Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 11:20:06 GMT -5
I don't know if this one is even worth a review as it's not readily available and there's not even a review of it on Tobacco Reviews; however, after having smoked multiple bowls of this one in an Altinok meerschaum, two briars and an MM cob, I believe there may some nuggets to pass along. The tin is dated 092001.
Upon popping the tin, the note was one of extremely deep fermentation. The best comparison I can give is the smell of a bourbon distillery when mash is cooking. Unmistakable for a Kentuckian but it's significant for several reasons in the smoke. The normally expected McClelland Virginia barbeque sauce was very much in the background, barely present. The moisture content out of the tin was almost perfect which somewhat surprised me with a McClelland offering, even one of this age.
It definitely wasn't what I expected on first light. I've smoked a lot of McClelland #5120, one of the most underrated stoved Virginias available if you like it, and that's how the Virginias act in this one as I went down the bowl. There's very little sweetness and lighter Virginias appear more prevalent than any red. Second, the Cyprian Latakia is only a condiment but held up extremely well with age as it's present in every puff from first to last. Lastly, due in part I assume to the heavy level of fermentation, this one compares very favorably to those which contain a whiskey or liqueur topping even though it does not.
It smokes cool, clean and dry to the bottom in any pipe and never acted like it would bite; however, I found it somewhat lacking in body. The smoke was very light and nicotine content was marginal.
Unfortunately, I don't have a comparison when it was fresh; nevertheless, these factors lead me to conclude this one may not have been served as well with age as other McClelland offerings. I have tins of future Anniversary releases, believe as a result of sampling this one I should crack them sooner than later and would advise others same.
Upon popping the tin, the note was one of extremely deep fermentation. The best comparison I can give is the smell of a bourbon distillery when mash is cooking. Unmistakable for a Kentuckian but it's significant for several reasons in the smoke. The normally expected McClelland Virginia barbeque sauce was very much in the background, barely present. The moisture content out of the tin was almost perfect which somewhat surprised me with a McClelland offering, even one of this age.
It definitely wasn't what I expected on first light. I've smoked a lot of McClelland #5120, one of the most underrated stoved Virginias available if you like it, and that's how the Virginias act in this one as I went down the bowl. There's very little sweetness and lighter Virginias appear more prevalent than any red. Second, the Cyprian Latakia is only a condiment but held up extremely well with age as it's present in every puff from first to last. Lastly, due in part I assume to the heavy level of fermentation, this one compares very favorably to those which contain a whiskey or liqueur topping even though it does not.
It smokes cool, clean and dry to the bottom in any pipe and never acted like it would bite; however, I found it somewhat lacking in body. The smoke was very light and nicotine content was marginal.
Unfortunately, I don't have a comparison when it was fresh; nevertheless, these factors lead me to conclude this one may not have been served as well with age as other McClelland offerings. I have tins of future Anniversary releases, believe as a result of sampling this one I should crack them sooner than later and would advise others same.
