is 6 and two stars.

UPDATE 2017 - 05 - 03 I tried again this Perique mixture and I changed my opinion. It is a quite good Virginia/Perique blend with a high Perique content. No great defect. At the moment, in my personal rating (from 1 to 10), my score is 8 and three stars.

Presentation in a 100 g. tin, vanilla-colored, it evokes the world of piracy with the mix name and illustration on the outside. When opened it suggests the aromas of fermented fruit and some vinegar, although this is not as penetrating as I expected after reading some reviews from other users. Either way the smell is very rich. The tobacco cut in broken flake is attractive to the eye and to the hand, with a predominance of reddish and dark colors, with a spongy touch. All the aspects described invite you to load the pipe immediately. Although it comes slightly damp, it can be smoked directly without drying, without producing a particularly wet experience. At the beginning of the smoke it is very smooth and elegant with a quite creamy smoke, almost velvety, but without much flavor. The perique is a discreet guest. Towards the middle of the bowl and as by accumulation, the flavor increases slightly, as long as it is not smoked hastily. The smell of the room is pleasant during the smoke and leaves a marked and lasting aftertaste.

There is no doubt that this mix has its uniqueness, much like a black parrot. I have my doubts as to whether we will finally accept him as a pet at home since there are days when he "talks" a little, but too many times he remains quite mute. I will continue working with him, to see if I can get him to release more words ...

2021/01/02: I have seen myself going to this mixture with some frequency, but when it seemed more tasty, suddenly in the next smoke the amount of flavor decreased again. It is for this irregularity that I am going to keep the three stars. Let's say 3.4 rounded to 3.

The tin appearance is very tempting and prepares you for a unique smoking experience.once the tin opens a natural vinegar and sweet fruits smell comes out.the broken flakes are mostly dark with lots of red and bright virginias.the blend moisture is perfect and i prefer some further rubbing for easier packing and lighting with fewer relights.while smoking you instantly realize that the perique content is higher than the typical va/per.perique leads the taste offering lots of vinegar notes,plums,dried figs and spices.bright virginias are sweet, grassy with some citrusy notes.red virginias add some dark fruit notes.generally the flavours combine very well and natural to an almost full taste smoking experience.burns at medium speed and cool to perfect ash with some moisture left at the filter.nicotine level is medium with a nice aftertaste.tongue bite does not exist and the room note is tolerable.it can be an all day smoke.in conclusion this is a very nice blend but i would like the perique content a liitle less for a smoother taste.

European version, K&K 100 gr.

Can smell: pepper, spices, vinegar and fermented fruits, quite classic smell for a VaPer. Then the smoke... The blend seems too fresh with some roughness on the edges, a bit astringent and tannic but not really “green” just a bit underripe, some aging is recommended. Despite the freshness BP is far to be unpleasant: an interesting VaPer with rich flavors uplifted by the proverbial briskness of the Perique, BP is a bit on the strong/full side for my preferences …. but good! For the matter, it also leaves a quite clean aftertaste which surprise me pleasantly and if you (unlike me) are fond for DGT it works very well.

Very nice any time smoke;most people Prefer"I"smoke it Outdoors. Definitely Diffrent,i find this almost like McCl's Oriental#14 with Perique(tinned+prepared for Ashton by McCld's) Nice change of Scenery for those of YOU Tired of driving in CITY.....Give it a try! :+)

Original review 03/08/2009:

I'm reviewing the 100grms can european version made by K&K.

It's a broken flake, mostly medium brown with brighter and darker flecks. The can smells grass & sour, nothing overpowering. Moisture is high, the can stayed opened a month or more and the weed is still very "gummy" under my finger. I loaded my leather bag with 25grms or so; normally the tobacco gets dry in a week, but not this one...

I had a dozen of pipeful till today, and first I would say that the rest will stay in the can for a longer time, since I notice it's too "fresh" and needs aging. The smoke is kinda neutral, bit peppery and astringent. It doesn't develop well any strength and body and stays quite monocromatic... the first half bowl being more enjoyable, the last rather dull. Needs very slow and short sipping to bring any flavour out. Again: sure it's a matter of aging.

Edit 07/18/2009:

yes, it truly was a matter of aging.

After four months the second half of the can has actually improved, both in strength and body, which is not weak anymore. The vinegarish note of the Perique is very intriguing and ... appetizing.

I will buy more tins for my cabinet, that's sure.

I will update this further.

Black Parrot is a good solid harmonious mixture of Virginia, Carolina and Perique. When the tin is first opened, you are met with a familiar tangy, vinegary, tin-can aroma. The square cut, broken flake is dark, with flecks of black and brown. The Perique component does not overwhelm the mixture, but remains as a good team player in the blend.

If I were to pair this with a good single malt Scotch, it would probably be the Highland Park or the Talisker, something that can match the full taste of the smoke.

Of the twenty-one reviews to date, including mine, eighteen (86%) are about evenly split between granting Black Parrot a 4-star, 3-star, or a 2-star rating. Only three reviewers give it a 1-star rating. Of those three, two complain that there is too much Perique and one complains that there isn't enough. I guess you can't make 'em all happy.

Overall rating from 21 reviewers to date = 2.76 stars.

I'm down to my last bowl of this enjoyable blend. Having fallen in love with another Ashton blend, (read; McClelland), Pebblecut, I had high expectations for Black Parrot.

Tin Aroma: McClellands signature.

Visual: A mottled broken flake, (Square cut?), consisting of mahogany brown base with streaks of lighter brown, blond and almost black.

Texture: I think most McClelland flakes ship just a tad on the moist side, and that's just fine with me. Nice thick chunks of broken flake, with not to much "dust".

Pack/Pipe: Smoked this fully rubbed out, and gravity fed into the bowl with plenty of tapping to settle tobacco. Topped of after tamping down once, and ready to light. Although I prefer smaller pipes, and especially when smoking flake tobacco, this particular blend seemed to perform best in taller stacks, so I usually smoked this in a pair of Nording freehands, a Von Erck classic, and numerous Ashton xx & xxx pots.

Lighting/Burn: With the exception of Escudo, this is the best burning flake I have ever smoked. The rule was one long charring match, one quick relight after tamping the char down, and then smoke to bottom of bowl with just one more match at the very end to finish off a few remaining bits. And this was in my larger bowls!

1st 3rd: A little dull and ashy on first light, but it quickly settles down into a tangy bright flavor with an immediate background taste of stewed fruit. (Tastes very close to Escudo, but this has a lot more tang.) Produces plenty of white smoke.

2nd 3rd: Very consistent flavor. Still bright and tangy with just a little bit more stewed fruit. No ash or heat at all.

Final 3rd: This portion begins just like the previous. Tang and stewed fruit. At the very end, it gets ashy and loses most of the flavor, but I carry on to cure the bowl properly. Leaves a grainy gray ash with very little charred tobacco.

Notes: A very good blend, and super consistent. Really shines after it has been open for about 2 weeks. This blend does not unseat Ashton Pebblecut from first place though.

Stogie rating of: 8 Pristine Punch