A Newbie Reviews: McC 5100 Red Cake

[jefff]

Eventually.... Takes a long time. I had some jarred for maybe 15 years?.. that had them.
It's a REALLY nice red Va, but it won't change your life.

 

[randelli]

Great stuff! My local b&m sells it in bulk called James River. Keep an eye out for it.

 

[aeropuffer]

Great review. The comments have got me thinking about mixing, say SWR with Arango Balkin Suppreme. The Arango I don't really care for.

 

[styler]

Interesting thoughts re ageing, I don't think this would be the kind of tobacco I'd stick at the back of the cupboard and forget about for a decade. I get the impression that VA flake ages much better than ribbon.
I'd agree that 5100 won't change your life or knock your socks off but I think it's a lovely 'anytime' smoke. The kind of blend I'd reach for when I'm not sure what else I fancy smoking. MB Acadian Perique is also in that category for me.

 

[woodsroad]

I love 5100. I love all of McClelland's Virginias. And their English, Balkan, VaPer....anything flake. The ketchup thing evades me, though. I get the spice. Mike McNeil says that it's the smell of fermenting tobacco. That might be some of it, but McClelland blends have a unique aroma that to my limited knowledge has to be a topping. Clove? What else? That could be misconstrued as ketchup, but as Styler says, no tomato aroma at all. I don't even get an acetic acid smell and I spent years smelling that stuff in photo stop bath. Either way, I've socked away 5# bags of most of their flakes and 5100. Time is going to be a wonderful thing for these unique blends.