McClelland Anniversary 1977-2010

The smoke: the initial flavor is a burst of sweetness from the Virginas, I'm talking almost a mellow sugarcane. The latakia is apparent, but playing a supporting role here, giving some body to the smoke without overpowering the Virginia. Using a P-lip was a good choice, as the latakia hit the roof of my mouth, it made for a nice retrohale. The flavors meld over the course of the smoke until about the last third, where the latakia is stronger, and the sweetness of the Virginias is not as apparent and has given way to a toasty, dry, somewhat ashy-bland finish: not unpleasant, but nothing special. Bowl smoked down to a coarse purple ash (jk, it was fine white/gray ash like every other tobacco ever). Didn't feel a nicotine buzz, hardly ever do.

Consensus: I didn't love this blend when I first opened it, but the age has done those fine McClelland Virginias some good. Anyone who has smoked McClelland blends will know the Virginias I'm talking about, they are just superior in every way. I've smoked the Frog Morton blends, which I find to be overrated; don't get me wrong, they're good, but I feel McClelland's strength lies in their Virginias. This anniversary blend is really a Virginia with some latakia to showcase the natural sweetness of those Virginias. I don't particularly love Virginia blends (I'm one of the 3 people who doesn't like OGS) but this really hit the spot without tasting too cigarette like, and made for a nice change. The only complaint people may have is the finish is somewhat weak and it's not too complex but I like that: it lets the tobacco speak for itself. Recommended. Not knock your socks off, but worth having on the shelf for when you aren't in the mood for a straight English or Virginia flake.

I had another generous gift from my friend, this tobacco is came at bulk size for non aromatic blend, 100gr a tin and that is really please me up. Classical packaging with a paper and sealed with wax and it made me cant wait to open it as soon as possible because my experiences with almost all McClelland's blends are great. i dont give a care to any reviews and just really passioned to open the tin and smoke it into my pipe. The tin notes is good, creamy virginia with little bit smokey latakia smells good at my nose, but from the scent, i guess this tobacco is not contains lot of latakia, just unbalanced mix with virginia at dominant side and i just want to ask someone, is just me or anybody had same experiences with me if virginia tobaccos from McClelland smells with a little bit gingery scent and milky scent? 1st i got it at McClelland Christmas Cheers 2013, McClelland Christmas Cheers 2012, Bulk #2015 VaPer, and now i found the same scent from this tobacco.

From the cut, is not difficult to pack it properly into my pipe. im using my Savinelli Oscar Aged Briar 111KS to smoke it at the first time. The moisture level is good, just at the proper level even it looks like so oily and shiny like a wet blend but in facts, the moisture level is very good. Is easy to light, even i think to my self that i dont need a cherring light, just smoke it directly from the first light. At my pipe, this stuff burnt quite well, just pack it with a gentle so i dont found any trouble when i make a draw and maintain the light. The smokes is quite great, with a mild to medium strength ascending from the first half part of the bowl until finish and i dont detect any artificial flavor had been added, only sweet natural virginia (with little bit citrus, gingery, and milky taste), little bit grassy, sour, and rather spice.

The smokey taste that i had been expected is not much appears, sugary and grassy taste is the dominant taste. If someone expecting this stuff will taste like others english blend, it will disappointed. This stuff is just like almost a straight virginia blend with a little bit seasoning, sometimes the smokey taste appears but i had noted this stuff is also little bit sour. When my friend came to my house at visit and smokings together, i gave him a try and he doesnt like it because it taste so sour for him. The room notes is tolerable, my wife not lot of complain about it, the taste is sweet little bit sour and the smokes is quite great. Is a good tobacco but not kind of my favorite.

This is a review on the second issue of this Anniversary blend from 2005, dated 9/2005. What a treat! I can't say that I've ever smoked a blend with seven years of age on it. The tobacco was dark brown with shades of latakia mixed in. The smell was lighter that I expected but had remnants of the McClelland smell I've gotten use to, some "ketchup and/or pickles". AB was physically lighter and drier than I'm use to with any ribbon cut, no doubt due to the years it's lived in a vacuum abyss. At first, I hardly notice the latakia. The orientals and mellowed-out virginia takes the lead. The latakia becomes more pronounced and begins to really show itself after the bowl warms up and boy does it take over towards the finale! I smoked some with my friend who manages Ted's Tobacco in Omaha. Both of us had a pronounced pipe-smoker buzz and we weren't real sure if it was the N factor or the unknown qualities from the aging of the tin. Regardless, it smoked like a dream needing only a couple relights. Smoking AB is something special and puts me firmly in the camp of those who seek aged tobacco. I am going to savor the rest of it, making it my nighttime blend for the fall season.

I was donated some of this at my local pipe and cigar shop. I am a VA lover and this has it in spades but the Latakia seems to do something to the blend that reminds me of menthol. It smokes a little "too cool" if that makes any sense. I had anticipated really enjoying this one, but it was not to be. It is not fault of McClelland, it is just not my personal tastes. the VA and Latakia felt at odds with each other. Sometimes I felt as though the latakia was just drying and taking a toll on what I knew to be some great sweet VA. I found this blend to do nothing special for me. It was a great smoke in that it stayed lit and packed perfectly.

In these reviews I hope to show my tastes and give readers something to identify with, as that is how I use this site. I find a reviewer with similar tastes and explore the tobacco's they rate highly.

the tin presentation is superb and so are the ingredients. I smoked this through a few different briars and found the results to be the same. A smokey flavor that just slightly pushed the sweetness of the VA around. Not enough for me to give up on the bowl but enough that if felt like the pairing wasn't as balanced I had wished for.

If you like a bit of latakia give it a go, if you want to really taste those Virginias go elsewhere.

Tin date 092005. Latikia blended perfectly with the VA. Sweet and creamy, this is one of the few McClelland Va's that do not bite my tongue. Rich and chewy smoke, burns perfect to the bottom of the bowl. Moisture content perfect upon opening. A definite recommendation.

The more I smoke McClelland products, the more of an appreciation I have for them. I am now approaching their style of blending with a new attitude. They are unique blends unto themselves. What could be more American than Ketchup? Let's be honest, Who doesn't like ketchup?

---

This blend is truly unusual. An English mixture with no oriental component. Not many out there like that. Commonwealth by Samuel Gawith is one of the few that comes to mind.This is in that class. A very flavorful blend where the Virginias are the Backbone and condimental leaf(Latakia) is actually used as a condiment and not a main course. The flavor profile of this blend is a very McClelland Viginia base with just enough Latakia added to bring the blend to life. I believe the best description for this would be a crossover blend. A crossover of a straight Virginia/ English. It has a distinct Tang to it from the Viginias with a sufficient amt of Latakia to give it a smoky undertone.The result is a cool smoking blend with a lot of flavor. This truly is a barbecue blend.A nice piece of smoky pork with a sweet/sour sauce on top and grilled to perfection. It reminds me of a McClelland version of Commonwealth mixture. I would encourage all Straight Virginia and English fans to try this one. It is not the Holy Grail as others here have described it but it is an excursion into the unique and unusual. 3 solid stars for being bold and succeeding at the venture.

I found this to be a very well balanced blend throughout. Enough smokiness from the latakia to make things interesting and healthy amount of sweetness to satisfy my love for Virginias.

For a latakia mix, the room note is not bad. I smoked this over the holiday and even my sister in law commented on the nice pipe smell emanating from the patio.

One of McClelland's best to date. If you find a place that still has it, buy all of it.

I just came back from CORPS in Richmond Virginia. On a table outside the hall sat an open tin of Anniversary.

Let me say that I don't like latakia blends because IMO the latakia usually overpowers everything else. Moreover. smoking latakia makes me cough. But in a moments madness I began to pack my Ashton OC XX Billiard. I noticed first the rich virginia tin aroma with the characteristic McClelland fruit with just a hint of smoke. [Land sakes, I don't get this ketchup business. What you're smelling is high sugar Virginia tobacco.] The tobacco packed well and lit easily. The first taste was of rich virginia with the slightest taste of latakia. As I smoked, I noticed the latakia began to assert itself but did not overpower the smoke. Anniversary burned well with few relights until the last quarter bowl.

I hope MClelland continues to favor us with this blend as a change of pace for Virginia smokers. In Anniversay we have latakia used as a spice but not the whole meal.

Without a doubt, the absolute best of the best as far as full-flavored pipe tobaccos go. It is an absolute treat. The flavor is rich, complex, and has that McClelland's saltiness to it that makes it an unmistakably McClelland tobacco. I've never had a tobacco that can be so smooth and so harsh at the same time. I love the beginning of the bowl, but it gets a bit rough towards the end. I have to remind myself to sip slower near the conclusion of the bowl. I can't wait to get my hands on (or make) a churchwarden so I don't have to worry about the bite so much.

I give this tobacco a whopping 8/10. It's hands down my favorite non-aromatic tobacco.