McClelland No. 2015 Virginia Perique Flake

I have smoked probably 4 oz. of this before, but it seems I have never written a review. I acquired a couple of ounces of (aged) 2015 in a trade and went to update the review - oops.

The blend is a very good mix of dark Virginias and perique. The Virginia is heavy and sweet - just a little tart. It is not a perique powerhouse, and it adds a pleasant spicy plum that becomes a little more dominant for me as I smoke through the bowl. I have had this with 20% added perique, and I think I prefer it "as is." As delivered, it is a good combo that plays to the strengths of quality red Virginia and perique as a condiment.

I like this a lot. There is a slightly raw quality to it for me although it is never harsh. I know I am smoking tobacco. This is the same way that 5100 presents - a little unprocessed maybe. This is a plus for me in that I _LIKE_ smoking tobacco, and topping tastes good initially and then often gets old. Aged is smoother, but I like it both ways.

FWIW, I half-heartedly rub out the broken flakes and pack it fairly tight in a Kirsten tapered bowl for the best smoke. It seems to favor a wide bowl or the taper.

2015 Virginia Flake with Perique presents as a loosely pressed, fairly springy, semi-broken flake of medium and light browns. Jar note is a delicious, tangy melange of fig, dates, raisins and a hint of barnyard smells: hay, molassed sweet feed. Moisture content is just right to smoke out of the bulk pouch, but the aged and mellowed product is even better. Either way, 2015 will deliver a pungent stewed fruit note on the charring light: plenty of plum, with date and fig. Further into the first third of the bowl there's a bit of pepper that compliments, rather than detracts from, the sweeter, tangier Virginias.

Overall this is a satisfying, plummy, mildly spicy and mellow VaPer that is consistent in flavor down to the bottom of the bowl: smooth, rich and biteless when sipped. Dry, slow, cool burn, but can burn a bit hot if pushed. Becomes a bit damp in the end, but no mess left in the pipe. A good bulk stock-up for VaPer lovers concerned about tobacco apocalypse. Solid three-star territory and the equal of several other tinned, more expensive McClelland VaPer blends.

*There's very little of that trademark McClelland Virginia note, often described as ketchup or BBQ, strong in vinegar. This mellow VaPer may well be appreciated by those who don't typically gravitate towards McClelland Virginia blends.

After the needed dry time, 2015 smokes with a tangy sweetness that is a bit muted by an ample amount of Perique. During the first half of the bowl the Perique isn’t as forward as it is in the later stages. The red Virginia takes the lead and there is a mild spice note but I wouldn’t call it a spicy blend. The brighter Virginia’s take more of a back seat here. There is no bite and only a moderate amount of complexity and it isn’t as “rich” tasting as my preferred McClelland VaPer, St. James Woods. I tend to enjoy most of my tobaccos dry (not crispy) and even when 2015 is well dried, I am amazed by the slow burn rate of this blend. I prefer to smoke it in a group two or three size bowl with a little fully rubbed out on top. There is a little more Lady N in this blend than in other McClelland Virginia’s that I have smoked too. In smaller amounts, the price isn’t much cheaper than many tinned blends, but buying larger amounts really makes this broken flake an excellent value in terms of quality and price in comparison to many tinned blends on the market. Lovers of McClelland VaPers should make a space in the cellar of this one. While not a rotation maker for me, (although it is for my wife), I am going to cellar some just the same.

I'm not much of a reviewer, but when I try something at all remarkable, I like to note it. Based solely on the reviews here, I ordered a few pounds... how's that for confidence? Everyone mentions the ketchup aroma, or stench, depending on your opinion. Sure enough, it's ketchup! While I love ketchup, I am not a fan of tobacco smelling like ketchup. Eww. I ordered this in spite of, not because of, this characteristic. The flake is really nice! My order looked like a big, fat bag of tree bark. Moisture content was as I like it. Breaks apart nicely. I have a tough time trying to imagine what smoking ketchup would taste like. Others say the tin note carries over to taste, I didn't notice this, but ketchup is sweet and tangy. This is my first ever encounter with "tangy" in the tobacco world. It's very seriously sweet n tangy. It's a wonderful smoke! I was EXTREMELY relieved as I smoked my first bowl... as I gazed upon the few pounds I'd ordered. I'm very curious as to how this stuff ages and evolves. In closing, in dealing with this ketchup issue, if you are revolted by ketchup, it's likely best you stay away from this VaPer. If you like it or if you're curious or indifferent, you owe it to yourself to give this McClelland a go. It's a very tasty, sweet n tangy, and beautifully burning/tasting leaf.

Anytime I can score a sample of McClelland is always a good day. A good friend of mine gave me a nice size sample of this dated Nov 2017. This is a nice dark flake, slight McClelland Vinegar smell. I did my usual prep method of folding the flake(s) lengthwise, in half, twist and plug my Altinay Meerschaum Poker Pipe. This does take quite a few matches but provides me a nice long smoke due to the thickness of the flake rather than rubbing it out completely. McClelland always seems to use premium tobacco and this is no exception. They could probably have taken new Virginia and made it taste aged and refined. Not a very sweet smoke but very smooth, rich tasting with a hint of Perique. I always like any tobacco with St. James Perique in it and this is once again no exception. Lucky to have been able to have some of this extinct blend. On a side note, (inside joke) there were no birds singing on the porch while smoking this fine blend.

A great Va/Per blend. I taste Red Virginias more than grassy light Virginias, but as I build my Va/Per collection in the cellar, this is one to keep around. Plus, I enjoyed purchasing this in bulk from SmokingPipes.

I was given a generous sample of this from a hunting buddy who purchased it in town. He was recently back into pipe smoking probably due to the enjoyment he could tell I was having. My first thought was it was a great Virginia flake with a nice VA sweetness typical to MCC Vas, ketchup and all.

I was surprised to find there was perique in the blend at all and I am not sure I even taste it. I actually enjoy this more than CC 2012, the only cc I have had the chance to taste. This blend is a nice one to work around the yard with.

The things I don't like about it and that hold it back from the 4 star range is the low nicotine content and how wet my pipe gets when smoking it. Although a pipe cleaner can clear this problem, it is something I don't really enjoy doing mid smoke and the gurgling is bad. I find that unusual with a VaPer and because of that, there are several I would reach for instead of this one.

Many reviewers have nailed this blend very well. Whenever I have been disappointed with this, it's because I should have been reaching for a different Blend, not the fault of 2015. Sometimes I get the greatest pleasure out this blend when I smoke it in pipes that are generally dedicated to English and Balkans. I find it helps sweeten the cakes of those pipes and transforms any taste picked up during that smoke into a very light and passing condiment, since its no sissy itself. The margin of Perique used here is just right; enough to assert its presence, but never enough to steal the show.

I have aged it, and I say, to me it becomes creamier. Now I've also bought this from local tobacconists and I will state for the record that man-handled versions of this tobacco (by that I mean continuously re-moistened because they don't turn over enough of it straight / or they have become apathetic to pipers and cater to the cigar buyer) will NOT do it justice. If it's at all possible - get a supply from a bulk source that keeps their bulk humidified in the right manner and you will be experiencing what McClelland originally intended. This is way better than many tinned - high priced - and fancily packaged alleged pedigree blends.

Cheers, VC

I've been smoking a pipe for about four months, so this is definitely a novice's perspective. Am accustomed to smoking cigars and reviewing them, but this is my first attempt to describe a pipe tobacco.

I got a couple ounces of this bulk blend from pipesandcigars.com. The flakes in the bag I received were broken up, but nowhere near ribbon. So i did a little rubbing and managed a fairly tight frank-style pack in one of my cobbs that produced a wide-open draw despite the fact that the tobacco was fairly moist.

During and right after the char light, the VA sweetness is up front. Zero bite and quite sweet through the first third of the bowl. Then more variety of flavors including some spicy notes appear as the midway point approaches.

Maybe this is due to my inexperience, but the last part of almost every bowl becomes a little bitey and ashy tasting to me. With Virginias, almost all of the sweetness disappears during the last part of the smoking experience. While better than other blends, I still had this experience with the 2015 VAper. I don't notice other reviewers mentioning this, so I'm pretty sure it's a reflection of my technique that I'll figure out eventually.

It's pretty easy to maintain a good temperature and the smoke volume is significant which I enjoy. You can get a nice amount of smoke without puffing too much and if you overdo it, this tobacco doesn't punish you with bite or harshness.

Overall, this tobacco has great combustion and flavor characteristics. I'm still learning alot about the various types of blends and the individual representations that I find most enjoyable, but VApers are becoming a favorite. This 2015 Flake is as good as any VAper I've tried so far and may become a daily smoke. Will definitely be ordering more.