McClelland No. 22

Similar to, but more full-bodied than, McClelland #2010, this is a very unique, very American (in the good sense)bright Virginia blend. It is a pure-form tobacco, without flavoring, steaming, maturing, stoving, pressing or anything else that I could detect. It doesn't get fancy with red and black Virginias. It is simply a delicious, naturally sweet, zesty, tangy, toasty, refreshing, yellow/bright Virginia. It carries McClelland's signature ketchup/vinegar tin aroma proudly, plus a grassy, hay-like undercurrent. The room aroma is rich without being heavy or dark, lively but with substance. It goes without saying that something this bright and sweet can smoke hot unless slowly drawn, but for those who keep the rate down (or especially those who use the "Breath Smoking Technique"), the smoking experience is magical. The lemon-y zest keeps you honest! Only #2010 comes close in character (I find the often-compared Ashton Brindle Flake to be distinct from #22). In summary, the top range is the distinguishing feature of this blend, but is nicely supported by a toasty mid-range that grows richer and more predominant as the bowl progresses, in a wonderful way. The bass range exists more as a side-effect of the mid-range, and some might find this to be a distinct disadvantage. I don't, because the rest of the blend was so engrossing that I didn't notice the lack of lower tones until I actively began to look for them. If you are in the mood for a snappy, flavorful, tantalizing smoke, McClelland #22 is for you.

(PS - A year of aging puts this into another universe, increasing the rich, smooth & sweet elements while decreasing the bite danger.)

As per usual, McClelland produces another great VA. Tin note is of course the ketchup/vinegar smell, which of course does not carry over to the smoke.

This one is probably the most unique VA I've tasted. It changed a couple times throughout the bowl. About mid-bowl or a little after mid-bowl, the flavor became very rich and was probably the most multi-dimensional flavor I've experience in a VA. It was sweet, a little leathery, floral, some sort of spice, and of course a little hay-like all at the same time.

Another thing to notice is the room note. I usually don't care about this, as I smoke on my commute to and from work, or while I'm reading outside on the porch or deck. But I had smoked this outside at a friend's house, and another friend, who actually has an allergic-type aversion to scents, liked this smell on me. Also, I will try to occasionally get a clue at the room note simply by smelling the bowl while I'm smoking -- probably not the most accurate way. However, this one smelled great when I did that. Just sweet and slightly floral. I don't like floral tasting tobaccos (see: Lakeland), but the slight floral notes I've mentioned in this review are not like that at all, so don't be turned off when you read that if you're like me.

Overall, this is a great VA. Maybe not the best, but it definitely gets four stars so far from me. Let's see if it stays that way throughout the tin. (And, of course, as per almost all McClellands, a couple days of waiting after you open it is best.)

This is a reference tobacco. It is coarsely cut and pressed into flakes that can be rubbed out or simply wadded up in a Frank-type side-pressure spin into the bowl. This tobacco is very similar to 2010, perhaps it is a longer aged version as some have suggested, but I detect richer notes from this than 2010. Both are very lemony with bright citrus notes - but only in the right pipe and at the right burn rate. When it burns too hot (and it can if you?re not careful!) burnt rubber notes can be gleaned, which I find to be generally true of the lemon virginias. No one likes that! But carefully smoked, this stuff is just marvelous, rich mahogany malty bass notes with a citrus top end. It took me awhile to notice and appreciate the citrus notes, in part because only a few pipes bring it out, in part because I wasn?t tuned in to the flavor. It?s best for me in a tall somewhat narrow bowl with a long draw or cooling stem of some kind (I just made a pipe of pyrolytic graphite that works very well with this). I call it a reference tobacco because it is the old style, old breed, simply prepared without additives, of very high quality.

Hard to believe that it has been four years since McClelland closed up shop. My journey with my unopened tins is slowly coming to an end. I had about 19 tins ranging from 10 to 20 years old that sat on my self over the years. I have 8 tins left until now when I decided to open and share this one with some of my club members last week. I will be moving out of state and that is just as good excuse as any. The tin code on this is 220500. 22 years. Upon opening the tin, my eyes gazed upon the broken flake covered with microscopic glistening sugar crystals like diamonds. The trademark vinegar smell is still alive and well in this tin but have noticed like they usually do over the past week in the tin the vinegar smell has waned. Lights fairly easy and for want of words has a rich spicy taste to it with an occasional sweet spot hitting the mark every once in a while. Like just about everything McClelland produced this is a fine quality, Virginia. I enjoy this most in the evenings while drinking my coffee. The next stop on my journey will be Bombay Court, an Oriental with a dash of Latakia. That is about 13 years old. Part of me just wants to open the rest soon in the next few years so I can get it out of my system and be able to enjoy these before I go to that big pipe cloud in the sky. 😊

I completely agree with the positive reviews on this tobacco. It's a great tobacco but requires experienced pipe smokers. It demands concentration and attention to achieve its fullest potential. Oddly enough it can bite initially but settles down to the point where you can puff it rather vigorously. Mildly sweet, toasty, citrusy, spicy, medium body virgina. Progresses down the bowl and leaves a clean finish. High quality leaf. I have had amazing smokes and frustrating ones. Bowl size matters. Experience matters.

McClelland no 22 Matured Virginias- loving this tin of 20 yr old Virginia tobaccos . Sweet and tangy dark fruits . I am getting some citrus but no grassiness to speak of . Not really any spice either . A little vinegary ketchup but i enjoy it . If you can get an old tin you won’t regret it . What a treat ! 4

Another fine Virginia flake from the, probably, greatest Virginia flake maker out there. McClelland knows Virginia. Period. To give this less than 4 stars, IMHO, means you probably are either inexperienced or simply an aromatic smoker, or just a guy who hates straight virginia. Its impossible not to rate this four stars, frankly. Its of the highest quality and perfectly presented. Now....one might like blackwoods better (i do) or Dark Star or even #27... but along with Gawith's FVF the McClelland virginias are the best you can do. Some reviewers give, for example, Macbaren blends four stars. Thats fine. Thats what you like. But honestly, for the experienced smoker of pipes, the art of pipe smoking as it were, this is of the highest quality. Now its a less stoved flake than some from McC, and its made of different virginias (i suspect very little red in here, but i could be wrong). And its not a nic bomb ....though its certainly a notch over mild. The taste is a bit subtle and perhaps that is the problem for some. But if you give it some attention, dry it out a bit, rub it out then before packing your pipe....you are getting the luxury end of virginia flakes.

My tin is vintage 1997, and I don't think I can add much to what others have said except to say: another winner from McClelland's Matured Virginia series!

They have a lot in common anyway, but the main similarity is just in the overall quality of these American Virginias, and McClelland's excellent selection and treatment of them.

11-6-2022 I must have bought a duo of 1997 tins of this off Ebay back then, because I had another that I cracked about six weeks ago and smoked through...it's sad to think how many McClelland tins I had with age on them back then in 2012, and how few I have left, and what people are paying for them now, but at any rate, what I have left, I will smoke...

This is a wonderful Virginia flake with more dark, sweet flavors than the kind of hay-like flavors found in brighter Virginia flakes.

Rich, creamy smoke. Rich, natural tobacco flavor with distinct notes of clove. Also notes of leather and cedar. Moderately careful technique precludes any tongue bite.

Not overly complex, but full flavored and satisfying from start to finish. Mildly sweet with moderate nicotine.

Like most flakes, a little drying and rubbing out is beneficial.