McClelland Christmas Cheer 2011

The vinegar/ketchup smell does appear in the taste of the tobacco, though it's much lesser than it smells. The Virginias offer very ripe and tangy dried dark fruit, and a little citrus with some earth and a hint of grass and wood. I get some raisin, sugar and fig notes and a little nutmeg as well. The tobacco taste is sublimated by the fermented sweetness, and this crop seems milder than other years. Burns a little slow with some moisture, unless you dry it some first. If you do, don't totally dry it out. Not a dull or harsh spot to be found. Won't bite. Has a mild nic-hit. The strength is mild, and the taste is just past the center of mild to medium. Requires some relights, and will leaves a little moisture in your pipe. Has a smooth and very consistent flavor with a nice after taste that pleasantly lingers. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

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.

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.

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.

This was a good christmas gift.

It is mellow and naturally sweet with an organic spicy taste to it. I am a virginia tobacco lover and this is a good one for me.

Giving it three stars because Dunhill Flake is still better.

Looking foward to enjoying this outside in the Summer!!

Looking for that enjoyable and pleasant holiday smoke Christmas Cheer 2011 fits the bill.

This is my first foray into the McClelland specialty blends and I really like this one. It provides a cool lightly sweet smoke with some of that wonderful holiday flavor I was looking for.

I have heard that McClelland tobaccos smell ketchuppy in the tin and that is the case here. This does not carry over to the smoke however.

After rubbing out enough to fill a bowl I let it sit for about 15 minutes before packing it. The tobacco puffed nicely on the false light and after a light tamp I was in business.

If you are looking for that holiday Virginia this may be the one for you.