McClelland GKCPC Boston 1776

I purchased this after reading all the great reviews. I'm a big fan of straight Virginias and McClelland as well. I found this one slightly disappointing. It is rather bland compared to my favorites(Opening Night from C & D). It is far from a bad blend and I did find it enjoyable, it just lacked some of the dark fruit and richness I look for in a top notch and complex straight Virginia.

I'm hoping more time will help with this one.

This sample was given to me by a good friend in my online tobacco club. This sample burned ok out of the pouch, produced a moderate amount of smoke and minimal tongue bite. This had a taste of hay and smelled of caramelizing sugar, but there wasnt too much more to it...which is ok since many VAs can be singular in taste and aroma. Glad I had the chance to try a new VA...thanks friend.

For those who doubt that an aroma can feel so spicy that it tickles the nose, I would give you a taste of some of McClelland's virginias, for example, this Boston 1776. It gives off a typical ketchup smell of this brand that is note in the first few puffs, but then disappears quickly. It comes with a type of cut that is halfway between broken flake and crumble cake. The color is very dark and allows the shine of the sugar, which has crystallized over time, to stand out even more, creating with that contrast a beautiful visual spectacle that I enjoy looking through a magnifying glass.

It is powerful in flavor, and has a good range of nuances that go from sweet to spicy, through toasted, sour, dark fruits, citrus. Slightly balsamic in the first / second third of the bowl. Towards the second half the flavor becomes more homogeneous and relaxed. It is in the middle in nicotinic strength and does not bite if smoked at a medium cadence.

Historical note: The name of the mixture seems to allude to a famous historical episode during the War of Independence, known as the “Siege of Boston”, which marked a major strategic victory for the Colonials, and the British evacuation of Boston. Even today, March 17 is a holiday in the state of Massachusetts, known as "Evacuation Day."

Paraphrasing the now old commercial, I will say that "there are many virginias... but they are not Boston 1776".

More nicely prepared Va flakes from McC; these are ~ 1/8" thick and very densely compacted dark brown, orange to yellow tobaccos. Not much of the McC ketchup smell from the tin but still inviting. Much drier from the tin than other McC flakes but still smokes cool and smooth. I don't rub out my flakes and the thickness/density of these flakes required numerous relights and reduced the smoke intensity. BulkVAs and VA/Pers from McC and others are just as good with a cheaper unit cost.