After they shut the doors in 2018 who bought all of their remaining leaf stock? I have blends with Syrian and the tin dates are 2016 / 2017. Would be interesting to know where all their Syrian went...if anybody knows.
McClelland's Leaf Went Where?
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If you can track down someone's closing-out sale, you should be a detective. Everyone was so ravaged by mourning the closing, the Syrian Lat may have gotten carted off in the night.
Thread 'Syrian Latakia Is Gone ... Forever' Syrian Latakia Is Gone ... Forever :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/syrian-latakia-is-gone-forever.56560/
It's an interesting question. The Syrian was probably all used up by the time that they closed in 2018. Decent quality Syrian was getting hard to find.
My sources told me that there was very little tobacco stock left after the final deliveries.
My sources told me that there was very little tobacco stock left after the final deliveries.
Your sources are correct.
There was a little leaf left that McClelland sold to C&D, but it was stuff that both companies used and no one would be very excited about; it was just convenient for both parties. C&D also bought a small cutter (similar to one we already had, so not exciting, but great for us because it offered redundancy we didn't have previously) and a few other odds and ends (and Mike gave C&D some minor equipment too).
Thanks to all for the scoop on this. Long live C&D!
As a regular on this forum for 3 years now, I can finally gather the guts to post on one of these threads! They do come 'round every some months indeed!
The question I had in my mind but never bothered to ask, as it's nothing to me - I never tried McClelland, and never will - is this: apparently they were aging their leaf (blended or not) for 5+ years in several steps before tinning, so wouldn't they have known that the leaf they wanted was hard to find a good 2-3 years at least before closing.
Ok, worm, can, horse, dead etc
I'll bow out respectfully now, and leave some popcorn by the door.
The question I had in my mind but never bothered to ask, as it's nothing to me - I never tried McClelland, and never will - is this: apparently they were aging their leaf (blended or not) for 5+ years in several steps before tinning, so wouldn't they have known that the leaf they wanted was hard to find a good 2-3 years at least before closing.
Ok, worm, can, horse, dead etc
I'll bow out respectfully now, and leave some popcorn by the door.
Yes, this is all true. A vast operation of malicious deceit, headed up by the Elks, the Moose and the Knights of Columbus.
I saw it all go down, and have pictures to prove it:
They absolutely did know and they said as much in the closing announcement they published in January of 2018. Falling quality of raw materials was one of the reasons they decided to fold up the operation.
I call bullshit on that statement. They may have used that as clean escape to not anger the following, but they looked at their pocketbook and said "Fuuuck this slaving, working shit, let's close up shop and retire"
I have no doubt that the wear and tear of 40 years of hard labor played a role in their decision. But make your case for why their claims about the quality of leaf they were finding being bullshit. Whatcha got?
All I can say is that the rest of the tobacco world is still operating, making delicious tasting blends. I don't think everyone out there is using inferior, garbage leaf. Im not saying I'm right, this is purely my speculation. Besides, I thought it was their "secret curing process" that made their blends? It just doesn't seem like a viable reason to make them close up shop. Like I said, there is still quality leaf being produced
I do remember GL Pease making a statement right after McClellands that there is no shortage of quality leaf.
Yes, the rest of the tobacco world is producing many very successful blends but they aren't producing McClelland style blends. And as hard as they try they just aren't getting there. Mike had major back surgery in later 2017. The surgery was successful but it gave him pause to think about things. Mary and Mike decided to hang it up rather than continue. Remember Mary is in her 70's and MIke is in his 60's. Those of us who know Mike and Mary know the story, we have repeated it here zilliions of times and still people who don't know what they're talking about just have to share there "views" with the world. Give it a rest.
There is no hidden trove of tobacco or anything like that.
There is no hidden trove of tobacco or anything like that.
MC did subject their VAs while still in the bale to summer "sweats." That is they sat in the warehouse in unconditioned space through the summer.
Why do people keep talking about the McNeil’s decision like it’s a democracy and they were screwed out of their vote? McClelland was a private company which the owners elected to close. End of story. Believe their stated reasons, or think they’re mistaken, or assume they’re lying; what’s the point of the endless bickering? You’ll never know for sure, you have no right to know, and if you did know it just…wouldn’t…matter.
Fair enough. But nothing you said invalidates what the McNeils wrote. They had a particular set of metrics for what leaf they processed for their blends and weren't finding enough to keep going. The quality might be perfectly fine for what some other bender is making.
That's true everywhere. I'm pretty demanding when it comes to the work I do and I expect a high level of quality in the work others do for me. But other, equally demanding, shows have different styles and what is done on those shows wouldn't work for me.
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