With my latest TAD purchase from Esterval's Pipe House they were kind enough to add a sampler of Robert McConnell Black Parrot, a VaPer. Perfect, since part of the reason I had made the order was to try VaPers (2 out of the 7 tins I ordered were Samuel Gawith St. James Flake and Dunhill De Luxe Navy Rolls). I first smoked St. James Flake and it didn't really stand out. Then I smoked the Navy Rolls and I liked it better, but was still kind of bland. Then I tried the sampler. Wow. To say I was impressed is an understatement. If this is what a VaPer is then I like VaPers.
Now, the reason I'm making this thread isn't to share how delicious Black Parrot is but rather to ask exactly what's going on with the different versions of Black Parrot. If I'm not mistaken it was originally an Ashton blend, but it seems they've discontinued them (though some of the tins they've supposedly discontinued are still available at the above link).
This is where it gets confusing. Robert McConnell have got blends with the same names and tins that look exactly the same as the discontinued blends, apart from the change of manufacturer logo, and have got exactly the same descriptions. McClelland have also got a line of blends with the same names, with Ashton Revival in front of them, that have different tins and descriptions (though obviously naming the same components) that are clearly supposed to be remakes of the Ashton blends.
After seeing the Ashton tins and the McConnell tins I simply assumed they were rebranded versions of the very same blends, maybe McConnell simply took up the production and sales of the blends after Ashton discontinued them. But after looking around I could find no information about such a shift happening and instead the only thing I could find info and reviews about was McClelland's Ashton Revival versions.
Now, what exactly is going on here? Are the McConnell blends the exact same blends as the Ashton and the McClelland blends remakes trying to produce the same flavour? Are all three the same? Are all three different?
Since I could find no solid info on the net I was hoping one of you could shed some light on this mystery!
Now, the reason I'm making this thread isn't to share how delicious Black Parrot is but rather to ask exactly what's going on with the different versions of Black Parrot. If I'm not mistaken it was originally an Ashton blend, but it seems they've discontinued them (though some of the tins they've supposedly discontinued are still available at the above link).
This is where it gets confusing. Robert McConnell have got blends with the same names and tins that look exactly the same as the discontinued blends, apart from the change of manufacturer logo, and have got exactly the same descriptions. McClelland have also got a line of blends with the same names, with Ashton Revival in front of them, that have different tins and descriptions (though obviously naming the same components) that are clearly supposed to be remakes of the Ashton blends.
After seeing the Ashton tins and the McConnell tins I simply assumed they were rebranded versions of the very same blends, maybe McConnell simply took up the production and sales of the blends after Ashton discontinued them. But after looking around I could find no information about such a shift happening and instead the only thing I could find info and reviews about was McClelland's Ashton Revival versions.
Now, what exactly is going on here? Are the McConnell blends the exact same blends as the Ashton and the McClelland blends remakes trying to produce the same flavour? Are all three the same? Are all three different?
Since I could find no solid info on the net I was hoping one of you could shed some light on this mystery!
