I thought there should be a thread for discussing the different Christmas Cheer vintages. Which ones have you liked best and why? Which ones have you liked least?
Christmas Cheer 2003
This is from the 1998 crop (Old Belt). The flakes are thinner than usual, somewhat shaggy and very red upon opening the tin. I opened a tin this summer and so it had 10 years of age on it. I loved it for its deep stewed fruit flavors as well as the warm, mellow spice flavors. To me, it was like a cross between red velvet cake and a mixed fruit chutney. Now one of my all-time favorite tobaccos.
Christmas Cheer 2004
This is from the 1994 crop, so it had ten years on it before it was tinned. I opened my tin a few weeks ago, so it had an additional 9 years of aging. The flakes were darker than the 2003 and cut thicker, like the 2012 flakes. It was less fruity than the 2003, but had the same deep flavor profile, with more cigar-like notes, especially toward the finish. Benefits from a clean pipe and careful smoking.
Christmas Cheer 2003
This is from the 1998 crop (Old Belt). The flakes are thinner than usual, somewhat shaggy and very red upon opening the tin. I opened a tin this summer and so it had 10 years of age on it. I loved it for its deep stewed fruit flavors as well as the warm, mellow spice flavors. To me, it was like a cross between red velvet cake and a mixed fruit chutney. Now one of my all-time favorite tobaccos.
Christmas Cheer 2004
This is from the 1994 crop, so it had ten years on it before it was tinned. I opened my tin a few weeks ago, so it had an additional 9 years of aging. The flakes were darker than the 2003 and cut thicker, like the 2012 flakes. It was less fruity than the 2003, but had the same deep flavor profile, with more cigar-like notes, especially toward the finish. Benefits from a clean pipe and careful smoking.
