I was recommended the McClelland Virginia Woods by Sasquash in related to my thread because Bagpipers Dream was no longer available on mars or pipetobaccotls . I've had McClelland 5100 Red Cake and was not happy with it, the Vinegar/Ketchup was disappointing to me. Do they all smell like red cake somewhat? Even when burnt?
All of the Virginia blends seem to smell of Ketchup. I don't taste it in the smoke though. I kind of like the smell.
That is the classic, signature McClelland VA tobacco smell. If you really can't stand it, that's just how it is. I don't mind it really. I usually let my freshly opened McC tins air out for a day before transferring them to a jar. I just open the tin and leave it there with the top off, not disturbing the contents. That keeps it from drying out too much, but it seems to release some of the vinegar smell.
Yup...that's how they smell. You may come to love it like I do. You should take a whiff of Tudor Castle...LOVELY!
When burnt? Eh, depends. Depends on blend, how recently it was opened, how sensitive you are to sensing it, etc. Dark Star has the most annoying ketchup smell I've yet encountered in a McC mix, but even it is dying off quite a bit. I personally enjoy, or at least don't mind, the smell. There are plenty of others who hate it. If you pop a tin, let it rest for a couple weeks, and still can't get over the smell...Congratulations! (to me...that means less competition for their products.)
McClelland's Navy Cavendish is one of there best,Must be dried out and smoked slowly.A great smoke. :thumbsu:
If you buy some then Set the Virginia woods aside for about 3-6 months as I did after airing it out for 24 hours. I just smoked mine that I had done that with. Now its perfectly tamed without the typical McClelland smell. Pretty nice now. But if you don't want to go through the waiting game, then don't buy it. I don't think its truely worth buying and then letting it sit for a few months for the so so utlra mild flavor. Its good mind you but not worth the wait in my book.
I don't find Va Woods ketchupy but hey, maybe it's just me. From Dan, Hamborger Veermaster or Tordenskjold are fine. Might check out something like Old Gowrie from Rattrays' as well.
I heard Red Rappary (sp) was also very good, without the "ketchup" of McC. My tin of Virginia woods had that strong scent to it when first opened, but it didn't come through in the smoke. I don't smoke the same blend for long, as I get ADD on my blends, so my tins stay open for a long time. The Virginia Woods I have has been open since January now, and has just a hint of the Worchestershire sauce smell, but it now is well below the sweet virginia aroma. It doesn't have a hint of the Ketchup in the smoke at all... Give it a shot. For around $8.00 at my local B&M, it isn't any worse than springing for a midrange Cigar, and I get many more smoking sessions with a new tin than the "luxury log" provides!
Don't give up on McClelland without having had some of any of these: Orient 996 Ringlow's Syrian Reserve Wilderness Samovar Scottish Mixture 3 Oaks Syrian These are all truly fine blends, and you won't find any vinegar in them.
The sample of 5100 I received from Andy must have been aged a bit. I didn't get any ketchup smell or taste. It was pretty nice. Blackwoods Flake on the other hand smelled more like super-vinegary BBQ sauce and tasted about the same. I didn't care for it at all. There are other McClelland blends I do love- Cajun Special is one of them. It has a hint of ketchup & spice, but it does not taste at all of ketchup. It's super good.
+1 Needs to be more dry than I would have normally thought to smoke right too. Once I got it there though, very nice. I don't recall this one being too ketchupy. But maybe that's because I dried it more and gave it a lot of air.
I get no ketchupy note from McClelland Navy Cavendish either Brian, just excellent tobacco glavor with a bit of rum. I find this one to be a nice mild smoke, if somewhat on the subtle side.
