Dating McClelland Tins

[peckinpahhombre]

Does anyone know how to decipher the code on the bottom of a McClelland tin? For example, I have a tin of St James Eoods that has "321511" stamped on the bottom of the tin. Does the 11 mean 2011? If so, is there any way to tell what month of the year?

 

[moses]

Here!

 

[gwtwdbss]

I believe this is correct:
On classic, standard McC production, the first two numbers are the blend code (#32), the second two are the batch number for the year (15), the last two are the year (11). So one ends up with blend #32 from the 15th batch of 2011.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Odd, it's just a new tin purchased from one of the prominent online retailers, yet the tin was made in 2011. You would think they go through a lot of inventory. Surely this isn't the last time McC produced this stuff. Who knows though, maybe when they produce a batch they make enough to last for a couple of years.

 

[gwtwdbss]

All the McC tins I have purchased have been tinned for at least a year except for Christmas Cheer. I think my 2012 tins have 072012. For your reference, on the CC series, I believe that the first two numbers are the month (07), the last four are the year (2012) as that blend uses only a six digit code.

 

[northernneil]

This is how I understand their dating as well.
I purchased a tin of Dark Star in 2012 that was dated from 2009, and just purchased another tin this year that was dated 2013...

 

[torque]

I just got two tins in last week with the 321511 bottom ink stamp (100 gm tins). I'm sure both McClelland and whomever the online retailer was are both using FIFO stock rotation (first in, first out) so this is probably the oldest they had. I'm sure there is some "younger" stuff in stock though.

 

[rickpal14]

I was in Iwan Ries last week while in Chicago on a business and specifically wanted to pick up a tin of St James Woods to try.... They had 4 100g tins in stock, 3 from 2011 and 1 from 2008...... guess which one Ricky went home with?????? :D
Delicious BTW!!! Definitely cellaring more.

 

[kcghost]

To paraphrase Tom T.Hall the secret of life is "faster horses, younger women, older tobacco , more money...."

 

[foggymountain]

When a retailer overestimates what he will need you can find older tins. I just got a large number of tins of 4 year old Bombay Court. It is remarkable.

 

[mikestanley]

The McClelland operation tries to maintain their stock of the green, brown and black labeled blendsfor between 2 and 3 years before they release it to retailers. It's really great IMHO.
Mike S.

 

[pipestud]

What Mike S. said. They actually shoot for three years on the shelf before release, but sometimes the demand catches up to them. That's why so many of you are getting well aged tins when you buy their blends.
Best,

Pipestud

 

[rickpal14]

What Mike S. said. They actually shoot for three years on the shelf before release, but sometimes the demand catches up to them. That's why so many of you are getting well aged tins when you buy their blends.

Good for them.... better for us!!!! :lol:

 

[gnatjulio]

Heh, just picked up a couple of tins of McClelland BB Tawny Flake dated to 2006 (710306). I guess I finally get to sample some aged tobacco.

 

[locopony]

I never dated a tin. I always dated women. I would think its much more fun and fulfilling

 

[lucky695]

i bought a bunch of FM Cellar from an onlike retailer that I had never used because everyone else was out.(in April) I won't mention the name for 2 reasons... the first one is obvious and the second is that they are not site sponsors... Anyway I got them and they were all early 2011 batch #3 i think. BONUS.

 

[ciderguy]

I never dated a tin. I always dated women.

+1
Kevin in the other thread suggested:

Ask nicely, and don't use any cheesy pick up lines, like; "What's a nice tin like you doing in a tobacconist like this?"

 

[haebar]

I just got in a bunch of McClelland tins that I ordered from Cigars International when they had their pre-Christmas 20% off sale. Most of the tins are from 2013 and 2014, but two are from 2010 and one is from 2009! These older tins are club blends: English Woods, Nocturne, and Quantum.