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 1 - 6 of 6 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 08, 2017 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
Typical McClelland broken flakes with much less of the signature fermented Virginia aroma than most of their VA's. Purported to be a straight red, this also has streaks of light color I associate with lemon Virginia. Indeed, there was a definite citrus aroma among the normal red's deeper scent.
I've been working on this tin for a month and it finally dried on its own to the proper level. I've never smoked a Virginia tobacco that was this characterless right out of the tin. This needs drying time to get at those flavors the extra water hides. Dried out, this produced a nice mix of red's usual tang and punch with lemon's citrus and light sweetness. Not nearly as deep as a Christmas Cheer offering, this one does share with the CC's - and indeed, with all McClellands blends - a seamless top to bottom consistency of flavor. There were more differences within a single bowl than that of one bowl to the next. The flavor reminded me of various Christmas Cheers but this didn't have the depth nor the complexity, not to mention a lack of CC's vigor and boisterousness. This one was pretty subdued in comparison, and needs aging as much as it needs drying, as it tasted like a youngish strain of Virginia. Not that it was bad... in fact, it was very good. I'd say 3.5 stars but not a great 4 star blend - yet. However, I have a feeling it will become one in 5-10 years, so I'm keeping the rest of my stash to age.
I've been working on this tin for a month and it finally dried on its own to the proper level. I've never smoked a Virginia tobacco that was this characterless right out of the tin. This needs drying time to get at those flavors the extra water hides. Dried out, this produced a nice mix of red's usual tang and punch with lemon's citrus and light sweetness. Not nearly as deep as a Christmas Cheer offering, this one does share with the CC's - and indeed, with all McClellands blends - a seamless top to bottom consistency of flavor. There were more differences within a single bowl than that of one bowl to the next. The flavor reminded me of various Christmas Cheers but this didn't have the depth nor the complexity, not to mention a lack of CC's vigor and boisterousness. This one was pretty subdued in comparison, and needs aging as much as it needs drying, as it tasted like a youngish strain of Virginia. Not that it was bad... in fact, it was very good. I'd say 3.5 stars but not a great 4 star blend - yet. However, I have a feeling it will become one in 5-10 years, so I'm keeping the rest of my stash to age.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2018 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Review if from a fresh tin. I do see some real promise in aging as with all McClelland Virginia's.
The tin note is heaven, I am a fan of the signature McC process and aroma, and the flakes are beautiful broken flakes that look like beef jerky.
This is one of the more "interesting" VA's from McC for me. It is much more subtle in flavor than most of their VA blends. That subdued flavor and easy going nature is one of the thing that I really enjoy (I have smoked about 10 bowls of this in cobs, clay, briar and a meer). I prefer VA's in a meer, cob and newly discovered clay. Those pipes seem closer to neutral and allow you to really enjoy the straight VA's. This tobacco has sweetness, spice, dark fruit and bready flavors. All are subtle and at times one of those flavors takes over and then is taken over by another. The aftertaste is one of the best I have encountered. I would call the "base flavor" that of baked bread, lightly toasted. Spiciness is best experienced on retrohale. Not a perique like tingle but a peppery spice nonetheless. The sweetness from all McClelland blends, and this is no different, is all from the tobacco and not from a flavoring, which for me is a major difference from just about all other VA's (I am convinced almost all others are cased or treated with sugar or some sweet base that enhance sweetness). The sweetness is not like candy, it is subtle and delicious. I have a few tins so I can experience this as it ages. I can see this just getting better and better. This is a 3.5 for me right now but I can see this being a 5 star blend in a few years.
The tin note is heaven, I am a fan of the signature McC process and aroma, and the flakes are beautiful broken flakes that look like beef jerky.
This is one of the more "interesting" VA's from McC for me. It is much more subtle in flavor than most of their VA blends. That subdued flavor and easy going nature is one of the thing that I really enjoy (I have smoked about 10 bowls of this in cobs, clay, briar and a meer). I prefer VA's in a meer, cob and newly discovered clay. Those pipes seem closer to neutral and allow you to really enjoy the straight VA's. This tobacco has sweetness, spice, dark fruit and bready flavors. All are subtle and at times one of those flavors takes over and then is taken over by another. The aftertaste is one of the best I have encountered. I would call the "base flavor" that of baked bread, lightly toasted. Spiciness is best experienced on retrohale. Not a perique like tingle but a peppery spice nonetheless. The sweetness from all McClelland blends, and this is no different, is all from the tobacco and not from a flavoring, which for me is a major difference from just about all other VA's (I am convinced almost all others are cased or treated with sugar or some sweet base that enhance sweetness). The sweetness is not like candy, it is subtle and delicious. I have a few tins so I can experience this as it ages. I can see this just getting better and better. This is a 3.5 for me right now but I can see this being a 5 star blend in a few years.
Pipe Used:
Briar's, meerschaum and cobs
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 01, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I was gifted about 3 small bowlfuls of McClelland - 40th Anniversary (Limited Edition) at my weekly pipe club meeting. It is a nice medium dark flake with a pleasant spicy fragrant to it. Red Virginia according to the Cornell & Diehl website is the leaf that originates higher up the stalk of the tobacco plant to the tips. It smokes smooth, a little spicy and sweet. A really great blend. It was nice that I got to taste it and able to record it here.
Pipe Used:
Dagner Corn Cob
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The tobacco came as a somewhat broken flake. The flakes would appear to be mostly red Virginia with some yellow Virginia added for character. The moisture level was a little high. I rubbed mine out and smoked it as delivered.
The flavor is consistent and good. There is some ripe fruit and some hay. The yellow Virginia provides a few citrus notes. It is slightly sweet. Strength is maybe on the mild side of "mild to medium." It seemed a little stronger in the last half of the bowl. I was not just bowled over by the experience, but I don't regret it. It was a pleasant smoke.
Recommended
The flavor is consistent and good. There is some ripe fruit and some hay. The yellow Virginia provides a few citrus notes. It is slightly sweet. Strength is maybe on the mild side of "mild to medium." It seemed a little stronger in the last half of the bowl. I was not just bowled over by the experience, but I don't regret it. It was a pleasant smoke.
Recommended
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 02, 2017 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
I simply had to try this after reading the enthusiastic reviews. I purchased two cans, opened one and will leave the other to age. I agree with my "golden nose and palate" friends regarding the aroma and taste. This is a truly excellent red Virginia. I don't agree with those who claim that this tobacco is "easy to rub out", especially not right out of the tin. It's a "broken flake", and the flakes that do happen to remain entire in the tin are about one and half inches long and quite thick. No way to fold and stuff these babies, and it takes some vigorous rubbing to break them down so the pipe can be filled. If they were thinner and more flexible I would give this tobacco the full monty. Expect some relights. As it is, I like it a lot, but it loses one star.
Pipe Used:
Ashton XXX Sovereign Canadian
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
On the bottom of the can: 2017
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 07, 2022 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
McClelland -40th anniversary- It is not as tangy as most Christmas Cheers I have smoked . It has a nice earthiness to it . On the very mild side . Not very sweet . Toasty . Mild dark fruit . I am struggling to describe it . Nothing wrong with it , very natural tasting . Good tobacco but not exciting . 3
Age When Smoked:
5 yr old tin
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