Potential McClelland Christmas Cheer Rival? Perhaps!

[boston]

I'm not an expert, and I don't smoke a lot, but I have ample experience with McClelland. I've also had some of the newer Va based releases (generally special releases I think) out of SP/C&D/Laudisi...and in my view these guys are serious. Knowing Sykes in a past life (meaning a long while back) this is what I expected to see after he acquired C&D.

Top shelf tobacco, and I can see the quality references or comparisons ...even some flavor references, with McClelland as reasonable.

 

[mso489]

If I think too hard about Virginia blends, I have to go pack a big bowl of burley.

 

[otm]

Not similar at all IMHO

 

[sablebrush52]

I expect that the CRF will mature very nicely and be fine in its own right.
But it’s not undergoing the kind of processing that McClelland did, which resulted in a uniquely identifiable House style. The NcNeills haven’t shared that info. It’s not going to be McClelland-like.
Expressing CRF’s qualities in terms of “McClellandness” only confirms that McClelland is THE standard.
McClelland is A standard. There are others. Maybe CRF will become its own standard.

 

[woodsroad]

This Carolina Red flake 2022 batch has quite the high natural sugar content. I also recall many of the Christmas Cheer blends containing the "Orange Tip" Virginias. I don't know you guys, but with the proper age..... This could be a worthy contender for those who miss the famous McClelland Reds!

Only time will tell. I only wish I bought more that a few tins.

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Nope.

 

[Papamique]

This Carolina Red flake 2022 batch has quite the high natural sugar content.

I agree! CRF is a very very good red Virginia. I like it better than CC.

CRF is a very special selection of a particular vintage of orange tips high in sugar content and I find it to have a wide range of flavors. A surprisingly full flavor range for a singular leaf blend. Naturally sweet and rich in oils it is, as they say, exceptional quality leaf with a distinctive character. I bought all I could once I tasted how unique it was.

 

[krizzose]

I’m lucky enough to have a solid stash of CC, so I’m actually glad CRF is different. I don’t think the oldest CRF is any where close to old enough to know how good it can be, but what I’ve tasted so far certainly bodes well.

This is purely my own opinion (not worth much at all on the open market), but I’ve always thought that McCelland’s Virginias are very soft and relatively mild, while being very rich in flavor. To my tastebuds, CRF is considerably bolder, packing much more ooomph than McClelland’s Virginias, even CC. That’s not better or worse, just different.

 

[anotherbob]

Some will say vinegar, but some of the Virginias that cosmicfolklore was tinkering with had a very McClelland profile with no added flavoring.

I do know certain bacteria release vinegar when they ferment things. I highly suspect it's the way they ferment it. Otherwise I think the code would have gotten cracked by now.

 

[NomadOrb]

Cringle Flake sometimes reminds me of CC. It has a baking spice thing that approaches what I got from CC.

 

[Worknman]

As others have iterated, crf is a good straight virginia that stands on its own.

As far as mclelland goes and their secret method, a few clues can be gathered from listening to what Mike used to say. First of all they used very high sugar leaf, which apparently today is hard to come by. Then they fermented the crap out of it. Ive heard him say it goes thru several summer sweats.

I believe the ketchup note is from the fermentation process as the sugars are converted to acetic acid. Im not a chemist so I could be wrong but thats the theory at least.

 

[Al Gore Rhythm]

This Carolina Red flake 2022 batch has quite the high natural sugar content. I also recall many of the Christmas Cheer blends containing the "Orange Tip" Virginias. I don't know you guys, but with the proper age..... This could be a worthy contender for those who miss the famous McClelland Reds!

Only time will tell. I only wish I bought more that a few tins.

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They’ve got you fooled bro

There is no similarity of any C&D product to McClelland in any way.

 

[gervais]

They’ve got you fooled bro

There is no similarity of any C&D product to McClelland in any way.

Maybe you have to let time in the tin work its magic. The leaf varietals are the same, but it's all relatively fresh compared to the leaf of McClelland people are smoking

 

[TheWhale13]

They’ve got you fooled bro

There is no similarity of any C&D product to McClelland in any way.

You can't just come in here and say that someone tastes "the wrong way".

 

[gervais]

Maybe it won't be "McClelland", but it might turn into a Red Va that people hold as dear to their hearts as McClelland produced

 

[Al Gore Rhythm]

Maybe it won't be "McClelland", but it might turn into a Red Va that people hold as dear to their hearts as McClelland produced

I get what you’re saying but I highly disagree.

 

[BriarBrook]

I've heard there are similarities between CC and Watch City's Rouxgaroux... haven't smoked either one.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Maybe it won't be "McClelland", but it might turn into a Red Va that people hold as dear to their hearts as McClelland produced

This. The CRF is excellent all on its own. I think mcclelland Virginias were in their own category. Doesn't mean other Virginia blends are in a lesser category, just a different one.

 

[timt]

I apologize that your taste buds have been affected, it must be very hard for you.

BROBS is back.

 

[Al Gore Rhythm]

If anyone thinks C&D is just as good or on the same level please pM me and I will trade you 1:1 tin for tin. As many C&D tins as you want.

 

[NomadOrb]

I apologize that your taste buds have been affected, it must be very hard for you.

Let people like what they like. Mcclelland was really good, so are many other Virginias.