McClelland Dieing off??

[c.ortiz108]

Anyone smoked the Balken Blue? Wondering if it something I should look for or just give up now...

I haven't but it won some Sobranie match award, and is supposed to be very good. For some reason it was always in stock, though. SP had it last week in their final McC drop, and unfortunately had a 10-tin limit so people snapped it up instantly. They should've limited that one to 2 tins. I have one which I look forward to smoking one of these days, but will probably let it age a while.

 

[JZBdano]

Anyone smoked the Balken Blue? Wondering if it something I should look for or just give up now...

I saw a tin go for $130+ on ebay today so someone really likes it. @Hiram-2011 you know anything about that?

Aaron you still in Columbia Falls? I have some Balkan Blue, I can send you a taste.

 

[Hiram-2011]

I saw a tin go for $130+ on ebay today so someone really likes it. @Hiram-2011 you know anything about that?

Aaron you still in Columbia Falls? I have some Balkan Blue, I can send you a taste.

Are you asking if I sold it? No I don’t do price gouging. Hiram is a common name used in Masonic lore, but thanks for assuming it was me .

 

[JZBdano]

Are you asking if I sold it? No I don’t do price gouging. Hiram is a common name used in Masonic lore, but thanks for assuming it was me .

IMO it's impossible to gouge in an auction. The seller isn't setting the price. Now making high offers for an ISO request is another thing. I was kind of hoping it was you, good for whoever sold it. I was riding shotgun for 3 hours, it was entertaining.

 

[navyvet]

Yeah i am sure the seller of the corn flake that looked like illinois and the toast with the virgin marry on it i am sure the seller had no clue they were going to get hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most people on ebay are satisfied with double their investment and on something that wont be available anymore makes it worth more

 

[navyvet]

I bought mine specifically for investment just opened on the town so i got an open one of each of the frog mortons dont plan on smoking the rest. Got 6-10 more tins on the way and i will post a pic of all of mine

 

[BigSkySmoke]

I saw a tin go for $130+ on ebay today so someone really likes it. @Hiram-2011 you know anything about that?

Aaron you still in Columbia Falls? I have some Balkan Blue, I can send you a taste.

Yeah and you too kind sir...
I was looking at it months ago, before all the news drop and I just never pulled the trigger. I was thinking it might be something I would be into and trade for a tin down the road. Oh well.

And the ebay sales are unreal. I could never bring myself to paying those insane prices. Obviously the struggle is real...

 

[BigSkySmoke]

IMO it's impossible to gouge in an auction. The seller isn't setting the price. Now making high offers for an ISO request is another thing. I was kind of hoping it was you, good for whoever sold it. I was riding shotgun for 3 hours, it was entertaining.

Completely agree. Can't really gouge when people are bidding. I've been tagging some of the auctions, just to see what the sell for later on.

 

[CVAC085]

I know the NY pipe show was this past weekend and there was some aged baccy for sale so I read on a few posts. I’m sure when the Chicago pipe show rolls around in May there’ll be plenty of baccy for sale too. I’m sure it’ll be more expensive but I’d hope not as ridiculous as ebay.


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[sweemzander]

Holy Crap - Ebay prices are through the roof - over $100 for tins

 

[ATL827]

SmokingPipes published an article discussing some of the history of McClelland which I found interesting. It looks like Mike McNeil wants to work at the Kansas City Zoo and Mary McNeil might attend art school.


https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/farewell-mcclelland?utm_source=Smokingpipes.com&utm_campaign=9fd050eaa2-Mon_Mar_12_2018&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0e8b6a473f-9fd050eaa2-223195913

 

[ATL827]

It seems as it's pretty clear, the McNeils didn't want to tarnish the McClelland name by allowing someone else try to continue their legacy given the variety of factors (leaf availability, FDA regs, etc). I wonder if they would ever consider selling some of their recipes to another company to be produced not under the McClelland name?

 

[Glassman]

It seems as it's pretty clear, the McNeils didn't want to tarnish the McClelland name by allowing someone else try to continue their legacy given the variety of factors (leaf availability, FDA regs, etc). I wonder if they would ever consider selling some of their recipes to another company to be produced not under the McClelland name?

So freaking foolish. What does the name matter if the product and company are no more?
And to screw your entire customer base by not passing on the process. Just shitty.

 

[bostoneo]

So freaking foolish. What does the name matter if the product and company are no more?
And to screw your entire customer base by not passing on the process. Just shitty.

Eh not so sure its shitty. They were having major issues sourcing quality leaf anymore on top of that. They’ve been around for 40-50yrs. Time to retire and enjoy life than someone else fudging your legacy.


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[OleVaSmoker]

Eh not so sure its shitty. They were having major issues sourcing quality leaf anymore on top of that. They’ve been around for 40-50yrs. Time to retire and enjoy life than someone else fudging your legacy.


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To many, they are leaving a legacy.
I can completely understand the word many are feeling but if mclellands were having issues what's that mean for th3 rest of the business? Were their standards so high they only got the best and the others got leftovers?
I wouldn't imagine them selling the name or the recipes or any of it. And I can respect that. I got some FMATP and a little of the other stuff but won't be auctioning it or selling it in any way. If I pass before I plan on it then the Wife will box it and send it where it needs to go.

 

[Glassman]

Eh not so sure its shitty. They were having major issues sourcing quality leaf anymore on top of that. They’ve been around for 40-50yrs. Time to retire and enjoy life than someone else fudging your legacy.


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What good is a legacy that no one remembers. It's not a freaking legacy, it's a product. If it's so different than everyone elses, then it's the epitome of selfishness to let the knowledge and process disappear into the dustbin of history. Someone with fresh insight could possibly source better materials and put out just as good or an even better product.

 

[bostoneo]

Someone with fresh insight could possibly source better materials and put out just as good or an even better product.

we can only hope!

 

[JZBdano]

So freaking foolish. What does the name matter if the product and company are no more?
And to screw your entire customer base by not passing on the process. Just shitty.

Did you read the article? You can't teach talent (Mary's palate) and the years of dedication and experience (Mike's 40 years of 80-100 hour work weeks) can't be duplicated. It is more of an art than science. AND the raw product is too scarce to source reliably.

 

[ATL827]

Did you read the article? You can't teach talent (Mary's palate) and the years of dedication and experience (Mike's 40 years of 80-100 hour work weeks) can't be duplicated. It is more of an art than science. AND the raw product is too scarce to source reliably.

I agree in that Mary's palate and blending experience would be impossible to teach. I'm not sure where McClelland falls on the spectrum of market share but from a supply-demand stand point, I wonder if a larger company with higher output be able to procure better leaf easier?

 

[JZBdano]

we can only hope!

Now that McClelland isn't hogging all the good leaf we will see what the rest of them can do with it. No excuses anymore.