Tobaccos McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2012

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Handblended, premium pressed Virginia flake pipe tobaccos. A fine vintage, naturally sweet, in limited quantity.

This 2012 blend is made with a special selection of deep orange, ripe flue-cured Virginia from the 2008 crop grown near Stantonsburg, NC.

Notes: Rich in oil, intense in color, this is prime, sun-dappled leaf ready to age remarkably well in the tin. Each buying season, we look for tobaccos of exceptional quality and distinctive character. In various combinations, their flavors, aromas, textures contribute to the overall excellence of our products. The leaves of different crops and regions are combined to maintain consistency from year to year. With Christmas Cheer pipe tobacco, we treat our discriminating customers to the singular pleasure of a tasting of the very finest in tobaccos of a particular vintage, not worrying about maintaining the flavor and appearance of this product into future years but actually striving instead to present the unique character of a single crop and area. That's what Christmas Cheer pipe tobacco is all about. Happy sampling!

Brand	McClelland
Blended By	McClelland Tobacco Company
Manufactured By	McClelland Tobacco Company
Blend Type	Straight Virginia
Contents	Virginia
Flavoring	None
Cut	Broken Flake
Packaging	100 grams tin
Country	US
Production	No longer in production

Strength
Medium

Flavoring
None Detected

Taste
Medium

Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable

Favorite Of 2 Users

3.3

24 reviews

Reviews
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10
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11
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2
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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2015-03-16		Mild	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

I was going to wait until a special moment to crack my 2012 Christmas Cheer. But, realizing that tomorrow is not guaranteed, I cracked the tin this morning and am currently on bowl number 5. Delicious and while all of these Christmas Cheer blends have similar taste, I believe this one really sparkled with a deep sweetness that I don't recall finding in the other vintages (of course, the older my tongue gets the quicker I have to go to my notes). I did look over all of them for my Virginia natural sweetness rating and the best score - I rate 1 to 10 - was an 8 for the 2002 version. I give this one a nine. Simply marvelous at the match and unrelenting in depth of flavor. As fine a naturally sweet red cake as I've ever smoked. Light in the strength department but actually full in flavor. Unique and tasty. I smoked it all day and just finished my 5th bowl a moment ago. Despite the fullness of the flavor, my palate never got that heavy feeling one gets when smoking many blends over and over.

Pipestud

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-12-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I have always felt that Christmas Cheer should be enjoyed both as a fresh blend and aged. This year I am enjoying the 2012 blend in early December, and will open a 2000 tin for Christmas Day. This year's offering I rate as outstanding, and have put up several tins for aging. Dried slightly before packing, it burns well and I am trying it in different bowls to see what the optimal shape is to get the most out of the excellent flavor offered this year. So far, a narrow tall bowl is my favorite. Unlike some other years, the flavor and taste start off strong, with a rich helping of Virginia sweetness. So much so, that I can only imagine what this blend will bring in a decade. Excellent room note for a straight VA, and a desire to grab another pipeful later in the afternoon add to my recommendation that you try this one now, and squirrel away a tin or three for later Holiday enjoyment.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kaywoodiecanuck (14)	2012-11-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I ordered as quickly as I could when I seen this become available and as said before me was like a kid at Christmas. I waited though... I opened the tin and packed on of my favorite pipes and put it sigh... back in the stand to sit and excruciatingly long time... took a few good pinches out to air a bit and put the lid back on the tin.

While I waited I sniffed this stuff over and over and the Ketchup mentioned (i did say that at first too) moved more towards something oddly familiar yet distant. I asked anyone so inclined to stick their nose in to see what they thought (quite a fun game for me :)).

It struck me finally one evening... Fruit cake!! I swear that is what it reminds me of.

I gave some to a good friend of mine to to try and we usually catch time to sit and chat and share a good puff and expecting him to wait some like I did he popped into my office the next day singing its praises (I was appalled - and now had a good reason to break my waiting period)!

Long story to say this is a very lovely blend and I am going to get second tin to have as a treat even after the holidays!

Great room note (for me ;)), great tasting smoke that deserves to be enjoyed slowly with a good beverage! Highly recommended.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2015-03-19		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

The sweet Virginias are a bit earthy with a dried dark fruit tanginess, and a hint of wood and a few blades of grass. The mild spice reminds me of nutmeg. The "vinegar" last a little but doesn't distract if you're used to it, because you come expect it from the CC offerings. Has a mid-nic-hit. No chance of bite or harshness, and is never dull. Burns slow and moist, but a bit of dry time will fix the latter, though I prefer not to dry it. Requires relights, and will leave a little moisture in your pipe. Has a smooth and consistent flavor with a nice after taste that pleasantly lingers. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2013-09-25		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This was my first Christmas Cheer and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a typical McClelland Virginia with that typical fantastic tin aroma. It also has a nice tin presentation with the standard broken flake like you would see in 2015 or blackwoods flake. And like all those blends it tastes great. This is most like Mixture 27 to my tastes.

One thing about this tobacco is that it will come very wet and almost unsmokeable upon arrival. It needs some air and a chance to dry before it can be enjoyed. I was able to keep mine stored in the tin for around 8 months before jarring.

I would think that if you really wanted to enjoy this at Christmas time you would need to immediately open the tin upon arrival and just leave it open for several days. I may do this with the 2013 that is on its way.

I also have another 100g of this aging and am going to do my best to hold out for 10 years as I am a sucker for good marketing and this seems like a wothwhile enterprise. Anyway, I highly recommend the series and this just happens to be the first one I am reviewing if I start to notice some are better than this, I may come back and adjust.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth Vader (110)	2013-04-22		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

A little darker than 2011 and less of the citrus taste that makes X-mas cheer so distinctive. Still a very good Lighter flake. Mr Big below nailed it with his brown flake comparison.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-10-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Just got my tin of Christmas Cheer 2012 this evening, and naturally, like a kid on Christmas, I had to open it and have a bowl right away!

There is a plentiful amount of broken flake chunks in the tin, this should last a long while.

I didn't bother letting it sit out, loaded 5 or 6 pieces into my bowl and went at it.

That was a mistake, only because the tobacco is moist enough to not stay lit for too long. However, I can only see this getting infinitely better with drying time and cellaring!

The flavor profile of CC2012 is as if Irish Flake and FVF got drunk and had an unprotected one night stand leaving CC@012 to be their love child! It's a wonderful marriage of the finest VA's plus the McKetchup. I love that smell, and I'm glad it doesn't transfer over into the smoke.

This, naturally, since it's a VA blend is meant to be sipped and savored. Being such a limited release, this is perfect to accompany those treasureable moments with your loved ones, or if your in need of a well deserved treat.

4 stars is simply not enough.

From now, until Christmas arrives, or when websites run out, I will be buying a tin every week.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	A. Morley (97)	2017-10-05		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable

Everything that McClelland does, either good or ill, is exemplified in their Christmas Cheer 2012. Dense little flakes of almost geometric perfection. Golden yellow and deep copper in color. The vinegar, tomato sauce aroma in the tin that is such a McClelland inevitability that it's tedious for me to mention it.

Tangy and grassy. Tangy, grassy, mild, and playful. The smoke dances over your tongue and stimulates the palate like a dry riesling or even the puckery, herbal aspect of straight vermouth.

Little more need be said. McClelland makes red cake Virginias that define and exemplify the genre and the Christmas Cheer series are the exemplars among exemplars.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Joeray (61)	2014-07-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This stuff is had been on storage for 2 years and the devil on my heart don't stop whispering on my head to open this stuff. With passion I open this stuff and is wonderful, I can smell the citrus and warm ginger scent follows with grassy and woody mature virginia. The smells is strong, sweet and wonderful, made me hurry to rub it and pack it in to my pipe. Nice little brown cube flake is so beautiful to see and smell.

I rub the flakes in to small pieces because I'm worried if I pack it in cube flakes it will create air pocket and after the ash reform it will fill the empty space and make it difficult draw also poor smoke. Pack it with 3 layers method, tamp with index finger and make a good cherring light is still best way for me to enjoying pipe smoking. This method is success to enjoy this McClelland Christmas Cheer cube flake.

The burn is very good, is not difficult to keep the light on and easy to draw. I can easily to make a great smoke without found any difficult when puff it. The strength is medium, start with a mild mellow taste and increase following your puff. Don't smoke this stuff with fast and hurry, just enjoy it with slowly and gentle, you will have a nice smoking experiences. Taste so sweet, mellow and warm, with citrus scent follows and little bit spicy on edge.

I think this stuff will be much more better if I can hold my self to keep it at least 3 years more. I felt so guilty that I can hold my self to stay away from this stuff and not tempted to open it. I really hate if the devil is right, this stuff is very delicious and the devil is win...

Pipe Used: Peterson Dublin Castle 999

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: Local tobacconist at Indonesia

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2012-11-24		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I want to not come across too negative on this blend, as it is real good. That said, I like my Virginias sweeter and less mature. I really liked the 2011 edition, as it had a lot of interest. This one starts out interesting, but quickly fades into more of a "Brown flake"or has some Kentucky . Brown flakes I like to smoke at a smolder and this seems to be hard to keep lit at a smolder. Consequently, I smoke this faster and it seems to lose all sweetness and gets ashy. I would take "my review with a grain of salt " , McC still makes a quality Virginia, just don't expect a 5100 Red Cake type blend.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	David E (4)	2015-06-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

So this was my last bowl last night before going to bed. This morning I woke up with a sugary taste on my lips. I agree 100% with pipe stud about the sweetness.

I've had this blend Jared up since 2012 and last night I noticed sugar crystals on the flakes. This is just a awesome blend. The jar note kinda reminds me of grape soda. A bit of vinager, fruit cake.

I like to grind up my flakes in a hand crank grinder. This eliminates the need to dry my flakes and for me it also increases the flavour. This blend gives a very nice dark fruit taste on the tip of the tongue and leaves a wonderful sugary aftertaste. I now totally regret not getting more tins.

Pipe Used: Altinok meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 3 years

Purchased From: 4nogs

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-10-15		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Good quality tobacco will be great with age buy one for now age one for later

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-10-12		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Good tobacco. I tried out of the tin and it was..ok. Let this sit for almost a year and there was major improvement. Recommended..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kevfoong (6)	2013-09-16		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is the first Straight Virginia I ever try. I can say it is pretty sweet and I like it a lot. Over all this is a very good straight virginia flake but the only problem I am facing is wet bowl after every smoke. The tobacco is a but wet out of tin, advice to dry it a little bout half a day under humidity level 60~70%. As what others mentioned, let it age will taste even better...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Blue Bayou (60)	2013-03-13		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very pleasant notes of wood fires, easy to puff, and delicious flavor. Copious white smoke, no bite.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Informative (3)	2013-01-12		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Just cracked a 100g tin and upon opening, the smell of a spicy, rich ketchup came flowing out into my nostrels. Ahhh the smell of a premium aged Virginia. A nice dark broken flake was appealing to the old eye but as for the quantity, well; them bastards cheesed me ! 75g no more, no less. The flake easily rubbed out and went straight into my bowl damp as an 18 year old girl in the spring. A couple charring lights and the baccy was roaring. A rather strong flavour came upon that third light and a decent milky smoke. Now I tried puffen her lightly and hard and found that each had no bite and was really rather pleasent on the palate. Smoked well throughout the bowl with no relights and burned down to a nice white ash. Overall a good relaxing smoke that I will be coming back to with a bit of aging. Rating would be a 4 star out of 5.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	spidermonkey (11)	2012-12-11		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I cracked my tin tonight, and was pleasantly surprised. I can be a little sensitive to VAs and their potential to bite. I tend to smoke a little quickly and have noticed no ill effects yet. Great when exhaled through the nose and those wisps that curl back up into the nose while breathing between pulls are delightful. Great aroma to me... the Mrs. says it's not bad. Some citrus notes and quite sweet in my opinion. Great tasting, yet light-bodied tobacco. Needs a bit of time in the open air for my preference. Go slow for more flavor. Push it and it can become flat - as can many tobaccos. Have some aging in a jar and a tin in reserve... may have to make that a few more tins. Delicious.

Edit I have noticed that if I pack it as tightly as I would a ribbon, the experience is not as grand. For me, it really shines with a very light pack. If it is too light, you can always adjust through careful tamping.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	natibo (169)	2014-11-26		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Tolerable

This stuff really has that famous McClelland ketchup smell in the tin. I think it transfers somewhat into the smoke. I agree with another reviewer, too mild and no wow factor. Mine was 2 years aged when I tried it. Very "just OK".