McClelland: "We're Just Going to Close the Doors"

[cigrmaster]

midwestern,

Has anyone else had the talk with their significant other about how all this unopened tobacco is truly an investment and how the value will only go up? lmao

I am divorced so I don't answer to anyone. I have had a conversation with my older children about what to do with any tobacco I have left after I take my dirt nap. They know it will be valuable and they know there are outlets to sell it. My oldest daughter mentioned the other day that she wants to take an inventory of what I have. I told her she is more than welcome to do this. She has no idea what she is walking into.
My youngest son (22) lives with me and sees what I have. I have one last blend I am cellaring and then that is it for me. I loaded up on the one MC blend I smoke( Butera Dark Stoved) with 140 tins. I figured one tin a month for the next 11-12 years should be sufficient.

 

[woodsroad]

It's bewildering. You hear about people like this, when a friend's parents are sick and their siblings show up with a moving van.

 

[thomasw]

Thanks a lot for some fantastic straight VA blends. The ones I will miss the most: Red & Black, 40th Anniversary and Christmas Cheer. Glad that I do have a few tins of these to bide my smoking into the next couple of years.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have one last blend I am cellaring and then that is it for me.
I’m sure everyone here believes that Harris. I for one am just thankful you can’t smoke most of the Mcclelland Virginias or I’d have never been able to find my own little hoard.

 

[mso489]

All honors to Mike and Mary for bringing pleasure to millions of pipe smokers over the years. I consider McClellands THE master blender of Virginia-based blends and source of quality single-leaf. If they follow through with their plan to close the doors, it is a great loss to pipe people everywhere, and I will hope for some miraculous change of heart in the meantime. Whatever they decide, they are exemplars of the pipe tobacco blending guild.

 

[cigrmaster]

Mark,

I’m sure everyone here believes that Harris.

I am serious, I have one last spot for a few more boxes and that is it. I will end up sleeping with boxes on my bed if I don't stop soon. I am not trying anymore new blends. It is the only way to stop this insidious TAD. I am going to spend my remaining years on PAD as there is always room for new pipes.

 

[sablebrush52]

It's bewildering. You hear about people like this, when a friend's parents are sick and their siblings show up with a moving van.

There's nothing new about this behavior. Look at what happens when any hard to find blend appears. It's piranha central. In this case it's a whole brand of blends that is going to disappear. That's why those of use who knew about this kept our big mouths shut. Otherwise the frenzy would have happened much, much earlier and their regular customers would have been screwed. I've no doubt that's why there was no formal announcement. They were taking care of their regular and loyal customers.
As for me, my stocking up would fit into a basket on the front of my bicycle. I picked up a few tins of blends that I'd been meaning to try and that's it. I'd already stocked McClelland that I like, and I have enough other stuff cellared.

 

[plugugly]

This run on McClelland blends reminds me of what it was like back in 2012 or 13 (or 14 or 15 for that matter) to try and buy Wessex or Ashton or ANYTHING Cigarmaster had his eye on back in his cellar building days. That enormous sucking sound you heard as inventory disappeared as if by magic? Yes, it was Harris. After he fills those last "few more boxes" alluded to above I expect the price of tinned tobacco to decline at least 10% or so due to solely to the decrease in demand occasioned by his absence. My only worry? What Harris thinks is "a few boxes"
Plugugly

 

[wyfbane]

Cosmic,
Didn't know about the blue whale story. That is great!
Dan, sorry your thread got destroyed. lol.
Jesse, I said this in the other thread, but I applaud Mike and Mary for having the integrity to close the doors instead of selling to a company that likely wouldn't be able to reproduce the quality of the current McClelland blends.

 

[cigrmaster]

plug, it wasn't me after early 2013. I finished my cellar back then. The only really new thing I have bought in any real quantity in years was the Butera. I never cellared any Ashton blends so blame peck on that one. Also peck cellared at 2-3 times my rate so blame his sorry ass as well back then. :nana:

 

[crashthegrey]

I also hope that we hear what they do next. If they don't retire and move into another business, I'm sure it will be the best in the field. I'm hoping it is something fun.

 

[mrenglish]

P&C still has McClelland blending tobaccos. I broke down and bought some of their Blending Perique. It is great for spicing up blends like Bullseye Flake and what not. Just a thought if anyone is interested.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

This great blending house that Mike and Mary built with their own toil and sweat will live on forever in the hearts and minds of the pipe community; they have much to be proud of.
Harris, on the other hand, is a tobacco hoarder of the first order and deserves to be vilified and put in stocks and placed in the public square. He is the root cause of all tobacco shortages.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Nice tribute to Mike and Mary by Pipestud, here:
http://pipestud.com/pipestuds-latest-blog/

 

[coldsmoke]

Mourning the loss of 2020 and Balkan Beauty.
I have one tin of BB and zilch of 2020 in my cellar.

I am sad.

 

[cigrmaster]

peck, ppuuuullllleeeeaaassssee, my hoarding is not even on the same planet as yours. Don't forget people saw your over 600 pounds on that tobacco cellar site. You should be drawn and quartered for your hoarding.

 

[beefeater33]

I'm Happy for the McNiels, and wish them a long enjoyable retirement. I'll miss a few of their blends, but like many, I have stocked the cellar sufficiently............... ::
I've got a question- Where did the "McClelland" name come from for the company? Just curious........

 

[jpmcwjr]

The real story: Once the McNeils determined that Harris and Peck had stop buying by the freight car, they knew their sales would wilt, and wisely decided to retire.
I'd also like to know about "McClelland"- it's a family name on my Mom's side.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I may be mistaken, but I believe the McClelland name comes from Mary's maternal grandfather.

 

[jaytex1969]

Hello, Tom. We've missed your froggy face 'round here.