Smoking Ketchup

[captainsousie]

I never thought I would like it. I just fired up some Mclelland's Black Woods Flake (wanted to over labor day but wasn't able to) in an Edwards from a local antique store. It smelled like a particularly vinegar heavy ketchup. The smoke tastes like the tin smelled. I really like it. The sweet/sour taste and cool burning are really doing the trick. It is a real surprise favorite and I got it by accident. I asked the clerk at the tobacconist for a blend with perique and that's what he gave me.
In short, if you want a really tasty Virginia and a good place to jump into them. Try this.

 

[guitarguy86]

This sounds interesting. Kinda odd, but something I might look into, just for kicks.

 

[sparroa]

I'm glad you like it but it sounds like the clerk screwed up.
There is no perique in Blackwoods Flake to the best of my knowledge.
I haven't had it but I've read dozens of reviews regarding this blend. Hopefully those with firsthand experience can chime in about the constituent tobaccos.
I've only had 5100 and that is a great smoke, McVinegar/ketchup note aside. It is most present in the tin/jar note and it can also subtly ghost a pipe... With 1.5 years of age on it, I would recommend 5100 as a beautiful sugary sweet red VA with a nice background tanginess... If I could get it for a better price, I'd stock up - I'm going to try my hand with Blackwoods instead.
A lot of the reviews speak of "barbecue" flavours and that honestly doesn't sound too bad in my books...

 

[cortezattic]

Lots of folks like the signature McVinegar thing. Many hate it as much. I liked it at first, but it got old pretty quickly.

Usually a short DGT will dissipate the acidic taste, after which the Va.'s come through clearly.

BTW, no Perique in BWF, just red and black stoved Va.

 

[captainsousie]

I found out it didn't have perique when I got it home and started researching it. That's why it was a bit of an accident. A happy accident.

 

[sparroa]

It has countless positive reviews.
Buy a few extra tins if your budget can allow it and put them aside for a couple of years. I'm sure you will be happy with the money and time you invested...

 

[ohin3]

Been a while since I tried a ketchuppy vinegary McClelland Virginia. I remember having a love hate relationship with the stuff before I just gave up. Now, after this post, I want some again...go figure. Blackwoods Flake is a nice tobacco indeed as is Dark Star. 5100 I found, did not have a strong ketchup/vinegar element to it, but was a very nice all day Virginia.

 

[pstlpkr]

I don't like ketchup. Never have.

I don't even put it on French Fries.

Can't get past the smell.

Doesn't sound like a blend I would even try.

I love VaPers, but I don't think I could get past that Tin Note.

 

[ghost]

I assumed when I saw the thread title that this would be another anti-ketchup post. Glad to see you found a blend you like!
(I'm not pro-ketchup myself...)

 

[pipeinhand]

I've had it, smoked exactly 3 bowls and gave it away. As Ohin has some, you like or don't like this one. Me, don't.

 

[judcole]

Here we go again.

The note from McClelland is simply that of aging tobacco. I have never noticed any "catsup" taste to the blends. And Blackwoods Flake is certainly not a VaPer. it's straight Virginia.

 

[sajgre]

That smell would go away after some time and I have never felt ketchup taste while smoking McClelland virginias.

Blackwoods flake is one of my top 3 tobaccos and I smoke only virginias and Va/pers... it is THAT good imo.

 

[mrenglish]

Ages ago I smoked McClelland before giving up due to the bite, which after a discussion with Cigrmaster was the Red VAs they use. The ketchup smell does go away after a bit of air time.

 

[gwtwdbss]

I really like Blackwoods Flake. It smokes a lot better than it smells.

 

[sparroa]

Jud,
A lot of people have noticed the smell regardless of what it is.
There is a reason why everyone compares McClelland to ketchup and you seldom if ever hear it talked about with other tobaccos. There is a certain crop/process/additive they use that seems to give their products an identifiable smell. The "vinegar" antifungal rumour has been debunked from what I've heard but I'll be a monkey's uncle if those blends don't smell like ketchup to my nose...

 

[romanza10]

Blackwoods flake is a winner. And about the McClelland ketchup odor, it doesn't bother me at all. I really like it actually. If you want to try a good McClelland Va/Per, get you a tin of their St. James Woods. It's a great smoke IMHO.

 

[cigrmaster]

The smell of the ketchup does not translate into the taste. I like the taste of many MC virginia's but I cannot smoke them do to the acid burn I get from them. It is really a shame because their bulk prices are fantastic and they do produce quality blends.

 

[jah76]

Cortez what's DGT?

 

[sparroa]

I'm no Cortez but Delayed Gratification Technique is where you set the pipe down for an extended period after partially smoking the bowl and then you relight some time after... I hear of it mostly used with Virginias, but either way it changes the flavour/character of the smoke somewhat. I am not a big fan of this technique but there are plenty of people who do it.
Cigarmaster, I do not experience your problem with the acidity of the smoke but I can understand how it can happen. I agree though that the smell does not transfer to the taste, but I do find that it lingers on in the pipe. You can easily tell my 5100 cob from the rest of the rotation!

 

[ohin3]

(D)elayed (G)ratification (T)echnique. The Practice of smoking a bowl of tobacco (best results for me seem to be straight Virginias) about a third or more of the way through and then letting it go out for hours or over night before smoking again.