Kentucky Club Mixture review

Five choice Imported and domestic tobaccos – Turkish, Perique, White Burley, Carolina and Virginia Brights. Slowly – aged pipe mixture. Cool burning, very mild and refreshing, pleasing aromatic. Women love the aroma.

I have been absorbed lately in all that is burley and Prince Albert has been a mainstay as I have mowed through (2) 14oz tubs since mid November.

I have been very happy with what some would call OTC Codger burleys and I wanted to try something new. The local B&M had various tubs of the old school OTC tobacco and once I picked up a tub of Kentucky Club Mixture and read the tobacco’s that made up this perennial mixture, I must say I was intrigued.

I double checked the reviews on www.tobaccoreviews.com and due to the favorable reviews, I added a tub to my collection.

I opened the tub and the note was quite fresh and pleasant with an almost rum overtone. The tobacco was a combination or cube, ribbon and shag cuts mixed nicely into a not too moist blend.

I loaded a bowl into a handmade cherrywood bent dublin and applied flame. It lit quite easily and the first impression was that it was a cool smoke, great room note, stayed lit (I didn’t have to relight once the whole bowl!) and it created a fine whitish gray ash at the bottom of the bowl with very little dottle and no goopy residue as I expected as it is listed as an aromatic.

This tobacco is blended so well together that none of the tobaccos take center stage, rather a very nice ‘mixture’ that leaves the slightest perique sting in your mouth.

A very nice smoke that will give me a nice option should Prince Albert or Rum and Maple ever need a break.

McClelland #22

I belong to an awesome pipe smoking ecommunity www.my-pipes.com and they began a Tobacco of the Month Club.

We started in February and the first in the lineup is McClelland Virginia #22.

McClelland Virginia #22 A balanced of Eastern and Middlebelt Virginias aged in cakes to develop their natural sweetness. A zesty tobacco with rich undertones, coarse enough to smoke on windy days outdoors, but easily rubbed-out to suit any occasion.

I just recently received my TOTM 12 month supply and cracked open the #22.  Judging on the markings on the back of the tin, it is a 4 year old blend.  The signature ketchup note was there, not as strong as I expected based on other folks notes, but there nonetheless.  As a joke, I called my 10 year old son over and said “take a whiff, what does this smell like?”.  He plunged his nugget into the tin, screwed up his face and said “YUCK!! It smells like 7 year old ketchup!!”.  Not bad, he was only 3 years off )

I used a new cob pipe soas to eliminate ghosting and put to flame.  It lit relatively easily and stayed lit throughout most of the smoke.  The tobacco gave off a zesty taste that I quite enjoyed.  A good VA flavor. 

Is it the best I’ve had? No. It was, however, a pleasant smoke that I will enjoy until the tin is gone.  This will not be a predominant blend in my lineup, but I may keep a tin around for a change of pace.

I’m so dang excited to have (12) tins waiting for me!

What a great idea and thanks to Rick Piatt of MPC for the idea.  Something to look forward to and enjoy the input from all.

Stay tuned for further reviews.