McClelland No. 27

At first I was afraid this was a mistake messing with this blend. That is until I took the advice of some other reviewers and gave it a fair chance. What can be a very bitey bitter experience if packed too tight and smoked too fast can in contrast be a very enjoyable experience when done right.

I have found I like to rub it out mostly if not completely and dry, then pack lightly. This seems to be key as fine as the cut is. The flavor builds very discretely but hits high and sweet notes in a wonderful way. I will surely be smoking and ordering much more of this.

If you can be gentle and patient this is wonderful and highly reccomended. However if you are a power puffer this surely is not for you.

I have had moments with this blend I'll never forget. Even though this does the typical virginia dry tongue thing it is the only va ever to make my mouth truly water. Love this stuff.

I really do think anyone who tries this or any other mclelland va should be told the most important thing is to dry this down almost all the way but not quite completely before attempting to smoke. I spread it out on a plate for a few hours rubbed out and this gets me a super high quality smoke. Some folks open the tin for a long time, that works too but if you get some and want to smoke sooner try the plate it works great. I like to rub the whole tin at once and put it back in after drying so it is ready to go when I want a smoke. The tin keeps it right for months like that but one never lasts that long anyhow.

This is true with all the va's mclelland makes in this series. Ever seen what green wood does to a chimney with the soot produced by all the moisture? Same basic principle works with pipe tobacco. That moisture in your smoke if not dried out = steam = burnt tongue and bad taste + black stuff all in your nose and stains on your teeth.

Some people say they like this moist, I can't see how they get a good solid flavor like that honestly or smoke the bowl down to the bottom. But each to his own.

Update: 8/6/07 I have smoked a few more 100gram tins since my first review and this stuff is just wonderful. I am going to buy this regularly and age it. I can't imagine how good that will make it. I'm talking try to let some go for at least 3-5 years. This stuff is that good. Top shelf all the way. Highly enjoyed and reccomended. The shag cut makes this one smoke so good. Smokes good unrubbed too. That tones down the high notes I think to smoke it unrubbed. So good either way. Nice to smoke in wads on windy outdoor walks or rubbed indoors. Not a good tobacco to ignore while smoking as it will remind you quickly of why to not do that. Great when you can sit and pay it the attention it deserves. Not an all day smoke for me but it will be smoked regularly.

Second update: Had left this blend alone for the last year to allow my stash to age. tonight- 7/24/09 I do believe I have smoked the smoothest bowl of this ever. Two years turns these tins into something really special. I still have a few tins to let get older. I need start aging some more this has maximum potential. Very fine...

Update 11/2016 - I now have a nice stash of tins I have aged for 10 years dated from 06' - I recently decided to pop one at the ten year mark to sample and enjoy. The tobacco has gotten a lot darker in color and even more enjoyable to smoke and taste. The flavors are deeper and more mellow, sort of like a lighter version of aged christmas cheer. This tobacco ages like a fine wine. I'll probably open another tin in 5 or 10 more years and update again. Until then I'll keep buying a few tins a year to smoke and a few more for my cellar.

Of the McClellands Mature Virginia series I have tried the 22 and 27 blends. While enjoying both very much (I do love McClelland virginias, ketchup and all) I have to say that out of both tins the 27 is nearly gone. I find myself reaching for it much more often than the 22. I find it smoother, perhaps sweeter. I would smoke McClelland flakes more often but I find them, along with Samuel Gawith flakes, a bit tedious to work with. 27 is a great tobacco with a pleasant payoff if one has the patience. Smoke slow and savor the experience. Though I would only somewhat recommend 22, I would highly recommend 27. And, of course, this tobacco would age wonderfully.

I have to agree with Mike McNeil at McCellands regarding an interview at a pipe show. If a Virginia tobacco tastes grass or like hay, then it's a bad tobacco.

I'm not fond of that type of flavor. I love my virginias sweet, spicy, and deep flavored. This blend gives me all of that without tongue bite is smoked slowly. After having multiple blends by McClellands that are Virginia, I can safely say they have the best virginias of anyone on this he market hands down. Love this blend

This is a blend that leans toward the brights without any bites. Of course - one must remember they are smoking a VA and adjust accordingly - and this is a superior blend. The latest tin is from 1999 and it the additional age compared to a more recent tin - was quite evident. However - we're talking about great and greater ... not night and day.

I found myself rubbing out the newer versions completely, while with the aged tin I began by folding (or slightly clumping) flakes. In all cases - one char light - a tamp - and the next light carries the entire bowl. It is a wonderful trip and the zone is expanded from nearly beginning to end. A wonderful nutty VA with an underscore of subtle tang and reserved sweetness throughout the bowl. I can easily travel for a few days with only this as company and have no regrets - bowl after bowl.

Cheers, VC

I never know why certain tobaccos are described as *starter virginia or flake or vaPer or whatever*.... i know if i WAS starting out Id probably avoid them. It is demeaning and suggests something inferior or too mild to be taken seriously. Anyway....this is maybe not the most exciting of McClellands virginia offerings. Blackwoods Flake and #24 are deeper and dark star is sort of another category almost. Pebblecut is richer and is rounded out with orientals (as is #24). But this is a very very very nice Virginia. Its subtle to a degree, which is why its described as a good indoor smoke. One has to pay attention. It reminds me a bit of Butera's stoved darkflake. This isnt nearly stoved like that but it shares the necessity of giving the smoke your full attention. Also reminds me a bit of Butera's Golden Cake... if you do give it some attention, you will be rewarded with a very high quality Virginia flake (broken). Not too much nic at all, but there is some. And it wont bite in the least. I think its an excellent all day Virginia if that is your habit. It is also....one of the longest slowest burning Virginias you can find.

The tin note is the familiar aroma typical of this brand, vinegary, sweet and spicy. Most of the tobacco appears very dark, almost black, with some lighter streaks. Sugar crystals can also be seen. Although tin is quite old, it maintains a good degree of humidity. Despite that, I immediately charged the pipe and the tobacco lit up easily and stayed lit with no more lights than average. If the smoke is hasty, it generates humidity if the precaution of drying it a little before has not been taken. With a medium cadence it does not bite the tongue, but it is advisable not to rush it too much, also so that the flavor is not lost. It is fresh, smooth but tasty, sweet, somewhat toasted, sometimes spicy, and also salty.

Excellent tobacco, once again a great job from McClelland.

Red Virginias are my favorite, so that’s one important point to make. The other is that this tin, the second No. 27 I have gone through, is 16 years old (my first tin was ten years old). After two tins, I thought it was time to add my own two cents.

After that whoosh from opening a well-aged tin, I was greeted by reddish-orange broken flakes, a strong fruity aroma, and surprisingly little of that McClelland vinegary-ketchup odor.

The flakes rub out easily, and a light pack is how I prefer smoking this tobacco. This is a noticeably sweet, creamy blend, meant to be smoked ever-so-slowly (or it’ll bite you). Wonderful room note, light nic hit, no noticeable casing at all—just pure, sweet, well-aged red Virginias. Similar to Aurora or 1776. A fine all day smoke.

Personal preference, obviously, but blends like this are the reason I enjoy pipe smoking so very much.

Lots of good and accurate info already. Sharp and sweet, I like the flakes more than the usual McC presentation - they seem 1/2 as thick as usual.

Delicious. Tangy and sweet. All high notes though. I like it a lot.

McC #27… I'll just bypass the tin aroma, as it's been described 7 ways to Sunday already. I have found McClelland (and C/D for that matter) Virginias to be among the finest available. Of course I may prefer one of their blends over another, but that's just my taste preference, not a quality issue.

Yet another Virginia blend, this one smooth and easy smoking, with a typical American taste signature, meaning no anise/licorice taste, just tobacco. As I like my tobacco a bit dryer than most, so I put a bowl full out for a few minutes under my desk lamp, which is all it took. A bit dryer now, I packed the bowl a with light tamp, lit up, and my test was under way. One word came to mind in the first few full puffs “gentle” gentle and tasty with some sweetness to be more precise. As the tin indicates, “an all day smoke”, if this is what they were trying to create, this stuff is a masterpiece, you could not ask for more. Completely bite free, gentle and never developed any harshness, sounds like an all day smoke to me, and a dang good one. Top quality Virginia tobacco, with a user friendly manner, what's not to like. This tin won't last long at my house, most is gone already. If this describes what you are looking for, look no future, for that person, 4 stars. My personal rating 4/5 due to its mildness.