I appreciate the advice Sable. When do you think they hit their sweet spot? Based on your response, would you say judge them by the leaf age, not the tin date? For example when would you open the McClelland 40 year?
It varies. McClelland operated on the same practices as the better British blenders. They aged their blends for years before releasing them, such that they were ready to smoke when released. Further aging would introduce changes that some might consider an improvement, while others might not. The most profound changes happen in the first 5 years, according to Greg Pease, and further change is much more incremental.
When I opened my first tin of the 40th, right after it arrved from my initial order, it was very satisfying, enough so that I bought another 30 tins of it. That reminds me, I should pop another tin of it. I haven't smoked it since that initial tin.
I figure most Virginias are ready to enjoy when released, if pre-aged, or within a few years. They may continue to deepen and sweeten, or not, over the next decade or two, then it starts to get more hit or miss, with some blends becoming overly floral, musky, or just plain dull.
So I don't spend money on buying a 30 year old tin unless I've got money to spend on satisfying my curiosity. And I wouldn't spend a cent on something over 45 to 50 years of age. They may be fine, or they may be zombie vomit and I just don't want to spend the money to find out. Burleys are a better bet to hold their flavor for a long, long time, based on my personal experience. YMMV.
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Nah only 9 years older. Smoke it. I think it's as good as it's going to get. And you never know when something will happen like some psycho path starts his tongue collection with yours! I mean unlikely but.... it could happen.
