McClelland Jubilee

Mottled blonde-to-black ribbon with the unfortunate addition of a fair amount of stems... not what I expect from McClellands. But it could have been just this one tin. Tin nose of McC's pure Virginia with a backdrop of earth. An old Bob Hamlin PCCA blend, I'm told.

Very much Virginia forward and the addition of latakia is condimental, as I usually prefer. The sweetness and tang of the VA is front and center. The latakia is subdued but noticeable, and adds just a wee bit of sweet smoke. The orientals don't distinguish themselves (as if I could likely tell which ones were used anyway!) but add some body and a slight sour flavor. The perique is barely there and it exhibits neither dark fruit nor peppery spice - just much needed bass notes. This blend might be just another blend were it not for the wisp of perique. I think the balance here is magical and it is one smooth blend. Not nearly as complex as I would have guessed, but subtly so... enough to keep the interest piqued. A mellow, thoughtful blend, not terribly exciting but one that if I were a morning smoker would probably be one I would smoke then to get my tastebuds primed for headier fare later in the day. This seems to me an excellent recipe brought to reality by McClellands superior Virginias. 3.5 stars - not quite 4 but definitely pushing that level. Recommended to those who enjoy light flavors that come to you on their own time rather than those that force themselves on the smoker. This is one I'll pick up more of, but not destined for my personal top tier.

This is one of those blends that tested my patience in that I had to force myself to leave it be till it recd 2 full years in the cellar.

Tin note has the McVinegar, but with some sweet, almost Cav scents as well. It wasn't till I tried this in a MizzMeer cob that I got a grip on the nuances of Jubilee, as my briars overwhelmed the tastes.

What i get now is a subtle shifting from Va sugary enough to resemble good cavendish, some spiceness from the perique, with an oft intermittent coolness reminiscent of how menthols affect the palate. All that in a single bowl.

Another sly fact bout this blend is that while it is smooth to the point of Early Morning Pipe, the nicotine will creep up on you by bowls-end.

I prefer to pack this densely, it smokes slower than many blends ive tried despite it being dry upon opening. I would recommend this as a transition from aros to English tobys, and I. Would think established veterans would appreciate the subtleties that this blend has to offer.

A very nice "light" English mixture, with mostly Virginias and a touch of Orientals, Latakia and Perique. I guess the mildness of the flue cured leaf make the others tobaccos stand out more than I expected from the look in the tin. Anyway, by mid bowl it tends to flatten and get a little bit boring for my taste. Great tobacco, anyway.

This is one very classy blend. The aroma from the tin tells you that you are in for a very special treat. My tin had two years of age on it. The flavor is soft and silky. All the condimental leaf is used sparingly, but the taste is well-rounded and flavorful. Burns very cool. A very refined blend like nothing I've experienced before. I'm tempted to compare it to other blends, but I think it's in a class all it's own. The virginias are slightly sweet and the turkish and perique play off each other. The latakia is further in the background. It has an inordinate amount of flavor for such a mild blend. This is best sipped like a fine wine. Holds your attention from start to finish. A wonderful example of the art of fine blending. Thank you Bob Hamlin.

A mixture of brown, chestnut, black, and tan broken ribbons with a nutty, caramel aroma that is slightly sweet. A bit on the springy side, the mixture packs with moderate ease and burns well.

Structurally, Jubilee is a complex mixture comprised of bright and matured Virginias, Turkish leaf, a pinch of Perique, and a dash of Latakia. Somewhat bright with a nutty tang, in the bowl it offers alternately sweet and earthy notes of sugared pecans, dried apricots, marmalade, and wood. Although the fragrant Orientals remain in the forefront for much of the bowl, the Virginias, unmistakably McClelland, are sweet with a mixture of zest and depth which provides an interesting counterpoint. While the Turkish leaf lends an overall sour-savory character to the mixture, a certain tartness from the Perique appears now and again. Applied with a very light hand, the (Syrian?) Latakia sits shyly in the background, its role ultimately unclear. A nutty, pecan-like note persists throughout the bowl. Medium bodied with a soft and somewhat creamy mouthfeel, it offers a dry, semi-sweet finish.

Jubilee is a blend which confounds, and in all honesty this reviewer stands at a loss when it comes to the question of how it might be situated among other Virginia-Oriental preparations. Its particular components place it in general range of the other post-PCCA McClelland offerings, especially Tudor Castle / Arcade and Orient 996 Vintage 2007 (with the Virginias of Aurora being citable as well), and those who have experience with McClelland offerings will find a number of the flavors it offers quite familiar. At the same time, however, Jubilee clearly stands out as a mixture all its own which has, in this reviewer's experience, no immediate parallel in overall effect. While it will not become an everyday smoke in these parts, a small stash will duly be cellared for future sampling.

I have little to add to what Jiminks has said, just that I find this to be an extremely well integrated blend. The tin I have was from 2008, so it had 8 years of aging which may have been responsible for the melding of flavors. I usually go for something with a bit more of a statement from the latakia but I found this to be a very satisfying smoke.