McClelland No. 2015 Virginia Perique Flake

McClelland's 2015:

I am not etirely sure of the exact date but I believe it was in the late '70's or possibly the very early '80's (of the last century,Oh My!)when I first encountered this blend."Very different" I thought on lighting up,"very different indeed!"

I went on to smoke the rest of the other 20's and the same thought ocured to me each time. Another thought was that I'd like to like this considering the "different taste" as a motivating factor. I kept smoking the blend and the other 20's since I worked at a tobacco shop at the time and free tobacco was a "perk" as they say.I did this on and off for about two years( not as a regular everyday smoke but as a change of pace) still thinking that for some reason I was missing something and it probably was my fault that I was not enjoying it as much as I thought I should.

Finally the job, the college carrer and that part of my life wound down and the McClelland's was just a memory. I continued smoking other available tobaccos but not much missing the 20's blend experience.On a whim of nostalgia I ordered some from a supplier(Habana Premium Cigars)about four or so years ago after reading the rave reviews here."Must have been my own lack of sophistication back then," I chided myself.

It wasn't.Continual sampling during the interim has assured me I was initially right.

As an older smoker I have come to realize that, oddly enough, my opinion does count for something at east as far as my own enjoyment goes.

This is undoubtedly good tobacco but for me it just doesn't work as a serious blend. This is not to take away from the others that really are big fans of this since a little age has granted me a little tolerace and respect for the opinions of others while not changing my taste buds much.

I like the Virginia/Perique blends very very much but for some reason I just can't get past the(fermented Virginias? ketchup? whatever) smell of this blend.The taste, in my opinion, is nothing to get worked up about either The room note---who cares!The strength? So-So not much more.

If the smoker happens to be a really big fan of Red Virginias (fermented or otherwise)and doesn't mind the smell then by all means do try it. Otherwise I don't recommend this blend. The other McClelland's unpressed virginias are fine and recommeded but not the "ketchupy" ones.Their aromatics????? To each his own I suppose?