My wife has always said I'm a bit flaky, well...

There was some discussion in another thread about comfortable pipe tobaccos, and I got all excited about some stuff that I had run out of. So I cruised over to Pipes and Cigars and was looking around. If I ordered a minimum of 4oz of particular tobaccos, the price was cheaper. If I ordered a minimum of $100, shipping was free.

Well, I got all flaked out and placed this order.

McClelland #2000 Fragrant Matured Cake
A light, soft sweet cake tobacco that will appeal to those who have been smoking the various sweet, black tobaccos and aromatics because of its cooler, dryer smoking qualities and natural tobacco taste.

McClelland #2010 Classic Virginia
A blend of Eastern and Middle Belt lemon, orange and orange-red Virginias. Sweet, smooth & zesty. A light bodied, naturally sweet , satisfying Virginia.

McClelland #2015 VA Flake w/ Perique
Made from orange and red Virginias to which enough Perique has been added to create a refreshing smoke with a satisfying richness and depth of flavor. Well-balanced, dark matured cake.

McClelland #2020 Matured Cake
Aging of this blend of Lemon and Orange Virginias, Xanthi and Latakia in cakes develops an extra margin of smoothness and an uncommonly rich flavor that is refined, not heavy.

McClelland #2025 English Cavendish Flake
A pleasant, rather light, broken, small-flake tobacco composed of lemon Brazilian and orange Middle Belt leaf seasoned with enough Xanthi to be satisfying throughout the day without becoming tiresome. Rounder than a straight Virginia.

McClelland #2035 Dark Navy Flake
A beautifully dark, pungent cake. It is sweet and rich without being as strong or stout in body as dark flakes have traditionally been. Eastern belt lemon, leaf and cutter grade tobacco, aged and lightly stoved.

McClelland #2050 Oriental Cavendish
An unusual mixture containing no Latakia, but still has a rich, round flavor. Liberal quantities of Orientals and a special Virginia Cavendish combine with Black Cavendish to make this a tobacco which should satisfy a great many smokers.

McClelland #5115 Old World Classic Cake
A matured cake blend of the finest lemon and orange-red Virginias. It is enhanced with natural fruit essences. Lightly sweet, satisfying, smooth, but with a little zest. This is Matured Virginia at its traditional best.

Gawith & Hoggarth Bob's Chocolate Flake
The main characteristics of this flake come from the 8% Latakia included in the blend and the smooth chocolate aroma. Brazilian, Zimbabwe and Malawi Virginia leaf make up 82% of the blend providing a mild/medium smoke cooled with the addition of 8% Malawi sun cured and 2% Malawi Burley. The Latakia cools but also adds strength and aroma. The cocoa casings and chocolate top flavors are rounded off with vanilla and other flavors providing sweet notes in this very unique and popular blend.

That's right, 4oz of each of the McClelland bulk broken flakes (I noticed I didn't have any left of them). Finally, one last flake I to top the free shipping mark.

These are all great blends and age impeccably well. I put them all in 1/2 pint mason jars and set them aside. I kept about 2 bowls of each out to smoke in the next few weeks.

I had some 5115 last night, and it was grand. I rubbed it out completely, put it in my Becker billiard, lit it up and had a cool flavorful smoke. Although there is a topnote, it is done with a light hand - you notice it in the bag and in the room note - but the tobacco is of exquisite quality and the "fruit essences" do not cover up the wonderful flavors of the constituent Virginias.

Peace of the Lord be with you.
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I have no idea about pipes Todd, but sounds and looks like a great selection :-)
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I could send something your way so that you could learn about them - say a "starter kit?" Interested?
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I just wouldn't have a clue bro. :-) Thanks for the generous offer but I doubt I would be smoking it too much, keep it for someone who is really interested in pipes :-)
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Just thought I'd offer.

Hey, here's a thought. When we get together for some fishing next time (I am hoping that will happen), I will make sure to have a couple pipes so that you can give one a try. I can see you enjoying a pipe in your favorite stream.

I love a straight stemmed pipe when it is raining and I am fishing. I turn the pipe upside down and keep on smoking. The tobacco chamber doesn't get wet, the tobacco doesn't fall out, and I can keep on smoking - even in the rain. Do that with a cigar. :-)
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Yeah, would love to come out for some Steelhead!!
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You are welcome to do that this spring, would be glad to have you.
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Todd after that post I am excited as well:-)
Does the chocolate flake have any flavoring added? It sounds like really nice stuff but the name seems to imply a top note.
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Yes it does, go up and read through the description. It is very tasty and the top toe isn't cloying as it is with many of the aromatics most are familiar with.

Peace of The Lord be with you.
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You just blew my mind. I am very intrigued and will, one day when we move north, will try this.

And, all the fishing talk has made me jealous :-)
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Todd, a wonderful selection. Speaking of flakes, have you tried Sam Gawith full Virginia flake, sam's flake, or best brown flake? What about Esoterica Stonehaven? And finally, though not a flake, have you tried McClelland 5100 Red Virginia?

Also....I am often in Wisconsin, though likely not far enough north to be near you. Are you anywhere near Menomonie, Tomah, or Beaver Dam?

Best regards,

Murray
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Sounds like I need to come over to make sure all these tobaccos are all right.

You can thank me later.. :-)
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I have this vision of me being an old man, living in a woody area, in a house.. Sitting, clothed in a finely threaded robe, with years of use -- lazily rocking next to the fire place.. And a pipe hanging out of my mouth, puffing ever so often.

One day I shall get into pipes to fulfill this legacy that I've dreamt of since a child. Just gotta take the plunge down the slope. I'll courage up one day. One day...
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You know, for the price of a Missouri Meerschaum Legend (corncob pipe), a bag of fluffy pipecleaners, a pouch of Carter Hall Burley (tried and true OTC tobacco) and an old golf tee or nail (pipe tamper/scraper in a pinch) you are in business smoking the real deal American classic for, uh, about $9.00.

A Missouri Meerschaum cob and Carter Hall (or Sir Walter Raleigh or Half&Half) make a stellar combination for novice or experienced pipesmokers. They cannot be beat in front of the fireplace, on a fishing trip, in the truck or on the back porch. A $200 briar pipe is NOT required to enjoy the sport. :-)
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Thanks for the perspective.
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In other words...it's hard to smoke a pipe while sewing a skirt :-)

Sorry Mike, had to do it :-)
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Sweet selection Todd!
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Peace of the Lord be with you.
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Todd, you've clearly got all the good stuff, so I can't send you anything you don't already have!

I had hoped you might be near enough to one of those spots that we could hook up and share a cigar or pipe.

Have a great day.
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Hey, let me know when you will be in one of those spots, maybe we can hook up. My cabin up north is about 2.25 hours from Menomonie (near Chippewa Falls?). If you want to come up in the spring/early summer, I'd gladly see if I can get away for a few days and take you fishing.

What brings you up this direction? Business? If so, what exactly?
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