McClelland Christmas Cheer

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Originally Posted by Pugsley

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."

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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.

I say smoke it and YOU tell us what you think! :pipe:

I have a rotation that I'm still getting going, but I'm buying several tins per yer and saving at least one to smoke in 5 years. Short answer...they should have at least 5 years IMO. But anything more is just a bonus. I say smoke whatever has at least 5 years

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Originally Posted by Branzig

I say smoke it and YOU tell us what you think! :pipe:

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That sounds like the best course of action!

I've had maybe eight different years, as far back as 2000. They're all similar to a point (all are McClelland virginias, so obviously there are a lot of similarities) but there are subtle differences. I personally don't touch 'em until they've had six years in the tin at least. Maybe it's just me, but I find McClelland tobaccos to be somewhat bitey when they're young. Plus, the odd smell (worcestershire sauce to me) weakens over time. All the years I've had have been very nice aged virginias, but nothing that can compete with my favorites. I like them in general, but I wouldn't spend what some are asking for the older tins. If I'm going to buy an old McClelland tins, I'd rather have No. 27 or Virginia Woods. The basic problem with Christmas Cheer is this: whether by design or chance, it's the perfect tobacco collectable: a new one each year; collect them all! Frankly, I feel that this drives the price of older tins far more than the contents. But that doesn't affect the ones you buy new and age yourself!