Latakia / English Tobacco » McClelland Frog Morton Tobacco Reviews

A Harmony Hidden in Smoke

It is easy to say Frog Morton is an easy english or a good introductory english, but to do so skirts the issue of the success of this blend. As far as Englishes go, Frog Morton is easy and good as an introductory english, because it is delicious.

To someone who has not smoked or smelled other english blends, upon opening the tin you will find a smooth, sweet tobacco smell with compositional undertones that you will want to define with some familiarity but may have difficulty pin-pointing. There is something earthy here, something woodsy, something definitively tobacco-y. Frog Morton is an easy smoke, yes, much like Penzance is an easy smoke, because it does something, if not everything right. It is a masterpiece. There is nothing overpowering in this blend, nothing to question, nothing to fight; there is only pleasure to be had here.

There are very quiet whispers of wood-incenses here, and soily, earthy aromas and flavors. There is very little overwhelming in the arena of spices here, nothing that scratches or bites at the tongue. The spices that present themselves do so in such a harmonious chorus that the unity functions as a fluid whole rather than a cachophany of flavors--the flavors that compose this harmony are of aromatic woods, slight leathers and oils, and sweet grasses, each presenting themselves at the smoker's will. Seek a specific tone or note you had found in the smoke earlier and "wait?"--"it has never left. Here it has been throughout the entire smoke!"

To one who has smoked many blends, here is a mellow, all day smoke that, though somewhat more subtle rather than demanding and overwhelming, sates the want of complexity without requiring a focused devotion to strong flavors which sometimes own the palate. This is not a heavy, beefy smoke but, rather, an arousing tousling of the hair. It has all the flavor without burdening the smoker with a sense of gluttony. However, I have to say, if you have burned or over-smoked your taste buds or have a need for a nicotine fix, then this might not be for you, but for all others, here is a perfect example of a masterful blend.

I have to say it, as far as pleasing, easy, enjoyable, complex, and honest smokes go, this one sits at the top of the heap with few others. This is one you will crave. It's no wonder other celebrated blends have been built upon the canvas of this absolutely sublime blend.

First Latakia I Enjoyed

Being fairly new to pipe smoking I have been trying many types of tobacco. A few of the english style blends were just a bit to strong for me. Frog Morton hit the spot, with what I will call a mild english blend with latakia to make it a most enjoyable smoke. It lights well and stays lit in a larger diameter bowl for me and smokes cool with no bite as long as you don't rush it. The flavor was the same from beginning to end with lots of white smoke. I have bought 8oz in bulk to keep on hand. It is great after an evening meal.

McClelland Frog Morton

Since this is somewhat of a benchmark tobacco blend, I decided to try it out. Got a 100g tin from 4noggins.com in my last order at the beginning of March 2012. Finally opened it this morning and ....
it was awesome enough to get a positive first-bowl reaction!

I opened the metal lid and was greeted by a light smell of Latakia. Thankfully there was none of the typical McClelland "ketchup" aroma which I despise. There are small yellow and black ribbons, along with some large black chunks. Perfect moisture right out of the tin for an English in my book. Loaded up a Comoy's Everyman Bulldog, got a cup of fresh black coffee and went to work on it.

With a dual flame torch lighter, it took fire very nicely. I was greeted by a creamy smoke with a grass and Latakia-laden aroma. Not pungent, but very sublime. As I progressed through the bowl, I got a lot of sweetness from the smoke, which is a first to me for an English blend. It continued to stay smokey and sweet. Around the halfway point an odd aroma of watermelon rind made its way in and the smoke became a bit spicier. The Latakia took over toward the end of the bowl and stayed there until everything turned to ashes. Speaking of, there wasn't a lot of those left behind. I smoked it a bit fast so they weren't exactly fine powder.

I must say again it was a creamy cool smoke, with lots of flavors that seem to permeate even if smoked too fast. I did a tongue torture test and this blend WILL of course bite if puffed like there is no tomorrow, but the margin is pretty wide. No nicotine kick to speak of. If I was in an English mood , it makes for a perfect smoke for that day. Definitely a breakfast staple for me now. If I were to abandon my beloved VA Flakes, Frog Morton will be at the top of the replacement list.

Mild English

This review came from a 2009 tin smoked in 2010. This blend is good a really good introductory into a mild English. I wish that were the case for me. I have been smoking English blends for several years, and I have only tried this blend this year.
It is very mild. It has enough latakia to pique interest, but not to overwhelm the person new to English blends. It has a sweetness that tones down the strength of the latakia.

This is also a blend good for people who are experienced English smokers. This is a good all day blend, or to take a break from a heavier blend.

I definitely recommend this to people who want to try their first English, or their first successful English blend.