Thankfully the site is in German and I don't read that language. I am not finished cellaring my last blend ever, I don't need new ones. Everyone who reads German, go buy them out.
Who Is The Best Virginia Blender With McClelland Now Gone?
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I agree on HU tobaccos. I never heard of them until I was in a tobacconist while in Germany. Somehow I wound up ordering direct from the source while I was there. Maybe it's still possible? I am looking forward to getting some more when I go back this spring, that's for sure.
And... yes, the site is in German, but many of the blends have English names. And many english descriptions too. They're worth trying out at least once. Really, fantastic tobacco. Maybe the German version of a GL Pease? Perhaps even better.
Director's Cut is a very good VaPer to get started with and the rest... is just plain interesting. Fayyum Kake?
No cellar is complete without a selection from HU, in my opinion. It is that good.
And... yes, the site is in German, but many of the blends have English names. And many english descriptions too. They're worth trying out at least once. Really, fantastic tobacco. Maybe the German version of a GL Pease? Perhaps even better.
Director's Cut is a very good VaPer to get started with and the rest... is just plain interesting. Fayyum Kake?
No cellar is complete without a selection from HU, in my opinion. It is that good.
Dan tobacco makes some really great VA blends in my opinion. With Dunhill and McClelland both exiting the market, Dan tobacco is my next favorite in line. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Jinxed it....
Harris,
The site is in German und English. Click on any of the tobaccos and the description of the ingredients is in English.
Jeez, buy some Director's Cut so that you can become helpless in its thrall. Then try Old Fredders, Sunset, Makhuwa, Jery Sarrono if you're in the mood for an aro with cherry and Amaretto, or any of the other blends available. But perhaps they may be flavorful for you. One thing about the tobaccos Hans sources for his blends, they are not bland cardboard. They are pulled from all over the planet and are something wonderfully different from American and UK tobaccos.
The site is in German und English. Click on any of the tobaccos and the description of the ingredients is in English.
Jeez, buy some Director's Cut so that you can become helpless in its thrall. Then try Old Fredders, Sunset, Makhuwa, Jery Sarrono if you're in the mood for an aro with cherry and Amaretto, or any of the other blends available. But perhaps they may be flavorful for you. One thing about the tobaccos Hans sources for his blends, they are not bland cardboard. They are pulled from all over the planet and are something wonderfully different from American and UK tobaccos.
jesse, my google translator wanted to translate it for me and I declined. I am not going to get captured in anyone's thrall, I have enough damn tobacco. So quit tempting me as I know what you are doing, you want to see me sleeping with unopened boxes on my bed because I ran out of room.
HU tobaccos are nice, but you actually need to pay attention if they are in stock...
Nicht vorrätig = Not in stock
You might need to go the group buy route vis-à-vis past Motzek Strang. Good luck.
Nicht vorrätig = Not in stock
You might need to go the group buy route vis-à-vis past Motzek Strang. Good luck.
Esoterica VA's dont even rate for me, why? Because they're essentially gone too. Can't find them, and when they do pop up too many people are playing whack-a-mole.
McClellands were top notch blends, that anyone and everyone could easily get their hands on.
McClellands were top notch blends, that anyone and everyone could easily get their hands on.
Chrome does a better job with Google's semi-literate translator. It so easy, even you could use it. You know you want these blends, Harris, you know you do. It's only the fear that you will realize how bland are all those Esoterica and Wessex blends you have wasted your money buying. Face your fear, Harris. Buy HU and set yourself free.
Samuel Gawith: Full Virginia Flake, Best Brown Flake, Golden Glow, Full Virginia Plug, Kendal Plug.
Gawith Hoggarth: Bright CR Flake, Curly Cut, Deluxe Twist XXX.
Sutliff: 507C Virginia Slices.
P Stokkebye: Luxury Navy Flake.
Dan Tobacco: Hamburger Veermaster.
Mac Baren: Capstan Original Navy Cut, Capstan Gold Navy Cut / Yellow Flake.
Astley's: No.44 Dark Virginia Flake, No.109 Medium Flake. Wessex and Fribourg & Tryer also have some interesting ones.
Basically, I find that German Virginia tobaccos, while good, are interchangeable. The exception is Dan Tobacco, who manages to get that old school spirit. I also have some HU tobaccos that I haven't tried yet but they have a good reputation. For Virginia only tobaccos, I prefer the British/English tradition with usually a casing that's not too sweet while the Germans tend to have a sweet tooth. This is of course my experience with Virginias, your millage may vary.
Gawith Hoggarth: Bright CR Flake, Curly Cut, Deluxe Twist XXX.
Sutliff: 507C Virginia Slices.
P Stokkebye: Luxury Navy Flake.
Dan Tobacco: Hamburger Veermaster.
Mac Baren: Capstan Original Navy Cut, Capstan Gold Navy Cut / Yellow Flake.
Astley's: No.44 Dark Virginia Flake, No.109 Medium Flake. Wessex and Fribourg & Tryer also have some interesting ones.
Basically, I find that German Virginia tobaccos, while good, are interchangeable. The exception is Dan Tobacco, who manages to get that old school spirit. I also have some HU tobaccos that I haven't tried yet but they have a good reputation. For Virginia only tobaccos, I prefer the British/English tradition with usually a casing that's not too sweet while the Germans tend to have a sweet tooth. This is of course my experience with Virginias, your millage may vary.
I think Jesse has you pegged Harris. I've been wanting to say the same thing to you but didn't know how to broach the subject. Besides that, you know you enjoy buying the tobacco even more than you do smoking it. C'mon man, it's for the children. LOL
Even before McClelland closed up shop; my favorite straight Virginia blend is Dan Tobacco - Patriot Flake. Love that stuff. Dunhill Flake is a close second, but unfortunately they're going away as well. SG Golden Glow is a very good and underrated Virginia as well.
My tastes run to dark tobaccos with a nicotine wallop: Dark Flake and Plug, brown and black rope, 1792, Irish Flake, War Horse, etc., and VA/Perique,: Escudo, Stonehenge, Solani 633, but I also smoke straight VA: Christmas Cheer 2012, MC 40th, FVF, Chenet's Cake. Of those four I have about 13 pounds.
Oh, I also have a 200g, 2003, canister of Heinrich Special Curly and an 8 oz canister of 2007 Laurel Heights. Not contemplating more VA now.
Oh, I also have a 200g, 2003, canister of Heinrich Special Curly and an 8 oz canister of 2007 Laurel Heights. Not contemplating more VA now.
I wonder if the sad demise of McClelland means there will be a glut of leaf on the market come next harvesting time. This could mean many things but I wonder if perhaps prices might fall?
Also possibly new blends might become available in countries where the long arm of the FDA cannot reach.....now that would be nice.
I don't know how much leaf McClelland got through in a year but I should imagine it was considerable.
Regards,
Jay.
Also possibly new blends might become available in countries where the long arm of the FDA cannot reach.....now that would be nice.
I don't know how much leaf McClelland got through in a year but I should imagine it was considerable.
Regards,
Jay.
I, too, am in search of the closest "ketchup" essence to McClelland. Cosmic mentions Rattrays, which I will try as I have never bought any of their red Virginia selections having had access to McClelland. Any other good vinegar-esque options? Which Rattrays may come closest to say, No. 27 or Red and Black?
mawn', the notion that McClelland closing would lower prices on other blends because tobacco prices would go down seems farfetched, I think, because much of the U.S. tobacco market is exported anyway, and the greater demand is oversea, plus the new regulations, if they swing into full effect, will increase the prices of blending so much, it will absorb any savings and add high (huge) administrative costs. Cigarettes and cigars have gone sky high while pipe tobacco has been relatively inexpensive, but I'm afraid we're losing that edge. And increases could be steep. Make friends with some of the over-the-counter tub blends and stock up on some of those. A tin of premium pipe tobacco could easily double. What's $!0 online and $20 in a pipe shop will likely double. How many walk-in customers at pipe shops can lay down $40 for a tin? Maybe things aren't as bad as we think. In the Navy there was a sarcastic response to excessive optimism: Dream on, sailor boy.
Jay, it's fun to speculate, but my guess is it won't affect prices at all. In the vast scheme of things, McClelland was barely a drop in the ocean. Pipe and pipe tobaccos are a tiny portion of the market, and McClelland was a small, though essential, part of that. Tobacco prices are already very low, such that farmers are ditching tobacco and are planting other crops which pay much better. Lower prices will result in smaller production.
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