McClelland Anniversary 1977-2010

Like so many before me, I read the reviews here and also noted Mr. Serad's glowing accolades in P-T Magazine. The presentation of the tin is magnificent, with white paper wrapping on the outside of the tin itself, and topped off with an old-style wax seal bearing the famous McClelland whale.

I carefully opened it, and the seal now sits proudly upon my bookshelf. Upon opening the tin, my nose was greeted with the wonderful smell of fine, aged, Virginia tobacco and the wonderful, smoky scent of Latakia.

The moisture level was spot on, and the cut was exemplary; packing was easy in all of my various pipes. Unlike many others, I had no problems lighting this tobacco nor keeping it lit. Just smoke slowly and patiently and use the tamper wisely and you should have no trouble.

(I think too many pipe smokers tend to puff too fast, and thus, either fail to enjoy the blender's labors, and/or scald their poor tongues and blame the tobacco and not the technique.)

The first impression of taste was of sweet, fragrant Virginias, with the Latakia only there to compliment and add coolness. As the bowl burns to midpoint, the Latakia fades away and comes back at just the right time. The aroma is of fine, burning tobacco. No foul cigarette reek here!

The room note is delicious to smell both during the smoke and after the pipe was back resting in my cabinet. My wife, on the other hand, hates any pipe smoke that doesn't smell like a Glade scented candle, and her comment was, "Oh! Stinky!" That sealed the deal for me, and this shall now be added to my growing rotation! This is a very satisfying smoke if you smoke it slowly and actually take the time to try and taste all the nuances it brings to your senses. I really enjoy many of McClelland's fine tobaccos, and this one is definitely worth trying. It is something special.

I waited three years to break the seal on this blend since I was only able to secure a solitary tin in 2002. Reading the reviews of this during my waiting period did not motivate me to get into it sooner.

Now that McClelland invites us to continue in joining the celebration of their founding with a regular supply of 25th Anniversary, I am now imbibing.

This blend is a gift to anyone capable of appreciating just how splendid matured Virginia tobacco can be. Reminiscent of Royal Vintage Matured Ribbon, 25th Anniversary blend is even deeper, richer, heavier and wondrously confectionary (without the slightest addition of sugars or topping) mélange.

The Virginias hit all the notes at various times throughout a bowlful, with emphasis on the darker VA flavors. This is fairly potent and near full-flavored in its class.

The Latakia is neither stingy nor the bulk of the flavor, yet there is plenty present nonetheless. It shows a side of McClelland Cyprian Latakia atypical to that of say British Woods, the Bombays, or Frogs (where applicable). Meaning, the Latakia here seems a little more distinct, spicier and richer and not muted as I note in my reviews of RV Latakia #2 and Frogs.

I think that the McNeill's choice of this style of blend to mark such an auspicious occasion tells us much about them and their perception of their loyal customers. I would have thought of a special flake tobacco more likely ala roll cake or something, but this was inspired to show their unexcelled processing and blending skills (not to mention patience).

The first third of a bowl is the sweetest part of the smoke and most varied, with Latakia keeping far in the background. Things even up between the VA and Lat mid-bowl and the last third is all about the richest flavors, especially that of the smoky smoked Smyrna called Latakia. From the nose of the unburned blend to its finale, there is nothing to disappoint and enough reasons to cellar for future privileges. Sip do not chug, a cool experience waits. Cheers.

Update: 7-29-23. I rarely update reviews but I had a good pipe club friend of mine that was able to stop by the homestead on his way back from a road trip recently. We both moved out of Cali last year. I have very few McClelland’s left but I bought them to smoke and his visit was a good excuse to open some. I was at first just going to open the 05, but he is such a great guy, decided to open both that I had. To me the 05-tin note smelled a little bit sweeter than the 10. The date for the 05 is 092005, but what I found interesting is the date for the 10 is 092011. The 05 also smoked a touch sweeter than the 10 but both are so rich and smooth that for me these are best smoked when one can relax. If I want to smoke during the day, I would choose something not so rare. Another acquaintance of mine sent me a link from 4Noggins.com that shows the 05 listed for $345 dollars. Now, I am not so sure he was worth it. Kidding, I sent him home with a generous supply of both.

At my last Pipe Club meeting, the President and friend of mine Neal brought in McClelland’s 2002 25th Anniversary tin. As described on this website. “Originally released in 2002 to commemorate 25 years of quality tobacco manufacturing, a total of 3000 tins were issued wrapped in commemorative ecru paper with a red wax seal.” His tin was dated Sep 2001. This fine tobacco had 17 years of aging on it. In perspective that is from my birth to the day I graduated high school in 1977 which by the way was also the year the company started. It had the typical McClelland smell upon opening the tin and consisted of dark and medium brown ribbon cut tobacco. This blend has a smooth, crisp refined taste to it. If comparing wine, I would say a white rather than a red. If comparing beer, I would say Heineken rather than Budweiser. I just had my third bowl and I have enough for one more go at it. I noticed today the tobacco smelled slightly sweeter as the Vinegar smell had dissipated somewhat. Not much more I can really add to this other than another fine blend lost to the ages except it was great to try something that only 3000 were made in the whole entire world! I am a very lucky man.

My pipe is usually loaded with a Virginia straight or Va./per. I am not a Latakia fan entirely. I do like a hint of Lat here and there. The other day I was making my way to work on a cool rainy morning and I had the Anniversary blend and a cup of dark Sumatra. I quite enjoyed this blend. Nice sweet Va. with a reminder that there is Lat in it every once in a while. Although not to complex, it's a cool easy pleasant pipe. Burned nicely and even, just a few re lights. Not an English by any means but a different Va blend.

After having a number of tries at this tobacco from samples or from friends sharing out of plastic bags etc.... I finally decided to buy it myself. Until then, as with many other blends, it just wasn't the same. How people store their tobacco, reconstitute dried tobacco and a plethora of other conditions matters greatly to the experience. Until I started buying tins of this myself, I was not a fan. Then ... it all changed. I love the blend. Its in the greater rotation and I'm often a pig about it ... lighting consecutive bowls. Probably because the tin reads 'for special occassions' - my version of 'stick'n it to the man' ... but it's always terrific.

As usual with tinned tobacco, a little airing goes a long way. I like to open them ... seal with the supplied lid and sniff it a few days before smoking. Quite often I empty the contents into a mason jar and come back a week later to begin consuming. NO plastic bags and NO squirting distilled water on it. If it goes a little dry in a pouch, I'll reconstitute it in a humidor. Period.

Well that is why it took me so long to circle back and re-try this blend. I'm glad I did. It is a classic. Not overly complex, not boring at all. Wonderful high quality and very refined.

Cheers, VC

After reading William Serad`s review of this tobacco in Pipes And Tobacco magazine, I knew I had to try a tin. Beautifully packaged with a wax seal over the paper wrapped around the tin, I felt that this was going to be `it`. McClelland tobaccos have always been a favourite of mine, and this was supposedly their flagship offering. First impressions: The smell of latakia coming from the freshly opened tin was stronger than I had expected. I thought this might have just a little dash of the black smoky stuff..but actually it`s quite prominent..although in absolutely no way overpowering. Smoking it...Anniversary is a real treat. It has a deep mature virginia taste, but with enough latakia to add a delightful amount of depth without going into the realms of a full english. The taste becomes more complex as you progress through the bowl. All in all, this is a great tobacco...and as the tin suggests, should be saved for special occaisions. I am aging a jar of this in my tobacco cupboard and can only imagine it will improve with time.

This is an aged virginia blend consisting of rich red ribbon, stoved virginia, and some latakia. That's all. The black leaf is not all latakia. But there is no other condimental leaf in the mixture.

Virginias, not latakia, dominate the flavor, but the black stoved virginias add depth and the subtle latakia adds coolness.

When I first tried the blend after the first of the new year in 2002, the bottom half of the smoke developed too much in strength. I realized the blend, probably already aged for over a year by the manufacturer, still needed another 6 months plus aging. Now, after 7 additional months in my "cellar" (boxes), I am smoking up the final two-three ounces in a medium large Wiley rusticated horn. I have a few bowls left. It is much smoother now but still on the strong side of straight virginia blends.

It is heavier than Oriental No. 1 (which is a mild-medium English and which has more of a red virginia base and less dark leaf) by the same manufacturer, but not as dark tasting or rich as Mc Crainies' Murdocks Pipe (which is Scottish and has more dark leaf including more latakia, added perique, etc.), also by the same manufacturer. So it is a middle of the road between these two but still weighs in closer in fullness to the latter, Murdocks (which is much smoother and more balanced to me even though it has heavier tobaccos). The manufactuer has other somewhat similar red-stoved va. blends and flakes, like Butera's matured ribbon, but the latakia here is what makes this one different.

You can still taste the red virginias in the blend even with the darker leaf which adds a deep contrast to the flavor. It has weight, is not hot, and is fairly steady burning after you have the bowl going good. If you are a straight virginia smoker and want somether with a little more weight than virginias alone, give this a try. I understand the manufacturer will continue to make this into the future and so it will not remain a limited edition.

(Tin dated 2015 with a brown wax seal) a very smooth offering, McC does all their Virginias really well and this is no exception. The blend is a predominantly a red Virginia blend with only a touch of Latakia . The Virginias are sweet & tangy without any bite. The Latakia provides some creamy smoothness without dominating the Virginias. This is a typical McC use of latakia, almost Syrian in style , smooth yet fragrant but not harsh or campfire strong .

I find this blend very similar to Solani White & Black, but smoother, and maybe even a little milder. If your looking for a replacement for Lancer Slices ( Virginia/Latakia ) this isn't it, LC is not as smooth and has more Latakia .

The price break at 100 gr vs. the 50 gr. for the White & Black makes this blend the buy. If you like Virginias and don't mind a touch of Latakia, , this could be for you. Another McC "Virginia" gem.

Just as a side note on the tin dateing: according to the notes above , the brown seal was produced between date span (1977-2010) and was released in 2010, but my tin was date stamped "9 _2015" ???? Was this a date or a run #? I don't really know if my tin is new or 5 years old?

I have smoked both the 2002 version and a current version with a year of age on it. Besides the Virginias deepening and sweetening with age, both versions featured the same taste and fine tobaccos. I really enjoyed how the smoky latakia played off the sweet Virginia in perfect harmony, not one tobacco overtook the other, reminded me of a steak from Ruth Chris with butter and salt, the latakia playing a condimental role and not overpowering the virginia. Delicious fresh but with 5+ years this turns into a masterpiece that needs to be tried. Anniversary is not a complex blend, but the latakia increases the sweetness of the Virginia much like how salt in caramel or chili powder in chocolate does. Anniversary will not win you praise from the opposite sex regarding room note but did not get me kicked out of the house for smoking either... YMMV... I suggest buying two tins, one to smoke now and the other to compare your notes in 5 years. The best sweet and sour blend I have had the pleasure of trying, 4 stars easy with some age on the tin!!