I began my December piping off this year by cracking open a mason jar of McClelland Christmas Cheer 2001.
I had my doubts, having recently read (1) that cellared tobaccos really don't improve beyond ten years and (2) that some had found their old tobaccos tasted like dirt. Additionally, don't put tons of stock in the care I gave to tobaccos over the years. It's only been in recent years that I began immediately jarring tins after opening them.
I started getting Christmas Cheer every year starting in 2005 or 2006. And when I'd find an old tin, I'd grab it. I'm confident that I purchased the 2001 around 2009. The moisture quality of this one suggests that I opened it, had it in the open tin for a few months, and then jarred it. It's my opinion that McClelland's flakes needed a bit of drying anyway.
Upon opening the jar and attempting to rub out the flakes, they broke but did not crumble. I was nervous about what I was soon to smoke. However, I was pleasantly surprised!
It was not as tangy and bright as Christmas Cheer was, fresh from a new can. But it's a pleasant, sweet (if not subdued) flavor on the first third of the bowl. About halfway through the bowl, the nicotine kicked in...maybe a medium strength flake? I tend to smoke hot, so the subtle sweet Virginia gave way to a bolder flavor that reminded me of some Dunhill VAs that I've smoked in recent days.
I plan to continue working on this jar through the month and will try to pace my puffing a bit, so that I can give a more nuanced review. But in the end, I was very glad I brought this jar out of the cellar!
I had my doubts, having recently read (1) that cellared tobaccos really don't improve beyond ten years and (2) that some had found their old tobaccos tasted like dirt. Additionally, don't put tons of stock in the care I gave to tobaccos over the years. It's only been in recent years that I began immediately jarring tins after opening them.
I started getting Christmas Cheer every year starting in 2005 or 2006. And when I'd find an old tin, I'd grab it. I'm confident that I purchased the 2001 around 2009. The moisture quality of this one suggests that I opened it, had it in the open tin for a few months, and then jarred it. It's my opinion that McClelland's flakes needed a bit of drying anyway.
Upon opening the jar and attempting to rub out the flakes, they broke but did not crumble. I was nervous about what I was soon to smoke. However, I was pleasantly surprised!
It was not as tangy and bright as Christmas Cheer was, fresh from a new can. But it's a pleasant, sweet (if not subdued) flavor on the first third of the bowl. About halfway through the bowl, the nicotine kicked in...maybe a medium strength flake? I tend to smoke hot, so the subtle sweet Virginia gave way to a bolder flavor that reminded me of some Dunhill VAs that I've smoked in recent days.
I plan to continue working on this jar through the month and will try to pace my puffing a bit, so that I can give a more nuanced review. But in the end, I was very glad I brought this jar out of the cellar!
