This tin spent 20 years getting ready for this moment. No time like Christmas Day with a Tom Eltang pencil bamboo Dublin. Happy holidays and cheers!
Mike N
Mike N
Christmas Cheer 2005 In 2025
- Thread starter Mike N
- Start date
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How about kismet! I have 2005 CC teed up for tomorrow!! Great minds think alike.
I cracked open a tin of 2016 Christmas Cheer last week and am now enjoying it. Amazing blend.
Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas to all.
Mike, I hope that tasted as good as it looks. Mc Cheer is a particular favorite of mine. Merry Christmas.
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Only three bowls in but a bit disappointing. To be honest, 20 years may have been a bit too long in the tin. The later versions of Christmas Cheer with slightly less age I’ve tried seem to be a bit more nuanced and smooth. The old saw that 7 years is prime time aging for Virginias, may or may not true. I’m going to see what a month or two in the jar does for the 2005.
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I also just opened up a tin of CC 2006 a few days ago.
My first attempt was underwhelming as well.
To be fair, it was a well sealed tin so the first bowl was a bit wet, but I couldn't wait. Result: pretty disappointing.
Second bowl, rubbed out and waited about an hour. Result: *much* better. Not the best McClelland I've ever had, but very good.
Gonna try it a few weeks from now with some more resting time, and a bit more dry time.
If you do the same and you still don't like it, let me know. I could be persuaded to take the remainder off your hands.
My first attempt was underwhelming as well.
To be fair, it was a well sealed tin so the first bowl was a bit wet, but I couldn't wait. Result: pretty disappointing.
Second bowl, rubbed out and waited about an hour. Result: *much* better. Not the best McClelland I've ever had, but very good.
Gonna try it a few weeks from now with some more resting time, and a bit more dry time.
If you do the same and you still don't like it, let me know. I could be persuaded to take the remainder off your hands.
Indeed, it may’ve peaked. But, it could also open up in a Ball after a week or 2. Let’s hope for the later. 
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It’s rare that I’ll try a 10-20 year old tobacco and think it’s even notch above underwhelming, usually takes atleast 10 days to wake tf up. I almost wont even try it until then, that’s why I don’t like the idea of opening tins at shows until they’ve been rested, have you guys experienced otherwise ?
Best to smoke it up quickly. Blends that old degrade quickly once exposed to air. You'll come back to a very bland smoke from the jar.
Yep. Once it gets to breathe it’ll peak and begin to fade surprisingly quickly.
The fermentation compounds that needed to oxidize to become more “flavor active” will continue to oxidize into other compounds that don’t appreciably add to the flavor.
The fermentation compounds that needed to oxidize to become more “flavor active” will continue to oxidize into other compounds that don’t appreciably add to the flavor.