McClelland Christmas Cheer 2007

This is my first CC, bought back when it first became available and aged since then in my cellar. Typical McClelland vinegar aroma in the tin. It needed some airing-out. In fact, I always found this a bit bitey no matter the moisture level. The only thing that worked was an accident: I left several bowls' worth out to dry for too long, and then had to re-hydrate it. That smoothed it out without sacrificing any of the flavor. Try that if you have the same problem. A pretty pleasant smoke overall, with both sweet and salty notes.

Its 4 years old now and while a its enjoyable, it doesnt blow me away. Standing alone, its a little weak for me. Still quality though. If only they could get rid of that god awful ketchup smell from the tin.

Update. The more i smoke of this the more it's subtle flavours come out. It's teaching me to enjoy milder Va's. After 4 months the vinegar smell is all but gone and now smells very nice. Up to 4 stars.

I am a virginia lover and find the "ketchup" tin smell from McClelland virginia's wonderful. So, you know what I think. Sweet and tangy like citrus with a spicy background. My pallate is not as refined as some, I'm sure, therefore I find each year to taste somewhat similar, but that is fine by me because I love them. No need to concentrate while smoking this one the sweetness comes through easily.

Well, I put it off as long as I could. I've been eyeing my tin of Christmas Cheer for two years. So, on Christmas Eve I have decided to open it as a treat and to also break in a new pipe.

Upon opening the tin, I was greeting by McClellands classic virginia aroma. I personally think it smells good and is a sign of high quality. Small, dark broken flakes abound. With closer inspection, I noticed sugar crystals have formed on the flakes. Excellent! Moisture seems just right, definately not on the dry side. I rubbed out a bowl and loaded my new Elliot Lovat. Two lights, a tamp, and I'm greeted with a soft spicey smoke. Reminds me of cloves and apples but not in an aromatic way of course, just high quality aged red virginias.

Treat yourself this holiday to a bowl of Christmas Cheer and make sure to add some to the cellar.

An excellent example of McC's Christmas Cheer that only gets better with age.

Peeling the tin back... peeling the tin back...finally! WHOA!!!! What a smell! It's ok though, because this was my first tinned Virginia. I was expecting that ketchup smell everyone talks about and I sure as hell got it. Having smoked mostly aromatics, I've been growing tired of the same old great smell but no taste effect. I tried some Virginia's and had great tastes, but horrible room note. Here is a tobacco that has the benefits of a good room note and leaves a slightly sweet/spicy after taste. Be sure to dry it out a bit. Puff slow and hold it for a few secs to let that subtle sweetness present itself.

Mmmmmm... read all the other 4 star reviews and I concur. Nice!

Add'l Note: The ketchup smell was unreal and interesting. I spread this stuff out and let it dry out for about 12 hours and put it back in the tin. The ketchup smell eventually died out and what was left was a very pleasant spicy smell with hints of cloves. Nice indeed.

This isn't one of my favourite McClellands. It smells just fine and it smokes..well just about tolerably, but it doesn't give you what you expect from these masters of the art. I wish it tasted as good as it smells...which is something like Christmas Plum Pudding...but it never delivers anything other than a VA ready to bite you at any second. Shame really. I have one more tin and I'll hide that away for a year or so and hope it matures a bit.

Updated review June 2008

I'm still working through the same tin I reviewed earlier and I must admit that I am enjoying it more now. There's less of the plum pudding and more of a scent of cloves and cinnamon and this is coming through in the smoking as well. I rubbed out the entire contents, not something I normally do and that combined with a few months airing in the tin seems to have improved the smoking qualities really well.

Upped to 3 stars now:-)

I really like McClelland Virginias and this is no exception. The key to some of these McClelland flakes to me is the preparation as the broken flakes are rather thick and unruly. I find that if I don't rub these flakes out, I can't keep them burning.

The bottom line is if you have some skills and patience and can get the tobacco to where it smolders, it is excellent. I do prefer smaller gauge pipes for Christmas Cheer of any vintage.