Newbie with McClelland.... Smoke Now, Stow Away or Both?

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jan 8, 2013
7,493
733
I guess it depends on how much you got. If you're able to stow a few tins of each away to age, then by all means do so. If not, well you might as well smoke them. But jar them up immediately after opening so you can visit them on occasion and keep them fresh.

 

lazar

Can't Leave
May 5, 2015
445
3
The Contest Blend and the Royal Cajun will age best of the four.

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,459
If it were me, I'd hold some and smoke some. In fact, that's what I'm doing with my remaining McClellands. There's no grand plan, but I'd like to have some for the future, perhaps distinctly improved with aging. I don't have enough that it would be a financial sacrifice even if the price goes way up. I'll enjoy some now, some later.

 

mikeysmokes

Starting to Get Obsessed
Feb 22, 2018
184
2,161
Ohio, USA
Everything is a 50g tin except FMotT which is 100g. My sister ended up getting a second tin of contest blend and a tin of Bombay extra to add to the cause.

 

saltedplug

Lifer
Aug 20, 2013
5,194
5,101
There are two schools of thought about holding/aging. Yes and no. Yes, it gets better, no, fresh is fantastic. That there won't be more McClelland I don't think changes that thinking.

 

mikeysmokes

Starting to Get Obsessed
Feb 22, 2018
184
2,161
Ohio, USA
I think all of it I'm going to jar and then sip on. FMotT and Contest Blend obviously I have a little more leeway with. Because I've never even had any of these before I believe I'm putting an extra emphasis on the unavailability aspect. Plus development of my palette and being able to compare fresh vs cellared is intruiging when considering mark-ups on some of these tins already.

 

pipesticks

Can't Leave
Jun 29, 2016
336
9
Chicago
Yep, open one now and learn to nurse it. Special occasions or a bowl on Sunday kind of thing.

No more McClelland forever and forever is a long time if you're 35....not so much if you're 75 :D

I'm gonna let my sealed tins age a few years and attack it when I hit 60.

 

brendhain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 5, 2018
124
13
I find the heavy English/Balkan blends age well. The heavier the better they age.
McClellands tend to be very sweet/sour in taste. What happens when they age? Does the sour get more pronounced or less?

 

npod

Lifer
Jun 11, 2017
2,942
1,024
Smoke at least one now for sure. Enjoy what you have. It's not possible to cellar McC anymore, so enjoy what you have for what it is.

 

bazungu

Starting to Get Obsessed
Feb 28, 2018
110
7
I was wondering of how well Frog Morton will cellar, I have a can on the way but I am not sure if this sort of light latakia/aromatic blend will age well? Will it become too mild and lose character? Perhaps its better to just smoke it fresh and enjoy instead of opening it in 20 years and find it is totally tasteless.

 

cortezattic

Lifer
Nov 19, 2009
15,147
7,638
Chicago, IL
@bazungu

It's my understanding that Latakia will fade with age, but that could be a good thing for some blends. Aromatics probably wont do well if the casing sauces kill the microbes needed for the aging process -- and in any event, the flavoring may not be suitable if in fact the leaf does age. Check out the Pipe Tobacco Aging &etc... FAQ

http://web.archive.org/web/20090213122643/http://agingfaq.nocturne.org:80/index.php

 

pilotage16

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 12, 2015
147
0
I will be smoking my frogs in the next few years. My McClelland Virginia’s will be spending the next decade hiding in the cellar. Smoke a tin now and save the rest.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.