McClelland GKCPC Boston 1776

There was a recent discussion on a pipe forum regarding all of the various Club Blends that McClellands has re-introduced and how they could all be different. I've smoked several and find them all to have different characteristics and tastes. This one is one of the finest.

As the previous reviewer mentioned, this is similar looking in the tin to Epitome. But there the similarity ends. Where Epitome was very good but subdued, this one is boisterous in its flavor profile. A rich tasting, medium bodied smoke with a spiciness that made me wonder if they had forgotten to mention the perique. No stewed fruit or pepper flavor/tingle but an excellent spicy flavor with a sweet and mellow background. No overemphasis on the lemon virginia. This one tasted not too dissimilar to a broken flake version of Rich Virginia Ribbon, which is also a staple for me. Epitome and Quantum were fairly middle of the road and I can't find a place for Aurora, but this one hits my tastebuds dead center. Very assertive in a non-confrontational way, excellent tasting, clean burning, mild nicotine and that wonderful McClellands matured virginia scent. This is highly recommended for all VA lovers. Don't pass this one by!

It's as simple as this," McClelland does great Virginias and this is one of their best". A touch of Mc Vinegar, gives a sweet & sour taste and stays the entire pipe ( agree with reviewer, "DK" ,below in that it has the sour touch like Perique, but without the pepper). Very flavorful, interesting and doesn't get ashy. It's closest comparison is, "Blackwoods Flake", but lighter color and less prep time. This blend is smooth with no bite. I'll smoke this anytime of day

My goodness. What a nice Virginia flake this is. A little grassy citrus, some mildly sweet dark fruit. A little earth and a touch of tang. Well rounded, slightly bottom-heavy. Has a really nice bass note. Very smooth with ample strength. McClelland knocked this one out of the park.

Medium in body and taste. No added flavoring. Burns very well.

This is a beautiful blend, and I'm stunned to see it has less than a dozen reviews on here at the time of writing. As a Virginia fan, I'd always been slightly underwhelmed by McClelland's VAs, and this was a massive exception. Blackwoods and Dark Star get all the focus and rave reviews, but I'd put Boston 1776 above both of those. It's a fairly rich, medium-bodied smoke and has those slightly pastry-type notes that you find in some Virginia flakes here in England (SG's FVF and BBF mainly, but also Dunhill Flake, which is, of course, blended elsewhere now). I'll restrain myself before waxing too lyrical, but it's a delicious blend that seems to have fallen under the radar here for some unfathomable reason. Maybe it's the humdrum tin design - who knows...

The tangy red, lemon and orange Virginias offer quite a bit of citrus and grass, some very ripe dark fruit and earth along with a little tartness, and a touch of sugar and vinegar. The tingling spice provides a little complexity, and is very noticeable in every puff. In fact, you’ll notice nearly every aforementioned aspect in every puff, which is the hallmark of a complex, nuanced, well balanced blend. The strength just misses the medium mark, while the taste sits squarely on that threshold. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. Won't bite, and has fewer rough edges than expected. Being a thick flake, it burns a little slow, clean and fairly cool with a very deep, rich, consistent sweet, mildly spicy, lightly savory flavor that translates to the pleasant lingering after taste. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. Has pleasant room note. Can be an all day smoke.

-JimInks

I've now had the original and the most recent revival of Boston 1776, but cannot compare the two now as my original tin is long gone and I did not take notes. A nicely put together Virginia flake with more grassy notes than what I am used to from McClelland's. Not a lot of depth to the leaf, but I did get what I call fresh sparkle as the Virginia flakes within are nicely aged and tangy. A somewhat mild Virginia and typical of McClelland's preparation of such leaf, there is no bite.

Bringing together richness, sweetness, earthiness, spiciness and depth, Boston 1776 is all about balance! It is a wonderfully intriguing smoke that can perk you up or chill you out and can be smoked at any time of day. It is delicious!

The red, lemon and orange Virginias seem to have combined to become a unique strain of tobacco incorporating all of their different qualities. I get the best results by rubbing it out thoroughly and letting it dry a bit. Try lighting, tamping and re-lighting for a few puffs. Then set the pipe aside for about ten minutes before lighting it for the duration. That really works for this smoker.

It is one of the best Virginias in the McClelland lineup, IMHO, of course, and I agree with the esteemed DK that it is in some ways reminiscent of Rich Virginia Ribbon. This last tin was from 2009. It develops incredibly with age!

If you like Virginias this is a must. It’s wonderful. Or, if you are interested in Virginias, but haven’t gotten in to them yet, this would be a great place to start.

Very highly recommended! Thanks McClelland!

Dang this is good stuff. If you are a Virginia flake smoker, this is as good as it gets. Honestly, its just wonderful flavorful mellow and creamy. The nic hit is just below medium, so its not without some muscle. But if you think of great Va. flakes....Gawith's FVF, and Dunhill flake, and some of McClelland;s others...the brown label flakes, and maybe Butera's Golden Cake...this is perhaps the best of all, and thats saying something. Thew Gawith full virginia flake has always been the gold standard and Id say it has a touch more nicotine, but not by that much. Otherwise this is the equal to any.

A friend send me about 4 oz of this jarred in 2016. It is a fairly dense broken flake with shades of brown tobaccos with a few tan bits in there. The pouch note is mild vinegar and ripe fruit. The broken fakes are fairly hard/dense and I rubbed them out.

Smoked, this is a very good Virginia. it is sweet and has a fruit note or two. There is a mellow quality that it hard to describe and a fullness in the flavor. There is a slight spicy edginess when puffed. The mild vinegar pouch note does not come through in the smoking although the fruit notes have a little sour at times. The flavor is wonderful if you like red Virginias.

It stayed lit well. The flavor was consistent - perhaps growing in depth as the bowl progressed.

It is a little unfair to rate this a 4, because it is no longer in production. I still think a Virginia fan should try this if given an opportunity.

I'm not much of a Virginia Flake type of guy (so far), but I was very pleasantly surprised with this tobacco. I rubbed it out & let it dry for about 30 minutes & I was rewarded with an easy packing, clean burning, very flavorful blend that I'll definitely be seeking out again. I agree with others that it has a slight Perique type flavor without the pepper blast. Very refined, with a light fruitiness & great matured Virginia flavors. Highly recommended.