I’ve Lost My First Love......

[petes03]

Having been away from the forum for quite some time, and having no need to order tobacco for even longer, I was heartbroken to hear about McClelland. Their tobaccos were the first ones I fell in love with, and still remain my favorites.
I’ve got quite a large cellar and have had no need to order anything for a long while. I’ve been smoking my McClellands as normal in my rotation, and never thought about the idea of never being able to buy more.
I still have several pounds of McClelland hanging around, but not as much as I would like, especially if my favorites.
Seeing the prices that aged tins are bringing makes it very tempting to sell some of the ones that I rarely smoke. But it’s a conflicting idea, knowing that someday I may have the urge to smoke them, and they won’t be around.
In a way, I’m glad they went out like they did. I wouldn’t want someone taking over the company that didn’t put the time, effort and love into the tobacco like they did, and end up butchering some of the greatest tobacco of all time.
It still saddens me though, and each time I smoke a bowl, as I am at the moment, I’ll know that it’s a small treasure that I’ll never be able to replace.

 

[runningbare]

Well at least you have pounds of it.I had never tried it so I ordered one tin of 40th aniv. and they were sold out when I tried to get more.I still have half of it left for special times.

 

[radrick96]

I am a newb to the hobby and have never tried their blends. I’ll have to find some even though it seems like it’s a legend. Haha

 

[prndl]

Welcome back, sir.

 

[petes03]

Thank you.

 

[Casual]

It still saddens me though, and each time I smoke a bowl, as I am at the moment, I’ll know that it’s a small treasure that I’ll never be able to replace.

This is true of every second of time in a person’s life. We just don’t notice it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

N

Well at least you have pounds of it.I had never tried it so I ordered one tin of 40th aniv. and they were sold out when I tried to get more.I still have half of it left for special times.

Never buy less than a pound, or less than ten tins. A blend can vanish before you know it.

 

[Jwebb90]

I am a newb to the hobby and have never tried their blends. I’ll have to find some even though it seems like it’s a legend. Haha

PM me your address and I will mail you a few bowls of their 2015 Virginia Perique Flake.

 

[petes03]

N

Never buy less than a pound, or less than ten tins. A blend can vanish before you know it.

View attachment 31448

I see Blue Mountain and Deep Hollow! Two of my favorites.

 

[mso489]

Every month or two on Forums someone goes into mourning for McClellands blends. I agree that no one should try to match those blends. I'd say to other blenders, just do your own blends taking cues from McClellands as a mentor and example of what could be done, and apply it to your own original blends. McC's were perfectionists and discontinued a blend if the sourced tobacco was not sufficient. Even their tin art was exemplary. I have some unopened tins left and look forward to them. I sure wouldn't sell them. On the other hand, carried too far, this lament is a bit spoiled. For the moment, we are still in the greatest golden age of tobacco blending in terms of quality and variety, not to mention online availability, and there are spectacular blends out there in abundance, so we'd better enjoy that while it lasts, because apparently it won't. Welcome back!

 

[kcghost]

Steve Fallon at pipestud.com usually has a few tins for sale. The tins have a hefty premium because people really want the stuff.

 

[CanadianPipesmanSean]

PM me your address and I will mail you a few bowls of their 2015 Virginia Perique Flake.

Wow that's thoughtful. Bravo!

 

[radrick96]

PM me your address and I will mail you a few bowls of their 2015 Virginia Perique Flake.

Wow. Thanks friend! Sending message.

 

[CanadianPipesmanSean]

Hes (Steve) closed for a little bit till he moved to commercial spot.

 

[petes03]

Hes (Steve) closed for a little bit till he moved to commercial spot.

I talked with Steve a few days ago. He’s having some issues with contractors during this covid mess. He said it may be a few more weeks until he’s in his new shop.

 

[CanadianPipesmanSean]

I talked with Steve a few days ago. He’s having some issues with contractors during this covid mess. He said it may be a few more weeks until he’s in his new shop.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[mikethompson]

Every month or two on Forums someone goes into mourning for McClellands blends.

I was going to say the same thing Tom. It speaks to the following that McClellands had, and still enjoy.

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

Saying a person really misses McClelland is kind of an odd statement in my mind given the vast catalog they had. Everything from orientals to classic red Virginia's etc. I've sure if you have a specific McClellan blend you liked you should be able to find something else you like just as much, albeit not identical. But my two never sell McClelland blends in my cellar are yenidje Highlander and mccranie's red ribbon.

 

[pappymac]

Every month or two on Forums someone goes into mourning for McClellands blends. I agree that no one should try to match those blends. I'd say to other blenders, just do your own blends taking cues from McClellands as a mentor and example of what could be done, and apply it to your own original blends. McC's were perfectionists and discontinued a blend if the sourced tobacco was not sufficient. Even their tin art was exemplary. I have some unopened tins left and look forward to them. I sure wouldn't sell them. On the other hand, carried too far, this lament is a bit spoiled. For the moment, we are still in the greatest golden age of tobacco blending in terms of quality and variety, not to mention online availability, and there are spectacular blends out there in abundance, so we'd better enjoy that while it lasts, because apparently it won't. Welcome back!

I disagree. If someone wants to risk the ire of the absolutist McClelland crowd by making a match blend, then they have the right to do so. They can then leave it up to the market as to whether it is a good blend.

I do agree that there are many good blends out there. I buy them.

 

[mordy18]

Mclelland was gone and unavailable probably 3 months or so before I got into pipe smoking. It was frustrating because a high percentage of the youtube top blend reviews includes mclleland.

I bit the bullet and paid a ridiculous amount for a tin of FMC just to see what the fuss was about. It is damn good - rich, tasty and smooth (its a 2013 tin so Im sure the age doesnt hurt). I smoke a bowl of it every few months as a treat.

However, the more tobaccos I try the more I realize it really isnt a big deal. Still plenty of great tobacco out there - the variety available is astounding.