McClelland No. 2015 Virginia Perique Flake

I got off to a bad start with this tobacco somehow. I picked it up at McCranies as "Southport" I suppose expecting something quite different. My normal smoke is Orlik Golden Sliced so maybe I was expecting that with perique.

When I got home and opened the pouch, the aroma really put me off. It smelled to me like ketchup. I loosely loaded my pipe not rubbing it out much further than how it came. The flavor was unimpressive and I couldn't detect the sweetness I expected from a VA. Also, the moisture level led to some unexpectedly serious tongue bite. I let it sit for about three weeks and having only two slices of Orlik left, I gave it another try.

Obviously, the tobacco elves came by secretly and performed some kind of miracle because I was confronted with a wonderfully sweet spicy smoke. I also took more time rubbing it out further and loading my pipe with some larger pieces loose at the bottom and a finer rub at the top to get the fire growing. I smoked it all day today and having nothing else to do, was able to delve into the complexities of this blend and was never tempted to go for those last two slices of Orlik.

I am going to spend another full day with it tomorrow and expect to buy a half pound next week and let it dry some before smoking it. By the time I finish this pouch, I will have had sufficient experience at rubbing it out to get an optimum smoke.

I found it to have a better than average amount of vitamin N. and the flavor seemed sometimes medium and sometimes full. The burn was beautiful and lasting - not a fast smoke and I don't recommend trying to rush it as your tongue may object. In fact, I don't recommend starting a bowl unless you have time to relax, savor and pay attention to it. The room note - all tobacco smells good to me; all tobacco smells bad to my wife but I got no complaints from my dogs.

Definitely give this one a try. I won't be surprised if I come back in a month and give this one another star.

I don't smoke alot of VaPer, but this one has made me put it in the 'a least once a week' rotation. I tend to smoke aromatics at work on the flight line and this breaks the monotony of my choice Aro's nicely. I light it up for me.

Nothing really stands out, except that I get a great tobacco flavor. I really, really enjoy a great tobacco flavor.

A little more strength and character, this could go four stars. Worth looking into.

I've been trying for over two years to like this tobacco. I say trying because I have had four ounces that I have been samling off and on for that amount of time. Don't get me wrong, this is quality tobacco, but not to the level that I believe it should be.

The taste is not as full as one would assume from the ingredients used. The virginia is anemic at bet and the perique is MIA. NO mtter what humidity level or age, this is a disappoinment. I really wanted to like it, but it is sadly just another bulk offering that pleases the middle of the road crowd.

Stokkebye has much more impressive offerings in bulk form, as does C&D.

If you like the lighter, less flavorful Vapers, this is your nirvana.

It has all been said before, but this one is a classic that all other VaPers are compared to. Not the best and far, far, far from being even near the worst.

Always a good smoke with little maintenance required. Keep some always at hand, I do.

Hopefully, I am reviewing 2015! The shop I bought from was selling this in bulk and it was labeled McClelland 'Zesty Virginia' - if I remember correctly. A Broken flake VaPer with no mention on the jar of 2015; but it looked and was described like 2015, so...

I found this surprisingly hard to smoke. It was like rubbing out and packing twigs. Tough to get burning. Excessive puffing led to tongue bite and a worn out mouth.

The pouch aroma is very inviting. The flavor that comes from the first half of the bowl is amazing. Tasty BBQ. Sweet and spicy. Plenty of smoky pepper with salty notes.

The last third of the bowl becomes a bit bland. Leaves behind a crunchy ash. Probably a good tobacco for building cake?

Overall, this isn't quite a 3 star blend for me. I found it just as hard to prepare as Dark Star, but without the same reward for my troubles. St. James Woods has the same flavor and is easier to smoke.

Well, its just under one month shy of a 3 year age I put on the same batch of 2015 that I first reviewed. My wait was well worth it. This stuff aged perfectly. Three years has done alot of changing. I have a sample of some recently aquired 2015 to compare the aged stuff to. The excessive moisture has dissapated. I was so excited to see such a drastic change. It was alot harder to rubb out compared to the unaged sample I had to compare it to. I rub it fully and pack to perfection in an XL315 peterson. Then, sheer bliss. I got almost an opiate like feeling from my sensory overload. I puff away with my taste buds and nose telling me more than than I've experienced in a long time. Notes of carmel, sweet tea, apple, and nut abound. I could go on and on but, just buy it. Put it in a sealed mason jar and forget about it. Then open it up and be blown away. UPDATE:01-24-08

The McClelland name has become synonymous with the production of quality, distinctive, VA compositions. 2015 is perhaps one of the milder VA's that I've tried. The addition of perique is quite subtle in this blend, definately not a standout in the mix. 2015 can be smoked non-stop without much bite, IMHO. Other smokers that usually don't smoke alot of VA may not agree. 2015 is so mild on the pallet, I thought it originally had some burley, when I tasted it blindly. There is a presence of nutty textures that are typical of VA. The aroma is very pleasing in the nose. My only gripe on this blend is moisture content. I believe it's a bit wet. The excess sugar and moisture are what allow these bulk VA's to age so well. I have begun to cellar this and other McClellands like wine, using Steve Fowler's method. (See cellaring techniques on ASP's pages). I believe his method to be supreme.

2015 is a decent smoke the virginias aren't great and they aren't bad. There is enough perique to know that it's there which is actually good because the virginias are a bit weak. I wouldn't call this blend complex or deeply satisfying but it'll do in a pinch.

Hey! The good ole vaper! Tangy, spicy, a bit of sweetness. Watch out, smoke this one slow or you will be chomped! Not just bit. All virginies should be smoked slow. Like slow cooked barbecue which this smells like out of the bag-tin-whatever packaging. Let it sit and dry out a bit, rub it out, fill your pipe and you have an awesome smoke that will last you over an hour, even in a medium sized bowl. I'm not kidding about smoking this slooowwww. Don't have a puffing fit. This is a tobacco to relax with on a summer afternoon/evening. Watch the sunset, drink some single malt maybe a mint julep and puff along. It is delicious and for some reason makes me think of hot southern evenings, which we have in Wisconsin in August and September, though few realize it.

Simply I don?t like the 2015, it did not work with me, I find this Virginia/per tasteless, bland and spicy, doesn?t burn well and doesn?t get dry even when left in my car 1 week in summer time, under the sun, it will remain wet !

I can?t recommend it to anyone.