McClelland Christmas Cheer 2005
Joe LaVigne
Just picked up my first 2 tine from Mars for the Cellar. Will be getting a
few more as funds allow, but wanted to make sure noone missed out...
--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlav...@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 10/7/2005 2:47:12 AM
"I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective
judgment in all human affairs"
-- Albert Einstein
Planetary
> Just in case noone noticed, this year's Christmas Cheer is now available.
>
> Just picked up my first 2 tine from Mars for the Cellar. Will be getting a
> few more as funds allow, but wanted to make sure noone missed out...
Indeed! I've picked up my usual pound.
The few early adopter reports of the 2005 I've seen are positive,
indicating that the blend might one of the better vintages in the last
decade. As we know, Christmas Cheer is often quite youthful, and so these
reports have caveats, but I am provisionally encouraged...
-Jason
Joe LaVigne
My experience with last year's vintage have taught me a lesson. None of my
tins of 2005 will be cracksed until 2007 at the earliest. Probably
longer...
--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlav...@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 10/8/2005 2:27:06 AM
My girlfriend always laughs during sex - no matter what she's reading.
--Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers
Larry Raisch
amount of aging?
Mike Stanley
Five years is about the minimum I age Virginia flakes. Have to say
that I'm currently flying through my remaining open tin of Hermit
Christmas 2004.I like the fact that they sell in lots of three! Thats
an altogether different blend that Christmas Cheer. It is my favorite
vintage from Hermit. Oh to have my old Nutcracker Flake tins! That was
a great Virginia Flake for Christmas!
Mike Stanley
its a G&H scented flake weekend. Kendal Flake in one of my own make
pipes
jackhackett
immediately cracked it open---even though I read that most ASPers do
cellar this blend for 2+ years. I enjoyed it as it is now, but can
easily see how 2-6 years of aging will make it superlative. The
remainder of the tin has been placed in a mason jar for now, though I
doubt I'll keep my hands off it _that_ long. Seems a bit overvalued to
me; do you guys think the ingredients really justify the premium price
of this blend?
Charles Perry
"Mike Stanley" <msta...@trash.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:e10gk1dqup67vkt9k...@4ax.com...
> IF, and I mean if I open a Christmas Cheer this year, it will be 2000.
> Five years is about the minimum I age Virginia flakes. Have to say
> that I'm currently flying through my remaining open tin of Hermit
> Christmas 2004.I like the fact that they sell in lots of three! Thats
> an altogether different blend that Christmas Cheer. It is my favorite
> vintage from Hermit. Oh to have my old Nutcracker Flake tins! That was
> a great Virginia Flake for Christmas!
> Mike Stanley
> its a G&H scented flake weekend. Kendal Flake in one of my own make
> pipes
Charles Perry P.E.
Wishing I had a tin of 92.
Mark Peeples
the year it is released, though can certainly get better as time goes
by. This 2005 CC, for example, is from a 1997 crop; it already has 8
years of aging.
I like to pop a tin early on just to check it out. This year I found it
quite remarkable and ordered 10 more tins for aging. I think it is a
bit darker, but it reminds me of '97 Cheer, one of my all time favorites.
Overvalued? Not to me, but that may all depend on if you buy from JRs or
off the shelf in a high tobacco tax state.
Planetary
> If I open on this year, it will 1994, maybe 1995 ;-)
Excellent.
My cellar contains 1 or 2 tins from 1999-2001, and has 3-4 of each year
thereafter. So, hmm. I think a good strategy might be...
Rules:
#1) For the first tin: Keep 1 of each vintage until 20 years of age.
#2) For the second tin: Keep 1 of each vintage until 10 years of age.
#3) For the rest: Open no tins until 5 years of age, and smoke during
the season.
* * * * *
So, let's see. Following these rules, what dates would my tins be
available?
1999, tin #1 - earmarked for 2019
1999, tin #2 - earmarked for 2009
2000, tin #1 - earmarked for 2020
2001, tin #1 - earmarked for 2021
2001, tin #2 - earmarked for 2011
2002, tin #1 - earmarked for 2022
2002, tin #2 - earmarked for 2012
2002, tin #3 - earmarked for 2007+
2002, tin #4 - earmarked for 2007+
2003, tin #1 - earmarked for 2023
2003, tin #2 - earmarked for 2013
2003, tin #3 - earmarked for 2008+
2004, tin #1 - earmarked for 2024
2004, tin #2 - earmarked for 2014
2004, tin #3 - earmarked for 2009+
2005, tin #1 - earmarked for 2025
2005, tin #2 - earmarked for 2015
2005, tin #3 - earmarked for 2010+
2005, tin #4 - earmarked for 2010+
* * * * *
Availability by year...
Tins Newly Available
Year 5y Aged 10y Aged 20y Aged
---- ------- -------- --------
2005 0 0 0
2006 0 0 0
2007 2 0 0 First 5y aged
2008 1 0 0
2009 1 1 0 First 10y aged
2010 2 0 0
2011 1 1 0
2012 * 1 0
2013 * 1 0
2014 * 1 0
2015 * 1 0
2016 * * 0
2017 * * 0
2018 * * 0
2019 * * 1 First 20y aged
2020 * * 1
2021 * * 1
2022 * * 1
2023 * * 1
2024 * * 1
2025 * * 1
* = Values pending continued release of CC in future years.
This suggests that I need to locate some of the early-90s vintages if I
want to bring my 20 year date closer. A tin of 94 would bring the 20
years date up by 5 years (though there would be a subsequent drought of 4
years during which only the 10 year would be available out of the cellar).
Another thing I could do is change my 10y rule into a 15y rule. This
would mean that I'd be smoking 5y from 2007-2013, and in 2014 would have
15y available for 5 years, at which point the 20y would emerge. That's
possible, too.
I'll have to think about this a little bit more!
-Jason
mythdoc
disciplined, lol. The only way I'll probably ever get to smoke 20 year
old Christmas cheer is if I lose a tin in the back of my cabinet. I do
have some 98 which I will be opening this Christmas, though.
Cheers,
Glenn
Joe LaVigne
> I haven't opened my 2004 vintage yet. What do you suggest is a good
> amount of aging?
As much as you can stand. I opened one fresh. It is flavorful, but harsh
and bitey. I am giving the other tins at least a few years.
--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlav...@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 10/9/2005 1:10:56 AM