Black Shag

Black Shag is the first blend in McClelland's Sherlock Holmes-themed 221b series, introduced at a 1997 Sherlock Holmes gathering. Its name nods to the thick-cut dark tobacco tradition mentioned in the Holmes stories.

The blend is built from unflavored Virginia: stoved black Virginia is used together with flue-cured red Virginia. It looks predominantly black, with dark yellow and red threads among it. The very fine cut eases packing and even burning, the tobacco lights easily, and needs few relights. The taste rests on stoved Virginia's mild sweetness, and nicotine is low; it can bite the tongue if smoked quickly. Falls within the territory of those who know how to work with fine-cut tobacco and want a straight Virginia.