McClelland -- Blackwoods Flake

Brand: McClelland
Blend: Blackwoods Flake
Style: Virginia
Pipe Used: Savinelli Rusticated Oscar #313
Price: $7.80/2oz.

Appearance: 9
Taste: 9
Room Note: 7
Value: 9
Overall: 9

I bought a tin of McClelland's Blackwoods Flake a few months ago and was pleased to discover that it was packaged in 2005. Given the four year head start I had planned on aging it for a few more years. But last night I really wanted a nice dark Virginia and I was out of all of my usual suspects so that tin was just begging to be opened.

I cracked the tin and was immediately met by that standard McClelland aroma that's been variously described as ketchup or vinegar like. It's never bothered me and I've always felt that the smell is that of natural fermentation and is even a bit hoppy in character -- not at all unpleasant.

The flake tobacco was fairly moist and consisted of a mixture of Red and Black Stoved Virginia leaf. All of the flakes were fairly uniform in size and appearance and looked good enough to eat. I broke a few apart and then set them aside to dry for the afternoon.

By the time I was ready to load up my Savinelli Rusticated Oscar #313 the tobacco blend was in perfect smoking condition. It took a few additional charring lights to get all of the tobacco tendrils evenly flat on the top but once it got going the pipe stayed lit right to the bitter end and required no tamping or fussing of any kind. Since I was sitting outside watching the rain fall I could see the ember glowing in the bowl and it just refused to go out.

Straight Virginias are among my favorite tobaccos and while I don't typically find them to be very complex blends the best of them can offer a truly rewarding smoke. From my first taste of the Blackwoods Flake I knew that I had found smoking nirvana. Whereas light Virginias tend to be almost cloyingly sweet at times, this dark blend was much more savory yet still plenty sweet -- almost like a traditional Christmas pudding.

The combination of Red and Black Stoved tobaccos is a real winner here with the Red offering a delicate sweetness while the Black lends a taste that's faintly reminiscent of grilled steak. These two taste profiles make for a delightful smoke as first one then the other moves to the front. These flavors also remain consistent from start to finish.

The room aroma reminded me of a nice smoky BBQ and while I certainly enjoy that smell it could be a bit much in small indoor spaces. The smoky character also lingered in the air for quite a while.

Like I mentioned, the Blackwoods Flake was a well-behaved tobacco that stayed lit and burned evenly right down to the ash. As with many Virginias there was a bit of tongue bite whenever the pipe was smoked too fast but that was easily remedied by slowing down.

McClelland's Blackwoods Flake is a wonderful straight Virginia blend that offers up a very high quality smoke at a reasonable price and rewards the patient pipester with a rich, full flavor and a well-mannered smoke. This tobacco is sheer delight in the pipe and is very highly recommended.

"The Hobbit"

I was watching the 1977 Rankin & Bass animated version of "The Hobbit" on DVD last night with my kids and was floored by the sheer number of pipe references. Those hobbits sure knew how to enjoy their pipeweed!

Pinkerton -- Half & Half

Brand: Pinkerton
Blend: Half & Half
Style: Burley/Virginia
Pipe Used: Cob
Price: $2.85/1.5oz.

Appearance: 8
Taste: 7
Room Note: 8
Value: 9
Overall: 8

Half & Half is one of those classic drugstore blends that has been enjoyed for well over a hundred years. Easily dismissed due to their easy availability and low price, these codger classics are quite often worth a try and this one is no exception.

Upon opening the pouch I was hit with one of the finest pipe tobacco aromas I've ever experienced. Some have referred to it as a rum raisin type of smell but to me it seemed more like IHOP butter pecan syrup topped with a bit of lemon. It almost made me want to grab a spoon and eat the stuff!

The tobacco consisted of a medium-brown, ribbon cut blend of Burley and light Virginia and was a bit moist right out of the pouch. After leaving some to dry for a bit I loaded up one of trusty cobs and gave it a light.

The tobacco lit easily, burned evenly, and only required one relight as I neared the bottom of the bowl. The blend also refused to bite even when I found myself smoking it fairly fast. The ease of smoking is one aspect of these old classics that I've really come to admire.

The flavor profile was about what one would expect from a quality Burley/Virginia mix -- a rich nutty taste complimented by the sweetness of the light Virginias. And while the pouch aroma was evidence of the addition of some toppings, whatever was added didn't adversely impact the flavor or burn characteristics at all. There was even a faint touch of spice that I could feel as a tingle on my lips and tip of my tongue. Half & Half displayed a consistent flavor profile from beginning to end which is just fine for this type of inexpensive, everyday smoke.

The real test for me with these drugstore blends is in the aftertaste. Too much humectant or artificial flavoring can lead to an off-putting taste in the mouth long after the pipe is finished. In the case of Half & Half the aftertaste was primarily that of good tobacco but I did also detect a slightly chemical undertone that forced me to knock down the flavor score by a point.

The room aroma was that classic pipe smell that is enjoyed by most folks whether they be smokers or not and didn't have the harsh, cigarette-like edge to it that I often find with Burley blends.

Half & Half is a good pipe tobacco and if it was repackaged as a new product in a fancy tin it could easily sell for much more money. As it is, we pipe smokers should be glad that it's available for just a couple of bucks a pouch at most corner drugstores. I enjoyed it very much and it may well replace some of the other Burley/Virginia blends that I currently smoke. Score one for the codgers.