I ordered five tins this year, four to save long term, and one for this season. I only smoke outside, and it's getting cold. So earlier this week I gave in and popped the top of the one tin.
First step with any McClelland Virginia: Smell the tobacco in the tin. There's the trademark vinegar/ketchup smell, but a bit fainter than many of their blends. Much less overpowering than some can be. The flakes have the density and thickness of Beacon Extra, but they are all trimmed a regular length. Slightly smaller in size per flake than Penzance or Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky, but each flake is cut a bit thicker like those two are.
Great moisture out of the tin. No drying time at all. I rubbed out a couple of flakes and just smashed them down into a bent billiard Meer. Lit easily enough. At first puff: Not much. Just nothing much there. But as the cherry started warming and the tobacco hit full temp, nice, simple, pure Virginia. To me it wasn't complex at all. I'm afraid some might find this a "boring" blend. I would describe it as "smooth." No sharpness or harshness anywhere. Smoke built to a nice thick smoke. I'm not refined enough to tell anyone about the subtle nuances other than to say it had a richness to it, maybe slight fruitiness. Perhaps just slightly sweet. But what I noted most was pure smoothness. Smoked easily with minimal relights. Dumped a small amount of dottle out when I was done.
I'd say it doesn't bite, but I find bite to be more a matter of the smoker's technique. I haven't had a bite problem with any tobacco in the last year.
Nicotine? Ehh.....middle of the road. I noticed it, but just barely.
So in the end, it is what it is: A pure, smooth Virginia, decent out of the tin right away. And likely even better 5 years from now.
For me 3 out of 4 stars with an expectation that it will trend up over time.
First step with any McClelland Virginia: Smell the tobacco in the tin. There's the trademark vinegar/ketchup smell, but a bit fainter than many of their blends. Much less overpowering than some can be. The flakes have the density and thickness of Beacon Extra, but they are all trimmed a regular length. Slightly smaller in size per flake than Penzance or Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky, but each flake is cut a bit thicker like those two are.
Great moisture out of the tin. No drying time at all. I rubbed out a couple of flakes and just smashed them down into a bent billiard Meer. Lit easily enough. At first puff: Not much. Just nothing much there. But as the cherry started warming and the tobacco hit full temp, nice, simple, pure Virginia. To me it wasn't complex at all. I'm afraid some might find this a "boring" blend. I would describe it as "smooth." No sharpness or harshness anywhere. Smoke built to a nice thick smoke. I'm not refined enough to tell anyone about the subtle nuances other than to say it had a richness to it, maybe slight fruitiness. Perhaps just slightly sweet. But what I noted most was pure smoothness. Smoked easily with minimal relights. Dumped a small amount of dottle out when I was done.
I'd say it doesn't bite, but I find bite to be more a matter of the smoker's technique. I haven't had a bite problem with any tobacco in the last year.
Nicotine? Ehh.....middle of the road. I noticed it, but just barely.
So in the end, it is what it is: A pure, smooth Virginia, decent out of the tin right away. And likely even better 5 years from now.
For me 3 out of 4 stars with an expectation that it will trend up over time.
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