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Kelhammer

Kelhammer

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Well today I get to open a new tin for my rotation. I have it narrowed down to a 08 tin of Dark Star or a 09 tin of Christmas Cheer.  I have never tried Dark Star before. With Christmas Cheer, I have enjoyed before, but never a tin from 09. Anyone care to share their opinion?

Andy
 
Dark Star is a nice complex Va Flake but you've got some work to do with it to get all it's got to give. It needs to be really dry and rubbed out well to stay lit but once you get it going, it's sublime! Myself, I'd start the prep work on the DS, load up a bowl of CC, smoke it and when your done with it, the DS will be ready to smoke  :twisted:
 
By the time you get one bowl of Dark Star prepped to smoke, you'll be halfway through that tin of CC. :p 

I agree with Todd. Dark Star presents an array of very nice subtleties and unique flavors but it's stubborn as hell to work with. Personally I don't have the time for it.

In the warm dark flavor profile category, Blackwoods Flake is leagues better. I am doing an experiment with Dark Star. I am leaving it open in the OEM tin to see how long it takes to dry out to a reasonable moisture level. I check the contents once a month. I have had the tin open for 4 months now and so far just a sliver of improvement with the tobacco on the top layer. I live in a fairly dry climate too.
 
Well my chores for the day are complete. I guess it's going to be CC as I am ready for a pipe! I am going to have to dig for this tin. I know where it is, but its buried at the bottom of my cellar. I was leaning towards the DS as it is right on top.
 
Dark Star was one of my favorite McClelland tobaccos.  Then it turned into my only favored McClelland tobacco.  Then...I started figuring out I don't get along with McClelland tobaccos very much.  

Dark Star is dense and indeed requires a ton of drying and breaking apart for a trouble-free smoke.  Once it gets going, it's a coal fire--it won't go out.   It stays cool and delivers a nice, long smoking experience.   My problem with it is mostly my choices of other tobaccos.  I have grown to like extremely rich or extremely complex tobacco, and McClelland is, while good tobacco, very "mainstream" and innocent stuff.   It sucks, too, I rather liked the vinegary/ketchup scent to it all.  Dark Star lacks much of the signature scent, but was at the top of my list for a long time. <img class="emojione" alt="?" title=":shrug:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/1f937.png?v=2.2.7"/> Tastes change. C'est la vie.

Tip:  If you really like Dark Star, McC's 2035 Dark Navy Flake is very, very similar, so much so, it's apt to call it "Dark Star in bulk."  

8)
 
It would help quite a lot to know what the other blends in you current rotation are. Regardless of the relative merits of Dark Star and the Christmas thing (which of course are judged on an entirely personal level) I would usually recommend something a bit different from the others in your rotation.

But I'm guessing you've already made your decision.
 
Currently I am working with.
PS LNF
SG FVF
PS Bulkan Surpreme
MC 2030
MC 5110
and now MC X-mas cheer 09

The CC was great. Lots of mouth watering, sweet and sour smoke. Very thick in your mouth.  The smoke is so thick it merits being mentioned twice.  I cubed it and let it set for 5 or 6 minutes. I instinctively snorkel this with out meaning to. Letting the smoke out of my nose and mouth very slowly, in an attempt to savor the sensations, for as long as possible. I found a bit of coco after it had gone out, sat for 30 min, and been relight.  It also gets buttery for me around the middle, ending with a bit of pepper.  I am already excited from my next bowl.

Andy
 
CC is one of the BEST blend/Mixtures McC does. If you can, DO get some extra to put away for some time as it only get's BETTER !! :cheers:
 
I'm hip to the idea of putting this stuff away. My local B&M had 3 cans of the 09 blend, for the same price as the new stuff. This was the middle of last summer. I bought them all. He told me they are good with two years of age on them. Great at five. I ended up with a tin from 2010 and two from 2011 as well. My first experience with this stuff was a tin of 2011, from the same shop. It hooked me on the Virginia weed. I still have the strong coppery/metallic taste I'm my mouth as I write this. Anyway starting last year, with the 2012 blend, I decided to get at least two tins of every years release. One to open with two years of age on it, and the other to be opened with five years on it. I jumped the gun a bit with this tin, but told myself I have two more.  Why wait?
 
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