McCranie's - Red Ribbon (1983) pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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Ian Weeks	11/16/2005	Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I just found out that McClelland?s blenders are Elves that thrive on a steady diet of French Fries and Catsup; which explains a lot. Clearly these critters need to start washing their hands after lunch. That being said let?s move on. Red Ribbon is of course ribbon cut, and the color is an unsurprisingly reddish brown. Upon first inspection after popping the can I remember full well the impression that I had was that there was no doubt that this was quality leaf. Packing and lighting is no chore, RR is easier to manage than most VA?s and certainly the flakes. I have never been one to complain about moisture levels with tobaccos that I smoke and RR is no exception. The leaf is a delightful example of what my opinion of what a Red VA profile should be- despite the Catsup aroma that McClelland?s blends portray it interferes with nothing in the way of taste. The first half of the owl I detect no round deep body present in the dark stoved VA flakes blended by McClelland, instead I find this blend to show more of a sharp brightness- a zippy taste not unlike Veermaster or VA Slices. The last half of the bowl there is a stoved element that develops, adding dimension as the body pronounces itself with more and more volume it complements the flavor- very nice indeed. I have smoked this blend in large medium and small bowls. There is certainly a more developed stoved element toward the last half to third of the bowl in the larger bowled pipes, increasing the body, which I enjoy. My definition of a fine tobacco is one that has body as well as flavor, though not necessarily equal in presence. An outstanding blend- easily one of McClelland?s finer straight VA?s in my opinion.
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FiveRings	10/26/2005	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I had the chance to receive one tin of the 96 crop as a gift from a friend. This must rank among the top straight VAs. The vinegar aroma present at the opening of the tin dissapears once Red Ribbon starts burning inside the bowl. Rich, mellow - but not sweet, with a variety of flavors coming at you in waves, RR delivers a very satisfying smoke. It coats the pipe , so dedication is mandatory.
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Jakob Kiilerich	05/10/2005	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
One of the more dominating spices in Ketchup is cloves. As with all McClelland/McCranie-blends I have tried, the same ketchup aroma emerges from the tin. At first, when I tried Christmas Cheer from McClelland, I thought they had scented the blend with cloves - since cloves and oranges is very much "Christmas-like"... Hmm, I really do not know if it is real ketchup aroma they use, (of course not) but the tomato/vinegar/clove-smell is present in both Dark Star, Virginia Woods, X-mas Cheer and Red Ribbon. Another weird thing with these American blends is, (I am not used to american tobacco, since I am a Dane, and primarily smoke English and other European blends. It is only possible for us to buy these blends on the web.) that the leaf seems overly poured with artificial humectants. The tobacco looks as if it has been dipped into a deep fryer. All that said, this is actually a surprise, because I despised VA woods, frowned at Christmas Cheer, and accepted Dark Star. This one is actually quite okay. The leaf is high quality, with no stems. The Vinegar aroma almost disappears through the bowl, and I think I will finish my tin. It bites like any MacBaren blend, but that is okay; if you smoke this one slow and carefully it will not hurt that much. What's with that crazy Heinz aroma anyway? The Pease blends does not do that. Will I ever meet a McClelland/McCranie blend without that particular kind of casing/moisture agent?? Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark
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Pipestud	05/06/2005	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Very Pleasant
This is one of the finest pure Virginias I've ever had the pleasure of putting into my pipes. I first tried this tobacco in 1999, and have since cellared about 20 tins. It should be almost sinful to smoke in five to ten years! The way straight virginia tobacco ages, I imagine this will blow me away due to its quality. The only bad news is that as of today (4/20/02) the McCranie boys say they'll run out of this special 1983 crop in less than a year. Gotta go now and order some more! ********(4/1/03) UPDATE****** Seeing johnnyflake's recently posted review reminded me to pass on the fact that the McCranie's have decided on a new '96 crop of Virginia to carry on the Red Ribbon and Red Flake tradition. The '83 crop Red Flake has been sold out for some time, and the Red Ribbon is going to suffer the same fate in a few months. If you want to order some of the original (and soon to be lamented) Red Ribbon before its all gone, you better do so ASAP. ******5/6/05******** Well, the original 1983 Crop is all gone. Thankfully, I still have have a dozen tins. I will ration them carefully because I just tried the new Red Ribbon from the 1996 crop, and it is not even close (IMO) to the original. Still, it is quite good and I will cellar some tins for aging. The '96 version is much lighter in flavor than the original and lacks the variance of flavors as the bowl is consumed. It does burn well and is stem free - which I appreciate.
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Tiger	03/26/2005	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
The "Red Ribbon" I got is/was of the 1996 crop and, with all respects to the earlier versions, the stuff I have is positively top-flight! Cannot add anything new to what others have so accurately penned. Will just say if you like Virginias, or Red Virginias, or Technicolor Virginias, or pipes, or smoking or winning lottery tickets, you will be delighted with McCranie's Red Ribbon. It's THAT good. For real. Tiger
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imago	11/28/2004	Medium	None detected	Mild	Pleasant
I am probably the world's biggest fan of McClelland's 5100. It is, in fact, my default mixture of choice. With that being said, this "Red Ribbon" is probably among the best tobacco I've ever tried. True, it is not horribly complex, but, if you want a simple, straightforward, sweet Virginia, try this.
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chperry	08/13/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Wow! This is what red virginia should be! This tobacco produces plenty of rich smoke with nice tobacco flavor along with some sweetness common to red virginias. This is one of my favorite tinned blends. One word of caution, it can bite if pushed too hard. This tobacco definitely deserves a slow, even, smoking pace. Such a smoking pace will reveal many layers of flavor.
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Spike	08/06/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
I was a bit disappointed with the '96 McCranies Red. It is only slightly better than McClellands' 5100 Red Va. I guess plain Virginnias are just a little too one note for me. A very fine quality tobacco however. I suppose if one had the patience the '96 version would be pretty great in another 5 to 10 years of careful storage.
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RCUSElder	08/02/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Well, I finally got to this one, thanks to a fellow Pipester who generously donated a sample for reviewing. Disclaimer: This review is based on a 1 oz. sample and it is a mixture of the early crop with the later 96' crop. Appearance: Red Ribbon, of course! Tin Aroma: Nice mellow and tangy VA. Packing: Easy, used standard packing method. Lighting: Easy, but begs for DGT and got it! Initial Flavor: Tangy Red VA, not bitey at all. Mid-Bowl: Tanginess mellows and a richer VA flavor breaks through. Bottom of Bowl: A slight build up of strength and it is over with a light grey, powdery ash left over. Overall: This is a delicious single crop blend that I will smoke on occasion, but is monchromatic and is not very full. The flavor is on the upper registers of the spectrum, but will not bite. I did find it boring if smoked back to back, but wonderful when smoked on special ocassions. It is a blend that does lend itself to aging, and I will cellaring a few tins for future enjoyment. Rating: 4 out of 5 points...
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DUPE.629	06/15/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant
18th-Oct-2003. RED RIBBON. Smooth rich and delicious. Lighting is very easy giving a great smoke all the way to the bottom of the bowl. One of the best Virginias I have ever tried,and did not even bite my tongue. Nothing negative about this tobacco at all. Leaves a very clean ash and no goop! Totally enjoyable and a definite winner. Highly recommended. 10 out of 10.
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Mr. Dottle	06/14/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I never had a tin of the 1983 crop. My tin is the current offering from the 1996 (or 1999?) crop and it is one fine tobacco. A sweet and very mellow Virginia that will not disappoint you if ?sipped? gently and the flavor intensifies towards the bottom of the bowl. It was a little too moist out of the tin for my liking; you might wish to air it out a bit. I rate this tobacco 9.9 out of 10.
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Inquisitor	01/17/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
I had the good fortune to receive two and a half tins of this in a trade, from the special 1983 crop. This is the fragrant, natural and sweet Virginia style that I love. I don't generally love straight Red Virginias, but this is an exception. Lights a bit hot, so puff slowly to get it going. Once engaged, this burns effortlessly. Air-smoking immediately brings the toasted marshmallow and caramel mid-range flavors to center stage, but there is plenty of top-range zestiness (similar to dried apricots). Hints of dried sweetgrass, powdered sugar, and light cedarwood also come and go throughout the smoke. The flavors intensify and shift as the bowl progresses, growing richer and deeper, until there is a flavor that I can best describe as a maple barbecue in the bass and low mid-range. While a decent smoke if puffed distractedly, this begs for your attention. Slow smoking protects the tongue from mild bite, while revealing an ever-evolving complexity that is remarkable due to the fact that this is from a single crop of a single tobacco varietal. For those who want to experience why Virginia tobaccos are the most universal and highly-proclaimed tobaccos anywhere, this is an excellent place to do so.
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Stycle	12/15/2003	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
I'm still kind of a tourist among the pure va. blends and was prompted to try them by the number of experienced pipe smokers on this web site who seem to prefer them. I'm primarily a balkan smoker so I'm not unfamiliar with the virtues of virginias I just prefer them mixed with orientals and latakia. One of the first i tried was Red Ribbon. With this blend the flavor starts with a shot of straight tobacco flavor reminding me of the taste of my first cigarette--a strong and pure flavor unsullied by any competing leaf. The burning characteristics are quite good. I employed DGT with this tobacco for about thirty minutes with really good results and experienced the light sweet flavor of a pure virginia smoke for the first time. I have read of the previous incarnation of this blend made with the now smoked up 1983 tobacco. I got here too late to either taste or horde any. But what I read about the previous RR holds true, this tobacco is a good starting point at which to enter the world of pure virginias. If there is a better virginia out there I look forward to finding it.
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Le'Pipe	11/29/2003	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
This is without a doubt the best tasting ribbon-cut red virginan I've ever smoked bar none.The 1999 crop was just as good as the 1984 in my opinion. I have smoked enough of both to say,"I can't see how it gets much better than this." Fortunately,I'm close enough to McCranies that I can pop in for a can or 3 but it would be worth the shipping if you had to order it. When I want straight tobacco flavor thats deliciously tart and sweet I look no further. People often comment on the wonderful aroma as well.This is what real tobacco tastes and smells like folks.
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Joe Patterson	08/10/2003	Mild to Medium	None detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is one tobacco that was well worth stocking up on, and now that it's gone and the "new" version is out, the justification is in the can. Yes, there is tounge bite, yes it can fry you, yes it is a bit of a pain in the arse, but patience is the key. I first smoked this gift from heaven in a larger, thick walled, italian pipe and was a bit put off by the pungency and heat. However, after the second bowl, a bit tighter packing and a few days to rest my palate, I knew I needed more of this onhand. If you are a VA lover, more specifically, a "red" VA lover, I think you may have trouble beating this as one of the smoothest, spiciest, rich and clean flavours that will ever grace your pipe. On a sad note, the "new" RR is a bit bland and only further justifies my current stockpile. While I enjoy a good Latakia and VA/P blend, when I want a straight VA, nothing is finer than this.
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Pounder 5000	05/09/2003	Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant
I had to run out and try this after reading all of the reviews. I have to say- this stuff doesn't disappoint! It is one of the best straight virginias I have ever smoked. The tin I tried is from the 1983 crop. After trying it I went and ordered the last few tins they had... Sorry guys! Try and find some however, it's certainly worth it. This is an experience based in pure smoking pleasure. Although I heve tried sweeter virginias, never have any of them had so little tongue bite. The smoke is thick and creamy, and the taste is very sweet and toasty tobacco. The tobacco comes from McClellands however, so it takes the usual drying out that is associated with these blends. The ketchup smell is there, but not in the capacity that is usually associated with McClelland virginias. I have to agree with pipestud however- although this stuff is good, it will be even better after some long aging. I can't wait!
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RebelPipester	04/16/2003	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Very Pleasant
What can I say that hasn't already been said. I have been pushing this blend on everyone I meet and I have yet to find one person who dislikes this smoke. I make a point in grabbing a couple tins every month from McCranie's. This is such a sweet blend that I can't keep a tin around long. This 1983 crop is exceptional, but I have had a couple bowls reciently that have been a little goopy. Never fear though, this is a taste you don't mind adhearing to your bowl.
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BriarNorth	04/16/2003	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
A delicious tobacco. To state the obvious, it's a matured red virginia, ribbon cut, that smells rich and tasty at the tin and the match. This tobacco is one of the most dramatic "developers" I have smoked: the first third is toasty and citrusy, but as you work down, it's almost as though you are smoking an entirely different tobacco. The flavour deepens tremendously, turning rich, very spicy and sweet. I'm sure this will age beautifully. I can't say this makes an all-day smoke, but as an evening treat, little is finer!
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JohnnyFlake	04/01/2003	Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
(4-1-03)I've gone through half a tin in the last three days and this wonderfull tobaccy has made it into my rotation! I understand that this is made by McClelland for McCranie and that's enough said about the wonderfull aroma you are treated to when openning the tin. This is a ribbon cut with a mixture of reddish brown, dark brown and tan tobaccys. This was suggested to me in a reply to a question I had posted, looking for a naturally sweet Viginia Blend. I ordered four tins because this tobaccy is very limited and made from a 1983 crop of prime red virginia. Sorry, got of track for a moment. Anyway, I let the tin dry out for about six hours before using it. It packs easily, lites easily and burns like a dream. I've been smoking this in a large Meershaum Billard. The flavors are very mellow, very rich and plesantly sweet and it stays that way from the top to the bottom of the bowl. I LOVE IT! I don't pick up on any distinct flavors, just a varying range of a delicious sweetness. There is no bite (none) with this tobacco and that kind of surprises me since there is obviously a considerable amount of sugar in the tobacco. Last night I left a half bowl sit over night and to my surprise & delite, the flavor profile was actually sweeter than when freshly packed. This is a great tobacco, I really am impressed with it! In fact, I like it so much I ordered ten more tins today, for cellaring. If you love the natural sweetness of a well aged virginia, then you owe it to yourself to get your hands on some of this before it's all gone and from what I understand that will be very soon!
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pmonroeb	08/07/2002	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I've always liked the flavor of virginias, but always had a tonguebite problem, probably because I'm so used to smoking cooler burning latakia mixtures. I probably smoke too fast for most virginias. A friend of mine loves McClelland's Virginia #22 and I tried it several times, but the tonguebite was too much for me. Now to the McCranies Red Ribbon- Great naturally sweet virginia taste, cool burning and no tonguebite, none! Full flavored, packs and lights well and the room aroma is pleasant. What's not to love? The tin I tried was from the 1983 batch of tobacco. I understand the McCranies will soon run out of this batch. If you have a tonguebite problem, I suggest you give this a try, but please wait until I have cleaned out their 1983 vintage. Available on McCranies website.
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