McClelland No. 27

Whooooaaaa Mamma! VA Number 27 is VA Number 25's hotter cousin.

There is a noticeable difference between these two blends. For one there is the matter of cut: #25 is a Ribbon cut and #27 is a ready rubbed Flake. But beyond that- the real nuts and bolts: VA Number 27 has a brighter taste; it has body and great flavor, particularly towards the last third of the bowl, but there lacks the depth and dark sweetness of VA Number 25 that I believe comes from the dark stoved component that permeates the blend.

I call this blend the "hotter" cousin not because she's easy on the eyes, but sharper on the tongue- I'm a careful smoker with regards to thermodynamics, but this blend, even a 5 year old tin can bite.

Still I'll take her out on walks with me out in the still air with hopes that she will reveal new secrets so that I can tell them to you!

Highly recommended to the intrepid explorer!

Wow, what a fruity and sour smell in the tin! Not as delicious as Dunhill Navy Rolls (which has Perique, too, for a wonderful olfactory experience), but close... Two colleagues of mine always stop at my desk when I have it to take a deep sniff from the tin! In taste it reminds of Hal O' The Wynd (with which it shares the reddish brown broken flake appearance), but compared to the Rattray classic it's less moist, less bitey, and slightly lighter in body and nicotine. It's a good old classic virginia: sweet, fruity, with some sour notes but always very well balanced. Sure, Blackwoods Flake is even better, but this tobacco is still highly recommended.

Virginia 27 is a fragrant, well-made tobacco that burns very well and, for me anyway, smokes cool with very little tongue bite. I have recently smoked a 100-gram tin in a wide variety of pipes and regret that I can't rate this tobacco any better than average. Why? First of all, it seems to lose flavor once the tin has been opened. (To be fair, this is a problem for a number of Virginias). Second, I just can't maintain interest in this tobacco for more than a single, short smoke. If I smoke it often during the day, or in a large bowl, I always wind up just putting the pipe down and walking away. In a word, for any sort of extended smoking, this tobacco is simply dull. As an occasional smoke, it's OK, but I doubt I will buy any more. Much better, in my book are tobaccos like Old Gowrie, or even Astley's 109, which, although mild, have enough dynamic range to keep me interested. I even prefer 5100 with some age to this stuff.

For comparison's sake, my tin was two years old. I have no doubt that well-aged tins are great, but I'll be aging other tobaccos that I like better.

I like a lot of people desire the "newest" thing we can get our hands on, be it the newest blend or the new hamburger from a fast food shop etc. but today I wanted to try an old blend that I had never had before. By old I mean a blend I had previously passed by because it wasn't the newest or hyped up blend of the month so I went onto tobacco reviews and looked through the ratings for McClelland and settled upon #27. I found a tin from 2006 in my little hole in the wall B&M here in Vegas, plopped my $15 for a 50 gram tin (ouch, but hey instant gratification) and went home. The tin popped with a whoosh as expected from a decade old tin and the delicious Cambell's tomato soup aroma enveloped me, what a treat was in store!!! Orange and red semi broken flakes, almost at perfect moisture level, I rubbed out two flakes slightly and stuffed into my naked (unfinished, natural exterior) Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman. To me very similar to Christmas Cheer 2007 but a bit lighter and less Red Virginia (perhaps bc they were tinned using a portion of the same crop that year?). As I have stated before I love Orange Virginia's as they don't bite as much as lemon but have a brighter more citrusy taste than say brown or certainly stoved Virginias, perfect for a 90 degree day here in the Vegas Valley... I have only smoked one bowl but I know McClelland very well and can already tell that me and #27 will have a fine friendship. Smoke slow, let simmer almost letting it go out in a deepish bowl, the VA's will toast as you go down the heel and by the end it will sing to you! A good comparison is orange rind spice like in Bigelow's Constant Comment Tea. Glad I took a gamble on one of McClelland's oldest VA recipe's and didn't immediately jump on the newest kid on the block. Sometimes tried and true can be as exciting as brand new!

**BTW I am still awaiting "Grandpa's" update on this blend from 2008...

Tin note is just a subdued version of any other McClelland Va. Moist in the tin as always, but don't dry this out too much, you will loose a lot of flavor, and make this smoke "airy". Rubs out nicely, packs well with a bit of spring. For some reason, this smokes the best when packed tightly, only offering small sips, not clouds of smoke. You will miss out if you smoke this one fast and hot. Definitely suited to indoor smoking sessions. Even though I am prone to tongue bite from almost all McClelland's Va's, this one did not hint at taking a swing. Take your time lighting this one, get it hot, again you will miss out. Pure Va flavor with notes of sweet hay and molasses. Burns very clean, with a few relights here and there. Leaves a clean refreshed palate.

Pairs well with Lapsang Souchong, most American Bourbons, and mild Scotches.

update - I have been letting this tobacco "post"-cure. Meaning I cellared it for a short period of time, not opening the lid causing it to go stale. I held off smoking the second half of the tin. For the rest of it now it has finally mellowed in aroma. The tobacco burns much more evenly now, clean white ash, full amazing flavour. Looking back on it now, I should have originally gave the tin upon arrival a 3 star but having it this way now it's a 4 star.

I was very fortunate to get the store's last tin of this number 27. It was a bit new for me to open a tin of fermented tobacco, but it's a pleasure. I noticed that the aroma was quite powerful upon opening the tin. I'm writing this review in June 2015 and the tin is from McClelland in 2011. Juicy sour notes as undertones from the citrus aroma. It's not an aromatic though, it's a true tasting virginia. Great room note, I smoke it more often outside and it's just like the number 24. I really liked the 24 blend but it's a bit fuller/darker tasting than this number 27. This is really amazing tobacco, I'm super impressed with McClelland so far. They have other styles of blends which aren't my cup of tea. But regardless of what my tastes and preferences are it's undoubtedly phenomenal tobacco, quality-wise.

Due to the many reviews, I'll keep to just the key points that I hope will best serve others. First: to rub it out - a task yes - then to allow a good drying (for me at least 1/2 an hour). Packing was moderate, neither tight nor loose. Do not expect what you'd call a thick, creamy smoke and if you dare to try to force it, you will pay the price. No surprise there, but I beg you - beg you - to put up with light sipping and just be patient. Read on...

The the first of the bowl is yes mild, yes mildly sweet and but with only glimmers of what is to come. If this were all this tobacco was, I simply say "meh" and let this one go back on the shelf. On this basis, I'd completely agree with the review that called this a "read a book" tobacco, but... But then, and as the bowl proceeds, the sweetness, the orange peel, cinnamon etc. that you'll also read about start to emerge with growing richness and increasingly becomes absolutely wonderful. Moderate nicotine develops as well, nice.

The "27" gets progressively richer and deeper from that point on, and at about 2/3 to 3/4 hits a truly marvelous zone. What really helped me to finally "get" this one (and reduce the burn) was my choice of pipe: a rather rare Savinelli system pipe. This reduces burn and with it's tapered bowl works to concentrate the flavors for a very pleasant experience.

My advice: dried, packed and smoked with patience you will be truly rewarded. The slow build-up and increasing pleasure makes this a wonderful and rewarding experience which grows and grows as you slowly proceed with patience. You will not be disappointed.

Nice. Very nice.

Addenda (later): I'd revise this to add that with proper prep and care - light everything (load, light, tamp, relights and sipping - this tobacco really works. I love it's purity and subtlety, and its lovely growing development through the bowl. Per another poster I tried my cob and all was enhanced.

This blend seems to have 2 personalities. A bitter ashtray if you get it wrong, a wonderful and balanced sweet Virginia if you get it right.

I find the key to getting it right is rubbing the flakes out and packing them SUPER tight. I puff much longer but less with this than any other tobacco I have, and that seems to help too. This blend demands to be smoked the way that every other blend should be.

If you're willing to put a little time and effort into your smoke, this tobacco is well worth a try.

I bought the Virginia sampler from Pipes and Cigars which is a terrific sampler, but McClelland #27 was included. As soon as I opened the tin I wanted some french fries because it smells just like ketchup. The first half of the bowl was pretty flavorful, but not too strong. You definitely want to smoke this very slow to be able to get all the flavors. I unfortunately made the mistake of smoking quick, and it went downhill quick, but overall it is a very good tobacco and I would recommend it to anyone.