McClelland English/Ori/Scottish

[HeadMisfit]

And the saddest part of all, unless you actually HAVE a tin on hand this is just a sad experience. Mainly because I never cared for mcclallend blends back when they were around. And it would be fun to try one now.

 

[Mury]

And the saddest part of all, unless you actually HAVE a tin on hand this is just a sad experience. Mainly because I never cared for mcclallend blends back when they were around. And it would be fun to try one now.

Curious why you didn’t care for them back then? Is that still the case?

 

[Waning Embers]

Curious why you didn’t care for them back then? Is that still the case?

Many didn't they were widely ridiculed for smelling and tasting like ketchup. The near universal acclaim started in February 2018 when they closed the business.

 

[Mury]

Many didn't they were widely ridiculed for smelling and tasting like ketchup. The near universal acclaim started in February 2018 when they closed the business.

I see. I wish I was around before they closed their doors. I got into pipes in 2019.

 

[Waning Embers]

I see. I wish I was around before they closed their doors. I got into pipes in 2019.

A big example is Christmas Cheer. It was always released in the summer and was still available to be scooped up in February during the IPSD sales for cheap. I was and still am a fan of their products but would never pay more than retail for them.

 

[lraisch]

The McClelland "Ketchup" scent was certainly there in the tin note, but I never found it interfered with my enjoyment when smoking. In my experience it was also more prevalent in the Virginia blends. As for Frog Morton, I found them heavy in the Latakia content. Very smooth, but monochromatic.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

I heard the opposite for FM. That they have a whisper of lat?! Do we know the proportions by any chance?

LOL I don't know about percentages but latakia is definitely the lead flavor you taste in Frog Morton. Whoever told you its a whisper must be hard of hearing

- - -

And the saddest part of all, unless you actually HAVE a tin on hand this is just a sad experience. Mainly because I never cared for mcclallend blends back when they were around. And it would be fun to try one now.

Funny how McClellands popularity sky rocketed when they closed up shop... When they were still around I'd say the reception was 50/50, now suddenly everyone loves them some ketchup.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Curious why you didn’t care for them back then? Is that still the case?

Latakia was the main flavor. Ketchup was second main flavor.

And I only had loaner samples to try in the day. When the owner of the tobacco shop i went to knifed one open by accident taking old price stickers off
And I can get the ketchup smoking please products with red virginia

 

[Mury]

LOL I don't know about percentages but latakia is definitely the lead flavor you taste in Frog Morton. Whoever told you its a whisper must be hard of hearing

- - -



Funny how McClellands popularity sky rocketed when they closed up shop... When they were still around I'd say the reception was 50/50, now suddenly everyone loves them some ketchup.

That’s an interesting take! I haven’t heard people call Frogs a lat bomb before. Does anyone know for certain the proportions? If you compare a tin of frog to say C&D Pirate Cake which uses 75% latakia, you’ll notice a huge difference.

Although I started my pipe journey in 2019, everyone I’ve talked to have said they really miss McC days. But also, more importantly they wouldn’t have cellared as much as they did and when they hit the market now, sell out immediately with the prices they do.

 

[mortonbriar]

But also, more importantly they wouldn’t have cellared as much as they did and when they hit the market now, sell out immediately with the prices they do.

Can you adjust this sentence at all? I cannot understand your meaning.

 

[Mury]

Can you adjust this sentence at all? I cannot understand your meaning.

Lots of folks have cellared quite a bit of McClelland when they were around.

When McC hits the market now, it sells even at premium prices.

 

[mortonbriar]

I don't use the term 'lat bomb' personally, but I would consider frog morton a latakia heavy blend. It is probably the heaviest latakia content I enjoy, and I think what makes it work for me is the overall sweetness of the blend.

If you were to focus solely on tobacco that is produced right now you might find that amongst the thousands of available blends there are quite a few you enjoy enough to stock up on while they are at the current price...because tomorrow the price goes up, the following day local tariffs/taxes/bans get steeper and stricter and then next week the blend is discontinued!

 

[Mury]

I don't use the term 'lat bomb' personally, but I would consider frog morton a latakia heavy blend. It is probably the heaviest latakia content I enjoy, and I think what makes it work for me is the overall sweetness of the blend.

If you were to focus solely on tobacco that is produced right now you might find that amongst the thousands of available blends there are quite a few you enjoy enough to stock up on while they are at the current price...because tomorrow the price goes up, the following day local tariffs/taxes/bans get steeper and stricter and then next week the blend is discontinued!

I am super curious at this what the % breakdown of each leaf component is. I’ve had a few folks tell me Frogs have 10% or less Latakia.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

That’s an interesting take! I haven’t heard people call Frogs a lat bomb before. Does anyone know for certain the proportions? If you compare a tin of frog to say C&D Pirate Cake which uses 75% latakia, you’ll notice a huge difference.

Although I started my pipe journey in 2019, everyone I’ve talked to have said they really miss McC days. But also, more importantly they wouldn’t have cellared as much as they did and when they hit the market now, sell out immediately with the prices they do.

What flavors do you taste when you smoke Frog Morton? I haven't had Pirate Cake in a long time, but having smoked SG Balkan Flake and Frog Morton recently, I feel like those two have very similar Latakia %s and aside from the distinct casing on Frog Morton the two tastes very similar.

 

[Oddball]

I've only had FMCellar but it's as you describe with a hit of booze/topped tobak aroma.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I mean obviously there's the Frog Morton series. FM is more of a Lat Bomb but the other variants are all more balanced English/Balkan blends. Frog on the Bayou/Across the Pond being my two favorites.

Bombay Court has already been cosigned a couple of times I see but I'll add another +1 here.

The Oriental series are also all worth a try, subtle differences in leaves and presentation makes them all taste quite different. It'll be hard to make any real recommendations without knowing your taste.

Personally aside from all the ones I've already mentioned, bulk #2020 Mature Cake is a fantastic oriental/balkan too.

Definitely agree with you on 2020! ️

 

[OzPiper]

I am super curious at this what the % breakdown of each leaf component is. I’ve had a few folks tell me Frogs have 10% or less Latakia.

Don’t be hung up over %s of components

Syrian Latakia has a different profile to Cyprian and Turkish Latakias

Differences in growing seasons and processing are factors.
And different growers and processors.
As is the storage and age of the leaf when used

The other components of the blend will have a significant impact on the overall taste profile and balance

Not as simple as 1 + 1 = 2

 

[krizzose]

Classic Samsun is a favorite of mine

 

[jpberg]

Did somebody call Frog Morton a lat bomb? Did I hear that right?

 

[mingc]

I always thought of the Frogs as Latakia blends for people who don't like Latakia. OK, that's a joke. Nonetheless, they're simply not Latakia heavies like British Woods or Full Balkan Reserve, to name some other McC Latakia blends. It's a scale thing.