McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2008 pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
< PREVIOUS Showing reviews 21 through 34 of 34 reviews of this tobacco
Benjamin Button	12/08/2008	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Tin Aroma: Typical McClelland ketchup/vinegar smell, but really rich and smokey. Appearance: Broken pressed flake, dark brown with hints of lighter tobacco pressed between the darker flakes. Moisture: Out of the tin it was too moist, but I laid a pipeful on a paper towel for about 2 hours and it was perfect (our apartment is very dry due to the New England winter weather and having the heat on). Packing: I cut the flake into cubes and gravity filled the bowl about 3/4 of the way then rubbed out some flakes and packed on top to light. Lighting/Smoking: Lit fine, went out a few times but always re-lit with no issue. Tobacco was a nice rich VA blend, with a nice sweetness left on the palate. I tried to smoke it as slow as possible, as I could feel a bit of bite when puffed harder. A lot of subtle characteristics (mostly different sweet /spicy notes) with this but I think I am going to give this a week or so since opening and see if it changes. This blend should age very well, and I have another tin that I will leave unopened for a few years at least. Room note was hard to gauge, but my girlfriend, who was on the couch next to me, said it did not bother her at all, and wasn't bad. Definitely recommended if you are a VA fan.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Than	12/05/2008	Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable
This is my first Christmas Cheer, and it is some good stuff. A most excellant Virginia smoke with a nice fulfilling taste and note. My only issue is that I can't seem to keep the darn thing lit for more than 2 minutes, but the smoke is so good its worth the cost in matches and lighters. Good stuff get some.
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nyelton	12/03/2008	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This one is interesting. (This was my first time trying Christmas Cheer) With a name like Christmas Cheer, I was expecting something that smelled more like spices stereotypical of holiday time. When I opened the can, the smell was almost like tomato paste or ketchup. It wasn't a bad smell, it just wasn't what I expected. After smoking a few bowls, I began to enjoy it. I think I just had to adjust my frame of reference and expectations on this one. I recommend it and will probably order 2009's edition.
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Black Seamus	11/28/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Chardonnay, caramel, pecans, oak, ginger, macadamias, a little leather. If you're familiar with the Christmas Cheer series, you know what to expect. If you're a Virginia lover and haven't tried Christmas Cheer, this is a great year to become addicted. Get it before it's gone!
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
drmeer	11/22/2008	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
Ketchup in a can! Nice flavor, but the tin odor is stomach turning.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
1	10/28/2008	Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
I concur with BriarChef, this is some nasty stuff. Save your money and your time and purchase anything but this. Truth be told, I enjoyed every aspect of this blend. From the moment I popped the top on the tin, I knew this was going to be a great smoke, not to mention all of the positive reviews. I sat down in my smoking chair and enjoyed every puff. Highly recommend. This tobacco get me in the mood for jingle bells, ho ho ho and all that good stuff.
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Beer	10/18/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Mmmm... I reall prefer the 2002/2003 vintages: this one doesn't seem as sweet and rich, although it certainly is a nice Virginia and it's more or less what one would expect after so many years of Christmas Cheer. It has some sourness and a certain background musty/woody taste: not bad, but on the long run it is quite astringent. If packed well (I like to rub it out a bit), it burns fine and clean, though it may require some relightings towards the bottom of the bowl. Once again I will say that this is fine tobacco, typically McClelland, but that #27 and Blackwoods Flake have more personality IMHO.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Oouder	09/10/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Virginia flakes are my hands down fav smoke. This is a fine vintage (2000)broken flake and although I have already opened 2 tins and smoked through most of them this tobacco should really be saved for a few years and then smoked very very sparingly and slowly. I love the presentation! The broken flake is a perfect moisture in the tin. I rub this out and then let it dry a bit before smoking. Very high quality flake. Stock up while you can! I know that I did.
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butman	09/02/2008	Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant
The McClelland team has surprised me again. Way back when I tried the Christmas Cheer and the cider flavor just knocked me away, but this 2008 has brought me back to the fold. It's a little damp out of the can (I call that fresh) and it takes 3 matches, but it is worth it nice round flavor and great delivery of clean, spicy Virginia flavor. Mike and Mary have put another one over the fence.
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shihan	08/20/2008	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
A little moist right out of the tin,the broken flake was very attractive. Leaving it out overnight seemed to help. It lit easily and needed minimal re-lighting. A good, solid virginia tobacco with no flavoring. I will be ordering more.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
al1	08/19/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
This 2008 version is very nice. Good moisture for tin but needs some drying to smoke properly and get the full taste. Mine arrived just how I would like it. In all fairness it is august and this was just tinned last month for this christmas, I just had to see how it was in case I want more before it is all gone this year. I do want more. So that means it is very good stuff. I don't waste time with mediocre blends. A very rich red va blend. This is top quality tobacco. A little on the strong side in terms of red va flavor but very nice and it will mellow as it ages I'm sure. I know I will have to get a couple more tins to hold on to for a few years. I find at least 2-3 years of aging on these makes a lot of difference. More time is better if you can get enough or wait that long. This is naturally sweet with a decent amount of twang. The tin aroma is a little more mellow and fruity than other mc va's but the (notorious to some) smell is there a little. Not offensive to me in any case, I think all mc va's smell fine. Very straight forward and high quality. Very good leaf and this is the sugary va type that will age very well. I reccomend this to lovers of sweet rich red va. Very high quality. Reserved for when I have time to sit and savor this one. I suspect this is what dark star would be like before all the stoving, Mmmm this is good. Get it while it lasts. I'm ordering more ASAP.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
BriarChef	08/14/2008	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant
I was very tempted to give this one star and trash it...just so I can buy more without competition from the ladies and gentlemen on this forum. Alas, the truth will out. This one is shaping up to give the 1992 vintage a strong run for its money. Half a tin has gone up in smoke already. Wonderful broken flake that rubs out into a coarse textured, chunky ribbon. Too moist out of the tin and needs a bit of air. Tin aroma is divine and again reminds me of the '92. Right now the red virginias dominate with a sweet spiciness and some sharpness. The balance of the blend is very muted in a sweet, mellow manner. Very well behaved. Lights easily, stays lit. Comes into its own quickly balancing exquisite sweetness, tangy brights and spicy mid-range. Mid bowl is mostly sweet with pastry and caramel flavors underlying true virginia tobacco flavor. End game is a pleasure...pure deep virginia that makes its exit gracefully and quietly with no resistance. THIS IS THE WORST TOBACCO I'VE EVER HAD! DO NOT BUY ANY! SAVE YOUR MONEY AND PUT IT INTO A CD OR SOME MUTUAL FUNDS. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! CAVEAT EMPTOR. E PLURIBUS UNUM. CARPE DIEM! (Bear...put me down for another 30 tins and charge it to Pipestud's account.)
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varg winter	08/14/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
This is the best CC from McClelland I've smoked till now! Great taste! The tobacco is not to moist, I fully rub it out, don' let it dry, put it in my pipe and enjoy!
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flaminbill'	07/28/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
No surprises here. Another great Christmas Cheer offering from McClelland. More and more, McClelland is becoming my mainstay for straight Virginia blends. This is not as sweet as say 2035 or Dark Star, but of course it isn't meant to be. There is the notorious smell when cracking open the tin, but it has never bothered me in the slightest. Get it while it lasts!
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