Tobaccos McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2013

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-12-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

First I want to remark how long that smoke can last! I smoke it in a very small french briar pipe and it can last for more than 1 hour, producing a very generous amount of soft, almost silky smoke. Pure joy! Hints of fresh hay, raisins, sweet and tangy as virginia can be. Top notch tobacco! the McVinegar tin scent disappears when smoked letting only the very best virginia experience I ever had express itself fully. I'm used to smoke navy escudo as VaPer. Loved the Va in it but this one goes way beyond and that's just the best thing I can say about it! If you can find one tin left...GRAB IT! A genuine 4 stars of course! (PS: I didn't find it to burn hot as other mentionned earlier).

NB: After letting it dry a bit I found that some pleasant iode-like nuances come through much like a Talisker scotch without the peat taste of course, will definitly pair my bowl with a glass of it next time.

Pipe Used: french briar

Age When Smoked: fresh tin (2013)

Purchased From: cup o joe's

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Preacher Pipes (12)	2014-12-08		Mild	Very Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant to Tolerable

Okay, today I start with Christmas Cheer 2013. I'm not reading the other comments and reviews beforehand so I don't slant my thoughts.

The blend presented as a lovely broken flake, mixed medium to dark brown tobaccos. The tin note was subtle, slightly hay-like with very little to almost no McClelland signature scents (BBQ, ketchup, vinegar, etcetera).

I chose a smaller Kaywoodie #10 bent billiard as the pipe of the morning for this blend. It smokes Virginias well and felt like a good choice, being well rested and of nice size (group 3 I guess).

I fully rubbed out my sample into a coffee filter as I always do. The first ting I noticed was the change in aroma; now the BBQ scent came out, but just enough to be known, not overwhelming. And there was more of the sweet hay-like scent, too, as the tobacco was prepped for fire. My sample was if near perfection for my preference moisture wise and required no dry time. I packed the pipe with the method I usually use, a three-step variation, and gave it a char.

The charring light brought forth a nice flavor of slight sweetness and BBQ goodness. The flame also produced a nice bloom, one that didn't expand too much but "just right". I left the pipe to rest a few minutes while making a cup of black coffee to enjoy with my smoke.

Returning to the pipe, I gave it a light tamp and exposed it to the flame again. Again I was treated to a nice BBQ sweetness and perfect bloom. Another light tamp and it was off and going.

After the initial few puffs, the BBQ a taste fades and is replaced by a mellow sweetness that only comes from a nice Virginia blend, one with wispy hints of grassiness and citrus gently tickling the tongue and pallet.

At the halfway point of the bowl I've had to relight twice, both times due to my negligence as I type this review. The taste has remained consistent and mellow, very nice and not hot, damp nor a hint of bite. Very little attention needs paid to the tobacco: a gentle tamp here and there is all it needs to keep it burning. This bowl has lasted about 40 minutes and I expect I have about that much more to go yet. I don't expect the second half to be any less tasty, and is likely to be better than the first. So I shall end this review here and savor the next portion of this classic Virginia blend. The remaining sample will most likely find its way into a pipe for Christmas Eve, a fitting smoke for that evening I think.

I have to say, I think this bowl hit its peak at 2/3 and seems to be lulling into boring territory toward the end of the bowl. It is still a tasty and well behaved blend that smoked cool and dry. But disappointed me in the sudden drop off in the final third of the bowl.

Pipe Used: Kaywoodie #10

Age When Smoked: 1 plus years

Purchased From: Gifted sample

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	donmartinthree (22)	2014-01-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant

I was given this by my parents for christmas when I was over in the states visiting them for the holidays. This was also my first ever McClelland Tobacco as they're not readily available to me over here in Germany. On opening the tin, what I first got was the (as I've read many times before) typical scent of ketchup that most McClelland Virginias supposedly have. I didn't find that unpleasant - the second and third times I stuck my nose in gave me rich, delicious smells of wood, stoved fruits and something spicy.

It's quite moist out of the tin, but dried for an hour or so it's perfect to take a few flake scraps, roll them into a ball and just plug those in the pipe (loosely!).

The charring light does give me some bite, but once it's lit and going, it cools down real nicely and tastes nothing but delicious.

There's flavors of wood, spice, stoved and dried fruits and a hint of sweetness. Sometimes something like toasted wheat bread comes through, which I really like. Also, the mouth feel is rich, thick, almost chewy... I love this stuff. If I could describe the smoke in terms of something touchable, I'd say kind of like well worn-in, dark beeswax leather...

This is so good it's too bad there's never going to be this same blend again. I bought 3 more tins while I was there so I could take some home and enjoy it for 3 more years - every upcoming Christmas.

Very very glad I had the chance to try this!

Pipe Used: peterson donegal rocky 999 filterless

Age When Smoked: freshly opened

Purchased From: christmas gift

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2013-12-06		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is a nice vintage. If you like "Mc-Vinegar", it ain't here in the smoke. I happen to love Mc-Vinegar , gives that tang, this is more base notes than high notes. Reminds me of the 2012 Christmas blend, but I do like this better. You do get a great hay scent when you "French inhale", no bite and some sweetness.

The flakes needs to be rubbed out and allowed to dry some or you will run into the problem of a hot smoke when you push this to keep it lit.( as some reviewers have reported)

I really think this would be exceptional with 3 years of cellar time, but right now, I give it 2 1/2 stars

Updated 7/23/2014- Well, I've had this tin in the cellar for about 8 months and it is still nice . I've picked up some changes, it has turned more "Malty" in flavor and it reminds me very much of C&D's Briar Fox. I also get the best results from a cob. I have found this is excellent on the relight, flavor stays and doesn't get ashy. Deserves 3 1/2 stars

Pipe Used: cob

Age When Smoked: 1 month/ 8 months

Similar Blends: 2012 Christmas Cheer, C&D's Briar Fox.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Joeray (61)	2013-11-01		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I really like the aroma when I open the can for the 1st time. I can smell the sweetness of virginia tobacco and the smell is almost similar like a milk candy that I usually buy it when I celebrate Chinese New Year. Need a little preparation to enjoy well this blend. I need to rubbed into smaller pieces so I can pack it well and then aerated it for a little while, so I can start a pleasant journey with this blend. This blend is quite smooth, almost without kick, but I can taste a very sweet virginia blend, it is cool and burnt well. At half bowl, I can taste the milky taste again, very sweet, like a chinese milk candy. So I give this blend 4 stars for the pleasure that it given to me.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JustinCarcerated (99)	2016-12-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

It took the better part of five years for me to see what many of you have been stating as fact for years - McClelland knows Virginias.

I now see the light! Review the ratings of McC's Christmas Cheer selections since the 90s, always in the high 3-4 ratings. This year was no different - flue-type toby, broken flake type cuts, proper moisture even at 4 years plus in the cellar.

Its the clean, deep earthy manner in how McC develops there Virginias - not light, citrus-like or hayish, not here. Here Virginias come to mature, deepen, and gain character.

As much as I like Orlik, Peter's Luxury Bullseye, Dunhill Light Flake etc - my initiations to Virginias - I wrongly created a paradigm that all Virginia's were limited to such intonations of flavor... thank you McClelland for modifying my thought processes.

If your new to pipe tobacco, please consider Christmas Cheer in your future purchases, and McClelland Virginia-forward blends of any type.

Pipe Used: Meers and Briars

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2015-03-19		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

The sweet Virginias are a bit earthy with slight grass and a lot of dried dark fruit tanginess and wood. The mild spice reminds me of nutmeg. The "vinegar" last a little but doesn't distract if you're used to it, because you come expect it from the CC offerings. No bite, no harshness. Has a slightly more than a mild nic-hit. The strength is in the center of mild to medium, while the taste level just reaches the medium mark. Burns slow and moist, but a little dry time will fix the latter, though I really don't so much of that. Requires relights, and will leaves a little moisture in your pipe. Smooth and deep consistent flavor with a very pleasant after taste that pleasantly lingers. Can be an all day sweet smoke.

-JimInks

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Down to the Dottle (3)	2014-06-02		Mild	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin: Not as much ketchup/vinegar as other McClelland blends. I picked up some mince meat and raisin, as well.

Cut: Broken Flake. The flakes are cut a little thicker than most. Imagine the thickness of two Orlik Golden Sliced flakes. The flake is easy to rub out and loads nicely in the pipe.

Flavor: Once this baby got going there were flavors that I didn't expect from a tobacco. On the draw there was rich raisin. I tasted snickerdoodle and a little gingerbread while exhaling through the nose/mouth.

I smoked this fresh out of the tin, then again 6 months later. The flavors were definitely more pronounced after the aging. The sweetness really comes out.

All in all, this is a fantastic tobacco. It is going to take a long time to finish this tin. It is WAY too good!!

Pipe Used: Peterson System, Kaywoodie Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh & 6 Months

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeDawg (82)	2014-04-01		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Unnoticeable

Half the tin is now smoked and I'm ready to give an honest review as I believe I've discovered everything this blend can do.

I love McClelland blends especially VA based and Straight VA's. This blend to me is consistently on the weak side compared to the rest of their offerings, even for straight VAs. This one really will shine with some aging and quite frankly (storing) was in mind when it was created. Don't think this one is in a general smokers rotation as it's a limited supply and quantity built to age.

This blend got my attention as the tobacco they used was plucked not far from my own hometown. I like the unique sweet flavor that is this blends alone. I can tell you the size and shape of the bowl makes a BIG difference in this blend. I got the most out of it by blending it in a small food processor and from a Straight grained billard with a large bowl. I do recommend this blend but it's really for storing. Enjoy!

Pipes used. Peterson XL305, Comory Straight Grain, Luciano hand made Dublin Bowl.

Age When Smoked: Fresh from 2013 tin over 5 months.

Purchased From: JR Cigars.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fly ticky (26)	2014-01-28		Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Ok let's get started I am unsure of rating this tobacco as it is in a class of it's own. Let me say it's got a great flavor and it really satisfies.I smoked half a tin so far and it is marvelous.I am now back to my regular blend because I would like to age slash save some for later.What can be said

Pipe Used: savenelli

Age When Smoked: fresh dried for a day

Similar Blends: no other tobacco.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PettyOfficerPuff (2)	2014-01-12		Mild to Medium	Extra Strong	Medium	Overwhelming

Being a green horn to pipe smoking, I'm still new to everything but I have been a cigar smoker for a while. From the moment I opened the can I could smell a hint of raisins, fig, a little hay smell as well. Reading through the forums prior I decided to let a bowl sit out for about an hour before smoking it. From the false light it tasted quite well rounded with a wonderful play on each portion of the tounge. Definatly sweet, almost like a cranberry orange coffee cake with a side rustic hint of oaken barrel. with progression it only got better! I really enjoy this smoke and I'm looking forward to my next bowl of it! Four stars!

Pipe Used: Italian briar

Age When Smoked: fresh out of the can

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipe Beard (8)	2013-12-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

How many tins did you buy?

I'm not sure what I can add to this that other reviewers haven't already said. This year's blend is a masterpiece as is, and could go down as one of the all time greats with some age on it. I have a tin stashed away for a few years...

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	krg1000 (183)	2013-12-13		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is another fine addition to the CC series. As with the rest in the line, it is a very good weed used in making this fine vintage. Like the rest this also should age very well with it getting better with age. Recommended.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kerpap (14)	2013-09-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a great flake Virginia, Tin note somewhat "Ketchupy" but this is typical with McClelland Virginia flakes. The flavor is nice and tangy with a bit of spice. reminds me a bit of Dunhill's Royal yacht but without the "Punch". Smoke is cool and long lasting. all in all a great mix, go buy some before it runs out!!!

I only got 1 tin and wish I got more. I just might order up a few more for storage.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	riobrew (80)	2018-09-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Had a long week. The thing that saved me was the McCelland Christmas Cheer 2013. Can't believe I've held on to this tin that long. Through good times and bad. Well when I popped the tin instantly got the mature fermentation smell. I let it set in a jar for a week before smoking. Lightly rubbed out and loaded my Peterson Sherlock Silver Apple. This a truly a great tobacco that none can copy. It's so unique in taste and smell. A straight smoking Virginia. Not a blend but, just one unique strain of Orange flue-cured Virginia from the 2009 crop near Rocky Mount, North Carolina. All I can say is that it just a pure smoke. There is nothing but clean taste. Will be smoking this bowl by bowl. No weeks worth at a time.

Pipe Used: Peterson Sherlock Silver Apple

Age When Smoked: 5 years plus

Purchased From: Smokingpipes

Similar Blends: None other..

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2015-04-05		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Light brown broken flakes a mellow citrus tin note. Comes much to wet to smoke out of the tin and I dried it in levels to see what produced the best flavor. Almost crispy is where this worked best for me. I lightly rubbed this one out and it burned perfectly with no moisture and few relights.

The flavor of this was perfectly orange Virginian with light citrus notes and a mild tang. Orange VA always tastes so "clean" for lack of a better word and I wish I was better at describing its taste. Often times lemon VA is overly sweet and citrusy while reds can be too drily tangy without enough sweetness. Orange is right in the middle with just the right amount of sweetness, and a well done orange is probably my favorite unprocessed VA flavor. This blend provides that in spades, and I wish McClellands had a regularly-available VA with the same flavor. I'm going to have to try the #27 again, because my recollection is that is the closest to this flavor. At any rate, this is a refreshing smoke that doesn't overwhelm. It's a wonderful untampered-with orange that will give you the insight you need into this marvelous species of Virginia. If you find your Virginias too this or that, enjoy one that straddles the "too" camps. Strong 4 stars.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipe Newb (49)	2015-03-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I am not a dedicated VA smoker, I probably smoke va and va/per's only slightly more than I smoke aros so maybe, maybe two, three times a month.

I had never had a McClelland tobacco and when I started, a certain online retailer had tins of this particular blend on sale, I decided to pick up a tin and hold onto it.

Come Christmas 2014, I decided to crack it open and I am absolutely amazed. Here it is in March and I'm still enjoying small bowlfuls of this incredible tobacco. I can't really compare it to any other virginias that I've had, it's a whole other flavor and compared to many other virginias that I've had, it has a thickness, a real richness that I've never found before. Rich and mildly sweet smoke, a smoky/sugary smell in the tin, and a room note that is phenomenal.

So yeah, I absolutely love this, and have already started looking at McClelland blends to add to my longterm storage.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Natural Dublin, Yellow Bole Dublin

Age When Smoked: 2013

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bonneville (52)	2018-03-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Dear McClelland, I'm sorry for taking you for granted all these years. You made many of my favorite blends, and yet I never seemed to give you the praise you deserved while you were with us.

Your 2013 Vintage Christmas Cheer was opened that same Christmas Eve, and was lovely. And then I tossed it in my cellar only to forget it existed. Now that you're gone, I scoured my entire house/garage for any of your lovely tins. And there I found the 2013 Christmas tin, now with over 4 years of age.

Smoking it in my Peterson Meerschaum right now is an absolute delight- lightly tangy and sweet, no bite, no spice. Baked sweet pastries glazed with sugar cane syrup and a touch of creamy marshmallow. I am going to savor every last flake.

Ah but isn't that life? You never know when something or someone is going to disappear forever. Enjoy it while you have it and be grateful for the experience. I will never forget you.

Pipe Used: Peterson Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: Beehive Cigars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2016-02-25		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I just cracked the 2013 CC tin I purchased two years ago on Sunday night and have just finished my 4th bowl. Some serious drying was needed In order to stuff a pipe with the thick and meaty flakes. Although not an aromatic, CC has all of the allspice, nutmeg and various other Christmassy tastes and aromas which are the result of top shelf Red Virginia's toasting and roasting. My last bowl which is freshly tapped of its ashes I had added a pinch of McClelland blending Perique and the smoke was stellar! reminding me of St. James Woods which is a personal favorite but with a brighter and less mature Virginia aspect but still had that Sweet and Sour Chinese sauce taste I love. I have had several of the Christmas Cheer vintages and 2013 has aged into a beauty with minimal bite and is sweeter on the tongue than other years I have reviewed. CC is just designed to be aged and I suggest buying at least two tins every year, if you smoke one and don't like it someone on Ebay will snatch it up instantly. If you enjoy it as much as I do then you have the other tin to cellar and compare the fresh to the matured. Delightful!

Age When Smoked: 2 years in tin

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2014-12-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I had finished my tin of CC 2013 a while ago and had not added my thoughts on it. I guess my thoughts are not too different than my thoughts on the the 2012 CC which I found to be fantastic thus necessitating my purchase of the 2013 and now the 2014. I have been buying two tins each year. One to smoke and one to cellar.

I have also been trying to buy some of the older editions which have been going for a lot of money on ebay as of recent. I did happen to snag a few tins of the 2009 at a reasonable price and plan to smoke that in 5 years. The demand for these old tins signal what you are getting when you buy a tin of Christmas Cheer. You are getting the finest Virginia produced by a company known for its great Virginias.

Of Course if you are one of those who thinks, Eww, Ketchup, then please avoid this blend as it has that in spades. Also, if you are looking for cinnamon and fruit cakes, this is not that kind of Christmas blend. The only thing Christmassy about this blend is the santa in the insert, the color, the name and the fact that it comes once a year.

It is excellent.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WorkingClassChap (197)	2022-12-24		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I have the pleasure this Christmas Eve of 2022 of smoking some of this fine tobacco gifted to me by a friend. Writing this more as a journal entry as no doubt you’re familiar with Christmas Cheer. Rubbed out fully, a few lights to get her started but once lit and tended to she burned well.

Thick chunks of broken flakes, still fairly moist and soft, some dusting going on, and of course translucent crystals. The ketchup tangy vinegar fermentation smell of McClellands Virginia tobacco is apparent.

The taste is tart, sweet, hay, bread, fermentation. Reminds of me of a lemon tart. The citrus sour lemon with the semi sweet bready crust. Smooth. No grassy harshness on the retrohale. It’s rich in flavor but milder in mouth feel. Nic hit appears fine for me in the morning with coffee, medium at most. An absolute treat of a pure Virginia and in my few years of pipe smoking experience Virginias don’t get better than this.

Are these old canisters of McClelland tobacco worth the price these days? Is a bottle of 15 or 20 whiskey worth it to you? If you got the dough to smoke why not. It’s as fine as you’ll get.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CT Hobbit (1)	2015-11-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I purchased this tobacco when it came out two years ago. I was just dipping my toes in Virginias at the time, and hadn't even been smoking a year yet. The first time I tried a bowl of it I quit half-way through--too subtle for me back then. I've had it aging in my cellar ever since, and tried a bowl in a fresh cob today. Age (both for me and the tobacco) have worked wonders. The smoke was long-lasting, with pleasing plumes of smoke. The typical raisin-hay qualities of the Virgina leaf as aged wonderfully, and packed a decent punch of Vitamin N. I look forward to sampling this tobacco as the years go on.

Pipe Used: Corn Cob

Age When Smoked: 2 Years

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The good Rev. Rizzo (36)	2014-09-25		Mild	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

A much anticipated kick off to the holiday season. Purchased two tins of this and glad I did. Cracked the first one at a year old this month. Nicely aged in the short span of time. A consistent high quality product from year to year. Buy a few tins and put them away. This stuff ages fantastic.

Pipe Used: Moonshine Pipe Works Devil Anse Cutty

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-10-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

When you open the tin, the tobacco smells really alright, it will remind you of ketchup / bbq, however, smoking this is completely different... this thing burns wayyyy too hot in the bowl! although i dont get much hot smoke in the mouth, it really irritates my nose big time, but nothing compares to how hot thing this burns in the bowl , now, im sure i zipped this "very" lightly, no big draws no nothing, but just after a few puffs the bowl starts to burn hot, i have never experience this with any tobacco in my corn cob. i rested the pipe just after a few buff, repeat, again, burns hot. i consider myself to be really tolerable to heat, but even so, i cant hold the pipe.

I really wanted to be fair before i write this review, therefore, to be fair i tried smoking other similar tobacco in the same pipe to see if its the pipes problem, but everything was alright, so after a few days later, i decided to give it one more try... this time, even worst,...i dont even want to try this in my briar pipe... after just 1/3 of the bowl, i was done with it. im not sure if theres something wrong with my can of tobacco, or my pipe or any reasons, but im not impressed with it. how can someone enjoy a tobacco if they cant even hold the pipe in their hand... ?

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MarkinAZ (2)	2021-10-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin note: Very dark brown and light speckled broken flakes, with an aroma of baked deep fruity muffins, sweet earth, and even ripe fruit that is fermenting and ready to turn. Bottom of tin stamped “7 2013,” moisture level of the broken flake is slightly cool to the touch.

Bowl note: Several flakes were rubbed out aggressively and packed into the Bertram Washington DC 30 Lovat Pot. Lightly tamping throughout the session reveals a slow burning blend with two follow-up lights later. First third exhibited deep dried slightly sweet fruit, pepper, earth, and a slight unknown spice; The pepper later transferred to the background as we transitioned to the Second Third; At this point, a medium aroma of sweet smoky grilled fatty meat emerged, mild spices, and a floral aroma was competing on the finish which I couldn’t identify. Possibly the citrus of the 2009 Orange Virginias? This continued through the second third which eventually became a deep, smooth, creamy, and comfortable smoke. Body mild to medium in the beginning and same for the Nic, transitioning to more of a solid medium body with the Nic at medium to a notch above medium. As I was approaching and entering the last third, the body was ramping up and the Nic was starting to creep up a notch too. Maybe it was the temperature this afternoon, and I decided to put my pipe down and not push it. A Canada Dry BOLD Ginger Ale and Snickers Bar does wonders not to turn a person into Betty White.

With that in mind, this is a great blend for morning or maybe following a good dinner in the evening time. Highly recommended and if you have a tin, pop it open and enjoy that sucker, because I really do think you’re missing out on a good tasting Virginia. 2009 Orange Virginias used in a 2013 blend, so we now have 12 years of age sitting in the tin. Of interest, the inside walls of the tin appear to be coated with a special (spray?) in what I think Mike had performed to protect the contents from air leakage, etc. Well, there you go…

Pipe Used: Falcon Meer Bertram Lovat Pot

Age When Smoked: July 2013

Purchased From: N/A

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