Why I never buy Christmas Cheer

[dmkerr]

I recently figured out why I never spring for McClellands CC.

While puttering about in my attic recently, I stumbled upon the old suitcase that I stored my tins of pipe tobacco before my recent return to pipesmoking. From 1995 until 2007 I stopped smoking in order to raise my kids in a non-smoking environment. Didn't smoke at all. When I picked it back up, I emptied the suitcase and started my proper tobacco cellar. Or did I?

Nope, guess not... looky here in the side pocket! A tin of McClellands Virginia #24, VA flake with drama added. I just smoked an old tin of this and it was heaven but this one is OLD! 1990 vintage. 19 years old. Couldn't wait to pop it open. I've now finished about half the tin and, ladies and gents, it's THE finest tobacco I've ever smoked. Bar none. No perique, and who misses it? Not me! But in about 2 weeks, it'll be gone forever! Just like Christmas Cheer, it's a "one-off". I don't buy CC because I don't wanna fall in love with it like I did with this stuff and then watch it go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's an emotional time, folks.

Holy SH*T, this stuff is tasty. I have a newfound respect for aging tobacco. I have a lot in the cellar now but that's nothing like what I'm gonna have in 6 months. Bombs away!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IrishCamel81]

'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by IrishCamel81

'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

True but most love starts with the possibility of forever. And I doubt Tennyson ever smoked any 19 year old #24.

[fiddlegrin]

Touchee! to the both of ya! .

Bahahahahahahahaha!

[dogsplayinpoker]

I have a similar problem. I have some aging tobacco that I have almost opened to smoke but what if an extra 6 months would make it that much better...and what to do about starting the whole process over again, waiting years to try another bowl. I haven't had anything as old as 19 years and don't think I have the intestinal fortitude to hold onto a tin for that long.
BTW, my wife thinks that we are all nuts.

[Mad Hatter]

You can start buying it now. Two tins a year that you set on the shelf for five to ten years. Add to it every year and don't smoke anything until its reached the age you're holding out for. Long as its not discontinued you'll have new tins to pop every year.

[dogsplayinpoker]

I'm trying to wait now with CC 2002 and with the new 2008. Also some German tobacco that was a gift, trying to hold out long enough for the Syrian latakia to really mellow in these. Probably a good 7 to 10 years by all the experts.

[DubintheDam]

I just wrote a long post on this and lost it due to my wireless connection. Buggered if I'll write it again....quickly said, I found my CC 1998 tin mediocre and find most McClee's VA's similar. My fav so far is Navy Cav. I love the stuff.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

I just wrote a long post on this and lost it due to my wireless connection. Buggered if I'll write it again....quickly said, I found my CC 1998 tin mediocre and find most McClee's VA's similar. My fav so far is Navy Cav. I love the stuff.

Navy Cav is my favorite as well. I carried 8 tins of that from '95 when I stopped smoking and still have 5 left. I figure that by the time I smoke it all, the more recent vintage I've bought will be aged to continue the cycle somewhat. Interestingly, I find the McClelland VA's superb with the exception of one year of Christmas Cheer, which I've since discovered is very highly regarded - 1995. So it goes.

[Mad Hatter]

Dan its too bad you didn't keep buying tobacco during your smoking hiatus. You would be a regular smoker of aged VAs with no end in sight

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Dan its too bad you didn't keep buying tobacco during your smoking hiatus. You would be a regular smoker of aged VAs with no end in sight

Indeed! But I didn't buy anything related to pipes at all. I may have smoked a few bowls during that time but it was rare.

Have to admit, though - it was kind of cool to open up the suitcase after my hiatus and marvel at all those tins of tobacco just sitting there waiting for me to crack 'em open. I had about 45 tins saved up and only lost one. Unfortunately, the one was pre-A&CP Escudo. Seal broke and I could have used it as roof patch.

[Alyks]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

Navy Cav is my favorite as well. I carried 8 tins of that from '95 when I stopped smoking and still have 5 left. I figure that by the time I smoke it all, the more recent vintage I've bought will be aged to continue the cycle somewhat. Interestingly, I find the McClelland VA's superb with the exception of one year of Christmas Cheer, which I've since discovered is very highly regarded - 1995. So it goes.

Don't worry, Dan. I'll make sure it doesn't go unappreciated.

[WWhermit]

I just came back from a quick weekender trip to Portland, OR. There is a somewhat famous store there called Rich's Cigars. In it is quite an eccenctic fellow. Buying a tin, or blend, or pipe takes at least an hour if you give him half a chance to talk to you.

Anyways, he has a blend he's selling called Craven's Claw. It's $8.50 an ounce, and is made of 30 year old matured virginia, and 8 year old perique. REAL perique. I asked him how he knew it was 30 years old, the virginia, and he replied "Because that's when I bought it."

He's had barrels of it down in the cellar, and finally used it in this blend to get rid of it. I bought 1 ounce of it. It's very good stuff, I'll tell ya. I'm glad to have been given an opportunity to try a tobacco like that.

Would I spend another $8.50 or more for another ounce? Probably not.

WWhermit

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by WWhermit

I just came back from a quick weekender trip to Portland, OR. There is a somewhat famous store there called Rich's Cigars. In it is quite an eccenctic fellow. Buying a tin, or blend, or pipe takes at least an hour if you give him half a chance to talk to you.


WWhermit

That sounds like the woman at the convenience store where I buy my Redman. I just act like I'm one of those guys who doesn't talk much.

[Alyks]

Oh, and that Brindle Flake I got from you, Dan is absolutely FANTASTIC! I can't see what you didn't like about it; perhaps you have higher standards than I do.