After the first 2 I bought 10 more pounds. The flakes are darker but taste much the same.
Remembering McClelland Red Virginias
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I think I remember reading that Mike McClelland put his VAs through two summer sweats and that the sauce about which there has been so much complaint were both for the purpose of enhancing fermentation. Now any organic substance ferments of its own; these were in addition. It would be great if it were better understood.
Mike McNiel
McClelland came from Mary's first husband Carl R. Ehwa, Jr's grandfather.
Of those I have / had, 40th is my favorite.
2015 is an honorable mention. (Surprised nobody else has mentioned it)
Did not care for 5100
Also loved the FM series.
The one I most wish I'd tried (of those I didnt) is Blackwoods. Sounds right up my alley.
2015 is an honorable mention. (Surprised nobody else has mentioned it)
Did not care for 5100
Also loved the FM series.
The one I most wish I'd tried (of those I didnt) is Blackwoods. Sounds right up my alley.
McClellands #27 is a red & orange shag. It is my favorite. Simply Red from Watch City is as close to 27 and rings my bell.
Blackwoods Flake is another superb, tasty blend.
Blackwoods Flake is another superb, tasty blend.
When I started, based on advice from my mentor at the time, I remember buying a 1/2 lb of 2015 and an equal amount of something dark but not potent, but I never developed a liking for the former. Just couldn't find a place for it with my palate. This reminds me of a newb who said that he wasn't getting any kind of a pleasurable taste from the few bowls he'd had., He was advised to keep on smoking and he would, and I think that is correct.
We think in terms of cause and effect and comparison and contrast. So to know the present we need to know the past. Cause and effect. To know B we compare it to A. Comparison and contrast. So the palate can be likened to a wheel with the entire record of one's smoking experiences laid out, one next to the other. Latakia, VA/Perique, VA, and so on. So someone with an experienced palate has many referents for the current smoke, while someone new has yet to create them.
We think in terms of cause and effect and comparison and contrast. So to know the present we need to know the past. Cause and effect. To know B we compare it to A. Comparison and contrast. So the palate can be likened to a wheel with the entire record of one's smoking experiences laid out, one next to the other. Latakia, VA/Perique, VA, and so on. So someone with an experienced palate has many referents for the current smoke, while someone new has yet to create them.
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I’m
Their closing was both the worst and best kept secret in the tobacco industry. I knew about it months before they closed, but like others, was sworn to secrecy so that their customers could stock up without speculating hoarders descending on the remaining releases.
Many, not all Reds, not all McClelland.
McCranie’s Red Ribbon & Flake
Butera Blended Flake
PCCA - 1776 - Reds with 3% orientals.
PCCA - Millennium - Red/Orange
McC - 2025.
McC - #25 (red & black)
Christmas Cheer 2000, and all the orange/reds that followed.
McCranie’s Red Ribbon & Flake
Butera Blended Flake
PCCA - 1776 - Reds with 3% orientals.
PCCA - Millennium - Red/Orange
McC - 2025.
McC - #25 (red & black)
Christmas Cheer 2000, and all the orange/reds that followed.
Beacon Extra
Tudor Castle
Dark Star
Drama Reserve
Blackwoods Flake
Christmas Cheer
St. James Woods
Tudor Castle
Dark Star
Drama Reserve
Blackwoods Flake
Christmas Cheer
St. James Woods
You mentioned some real stellar ones there. Tudor Castle and SJW's were right up there. I, too, like Beacon Extra. All such McClelland blends I consumed as though they were candy.
2015 and Tudor Castle are fantastic blends imo. Recently grabbed about 8oz of 2015 and was excited to add that to the stash.
So long now since they closed, where do you find it?
In all honesty, it's pure luck. Unless you go to TinBids
I looked at tinbids. I'd be better off buying gold. :-/
I also loved Beacon Extra. I'd consider paying for an aftermarket tin of that one. I was not one of the people who knew McClelland was shutting up shop, and I was a new pipe smoker in 2017. I luckily grabbed 4 tins of 40th when it was released. It's among some of the first tobacco I ever took a chance on cellaring. 3 tins remain sealed. Tudor Castle is great (I wish I had bought more than 1 tin of that!) and I really like the #24. I bought a 2001 tin of that from Pipestud. I also have some unopened Blackney's Best Guillotined Slices I bought from a B&M after McClelland closed, that I'm sitting on. I imagine that's going to be great.
Loved Dark Star though hard to work with, worth the effort though, still have a 2007 tin in the paper packaging of Anniversary 25, i remember liking it years ago.
Cellaring and aging are fine, but don't do what I did, if you so will and favor. I had maybe 10 or 20 pounds of cellared tobacco that was aging but only smoked 10% of it, because I was aging the rest. 5 years, 10 years; no, I'll, just keep putting that back, because think of how good it will be at 20 years
In aging you have to walk the line between pleasure current vs pleasure future, with the emphasis on pleasure present.
In aging you have to walk the line between pleasure current vs pleasure future, with the emphasis on pleasure present.
