Tobaccos McClelland - No. 27 (Matured Virginias)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2006-12-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

Updated review: 12/06...I recently cracked open a 22 year old tin of this delightful Virginia shag. I cannot remember a time I had more fun smoking a tobacco. The tin top was actually puffed a bit and let out a gentle whooosh when the seal broke. The tobacco was was extremely dark and the smell told me the leaf was richly fermented. The leaf was mostly dry, but retained just enough dampness to make it perfect for smoking. It burned clean and cool right down to the bottom of the bowl leaving nothing but ash. Just past mid bowl on my second smoke, I hit an otherworldly zone that I'll remember forever. This old 100 gram tin will not last long.

31 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-06		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

This is a blend that hits all the high notes but eschews any deep, dark ones. Rubs out and loads easily. This is one I preferred a little on the moist side - more so than normal.

Very sweet tasting tobacco and seems to be a broken flake version of #5100 Red Cake. Light and subtle, this is one that needs to be smoked in stride, slowly, so as to bring out the subtleties. Overpuffing will not only result in tongue bite but it will erase any sweetness and flavor. This could be an all day smoke for some but I found it made me think too much and work too hard for flavor. I enjoyed smoking it but I prefer a few dark and toasty notes with my sweetness. Consequently, I much prefer their #24 brown label virginia or their Navy Cavendish.

Recommended if you like a nice soft sweet flavor and light body in your bowl. This might be a good one to smoke while reading a really attention-grabbing novel, as the tobacco won't detract from the reading experience. Incidentally, this tobacco SINGS when smoked with a dram of heavy bodied scotch such as Highland Park or Lagavulin.

21 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2015-01-12		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

A soft, quiet smoke with very little complexity, but it has some nice gentle, subtle flavors from the matured Virginias: raisins, dates, mild dried tangy dark fruit with a little sugar, grass and earth. The "vinegar" smell is in the smoke for a few moments, and mostly disappears.The strength and taste levels are mild. Has little nicotine. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns slow, cool and fairly dry with an all day mild, mostly consistent flavor and a pleasant after taste. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Also recommended as a starter Virginia. Puff slowly or you'll not notice all the flavors.

-JimInks

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	al1 (58)	2009-01-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

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.

17 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sirchud68 (60)	2016-12-22		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Very Pleasant

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.

Age When Smoked: 2 years

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ATW (110)	2017-10-23		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-07-31		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

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

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (401)	2017-11-22		Mild	Mild	Mild	Unnoticeable

I found No.27 to be exceptionally mild. I have noticed that when a blend is described as an all day smoke then it means it is on the lighter end of the strength and taste range. I have not met a McClelland I did not like but think I will try another blend. Good, but not my cup of tea at this time.

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: 7 years

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2017-03-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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.

Purchased From: 4noggins

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2015-06-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This smoked best in a cob. It really brings out the flavors. Hard to find the right words to describe the flavor. The closest I can come is saying it's similar to raisin bread. Not exactly, but that's the best I can do. I can say very easily that the flavor is downright delicious. Has a wonderful sweetness as well.

I recommend smoking this folded and stuffed. It rubs out into a fine shag which can burn hot if you fail to be slow and gentle. Left in flake form helps it to burn slower and cooler. Some caution is still required, but it is more forgiving that way.

Mild to medium in body and flavor. I got no bite smoking it in any form or in any type of pipe.

Pipe Used: clay, briar, MM Mark Twain and MM Diplomat Apple

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LannarkGent (145)	2016-12-18		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

This is a mild and Unpretentious virginia. A wonderful smoke, it is very tolerant of being smoked at different speeds and conditions. While this is not exactly my cup of tea, I do find it enjoyable.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	UncleGar (110)	2011-01-16		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Well, I cannot speak to the "effervesant (sic) of the open tin" either. Not a clue what that translates to.

I've never encountered the tin-described "shag-cut cake" before, but I like it. It's a millimeter thick broken flake that instantly rubs out to, yes, shag. Don't pack tightly. It lights readily and is easily kept lit even when moderately moist.

It is certainly the most sourly pungent of any McClelland blend I've ever sniffed in the tin. It carries forth into the smoke. Presumably the top dressing is added to neutralize alkaline smoke, but geez! Perique normally serves this purpose; this blend has none. The result is a unique sweet/sour taste that I rather enjoyed. Once dried of the topping half way through the bowl, the taste goes away with little remaining. At that point it is vaguely ashy and bland. As such, I'd compare this blend to a cheap aromatic.

Many finer Virgina blends are available. Keep looking.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-06-10		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

06/10/04 McClelland #27 is one of the great Virginia flakes out there. It's a broken flake of light and dark brown Virginias. The tin aroma is, of course, the vinegar aroma that you will either love or hate. This is a pure VA tobacco with no topping or casing. The flakes come a little moist for me so I air the tin until it's to my liking.

A slow and steady draw will yield a sweet natural VA flavor, but if you puff too hard, you'll burn your tongue due to the high sugar content of the leaf. It doesn't have as much of the "citrusy" tang as say 2010, 2015, or #22, but the flavor is more rounded and sweeter, typical of a red Virginia. In fact, it's the sweetest natural tobacco that I smoke. While not terribly complex, the flavor is excellent all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

It also ages well. The tin I'm currently enjoying is 2 years old and I have many more tins in the cellar. Moreover, you have to try DGT with this blend; it will knock your socks off.

McClelland #27 is most similar to Wessex Brigade, in my opinion. They are both sweet and tasty VAs that taste as good or better (yes, definitely better) at the bottom of the bowl, as they do when you first light them.

08/30/09 Recently opened a tin from 2001 (8 year aged) and let it air for about a month. The broken flakes have darkened compared to the 2 year-old tin in my earlier review. The taste is full and rich, with excellent high notes. Boy, what a treat for a McClelland Virginia lover like me. A spectacular smoke in every way. I have quite a few more tins from 2001. I'll open another in a few years and gloat, I mean report back.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Antonius Blok (192)	2022-01-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

Age When Smoked: 22 years

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	runswithdogs (41)	2018-09-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Very Pleasant

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.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: 16 years (2002)

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sasquatch (90)	2017-01-08		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

Pipe Used: everything, big, small, Italian, Irish

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: 4noggins

Similar Blends: Fribourg & Treyer - Blackjack.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rothesay (5)	2017-01-01		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

This is the third of the McClelland Mature Virginias that I have tried, and it is the one I have enjoyed the most so far. The tin aroma was not as ketchupy as Nos. 22 and 25, but it was still present enough. I have to say this particular smell does nothing for me. It did not carry over into the smoke, however.

The broken flakes were very nice in quality, and they rubbed out perfectly. The moisture content of this year-old tin was just right. In flavor, this one was a bit stronger than the others, but in a good way. There was a deep, almost bold flavor to the smoke which lasted to the bottom of the bowl. Interestingly, this blend seemed to come alive in a briar billiard, while being more subdued in a cob. The room note, while not as offensive as MV No. 25, was still too much for others. While I would smoke it again, I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire another tin.

(1.75oz tin smoked over 20 days in December.)

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2012-12-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

UPDATE 7-31-15

I just finished up another 100g tin of this and must say, it is just another fantastic Virginia from McClelland. The sweetness of this blend is just spot on. It is very similar to my tastes to Blackwoods Flake and several other McClelland Virginias, but it is a great tasting and performing Virginia nonetheless. I have another tin that I plan on aging, but I did not notice a whole lot of difference from the last tin I smoked which had about 6 years of age on it. That is a good sign I think.

I am not changing my star rating on this one as I think three stars is good and there isn't enough setting it apart from other McC Vas to push into the "you have got to try this" category for a fourth star. If you like MCC vas, you will like this.

ORIGINAL REVIEW 12-11-12

Just finisehed a 100g tin of this from 2006. The taste was incredible, but the only thing holding me back from a four star rating is that their are just too many others I choose to grab before this. This can only be for one reason and that comes down to nicotine content.

If you find the nicotine in this adequate for your needs then this would indeed be a four star blend.

Similar Blends: Blackwoods Flake.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TK Pipe (101)	2011-03-07		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-10-28		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2003-02-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Yet another McClelland blend that greets you with a vinegar aroma upon tin opening. Nicely prepared reddish to brownish flakes are partially rubbed out and I smoked them as received. Easy to light and keep lit. However, contrary to the tin claims, this is not an all day or indoor smoke for me. Although I had much better success with large bowled pipes, @ the pace that I sometimes smoke @ work, by the end of the day, my tongue was scorched. I've experienced similar results with other red VA flakes. You must smoke them slowly to allow the natural sweetness to develop and save your tongue. McClelland blends in general are not my wife's favorite aromas and #27 is near the bottom of her list. Within McClelland's portfolio, I'd pick Blackwoods or bulk 2015 flakes far before this blend.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Grovesy (32)	2020-07-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Currently working through a 6 year old tin of this flake and it is absolutely fantastic. No. 27's thin flakes rub out easily and quickly dry to perfect moisture. Tin note is the familiar Mcclelland ketchup/matured Virginia smell. In the smoke lies tangy, semi-sweet, red Virginia goodness. Not a complex blend, but an extremely satisfying and rich smoke for those who love red/orange virginia blends. This is one of Mcclelland's better straight viginia flakes but somehow stayed below most pipe smokers radar. If I had enough stock of 27 in my cellar, it would be my everyday smoke.

Age When Smoked: 6 years

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (233)	2017-09-19		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This is a straight Virginia, pure, natural, but not excellent. Good yes, but not really good. In my opinion a little bit disappointing. There are a lot of straight Virginia in the market and this one does not stand out. McClelland can do much better. The taste is pure Virginia, but I believe it has an extremely mild flavoring, almost imperceptible. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 7 and two and a half stars.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lyle (32)	2016-12-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This review pertains to a ten-year-old tin, so it represents a well-aged tobacco.

The tin aroma is slightly tart, sweet, and acetic (vinegar). It's like a delicious barbecue sauce, with a bit of fermented character. The flakes sparkle with sugar crystals. If you smoke a lot of McClelland Virginias, it is instantly recognizable in every way.

I usually rub out pressed tobaccos completely, but this one seemed more conducive to smoking rolled up, balled up, or just stuffed in the bowl. It comes in the tin fairly stringy, not neat flakes or barely broken ones. It smoked easily and deliciously whatever the preparation method.

The flavor of the bowl is delicious and complex. Sometimes I felt like this blend was more savory than I expected, and sometimes it was sweet. It was always a bit tangy. Like all Virginias, it is a balancing act to keep the ember as small and the bowl as cool as possible to maximize the flavors and aromas, without letting it go out too much to be annoying.

I found this blend easier than most to find that balance and keep it going. Probably related, I also found this blend to smoke dry as a bone, even on humid summer days. The body was heavier than expected for a straight Virginia.

Overall this is a fantastic tobacco, and and excellent example of what McClelland does with Virginia tobacco.

Pipe Used: Many dedicated to VA

Age When Smoked: 10 years old

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2013-12-16		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Bowl starts out sweet and tangy with a good touch of McVinegar and a lot of high notes. After about 1/4 bowl, the high notes fade and the darker flavors develop , more in the style of " Sammy's" "FVF". Less tangy, richer, but still a subtle sweetness. No real bite, but some spice and something that says , "This could be even better with a few more years of age" , ( although, tin indicted it was 2 years old). The last 1/4, you get the burnt marshmallow with some slight bitterness . All in all, I find this keeps my interest.

I feel the blend is much closer to an English style Virginia ( Samuel Gawith, FVF, Best Brown) vs. a MacBarens that says, grass, honey and hay. A word about the cut, it's a very fine delicate flake. I like to give it the minimum of rubbing, or you'll turn this to dust, allow it to dry for a half hour, and "ball and stuff" the loading. The tin description says," an all day, indoor smoke", I agree with that and can see where the fine cut would turn into a "blast furnace" with an outdoor breeze.

I can't disagree with any reviewers that give this 4 stars, but I like other Virginias just as much, at bulk prices and cuts I like better. So, this gets 3 stars

Pipe Used: clay, cob

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith's Best Brown Flk..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-01-14		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

Wow look at all these 4 star reviews on not one person commented on the effervesant of the open tin.

What nobody else has noted is this is no ordinary Virginia. Its a matured virginian as per McClellands own claim. My Tin was produce in 06 so its been aging for 5 years now. I'd say thats enuff time for a tobacco. We're not talking wine here. We're talking about a weed. Matured Virginias are typically acidic to a degree. This bland goes over that degree to the point of being rude about it.

Tin effervesant was wild. From what many have observed The Acidic tone is strong from the can and normal for this Brand Name. That being said I also took this tin to 3 other people to get the nose opions as well because I thought mine had failed me.

a total of 4 people agreed this aroma from the tin immediatly reminded them of old wet hay in a barn knowing full well they were' sampling a pipe tobacco. Add a bunch of animals peeing all over that hay and you add the acidic aroma to this element and you have a pretty accurate description of the tin aroma. It will come close to giving your nose a good tang!

Doesn't light up well so air it out for a few hours after rubbing it out. Then it lights fine and doesn't burn hot at all. In fact it burns very light and gives you a nice cool smoke. I wish a few of my fav's would burn this way so I wouldn't have to be so carefull with them.

The room note is tolerable at best. But not strong. It's intensity is a mild one. There's nothing pleasant about it but it's not terrable. In public you might get a few discouraging looks.

After getting half way through the bowl I dedected the acid taste from the tin. But its ever so slight enough and yet reminds you thats its there. You have to actually look for it.

ON the tongue the flavoring is deep and mellow and very very mild. Almost undiscernable at first and builds itself up to a mild range. It has a nutty burl feel to it and a mild smokey side as well.

There is no added casing or chemical toppings to this. The flavor comes from the curing process to the age of the cure. I swear they basted the toby in its own juices while the toasted the leaf. and pressed it into the cake and aged it. A byproduct of slow state of decomposition would be the acidic amonia event you'll find when opening the tin. Some refer to this aroma as beeing very vinegar like. Same thing. Its an acid produced from a cause in the curing process.

Take a small chunk and put it in yer mouth and there will be a flavor explosion that will tell you exactly what the mild version of the smoke will be like. Even if 50 percent of smell is taste then your in for a shocker. It tastes just like it smells.

And it tastes just like it came off the floor of the barn after 50 cows walked through it.

Having doubts I repeated this process. 3 days 3 bowls same results. Very dissapointing indeed.

My apollogies to fans of this. I'm sure you like it. I think you're being overly ecclectic though. McClelland can do better that this. They did in fact.

I cannot reccomend the Mature #27 at this time. Instead pass it up for whats in the tin marked Virginia Woods.

Note effervesant= tingles and tickles

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubinthedam (133)	2010-02-27		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

a good VA blend, quite full flavored but mild in strength. Still too much vinegar though and not quite sweet enough.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-06-07		Medium to Strong	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin: Abundant, tangy, sweet, fragrant apricot/currant and bread aroma. Black-brown to medium brown striated with a small amount of blonde. Broken flake.

Incredibly soft and supple for a flake and has a clean feel to it.

Six-digit code on bottom: 272206, meaning product 27, batch 22 tinned in 2006.

Packing & Lighting: Very readily rubs out into small ribbons. One of the easiest to deal with flakes. The suppleness of No. 27 makes for a delight to pack. Unlike many flakes, this one can be, should be, moderately tightly packed. Right out of the tin, it does take a couple of matches to burn a small bowl.

Taste & Aroma: Top of bowl: Bland, No. 27 takes a little while for the flavor to develop and concentrate.

Mid bowl: This is where the soft, subtle taste becomes accentuated, a nice bread and fruit taste and aroma; from time to time, getting varying hints of orange peel, cinnamon or allspice, and bayleaf or clove.

Letting the tobacco dry for 30 minutes helps the flavor. Al1's comments on drying seem to make a difference, there being less moisture to compete with the subtle flavor.

Nicotine: At least medium

Room Note: About as pleasant as it gets for a VA-based blend.

Overall: No. 27 could be an all-day smoke, if you want a moderate amount of nicotine. I really like everything about it, but it's too lightweight in flavor. For this, No. 27 deserves 3 stars, but it is so easy to work with, it should get 4. I really wanted to give this 4 stars, but the taste and aroma are just too subtle.

Compare this to C&D Briar Fox, most any Wessex blend, or Orliks Golden Sliced. Some of the VA-based GLP Fog City Selections will satisfy a VA craving.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-10-06		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This blend lacks nicotine; it tastes light; it burns cool. That are its positive qualities. I am smoking this blend frequently. I have held off on it. I thought, it would be just another virginia. It fits so well into my present life style so well.

My work does not allow me to smoke all day long. The nicotine in this blend is low, that I am getting a nicotine level that is just a little elevated. If I go without smoking all day, I do not get the jitters and mood swings.

This a great light sweet flavorful blend, when my palate is absolutely clean. Right now the other virginias are tasting dirty and burnt for me. This blend does not bite my tongue, because I can taste what I am smoking. I have already stocked up on this blend.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mo (81)	2008-02-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I recently recieved a 4 year old tin from a good friend in the states. When cracking open the tin the smell that came from it was delightful. I have to say that the smell of McClellald tobaccos really annoys me, in this case it had settled down significantly and was most pleasant.

I find the taste to be very subtle. I honestly did not appreciate this tobacco until I sat quietly in my garage one night with a beautiful Design Berlin staight grain billiard, filled to the brim with this tobacco. The experience was wonderful. Slighly sweet, little savoury, nice volume of smoke, this is certainly not tiring as some blends can be and developes very discretely.

I only gave this blend 3 stars for 1 reason and that is that 4 year old tins are not freely available.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-12-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Red orange tobacco with a very nice honey ? not excessively - sweet flavor.

Tobacco is generally dry, but keeps enough of humidity in order to keep him perfect for smoking, right after opening the box. It burned clean and cool, till the lowest part of the bowl, leaving only a clear white ash.

It has, in my opinion, the smallest ?ketchuppy? flavor from all the other McClelland which I have tasted. Nice tobacco for all day.

Another tobacco which I would like to keep in a box, in my cellar, and smoke it after 1-2 years

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dprovons (11)	2006-01-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I have read many times of McClelland's signature 'ketchup' smell of their virginias. I have smoked several McClelland virginias and noticed a slight vinegar-like sour/sweet smell, but this is the first one that knocked me down with what is undeniably 'ketchup' smelling. I mean, you can't miss it... If you can get past that, though, this is a very good tobacco. I just finished a bowl of this excellent broken flake virginia and am just so impressed with it!

Unlike others here, I think I prefer not rubbing this out at all (I have tried it both ways several times). Maybe it burns slower that way...I'm not sure. Probably, I just don't like having to do anything extra to smoke something. I agree with others that is comes a little moist out of the tin, so I open it and let it sit a day or so with the lid off. Over the next couple weeks, it just gets better and better. I have only smoked unaged tins of this, but I can tell it will age wonderfully.

This tobacco has one drawback: it takes a healthy discipline of will to get the most out it. Why? Because it's so freakin' delicious, it makes you want to slurp it up (instead of sipping it slowly and civilly). If you slurp, you will torch your tongue. If you sip, you will get a wonderful raisin-sweet smoke that gets fuller and more complex as you move down the bowl (like all great virginias).

As far as being an "indoor smoke" and having a "light subtle aroma", my wife did not agree on either point. I still enjoy it--even though banished to the garage or outside with it. A very solid recommendation for all experienced lovers of virginias.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2004-09-02		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

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.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-04-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

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.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pounder 5000 (178)	2003-04-11		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Upon opening the tin you're met with the typical ketchup smell that is legendary among McClelland tobaccos. I never seem to get used to it, so I just avoid sniffing the can. I find if you rub some of this out in the palm of your hand and then smell, you get a much more representative smell of the actual tobacco that you are getting ready to smoke. Other than that this is a very delicious tobacco. I really like the flavor of the first third of the bowl. A rich sweet taste emerges right from the beginning. The second third of the bowl is more of the same, although a somewhat strong vinegary taste starts to come through. This only lasts a short while however before you're right back to the great taste you began with. The only problem is it tastes too good. I start puffing too hard and burn the hell out of my tongue! I have found that DGT'ing the second half of the bowl however seems to greatly decrease tongue bite, and highly increase the sweetness of this blend. In fact it may DGT better than any other blend than I have ever smoked. This blend rubs out easily and packs well. It is a little to moist right out of the tin however, so you may need to let it dry out for awhile or be ready for a more relights than usual. The tin I smoked was very young, and I can't wait to see what a few tins of this aged awhile will be like. This may also help cut down on the tongue bite. If I could remedy this problem this could very well become an all day smoke for me. Until then it is a sometime smoke in the evening when I want something sweet before I go to bed. I find it best to smoke while reading Garrison Keillor(sp?). Ah, now that's better!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2016-05-11		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

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...

Pipe Used: Country Gentleman

Age When Smoked: 2006 - Ten years

Purchased From: Tobacco Leaf, Henderson NV

Similar Blends: McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2007.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2015-08-15		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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.

Pipe Used: several

Age When Smoked: 3 years

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cloud (11)	2015-06-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

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.

Pipe Used: dunhill bruyere

Age When Smoked: Opened after 4 years

Purchased From: City Cigar

Similar Blends: 2010 Gold Medal flake from City Cigar, McClelland No . 24 Matured Virginia blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capn Jimbo (24)	2015-06-10		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

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.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Dry System, Cob

Age When Smoked: 5 years

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PhillyB (70)	2015-04-04		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

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.

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DylanG12 (2)	2015-02-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

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.

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TattooGuy (9)	2014-06-14		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Tolerable to Strong

Very good quality tobaccos. I don't seem to understand the McClelland's offerings. To me this one is very close to Virginia Woods but with a bit more present taste of tobacco. Not my cup of tea. 1.5 star.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	7formy1911 (37)	2014-05-06		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Very Pleasant

I must give this review a preface because I feel that it is necessary in understanding this tobacco. I am mainly a burley smoker and my preference is Cornell & Diehl as a rule. I rarely venture outside of this brand and type of leaf so to try this Virginia is atypical for me. Having said that there is one more caveat I'd like to add. I abstained from smoking my pipe for about a week (just a tad more) and this was the first leaf that I tried after this brief tobacco fast.

I cracked open a new tin, rubeb out a few flakes and stuffed them in my Dutch clay pipe. A few charring lights later I let my pipe sit for a bit just to get a quick drying out. Upon the true lighting I was rewarded with a nice sweetness followed by bright notes. This is where laying off the pipe for a while came in handy. I was able to enjoy this mild blend and savor the sweet and bright notes. If I had tried this after a steady diet of burleys or even English blends I would have given this Virginia one star since it would probably seem like steam and nothing else. The room note was quite sweet and almost non-existent. In fact my wife, who has a nose like a bloodhound, came into my man cave (the garage) and said nothing! She usually has a snarky comment about how much it stinks but not a word was said. I even told her I was smoking my pipe and she said she couldn't smell it at all.

Not being a Virginia fan I really think this is a great little flake and should be taken at face value. Read the tin description and that's exactly what you get. A very mild flake that is bright and sweet with a pleasant room note.

Pipe Used: Dutch Clay Pipe

Age When Smoked: 3 Years

Purchased From: www.smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-09-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very nice straight virginia. Fairly sweet, but not too much. Slightly bitey, but nothing major. This is one of my favorites! Definitely recommend to anyone who likes virginias. I do wish that it were a full flake though... might cut down the biting.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Red Rapparee (8)	2010-09-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Hello all, Red here. This is a very tasty, yet easily controlled straight VA that packs with little effort and burns cool with little or no bite. This tobacco has the slight bitterness of 'Essence of Orange Peel' with an ethereal woody character. To me, this is the benchmark for those looking for a naturally medium-sweet tobacco that is mild without being subdued. For those of you who are considering the jump into VAs this is an excellent middle of the road weed. Casings or toppings can never accomplish what this blend delivers a la Mother Nature. All day smoke. One of my favorites. Excellent.

Highly Recommended.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CPT/VSG (72)	2010-01-30		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The tin I just finished was from 2004 and had aged nicely. #27 is a broken flake, easy to keep lit, and without bite. The nicotine is not strong. The orange-red Virginians are pleasant and leave little after taste. In all, an agreeable straight Virginia tobacco; however, I find others, such as SG's FVF, to have more flavor over all. Still, a recommended smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-10-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

My tin is 2006 reserve...These days its realy standart for me, Ketchup smell! ...

Flakes are broken light,dark brown Va and tin almost dry. Perfect...Easy to fill and lit..

It burns great, cool and sweet...When its over only ash waiting for you..

I realy enjoy this stuff...McClelland do the best...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (251)	2009-08-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I was going to reserve the 2002 can I recently aquired, but curiosity got me as usual. It is a natural Virginia on the level of Gawith Full Virginia Flake, but with the McClelland "ketchup" smell in the tin! You don't taste the ketchup when you smoke it-it is mild and delicious. No bite at all. Can't detect any complex flavors here, just pure VA goodness. I'm going to enjoy this.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bent-1 (39)	2008-01-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

2004 Vintage: Ready to go right out of the tin. A bowl with a 3/4" - 13/16" ID works well. The red VA dominates and the orange VA provides a nice spice to the semi sweet taste. Minimal relights were necessary. Not pipe picky, does well in most of my VA pipes. Same consistent flavor throughout the entire bowl.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-12-18		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The tin aroma of these finely cut flake is typical McClelland VA: sweet, deep, fermenty, and composty.

This has a classic flavor of richly sweet McClelland matured VAs.

No. 27 excellent and companionable blend, this works best in narrow gauge chambers.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	geocritter (21)	2006-09-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I didn't know what to expect from McClellands, but I had read about the "ketchup" smell. I thought I'd give No. 27 a shot. At first, the tin smell was a little, well, ick. But as it aired out, I really noticed a complex richness that I liked. Smoking it was a pleasure, after I learned how to pack it a little more loosely than usual, and I found that after it dried out just a bit, it REALLY gets good. Burns a little hot at first, then cools down and becomes really complex and rich. Wife (my resident room-note and aroma expert) indicated that the smell was "Not perfect, but it's certainly ok". I found that it took a lot of re-lights, and each re-light can be a little rough, but once it's going, and cools down, it's an absolutely excellent smoke. I'm impressed.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-04-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Mcllelland virginia flakes are of excellent leaf quality. I cannot get away from the vinegary, aroma and flavor to the tobaccos. #27 is definitely smooth and rich. However I cannot, even though I have tried to really like these flakes, I cannot really enjoy them as much as some other virginia flakes. Maybe I am allergic to something they use. The only flake I really enjoy is Dark Star and it is very good. I will leave #27 for some others to enjoy.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	flint (30)	2003-05-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

What can I say that hasn't already been said by my esteemed comrades. #27 does have a toasty subdued sweetness not at all like a tangy citrusy virginia. It's a respectable weed that will no doubt get better with age. I have 3 tins hiding in my closet as we speak. Happy puffing.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-03-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I like to smoke a VA tobacco as a change of pace from my usual English/Latakia blends. So perhaps I am not the best judge insofar as I am not a purist.

With that said I think No. 27 is excellent. A natuarally sweet/spicy flavor that continues throughout the bowl. Not too much bite for a VA, although with all VAs, you have to watch it. The aroma is certainly nicer than Latakia (for those around you). Sort of reminds me of a bakery. Relatively easy to rub-out and pack, and burns reasonably well (all flakes are a bit tough).

Not sure I agree that this is an "all day smoke" as advertised on the tin, however, unless your tongue resembles your dog's raw hide chew or you are a veteran VA smoker.

All in all a nice VA which, along with Rattray's Old Gowrie, are some of the best pure VAs out there.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-01-11		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

I fell in love with this weed right away. Some quality time with your snout in the tin reveals orange peel, raisins, cinnamon and clove. The taste is pure Virginia bliss--toasty sweetness that improves and deepens down the bowl. Room had a nutty-woody note (my wife thinks even Cap'n Black stinks, so I fire up the stinkiest stuff anyway since it all stinks to her). I found the weed was not eager to stay lit, and as it is Virginia, it wanted to burn the tongue of this lusty puffer, so a good rubbing out and perhaps a little open air time will improve its pack and lightability. Quality flavor such as this gets my full attention and respect. As an added bonus #27 does have the nicotine kick to satisfy those of us who have needs in that department! Certainly a top-quality tobacco that lovers of honest Virginias will particularly enjoy.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth Vader (110)	2012-08-18		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Medium Va's tending to the lighter and brighter side of things. Good stuff and smoke, no fuss, medium nic tobac.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Katharsis (39)	2012-03-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I've gone back and forth with this one. At first, I wasn't such a big fan. It seemed a little too straightforward and bland. Now, near the end of my tin, I'm starting to like it a lot more. It IS straightforward, and I really like that about this blend. It's a typical McClelland VA -- sweet, smells like ketchup in the tin (but doesn't taste like ketchup thankfully), and good quality. If you're looking for a darker VA that's not as heavy as other dark VAs, this is the one to go to in my opinion. It could be an all- day smoke -- if you can smoke VAs all day, let alone McClelland VAs, without getting bitten. It's pretty good stuff and almost got a 4/4 from me. It may still in the future, we'll see.

One thing to add: I've noticed that DGT doesn't work too well with this VA. It's great right off the bat, and I think it's worse if you try DGT.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Virginia being my single most favorite pipe tobacco, I have absolutely enjoyed the two tins of #27 that I have been able to get. By itself, the taste and aroma are light but quite pleasing. No bite at all. A very dry smoke. I often add a small amount of cigar leaf and filler to my English/Latakia mixtures. I did the same for #27. You can detect a cigar note in the aroma when you do this but it isn't too potent. Flavorwise, you don't taste the cigar as you if you were smoking just a cigar; what you should taste is a creamy, buttery note in the background. The Virgina still cuts to the front. To me, this makes #27 even better.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-05-24		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I've smoked quite a bit of this over the years. It has a great flavor. That said, it is not what I would call an easy smoke. It can be a bear to light without getting torched, and keeping it lit is also a problem. It is a real mouth burner if you are not REAL careful. The flavor is great - I'm just not sure it is worth the bother. There are many good virginias out there that are way less troublesome. I really don't care how it ages - let the blender age it. I would rather age some dollar bills in a Ball jar and buy a better tobacco that can be smoked today!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-09-25		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

If VA's are your thing then this might be one to try out. I write this review only because I finished the tin. So, a caveat to straight VA lovers, take my review with a bucket of salt. I hesitate to give my opinion but since I did finish the tin (on its own, no mixing), so I figure I've earned the right.

For me, this stuff was one-dimensional, bland, and sweet to the point of distraction. Every time I matched a bowl I was soon hoping it was over so I could load something I enjoyed. Crazy, I know. Why smoke something that doesn't agree with me? I guess I really, really wanted to like it... same as I wanted to like Dark Star; it just never happened.

I'll never smoke this again.

1 Star.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-05-23		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Just received my tin of #27!! Tin aroma is richly fermented,a good ritch tobacco flaver. Rub out the tin tobacco is moust,I'll let the tin air out. update to come. An Excellent Smoke,good stuff buy it!!!!!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-09-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Upon opening the McClelland Virginia #27 100 gram can I was greeted with the sweet smell of aged tobacco. The reddish-brown shag cut cake had a rich All spice/Turkish Bayleaf aroma. For my tastes it had a perfect moisture content.

This tobacco will burn cool if you take the time, and you should, so that you enjoy all the flavor of this excellent smoke. It was clean burning and left little ash. For those of you who like Virginia tobacco you won't be disappointed and those who aren't really into Virginians should take a chance on this one - you too won't be disappointed, if fact you might be converted. I really like this stuff!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-05-28		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

McClelland has a well-deserved reputation for its high-quality Virginia tobaccos, and No. 27 is a fine example. The flavor is good, solid, red Virginia-- not too sweet, slightly peppery; it's definitely tobacco you're tasting. Room note is pure tobacco too; though it's not overly strong, this one has earned objections from the tobacco- intolerant (i.e., "That stuff stinks!"). I don't find it all that objectionable myself, so I've split the difference and rated it "tolerable." The tin aroma is another story; V-27 is by far the most "ketchuppy" smelling of all the McClelland tobaccos I've tried. It's also the only McClelland tobacco which has a ketchuppy taste, but that fortunately only lasts for the first few puffs-- the Virginia tobacco taste quickly muscles the ketchup aside. I'd advise anyone trying V-27 for the first time to try to ignore those early impressions of vinegar and tomatoes and patiently await the real flavor and aroma to come through (it doesn't take long). Once that happens, the flavor is consistent all the way to the finish. Virginia No. 27 is middle-of-the-road in strength. The shag-cut flakes dry out very quickly and are easy to handle and load. It takes light with no trouble and rarely requires a relight. V-27 may nip a bit; if you forget to take it slow and easy, it will remind you.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-04-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

this is a superb tobacco! i recomend this for anyone who loves a spicy VA. it can bite, but just puff long and slow fron the half way point in the bowl and you will be fine. packs well and is a little hard to keep lit at first.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-12-19		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Unnoticeable

This is my favourite of the McClellands numbered tins. I guess it is an all-day smoke because I smoke it all day a lot of the time. Skipping past "room note" (tobacco) and "tin aroma" (McClellands Va) to taste... This stuff tastes like tobacco -good light Virginia tobacco. I like that... heck, if I wanted fruit I would go for a jug of OJ. What makes it my very favourite though? I can't pin it down quite. I usually think I like a little Turkish and this has none of that (unless I mix a little in and I sometimes do just that). I like to think I like a little latakia - again none here. It is simply the case that I think this is a wonderful tobacco. It is a great cut. I rub out the whole tin in advance so mine is always ready, to me a strong plus. It is easy on the tongue if you are inclined to Va, it is easy on the palate, and it is easy to smoke. I guess I just like it.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-10-12		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is my first review, and my first encounter with a straight Virgia.Being a novice I am now just venturing in to the world of non-aromatics. I found this one to be wonderfully sweet, but not syrupy. I highly recomment this blend to those just starting with non-aromatics its a nice step in ther right direction.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-10-10		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The tin opens with a typical burst of McClelland fruit. The thinly sliceds flakes rub out well into easy to pack strands. I normally smoke this in one of my XX Ashton billiards. In fact, I'm using #27 to break in a new Old Church saddle bit. Normally group 3 to 4 and perhaps a 5 work best for straight Virginians, because a larger pipe might be too much.

The tobacco lights easily and burns cleanly with sweetness that becomes richer through the smoke. However, you will only enjoy tobaccos like these if you smoke slowly. Otherwise, you're asking for a burnt tongue.

The aroma is subtle to me and my wife hates it. So it goes.

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