Tobaccos McClelland - Avenue Blend TQ

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3023)	2015-09-02		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

The burley is mildly nutty sweet, and slightly earthy. The Virginia is mostly citrus and grass. The black cavendish is mildly vanilla-ish. The tobaccos are fairly muted by the sweet, smooth and creamy vanilla, which I notice a little more than the cocoa. Can't say I really notice the coconut much, but I suppose that’s the minor flavor hit I occasionally get, and can’t quite define as coconut. Has a mild nic-hit. Burns at a moderate pace with no harshness, but the topping weakens just a tad near the finish and you’ll get the tobacco taste just a little more, especially the burley and grass from the Virginia. Leaves a little moisture in the bowl, but no dottle. Needs a few relights. Won’t bite unless you puff very fast. Has a very pleasant after taste and room note. Can be an all day smoke.

-JimInks

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-12-08		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I have run several bowls through different pipes to find that TQ runs consistent from bowl to bowl and pipe to pipe. While some claim this is an equal to Lane's 1-Q, I find enough difference between 1-Q and TQ to have both at the ready. I find the taste to present a complex array from start to finish. The start will present a pleasing tobacco with hints of vanilla, as the progress of the bowl reaches the mid-point the full flavor of the tobacco starts. When the end is near you again find the vanilla with a stronger tobacco taste. The room is very nice (the wife really enjoys the aroma) and other have noted the pleasant note as well.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darby (15)	2014-04-02		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

McCelland Bulk TQ - Top Quality Gold & Toasted (aka "Avenue Blend TQ")

I was very surprised and pleased with my first brush with McClelland TQ. It's a medium strength moderately aromatic blend of virginia and burley-based cavendish, with a moderately sweet creamy finish. It packs well, burns fairly cool, and is very easy to work with. The burley based cavendish imparts a nice body and a pleasing nuttiness (toasted pecan in this instance). The aromatics are used with restraint, and combined with the innate flavors of the tobaccos present evoke (for me) the nuances of Baileys Irish Cream. For those unfamiliar with Baileys, the signature flavors are smooth Irish whiskey, emulsified with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, instant coffee, and a trace of almond and vanilla extract {as a former bartender I reverse engineered it long ago, so I could make my own}.

Bottom line: This is a mellow, nutty, lightly sweet, and mildly aromatic blend, available in bulk. A friendly everyday smoke, at a good price. Recommended (3 of 4 stars).

Beverage Pairings: Beer - U.K. Mild Brown (ex: Newcastle Brown Ale), Wine - Amontillado, Oloroso or Cream Sherry, Whiskey - Jameson 12yr or Redbreast 12yr, Liqueur - Baileys Irish Cream, Coffee w/Cream & Sugar.

Pipe Used: Dr Grabow Freehand Briar (Group 4)

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: (sample from friend)

Similar Blends: Lane 1Q.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2009-06-28		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

This McClelland's offering goes by a variety of names at different pipe shops that takes McClelland's bulk blends. It was called Bantam Vanilla at a shop down here in Texas.

I loved the smell in the glass jar and asked for an ounce. I loaded it up in a pipe reserved for aromatics and had a delightful smoke while driving down the highway (wife and kid in the car - it made the drive more enjoyable for them, too!)

The vanilla was creamy and the blend smoked mostly dry for an aromatic - typical quality stuff from McClelland's.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smoke_Ring (158)	2013-05-02		Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

McCelland Bulk No. TQ - Top Quality Gold & Toasted

Star Rating = 4

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst

Pouch Note = 9

Room Note = 9

Flavor = 9

Bite = 9

Burn = 9

After Taste = 9

Raw Score = 54

Rated Percentage = 90%

Comment = Very Smooth, Very Mild, Mellow with a good light Flavor, you will detect the coconut finish but this blend is not as sweet as Lane limited 1-Q. Depending on your sweetness threshold you make like this blend better than Lane Limited 1-Q

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The good Rev. Rizzo (36)	2013-02-19		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

I smoke this on a daily basis. This is my go to guy. I find it most enjoyable in a deep wide bowl pipe. It does very well in an old GBD straight billiard. I also enjoy it in a number of straight stem Peterson bulldogs. The flavor is consistent, mild and sweet. As previously commented I agree it could be stronger. Simply because I just plain dam like the stuff. The room note is nice enough that people in a non smoking bar enjoyed it as the door kept opening while I was on the back porch enjoying some after a stout. True story!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-04-03		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I'm still new to the world of pipe smoking, but I must say, this is the best smoke I've had to date. I seem to get a hint of carmel in it.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	On Dutie (4)	2017-11-25		Mild	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I believe this blend is much better than Lane 1Q. Once I received the blend, I let it sit out to dry a bit since it was too moist for my liking. The dominant vanilla flavor is not over the top but very present with lots of complexity. I get a slight nutty,buttery,caramel notes all the way thru the bowl. Plus a very pleasant room note. Once my 1Q stock is gone, I will restock with Avenue TQ.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: none

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	FreePancakesForAll (10)	2017-05-18		Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

A big sack of cavendish tobaccos made from golden virginias and black burleys. A chestnut and black colored mixture. Some ribbon, some chunks. Looks beautiful.

The tin notes out of a fresh bag are a bit overpowering but are great. Like a baker's oven: warm vanilla and cocoa.

The first puffs certainly bring flavors of a creamy vanilla and chocolate/cocoa with the vanilla being slightly more dominant for me. The base components do indeed make it a very similar blend to Lane 1Q. Very. Except there's a bit less of a sweetness from the vanilla, making it a bit more harmonious in the bowl. The other thing that really separates this from 1Q is the "other" flavor I pick up. This features a flavor I'd describe more as a floral tonquin. A nutty, leathery, wood paneled, faint vanilla essence.

Overall, this is a fantastic aromatic. It's my go-to when people complain about aromatics being goopy and tasteless. It burns down to a white ash, little-to-no dottle, and requires few relights.

Age When Smoked: 1 month

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: If you love Lane 1Q then you would definitely enjoy this. A tobacco in the same family but with a touch more complexity, maturity, and class..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bassrep (25)	2014-11-15		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I am new to pipe smoking and have been a casual cigar smoker for decades. I just have so much else in my life to soak up the excess OCD that I have been able to keep this in check. Even having tried dozens and dozens of styles and brands of cigars, I still prefer them Mild-Medium. Any who... I see folks saying that this is "comparable" or "same as" Lane 1Q. I have to disagree, Strongly! While I cut my teeth on 1Q, I find the flavors in Ave Blend TQ to be far richer. Also, "too mild" wouldn't be in my description. For me "wonderfully mild but rich in flavors" would. The aroma from the pouch is sweet, caramel, chocolate, vanilla and a tiny bit of coconut. So many times (OK, I have already purchased and tried dozens and dozens of pipe tobaccos in the last year) what you smell in the pouch totally does NOT compute once you light it up. Not so with TQ. The rich flavors come through in the smoke and in the room. I really like this tobacco a LOT. Easy lighting (2 false lights and it was burning perfectly with no further attention) and (I'll wager that you've read this 100 times in these pages) "no tongue bite" (which is complete B.S. I think a lot of these reviewers, with all due respect, could smoke ground up railroad ties and still come up with "no tongue bite"). Truly a great tobacco for noobs but I can see this being one of my favorites for a long time to come!

Pipe Used: Poor Man's Briar aka Brog

Age When Smoked: Fresh bulk

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: Kinda like but NOT exactly, you will find some of the flavors, Lane 1Q and Scotty's Butternut Burley..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kunsan (76)	2014-11-14		Very Mild	Medium	Mild	Pleasant

This McClelland TQ is billed as being similar or an alternative to Lane's 1Q. 1Q is the biggest selling pipe tobacco in the USA so presumably McClelland wanted to get a slice of that market.

Ignoring the 1Q comparison, this is a smooth, mild, pleasant, everyday tobacco that most people looking for a mild aromatic smoke will be delighted with. There's a genuine underlying tobacco taste an a not overpowering caramel style flavoring. Quite easy to smoke this all day.

However, like 1Q this tobacco is very mild and very low on nicotine. It's a great smoke for what it is, but doesn't leave me feeling satisfied in any way. Yes, I've enjoyed my smoke, but I'm left wanting more.

So this is a four star tobacco for the market it's trying to fill, but personally I would like something just a little bit stronger in tobacco tastes and smells (and that same judgement applies to Lane's 1Q).

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	canvas (337)	2018-03-20		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I was crushed to find out my favorite blender was shutting the doors to their business. I must not of been alone, as I witnessed all of their discontinued products skyrocket in price on eBay. Panicked, I bought what was left of the bulk blends I've yet to try, from P&C.

Apparently it is quite similar to Lane's 1Q (which I have always enjoyed), so I am approaching this review by comparison. The contents of the bag gave off the same chocolate sweetness, though not as intense as 1Q, it had more of a graham cracker smell. Avenue's cut was slightly thicker, and both had a 50/50 mix of black cavendish and a tan tobacco (here is was burly).

With a sad finality, I lit it up. It was a fine easy smoke that stayed sweet without any harsh chemical topping taste. It was even smooth enough to inhale it, if you wanted to. It seemed milder than 1Q. There was none of the spiciness found in other McClelland products, yet the quality of smoke as still present.

It would make a great intro aromatic for someone's first trip to pipe land (it was perhaps too light for me to repurchse). As McClelland is a thing of the past however, that trip will be in dreamland.

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tmick990 (5)	2017-12-20		Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This is my go to Aro. So delicious and smooth. If you have people in your life that aren't really a fan of the tobacco scent this should win them over. Cream and chocolate are the dominating flavors in this blend. If you really pay attention while smoking you should be able to pick up on some dark rum, nuts and maybe raisins/prunes as supporting roles. This is a blend that needs to be dried out, no doubt in my mind that McClelland used generous amounts of PG to humidify this blend. It burns well and down to a fine white ash. No bite or burn on your tongue with reasonable smoking. If you go after it with a vengeance, it will fight back.For me this was an all day smoke, went through a considerable amount in a weekend. I do not agree with most reviews saying that TQ is similar to 1Q. I would take TQ any day over 1Q. The main reason is the taste, 1Q is rather boring comparably, in my tastes. TQ has a richer smoke, more flavors and a more intricate smoke.

Pipe Used: Old Calabash

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Local B&M

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Country Doc (20)	2010-08-30		Very Mild	Medium	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

My only complaint about this friendly blend is that the delicious flavor could be a little stronger. Very pleasant indeed.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-02-24		Mild	Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This McClelland aromatic is very similar in taste to Habana Premium's Butternut Burley. The main difference in the two blends is that this blend contains more ribbon cut tobacco and will bite a bit. A decent smoke for those who prefer bulk aromatics. However, Butternut Burley is a bit better and won't bite.

1 person found this review helpful.