McClelland No. 2015 Virginia Perique Flake

This is a delightful VA/PER. SLightly rubbed out, it stays lit and delivers a pleasant sweet Virginia flavor with the Perique slowly developing over the durarion of the smoke. I am enjoying it in a J.M. Boswell large bowled apple. The blend also smokes well in my Group 3 and 4 estate English pipes. I can't compare it to PS Luxury Bullseye Flake( my other favorite) because 2015 has no black cavendish. All in all, a fine smoke all around

I'm lightly puffing on a bowl of 2015 as I type this.

And light, effortless puffing is one of the things you'll have to do to experience the flavor 2015 has to offer. I say that not only as a caveat but as a recommendation: I sincerely hope that more who've taken up the pipe in seriousness, with the patience the hobby generally demands in comparison with others, might take the further time and effort necessary for enjoying vapers -- their exquisite, elusive flavor is truly worth their steep learning curve, 2015 included.

What is 2015's flavor? I'm not intentionally being coy here by saying that, were it easy to describe, it might not be so intriguing. Unlike the straightforwardness of the flavor of most aromatics, and the relatively easy-to-describe smokiness of latakia blends, the vaper flavor is, literally, elusive. Part of the reason is that, to a much greater extent than with other tobaccos (perhaps with the exception of some straight VAs), the flavor can vary considerably from bowl to bowl, depending upon the cleanliness of the pipe, the peculiarities of one's smoking technique on any particular occasion, and even the moisture-content of the tobacco.

I'll give it a try anyway: sweet but musty; figgy or raisiny; a deep unison bass pitch of burnt-sugar caramels against lighter virgina violas with pepperings of mild acidity from taut strings of the first violins. How's that for a tobacco tin-side description for a vaper named, say, 'Symphonic Splendor'? If it weren't for the possibility of alienating a large percentage of the customer base, who are probably less than keen on orchestral music, I'd say we oughta rename 2015.

Although I don't usually review a tobacco after the first bowl, I'm making an exception here. This could very easily become my regular smoke. The sweetness of the Virginias combined with the spice of the Perique give a piquancy to the taste and aroma that are almost beyond description. Reading the other reviews here leaves me scratching my head. Some reviewers describe the experience as almost transcendent, while a few describe is as almost garbage. I guess this only proves that there is no accounting for human taste. Difference of opinion is what makes a horse race. A few reviewers described the pouch aroma as vinegary. I don't really detect that, but if I were to describe what I smell as vinegary, it would be as balsamic vinegar rather than white vinegar. I smell the ripe figs and raisins that I detect in almost all Virginias, but there is something else that I can't quite put my finger on. I suspect it's the fermentation of the Virginias combined with the Perique. At any rate, whatever it is, it's delicious. I detect no acidity in the smoke, but just a very rich, full sweetness and savoriness.

First VaPer and what a start. When received the stuff i crumbled all of it and let it dried in mi case for a couple of days. When loading it was lose cause this being a flake, always works (better lose and adjust with tamper than have to put down a wasted pipe).

Love at first sight. The virginias in there are just indescribable, these lasted for half of the bowl, the second half was spices i'm asumming the perique, just spice to complement the sweetness of the virginias, smoked two bowls and they both behave the same way half virginia sweetness and half perique's. My only complain is that i couldn't smoke these on an empty stomach. I'm still to try the so acclaimed Escudo.

This has been reviewed so many times...and tbh it was on the overwhelmingly good reviews that I went out and bought some...and I was not disappointed. This is absolutely one of the best VAPERs that money can buy. It's pleasant enough freshly out of the bag, but if you can buy enough to age some, and I strongly suggest you do, you will be rewarded with a smooth creamy smoke unbeatable at it's price with any other VAPER on the market. In my humble opinion this is really one of the best smokes I have had to date...wonderful hints of fruit, bread dough, cream and spice. My method, for what it's worth, is to fill a couple of pipes in the morning and smoke them in the evening slowly and contemplatively. Easily beats Fillmore and that's not to say I don't rate Fillmore because I do, but McClelland knows how to blend virginia and perique far better than Mr Pease...though I think Mr P is a better blender where Latakia blends come into play. But each to their own....if you haven't tried 2015, you owe it to yourself to give it a go.

Updated...I was very enthusiastic about it fresh out of the bag wasn't I 🙂 I do stand by my comments though in letting it mature a while. I have so many blends in my cellar that I rarely come to 2015 and thus I now have a lot, more than 5 years, in the jar. When I do turn to a pipeful now and again I find this blend very rewarding indeed. Like all USA produced virginias it needs careful gentle smoking so as not to get bitten and so playing Warcraft and puffing 2015 furiously is not something to be at all recommended!

It's like an old pair of jeans...sure you can buy the more fancy...and God knows they're more dry, wet, sweet, sour, stronger, or milder...

I really enjoy the bar bq topping...excellant stuff.

I really like this tobacco. As has been noted, it must be dried out some to be properly appreciated. It is is spicy, full, sweet tobacco from top to bottom. Very, very good. No bite if you've got any skills at all.

@@update@@ 2015 is also very "durable". Some days I pick up the pipe, and it just isn't the thing, so I lay it aside and do something else. Other times half a pipe is plenty. I left some 2015 in a pipe for three days going through this sort of process, and just finished it off this morning. It was at least as good as fresh.

update #2 10/08/07 broke out some 2015 just now with 6 months age to it. I left it on the dashboard of the car to dry out a bit, and overdid it. I doubt it could get any drier. Its still fine, actually, if not rubbed out. I arrange the broken flakes vertically in the pipe and sprinkle the top with the fines, and have a remarkably cool, flavorful smoke.

update #3 12/8/08 I just opened a jar of this with over a year and a half on it. It has mellowed considerably. When new it could be a bit harsh, and also I think I remember it being sweeter. Now it's more mellow and spicy. I suppose the perique character gets infused with aging, sort of like letting a spicy stew "rest" before eating it. I usually smoke this in a narrow cob with cup of good coffee at hand. Seems to be more flavorful in a narrower pipe. I dry it, then rub it out, unless I'm smoking outside and its windy. In such conditions rubbed out will burn too fast and too hot. Even so, I wouldn't say it has a nasty bite, it just loses flavor and lets you know your doing it wrong.

Smelling this tobacco reveals a hint of vinegar. Nice and sweet all the way through. The nicotine is just right and is a little bonus to this fine tobacco. 3/4" bowl smoked for an hour - I'll definitely be buying more.

I smoke Churchwarden pipes, I have to say this is a great smoke, seems like the Perique is more noticable toward the bottom, very good smoke.