McClelland 5100 Officially Discontinued

[alan73]

Philobeddoe: I like your logic. 5100 is good to mediocre tobacco leaf, not their high end...retail prices tell me so. If they can't source this , well then... hoard all McC virginias.
As for worldwide bulk tobacco sales, McC 5100 is absolutely NOT the best selling tobacco, nor in the top 10 as far as I know. Ask Scandinavian tobacco group, mccllelland is a pip squeak compared to their bulk offerings

 

[cosmicfolklore]

mccllelland is a pip squeak compared to their bulk offerings

What does this mean? 5100 is one of the most acclaimed Virginias in America, especially in the non-aromatic bulk category. is usually rebranded by B&M's like 1Q is, and I have only ever been in one B&M that didn't have it.
If you are talking worldwide, well of course, as McClelland and C&D aren't sold worldwide.

 

[deathmetal]

consolidation in the tobacco product manufacturing marketplace

A predictable consequence of regulations. Raise cost, and this limits entry, so the big guys dominate and then merge with one another to further reap those quasi-monopolistic profits.

 

[leacha]

It's a quality of leaf issue. Mike's standards are sky high, and he refuses to sell a product he's not satisfied with.
(Info source: Mike himself. He's in the KC club and I see him regularly.)

Ugh! Just had a thought. Who do you think will use this shitty leaf that Mike didn't want?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Blends like most things don't last forever, and even while they last, they often change. I've seen favorites come and go in the past 27 years, and was lucky enough to cellar some, and grieving those I didn't (Mephisto especially). There are more blends to try and fall in love with before the FDA and the WHO have their way and wipe smoking off the face of the Earth. Sadly 5100 has likely fallen, but such is the tobacco world.

 

[alan73]

Cosmic: i was responding to the earlier statement that 5100 is the biggest bulk blend ever. the hyperbole forced me to post .

 

[jitterbugdude]

Leaf is no longer pulled as individual leaves ripen. The entire plant is mechanically taken, ready leaves and not ready. It is then "cured"

Where the hell did you hear this?

 

[whiteburleydude]

My tobacconist told me that in Ohio, B&M's can no longer buy pipe tobacco components, blend them and repackage them for resale. I know they used to do it all the time and yes, 5100 was a big part of that.

 

[cwarmouth]

NOOOOOO!!
I JUST posted on how I got this for Christmas, tried it, and loved it. This keeps happening to me.

 

[lifesizehobbit]

...before the FDA and the WHO have their way and wipe smoking off the face of the Earth.

I don't want this to be interpreted in a pure political sense, but more of a "shaking my head" comment:
Yet we have legalization of marijauna on the rise. Leaf is leaf, smoke is smoke. Let's hope we're around long enough to see the pendulum reverse toward pipe tobacco.

 

[cortezattic]

Who do you think will use this shitty leaf that Mike didn't want?

It may not be shitty -- just not the leaf that McClelland requires for 5100, and they don't want to fail to meet customer's expectations. Better to discontinue it than to acquire a reputation for unpredictability.

 

[sablebrush52]

This is the time for those of you who love this blend, to dry your tears and to get to the phone and call your B&M's to secure yourself some. It's not like there isn't a ton or two sitting in back rooms around the country. That may not be the case in future.
I bought a couple of pounds years ago for use as a blending base, as it's not much of a blend on its own, so I's OK whether it's here or gone. But those of you who love this blend should get going while it's still in the wild.

 

[mso489]

I'm reading this as permanent, not a suspension until a better crop is produced, as I first thought. Perhaps as an accommodation to the customer base an acceptable Virginia could be sold in bulk, not a 5100 replacement, but simply as an alternative in the absence of 5100. If no single leaf rises to the purpose, perhaps a Cavendish? McC could wait a respectable period, so it is clear they are not passing one off as the other.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, I just called several B&M's and secured as much as I could afford. So, you guys had better do the same before it's all ghosted off the map. Self preservation boys, if you love this blend, then stock up. If you have never tried it, then you are the lucky ones. Better to not know what you've missed than to have your absolute favorite blend yanked out from under you.
Now, to start sterilizing some jars... I'm sure my wife isn't going to be happy about this, especially just after blowing the Christmas budget.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This should be a clear explanation to the new guys as to why us old hands have been hoarding tobacco for years. Just because it is a popular blend doesn't mean it's always going to be there.

 

[sablebrush52]

But fear not, newbies! When some old codger who salted away 100lbs of 5100 croaks out, leaving 99lbs in jars, you'll have another chance to secure this beloved monochromatic boring blend.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

:::cough cough::: Yeh, you guys may be in luck. I am sick, so luck may be on the newbie's side.

 

[woodsroad]

My tobacconist told me that in Ohio, B&M's can no longer buy pipe tobacco components, blend them and repackage them for resale.

That's not just Ohio, it's nation-wide, as a result of the new FDA deeming regulations. Commercially blending tobacco, repackaging or relabeling is considered "manufacturing" and requires FDA approval and oversight.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Woods, You are correct, except maybe on B&M's being able to rename bulk blends. If you'll look around at B&M's they still rename 1Q and 5100 etc, that is why they have these inane names. However, if asked, they will tell you the real names, unless they are stupid. There'a certain tobacconist in Gatlinburg that was hit big with fines for telling people that they made the bulk blends, which were obviously Peter Stokkebye products. I'm not sure if that particular B&M still does this, but my favorite B&M's still rename, and told me that they've checked and what they do is still ok.

 

[weedsnager]

Not cheap, but I can get a few pounds for $79 a pound if anyone needs some