McClelland 2010?

[coyja]

Just picked this up from a well known B&M. Was in a glass jar that had obviously seen many years of use, and there were a few other McClelland bulks still left there, too, all seemed legit.
I bought without looking it up, so wasn't aware that this normally a flake, but does this look legit?
I don't think the B&M in question would bother trying to trick someone on this, they are mostly a cigar business.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have several pounds of 2010. It was a bull Virginia flake but if it were handled a bunch, I suppose it could look like your packages. Smoke a bowl, if you've smoked much McClelland Virginia, you'll know in a few puffs if it is legit.

 

[coyja]

I have several pounds of 2010. It was a bull Virginia flake but if it were handled a bunch, I suppose it could look like your packages. Smoke a bowl, if you've smoked much McClelland Virginia, you'll know in a few puffs if it is legit.

I accept that challenge.
LOL!

 

[Sewage Pipe]

Now I'm no expert but after zooming in, I find it hard to believe that was once a flake. Just to be sure, I would send 1 of the vets here a bowl or two to confirm it is or isn't. I'm sure you won't have to beg too hard, and it can fit in a regular envelope.

 

[balkisobrains]

Yeah, it doesn't look like it was ever a flake. Also, it doesn't really look like the McC VAs that I've seen before.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Looks wrong to me but as hoosier said, the bag note alone should tell you if its a McC virginia. If you smoke it and can’t tell, then does it matter?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

It was broken flake to begin with. I believe those McClelland bulls came in 5 lb bags. This could have been the last of a 5 lb bag and crumbled up pretty good. It's certainly the right color.

 

[jzbdano]

Shame on that B&M.

 

[mikestanley]

Seems more likely that the label on the jar wasn't changed but the tobacco inside was. It just doesn't look like it was ever a broken flake.

I knew a guy who owned a Chinese restaurant. He would run his bare hands through the fried rice to "fluff it up" and make it look fresh. Maybe he's now working at this cigar shop? Probably not.

Mike S.

 

[coyja]

Well this is all disturbing info. I suppose a return trip may be necessary.
It was Tinderbox in Columbus, at the Easton location.

Its almost exclusively a cigar stop at that location, so I didn't read think twice about it.
I really only ever smoked the 5100, so wasn't aware that 2010 should be a flake.

My wife was running around with our son and I need to be quick so I didn't look up what it should look like, and they made a point to say "this is the last of the McClelland" as if they knew what was up.

Having said all that, I just smoked half a bowl and this tastes just like Deep Hollow without the top note or ketchup, so IDK what the hell I have, but it tastes like McClelland to me. Its not something like 1Q, I've had that in bulk. This is definitely the bright, lemon/peppery Mcclelland taste.

Some other online think this might be C$D but this looks a bit redder than the C&D bulk bless I see online.

 

[mikestanley]

Well this is all disturbing info. I suppose a return trip may be necessary.
It was Tinderbox in Columbus, at the Easton location.

Its almost exclusively a cigar stop at that location, so I didn't read think twice about it.
I really only ever smoked the 5100, so wasn't aware that 2010 should be a flake.

My wife was running around with our son and I need to be quick so I didn't look up what it should look like, and they made a point to say "this is the last of the McClelland" as if they knew what was up.

Having said all that, I just smoked half a bowl and this tastes just like Deep Hollow without the top note or ketchup, so IDK what the hell I have, but it tastes like McClelland to me. Its not something like 1Q, I've had that in bulk. This is definitely the bright, lemon/peppery Mcclelland taste.

Some other online think this might be C$D but this looks a bit redder than the C&D bulk bless I see online.

.

The last time I was in that shop was probably 1999 or so but, I sincerely hope they are being honest about what's in the jars. Columbus is a pretty good city for pipesmokers. The thing that strikes me as odd as the look of the tobacco is that there would actually be any McClelland left in Columbus after this much time.

Mike S.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Did you like it? Unless they ripped you on price, if you liked it, smoke it.

 

[coyja]

.

The last time I was in that shop was probably 1999 or so but, I sincerely hope they are being honest about what's in the jars. Columbus is a pretty good city for pipesmokers. The thing that strikes me as odd as the look of the tobacco is that there would actually be any McClelland left in Columbus after this much time.

Mike S.

Thats what puzzles me. Cbus is a city that actually has a pipe smoking culture.
But this B&M is heavily cigar based, and in a weird location, so who knows.
I will say, its pretty dry. Not hurt dry, but not really any moisture to speak of.

 

[coyja]

Did you like it? Unless they ripped you on price, if you liked it, smoke it.

I'm supposed to be on a smoking hiatus because I just got put on BP meds.
I bought it to squirrel away for later, but if its not McClelland, then I don't really need to add it to the pile of stuff I have to smoke. I'm more annoyed than anything, I'd just like to know for sure what it is I bought.
They also had several other blends, 2045, M60, 2040...

 

[coyja]

Ok, so the follow up here is that the guys at Tinderbox were totally cool about it.
They tried to figure out where it came from but the best that could be landed upon was that maybe something else was labeled classic Virginia and got put in there on accident.
While they were digging through their stock trying to see where it came from I saw some McClelland that wasn't out that I was fine with swapping for, so its all good.
Thanks for all the feedback and help gents!

 

[coyja]

I got the rest of their M27, others they had.

 

[pepesdad1]

What hoosierpipeguy said...if you like...smoke it, don't worry about the name.

 

[cigrmaster]

Not to be a buzz kill but it looks like Smokers Pride to me.

Just kidding I have no idea what smokers pride looks like.

 

[jzbdano]

Great to hear they made it right with you. Thanks for reporting back.

 

[badbriar]

Man - from what I see in the pipe jars there, if they are primarily a cigar shop like to see their cigars!
That's more pipe tobacco than I've seen in a shop in over a decade!