This tin spent 20 years getting ready for this moment. No time like Christmas Day with a Tom Eltang pencil bamboo Dublin. Happy holidays and cheers!
Mike N
Mike N
Christmas Cheer 2005 In 2025
- Thread starter Mike N
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
How about kismet! I have 2005 CC teed up for tomorrow!! Great minds think alike.
I cracked open a tin of 2016 Christmas Cheer last week and am now enjoying it. Amazing blend.
Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas to all.
Mike, I hope that tasted as good as it looks. Mc Cheer is a particular favorite of mine. Merry Christmas.
️
Only three bowls in but a bit disappointing. To be honest, 20 years may have been a bit too long in the tin. The later versions of Christmas Cheer with slightly less age I’ve tried seem to be a bit more nuanced and smooth. The old saw that 7 years is prime time aging for Virginias, may or may not true. I’m going to see what a month or two in the jar does for the 2005.
Last edited:
I also just opened up a tin of CC 2006 a few days ago.
My first attempt was underwhelming as well.
To be fair, it was a well sealed tin so the first bowl was a bit wet, but I couldn't wait. Result: pretty disappointing.
Second bowl, rubbed out and waited about an hour. Result: *much* better. Not the best McClelland I've ever had, but very good.
Gonna try it a few weeks from now with some more resting time, and a bit more dry time.
If you do the same and you still don't like it, let me know. I could be persuaded to take the remainder off your hands.
My first attempt was underwhelming as well.
To be fair, it was a well sealed tin so the first bowl was a bit wet, but I couldn't wait. Result: pretty disappointing.
Second bowl, rubbed out and waited about an hour. Result: *much* better. Not the best McClelland I've ever had, but very good.
Gonna try it a few weeks from now with some more resting time, and a bit more dry time.
If you do the same and you still don't like it, let me know. I could be persuaded to take the remainder off your hands.
Indeed, it may’ve peaked. But, it could also open up in a Ball after a week or 2. Let’s hope for the later. 
️
️
It’s rare that I’ll try a 10-20 year old tobacco and think it’s even notch above underwhelming, usually takes atleast 10 days to wake tf up. I almost wont even try it until then, that’s why I don’t like the idea of opening tins at shows until they’ve been rested, have you guys experienced otherwise ?
I opened up some Christmas star from 2000 this year. It needed 2 weeks of rest and a little fresh air to wake up.
Best to smoke it up quickly. Blends that old degrade quickly once exposed to air. You'll come back to a very bland smoke from the jar.
Yep. Once it gets to breathe it’ll peak and begin to fade surprisingly quickly.
The fermentation compounds that needed to oxidize to become more “flavor active” will continue to oxidize into other compounds that don’t appreciably add to the flavor.
The fermentation compounds that needed to oxidize to become more “flavor active” will continue to oxidize into other compounds that don’t appreciably add to the flavor.
Well, it’s been a week since exposing this 20 year old tobacco to oxygen. The difference 7 days made is really pretty incredible.The savory, meaty taste that foodies call umami which I was originally expecting in an aged Christmas Cheer has emerged in spades. Let’s hope the flavor lasts long enough to share this treat at our next local pipe meet-up and get a few other opinions. But for now, it has become a very satisfying smoke.
Same experience here with the 2006. I'm about six bowls in and so far every smoke has been better than the one before it.
This has not been my experience. The tobacco is fine, for well over a year in a jar. Might be far longer but the aged tobacco I open is smoked within 18 months. (Generally a tad faster than that).
Age your tobacco, and then open it and jar it, and smoke whenever you want. Chill. It's going to be swell.
I'll bet it smelled and smoked excellently. I sure miss McClelland, they knew their Virginias.