Am I Too Late?

[cosmicfolklore]

I don't think that there are many members who think that McClelland is/was not that good.

Did you just come onto the forums? Ha ha, I have always loved McClellands, but I have always thought of myself as part of a small minority. Every mention of McClelland always got shouted down for FVF or some other European bunk.

And, many of their blends all had the same production date on them, despite how many times I ordered them over the years. So, it was obvious that many, many of their Virginia blends just weren't popular. Tawny Flake and Aurora, I have ordered these many different times over the years, but always seem to get tins from the same canned batch date. So, either they ran millions in one day, or most likely, many of their blends were just sleepers for years. I think they were great, fantastic, the best even, but many, many, many have always found some problem with them.
Of course their limited run CC blends were always a hit. But, it wasn't till the rumors started that EVERYONE jumped on a band wagon and bought out everything. Even blends that had obviously sat on the shelf for years after their first run.

 

[mso489]

bannyc9, welcome aboard. You can still buy discontinued blends, but why start with that? (Of course, do it if you have the money and a compulsion toward nostalgia.) Instead, I'd echo joeman and recommend you explore blends still being marketed. Take a look at Cornell & Diehl, Mac Baren, Lane, Sutliff, the many permutations of PC Hearth and Home and others of their series, Peter Stokkebye, Peretti, Nat Sherman, and on and on. Pay special attention to some of the heritage blends including pouch and tub tobaccos that go way back and thus have some immunity from current regulatory rumblings. I score big points for blenders who work hard to maintain supply and distribution over the years. Take a look at Iwan Ries (Forums sponsor) for legacy blends. Why fall in love with the girl who left town, when there are scores who live in your home town and are just as smart, talented and attractive?????

 

[woodsroad]

Yes.

 

[glassjapan]

And, many of their blends all had the same production date on them, despite how many times I ordered them over the years. So, it was obvious that many, many of their Virginia blends just weren't popular.

So true. For quite a few years, you could buy the Grand Oriental series and '07 tins were still sitting on the shelf.
But to the OP there's plenty of awesome tobacco out there. One could go forever just on Samuel Gawith, G.L. Pease, or Cornell and Diehl and be a happy camper.

 

[seacaptain]

Who makes Wessex's tobacco?

Good question. The tins say "made in Germany" and the US distributor is Arango Cigar Co. Other than that, I don't know.

 

[whiteburleydude]

BTW, what's happened to Samuel Gawith? So many VA blends out of stock. Seems like the last year or so it's been hit and miss at best.

 

[sablebrush52]

Who makes Wessex's tobacco?

Kolhase, Kopp & Co.

 

[woodsroad]

Jesse, are they also making Peter Heinrichs?

 

[seacaptain]

BTW, what's happened to Samuel Gawith? So many VA blends out of stock. Seems like the last year or so it's been hit and miss at best.

Wessex Red has been out for some time but Yellow was available all over the place until just a few days ago, now you can't find it anywhere either.
Strange times. VA's disappearing everywhere.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Strange times. VA's disappearing everywhere.

The problem is the newbies are joining forums and social media and these new punks don't know how to play the damned game. First rule of smoking Virginias, don't tell anyone what your favorite Virginia is. It will sell out.

Second rule of Virginias, you tell everyone that it burns hot and is bitey. We don't want more Virginia smokers.

Third rule is that there is no such thing as Virginias. They're just made up stuff, probably a rumor started by Sutliff.

 

[hawky454]

Mike McNeil was apparently a big fan of the Wessex VA Flake (Yellow?) which is probably why ya can’t find it in stock anymore. The McClelland fan boys probably heard him say that he has a closet full of the stuff on the radio show and thought to themselves, “Hmmmmm, if Mikey likes it, it must be good!”

 

[seacaptain]

Mike McNeil was apparently a big fan of the Wessex VA Flake (Yellow?) which is probably why ya can’t find it in stock anymore.

Yeah, strange. Wessex Yellow flake disappeared almost overnight. I bought 6 tins a couple of weeks ago from SP and almost everyone else had it in stock then too.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

heard him say that he has a closet full of the stuff on the radio show

Damn, he broke the code. Wessex probably ran a few hundred pounds of each blend years ago and it's been setting on shelves and in boxes everywhere since then. In fact, after I bought my last few blocks of Gold Brick, I don't think they've ever restocked. And, that was a long time ago.

 

[seacaptain]

Wessex probably ran a few hundred pounds of each blend years ago and it's been setting on shelves and in boxes everywhere since then.

Probably not that, since they changed from square to round tins about a year ago.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You're right, and they do offer a wider distribution that US companies.

 

[cigrmaster]

Mike said he liked Wessex Gold Slice not their Gold Virginia Flake. I have both and find the Gold Slice to have more citrus than the Gold Virginia Flake. It is also a sharper Virginia and will get nippy if pushed to hard where as the GVF is softer and has no chance of bite.

 

[snagstangl]

Fear of missing out? I think you still only have 1,000 options. Just try things you can get, don't chase. I have some of the chased stuff and it just sits there not often smoked.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

+1 snagstangl, I totally agree. The easier something is to get, the more you smoke it. The less the worry, the more you enjoy it.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Third rule is that there is no such thing as Virginias. They're just made up stuff, probably a rumor started by Sutliff.

Funny, this is probably my favorite Virginia blend: https://www.4noggins.com/sutliff-altadis-bulk-dunhillelizabethan.aspx

 

[bannyc9]

Thanks Jaytex, picked up 3 H&H's to try, also grabbed a Plum Pudding reserve...