McClelland Christmas Cheer 2007

A bit on the darker side of the CC's I've smoked, with McClellands typically pungent fermented tin aroma. Thicker flakes than previous versions I've smoked, and came wetter than I like. In fact, it took an overnight out on a paper towel to get this dry enough to fully enjoy. Comments are based on 2 oz, as I want to save the other 2 since this is my only tin.

Very balanced blend, with a total harmony of grassiness, sweetness, spiciness and tang. Rarely did any of these come to the fore except for the very end of the bowl, when the spiciness took over just a bit. Balanced... and that was I think what kept it from a 4th star. This had none of the brashness of 2005 (and '06 to a degree) and little of it's spicy roundness. This was flat in comparison, but still a tasty blend. I think I would have liked it more if one of those four attributes took over and lead the parade. But there is a place for blends like this in my rotation, for when I don't want to pay close attention to the flavors as they build in other blends. As with all the CC's, this is unfritzed-with Virginia tobacco - very natural. And all the different years I've smoked taste at least somewhat different. This one is mellow and inoffensive. For my taste it could have been a bit bolder. But it's a nice blend as it is, and I can't expect them all to be as incredible as the '05. Recommended for VA lovers that prefer balance.

This one was a little stronger than some of the other CCs. Hardly any grass notes, more earthy, not quite as tangy as I expected or savored in other years. Still had the familiar "vinegar" smell, though I didn't notice it much at all, not even in the first few puffs. The flake was thicker than usual, too. It was still sweet with dark fruit notes, and a very bare hint of spice here and there. Has a mild nic-hit, and won't bite or get harsh. Burned slow, need a number of relights and left some dottle even with some dry time, though I did not completely dry it out. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

I was able to procure the last tin/tub of this wonderful tobacco from my local tobacconist, and for a reasonable price. To begin with, I knew what I was getting into with the aged VA's, but some newbs might be confused as to why this is called "Christmas Cheer," and isn't positively laced with cinnamon, cranberry, clove, nutmeg topping and pine-cone essence. Well, for starters, that'd likely be disgusting. Second, this tobacco is more to showcase some absolutely top quality aged Virginia tobacco in limited quantity around the holidays.

Upon opening, the first thing you notice beyond the small-ish flakes of dark virginia is the distinct fermented smell. Indeed there is a noticeable vinegar/ketchup aroma floating on top of that natural tobacco smell. But with all great tobacco's, every time you sniff, you get something different and there's many layers here. There's that really great VA, earthy, autumn leaves aroma going on and I know I said it wasn't "christmas-y" but is that clove I detect in the background? Tiniest hint of vanilla?

Even after aging for a year, there's still a good amount of moisture in the flakes, so after rubbing these somewhat thick flakes out, I recommend giving them a moment to dry. Char-light, tamp, relight, tamp, then final light and you should be good to go. You'll notice instantly that the vinegar-y smell is virtually gone once it's lit. Man oh man, this tobacco has turned me into a VA fan. Smokes nice and cool, though stronger in taste and nic than what I'm used to. The spicey/sweetness is subtle but distinct and the cleanliness of the aftertaste is about as perfect as you could hope for. About midway through the bowl, this tobaco took on a bit of an espresso note, amazing stuff. Hardcore aromatic fans may likely not enjoy this, but I find it to be a truly great, natural VA tobacco. Glad I bought this!

Update: Just to put some emphasis on what I think this tobacco is and what I think it will be in the years to come, I put 18 tins away for storage (#1 by tins for me). This also blends wonderfully. I wish McClelland would sell bulk bags of this vintage. YMMV and that means more for me!

Original: Just about as delicious a red Virginia you can find. Medium-plus taste quotient, but not really bordering full. Once I opened the tin, I could not stop smoking it, and it kept getting better as it aired. I am rubbing the flakes out somewhat for a better burn. Tongue bite is not an issue. Any size and configured pipe works just fine.

Sweet, rich, and refined, tasting exactly like, well, Virginia leaf! Not cased nor artifically flavored in my sampling, I do not know how this gets an average rating of "Extremely mild" for flavoring on TB.

Wonderful now and likely even better in years to come.

I knew I should have waited..... But, since I've smoked every vintage of Christmas Cheer except this one, I figured I'd give it a try. Rough around the edges, but certainly has the potential to age well. The tobacco arrived very chunky in the tin and was certainly not yet in smokeable form the way I like to work the leaf.

I have read where some reviewers do not appreciate the difficulty in rubbing 2007 CC out. Try taking a pipeful or two out of the tin and place it on a paper towel or napkin for an hour or two. Then rub it out with ease. The moisture content should have dissipated substantially and keeping it lit will not be a problem.

This vintage tasted a bit stronger and was more odorous than the most recent offerings. Perhaps I'm being an optimist, but I really do believe this one could develop into a bellringer with 5 or more years of age to it. My other two tins are now in my "cellar."

CC '07 comes in the familiar and welcome red wrapped tin and when opening it, you are greeted by the familiar McClelland ketchup/acid-like aroma (something I have grown to look forward to). Has familiarity bred contempt for this new edition of Christmas Cheer? To make a long story short, no. Absolutely no.

CC '07 comes in smallish flakes of medium thickness that are quite dark in color. Immediately upon opening the tin I realized that I would need to dry it out a bit, so I left the tin open for a couple of hours before smoking any. I did my usual fold, twist and stuff and then hit it with flame from my Ohio Blue tip (extra-long kitchen size) and it was "Lucy, I'm Home!" Sweet, musty, pungent and spicy smoke greeted my palate with a sensation that made me ask, is there perique in this? That perique-like sensation lasted throughout the bowl and every bowl since.

CC '07 is very good. VERY good. I am glad I bought a few tins, because I look forward to trying this again with some age on it.

Nothing bad can be said about any of the Christmas Cheer blends. They have never tinned anything but tobaccos of the highest of quality for this once a year release. The popularity of some years over others thus becomes a question of taste more than quality. This said, to my taste Christmas Cheer 2007 is the best release of the decade- - so far.

CC 2007 is a mellower blend than many previous ones, exhibiting a rounded sweetness which balances extraordinarily well against the reediness that many, including me, seek in smoking Virginia tobaccos. The bowl starts round and sweet, does not lose its roundness as it moves to reedy, meanwhile a "non-aromatic", "non-soapy", completely natural floral top note teases the palate. This is a great one.

I always have trouble reviewing Christmas Cheer. They are all great for lovers of pure Virginias (like me), but even though the Virginias come from different growing areas, the taste differences are so subtle (at least to me) that it is difficult to compare and contrast them. The only one that I think I could identify blindfolded among the ones I've tried is the 2002, which seems to take the idea of single-crop purity found in this series to the level of outright austerity...

The 2007 is just what one expects from the CC series: pure, American Virginia served up in the McClelland way.

UPDATE**** I aged this tin from September 2007 until today. It is amazing!! It is aging wonderfully. The Virgina is at its peak. The taste has sweetened. I wish I would have bought more than one...



ORIGINAL***

It is smooth and creamy with a vinegar/clove smell that does in fact invoke a holiday air and feeling. It does have a calming effect just smoking a pipe full whilst warming yourself by a fire with a brightly lit Christmas tree and your favorite Christmas shows on the tube.

The Virginians are brilliant in taste. It has an aromatic taste but is easily better than any aromatic. Well done. 4 stars.

Can burn quite hot but with a little care is a smokers delight.

I am usually a fan of latakia in some degree or another. I am also a cigar aficionado and have switched to pipes after a long hiatus...20 years or so...and am now coming back with a vengence and love getting back to briar and the diversity of pipe tobacco. I decided to try McClelland upon a recommendation from my tobacconist and loved the can (that's right, I did judge a book by the cover). It was also two days before Christmas and thought I would try a Christmas Blend for a bit of a change. Upon opening the can, it did smell like ketchup. The first pipe was OK and before I was completed with that first bowel, I was thinking I wasted my time and wanted a taste of latakia. My second bowl a few days later was surprisingly better and after a few more bowls, I was sold that this was a blend I would keep as a regular.

I think this will age nicely and will buy a few tins to stash away. Am now going to venture out to Virginans which are not blended with latakia. Any recommendations anyone? The room note is very pleasant and one test that gives any tobacco that I smoke is the comments from my wife. She loved it. I also feel it leaves a nice cake on the bowls. I do not detect any tongue bite. Really a tobacco I can smoke everyday.

Addition #1: Smoked this in one of my meerschums and it was truely a treat. Smoked very cool and was a nice mouth wash after a strong Odessey smoke tonight.