From: ????????????????
Subject: More stuff [PIPES]
                                                                      1-14-95
Dear Steve:

Just got through downloading and perusing the last few pipe digests.  For
some reason or other I didn't get #168, so I'd appreciate it if you could
please send that one to me at your earliest convenience.  Also - I'm sending
my A & M Gazette article on the '94 L.A. Pipe & Cigar Expo to you via a
separate e-mail.  My thanks go to Neil Murray for giving me the green light
on sharing it with you and all the good people in our group.  BTW - I highly
recommend subscribing to the Gazette.  Neil's doing a great job with it and
he deserves our support.  The subscription rate is $15/year US, and anyone
interested should write to him at 
47758 Hickory St., Apt. 22305, Wixom, Michigan 48393.  I know the Gazette's
probably in the Resource Guide, but I figured the least I could do was give
Neil a plug since he has been 
a dedicated defender of our pursuit.

In Pipes Digest #170 I noticed that Andrew Donovan-Shead discussed the
McClelland Personal Reserve tobaccos being offered by Levin Pipes
International.  Since I have gone through most of the tobaccos in their
samplers I thought I'd take him up on his invitation for someone else in the
group to offer their review.  So here's my 2-cents' worth...

PERSONAL RESERVE MATURED ORIENTAL MIXTURES

So far I've tried only 3 of the 6 tobaccos in this series, but here's what I
have found so far.

Bombay Court - Very fine English blend.  Like Mr. D-S, it reminded me of
Balkan Sobranie #759, although I found it to burn quite well.  I also did not
experience the sharpness on the tongue that he reports.

Bombay Extra - another very fine English blend made more interesting with the
addition of Perique and darkened Virginias.  I actually liked it better than
Bombay Court, but that's because my tastes these days run towards mixtures
that tend to depart from the standard-type English blend.

British Woods Mixture - I fully concur with Mr. D-S - this is an outstanding
tobacco.  The flavor is wonderfully round, with an excellent balance between
the Latakia and other Oriental tobaccos in this blend.  I also found it to be
exceptionally smooth and bite-free.  Anyone who thinks they don't like
English/Oriental mixtures should give this one a try.

Turkish Woods - Mr. D-S was less enthusuastic than I am on this one - a
wonderful blend in my opinion.  The Oriental-Virginia components come through
very nicely, with the Latakia staying in the background and adding some extra
spice and flavor to the smoke.  Although I like a good, full Latakia flavor I
also enjoy the flavors of the non-Latakia Orientals.  What I found unique and
very enjoyable in this blend was the fact that the Latakia doesn't end up
dominating the overall flavor.  For those who don't like the strength of
Latakia in standard English blends this tobacco is definitely worth taking a
chance on.  And I disagree with Mr. D-S concerning "wetness" and difficulty
of burning - I found neither to be the case.

I have also tried 1 of the 2 Oriental Signature blends - Three Oaks.  I found
this to be another 
excellent tobacco. The literature says this tobacco is reminiscent of John
Cotton's old "Smyrna" blend, which I found to be true.  And I like it for the
same reason I enjoyed "Smyrna" - it has a superb flavor which is a departure
from the usual English mixtures.

PERSONAL RESERVE MATURED VIRGINIAS

Blackwoods Flake - A very pleasant tobacco, although I found it to be a bit
bland.

Blackwoods Extra Flake - More full-flavored than Blackwoods Flake, I liked
this one very much.

Brazilian Woods - Once again Mr. D-S and I concur.  A wonderful tobacco, with
the cigar leaf adding spice and flavor without being overpowering.  In fact I
think this is much better than McClelland's other cigar leaf blend, Dominican
Glory, which is in their stock line.  I highly recommend this tobacco for
cigar smokers who want to give pipe smoking a try.

Dark Star - Another wonderful blend.  Smooth, rich flavor - a very satisfying
smoke.

Redwood Flake - Excellent straight Virginia with a very pleasant "bright"
flavor.  I found it to also be unusually smooth and bite-free.  Its natural
sweetness makes it an excellent choice for smokers of aromatics who'd like to
try something different.

St. James Woods - An outstanding blend - the perique adds depth and spice to
the Virginias.  This tobacco has a rich, smooth character which I found
compelling.  You Escudo and Elizabethan fans might want to try this one out!
 In my opinion Mr. D-S sold this 
one short.

 Virginia Woods - Yet another wonderful blend.  Very mellow, round flavor.
 O.K., so maybe the brochure goes a little overboard in its description, but
I did find it to be one of the best Virginia blends I've smoked.

PERSONAL RESERVE FRGAGRANT MATURED VIRGINIA BLENDS

Grey Havens - A very nice tobacco, and that hint of perique goes a long way.

White Downs - Another traditional straight Virginia, similar to Redwoods
flake in its "bright" flavor.  Quite a delightful, slow-burning and cool
tobacco.  Another winner!

Trollshaws - Yet again Mr. D-S and I agree.  This a very enjoyable tobacco,
with an unusual flavor which I found very appealing.  Once again, an Oriental
mixture that's a departure from standard English blends, but even more so
than Bombay Extra, British Woods and Three Oaks.  Another one for those of
you who think you don't like Oriental mixtures.

Moria Gate - Truly outstanding - this is one delicious blend!  A cool smoke
with a rich, complex flavor.  As a veteran pipe smoker I find it rare to
experience the joy of discovery that 
I used to feel when I was starting out, but my first bowl of this tobacco
gave me that feeling.

Deep Hollow - Good, but I consider it to be an aromatic.  Mr. D-S commented
that most of the tobaccos in this series seemed to have a hint of vanilla.
 Frankly, this is the only one where I detected any kind of sweet flavoring
that may have been added.

Deep Elem - Excellent.  A beautiful dark flake with a flavor to match.

Overall I was very impressed by the quality of the tobaccos represented in
the McClelland Private Label Samplers.  In 16 years of pipe smoking I've had
the opportunity to experience many different pipe tobaccos.  And, thanks to
some of my friends, I have also been able to sample vintage tobaccos from 20
and 25 years ago.  All I can say is this:  Even though the old-timers
complain that the quality of tobacco has gone downhill, I think the
McClelland Private Label tobaccos give serious challenge to that assertion.
 And I'm grateful that Kathy Levin is out there making this wonderful stuff
available to us.

In closing I just wanted to let you know that I'm now writing the article on
the EPA's secondhand smoke report for the A & M Gazette.  Mr. Murray has
kindly agreed to let me upload it to you as soon as it's done.  It will
contain a lot of good information, and I hope it'll help in fighting the good
fight.

Best Regards,

Steve J. (aka Briar Man)
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