McClelland No. 2015 Virginia Perique Flake

Update 9/9/04 ---- After letting this weed settle and age, I've found it to have most of the endearing characteristics that others describe. Sweet and full of tobacco flavor yet containing a sufficiently heady dose of Perique. It ranks up there with the C+D blends as far as VA/P excellence. It is not quite as smooth or subtle as St James Woods but hits the spot when you want something a little more "in your face". Perfect for the evening VA/P smoke. Rub it out well and smoke it slow. Gooood Smoooookin....

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I am taking into account two factors while writing this review: first,this is a bulk tobacco blend. Second, as with most McClelland's blends, I gather this improves greatly with age.

In packing: I found it burns equally well unrubbed or rubbed. The taste is much fuller when the flakes have been well rubbed out. This process, and the nice bar-b-cue smell that it emits is luxurious.

Unfortunately the smoke of my first several bowls of this tobacco have been lackluster. There is a strong VA "straight tobacco" taste - it is however very flat. The perique is noticeable right from the start and gives a rewarding hot pepper element. This infamous weed is the high point of the blend, and perhaps the entire point.

Even as far as bulk blends go - there are many others that deliver levels of sweetness and spice, a more refined stoking of flavors, and even more variety within each individual smoke. This stuff certainly isn't bad (and obviously high quality tobacco base)- and may be *that* blend that many others seek - but at least until I let the remainder of my bulk age a bit and give it another whirl I'll take Bayou Morning any minute of the day.

I don't smoke as much as many pipe smokers. Perhaps if I went through an ounce every week, I'd feel differently. But I see no reason not to purchase St James Woods if I wanted a richer, meatier, more pleasurable smoke. This stuff isn't *that* much cheaper.

I love this tobacco. Very glad to find this in bulk. After finding and absolutely loving the 40th anniversary, I decided to see what all the hub bub was about McClelland Virginia's. They quickly became my favorite tobacco type.

I've really only had the Red Cake, 40th and this one. I love them all. I didn't think I'd be able to find something similar to the 40th in bulk, but this isn't too far off.

It's a bit more ketchup-y, and the perique adds a bit of kick, but it's closer to 40th than say red cake. I still love my red cake for morning lighter red virginia smoking, as this one is quite heavier and spicy. Moreso than the 40th.

40th is still hands down best, but I'm glad to have this in bulk to smoke as a nice more full variation. I won't miss 40th as much when its gone, having this one around.

I just found my favorite type of tobacco here and it surely is my taste, so to each his own, but McClelland red virginia's are really nice and all are preferred over every other tobacco I've tried.

It comes really damp, which I hope isn't to make it weigh more, but it probably does, so I'm hoping my bulk purchase goes a good ways, but with all that water in the tobacco, that remains to be seen. Takes some drying time and breaking to get it appropriate for smoking, but I don't care about that as much as the added weight the water might add. I wonder if buying less damp tobacco yields significantly more to smoke, but again, I just have to wait on that to discern. It is the dampest tobacco I've ever bought. That's the biggest knock.

Otherwise, it's a great addition and something I can see myself enjoying daily.

This is a good VA/Per, very sweet and burns great, several people around me commented on the aroma, a bit of tongue bite next day but I did smoke two bowls back to back, easy to rub out but I prefer balling and cramming for air pocket packing.

Update- The Virginia's in this blend are excellent, a little on the "bright" side. If rubbed out well (I use a tobacco grinder) it indeed has a more complete flavor profile and burns very easily throughout the entire bowl. Paced puffing is best to moderate burn temperature and to get the benefit of the flavorful Perique.

When I finally got around to getting some of this I was amazed it had taken me so long. Maybe its the perception of bulk tobacco not being of the same quality as the tinned blends from any given source. But in fact this is an outstanding smoke. The Virginias are not as heavily stoved as blackwoods or Dark Star (is anything?) and the perique is moderate, not in the realm of Beacon Extra, say. Still, its not exactly a weak smoke at all. The Perique is pronounced in fact. There is plenty of taste and the fact that the flakes are not quite as moist as some McClelland product makes for a less problematic preparation. The taste is not exactly complex but that doesnt mean its not very tasty, because it is. A wonderful all day smoke for those who want a bit more oomph in their tobacco. I intend to keep this one in the rotation henceforth. Great stuff.

Splendid in the blessed planet of Mc Clelland virginias.Yes,I must confess there are anothers spicier,deeper,more intense perhaps.But the softness and balance of 2015 is unbeatable.Matureness is optimal,the well known McC´s vinegar smell almost unnoticeable,good burning.Maybe a little more Perique?Maybe,but that wouldn´t be an all day smoke and this is the main point.Sure sometimes I preffer,let´s say,Bayou Slices,St.James Woods,Tudor Castle,Pebble Cut.But for the every day fighting this is the right option in VaPer.IMHO,of course.So though I must concede my favour to McC.there are too another quite decent VaPers out there,Cabbie´s Mixture of Samuel Gawith,for instance.Last but not least,it arrived to me with perfect moist for cellaring and just a few minutes of drying for smoking.

If you are a Va Per fan, you will enjoy this....Especially if you like a good dose of the perique. Not as enjoyable as the Gawith St James Flake, but still a solid Va Per. Needs some drying, but does burn well. Nice sweet Virgina with a solid dose of pepper. Not overpowering, but certainly distinct. Towards the top of my Va Per rotation.

When this stuff first arrived a couple years back I just didn't get it. Hundreds of bowls between then and now and well.. I get it. It is delicious.. The Red VA's soften over time. Its a tad bit brighter (not sweeter) than St. James Woods and I like that.

Perhaps this is what the Red Cake would taste like if pressed together with a comparable proportion of Perique. Funny how when I first cracked the freezer-sealed bag, I really missed this one. I will be ordering lots more of this to cellar. Thank You yet again, McClelland

This a great bulk flake. It's zesty and with a good amount of perique flavor. It's a little green and needs some age but still very smooth. I prefer Saint James Woods because I prefer the red & black virginia base. I think red/black has more depth. 2015 is very good though and for bulk it's hard to go wrong. Try a little and then get more to jar up.

Smoking the last bowl of the 1 oz. that I ordered and decided to write a review. Out of all the VaPers I've tried so far (Anniversary Kake, Escudo) this has the most spicy flavor. I chose to rub it out and give it a good amount of drying time.

First third of the smoke starts off with a medium spiciness, some of the 'ketchup' flavor is still present, light grass, and a light sweetness. The second third is when things start ti get interesting and enjoyable. Earthy, raspberry, sweet ripe orange, and a light spice in the background. There's a bit of raisin/prune and toffee note if the tobacco is allowed to burn a little warmer. In the final third the flavors get a little stronger up until the bitterness starts to come in.

I enjoyed the sweet and musty room note. Burns well rubbed out with drying time.

Very enjoyable blend, will consider picking up a few oz. to age.