McCranie's Somerled

I like this tobacco very much. It is richer in side stream smell than McCranie's Red Virginia. There is a little of the vinegar smell mentioned in previous review but it does not persist. There is a very pleasant tangy taste which I can not characterize and the room note is just delicious.

There are several Virginias present, ranging from light to brown and red. The lighter Virginia offers some grass and tart citrus and is a tad more obvious than the mild tangy ripe dark fruity, woody, earthy red Virginia. The red Va. lacks depth for some reason. There's also a McClelland "vinegar" note that is very mild, but vanishes fairly quickly. It's semi-sweet. The strength and taste levels are mild. Very little nicotine is present. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns cool, clean and smooth with a very consistent mildly sweet flavor that translates to short lived after taste. Leaves a little moisture in the bowl, and requires a few relights. Has an pleasant room note. An all day smoke that’s rather ordinary in every way. Two and half stars.

-JimInks

I don't know which of those McCranie boys it is that keeps forcing us out of our money by whipping up old family recipes but I'm going broke! Somerled is a very mellow Virginia that I know has that McClelland's Red that is so special. The presentation is mild, semi-sweet and burns extraordinarily cool for a high sugar leaf. Thoroughly enjoyable and my palate never cried uncle when I'd smoke back back bowls.

The topping is a light vanilla, it is very subtle and compliments the virginias very well. This tobacco is like a "top shelf" lane 1Q, but even better the red virginas interplay with the sweet topping and other tobaccos to build in flavor throughout the bowl. If your tounge is sensitive to red virginias or you want a blend that smells good. I cant think of any better! I like straight virginias; bought this when I found out McClelland shut their doors and nothing else was left. I dont like many aromatics this one is not goopy and you can still taste the quality tobaccos therein.

A prolific reviewer on this site stated "rather ordinary in every way". If that were true then I want to know the other ordinary tobaccos. I am not an "all day smoker" I am not an "every day smoker" I am a one bowl a week smoker. I appreciate his/her reviews but disagree here. Perhaps easily overlooked if you aren't prepared to enjoy a mild tobacco.

This tobacco is genius. Very low in nicotine which is fine for us who don't smoke "all day". Tin note was sweet like simple sugar with just a fleeting hint of vinegar. Tobacco is soft and moist, red virginia ribbons, some bright, with some black chunkier pieces of what seems to be unflavored virginia cavendish. Packs easily using my best approximation of the Frank Method. First light did not take well as it is a little wet. After a few relights, it started to burn well. About 5 minutes into the pipe, the flavor kicked in and it smoked great. I got a decent hit of that red virginia tongue tingle but it never turned into a "bite" or "burn". This is truly a fantastic tobacco. Exactly what I was looking for. I purchased 4 of these tins hoping to stash some away for a decade. Not sure these will last that long. I smoke about 6-8 oz of tobacco a year and cherish my few pipes a month. This one left a lingering fantastic true sweet virginia taste after the initial sugar sweetness. I find this tobacco needs a decent amount of smoke to be enjoyed but is forgiving enough to handle it. While I tend to "sip" my virginias, this one was great with some hard full puffs. My wife commented that she really enjoyed the smell. This tobacco certainly has a natural cane sugar flavor mixed in, likely with the darker cavendish. If you like this sort of thing, this one is great. If you don't like some sugar, then don't try it. There is no flavoring or topping and the after taste is pure virginia goodness., with a little sugar on top. Works great for me.

Don't buy this stuff. All my favorite tobaccos have suddenly gone missing.

This is an outstanding blend that is mainly made up of McCranies (McClelland) top shelf reds. This is NOT an aromatic but what McClelland used to call a “fragrant” blend. A very light casing of lemon vanilla. Not goopy or sticky, and burns exceptionally. Just plain delicious. Highly recommended

Pipestuds review nails it for this one, a wonderful full flavored blend of mostly McClelland red Virginia. Has some kind of sweet casing that was applied sparingly because you still get plenty of the quality tobacco flavor present. 4 out of 4 stars