Very Excited - a Lucky Strike

[madox07]

After a little more of a year of searching the poor Romanian pipe community and domestic auction sites, I finally struck lucky. I got me a 3.5 oz tin of Frog Morton the Original and McClaland no. 22 Virginia. Some dude, every so often, pops up on a local website selling tobacco tins (full and sealed) as "collectibles" (advertises them so, in order to avoid contraband laws). The no. 22 only has 3 reviews on www.tobaccoreviews.com, has any one had any experience with this blend? Honestly I wanted to try the red virginia blend they advertised on pipesmagazine.com last December (you know the red tin with the whale on it), but I guess I must settle with what I can find. My understanding is that no. 22 has some added black Virginia. The price, well I paid about 25% more than what you guys pay for them on pipesandcigars.com; but then again if I were to order it online from the states and pay tariffs and taxes, it would have been a lot higher.

 

[mso489]

The whale, often in gilded relief, is a McClelland trademark. Lots of their tins have it. McClelland is a major master blender of Virginias, so anything of theirs, especially with some age on it, is likely to be excellent.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Here is a link to 40 reviews
One of my favorites, but I like the style and have a strong preference for it over the heavily cased and topped cigarette strip from third world countries that passes for Virginia these days.

(Stepping off soapbox)

 

[brian64]

Some dude, every so often, pops up on a local website selling tobacco tins (full and sealed) as "collectibles" (advertises them so, in order to avoid contraband laws).

I take that to mean private tobacco sales are verboten in Romania...sad to hear. Congrats on the find...enjoy.

 

[madox07]

Technically in the EU only authorised sellers can trade tobacco for end consumer. I do not think anybody would care about me selling some unwanted bacy to my neighbor. This "dude" sells un stamped tobacco, meaning to special taxes are paid. Also he is not licenced to sell tobacco ... he is just some dude. He sold on and off throut his full activity roughly 2000 tins, some times rare stuff for the Eu.

 

[madox07]

Oh, as a side issue, Romania is a huge target for illegal tobacco from the serbian Republic and Ukraine - both non EU countries, with very low tobacco taxation. They bring cheap cigarettes over the border by containers.

 

[brian64]

Ah, I see...very interesting. I lose track of which countries have fallen prey to the EU. Funny how prohibitions and black markets are two sides of the same coin.

 

[brightleaf]

Choking on the smoke from a Lucky Strike somebody lifted off his old man 0:24-0:27

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhm6X38bu7s
Choking on the smoke from a lucky strike, somebody listed his McClelland

 

[newbroom]

It's got many more than 3 reviews.

Three people designated it as a FAVORITE BLEND

I'd go by what DK or Pipestud wrote.

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/781/mcclelland-no-22

 

[madox07]

newbroom you are right, I got mislead by the number 3 next to the blend, while the table head was not showing. Thanks for pointing that out.