McClelland No. 2025 English Cavendish
(2.63)
This is a plesant, rather light, broken, small-flake tobacco composed of lemon Brazilian and orange Middle Belt leaf seasoned with enough Xanthi to be satisfying throughout the day.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.63 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 41 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2015 | Very Strong | Medium to Strong | Overwhelming | Tolerable to Strong |
The cut of this mixture is different. Is a flake cut, but mixed with Broken Flakes... Despite their broken flake cut, it is easy to fit in bowl and light.
Two Stars, because This mixture is not so bad, but is not for me....
In the pouch, the smell is good, but acidic, rassembles vinegar.
Large Nicotine ammount, too much for me... during Smoking, the smoke have much tobacco taste, too strong to become boring, overhelmed, after a few puffs, no smell ou taste can be more noted...
Not remarkable, many mixtures are better.
The Dark Cavendish tobacco component is,possible, is made from Burley, because "salty" (as table salt) and bitter tastes are noted, in the begin of the bowl. After this, the smoking becomes overhelmed, no more taste and smell are noted.
Two Stars, because This mixture is not so bad, but is not for me....
In the pouch, the smell is good, but acidic, rassembles vinegar.
Large Nicotine ammount, too much for me... during Smoking, the smoke have much tobacco taste, too strong to become boring, overhelmed, after a few puffs, no smell ou taste can be more noted...
Not remarkable, many mixtures are better.
The Dark Cavendish tobacco component is,possible, is made from Burley, because "salty" (as table salt) and bitter tastes are noted, in the begin of the bowl. After this, the smoking becomes overhelmed, no more taste and smell are noted.
Pipe Used:
some brazilian , Ranieri and a Big-Ben
PurchasedFrom:
a friend
Age When Smoked:
recently purchased
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2008 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I think 2025 is a rather unremarkable smoke: hot and edgy rather than zesty, and prone to bite despite the most careful technique. The Oriental Xanthi leaf produces a nice musty/gamey taste, especially in the finish (aftertaste). Overall it is a grassy Va that is somewhat sweet, but doesn't develop any caramel goodness. It improves during the smoke, but the initial 20 minutes is an exercise in nursing the burn to avoid bite.
The Cavendish in the name must refer to the cut rather than the processing as I do not detect any tastes that are characteristic of Cavendish-processed tobacco.
I got best results by slowly breath-sipping on a clear palate. It's not an after dinner smoke. I enjoyed it a little more by letting the pipe go completely cold after about 10 minutes, then savoring the re-light, which holds a cigar-like smoothness that fades to smoky nothingness by bowl's end.
Reasonable nicotine hit; excellent burning properties. The bite in this blend keeps it from getting 2 stars.
The Cavendish in the name must refer to the cut rather than the processing as I do not detect any tastes that are characteristic of Cavendish-processed tobacco.
I got best results by slowly breath-sipping on a clear palate. It's not an after dinner smoke. I enjoyed it a little more by letting the pipe go completely cold after about 10 minutes, then savoring the re-light, which holds a cigar-like smoothness that fades to smoky nothingness by bowl's end.
Reasonable nicotine hit; excellent burning properties. The bite in this blend keeps it from getting 2 stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 16, 2008 | Mild | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Broken flake rubs out good and stays lit pretty well. There is only a subtle hint of anykind of cavendish and it's barely detectable at all. There's better tobaccos out there but this one wasn't bad.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 18, 2006 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Good outdoor tobacco. No real cavendish element as we know it from cased and steamed burley in aromatics. Has the McClelland tang. Bought bulk at local tobacconist and burned fine from start to end in a XL Savinelli full bent. No gimmicks here. Just tabbakah.
Update 06-18-06
After having let this sit in a mason jar for a few months, and adjusting the moisture content by allowing air drying through an afternoon, I am upgrading this blend to a highly recommended. Drying is the key to "getting it" as it seems to be with so many other flakes.
The flavour is wonderfully spicy and has leathery, dried fruit notes including prunes and figs. Interestingly, it tastes similar to the virginia in Orlik's Dark Kentucky Flakes and Capstan. I also found some nuances similar to S.G. Full Virginia Flake. I am not able to discern the contribution of each type of leaf in this blend, but it works.
If you like the 2035 or Darkstar but enjoy having some bright leaf to add zing, I highly recommend this to you.
Update 06-18-06
After having let this sit in a mason jar for a few months, and adjusting the moisture content by allowing air drying through an afternoon, I am upgrading this blend to a highly recommended. Drying is the key to "getting it" as it seems to be with so many other flakes.
The flavour is wonderfully spicy and has leathery, dried fruit notes including prunes and figs. Interestingly, it tastes similar to the virginia in Orlik's Dark Kentucky Flakes and Capstan. I also found some nuances similar to S.G. Full Virginia Flake. I am not able to discern the contribution of each type of leaf in this blend, but it works.
If you like the 2035 or Darkstar but enjoy having some bright leaf to add zing, I highly recommend this to you.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 09, 2005 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This was my first McClelland blend, and I ordered it as a one ounce sample on Outwesttobacco.com for one dollar (which is excellent by the way--you can get up to four of them with each order and they have quite a few bulk varieties to choose from--with negligible shipping costs).
I was intrigued by the many, many people who suggested McClelland 2000 series blends have a ketchup-like smell, and yes, they do--although I wouldn't describe it as such if I hadn't heard that comparison. I actually decided to order this because I was interested by the tin description, which marketed this blend as a "Lemon Brazilian" seasoned with Xanthi.
Like the reviewer before me, I'm not exactly certain why this qualifies as a Cavendish. It looks and smokes like a straight Virginia--with an uninspired taste..sugary, but not sweet like a cased Cavendish. I found it to burn very hot and work the tongue when smoked at a fast rate.
Not bad. But nothing remarkable.
I was intrigued by the many, many people who suggested McClelland 2000 series blends have a ketchup-like smell, and yes, they do--although I wouldn't describe it as such if I hadn't heard that comparison. I actually decided to order this because I was interested by the tin description, which marketed this blend as a "Lemon Brazilian" seasoned with Xanthi.
Like the reviewer before me, I'm not exactly certain why this qualifies as a Cavendish. It looks and smokes like a straight Virginia--with an uninspired taste..sugary, but not sweet like a cased Cavendish. I found it to burn very hot and work the tongue when smoked at a fast rate.
Not bad. But nothing remarkable.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 21, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This is very excellent McCelland. An extremely harmonious blended broken flake of oriental and virginias. What makes this blend cavendish I have no idea. I think this is even better than the brown tin counterpart. A little of that vinegar tang in pouch aroma with light natural virginia sweetness, light spicy, nutty and a little "funky" oriental character that is wonderful!
Recommended
Recommended
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 11, 2004 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
One of the lauded (or dreaded) McC. 2000 virginia flake series, English Cavendish is distinguished by the addition of the oriental Xanthi. This is still predominantly a Va blend however.
THe immediate taste upon ignition is very sweet, almost making me wonder if some sugar was added in the cavendishing process. The flavor is clearly one of lemon and orange virgs, with the xanthi poking its head out occasioanlly, especially near the end.
My main problem with this blend is that it smokes hot! I had to be careful, very careful, not to burn a hole in my tongue, to the point of letting it go out and cool down, and then relighting. Too much of a hassle for the taste, what with all the other good Va flakes out there. *** Addendum 6/11/04 ***
After just a few months of aging and a bit of drying, I have found this blend to have lost some of its bite. Still not up there with the best virginias however...
THe immediate taste upon ignition is very sweet, almost making me wonder if some sugar was added in the cavendishing process. The flavor is clearly one of lemon and orange virgs, with the xanthi poking its head out occasioanlly, especially near the end.
My main problem with this blend is that it smokes hot! I had to be careful, very careful, not to burn a hole in my tongue, to the point of letting it go out and cool down, and then relighting. Too much of a hassle for the taste, what with all the other good Va flakes out there. *** Addendum 6/11/04 ***
After just a few months of aging and a bit of drying, I have found this blend to have lost some of its bite. Still not up there with the best virginias however...
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 10, 2024 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Overall, 2025 is an underrated flake from Mcclelland.
Judging the level of "Mcclelland Flavor" in 2025 - it's present but not nearly as strong as some offerings. Squarely a 5/10 in that regard.
The real feature of this flake is the Xanthi. Xanthi is a Basma varietal grown in Greece that adds a tangy, piquant, and herbal note to the otherwise sweet and earthy Virginias.
Different in flavor from Drama, Xanthi has a similar effect to the overall blend experience. You can't miss it - and if you like it, there's nothing else that can replicate it.
2025 gets a 4.6/5 from me.
Judging the level of "Mcclelland Flavor" in 2025 - it's present but not nearly as strong as some offerings. Squarely a 5/10 in that regard.
The real feature of this flake is the Xanthi. Xanthi is a Basma varietal grown in Greece that adds a tangy, piquant, and herbal note to the otherwise sweet and earthy Virginias.
Different in flavor from Drama, Xanthi has a similar effect to the overall blend experience. You can't miss it - and if you like it, there's nothing else that can replicate it.
2025 gets a 4.6/5 from me.
Pipe Used:
Small to Medium Briars, Meers.
PurchasedFrom:
SPC and Third Party
Age When Smoked:
6-10 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 02, 2013 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
McCelland Bulk No. 2025 - English Cavendish [full cake cut]
Star Rating = 4
Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst
Pouch Note = 7
Room Note = 8
Flavor = 8
Bite = 8
Burn = 9
After Taste = 8
Raw Score = 48
Rated Percentage = 80%
Comment = Smooth, Mild, nice full Flavor, a lot of BTU's needed to ignite, white ash burn, 2025 is the best blend of the McCelland 2000 series
Star Rating = 4
Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst
Pouch Note = 7
Room Note = 8
Flavor = 8
Bite = 8
Burn = 9
After Taste = 8
Raw Score = 48
Rated Percentage = 80%
Comment = Smooth, Mild, nice full Flavor, a lot of BTU's needed to ignite, white ash burn, 2025 is the best blend of the McCelland 2000 series
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 07, 2008 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
(07-15-2007) The 2025 is a fairly decent offering from McClellands.Dont smoke this to moist because this can bite.The Xanthi adds a real sharpness and spice to the Virginias and at the same time there is a slight earthy/musty tone underneath,excellent when exhaled through the nose.
This is similar to McCllelands 5115 a.k.a. Old World classic but without the bitter and IMO over the top citrus notes the OWC offers.
I prefer to sip this out of a wide and short briar,oddly it doesnt smoke well for Me in a cob or some of my taller bowls.
If it werent for the small broken flake cut and its tendency to bite,this would be a four star in my book,but despite the things I dont like about it,it still has a spot in my rotation.*2.5 stars*
(07-07-2008)Found a mason jar with 18 months of age on it in the cellar,taste is a little more "balanced" for lack of a better word but still bites pretty good,too bad,I would smoke a lot more of this if it didnt bite so much.
This is similar to McCllelands 5115 a.k.a. Old World classic but without the bitter and IMO over the top citrus notes the OWC offers.
I prefer to sip this out of a wide and short briar,oddly it doesnt smoke well for Me in a cob or some of my taller bowls.
If it werent for the small broken flake cut and its tendency to bite,this would be a four star in my book,but despite the things I dont like about it,it still has a spot in my rotation.*2.5 stars*
(07-07-2008)Found a mason jar with 18 months of age on it in the cellar,taste is a little more "balanced" for lack of a better word but still bites pretty good,too bad,I would smoke a lot more of this if it didnt bite so much.
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