2001 Christmas Cheer

[farmerdan]

Great seal. Tin note of the ketchup thing, but don’t mind it at all. Some crystallizing on the flakes. Left flake pieces largely in tact and just stuffed, fairly tight. Extremely smooth, even creamy? I know this is outstanding, but lament I am not able to appreciate it’s greatness yet as a new piper. Saving most of this for once my palate develops.

 

[Auxsender]

I can’t imagine stuffing these flakes but I’m glad it works for you.
If you care to, try cube cutting and gravity filling sometime. That usually works really well for me with the more leathery flakes like this and some of the Samual Gawith products.

 

[sablebrush52]

Dry down the flakes thoroughly and you will pick up a lot more flavors. There’s a lot more moisture in them than is obvious.
Smaller jar would keep them better.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'd go on and finish smoking it. At that age, it's at its peak and now that you've opened the tin it'll decline pretty quickly.

 

[farmerdan]

I can’t imagine stuffing these flakes but I’m glad it works for you.
If you care to, try cube cutting and gravity filling sometime. That usually works really well for me with the more leathery flakes like this and some of the Samual Gawith products.

I'll try the cube cut idea. Is gravity filling just dropping it in and keeping very loose?

 

[farmerdan]

Dry down the flakes thoroughly and you will pick up a lot more flavors. There’s a lot more moisture in them than is obvious.
Smaller jar would keep them better.

Would you recommend fully rubbing out the flakes? How long of a dry time?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Is gravity filling just dropping it in and keeping very loose?

You got it.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I smoke all my McClelland Virginia Flakes by fold and stuff. A medium bowl easily last 90 minutes.

 

[sablebrush52]

Would you recommend fully rubbing out the flakes? How long of a dry time?

For me, fully rubbing out works best. Drying time varies depending on the humidity of the surrounding environment, but try a couple of hours after rubbing out the flake, to start.

 

[farmerdan]

I'd go on and finish smoking it. At that age, it's at its peak and now that you've opened the tin it'll decline pretty quickly.

How long are we talking here for its decline? I only smoke one or bowls a day and am trying a lot of different things to see what I like.

 

[Chasing Embers]

How long are we talking here for its decline? I only smoke one or bowls a day and am trying a lot of different things to see what I like.

Maybe a couple of months. I can only get around four smokes out of a 100g tin but I do smoke large pipes.

 

[karam]

I'm wondering, were McClelland flakes solid like European ones? If yes did they have a steam gasket press? If yes but they didn't have that type of press, could it be because they added binders and casings? It'd be good if C&D could make real flakes...

How long are we talking here for its decline? I only smoke one or bowls a day and am trying a lot of different things to see what I like.

My experience with that old tobacco is that it goes to hell and turns totally bland and tasteless within weeks.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've had zero issues with McClelland Virginia Flakes degrading after opening a tin. I let the tin sit for 2 to 3 weeks after opening it to breathe. Then take my time smoking it, usually a couple of months to finish the tin.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

I've had zero issues with McClelland Virginia Flakes degrading after opening a tin. I let the tin sit for 2 to 3 weeks after opening it to breathe. Then take my time smoking it, usually a couple of months to finish the tin.

This has generally been my experience as well.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This has generally been my experience as well.

Around a decade and it won't but 20+ years can be past its prime.

 

[Brendan]

I'll try the cube cut idea. Is gravity filling just dropping it in and keeping very loose?

Worth a mention, try running a pipe cleaner into the back of the bowl before gravity feeding to keep the airway clear of obstruction etc.
Works for me when cube cutting flakes.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Around a decade and it won't but 20+ years can be past its prime.

I believe you're right, but my only experience is with a tin of 2000 Christmas Cheer that I opened three years ago. In my efforts to prolong my limited supply of CC, I put the tobacco in a jar immediately after opening and have smoked a few bowls each holiday season. Thus far, I have not noticed any degradation of the tobacco. I am still getting that wonderful tang and sweetness that I love. But yes, it's probably a good idea to smoke a freshly opened old tin of tobacco quickly.

 

[PipeIT]

I know this is outstanding, but lament I am not able to appreciate it’s greatness yet as a new piper. Saving most of this for once my palate develops.

Oh new pipe smoker… I’m not here to spoil the party, but actually share to help.

Everyone has a different palate and sense of taste, and as we all know, some have it more defined, to be connoisseur like, and others unfortunately weren’t blessed with good genes.

Everyone is certainly entitled to do as they wish, but I seriously don’t think anyone would tell someone to spend high end money McClelland starting out, with a higher price tag to purchase, your more likely seriously wasting money starting out on Unicorns.

I’ve seen you’ve made several posts on older tins…

This is like, who would ever suggest to someone, just starting out on cigars, to start buying $75 cigars.

You should start at the bottom and work your way up, until your mouth develops it’s senses better, and no one but you can tell when that will be.

And it’s not even really about the money, the most important thing here, is to develop your tastes, so that you can fully appreciate it!

I’m not trying to blow my own horn here, I have a good sense of taste, and I was not comfortable getting into higher cost Unicorn out of production blends for several years. Now, if McClelland was still in business, and you could buy this for like $30, that would be a different story, have at it. But to spend $100-$150, nah, don’t blow your money.

I‘d seriously put away all the older aged sealed tins, and out of production sealed tins away for a few years.

There are a lot of great blends out there to be purchased from many blenders on SmokingPipes as recent production, this is where you should focus your attention on.

If you really want to start diving into higher-end, HU Tobacco just came to the USA. I haven‘t tried these USA releases, but I bought a few tins, maybe someone can chime in on these.

HU Tobacco Director's Cut — Grove Pipe and Tobacco

HU Tobacco: Director’s Cut 100g Tobacco: Virginia, Perique, Burley Cut: Flake Blend Type: Virginia Strength: Medium

www.grovepipeandtobacco.com

HU Tobacco: JANNEMAN FLAKE 100g

Part of HU Tobacco's HU X Community line, the Janneman Flake blend features Fire-Cured Virginas and a pinch of Perique. It's dark-pressed and cut into flake. Strength: Mild to Medium Flavoring: None Taste: Medium Room Note: Pleasant to Tolerable

4noggins-com.myshopify.com

 

[farmerdan]

Thanks all

 

[farmerdan]

Oh new pipe smoker… I’m not here to spoil the party, but actually share to help.

Everyone has a different palate and sense of taste, and as we all know, some have it more defined, to be connoisseur like, and others unfortunately weren’t blessed with good genes.

Everyone is certainly entitled to do as they wish, but I seriously don’t think anyone would tell someone to spend high end money McClelland starting out, with a higher price tag to purchase, your more likely seriously wasting money starting out on Unicorns.

I’ve seen you’ve made several posts on older tins…

This is like, who would ever suggest to someone, just starting out on cigars, to start buying $75 cigars.

You should start at the bottom and work your way up, until your mouth develops it’s senses better, and no one but you can tell when that will be.

And it’s not even really about the money, the most important thing here, is to develop your tastes, so that you can fully appreciate it!

I’m not trying to blow my own horn here, I have a good sense of taste, and I was not comfortable getting into higher cost Unicorn out of production blends for several years. Now, if McClelland was still in business, and you could buy this for like $30, that would be a different story, have at it. But to spend $100-$150, nah, don’t blow your money.

I‘d seriously put away all the older aged sealed tins, and out of production sealed tins away for a few years.

There are a lot of great blends out there to be purchased from many blenders on SmokingPipes as recent production, this is where you should focus your attention on.

If you really want to start diving into higher-end, HU Tobacco just came to the USA. I haven‘t tried these USA releases, but I bought a few tins, maybe someone can chime in on these.

HU Tobacco Director's Cut — Grove Pipe and Tobacco

HU Tobacco: Director’s Cut 100g Tobacco: Virginia, Perique, Burley Cut: Flake Blend Type: Virginia Strength: Medium

www.grovepipeandtobacco.com

HU Tobacco: JANNEMAN FLAKE 100g

Part of HU Tobacco's HU X Community line, the Janneman Flake blend features Fire-Cured Virginas and a pinch of Perique. It's dark-pressed and cut into flake. Strength: Mild to Medium Flavoring: None Taste: Medium Room Note: Pleasant to Tolerable

4noggins-com.myshopify.com

Very much appreciate your thoughtful post! I have been blessed to acquire for nothing a number of old tins like this, so thankfully it is not a cost issue. Although a very good case could be made for saving these old tins for when I become more experienced - if they truly are superior, etc. I've also reasoned with myself that these "better" tobaccos will give me a truer sense of what great tobacco is, although it may spoil me! Again, thank you.