Tobacco Review: McClelland Frog Morton

Ah yes! I remember when Frog Morton first hit the market. At the time, tinned tobacco was not the market it is today and most pipe smokers enjoyed bulk blends from the local tobacco shop. The Internet was still a novelty, although I was hard at work writing the first Just For Him website. Back then you could enter "pipe tobacco" into your Netscape Gold browser and only get three results!

Of course Frog Morton gets its name from a village in Tolkien's The Lord of the Ring Trilogy. The Pipe Rack has a great write-up about this:

The name Frog Morton comes to us from the works of JRR Tolkein Frogmorton: A village in the Eastfarthing of the Shire. It stood on the East Road, between the Three-farthing Stone (fourteen miles to the west) and the Brandywine Bridge (twenty-two miles to the east). Immediately to the north of the village, the stream known as the Water broke into two, creating a wide watery region - this feature seems to have given Frogmorton its name, which means 'frog marsh'. Until the War of the Ring, the village seems to have been most notable for its inn, the Floating Log. During the brief time when Saruman took over the Shire, though, it became the home of the First Eastfarthing Troop of Shirriffs, and it was here that the returning Ring-bearers were 'arrested' on their journey back to Hobbiton.

Manufacturer's Description:

It took Frog Morton four years to perfect this unique blend which is full and yet mild. It is his proudest achievement. MSRP: $9.50 50gm tin; $14.50 100gm tin.

Review
The tobacco is mostly dark cavendish cuts with lighter brown and red ribbons and flakes. One can certainly notice the wonderful, sour latakia aromas as one opens the tin. Sometimes, I get a slight vinegar at the initial opening but not always. The tobacco takes to the flame well and is not too moist. At once one enjoys that mouth-watering response to the malty-sour latakia while the Virginias provide sweet undertones that capture the attention of the smoker throughout the entire bowl. This blend burns well to a light, fluffy grey ash in the heel of the bowl with little or no relights.

I love this blend! It is a great medium-bodied English smoke that serves best as an all-day tobacco for the experienced latakia lover; although it may be a little light for evening contemplation. This blend will also serve well for a new English smoker looking to try a latakia treat.

Rating: 4.5 Puffs out of 5

-Safari Bob