Battle of McCVirginias

[Mury]

Has anyone done a comparison of the various straight virginias from McClelland?

They have such a huge portfolio and Love to know y’all’s favorites. I’m curious to hear about some of the less common ones.

From my experience and tasting I would say the reds combined with the orange and with or without stoved have have been my faves! An example being the New Millenim and Boston 1776.

I have yet to try most of their offerings.

Curious to hear your thought.

 

[Waning Embers]

 

[SBC]

You know that McClelland closed its doors in the spring of 2018?

Check out the Tobacco Sell/Swap/Search forum to see the prices that they are commanding these days.

Some of us have a little left. I can't speak for others, but for my part, I have a bowl maybe once or twice a year, to make it last.

 

[HeadMisfit]

You know that McClelland closed its doors in the spring of 2018?

Check out the Tobacco Sell/Swap/Search forum to see the prices that they are commanding these days.

Some of us have a little left. I can't speak for others, but for my part, I have a bowl maybe once or twice a year, to make it last.

thats kind of the problem I see alot online. if something gets mentioned more then once or twice a year, its assumed to be in normal production.

 

[NookersTheCat]

Man... and here I was mad at myself for finding out late cause I hadn't heard until the holiday season of 2018... sorry poor ole chum...

 

[Mury]

You know that McClelland closed its doors in the spring of 2018?

Check out the Tobacco Sell/Swap/Search forum to see the prices that they are commanding these days.

Some of us have a little left. I can't speak for others, but for my part, I have a bowl maybe once or twice a year, to make it last.

Oh for sure am aware, I missed the boat when I got into pipes in 2019, I’ve only been sampling from folks and they have been incredible. I have been fortunate to purchase a tin here and there from here and Pipestud. We certainly need to enjoy them as much as possible sparingly. I’m not really a collector, rather am a smoker.

 

[Mury]

thats kind of the problem I see alot online. if something gets mentioned more then once or twice a year, its assumed to be in normal production.

oh no I hope folks are aware they are no longer around

 

[lukasstrifeson]

I feel like McClelland's virginias get all the attention for how unique their casing/topping is but I've always enjoyed their English/Balkan blends more. The virginias can be a little monotonous sometimes, the depth of flavor of something like Frog on the Town or Across the Pond is really something special.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Man... and here I was mad at myself for finding out late cause I hadn't heard until the holiday season of 2018... sorry poor ole chum..

oh no I hope folks are aware they are no longer around

its like people waiting to buy esoterica

 

[Mury]

its like people waiting to buy esoterica

Yea Espterica is a lost cause. I gave up long time ago. I have what I have and am happy with it

 

[Mury]

I feel like McClelland's virginias get all the attention for how unique their casing/topping is but I've always enjoyed their English/Balkan blends more. The virginias can be a little monotonous sometimes, the depth of flavor of something like Frog on the Town or Across the Pond is really something special.

interesting take! I haven’t been able to find a Frog for a decent price. Do they age well? It sounds like On the Town I would like.

 

[Waning Embers]

its like people waiting to buy esoterica

Yea Espterica is a lost cause. I gave up long time ago. I have what I have and am happy with it

Easily found collecting dust in B&Ms while it's sold out in minutes online.

 

[sablebrush52]

Yea Espterica is a lost cause. I gave up long time ago. I have what I have and am happy with it

Honestly, depending on what you’re looking for, it’s not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be.

Don’t waste your time with the major online stores. Become a regular customer of a B&M and establish a relationship with it, and when a drop hits, if you’ve been a good customer, they will hold some for you.

Simple as that.

 

[Mury]

Easily found collecting dust in B&Ms while it's sold out in minutes online.

no way?! where?! I miss when I lived in North Carolina, A local B&M would get it and would sit there for months! Ever since moving back to California it’s been impossible to find!

 

[Chris T]

Honestly, depending on what you’re looking for, it’s not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be.

Don’t waste your time with the major online stores. Become a regular customer of a B&M and establish a relationship with it, and when a drop hits, if you’ve been a good customer, they will hold some for you.

Simple as that.

Great idea! I'll just pack up and move an hour away to be close enough to become a regular at the "local" B&M! Nothing simpler!

 

[Mury]

Honestly, depending on what you’re looking for, it’s not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be.

Don’t waste your time with the major online stores. Become a regular customer of a B&M and establish a relationship with it, and when a drop hits, if you’ve been a good customer, they will hold some for you.

Simple as that.

I used to have a local B&M in North Carolina, but since moving to Cali, it’s impossible for me to find any! I may have just 1 or 2 pipe B&Ms i know at a reasonable commute.

 

[Mury]

Honestly, depending on what you’re looking for, it’s not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be.

Don’t waste your time with the major online stores. Become a regular customer of a B&M and establish a relationship with it, and when a drop hits, if you’ve been a good customer, they will hold some for you.

Simple as that.

oh also Peacehaven and Penz are my faves! Of course I like Stonehaven too, but Rich Dark Flake is better and equallly hard if not harder to get since it’s mostly sold overseas. Cardiff and Dunbar are tied for 2nd fave

 

[Sig]

I feel like McClelland's virginias get all the attention for how unique their casing/topping is but I've always enjoyed their English/Balkan blends more. The virginias can be a little monotonous sometimes, the depth of flavor of something like Frog on the Town or Across the Pond is really something special.

Agreed, McClelland Virginias get a lot of the praise, but their Latakia blends are legendary.
I personally love MacC Virginias. I have tins and jars in my cellar which cover the spectrum of their portfolio.
But I kick myself for not hoarding more of their Latakia blends.
Im not into the nostalgia, or the "they were irreplaceable" camp, I just like variety, and they had some great Latakia blends I would like to smoke occasionally. I do have some......but most are 2 ounces or less.
Im not afraid of smoking 5100 or even 2015 because I have "enough" of them. But when you have less than 2 ounces of 5110, its tougher to dip into.

 

[Mury]

Agreed, McClelland Virginias get a lot of the praise, but their Latakia blends are legendary.
I personally love MacC Virginias. I have tins and jars in my cellar which cover the spectrum of their portfolio.
But I kick myself for not hoarding more of their Latakia blends.
Im not into the nostalgia, or the "they were irreplaceable" camp, I just like variety, and they had some great Latakia blends I would like to smoke occasionally. I do have some......but most are 2 ounces or less.
Im not afraid of smoking 5100 or even 2015 because I have "enough" of them. But when you have less than 2 ounces of 5110, its tougher to dip into.

Sheesh that makes me have FOMO now, I’ve only been paying attention to their Virginias. What are some of the lat blends you recommend? I don’t like the lat heavy stuff just maybe a whisper of it.

 

[sablebrush52]

Great idea! I'll just pack up and move an hour away to be close enough to become a regular at the "local" B&M! Nothing simpler!

I became a regular at a couple of B&Ms a THOUSAND miles away and got those benefits without ever having to physically be there.

There’s this thing called a cellphone, you might have heard of it, and there’s this other thing, called the art of conversation. Employ both. Build up a relationship. Spend money, enjoy a pleasant chat with the proprietor. Be patient. You’ll get what you seek.