McClelland Anniversary 1977-2010

Given McClelland's history of producing top quality products, one would expect that a blend meant to serve as a sort of flagship commemorative product would be outstanding. In that respect, Anniversary doesn't disappoint.

Anniversary is a bit of a cipher for me, as I can't think of anything quite like it. First off, the VAs are superb but different than any I've sampled before. The tin description for this mixture says they have "clarity," and it's correct -- they have a lot of high notes and an almost fragile quality about them. Another way of describing this is to say that the range of VA flavors are exceptionally well-defined. I get primarily hints of lemon, cinnamon, and cane sugar as well as the signature McClelland's tang (some call it ketchup or vinegar). There is very little of the depth I experience with, say, Blackwoods Flake or Dark Star. The VAs are delicious, but also thin -- they have little in the way of a bottom note. To invoke a musical analogy, the VA flavor is akin to listening to a symphony played entirely on flutes: achingly beautiful, in large part because it's so delicate, even ephemeral.

This is where the cyprian latakia comes in. Most of McClelland's most successful products are straight VAs, and I imagine there might have been some temptation to release an all-VA blend. That would have been a mistake in this case, snd the decision to use latakia in Anniversary was absolutely perfect. Rarely have I encountered a blend in which the attributes of latakia when used as a condiment are so dramatically illustrated. As the tin description indicates, it slows the burn and cools the smoke. More importantly, it provides desperately needed bass notes to the concert, anchoring the performance in a way that allows the VAs to dazzle the audience with intricate solos.

Okay, okay -- I'm maybe waxing a little too poetic here. Oddly enough, it's not even that I like this blend THAT much (it's not a desert island smoke to me, as much as I enjoy it). It's too mild, for one thing. It's also not at all complex. But I am really impressed by the overall composition of this mixture -- this is one of the best presentations of both latakia and VA that I've come across. There is almost no integration of flavors here, and this blend is all the better for that lack. The sharp contrast of sweet/smoky allows both types of leaf to really shine. For this reason, Anniversay might be the most ideal introduction to latakia I could imagine, and it could easily turn someone into a drooling addict of McClellands unique style of VAs. I find it interesting to note that many reviewers have said they feel that Anniversary has more latakia than advertised. I'm not sure I agree with that assessment. Instead, I believe that the latakia is thrown into such a sharp contrast by the VAs that the smoky taste seems far more potent than the actual proportions would indicate. I actually get more of the spicy nuances that define latakia's flavor from this blend than I do from many Balkans, even if the brute strength isn't there.

Anniversary doesn't fit well into traditional categories, at least not in my opinion. It's obviously not a straight VA blend, but I also wouldn't call it an English mixture even though its ingredients should automatically qualify it as such. But the flavors simply don't remind me -- even in passing -- of a traditional English or Balkan. What Anniversay DOES make me think of is that genre known as "American English," in which blenders typically use a base of burley and varying amounts of latakia (sometimes with other leaf included in condimental amounts). I just can't put it in the same category as Westminster or Commonwealth, but I do find it very easy to compare it to Epiphany, Bald-Headed Teacher, or Morley's Best. Strange ....

Anyway, the burning qualities of this are typical for a ribbon cut. It's a lot drier than most McClelland products, which is a nice surprise. I experience minimal tongue irritation with Anniversary, which I consider essential to my enjoyment of a blend (my mouth is quite sensitive to VAs). The strength is also minimal -- there's more nicotine here than in Frog Morton, but not by much.

This is one of those blends that makes me wish that tobaccos were rated here using five stars instead of four. Why? Three stars doesn't seem to do this justice, but Anniversary also doesn't quite deserve the highest rating available. I would like to give this four out of five stars, but I guess I'll just call it a 3.5. If nothing else, I have a hard time imagining anyone genuinely disliking this mixture (unless they just despise latakia) and I'm sure that some will love it. As I said earlier, I doubt this stuff will ever be a true favorite but I nonetheless hope to have a tin on hand at all times. I could easily imagine some smokers calling it their Holy Grail.

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.

This is a rich, nuanced matured-Virginia blend that really hit the right notes for me. Smoking it back-to-back with Old Gowrie (a favorite straight Virginia) brought out the distinctive qualities that make Anniversary deliciously unique. The latakia, which a few others here have found overwhelming (much to my dismay), is actually a very subtle presence that adds a layer of depth and complexity to this blend without ever becoming a dominant presence.

This doesn't reach the heights of sweetness or complexity that you'll find in Hal o' the Wynd or Dark Star (hence my 3 stars), but, to my palate, it never fails to deliver an enjoyable smoke. It's something special, and it's definitely worth cellaring.

Bob

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.

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?

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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 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.