McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2009 pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 18 of 18 reviews of this tobacco
Mr. Mac	03/04/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Most McCelland virginias need to mellow in a closed, unsealed tin for months before they're any good, and Christmas Cheer 09 is no exception: I bought and opened a tin of it before Christmas and it's only now starting to be smokable. Medium strength, with a sweet, sharp edge. A vanilla note does emerge near the end of the bowl, but it's a naturally occurring flavor, not a casing or topping. The McClelland ketchup smell is present in abundance here. I find it compliments a stoved virginia but in Christmas Cheer it's a bit too much. I can't taste it in the smoke, but I can taste it in my pipe afterward. I like Christmas Cheer 2009 and will finish my tin, but I don't think I'll buy any more of it. There are other McClelland products I like better, like No. 21, 2015, Blackwoods Flake, and Dark Star, and better broken flake virginias on the market (Old Gowrie) as well.
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Brother Of The Leaf	02/18/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Out of all the McClelland 'Christmas Cheer' blends I've only tried the '06 and '09, so my knowledge on this collection fairly limited. Therefore, I cannot compare to many other of the blends, but in comparison to the '06 it's not quite as good. The '09 blend is extremely sweet, something I welcome in my tobacco. This tobacco is a blast of figs and dates in your nostrils, and a mouthful of lemon pie and a bit of mint while smoking. However, it does bite the tongue a tiny bit. I would highly recommend this tobacco!
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Hermit 78	02/03/2010	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
I was looking forward to trying CC2009, since few years of age makes such a big difference in how a virginia flake tastes. It's typical McClelland--ketchup smell in tin (which I love), needed a few weeks to breathe a bit, etc. However, I'm most of the way through the tin and the taste hasn't really impressed me. It's not exactly bad, but it's kinda monochromatic. It also has a flavour-to-heat ratio that I usually associate with "green" virginia, a quality that persists in freshly cleaned bowls of various sizes. I like Dark Star, Blackwoods Flake, and some of the McClelland bulk tobaccos quite a bit, but this one doesn't quite do it for me. Still, it's the thought that counts. A single vintage, well-aged, limited production Christmas flake is a darn good idea.
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jazzmoose	02/01/2010	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
If you've got a bit of a sweet tooth like I do, you'll know why I gave this one four stars. Starts out very sweet, with fuller taste developing as the bowl progresses. Yeah, I'm sure it will age well like everyone says, but heck, this one's good right now!
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thepauperpiper	01/27/2010	Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Much more mild than I had expected but not disappointed in my purchase. When you first open the tin, you can really detect a fig/molasses scent but that seems to dissipate during smoking. I was under the impression that the taste would linger a bit longer on the pallet but it did not. It is definitely a smoke for the cold weather and I would encourage anyone in the holiday spirit to grab a tin each year it is produced. The room note is more than the taste but the taste is good. These two combinations translates into everyone enjoying this tobacco during the Christmas season.
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Capt. Cavendish	01/19/2010	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
You can imagine my surprise when I found a can of this stuff under the tree on Christmas morning--with my name on it no less. I've always been a wee bit leary of gimmicky pipe tobacoo (so-called special editions which are usually factory seconds in a pretty can), so I partly suspected this blend might make me feel a bit like Clark W. Griswold when Cousin Eddie shows up at the door. I kinda thought it would be hard to get rid of if you know what I mean. But of course that was when I had no idea what was in store upon opening the tin. Wonderful aroma...I wish I could smell that opening aroma again. Sugarplums? No. Gingerbread? Not exactly. Balsam fir? Keep guessing. Catsup--a wonderful, vinegary catsup kind of smell that filled my nostrils and stirred my imagination (talk about a fish and chips craving...) Anyway, smoking this stuff was of course the best part. Go slowly--Christmas only comes once a year. Don't hurry this one and you will be rewarded. My only complaint is that Santa didn't bring nearly enough 2009 Christmas Cheer for me. Shame on you, Mr. Claus. I hope you have more foresight next year, because this tobacco is special.
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meanmrmustard	01/15/2010	Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Santa put some of this in my stocking this year, and I was expecting a "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" tobacco, instead was treated to a balanced blend of a very nice Virginia's. I'll savor mine all year long. The tin description says it all. Can't wait to try next years blend!
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peacepipe	01/14/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
I grab a tin from this gratefully appreciated annual series each and every year. A reliably fine, quality straight-up Virginia pressed flake tabak. The 2009 edition smokes a bit sweeter than in years past, even with a bit of drying (in my case, sitting in my Rotator pouch for several days). A wee tad goopy for a natural, unsauced blend due probably to the sugar content, not a bad thing as it's all naturally occurring. The flavor does develop down the bowl, getting richer and more intriguingly complex as you get to the heel; a slightly herbal intro moves into territories of toastiness, caramel, coffee and probably other things I've run out of words for. Also, leave time for this one, it's not a quick bowl; small to medium bowlfuls have lasted me close to a full hour (though admittedly I'm a pretty gentle puffer). -PEACEPIPE
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Fly ticky	12/21/2009	Mild to Medium	None detected	Extra Full	Very Pleasant
Good evening Gentalmen This is a winner to say the least. A very good selection of fine tobacco.It does need sone dry time so ya dont steam your tongue.I liked it so much that I ordered three more tins to cellar or smoke.I cannot belive it will get much better with aging but its worth a try.It is the best of the best,If you like virgian tobacco that is.Very good from start to finnish.What a room note ,Marvelous Well thats all Men Good day.
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pipe pirate	12/02/2009	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
good smoke but may attack the tongue if smoked too fast.That is sometimes the way virginias can get because of the natural sugar.
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sportspipe	11/15/2009	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
This will be my first review here so bare with me. Let me start by saying that I love this stuff and have been smoking it anualy since 2005 whenever the holiday seasons begin to descend upon us. As with the majority of McClelland Va's, this is a high quality tobacco possessing excellent smoking qualities and flavor. I have smoked other Va and do enjoy them. However, McClelland seems to treat their offerings in such a way that hits my pallate in all the right places giving me that naturally sweet, smokey note that a good Va should grant it's owner. There's not a great deal of unique notes I can add to this review that haven't been already said by others. I will say though, that I reveived a small surprise with this year's vintage. In about the last 1/4 of the bowl, the aroma changed from a sweet, somewhat fruity note which is common with this tobacco, to a subdutle hint of vanilla/caramel which is something I've not experienced in the last few production years. All in all a very good tobacco that should be ejoyed slowly in a relaxed atmospere. Happy Holidays!
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Big bad Jon	11/11/2009	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This years Christmas Cheer crop seems very similar to the 2004. It is very wet in the tin and has a rather profound ketchup smell that does diminish when drying out. I only mention the ketchup smell (which it is assumed that all McClelland have to some degree) because it is the strongest I can remember for a while. The tobacco once dried is very enjoyable and does not bite in the least. The broken flakes do a very good job rubbed out or just shoved into a pipe, its personal preference here gents. The taste is a bit less sweet than in years past, but is rather a grassy, earthy and almost immature flavor. The room note and strength are pretty consistent with what I have come to expect with this seasonal favorite. I think all this blend needs is to be aged for a few years.
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Hopkins1	11/08/2009	Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
A pretty nice Virginia blend. I think most folks try this thinking it is a Christmas aromatic, and they are surprised and somewhat put off by the strong Virginia flake. Can be a bit wet in the tin, so needs some drying, but all together its a really pleasant tobacco. Sweet, nutty, and cool smoking. 3 stars
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221B	10/28/2009	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I finally decided to try something other than Presbyterian Mixture (my ol' reliable) and other aromatics that I prefer. So, I bought a tin of Christmas Cheer 2009. Upon opening the tin, I was surely enough greeted with a ketchup smell that was intriguing. If McClelland made ketchup that smelled that good, I would buy it! I decided to rub out a few bowls worth and store in the original container and mason jar the rest for later. I packed a Kaywoodie slow smoking apple full and let the pipe sit out for about two hours. I then took it with me to the sporting clay range for an afternoon jaunt. It was a very nice smoke and a great introduction to Virginia. Delightfully spicy and definitely a hint of the Season to come. I love the smell that it leaves behind in the pipe. My father, who is not a smoker, described the room note as what he imagines "Santa's" shop to smell like.......... Merry Christmas 2009 folks.....in a few months.....
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darkmoto	10/19/2009	Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
A pleasant Virginia flake Strong ketchup smell to tin and very moist once I rubbed it out and let it sit out for an hour it was a very nice mild sweet smoke. Could stand to be stored away for a while to age.
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Tallman	10/17/2009	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I enjoyed this blend. Good, sweet, Virginias as advertised. I detected a little spice in the tin aroma when I opened it, I did not find that to be present in the smoke. I'm not yet experienced enough to know, but I THINK that some of the bulk McC Virginias would fill THIS void for me, and at a little lower price. Good tobacco, just pricey!
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USA_Traveller	10/02/2009	Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Fresh from the can, this is a nicely balanced Virginia, an above average example of this annual mainstay of the McClelland line. Upon opening the tin, the McClelland "ketchup" scent is there. But as I have never found this to be present in the smoke, and as it slowly dissipates as the tin is cellared, I can't object. The presentation is the typical "broken flake": motley brown with a light sprinkle of white crystals,indicating perhaps a higher than typical sugar content. Straight from the tin I find it too wet to enjoy, but rubbing it out and allowing it to try for an hour or so really improves the level of humidity, and the frustration of keeping a flake tobacco lit. Pack it a bit looser than some, as this year's offering is a springy leaf that expands as it heats up (more so than some other Virginia flakes). Christmas Cheer is an appropriate name for this blend -- it is meant to be savored and enjoyed as one relaxes with the holiday season approaching. The 2009 offering seems to be tastier than most recent years, with that nice overtone of fresh dried hay and other scents of a beautiful fall day. As smooth as this is when it is new, this year's vintage should definitely improve with aging. I recommend buying as much as you can afford (before taxes raise the price again!) and cellaring for as long as you can (after you have opened that first tin to try some!)
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flaminbill'	09/07/2009	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Nothing new here. It is splendid as usual. McClelland along with Rattray have become my "go-to" Virginia blends.
Showing reviews 1 through 18 of 18 reviews of this tobacco