McCranie's Red Ribbon, vintage 2000

So is this what happens to McClellands Red Cake when it ages? Same mottled ribbon, but leans heavily to dark browns, much more so than Red Cake. Almost smells like a bit of stoved in with the mellow sweet Virginia. Came a little wet but didn't need too much drying time. This was a gift from a friend (thanks, friend!).

Deeper and richer than the oldest Red Cake I've ever smoked (about 5 years old - not much younger than this one, but this was tinned from a 14 year old crop, of course) and contains a different kind of sweetness. Where RC is "sweetly sweet" and tangy, this one has a mellow, deep kind of sweetness. Hard to describe - best I can say is that RC is more of a noticeable sweetness while RR is more subtle. I guess a comparison is the only way to get the picture! This is a fair bit more complex of the two as well, and with no nicotine overload. As much as I enjoy RC, this blend is considerably superior to my tastebuds. Makes me want to continue to age the RC that is in my cellar. McClellands is the master of Virginias in my book, and this is one that anyone that enjoys such blends to sample.

This is an excellent red ribbon vintage. Tastes sort of like a cherry blend without the cherries.

Sweeter and milder than its flake brother. Not as robust as the 1983 vintage but still worthy of the red ribbon label.

I dont know what it is with me but i swear this is cased and sauced.nothing like the 83 crop. maybe age will help with this but to my tastes this is an aromatic. smoked three tins so far, maybe the ribbons in my tins were right next to the sprayers. some have said this is their best crop yet. no, not even close.

This tobacco has a very nice natural cherry note to it along with a twang reminiscent of licking a battery. I rather enjoy the balance and find this one of the best smokes around. Very pure tobacco experience with bonus points for unique flavor nuances. It will bite if you are aggressive, but behaves well otherwise. Dynamite.

I will sadly admit that I have never had any of the earlier Red Ribbon tobaccos. But what I have tasted here is reason to search to find some. I will admit that this has an uncanny resemblance to McClelland 5100. It does seem to have a bit more flavor that the McClelland but the resemblances are uncanny. Personally I like this blend but would rather save the money and buy 5100.

This is a prior review around 2010 based on a recently purchased tin of Prime 2000 Red Virginia that was processed in 2008 & purchased around 2009. I've never smelled or tasted any tobacco like this, including other Virginias, so, I'm unable to pass on a comparitive analysis. From my limited experience in that time period, I'll have to submit that the aroma and taste is foreign to me & this is the first, straight Red Virginia I've ever sampled. It is very mild with a semi-sweet, tangy, earthy flavor. I don't notice a casing when sniffing, handling or smoking & I assume the flavor is that of pure, quality Red VA.

This Red Ribbon seems to burn just a wee bit faster than other VAs I've sampled, but smokes cool & mild with minimal harshness or palate discomfort. The aroma & flavor is appealing & I taste nothing more than a unique, tobacco flavor. This was a first Red VA smoking experience for me. This stuff is definately worthy of a VA connoisseur's attention & will most certainly improve with age as most VA blends do. I purchased three tins of this particular version of Red Ribbon for my cellar. I sold the other two as I found it lacking in strength... too mild to suit my taste preference.

From my experience reading thousands of reviews on this sight, I've discovered that many pipers prefer milder blends & I'm just the opposite. Since I don't inhale & prefer to keep my lungs free of "asphalt," I prefer stronger blends that absorb into the membranes rather than pave my lungs with tar & possibly come down with COPD or lung cancer. I can't highly recommend this Red Ribbon which for some odd reason, commands a premium. My advice... fuhgetaboutit & save your nickels & dimes for C & D's Small Batch, Carolina Red Flake.

This is a prior review around 2010 based on a recently purchased tin of Prime 2000 Red Virginia that was processed in 2008 & purchased around 2009. I've never smelled or tasted any tobacco like this, including other Virginias, so, I'm unable to pass on a comparitive analysis. From my limited experience, I'll have to submit that the aroma and taste is foreign to me & this is the first, straight Red Virginia I've ever sampled. It is very mild with a semi-sweet, tangy, earthy flavor. I don't notice a casing when sniffing, handling or smoking & the flavor is that of pure, quality Red VA.

This Red Ribbon seems to burn just a wee bit faster than other VAs I've sampled, but smokes cool & mild with minimal harshness or bite. The aroma & flavor is appealing & I taste nothing more than a unique, tobacco flavor. This is a great first Red VA smoking experience for me. This stuff is definately worthy of a VA connoisseur's attention & will most certainly improve with age as most VA blends do. I purchased three tins of this particular version of Red Ribbon for my cellar. I sold the other two as I found it to be a bit wimpy in Vitamin N. Therefore, IMHO, McCranie's Red Ribbon merits about three stars.

I think this is a McC product sold as a McCranies blend. It is actually very nice. Soft, gentle sweetness wrapped in a woodsy flavor. Very easy burn and it didn't have too much of the "ketchup" you find with McC VA blends. This is a nice blend to have around, let it age, have a bowl from time to time, put it back, age some more and so on. Nice.

Smoke in peace.

Not enough taste for me. If I were to smoke anything on this order, it would be McClelland's blending virginia.