McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2005

[icemncmth]

I will start off by letting everyone know...I'm not a professional!!

I bought two tins of Christmas Cheer, One for today and the other to age.

When you first open the can you are greeted buy a “fresh” tobacco smell. Something
that reminds me of a fresh rain on a pasture. There is also a hint of fruit but I can’t put my finger on it. Since it is a pressed tobacco it required a little rubbing. I did so and let it sit for a little while to air out or dry a little. Being a pressed VA I was fully aware of a possible tongue bite! So I took the proper precautions and after a little drying out I packed a bowl full.

I use an Old Boy lighter so I put flame to tobacco and took a slow steady draw…I could feel the smoke as it entered my mouth and I could also feel the heat starting. My first draw and I was greeted with a wonderful VA tobacco. Probably one of the best I have had in a long time. The flavor was bright but smooth in a traditional VA tobacco. Since the tobacco is already aged and pressed you notice the nicotine. As I exhaled I was glad to see the “blue” smoke of a good VA tobacco. Some people say they don’t see it but to me a good straight VA tobacco will burn clean and give off a smoke that has a blue tint to it. Were a Balkan will have a creamy yellow smoke…

As you smoke this tobacco you will have been treated to a tobacco that is not only simple but utterly complex. Each draw gives you a different taste. Depending on how quickly you smoke, you are either greeted with a deeply flavorful tobacco or possibly a “bite”. I was halfway through the bowl and I could feel the nicotine rush through my veins, I could taste the differences in the tobacco. There was a slight apple taste..or was it raisins …how about lemon grass or maybe honey!?! Complex and confusing…man I am in heaven.

I am two thirds in and I take a long pull and ..no bite!…. This is what a great VA should be. Smooth, Bold, Bright, Deep,,,,,,and it will keep me coming back..

I just might have to hunt down another tin just to make sure they are all good


-ice

[Alyks]

The first thing I wanted to do when I opened the tin was to dip my fries in it, and likely I would have if I had any on hand. I had always though the ketchup smell described by others was an exaggeration, but now I see what they mean.

The flakes were fairly moist, so I dried them out a bit, stuffed them in my pipe and crumbled some on top. Took me 4 matches to get it lit, but man was it worth it. I got lots of sweet, creamy white smoke. The taste is great; it is sweet and spicy. I can taste more complexity, but as yet am unable to fully translate it to words. This stuff is great, and I will be sorry when it is gone. I highly recommend it. 9/10.