McClelland Christmas Cheer

[Pugsley]

I have several tins that are getting up there in age and am wondering how long to wait before popping one. I've never tried any of this blend and when I google for info on certain years I get links to people just drooling over this and willing to spend insane amounts of money on particular years. Has anyone had any of this, and can you tell me what makes it so in demand?

[Branzig]

I have several tins that are getting up there in age and am wondering how long to wait before popping one. I've never tried any of this blend and when I google for info on certain years I get links to people just drooling over this and willing to spend insane amounts of money on particular years. Has anyone had any of this, and can you tell me what makes it so in demand?

If you aren't looking to sell them, I would smoke them.

Tobacco is processed to smoke, usually, I think anyways

[Pugsley]

I'm not looking to sell them. I was just hoping someone here could tell me something about them. I find very little info on line from people who have smoked it, mostly just people who want to try it.

[tmoran]

I only started buying it this year, and haven't tried any yet. I think @mooster could probably give you the best insight.

[Branzig]

I only started buying it this year, and haven't tried any yet. I think @mooster could probably give you the best insight.

Agreed, mooster would be the expert here. The oldest I ever smoked was 2007...typical McClelland vinegar smell....dark bold Va with good natural tobacco sweetness and some spice on the tail end.

Just really good Va. If you like Va tobacco then I would pop it and smoke it.

[Pugsley]

I'm most interested in knowing how the blends differ from year to year as the tins I have are from 3 different years.

[cpmcdill]

Many reviews here, which will give insights into the flavors/aroma and smoked fresh vs aged

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/brand/37/mcclelland

I have not tried the CC editions, but for any tobacco I turn to the reviews site.

[Pugsley]

Many reviews here, which will give insights into the flavors/aroma and smoked fresh vs aged

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/brand/37/mcclelland

I have not tried the CC editions, but for any tobacco I turn to the reviews site.

I just went there and read the reviews on the 2005. Most gave it 4 stars and raved about it ...... except this guy. Have to wonder what he was smoking.

"I read these reviews and bought a tin with high expectations. I smoke McClelland and McCranie's almost exclusively, and find many of their VA offerings to be sublime. I smoked several bowls of this and was horrified. It was putrid, difficult to light and keep lit, smelled like a car fire and tasted like I was smoking hay clippings and corn silk soaked in cat piss."

"After leaving the tin open for a total of about 48 hours it smelled EXACTLY like ginger snap cookies, so I was hoping it would get better. Unfortunately, no luck. The nastiest blend I've yet smoked and a huge disappointment."

[cpmcdill]

I just went there and read the reviews on the 2005. Most gave it 4 stars and raved about it ...... except this guy. Have to wonder what he was smoking.

"I read these reviews and bought a tin with high expectations. I smoke McClelland and McCranie's almost exclusively, and find many of their VA offerings to be sublime. I smoked several bowls of this and was horrified. It was putrid, difficult to light and keep lit, smelled like a car fire and tasted like I was smoking hay clippings and corn silk soaked in cat piss."

"After leaving the tin open for a total of about 48 hours it smelled EXACTLY like ginger snap cookies, so I was hoping it would get better. Unfortunately, no luck. The nastiest blend I've yet smoked and a huge disappointment."

I've read, and personally experienced, that matching the right pipe to the tobacco can make all the difference. It's possible that this guy was smoking some pipes that were way overdue for a reaming/cleaning. Admittedly hay clippings and cornsilk could be rationalized as a normal flavor for Virginias, and cat piss might be an interpretation of the ammonia smell that sometimes comes from improperly cured tobaccos, but McClelland has a good rep and wouldn't sell something reeking of ammonia. I'd say the reviewer is goofy and pretends to more experience of tobaccos and pipes than he actually has.

[Pugsley]

The oldest tin is from 2005 and you wouldn't believe how many times, over the years, that I've pulled it out of the cabinet intending to open it, but just couldn't bring myself to pull that tab.