McClelland No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake

I've been trying to get through a one ounce sample of 2035 for almost a year now, and thank the Gods, it's finally gone. Do not let the dark thick flakes fool you. This stuff is exceedingly mild. In my opinion, 2035 also lacks any distinguishing flavor. It's like eating steamed vegetables. On the positive side, it burns cool, but you might have problems packing and lighting, due to the nature of the flakes. Looks better than it tastes, that's my final say on 2035.

One and a half of Four.

Although primarily a smoker of lighter Virginia blends, this was my first foray into dark, stoved Virginia flakes.

The cut is something akin to what a Chinese chef with the DT's and a meat cleaver might do with your leather belt. Stuffing the resulting chunks down the bowl and applying a match,or two... or four, finally resulted in getting the lumpy tobacco going. Things improved from there, however.

2035 smokes with some sweetness and little bite but with a dominant overlay of fermented, baked tobacco. Like a freshly baked heavy yeast bread that has been just a bit over-done. To this, I could detect no added flavoring or other complexity. Not bad really, and certainly better than store-bought, but you wish someone had pulled it out of the oven a bit sooner when it was still golden brown and buttery.

Not an unpleasant tobacco, but not worth a return visit.

This is Darkstar in bulk form, just not aged as long as the tins.

All in all, this is a decent Virginia smoke. It takes a bit of work to get going.

In comparison to the other bulk McClellands, such as 2010 and 2015, I found this to be somewhat more subtle, with more of a citrus-like tanginess to it.

Really not bad at all but frankly I enjoy both 2010 and 2015 more. But it is certainly worth a try if you enjoy this genre.

November-2003.Bulk No.2035 Dark Navy Flake. Well after hearing so much about this tobacco,I was extremely excited to be able to finally try it.Though it's not to bad at all,it did not thrill me.Honestly,I can't see what the fuss is all about.It light's easily enough & is fairly well behaved & didn't leave any goop at all.Maybe a good blend if you enjoy a beer or stout while smoking.You could do alot worse.

Looking at this tobacco in the pouch reminds me of dark, earthy things. I recall pictures of Irish farmers cutting blocks of peat from the old sod of mother Ireland. I see rich, heavy top soil. The scent in the pouch is also rich, heavy and earthy. I remember walking behind the plow as my father plowed a field, seeing the rich bottom land sliced and rolling over into furrows.

This is a very interesting, evocative tobacco. It does come rather moist. Drying a bit does benefit 2035. It has an unusual consistency, rubbing it out is a little different. Obtaining a good burn in the bowl does take a little work.

Smoked, to my palate,it yields, not suprisingly, a rich, earthy, dark taste. The smoke it yields is in itself pleasant to the nose. It does produce "gurgle" and the residue on the pipe cleaner is quite foul. On occasion, I have added a little Perique and found that to have a nice effect.

I do intend to smoke this from time to time. My mainstay will continue to be Virginia/Perique flake. However, this is a very nice tobacco in its own right. And bought in bulk it is a bargain. michiganmike4msuatjunodotcom

ADDENDUM: About a year has past since I saw the last of my #2035. And in that year I have not not missed it, nor thought of purchasing more. My actions speak more loudly and truly than my previous words. I did not enjoy it enough, evocative as it is, to buy more. Based on this, I am going to lower my previous "smoke on occasion" to "might try again, but will not keep on hand."