McClelland No. 2010 Classic Virginia

This is a good quality Virginia, which leans much more to the lemon & golden end of the spectrum, rather than the orange-red end. It's too light for my tastes, but was less likely to bite than other light Virginias I've tried. I much prefer the fuller, sweeter flavor of their 5100 Red Cake. When I'm in the mood for a light Virginia, I greatly prefer Mac Baren's Virginia #1 or Virginia Flake.

This virginia seems coarse and unrefined. It's hot and edgy, but it does have flavor.

I much prefer the Heart Virginia at pipesandcigars.com or Peterson's University Flake but this tobacco isn't bad.

It has a unique taste and I appreciate the citrusy near-oriental after-smack.

Slow-smoke it though; it's got some teeth.

Images evoked by smoking it are that of a goblin plucking his teeth with the femur of a slain teenaged fawn.

This tobacco has a wonderful presentation: beautiful pale and dark brown flakes, very thick but easy to rub. The smell is classic Virginia: sweet, slightly pungent with just a touch of McClelland "ketchup". After having rubbes the flakes the packing and lighting are easy and the burning proceeds without any problem. Pay attention to smoke it slowly, because it can easy become hot and moist. As expected, this tobacco doesn't deliver a great amount of flavour but it keeps consistent throughout the bowl: it's a really classic Virginia, sweet, tangy, a little cigarettish. Neither too good nor too bad, just too simple to reach a top score.

This is my first shot at a straight VA blend, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I had massive trouble keeping it lit, which frustrated me because I was so enjoying the smoke! Still, once rubbed out and allowed a little extra time to dry a bit, this blend is gonna be great I can tell. Sweet without being cloying, and also without the use of casings. Natural tobacco as I think natural tobacco should probably taste in this kind of a blend. I am looking forward to future smokes with this one.

Classic Virgina - the name sums it up. 2010 is a straight-forward, no frills affair, I like it when I'm in the mood for a VA that doesn't demand too much attention. Nothing spectacular but an entirely decent smoke. It's got a simple, earthy taste that is pretty enjoyable. Yep, tastes like Virgina leaf. Like many McClelland bulk blends, its a good smoke for the price.

I like this tobacco but cannot figure it out. I keep tasting deer tounge in this blend. Maybe my taste buds have fliped but I do sense there is more to this tobacco than Virginia leaf. Other than that it comes in very thick dark, almost gray flakes. It rubs out well,but I recomend rubing only lightly. The room aroma will run most everyone but a pipe smoker away,as this has a cigarette acrid, and cigar-y aroma. The Virginia is creamy at times,and the other componet is well, weird but good.

Update; What I thought was Deer Tounge,is only the zesty taste of the lemon leaf. So rest assured there is no deer tounge here,only exceptional high quality Virginia leaf. I have never seen a Virginia flake burn so well either.

I should of tried this earlier, this seems like a "2 stroke " version of 22, similar but without the basso woodsy notes of same. Actually its smoother & a little more McC fruity as well. great caramel room aroma. Unrubbed , small-bowled slow-smoking seems best for it.

I'm a big fan of flakes and an even bigger fan of Virginias, but I've got to say that for some reason this tobacco doesn't agree with me. The flake rubs out well and the smell of the tobacco is great, but the taste while smoking seems ashy to me and there is a definite aftertaste that stays with you for a long while. I really want to like this tobacco and have gone back with different pipes on different days, but nothing seems to have done the trick. I find I have to force myself to finish the pipe and when I do I wish I had been smoking something else. Perhaps I just got a bad batch and I will probably go back and buy more from a different batch, but for now my introduction to 2010 has not been a positive one.

Along with McClelland 2015, this is the best tobacco for the money. But, it's not cheap tobacco; it's high quality VA broken flake that never fails to satisfy. I buy it in 5 lb. bulk and age it in Mason jars. I just never seem to tire of this wonderful tobacco. I like it much better than its cousin, #22.

I really like the citrus tang that complements the sweetness. It starts out light and builds as the bowl progresses. I find it pretty complex, not in a Haddo's way, but in a straight VA manner. It requires a slow "breath smoking" method to pick up on the subtle flavors. This is probably not a VA for newbies, but one for experienced slow smokers. It could easily be an all day smoke.

I recommend that you smoke the broken flakes whole, without rubbing them out. Also, put some up in Mason jars and come back in about a year.