Virginia Tobacco » McClelland Personal Reserve Dark Star Tobacco Reviews

Nasty

This is CRAP, unless you want a smoke that tastes like super strong tobacco souped in some kind of roofing tar or used motor oil.  Total disappointment from McClelland.

Sublime

Beautiful, dark, lucious flakes of very stoved Virginia tobacco. The smell of fermentation is predominant at the tin opening and a fresh tin of this is wonderful stuff indeed. Others have described the aroma as ketchupy or vinegary and I get that, but for me it smells like perfectly fermented tobacco (tobacco is botanically related to tomatoes, after all). Rubbing these flakes out, prepping the bowl and then lighting and keeping it lit are a something of a chore, however, the same might be said about the mixing of paint for the Sistine Chapel. It is very, very much worth the effort, for this tobacco, above all others, delivers a dark, almost syrupy, spicy nectar of a smoke that I seek often. Yes it will bite - yes it's a pain to keep lit - yes you must pay attention to it and nurse it along. Treat it like the beautiful and precious thing that it is and it will reward with the most righteous and worthy smoking experience tobacco can deliver. Best for me in smaller bowls, fully rubbed out and dried a bit - but experimentation will yield your best results. YES, it's worth it!