McClelland Christmas Cheer 2010

The vinegar/ketchup smell does appear in the taste of the tobacco, though it's much lesser than it smells. The Virginias are very ripe and dried dark fruit sweet, a bit tangy with some earth and a hint of grass. At times, I get raisin notes and some nutmeg, too. The actual taste of tobacco is sublimated by the fermented sweetness. Burns a little slow with some moisture, unless you dry it some first, which I don't recommend. Not a dull or harsh spot to be found. No bite. Has a mild nic-hit. Requires relights, and will leaves a little moisture in your pipe. Has a smooth and consistent flavor with a nice after taste that pleasantly lingers. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

I took a swig of last year's CC at my local pipe club meeting. Very familiar as I have smoked darned near all (I think) of the CC offerings since McClelland's began the famous CC blends almost 20 years ago.

Sweet, mellow Virginia packed with a crop of fine leaf. Never am disappointed by the flavor but always seem to want a bowl of something more powerful right afterwards. If 5100 ever showed up in broken flake form, this would be it.

I love the Christmas Cheer series, though this one, the 2002, and the 2005 are the only ones I've tried. I have an unopened tin of 2007 stashed away. I love how the Christmas Cheers are such pure Virginia from a single area and sometimes a single crop. My sample of the 2010 was gifted to me; otherwise I would not have opened it at this time. Sure, the tobacco itself is 2004 crop, and is nicely aged already, but with a few more years on it...pointless argument. This is a great smoke already. Just buy one tin to smoke and another to age! I can smoke the 2002 (and I do, but try to make what I have left of it last) and get more mellowness, but it is good to try this one newly tinned. Even though it might be a little bit better in a few more years, there are no rough edges now. Fine, pure American Virginia from the masters of fine pure American Virginia, McClelland.

I'm making my way through different tobaccos to sort out what my favorites will be, since I've just gotten back into pipe smoking. Been smoking pipes since 1993, but was more ingrained in cigar smoking these past 15 years. This I picked up, just because I didn't know where to start with the McClelland brand, figured a specialty tin would probably be my best bet. Opening the tin one does get the vinegary/catsuppy aroma people say. The tobacco is quite moist, so some air drying was necessary. However the wait was worth it. This is the most pleasant smoke I have had in some time. Can't quite put my finger on the taste one gets when smoking, but I liken it mostly to butterscotch. It has a velvety/buttery/slightly salty character. Can't really say the room note is pleasant, since I smoked the first bowl outdoors, but the lingering aroma was definitely not overbearing, so I'm gonna say this is definitely tolerable. Can't wait to smoke some more. *update* smoked another bowl and was just blown away. Gotta change my stars up one, and make this a classic keeper.

This is my 5th different Christmas Cheer, and so far my favorite. The tin aroma is intoxicating. Very strong spice smell, like that of cloves. The spiciness comes through the smoke a bit, but mostly what you get is that classic sweet red VA taste that McClelland is so famous for. Maybe just at a higher level due the the superb quality of the leaf. Easily 4* and soon to be cellared by the pound in this house.

Upon opening a 3 year old tin of Christmas Cheer 2010 I was greeted with broken flakes well mixed with oranges and reds with scattered black strands all in various sizes. It was a little on the dry side, which was just right for me, and the tin note was the familiar McClelland vinegar smell. An unlit sip produced no flavors, and a charring light gave a light sweetness. Overall this blend tasted of delicious butterscotch to me, and the slower I puffed, the richer the buttery sweetness became. It left a short finish with a pleasant room note. I really enjoyed this blend and I’m glad I have a sizable stash of it to puff on as it ages. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a good sweet rich Virginia blend if you can find it anywhere. I know I’ll be buying any vintage tins that hit the market that are within my budget.

The CC 2010 is a disappointment to me. I loved the 2009; some of the best stuff I've smoked, and I re- ordered. The 2010, to me, was OK right after I opened it up, but my over-all feeling is that it has a sourness, an acrid taste, and it leaves a similarly unpleasant odor in the room. I didn't much care for the 2008, either, so I am hoping that the every-two-years pattern kicks in again with the 2011, which I have yet to order. The reviewer who noted difficulty in keeping it lit may need to rub it out more completely and allow it to sit out for a while.

This is my first of the Christmas Cheer series, and my only disappointment is that I didn't buy more than I did. This broken flake needs to be rubbed out since the flakes aren't very large, and the tobacco does need some airing out, but the flavor that I get is that of an astounding Virginia.

In the tin, I get the scent of fermenting red wine. A lot of people call it the ketchup/vinegar smell that McClelland VA's are popular for, but red wine was the smell that hit me, and I love it. But smell is subjective. My wife sniffed the tin and claimed to smell pickles. Go figure. The charring light does indeed give off the red wine flavor, but after settling down, I get a sweet and tangy taste on the tongue that is absolutely incredible. I also detect some baking bread thing going on too.

My favorite tobacco is McC's 5100 Red Cake, and Christmas Cheer is similar, but a little stronger in taste. I can't really comment on room note since I smoke out of doors, but the flavor of this tobacco is what keeps me coming back to it. I'll definitely need to stock up on this one.

This blend is not quit as zesty as Blackwoods Flake and not quite as full as Dark Star, it's almost perfectly in between. Sweet taste with a pleasant mellow scent. I can't wait to see how it ages.

McClelland does it right again this year! My tin of 2009 just became better and better with each smoke, and I have no doubt this years blend will do the same. A great Virginia flavor, slightly English, smooth and buttery, with not a hint of casing. Rather than one tin, which I had of 2009, I'll get several of 2010.