McClelland: A Philosophical Question

[alaskanpiper]

Thanks for the suggestion, Jesse. Frog Morton on the Bayou made for a great summer smoke, and I’m sure Frog on the Log will as well. I shall pop a tin soon.



I was just joking around with Frank. I was pretending to play into the McClelland hype where people were scrambling to find a Frog Morton replacement (and still are). With that being said, I do like McClelland blends and Frog Morton was one of the first blends I learned of. So McClelland and Frog Morton brings back good memories, even though I haven’t tried the original yet. When I first got into piping McClelland had just closed down, but I was able to find a good amount of various tins and bulk.



Truth. There are at least a few McClelland sleepers. I think people focus so much on Frog Morton, FMC, Anniversary and 5100 that some start believing those are the only worthwhile blends they produced.

For sure, there are tons of sleepers. They made a hell of a lot of blends.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Other than Yenidje Highlander, which was gone before McClelland shut its doors, Deep Hollow was my favorite thing they produced.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Other than Yenidje Highlander, which was gone before McClelland shut its doors, Deep Hollow was my favorite thing they produced.

Just cracked some 2007 Yenidje Highlander. The latakia has actually held up amazingly well in that blend.

 

[sablebrush52]

For sure, there are tons of sleepers. They made a hell of a lot of blends.

Just opened a 2011 tin of Sophisticate. You never hear anyone mention that one. It's a really delightful matured red, and it's gotten a wondrous sweetness over the years, like caramel candy.

 

[mingc]

If you asked me to choose between FM and HU Fayyum (among others) I’d shoot that frog in the brains immediately.

Waste of a bullet. I'd whack it with a spade myself.

 

[renfield]

The problem with waiting for that special occasion to smoke a special tobacco is that the day may arrive without you.

Don’t regret not enjoying something while you’re still able.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Just opened a 2011 tin of Sophisticate. You never hear anyone mention that one. It's a really delightful matured red, and it's gotten a wondrous sweetness over the years, like caramel candy.

This is good to know, as I have two 2011 tins on the way here! Hahaha.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just cracked some 2007 Yenidje Highlander. The latakia has actually held up amazingly well in that blend.

You should have tried it fresh. Being Syrian though it was still a bit mild.

 

[americaman]

It's a really delightful matured red, and it's gotten a wondrous sweetness over the years, like caramel candy.

I too have experienced the caramel aroma/flavor. The candy-like sweetness must have been one of McClelland’s signatures. My five year aged 925 has that candy sweetness.

 

[alaskanpiper]

You should have tried it fresh. Being Syrian though it was still a bit mild.

Haha, would that I could have! Joined the party too late

 

[Chasing Embers]

Haha, would that I could have! Joined the party too late

That one got discontinued three years before the end due to lack of Syrian. The only reason I have so much is that I had a pipe made for it.

 

[alaskanpiper]

That one got discontinued three years before the end due to lack of Syrian. The only reason I have so much is that I had a pipe made for it.

It was all discontinued before I ever picked up a pipe. Aside from a brief romance with a basket pipe and some smoker’s pride vanilla cavendish when I was 17

 

[Chasing Embers]

It was all discontinued before I ever picked up a pipe. Aside from a brief romance with a basket pipe and some smoker’s pride vanilla cavendish when I was 17

Ah, 17. That was how old I was too, just never put it down.?

 

[sablebrush52]

This is good to know, as I have two 2011 tins on the way here! Hahaha.

At $8 a tin?

 

[alaskanpiper]

At $8 a tin?

Haha, I wish. I was a little late to the party for McClelland, they shut down before I ever picked up a pipe.

 

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

Thanks for the fun input, everybody. I’m smoking every bowl of these Virginias with gratitude (and a prayer that someone miraculously gets the McC recipes). I like many other blends but as I’ve smoke back through these jars I have to admit to myself that I haven’t smoked anything else that’s close to the McC Reds. Not the end of the world but still a loss for those of us who like Vas.

 

[sablebrush52]

I’m smoking every bowl of these Virginias with gratitude (and a prayer that someone miraculously gets the McC recipes).

Getting the recipes wouldn't bring them back. You'd be lacking the quality of leaf that was available to McClelland, the sources they used, and you wouldn't have Mike McNeil riding the production line, sculpting those flavors. Everything has its season, including McClelland. Over is over.

 

[weezell]

Alas, in the end it's just tobacco. Smoke it...

 

[newportpipe]

View attachment 31000

Succubus! Great episode. Your wish list is gold!

 

[logs]

Getting the recipes wouldn't bring them back. You'd be lacking the quality of leaf that was available to McClelland, the sources they used, and you wouldn't have Mike McNeil riding the production line, sculpting those flavors.

plus Heinz 57 is getting harder to source