McClelland Dilemma - To try or Not?

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didimauw

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 28, 2013
9,894
31,605
34
Burlington WI
If you have them, smoke them. If you haven't tried them and don't have any, I personally wouldn't go searching. I've never tried any of theirs, or esotericas, and don't plan on it.
 
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renfield

Lifer
Oct 16, 2011
4,231
31,384
Kansas
With the blends you’ve listed I’d say to smoke them.

You might use the 5100 to blend with some other Va/VaPers to bulk them up. Try some straight first, though. A good red by itself but it really shines as a blending leaf.
 

DotAndBang’sPipes

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jun 27, 2016
217
465
43
Orlando, FL
My advice, and I sometimes remind myself of this when it comes to rare/expensive tobacco:

Sometimes the hype and the build up to it gets out of hand. "If only I could get a tin of this or that!", whether it is esoterica, mcclelland, whatever. Crack one of them, whichever you think will be the best for you, smoke a couple of bowls. I can almost guarantee that you will chill out about it, and realize that it is just tobacco. Sure it might be good, or unique, but it isn't going to be some life changing experience. At that point, you will be able to take a more reasonable approach to this decision.

If I were you, I'd crack the deep hollow, realize that its good, but it isn't going to change your life one way or another whether or not you ever find or smoke more, and then probably sell the rest and get a dozen tins of something else to try. Break the spell by just lighting it up, that's what it is for anyway.
Yes. This.
 

DotAndBang’sPipes

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jun 27, 2016
217
465
43
Orlando, FL
Smoke them.

There are so many unknowns: 1. You might drop dead tonight. 2. You might die tomorrow morning. 3. Death. 4. You might not like McCs. 5. You might love it and upon smoking the last bit of dottle from the last tin of McC you have, you might die then. So, I say, smoke it. Tomorrow has enough worry of it’s own.
 

Puffaluffaguss

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 30, 2021
642
2,099
32
The City Different
I gotta say smoke umm. I've tried 1 McC blend (penmans choice) that I received from a fellow forum member. I must say I sat on it for awhile not wanting to open it, and when I did I realized I should of kept it sealed. Don't get me wrong it was a decent aromatic it was good just not what I made it out to be.
 

otm

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jan 23, 2020
156
1,423
Texas
I too got in after they closed, but don’t regret opening a few of the tins I have acquired. I highly recommend Christmas Cheer and No. 24. No. 24 is the best straight Virginia I have tried thus far. I did pop a ton of Frog on the Bayou recently, but I feel as though there are many blends that are readily available and just as good.

I’d be happy to send a bowl or to of CC and No. 24 if you cover shipping.
 

BriarsAndBottles

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 4, 2022
293
1,210
36
Hercules, California
My advice, and I sometimes remind myself of this when it comes to rare/expensive tobacco:

Sometimes the hype and the build up to it gets out of hand. "If only I could get a tin of this or that!", whether it is esoterica, mcclelland, whatever. Crack one of them, whichever you think will be the best for you, smoke a couple of bowls. I can almost guarantee that you will chill out about it, and realize that it is just tobacco. Sure it might be good, or unique, but it isn't going to be some life changing experience. At that point, you will be able to take a more reasonable approach to this decision.

If I were you, I'd crack the deep hollow, realize that its good, but it isn't going to change your life one way or another whether or not you ever find or smoke more, and then probably sell the rest and get a dozen tins of something else to try. Break the spell by just lighting it up, that's what it is for anyway.
Ugh. I wish I could internalize this. I’ve cracked a few and still haven’t reached enlightenment lol. But every time I miss one I think it’s the end of the world. I’ll often find tins I forgot I bought, but at the time it felt like life or death. This hobby can be problematic for those with OCD
 
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americaman

Part of the Furniture Now
May 1, 2019
943
3,098
Los Angeles, CA
I wanted to get into pipe smoking shortly before McClelland closed, and ended up getting into it about two months after they closed in 2018. I remember looking to buy some when I first got into it (as my brother had told me about how cool their blend names were), and the Frog Morton series seemed to be sold out everywhere.

So because I wanted to try their stuff so bad, and had “just” missed the boat, I went on a mission to cellar deep with what I could find.
 

Ag®o

Lifer
Nov 14, 2021
1,222
14,107
Italy
Everything others have said, start smoking and evaluate, you will have a few more notches on your meter.
I don't have much of a specific tobacco, sure I have a little more than I like, but I have many different ones because I like to try everything that comes close to my profile.
My research is based on what I haven't tried yet, and there are many.
 

judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,149
32,917
Detroit
Smoke 'em. That's why you have them.
I don't have much McC, either, which I regret. But I smoke 'em anyway.
((Personally, I wonder why anyone would ever ask such a question. puffy ))