McClelland Christmas Cheer 2008
(3.12)
Handblended, premium pressed Virginia flake tobaccos. A fine vintage, naturally sweet, in limited quantity.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| 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
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.12 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 41 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 02, 2008 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
The McClelland team has surprised me again. Way back when I tried the Christmas Cheer and the cider flavor just knocked me away, but this 2008 has brought me back to the fold. It's a little damp out of the can (I call that fresh) and it takes 3 matches, but it is worth it nice round flavor and great delivery of clean, spicy Virginia flavor. Mike and Mary have put another one over the fence.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 29, 2024 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I just finished a tin of this and like all the other CC releases I enjoyed it. One thing I found odd was how there was zero plume on this despite its fifteen-and-a-half-year nap. To this day, I have never seen plume on a CC release.
Like all the CCs that preceded and followed this one, this is a straight red virginia from a single crop. As I have heard said it is the single malt scotch of the tobacco world. Due to this it is extremely monotone and very McClelland "ketchupesque."
Also like the others it is a bit of an effort to get it lit properly even with some dry time and will take a slow cadence to get the most of what it has to offer. Once in the zone it is sweet and lovely.
Like all the CCs that preceded and followed this one, this is a straight red virginia from a single crop. As I have heard said it is the single malt scotch of the tobacco world. Due to this it is extremely monotone and very McClelland "ketchupesque."
Also like the others it is a bit of an effort to get it lit properly even with some dry time and will take a slow cadence to get the most of what it has to offer. Once in the zone it is sweet and lovely.
Pipe Used:
Ashton Pebble Grain Apple Taylor Era
Age When Smoked:
15y5m
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 15, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I love most offerings from the great folks at McClelland, but this one just does not strike a note with me. It is not a bad tobacco by any means, it is just not very exciting.
It came very moist, and after some drying out I loaded this up and gave it a go. It was a solid Virginia blend, but was not very exciting for me. After many bowls in many pipes I can only give this blend two stars. Based on the other reviews you should definitely give this blend a try, but for me there are many more exciting Virginia blends out there.
It came very moist, and after some drying out I loaded this up and gave it a go. It was a solid Virginia blend, but was not very exciting for me. After many bowls in many pipes I can only give this blend two stars. Based on the other reviews you should definitely give this blend a try, but for me there are many more exciting Virginia blends out there.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 28, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
My first venture into the Christmas Cheer series, I was not disappointed! my tin was dating from Oct 09.
As usual, the vinaigar/ketchup tin aroma does not transfer in the smoking.
Beautiful, very dark brown broken flakes were very easy to break up despite the farly high level of humidity. 1 hr on a sheet of paper solved the problem.
Lighting up brought not much at first. Pure VAs like this require some patience before the flavor start unveiling. Usually, flavors start displaying around 1/4 of the bowl. It then brought forward intense notes of leather, cinnamon, nutmeg and baked bread. Past 1/3 of the bowl, earthly and leathery notes appeared, combining harmoniously with the rest until the end.
This tobacco is rich but never overwhelming. The Vitamine N is moderate.
I will rebuy anytime the Christmas Cheer series!
As usual, the vinaigar/ketchup tin aroma does not transfer in the smoking.
Beautiful, very dark brown broken flakes were very easy to break up despite the farly high level of humidity. 1 hr on a sheet of paper solved the problem.
Lighting up brought not much at first. Pure VAs like this require some patience before the flavor start unveiling. Usually, flavors start displaying around 1/4 of the bowl. It then brought forward intense notes of leather, cinnamon, nutmeg and baked bread. Past 1/3 of the bowl, earthly and leathery notes appeared, combining harmoniously with the rest until the end.
This tobacco is rich but never overwhelming. The Vitamine N is moderate.
I will rebuy anytime the Christmas Cheer series!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 29, 2010 | Mild | None Detected | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
At first after purchasing 15 tins of Christmas 2008 it was hard to light and smoked very slow and needed to be re-lit. So I left it alone for 2 years. Now it is easy to light and very enjoyable puff with lots of natural flavor. It just needed time to age, I guess. Update:
Tired of the hard to stay lit and the bite, I put the can in a
coffee blender, reducing the flakes to small chunks, top it with
MacBaren Burley to help start it, put it in a large bowl pipe. This helps make a reasonable slow burning puff.
If I had to stick with one Brand it would be MacBaren. I will not be doing the Christmas offerings again.
Tired of the hard to stay lit and the bite, I put the can in a
coffee blender, reducing the flakes to small chunks, top it with
MacBaren Burley to help start it, put it in a large bowl pipe. This helps make a reasonable slow burning puff.
If I had to stick with one Brand it would be MacBaren. I will not be doing the Christmas offerings again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 13, 2010 | Very Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I agree with quantumboy 100%, I think with time," and it has already been to bed for 8+years" this will only get better, smoked a 100g can, and put 2 100g tins to bed, Its Virginia man, sweet, sweet Virginia.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is the only Christmas Cheer I've tried. It's very good stuff, good enough to justify my buying several tins when I first tried it. It just does not dazzle me with complexity or richness so I can't give up that fourth star. Certainly recommended, but by a guy who prefers English or Balkan blends (I do, however, love Blackwoods Flake, FVF and Union Square).
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 27, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
As N7COF stated below me, he gave the blend to a fellow pipe smoker...I was that pipe smoker LOL. Thanks sir for the blend. I tried a bowl of it...not bad...but not good either. The catsup smell is a real put off for me as well. This won't be smoked anytime soon. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth my friend.
10/26/2009: After letting this blend age for about 9 months, it is a great tobacco. Yes, the smell is still rather catsup or vinegar...but when it burns it is all the better. I stand corrected.
10/26/2009: After letting this blend age for about 9 months, it is a great tobacco. Yes, the smell is still rather catsup or vinegar...but when it burns it is all the better. I stand corrected.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 27, 2009 | Medium | Strong | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This one of those blends I discovered what I don't like & gave it to a fellow pipe smoker. I'm sure it's a good blend, it turns out I don't like as mentioned in a earlier review the typical McClelland ketchup/vinegar smell.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 22, 2009 | Medium | Mild | Very Full | Pleasant |
Yum Yum Yum on Christmas day on Christmas day in the morning.Gentelman this is top shelf.If you like virginian tobacco this a good year.It has been aged eight yrs already before you even get it,so realy all ya need to do is smoke it.A very smooth and great tasting blend.Not realy sure how to describe it.Ill say this its worth the money.
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