Christmas Cheer 2003 for $200
- Thread starter LudwigB88
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It never fails to amaze me how they acquired so much more acclaim after they closed their doors.
I think it’s a matter of when they closed doors and whether it coincided with one’s pipe journey regarding appreciating Virginias over English. I notice that many people go through the stages of :
Aromatic>Balkan>English>Vapers>VAs.
That’s what happened with me. It just so happened I “matured” into mature VAs AFTER McClelland closed. Otherwise I do believe I would have bought their stuff once I understood Virginias. I certainly would NOT have stockpiled it unless I really loved it and knew they were closing. I’m STILL not sure I will love it, but I wanted to try. Plus, I find that my taste buds are searching for a deeper version of what I am enjoying in the VAs that are STILL around. It’s funny because my very first pipe purchase was a corn cob and Frog Morton Original. It was the perfect intro. I moved away from the Frog due to toppings, but I have to say regarding a topped tobacco the Frogs were unique. Kind of crossover blends. The fact is that I recall purchasing one tin of (I believe) McClellands Blackwoods as a beginner but I had no idea how to smoke back then and I just scorched my tongue.
I do however recall McClellands always having a very good reputation. I think I started smoking pipe around 2014. Not positive date. In fact, when I started, McClelland tobaccos were all that I bought due to their reputation.
Like all things Duane…you never know what you had until it’s gone…personal preferences aside.
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Everything is relative and there is no doubt that there are terrific pleasures to be had in what is currently available. It does however show how certain historical circumstances can lead to good things disappearing. I live in a major city and when people see me smoking a pipe they are amazed. Usually it’s an old woman telling me “my father used to smoke a pipe.” It’s quite amusing. I can barely name the times I’ve ever seen another person smoking a pipe. So it’s crazy how it has disappeared. There’s not a single brick and mortar pipe/tobacco shop left in my city. It’s like looking at a photo of a crowd from the 1940s and every single man is wearing a fedora.
Though they had their fans, myself included, their Virginias were regularly ridiculed for tasting like ketchup. Released in summer prior to Christmas, the Christmas Cheer blends were still heavily stocked enough at retailers the following year to load up on them during the IPSD sales.
Nope. Stocked & plenty for all.
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I know quite well since Mephisto disappeared in the early 2000s. I got to where I'd buy 20 pounds of a favorite blend to hedge against it being discontinued.Like all things Duane…you never know what you had until it’s gone…personal preferences aside.
So when did they close their doors? I've been at it five years, I have a feeling I just missed them.Nope. Stocked & plenty for all.
Ah, I missed that by a year and a bit. I began in April '19.
Christmas Cheer was discontinued in 2016. That summer saw a simultaneous release of 2016 and 2017 CC with 40th Anniversary releasing in 2017.
I'll have a read of that, this CC is an interesting bacci given the popularity it now enjoys post death. The only time I have witnessed anything like this in real time, is the recent discontinuation of the HU line. Thankfully, I was able to stock up on my favs.Nice write up by Chuck Stanion on Smokingpipes website in 2018 explaining.
There are countless blends gone and even more being created…you’ll never suffer for lack of good
…at least not for a while anyway. I no longer chase the 
s or unobtainables …so much good available for all. 
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Maybe we’ll get a tobacco revival like with vinyl records. I used to (early 90s) purchase mint vinyl jazz/rock/country for like $5-10 a piece. Now rich kids are paying $50 to $200 a record. Some aren’t even listening to them; just collecting.
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