RIP McCranie's Red Flake

[prairiedruid]

I had emailed McCranie's about if there was going to be more Red Flake and Red Ribbon available for sale. Unfortunately there is no more Red Flake; they did say there will be some more Red Ribbon arriving soon. Luckily when the McClelland's announcement came out I was able to order a bunch of Red Flake before it sold out. Another tasty Virginia blend bites the dust.

 

[mawnansmiff]

According to Tobaccoreviews.com McCranies Red Flake ended production in 2008. Was there a later version ever made?
Regards,
Jay.

 

[dmcmtk]

Red Flake is done.

 

[prairiedruid]

2008 was the crop of red virginias they used for the flake. All my tins were tinned in 2012. I had held out hope that they had some of the 2011 crop they used for the Red Ribbon that had been used to make Flake but alas no.

 

[sablebrush52]

I was surprised that they still had some of the 2008 crop still available when I ordered a few more tins a couple of weeks ago. Might pick up some of the 2011 Red Ribbon, but as it is, I have a fair amount stashed away of the 2008 and earlier. Sad to see it go.

 

[balkisobrains]

I almost went with some Ribbon & Flake before they sold out last time. I have a lot of 40th and some other McClelland VAs, so I figured that is OK. People should be happy to hear this news! ::

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

Glad there is more Red Ribbon coming, I prefer it to the flake. Funny, in all this McClelland mayhem, I have only heard a few people mention their superb McCranie's blends.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have only heard a few people mention their superb McCranie's blends.

Not everyone is a fan of straight red Virginia and the $15 per tin price may have had something to do with it. You're also talking two blends versus the substantial and eclectic McClelland offering. Once it was 100`% clear McClelland was done though, the red ribbon and flake flew off the shelves.

 

[sablebrush52]

Funny, in all this McClelland mayhem, I have only heard a few people mention their superb McCranie's blends.

Perhaps not many realized that McClelland processed McCranie's Reds. McCranie's Reds were a small corner of the tobacco universe, a superb one, but a small one, kind of like a Romanée-Conti versus Gallo.

 

[cigrmaster]

Many people also didn't realize that all of the Butera Virginia blends were also made by MC. I saw some Royal Vintage: Dark Stoved in stock at SP while people had already picked the MC blends clean.

 

[glassjapan]

Thankfully when the sold out signs hit McCranie's website, they were sitting on a bunch of both at the brick & mortar. Was able to load up one more time in person. $15 a tin seems like a bargain compared to the craziness on eBay.

 

[sablebrush52]

Thankfully when the sold out signs hit McCranie's website, they were sitting on a bunch of both at the brick & mortar. Was able to load up one more time in person. $15 a tin seems like a bargain compared to the craziness on eBay.

I'm happy that you were able to buy some of the McCranie's Reds. Great smokes!
As for McClelland eBay prices, while it's still too early to say for sure, my instinct is that this is a bubble born of shock, surprise, and desperation and that it will eventually deflate. Most of these blends were produced in sizeable quantities and are not rare. Sellers are striking before the iron cools off.

 

[craiginthecorn]

I met a pastor today who just moved to the area from Charlotte. He was smoking McCranie's Red Ribbon. Turns out that he learned to smoke a pipe at McCranie's and Red Ribbon is about the only tobacco he has ever smoked over nearly 20 years. He only had five tins left. I suggested that he call the shop in case they kept a stash for their regular customers. Imagine that! One tobacco. There's a man who knows what he likes!

 

[rmpeeps]

“Many people also didn't realize that all of the Butera Virginia blends were also made by MC.”
Talk about coming full circle!

In ‘97 the first tin I ever bought was some Butera Golden Cake, processed for Mike by McClelland, and purchased from McCranie’s online.

What a long, strange, trip it’s been!!

 

[The Pipe Professor]

I met a pastor today who just moved to the area from Charlotte. He was smoking McCranie's Red Ribbon. Turns out that he learned to smoke a pipe at McCranie's and Red Ribbon is about the only tobacco he has ever smoked over nearly 20 years. He only had five tins left. I suggested that he call the shop in case they kept a stash for their regular customers. Imagine that! One tobacco. There's a man who knows what he likes!

Wow, that is impressive. I suppose it's hard to determine if he actually likes the blend or not since he has never compared it to anything else. This is both fascinating and disheartening as there are so many great blends available. However, kudos to him on his loyalty for some many years. If this blend is no longer available do you imagine he will continue to smoke a pipe or just call it quits? Thanks for sharing.