McClelland Christmas Cheer 2011

As a virginia lover I had to try out a McClelland Christmas cheer, and I'm glad I finally did so. The typical McClelland flakes are not ketchup-like as some say, at least not to me, though I can see where that distinction comes from. The taste and quality are exactly what you expect from McClelland, top notch all the way. Where I start to frown a bit though is lighting. For me it is incredibly difficult to keep lit! I've tried it in just about every way imaginable, fresh from the tin, dried, stuffed, rubbed out, and any variation in between! It's either one extreme or the other, it doesn't stay lit, or it burns like sawdust. Of course, this is all more of an annoyance tan anything. The flavor when smoking though is VERY delicious indeed, sweet grains like oats and a slight spice. To me it's more along the lines of ginger than cinnamon, either way it is delectable! If you have the patience give it a whirl!

Note: I have a second tin that I'm letting age a number of years (hopefully). Perhaps then I'll have better luck keeping it lit.

Addendum - MY! What do you know, just after submitting this review I relit a bowl from earlier, and WOW! This stuff is a prime candidate for DGT. Really superb stuff now! Bumped to three stars from two.

I remember smoking this. I remember it well. Last Christmas, actually. It was good, specifically because I smoked it after I had actualized my revenge upon all of Whoville. Thats right, Whoville. That propaganda that you watch every Christmas about me is all BS. I didn't "Steal Christmas"... I destroyed it. Of course I didn't want to destroy it, but my hand was forced. It was that stupid idiot of a Mayor, Mayor Who. He hated me. He turned Whoville against me. The "Grinch" they called me. My name is Regenald Smithers. But I bet they didn't tell you that in their Nazi style Propaganda. I'm also sure they failed to mention the part where their favorite past time was to catch me each Christmas Eve and torture me in the village square. For 15 years this went on, until I put a violent stop to it.

The "Grinch Team" was the Special Operations team tasked with catching me each year. Every year they came up the mountain, broke down my door, tied me up and took me down Mt. Crumpit to the village square. I remember the day I put a stop to it like it was yesterday. Mostly because the faces that each member of the Grinch Team made as I killed them is burned into my mind like a brutal scar reminding me of that fateful Christmas Eve. I remember them marching like men, and me slaughtering them like animals as they came through my door.

Unfortunately one of the Grinch Team managed to radio in what was happening before I could club his brains in. But this ended up being their downfall. I knew that soon more men would follow, so I laid in wait. As the other team advanced I destroyed them too with my advanced knowledge of Who-Fu and Who-Kwon-Do. I then took the gear they had on them and headed down to Whoville under the cover of dark, planting all the explosives I had around the city of Whoville.

I made my advance into Whoville and set up a top a commercial building on the west end of the village square, facing the backs of the Whos as they listened to the Mayor try to explain why I wasn't there being beaten for the Christmas festivities. Then I opened up fire with the high powered rifle that I stole from the W.H.O Spec Ops team. The City was in panic after I shot their precious leader's head off. The other Whos scattered as I picked them off... men... women... children... I didn't care, I had no more mercy left in my bones; only revenge. Eventually I ran out of bullets and resorted to killing as many Whos as I could with my bare hands. To this day I still cannot count the number of necks that I snapped or the number of Whoville nuts (testicles) that i roasted over an open fire.

In the midst of the chaos, I detonated the explosives, sending half the city away in a glorious ball of fire. At this point the Whoville PD had located me and sent all they had at me... but it wasn't enough. I was too much for them and made certain that they wouldn't live to unwrap another present. I remember one cop in particular that almost got the best of me, but in the end, I drowned him in his own urine.

The Whos should be rewareded for their bravery. Many of the city's men tried to take me down, but none suceeded. At the climax of the chaos the Whos attempted to bring me down with whatever they had: Chairs, Butter Knives, Stockings, Christmas lights, Gingerbread Men, Candles, Roast Beast,,, but in my rage I made certain that I impaled them all with their own sad weapons. It was rather sad seeing the men of the town killed with their own cookies lodged into their heads.

Their bodies stayed in Whoville, but their faces stayed in my minds forever.

When all was said and done I put a Christmas wreath made out of their dismembered arms and legs on the city hall and lit my pipe of Christmas Cheer off of the flames of burning Who coprses..... It was lovely weather for a massacre. My revenge was complete and all the remaining Whos mourned. And there was no Christmas Cheer singing loud for all to hear. From that day forth, children were not regarded as naughty or nice, for they were all in danger of my might. No more Santa to tell good or bad, just Regenald to choose which life will be had. No more letters asking for whirley twirls and spinney tops, only letters begging me to STOP! They treat me as if I'm God, but I'm no god... for God has mercy.

I finally opened my tin as an early Xmas present to myself. One-dimensional. Somewhat bland. The McClelland vinegar treatment gets a little old with such weed. Overall, it is a well done Virginia flake, but it will be better with a little more time.

Update, 2 October 2012: the vinegar/ketchup flavor is gone after some more time to mature, but this weed will never cut it. It is bland and boring. It should have been used as a base for a great McClelland blend, but it is not worth smoking on its own. Life is too short to wait on a tobacco to improve with age. There is simply not enough here to work with... Downgraded to one star.

This is my first experience with the Christmas Cheer collection. I am sort of a McClelland fan and enjoy many of their offerings. I've pleasantly worked my way through my first tin of CC 2011, and now have three more tins on the way if that tells you anything. This is a very very good virginia. Burns easily without much attention and provides loads of flavor throughout. I highly recommend this leaf for anyone wanting to experience a true virginia.

If this were a regular production offering, it would easily become my second favorite Virginia---only FVF is better. Beautiful broken flakes of red and orange Va. that are well-aged. Great flavors of raisins, figs, and light spice. Nice moisture level right out of the tin. Just rub slightly, wait 15 mins., and smoke away. Can bite a little if you smoke it in a hurry. I need to buy more before it's gone!!

It took me some time to identify the flavors in this very fine blend, orange peel and clove. Not a cloying heavy topping but just a hint, very well done as it marries so well with that " McC Vinegar Virginia". I love" McC Vinegar Virginia" as it has a sweet and sour zesty taste. Plenty of flavor here and a nice "N" kick. No bite just "zesty". I find by rubbing this out, it burns beautiful . Picture a matured 5100 Red Cake, add some extra "N" and a pinch of Orange/clove. I'm really stoking this pipe and I'm getting no bite, no bitterness, not even that hot spice, just flavor. Try some "French Inhales" to get that Orange/clove scent, stays the entire bowl . I can't agree with some of these reviews that say this is mild, not the way that I'm smoking it. I'm filling another pipe as I'm getting to the end of this one, I want more. I will buy again

Updated 11/12/11-I'm on my second tin of this fine blend and I've run into a disappointment, the small flavor nuances have quickly faded in the tin. I do not pick up the orange peel and the clove is barely noticeable. This is still an excellent Virginia ,but I have to remove a star because it no longer stands out as something special. I still believe this will age wonderful as a straight Virginia.

TennWordsmith is crazy. This tobacco is terrible. Do not run to order this tobacco, it is not worth it. Besides, that will enable me to purchase every available tin. This stuff is fantastic especially if you like McClelland Virginia tobacco. Very mild and a great fragrance. I originally ordered three tins and as I was smoking the first bowl, I went online and ordered 10 more. Highly recommended!

I spent a few $ buying a 2011 tin. I popped the bulging tin today. Merry Christmas to me? Not worth the money in my opinion. 1) Distinctive tin notes? Yes. All spice,? Steak sauce? Bay leaf? 2) Flavor? Reminds me of fresh Dan Tobacco Virginia's.

Follow up. Smoked out of a custom cob. Very mild , very smooth, no tounge bite! Smokes cool and clean. No sweetness detected. The aroma is a cross of; all spice, Bay leaf, and steak sauce. Thank you.

The first half of this bowl was amazing. Light citrusy flavors with definite apricot overtones. Last half got a little more flat and harsh, although not unpleasant. Did have trouble keeping it lit as others have stated. I think it needs a bit more drying out. I did smoke it completely rubbed out. I look forward to trying this again.