McClelland Christmas Cheer 2010

[RonB]

I had another bowl of McClelland Christmas Cheer that I had saved from 2010. Once again, it just didn't do much for me. Based on other's reactions to this blend and the age of the tin, I'm not sure why I don't like it more. It does seem to do a little better in a different pipe, but I smoked it in my Castello Sea Rock so I would have thought it should do well in that. I crumble it up and do try to sip it slowly.

I don't seem to be a big fan of the "plain" Virginia's, either. I prefer blends like GLP Cumberland, Montgomery and even Old Gowrie that are not pure VA's. GLP's Telegraph Hill etc are not my favorites either. SG Full Virginia Flake is better to my tastes; more so than the McClelland blends.

I know that tobacco preferences are very personal and can vary greatly from person to person, but I'm still surprised I don't enjoy this blend more.

Are there any others that have had this reaction to the McClelland Christmas blends? Or is it just me?

 

[python]

I agree with you. I have smoked quite a bit of Christmas Cheer of different years, and while I do find it to be a good quality blend, it's not really anything special for me.

I do like straight Virginia blends and, to my tastes, there are many other blends that I would choose to smoke over CC.

But hey, that's just me. If everyone liked the same stuff, it would be an awfully boring world.

 

[logs]

Same here. I like it okay but there are other McClelland blends I'd rather reach for.

 

[RonB]

I agree with you. I have smoked quite a bit of Christmas Cheer of different years, and while I do find it to be a good quality blend, it's not really anything special for me.

I do like straight Virginia blends and, to my tastes, there are many other blends that I would choose to smoke over CC.

But hey, that's just me. If everyone liked the same stuff, it would be an awfully boring world.

Thanks, I know the simple answer is that it is all a matter of personal taste, but I was starting to wonder if I was weird or something..... On second thought, don't answer that.

 

[sablebrush52]

As a matter of curiosity, how long to you let it dry out before smoking. These flakes can taste pretty flat if the moisture content isn't right.

 

[RonB]

As a matter of curiosity, how long to you let it dry out before smoking. These flakes can taste pretty flat if the moisture content isn't right.

I usually let it sit out for maybe 15-20 minutes before smoking. Maybe I should try longer?

 

[Kingsley]

I find Christmas Cheer to be okay, and that goes for all the McC’s blends I’ve had. Obviously, I weep over the loss, and it’s a shame that they’re gone, but, personally, I believe that at the end of the day, McC’s stuff was good, but just that. Not to say anything blasphemous, I just don’t believe it was made to be put on a pedestal. With the conversations I’ve had with the owners of my local B&M, people only bought three or so blends from them, and the rest just sat there. That is, until they went out of business, and then people went nuts about the stuff. Any blends can be as special as we make them to ourselves, but, luckily, good pipe tobacco is always available for the predominance of us.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I much preferred Red Cake over CC or any of the other McClelland special releases. Red Cake just seems to be a more well rounded leaf, IMHO.

 

[logs]

I usually let it sit out for maybe 15-20 minutes before smoking. Maybe I should try longer?

Wouldn't hurt to experiment with much longer dry times (overnight even). Or just throw it in the microwave for several seconds. A lot of flakes and broken flakes need to be nearly toasty dry before their greatness shows. It's a personal preference thing like every other aspect of pipe smoking.

 

[logs]

I find Christmas Cheer to be okay, and that goes for all the McC’s blends I’ve had. Obviously, I weep over the loss, and it’s a shame that they’re gone, but, personally, I believe that at the end of the day, McC’s stuff was good, but just that. Not to say anything blasphemous, I just don’t believe it was made to be put on a pedestal. With the conversations I’ve had with the owners of my local B&M, people only bought three or so blends from them, and the rest just sat there. That is, until they went out of business, and then people went nuts about the stuff. Any blends can be as special as we make them to ourselves, but, luckily, good pipe tobacco is always available for the predominance of us.

It's true only a handful of their blends were giant sellers, but they had a huge catalog of stuff just like C&D. It would be a major undertaking to become familiar with all the McClelland blends.

 

[RonB]

As a matter of curiosity, how long to you let it dry out before smoking. These flakes can taste pretty flat if the moisture content isn't right.

I usually let it sit out for maybe 15-20 minutes before smoking. Maybe I should try longer?

Wouldn't hurt to experiment with much longer dry times (overnight even). Or just throw it in the microwave for several seconds. A lot of flakes and broken flakes need to be nearly toasty dry before their greatness shows. It's a personal preference thing like every other aspect of pipe smoking.

I will. Thank you.

 

[BROBS]

I usually let it sit out for maybe 15-20 minutes before smoking. Maybe I should try longer?

Hahaha try a day... maybe 2.

 

[BROBS]

It's true only a handful of their blends were giant sellers, but they had a huge catalog of stuff just like C&D. It would be a major undertaking to become familiar with all the McClelland blends.

I’d say they may have had quite a bit more than C&D.

 

[sablebrush52]

I usually let it sit out for maybe 15-20 minutes before smoking. Maybe I should try longer?

Definitely longer. I'll give it 1 to 2 hours. There's a lot more moisture in that flake than you might realize. Break up the flake to speed up the drying time. When I smoke CC I'm looking for the tobacco to be just a little shy of bone dry. That means dry to the touch when squeezed, with no sense of cool moisture rising to the surface of the flake when squeezed, but still pliant.

 

[RonB]

Definitely longer. I'll give it 1 to 2 hours. There's a lot more moisture in that flake than you might realize. Break up the flake to speed up the drying time. When I smoke CC I'm looking for the tobacco to be just a little shy of bone dry. That means dry to the touch when squeezed, with no sense of cool moisture rising to the surface of the flake when squeezed, but still pliant.

Thanks!