McClellands IS GONE?

[shayde]

I have been out of the loop just about ever since I joined the Army (4-5 years now), when did McClellands go under? And what have people found as good substitutes for their favorite blends?

 

[alaskanpiper]

More like forced under......not sure exactly when........a year or two? I'm sure some of the geeks that have been around longer will have the whole story with deets for you. Can still be found on ebay for gouge prices (although gouge prices are all relative, a lot of members will pay easily that or more for good cigars).

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

More like forced under

They weren't forced under. With it getting harder for them to find the quality tobacco they were known for, for their blends, they chose to retire.

 

[alaskanpiper]

They weren't forced under.

See, told you I don't know shit. I just go around repeating things I hear elsewhere like a robot.

 

[georged]

I've known Mike and Mary for a long time. They live about three miles from me.
The only reason the plug was pulled was because it was time to do so. Everyone reaches retirement age, and they were both simply tired after 40+ years.
Please disregard any and all speculation and/or stories you hear to the contrary.

 

[timt]

See, told you I don't know shit. I just go around repeating things I hear elsewhere like a robot.

Priceless... :clap:

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yeah, Mike and Mary had a good run and just decided it was time to slow down and pursue other interests. Good folks there. They took the business down with their retirement to prevent any changes made by potential new owners to the company they had established.

 

[Chasing Embers]

And what have people found as good substitutes for their favorite blends?

Nothing really. I cellared McClelland deep enough to last thecrest of my days, but have since gone on to enjoy other blends.

 

[weezell]

...

 

[jpmcwjr]

'E's dead, I tell you!
Nooo, he's just sleeping.

 

[ashdigger]

McClelland is gone? Holy crap. I must've missed the 4,363 threads bemoaning that.

 

[craiginthecorn]

This reminds me of the Japanese soldiers left defending remote islands years after WWII had ended.
Please excuse my having a bit of fun at your expense shayde. Thanks for your selfless service.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25772192

 

[danimalia]

See what you get for serving your country, young man... :P
Happy 4th of July!

 

[alaskanpiper]

Thank you for your service! And happy 4th of July!

 

[mso489]

I can understand completely. I came back from the Navy in summer 1972 to attend grad school, and I have been learning ever since what blocks of cultural activity I completely missed. I did see the moon landing on TV while we were waxing the floor while I was in radioman school. And they did play the movie "Woodstock" on the mess decks of the minesweeper i was aboard. But TV shows, movies, musical groups, and personalities from that era ... many of them are completely lost on me. I think of it as the Rip Vanwinkle effect. So back to Virginia tobacco. No one else has emerged as a consummate master of Virginia blends, with that scrupulous sourcing of tobaccos and that attention to detail. However, from blender to blender there are scores of excellent Va and Va/Per blends. You just have to shop a lot, read reviews, sample in small quantities, and find what you like. With most McClelland blends, you couldn't miss. No one's going to do them that way again.

 

[sablebrush52]

You're not going to find matches for McClelland blends. There are other great blends that are different from McClelland. Greg Pease isn't exactly a slouch when it comes to blending. If you like Virginias and Va/Pers, check out Union Square, Telegraph Hill, Sixpence and Triple Play.

 

[mikethompson]

It will be a duller place around here for sure when there are no McClelland threads

 

[kcghost]

You can replace McClellands tobaccos with whatever you just don't expect it to be the same. Mike and Mary are friends of mine also and after Mike's back surgery (went very well) and the inability to get leaf of their standards they decided to fold there tent. Yes, there's plenty of Virginia out there but there are no farmers who make the tobacco to their standards. They were in business forty years so you can't blame them.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Please disregard any and all speculation and/or stories you hear to the contrary.

I've been passing around the story that they were in a fight and a distracted Mike fell into the tobacco press. Mary, in a fit of anger, pushed the button pressing him into 200 pounds of bright Virginia. She was going to call the blend Frog Morton Missouri Mash.

 

[cigrmaster]

Than you for your service.

I have 40 Virginia,Virginia/Perique, Virginia/Kentucky/Burley flakes,plugs and rope in my cellar and only one is a MC made blend.
Here are a few of my favorites that are readily available.

Escudo

Solani 633 and 660 Silver Flake

Capstan Blue Flake

Mac Baren Old Dark Fired

Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky