McClelland Red and Black

Original review ( read revised also)

I never experimented with different blending proportions of the flakes in the R&B . I just rubbed out the entire tin.

I found the resulting tobacco to smoke like a 60/40 blend of McC's Beacon Extra and Dark Star ( both 4 star blends in my book). Yes , I do taste a touch of Perique ( Beacon Extra) but the combination of these two fine blends presented a problem with burn rates for me. I've always felt that the Dark Star had to be smoked at a smolder, or it turned bitter, where as the BE I smoke at a more aggressive cadence , bringing out the perique and high notes. I could never get this right as I smoked the R&B. The blend was either bitter or hot with only brief moments of greatness.

On another point , the R&B was noticeably hard to rub out ( think “ Dark Star”) and was way to moist to smoke. When I returned the tobacco to its tin , I noticed that the R&B only half filled the tin. Coincidentally, I was also rubbing out a new tin of a GLP blend, this filled its tin. Hmmm, half the smokes for the money , Is McC taking lessons from Samuel Gawith ?

Revised 2016-03-16- After about 7 weeks of breathing, drying and rubbing this blend has gotten very special, tasty, tangy and sweet. Nothing but good and the Perique note is gone. YOU HAVE TO RUB THIS OUT AND LET IT DRY. Also, reviewer "Sasquatch" nailed the taste with MacBarens Dark Twist. I always liked the taste of dark twist, with it's spice, but it ALWAYS bit like a dog. This blend, Red & Black, is spicy yet smooth.

McClelland virginias are the best. Its hard not to give four stars to their straight virginia flakes. Blackwoods Flake, 1776, Dark Star, and then those with Perique like Bayou Slices and Beacon Extra, or with oriental like Pebblecut. And they make the Butera line that includes the exceptional Golden Cake. They are the masters of virginia flake tobacco and this is a perfect example. The tin has black stoved virginia and stoved lighter virginia...I take it to be Red, or mostly Red virginia. (hence the name). In any case it is just a wonderful old school virginia flake treat. Slow and cool, delicious and complex. The nic hit is below medium, but above mild.

The first time I popped a tin I was met with the typical mouthwatering Mcclelland aroma. The red virginia flakes and stoved virginia flakes are 50/50 as promised. I try to rub out the same ratio for every bowl. Having smoked most of Mike Mcniels offerings I thought I knew what to expect... I was pleasantly surprised however. Both flakes exhibit lovely flavors by themselves of course, but combining themy in a bowl is a treat. Having smoked several tins I feel I've come to know the blend well. In my opinion the red Virgina flakes here serve the purpose of a canvas for the stoved flakes to spread out on. The stoved flakes carry a subtle, unique taste character unlike DarkStar or other similar looking stoved flakes from Mcclelland. It's a savory, semi-sweet flavor that entices you to puff vigorously.

All in all its one of my favorite blends. A good idea, executed perfectly.

I saw this as a new arrival at my local B&M and picked up a tin. They said the tins were flying off the shelf and I can see why. This is one of the finest blends that McClelland has put out. The components used are obviously high quality. Like a lot of the other reviewers here I mixed things up with smoking the flakes separately and together. Pipestud hit the nail on the head with his review, so I will simply say I am of the same opinion. What a great idea that McClelland has come up with here. The only thing for me was that the nicotine was a bit low for me or perhaps I was just wanting another bowl straight away, since its that good. Very much indeed recommended.

Although it will have been said here many times, it does not hurt to inform those who are unfamiliar with this tobacco, which is made up of flakes of two different types of virginias, red and stoved, something that would not be remarkable if it were not for the fact that these virginias come separated in their tin, in such a way that they can be smoked singly or mixed. This suggests to me that perhaps three revisions should be made, but hey, you don't have to go too far, among other reasons because pipestud has already done it...

In any case, any of the options you choose to load your pipe will be a success, with the proportion you want to put in each one, since virginias are very rich and of high quality.

One of McClelland's best virginias

Happy New Year to all you pipe smokers out there! (to those who change the year)

Absolutely one of my favourites, needs some dry maybe 2-3 hours, I've tried rubbing it out and cubing it both work great but I prefer cube cutting it, burns slow ether way but I think it's a little more flavourful cube cut.

Very sweet and tangy pretty consistent flavour thoughout the bowl, it almost melds mid way though and has a sweetened cranberry flavour.