Frog Morton Cellar - Damn You to H#*L

[mordy18]

So shortly after the start of my pipe smoking journey (roughly 1.5 years ago) I bought a 100g tin of Frog Morton Cellar for an exorbitant amount. Wanted to see what the fuss was about.

I've been smoking it very occasionally over the past year or so and have about half a tin left. Having tried a wide variety of other English blends -- many of them very good -- is that, wow, I really like the FMC. It isn't the taste as much as the mouth feel, "smokability" (if that's a thing) and richness of the tobacco. I just don't seem to get that from a lot of other blends.

So, without turning this into another FMC replacement thread, what other tobacco lines, in your opinion, produce the same or near same quality tobacco in terms of richness, mouth feel etc. not necessarily duplicating the taste.

Not sure if I will pick up another $100ish tin of FMC. On a per smoke basis, compared to cigars, it isn't that ridiculous. Even at 100 for 100g that's what, $3 or $4 a bowl -- still the price of a cheap cigar. But compared to other quality brands, is it really worth 9-10x as much?

Thanks.

 

[Sonorisis]

I thought for a while that some of the SPC blends came close to the "feel" of FMC. Like you, I feel FMC is pretty special. HOTW from Rattrays starts getting interesting with age. And, the Gawith "English" blends have a very different flavor profile from FMC, but are at the same quality level in terms of blending and manufacturing. You might like some of those. But, none of them has the Virginia that is in FMC.

 

[mso489]

Someone might find a blend that tastes to them like their memory of Frog Morton Cellar, but I doubt that would be a generally shared opinion. It makes more sense to simply look for other blends you enjoy a lot, either starting with those that share some of the same constituent tobaccos and flavoring, or just freelance the whole spectrum of blends. The McClellands were a one-time phenomenon. It's like asking for someone who paints a lot like DiVinci. A Forums member sent me a 100 g tin of FMC while it was still in production (and thank you again very much) and that was some of the best smoking ever. I've moved on. Searching for its twin feels like a fool's errand to me.

 

[mordy18]

Not looking for a twin. Just wondering where to focus for similar quality. Maybe that's just too broad a question as there a lot of other quality lines.

I have a few tins of SG squadron leader -- had one bowl and like it quite a bit. Maybe I'll focus on squirreling away a few choice blends and letting them age.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I have not had the pleasure of trying it.. The way you guys talk, I must have really missed out.

 

[mso489]

The McClelland blenders and owners, a couple, were demanding and discerning in sourcing their tobaccos and would not compromise, and the proportions were done and maintained with unending energy. So the blends brought up the best in all of the several constituent tobaccos in each blend. It was done with an extremely high level of intense interest and supervision. It was a profession but equally a labor of love. I still have a few unopened tins of McClelland, but no more FM, which I will enjoy with proper awareness and attention. However, this is a golden age of blending, and it seems it won't last, so enjoy the abundance of what is readily available, which is plenty.

 

[litup]

I like Sonorisis's recommendation to try an SPC blend. I'd recommend Plum Pudding as a good place to start. It's a rich, smoky blend, and has a nice mouth feel in my opinion.

 

[Mr.Mike]

I've never had frog Morton celler, but I do give two thumbs up for sunset harbor flake for creamy mouthfeel, and voluptuous plumes of smoke (yes I said that). It's a CD blend that I rarely see mentioned, though I can't grasp why.

 

[jeff540]

I smoked 80% McClelland for 20 years until their closing, but the other blenders I did appreciate at the time included Rattray's (Accountants Mixture, HOTW, Professional Mixture) and Sam Gawith (FVF, Brown, Balkan Flake). Although I must admit that I don't think Rattray's today is quite the same it was 10-15 years ago.

 

[lightmybriar]

Honestly, and this will probably do you no good, as this blend is equally as pricey on the second-hand market, but Penzance has the same fullness and richness as FMC to me. That’s the main thing I love about it.

The original run of Mississippi River also came close to my tastes, but I believe I have read that Mississippi River is made by another source now? I haven’t verified that as I haven’t had any since the original release, but more current pictures of the cakes do look different than they used to. Maybe someone else can verify?

 

[mordy18]

Thanks a lot for the recommendations. I have a tin (almost gone) of Plum Pudding and an unopened tin of PP Special Reserve, and a jarred tin of Esoterica Pembroke. And I agree that PP and Pembroke (haven't been able to locate Penzance) are quite good and also have a great richness to them. Problem with PP is that it really doesn't not burn easily and seems quite finnicky.

I am actually finding this quite helpful. I put a hold on my tobacco purchases as I already have enough to last years maybe forever at my rate of smoking (roughly 40 tins total, roughly 80 oz/5 lbs). But I will continue to judiciously purchase potentially "special" blends in light of the quite possible coming sea change in tobacco availability.

Will look into Rattrays and sunset harbor flake.

 

[sablebrush52]

SPC, Rattray's, HU, SG, Germain's. You're looking for a quality blender who has access to, and uses top quality tobaccos.

 

[danimalia]

I would check out the new Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel Aged. I haven't had it yet, but it seems obvious they're going straight after the FMC consumer.

It's funny. FMC was one of the first tins I ever bought and I loved it. Then I grew out of it, thinking it was too boozy. But finishing an old tin the past few months, I'm struck by how nice that combination of Latakia, stoved VAs and whiskey is.

 

[wolflarsen]

I bet you would like Our Best Blend from Smokers' Haven. Probably Exotique too.

Try mixing 50/50 Plum Pudding and Bothy Flake for that Lat/Va with whiskey thing. It's phenomenal in my opinion. I think I might actually like that one more than Frog Cellar itself.

 

[mordy18]

Sigh .. I put in an order for 2 tins of SPC PP Bourbon Barrel (2 tins), 2 tins of C&D Sunset Harbor Flake (seems to get great reviews), a tin of C&D Maltese Falcon, and a tin of Macbaren HH Old Dark Fired.

Can't find Germains or HU anywhere -- I may put in an HU order through estervals at some point.

This really needs to stop.

 

[docrameous]

SG, Germain's.

SG and Germain‘s are becoming a focal point of exploration for me.

 

[docrameous]

The McClelland blenders and owners, a couple, were demanding and discerning in sourcing their tobaccos and would not compromise, and the proportions were done and maintained with unending energy.

It is a shame they ceased production. As a new pipe smoker I have heard over and over how amazing and legendary Frog Morton was. Alas, I was too late to the party! ☹

 

[smokiespipesmoker123]

Supposedly Shepherds Pie from the Country Squire is a good substitute, I will say its good, Ive never had FM so I cant make a comparison

 

[Enemygod]

I would like to recommend Captain Earle's Ten Russians. While the taste itself is very different than FMC, it does have the richness and mouthfeel you are after.

 

[mordy18]

I would like to recommend Captain Earle's Ten Russians. While the taste itself is very different than FMC, it does have the richness and mouthfeel you are after.

I may have to buy that on the basis of the name alone.