McClelland Christmas Cheer 2009

Got back in to pipe smoking recently after a 12+ year absence, and broke back into my big jar of Christmas Cheer. Imagine my surprise when my local pipe shop told me McClelland is gone! My jar is a much more closely-guarded treasure now.

Needs smoked slowly and gently, but is truly a sublime, comforting experience.

This Christmas Cheer is from the 2009 vintage and has quite a bit of age on it. The tin note is typical of McClelland Virginians. In addition to the slight ketchup smell it also has a nice tangy sweet and earthy grassy aroma. I've never been a fan of the McClelland cut of tobacco I've always had trouble drying it out and keeping it lit but, that just goes with the territory. Once you get it going, however it is a very pleasant smoke indeed. I don't find it to be overly complex in fact it's quite monochromatic but, in a very good way it's very sweet consistent Virginia flavor from top to bottom I get more sweet than tang. No harshness at all and no bite to be found. If pure unadulterated Virginia flavor is what you're after Christmas Cheer is the ticket.

A nice virginia (I usually smoke 1792 or #24) when puffing virginia's. It starts out a bit hot to me but settles down about 1/4 of the way through. It really starts to smoke well at the 1/2 way point with a little peppery taste but no biting just a rich flavor all the way to the end. Smokes down to a white powder with no moisture. As all virginia's to me it smokes best in a wide bowled pipe like a pot shape or something with a similar bowl style as well in a meershaum. Glad I opened it up!

Most McCelland virginias need to mellow in a closed, unsealed tin for months before they're any good, and Christmas Cheer 09 is no exception: I bought and opened a tin of it before Christmas and it's only now starting to be smokable. Medium strength, with a sweet, sharp edge. A vanilla note does emerge near the end of the bowl, but it's a naturally occurring flavor, not a casing or topping. The McClelland ketchup smell is present in abundance here. I find it compliments a stoved virginia but in Christmas Cheer it's a bit too much. I can't taste it in the smoke, but I can taste it in my pipe afterward.

I like Christmas Cheer 2009 and will finish my tin, but I don't think I'll buy any more of it. There are other McClelland products I like better, like No. 21, 2015, Blackwoods Flake, and Dark Star, and better broken flake virginias on the market (Old Gowrie) as well.

Much more mild than I had expected but not disappointed in my purchase. When you first open the tin, you can really detect a fig/molasses scent but that seems to dissipate during smoking. I was under the impression that the taste would linger a bit longer on the pallet but it did not. It is definitely a smoke for the cold weather and I would encourage anyone in the holiday spirit to grab a tin each year it is produced. The room note is more than the taste but the taste is good. These two combinations translates into everyone enjoying this tobacco during the Christmas season.

good smoke but may attack the tongue if smoked too fast.That is sometimes the way virginias can get because of the natural sugar.

A pretty nice Virginia blend. I think most folks try this thinking it is a Christmas aromatic, and they are surprised and somewhat put off by the strong Virginia flake.

Can be a bit wet in the tin, so needs some drying, but all together its a really pleasant tobacco. Sweet, nutty, and cool smoking.

3 stars

A pleasant Virginia flake

Strong ketchup smell to tin and very moist

once I rubbed it out and let it sit out for an hour it was a very nice mild sweet smoke. Could stand to be stored away for a while to age.

I enjoyed this blend. Good, sweet, Virginias as advertised. I detected a little spice in the tin aroma when I opened it, I did not find that to be present in the smoke. I'm not yet experienced enough to know, but I THINK that some of the bulk McC Virginias would fill THIS void for me, and at a little lower price. Good tobacco, just pricey!