FOMO - Frog, Esoterica &?

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turtlehead

Might Stick Around
Jan 1, 2022
78
155
44
Citrus Heights, CA
timhalberg.com
Another unicorn I really like is Smokers Haven

I smoked a tin of both Our Best Blend and Exotique Mixture in 2019. I loved the Our Best Blend fresh, while Exotique was very good. I cracked open another tin of Exotique recently: Two years have made this one exceptional

?
oh now you're just toying with me....
now to dive this rabbit hole briefly, I'll be back!
 

J-Evverrett

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 17, 2021
268
701
42
Meriden, CT
I recently found tins of these brands in my cellar I forgot I had. Penzance and frog cellar. Love em both, not sure i want to smoke em though. Especially the frog. They’re fantastic, but once it’s gone, it’s gone.
 
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judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,539
40,686
Detroit
I always considered the Frogs to be “almost real tobacco “ blends - crossovers if you will - a blend that gently takes a new guy from 1Q to English.
Completely agree. I was a long time latakia smoker when these came out. Tried 2 or 3, went "meh", and that was the and of it.

As for the OP - it's up to you, but I would not. Lots of good blends out there.

FOMO - a media created anxiety.
 

pappymac

Lifer
Feb 26, 2015
3,674
5,404
Slidell, LA
I managed to get some McClelland blends the day after I found out they were shutting down at a local pipe & cigar shop. I paid the retail price at the time and not the inflated price they started selling for a few days later. I still have several tins unopened.

What gets me is that I kept passing over some McClelland blends like Master Penman only to discovered I really liked it after they were no longer available.
 

Sir Yak

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jan 15, 2022
229
678
Arkansas
I prob have about 20-30 tins of McClelland in my cellar. Mostly CC. They are unique. But I don’t think they’re the ultimate tobacco or anything. I think for less money you could be looking around for something readily available that you love. When you find that—cellar DEEP (if you want to). There’s no reason to assume more blends/makers won’t be going the way of McClelland. Or tobacco may become outrageously expensive. I walked into the Briary in Birmingham a few years ago. They had a bag of Penzance on the shelf for a fair price. I’d never been able to score any before. I left it and got a couple Rattrays blends to try that I hadn’t had before. Turns out I REALLY like Old Gowrie. And since then I’ve been able I stock up on OG a lot easier than I would have been able to pile up Penzance. Chasing the rare stuff is a fun game, but finding something that you like and is available is prob more useful.
 

Hovannes

Can't Leave
Dec 28, 2021
355
851
Fresno, CA
It's sort of like falling in love with Linda Evans, isn't it?
I mean, maybe you'll run into her on a Homes of the Movie Stars sightseeing tour
but you'll never get to grow old with her.
As much as I enjoyed several McClelland blends, buying the stuff now at 'spensive prices will only guarantee disappointment when you reach the bottom of the tin and you know you will.
I prefer spending my resources on finding a blends I can count on in the long run.
When those blends gets cancelled, you can recall how good they were and so make the new guys envious.
 
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renfield

Unrepentant Philomath
Oct 16, 2011
5,320
44,389
Kansas
I was fortunate enough to have cellared a lot of McClellands when they were ubiquitous and cheap simply because they were my favorites.

If you absolutely have to scratch the McC itch get a tin of their 40th Anniversary as a special gift to yourself and move on.

Don’t get too wound up about missing a tobacco that’s now gone. There are many great blends out there which are easily available and inexpensive.
 
May 2, 2018
3,975
30,790
Bucks County, PA
There are blends in both the Esoterica/Germain’s & McClelland houses that were truly exceptional. And, if you got the extra ? then I say what’s wrong with venturing out and grabbing some? I mean what else ya gonna spend your coin on? As long as your desire doesn’t outpace your billfold. ?‍♂️
Just remember, with the ? tins it’s diminishing returns as the supply is lost forever. And, the Jersey house gold tins/bags doesn’t care how much demand is present in the market. They do what they do and that’s it. ☕