McClelland 40th Anniversary
(3.72)
McClelland's 40th Anniversary offering is dedicated to Virginias, and of course those with a love for Virginia leaf as well. The tobacco itself is a red Virginia flake, promising a rich, mellow, sweet smoking experience, and something that will age superbly.
Notes: Superb North Carolina red Virginia worthy of a very special occasion.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Limited Edition |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.72 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 28 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
A true short flake, but easy to rub. I don't rub much.
Smells great in tin, a true deep, spicy "red" note.
similar in flavor as Red Cake, but more robust and more body here. Just not quite as sweet. Still tasty.
A little less richness than some Christmas Cheers (which are not all red Va.). Not quite as rich or sweet as McC's Red Flake (which also is a single, periodic red crop, just not the same one here). This one may age to be sweeter, but it is just fine now. This may well be a limited addition.
Burns at a nice pace for a flake. Not hot or wet. Just slurp away. Can be smoked more than once a day. Great for a flake. A true fine for a flake. Often a pick of the little, or at least my default selection when nothing else will do. Other members of N.O. Pipe Club enjoy it too.
Smells great in tin, a true deep, spicy "red" note.
similar in flavor as Red Cake, but more robust and more body here. Just not quite as sweet. Still tasty.
A little less richness than some Christmas Cheers (which are not all red Va.). Not quite as rich or sweet as McC's Red Flake (which also is a single, periodic red crop, just not the same one here). This one may age to be sweeter, but it is just fine now. This may well be a limited addition.
Burns at a nice pace for a flake. Not hot or wet. Just slurp away. Can be smoked more than once a day. Great for a flake. A true fine for a flake. Often a pick of the little, or at least my default selection when nothing else will do. Other members of N.O. Pipe Club enjoy it too.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Large Jap (POY 2017); Ashton ELX
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
new tin to two months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 03, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Just the better Va. flake ever smoked.It´s like a forgotten tin of Christmas Cheer in a dark corner of the cellar.Ripe to perfection,ready for smoking right now,aging neither needed nor desirable.A master piece from the great tobacco masters of Mc Clelland.Simply wow!.
Pipe Used:
meers
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh from the tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 06, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I just got one bowl of this at the GKCPC meeting the other night. Boy, howdy. This a great tobacco. It will bear aging I should think, but even at this young age it was quite rewarding. Mike and Mary are just masters of Virginia tobacco.
Pipe Used:
Ashton
Age When Smoked:
3 weeks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 25, 2022 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I am finally trying this 40th anniversary tobacco from McClelland. I cracked the tin and immediately I miss McClelland. I have had a couple of these put away and I thought now with some age (5 years) it would be a good time try it. It was worth the wait and I am really enjoying it. If the McNeils see this, please bring some blends back. We miss you. Merry Christmas to all.
Pipe Used:
Bruno Nutten
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
5 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 15, 2020 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Culmination of 40 years of fine pipe tobacco blending. A delicious and beautiful flake with that oh so delectable signature McClelland aroma that dissipates with air. Not much to add that hasn't been stated and is verified. Dark fruit notes, oh so smooth, and a subtle spice that keeps things perky from time to time. Nice body and occasional chocolate nutty notes mixed in with the dark fruit. I cant overstate how smooth this blend is. Burns to a fine mottled ash. More deep and fermented than sweet. Cant say I've smoked any other Virginia that has matched its character. For experienced Virginia smokers.
Pipe Used:
Various
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
This tobacco, the McNeil's parting gift to the pipe world will transport you to pipe smoking 7th Heaven. And you may not wish to come back down again. As of late May 2018 there are still tins on eBay. 4X original retail but when compared to the cost of good cigars, it's still a great deal. I love this blend so much I managed to acquire 18 tins. This Red Virginia flake is other-worldly.
Pipe Used:
Artisan Commisioned XL Bent Brandy
PurchasedFrom:
Various
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 12, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
A moot point now,but this is a wonderful Virginia blend (as were all the McClelland blends ). Reminds me of one of the darker Christmas blends. Burns slow And cool with great flavour , no bite and good on cold relights.sorry I didn't order more when I had the chance
Pipe Used:
Cob
Age When Smoked:
2018/open one month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Very Pleasant |
It defines a Virginia flake should be. Sweet, sour, woody, tangy, earthy, spice etc. It has everything but still keeps the extremely complex, balance and full body.
McClelland always makes the best Virginia in the whole world.
My top two five stars tobacco until now.
McClelland always makes the best Virginia in the whole world.
My top two five stars tobacco until now.
PurchasedFrom:
100g tins from smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
six monthes
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 07, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I love this tobacco. It is a little moist but not so much that it needs drying. It has a hint of vinegar from the tin, but it tastes of pure Virginia after lighting. It is a very sweet smoke with a taste of prunes or figs and a hint of brown sugar. The smoke is creamy and cool. It has no tongue bite. I find this flake ranks as a favorite of mine.
Pipe Used:
A Jobey bent pot and a bent apple briar
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
packaged in 2017
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17, 2019 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
Since this isn't available anymore, I'll simply say 2 1/2 years ago when this was introduced, I purchased a tin, smoked a couple of bowls and promptly ordered 10 more tins. Classic McClelland blend that has only improved with time. Citrus, natural sweetness, hints of cinnamon, a little tanginess, and a creaminess, great aroma, finishes exceptionally well on the palate and virtually no aftertaste. Has the "McClelland Ketchup" pre-light smell, but once ignited there's no trace of it. Even "sipping" this blend, it produces tons of smoke. I shared some with a relatively new pipe smoker and his description was priceless. Needless to say when I mentioned it was no longer available, he offered to be my new best friend. I'm enjoying it sparingly.
Pipe Used:
Dunhill Cavalier, Neerup Churchwarden, MM Cobs
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Brand new and 2 1/2 years later
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