McC's new Red & Black

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It wouldn't surprise me if it's just a matter of finding the right process that makes the magic. I've tried mixing 5100 and 5105 in the past and honestly it was nothing special, rather boring. Might be that these flakes are just so special on their own that the combiniation of the two works so well. They make so many variations of virginia tobacco, and none of them tastes exactly the same.

First thing that came to my mind when I saw this was, did they take Blackwoods flake and unblend it?
 
I suspect that these things might be "designed" from the ground up. In Pipestud's review he mentions Mike McNiel as the blender of this - and if his name is attached to the design...to me that indicates it's probably not just using Dark Star components, etc.
 
I thought I'd put my money where my mouth is (yuk, that kinda sounds awful when you think about it) anyway...and do up a bowl of R&B in a Prince. So I dug out my favorite one and cleaned it up good. It's a 'store pipe' I picked up while on vacation maybe twenty years ago at the Park Square Peretti shop, essentially on Boston Commons. It looks so exactly like the Dunhill pictured below that the Dunhill must have been used as the model. Mine is stamped with a simple, "LJ Peretti" and is one of the best Flake pipes I've ever owned. As I recall it cost me fifty bucks. I broke it in with Solani Silver Flake...and there aren't many any better than that.

Anyway, I've got it going right now. I'll let you know how things go...after they're done going. Er, or something like that. You know what I mean.


Update Edit: Now THAT'S very interesting. I went ahead and rubbed out and mixed the entire TIN, knowing I wanted repeated trials with the 1:1 format. The Prince is doing something very different. It might be due to extended ghosting with the Solani Silver Flake, but I'm getting far less of the Red flavor profile here. Might also be just the luck of the draw and what I pinched up to load, but it's a very consistent profile of the Stoved leaf. While very excellent it is a bit off the epic goodness of the first several bowls. So now I know that I like having that Red flavorn in there. One other thing here...I have to concur with whomever it was (D&B?) that mentioned how slow it burned. That is indeed my experience as well. And again I'm putting away like the little engine that could and it continues very cool with no bite whatsoever. Very positive in all regards.

I'm thinking I might want to dedicate one or two pipes to this blend.

Final edit: Whoa! That bowl in the little Prince...while small, it was on a fairly empty stomach...and...WHAMM-O! Oh yeah...there's a sheen on my brow and jitters around the edges. This stuff DOES have a kick if 'abused'. Good to know.


ljp2_58134f.jpg
 
Blackhorse":hhbmkwzb said:
Final edit: Whoa! That bowl in the little Prince...while small, it was on a fairly empty stomach...and...WHAMM-O! Oh yeah...there's a sheen on my brow and jitters around the edges. This stuff DOES have a kick if 'abused'. Good to know.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly. I ate a very minimal breakfast prior to smoking it. By bowl's end I had a very noticeable swoon going. Now I didn't enter Dark Flake Scented "hiccup territory," but for a McClelland blend, R&B has some PEP.

I am going to smoke another bowl tonight while observing the lunar eclipse. Can't wait.
 
Smoking another bowl of Red and Black. This time in my Jesse Jones Billiard. Good flavor clarity, very good actually.  By & large most Virginia's are not as tasty when you ramp up your cadence past a slow puff. I like the fact that this blend is even more flavorful and quite forgiving when I draw more aggressively on the pipe. Solid blend, really solid and Spicy! I like spicy... 8)
 
Mine's gone, so I topped some Xmas Cheer with some Dark Star....

Tasty enough for taking pictures of the eclipse....

Drinking Blue Moon Chai spice ale with it....

Interesting......
 
Interesting trial today. I loaded up a pipe that has proven itself picky in the past...a Stanwell Hans Christian Andersen, using the churchwarden stem. This version has a slightly narrow and deep bowl that tapers a bit toward the bottom. Regardless of the degree of taper it tends to really concentrate flavors and wants to burn on the hot side. I had high hopes that the Red and Black would prove equal to the task of taming it. NOT! It was a challenge from the start. Red flavors came out again with their distinctly sweet notes, but my normal sipping proved too much and the bowl heated up as usual. Only by going to a different cadence was that changed to an acceptable level...and it was still not ideal. I used a seven count pause between moderate draws and it helped significantly. Too, the long stem saved the smoke I think but it still wanted improvement that I couldn't achieve. I had to be very careful with tamping too firmly which created a top crust allowing the tobacco burning beneath it to heat to much. I broke the crust several times and relit. That helped as well. But all in all it was not the slow relaxing experience I was seeking. I've never really found the right blend for this bowl...Red and Black is certainly not it. On the saving side - if one is to be plagued by issues it's better that they be with a blend that tastes so good even with moderate success.


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
 
I have 2 HCA's ( neither in that particular shape) and both took some determination to break in. Ths first I almost gave up on, but suddenly it started smoking well. Both times a dozen patient bowls of ps702 did the trick. Now both are among my favorite pipes. If you get to the point of intolerance with yours maybe we can work something out ;)
 
After rubbing out a whole tin for overall mixing I noticed the resulting blend was very fluffy and seemed to gain moisture. I live in a pretty well humidified climate. I'm thinking my recent issues with this may relate to it being a bit too damp and have initiated a drying period. Once it dries a bit I will resume testing. Fingers are crossed.
 
My order of R&B arrived this afternoon and I was almost sent to heaven with the FANTASTIC aroma emanating from the tin !! Inside were mixed nearly full flakes of lovely Red flue cured va and black stoved va flakes. I took some of both 50/50 rubbed 'em out on my drying plate , put it under my desk lamp for about 20 minutes till the 'baccy was at the way I like it, loade up one of my fave flake pipes, my Sav. Silver 115 ks Pot, and put a match to it. Took a bit to get going ala Dark Star but once lit it began to deliver the FINEST STRAIGHT VIRGINIA smoke I've EVER had !! I'm mid way thru this bowl and it's soooo smooth and sweet and just keeps getting better as I smoke !! ABSOLUTELY NO BITE so far and I doubt if it will !! Mike has outdone himself with this blend/mixture and Greg needs to go down to KC and spend some time with him to learn about Va's !! I'm gonna have to get into my savings to get enough to cellar for sure !! In 40+ years of smoking only one other blend/mixture amazed me with the first bowl as this one has !! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 
Well, that seals it pretty much. This stuff is gonna go over the moon. Universal "best in show" judgements it would seem.


Q: Will that famous first tinning be an item of fond memory...or will the joys of R&B be ready and willing whenever. Knowing McClelland it won't become unobtainium. This is the herald of good times boys and girls.
 
Well...I started out with one tin ordered. It came. I tried it. I immediately ordered two more and a friend sent me one. Then today I went back, taking advantage of sale pricing and the ability to specify 1st class mail for shipping...and ordered SIX more. Total of ten. Never done anything like that in my life. But ya know...I've seen a first tinning shine like a diamond in the past only to have subsequent batches come in like lumps of coal. Not that it would ever happen to something like this! But, ya know. Just to be safe. I've seen VA be kinda tempramental. Even stubborn.

Just sayin'. This stuff is special. Takin' no chances. Prisoners maybe...but chances...no!
 
Blackhorse":hylqk2d1 said:
Well...I started out with one tin ordered. It came. I tried it. I immediately ordered two more and a friend sent me one. Then today I went back, taking advantage of sale pricing and the ability to specify 1st class mail for shipping...and ordered SIX more. Total of ten. Never done anything like that in my life. But ya know...I've seen a first tinning shine like a diamond in the past only to have subsequent batches come in like lumps of coal. Not that it would ever happen to something like this! But, ya know. Just to be safe. I've seen VA be kinda tempramental. Even stubborn.

Just sayin'.  This stuff is special. Takin' no chances. Prisoners maybe...but chances...no!
Click to expand...
I'm not listening....<fingers in ears>.....

lalalalalalala..........


:silent:



Cheers,

RR
 
Brewdude":hwyztslr said:
Blackhorse":hwyztslr said:
Well...I started out with one tin ordered. It came. I tried it. I immediately ordered two more and a friend sent me one. Then today I went back, taking advantage of sale pricing and the ability to specify 1st class mail for shipping...and ordered SIX more. Total of ten. Never done anything like that in my life. But ya know...I've seen a first tinning shine like a diamond in the past only to have subsequent batches come in like lumps of coal. Not that it would ever happen to something like this! But, ya know. Just to be safe. I've seen VA be kinda tempramental. Even stubborn.

Just sayin'.  This stuff is special. Takin' no chances. Prisoners maybe...but chances...no!
Click to expand...
I'm not listening....<fingers in ears>.....

lalalalalalala..........


:silent:



Cheers,

RR
Click to expand...
Ditto.................
 
Ozark Wizard":22tzqm1l said:
Brewdude":22tzqm1l said:
Blackhorse":22tzqm1l said:
Well...I started out with one tin ordered. It came. I tried it. I immediately ordered two more and a friend sent me one. Then today I went back, taking advantage of sale pricing and the ability to specify 1st class mail for shipping...and ordered SIX more. Total of ten. Never done anything like that in my life. But ya know...I've seen a first tinning shine like a diamond in the past only to have subsequent batches come in like lumps of coal. Not that it would ever happen to something like this! But, ya know. Just to be safe. I've seen VA be kinda tempramental. Even stubborn.

Just sayin'.  This stuff is special. Takin' no chances. Prisoners maybe...but chances...no!
Click to expand...
I'm not listening....<fingers in ears>.....

lalalalalalala..........


:silent:



Cheers,

RR
Click to expand...
Ditto.................
Click to expand...
 Ditto and a half.
 
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