Battle of McCVirginias

[Mury]

I became a regular at a couple of B&Ms a THOUSAND miles away and got those benefits without ever having to physically be there.

There’s this thing called a cellphone, you might have heard of it, and there’s this other thing, called the art of conversation. Employ both. Build up a relationship. Spend money, enjoy a pleasant chat with the proprietor. Be patient. You’ll get what you seek.

this is a great idea! I shall employ this!

 

[lukasstrifeson]

interesting take! I haven’t been able to find a Frog for a decent price. Do they age well? It sounds like On the Town I would like.

I don't find McC blends to change much with aging, if that's what you meant by "age well". For example, something like Full Virginia Flake at 2/5/10 year intervals were much more noticeably different.

- - -

Agreed, McClelland Virginias get a lot of the praise, but their Latakia blends are legendary.
I personally love MacC Virginias. I have tins and jars in my cellar which cover the spectrum of their portfolio.
But I kick myself for not hoarding more of their Latakia blends.
Im not into the nostalgia, or the "they were irreplaceable" camp, I just like variety, and they had some great Latakia blends I would like to smoke occasionally. I do have some......but most are 2 ounces or less.
Im not afraid of smoking 5100 or even 2015 because I have "enough" of them. But when you have less than 2 ounces of 5110, its tougher to dip into.

Ya for me 5110, 2020 probably the two I enjoy most. Lucky to have cellared accordingly.

- - -

Sheesh that makes me have FOMO now, I’ve only been paying attention to their Virginias. What are some of the lat blends you recommend? I don’t like the lat heavy stuff just maybe a whisper of it.

FOMO is probably 50% why McClelland blends are so popular.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Since I missed the boat (started my pipe adventure 3yrs ago), I’m constantly torn between being glad I don’t know what I missed and willing to do some shady shit to get my hands on some.
I’m blessed I don’t like Latakia at least, so half the battle isn’t an issue

 

[sablebrush52]

I used to have a local B&M in North Carolina, but since moving to Cali, it’s impossible for me to find any! I may have just 1 or 2 pipe B&Ms i know at a reasonable commute.

Exactly. I lived in LA, and it was mostly a pipe tobacco desert. Hence the 1000 mile gap.
Nonetheless it worked great and over the years I obtained enough for the rest of my life.

 

[Mury]

Exactly. I lived in LA, and it was mostly a pipe tobacco desert. Hence the 1000 mile gap.
Nonetheless it worked great and over the years I obtained enough for the rest of my life.

That’s pretty amazing! I Need that connection. Unfortunately, the shop I would visit don’t ship tobacco.

 

[Mury]

I don't find McC blends to change much with aging, if that's what you meant by "age well". For example, something like Full Virginia Flake at 2/5/10 year intervals were much more noticeably different.

- - -



Ya for me 5110, 2020 probably the two I enjoy most. Lucky to have cellared accordingly.

- - -



FOMO is probably 50% why McClelland blends are so popular.

it’s interesting because those two are bulk! I don’t hear too many folks am talking about those. I’ll need to find some now

 

[HeadMisfit]

I became a regular at a couple of B&Ms a THOUSAND miles away and got those benefits without ever having to physically be there.

There’s this thing called a cellphone, you might have heard of it, and there’s this other thing, called the art of conversation. Employ both. Build up a relationship. Spend money, enjoy a pleasant chat with the proprietor. Be patient. You’ll get what you seek.

Is that like where the bm retailer says you need to spend 500$ on a specific brand of pipe in order to be put upon their esoterica reserve buyers list?

Or you have to spend 300$ or more on cigars EVERY month in order to smoke one inside the store, inside their converted 4x5 broom closet on that 10 dollar folding chair they got at walmart?

 

[Waning Embers]

no way?! where?

Great idea! I'll just pack up and move an hour away to be close enough to become a regular at the "local" B&M!

Most of them ship. Check the forum B&M listing for addresses and phone numbers.

 

[Waning Embers]

Sheesh that makes me have FOMO now, I’ve only been paying attention to their Virginias. What are some of the lat blends you recommend? I don’t like the lat heavy stuff just maybe a whisper of it.

 

[Mury]

View attachment 426666View attachment 426667

I think I saw you post these, what are you asking for each?

 

[Mury]

Most of them ship. Check the forum B&M listing for addresses and phone numbers.

great idea! Thank you!

 

[Mury]

Is that like where the bm retailer says you need to spend 500$ on a specific brand of pipe in order to be put upon their esoterica reserve buyers list?

Or you have to spend 300$ or more on cigars EVERY month in order to smoke one inside the store, inside their converted 4x5 broom closet on that 10 dollar folding chair they got at walmart?

lollll I’ve been there! Don’t forget the lack of ventilation

 

[Waning Embers]

I think I saw you post these, what are you asking for each?

Not really for sale. They make as great RYO smokes as well as pipe tobacco.

 

[Chris T]

Spend money,

Aye, there's the rub-

 

[Mury]

Not really for sale. They make as great RYO smokes as well as pipe tobacco.

ah gotchya

 

[NookersTheCat]

I think I saw you post these, what are you asking for each?

You must be new here...

 

[Sig]

it’s interesting because those two are bulk! I don’t hear too many folks am talking about those. I’ll need to find some now

5110 was my favorite Latakia blend second only to PS Balkan Supreme from a few years ago. I know that Peter Stokkebye still makes it under the Arango name, but it is absolutely different...to me....
I replaced 5110 with C&D Star of the East as my "go to" latakia blend. SOTE is a great blend, its inexpensive, and always available everywhere.

 

[Sig]

Sheesh that makes me have FOMO now, I’ve only been paying attention to their Virginias. What are some of the lat blends you recommend? I don’t like the lat heavy stuff just maybe a whisper of it.

The Frog Morton series is absolutely their most popular Latakia blends. But good luck finding any.
Kinda like their Virginia blends, they also made Latakia blends taste "different" than other makers.
So, pretty much any of their Lat blends are great.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Is that like where the bm retailer says you need to spend 500$ on a specific brand of pipe in order to be put upon their esoterica reserve buyers list?

Or you have to spend 300$ or more on cigars EVERY month in order to smoke one inside the store, inside their converted 4x5 broom closet on that 10 dollar folding chair they got at walmart?

All the Rolex reps retired to work in B&Ms now

 

[Mury]

5110 was my favorite Latakia blend second only to PS Balkan Supreme from a few years ago. I know that Peter Stokkebye still makes it under the Arango name, but it is absolutely different...to me....
I replaced 5110 with C&D Star of the East as my "go to" latakia blend. SOTE is a great blend, its inexpensive, and always available everywhere.

this is so fascinating I never hear people talk about 5110 mainly because they talk about the blends that come in tins like the Frogs or Orientals