McClintock (new 16oz)
Posted on Saturday, 15-Dec-2007
Commonwealth has been the US distributor of Stokkebye's Bali and McClintock brands since 2005. In Jul '07 they bought the brand rights, i.e. Bali and McClintock are no longer Stokkebye brand names.
While most of the products are still made by Stokkebye, Capt. Mike reports that Commonwealth is discontinuing the 13oz cans of Stokkebye/Danish made McClintock and is introducing 16oz bags of Polish made McClintock. ($15.75LB @ Lil' Brown)... It looks like the whole McClintock line-up is being replaced with Polish made, bagged tobacco.
Reviews are on the McClintock page.
Comments [ new ]
- McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Friday, 14-Dec-2007
Well we won't have that problem for long; since McClintock will no longer be available in cans. They are shifting to 1Lb bags to keep up with the other bulk products out there, and I understand the product is now being made in Poland, and that quality has taken a hit, but we'll see!
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 14-Dec-2007
Your Poland comment got me curious. The Commonwealth page has changed since Apr 10 '07. They recently added the sentence about purchasing the brand rights to Bali and McClintock. While they still say that Bali and McClintock are made by Stokkebye, the new sentence would seem to be the setup for bagged, made in Poland, McClintock... and who knows what else :-(
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...duh. They became the US distributor in '05 and purchased the brand rights in Jul '07.
- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Friday, 14-Dec-2007
Yes, I was kinda taken by the news too! I'll bet Erik Stokkebye is fuming, and the old man is rolling and stomping in his grave! I know the little tobacco shop in Lorain filled me in on the fact, and that they weren't going to carry McClintock till they new owners of McC work out their problems. I was really sorry to hear about it all, because I have used McC, and their Virginia tobaccos kind of steady over the years. They made excellent blenders and straight smokes! All we can do is wait and see, since I've already seen pictures of the baged product. Capt Mike
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by mike c on Friday, 14-Dec-2007
might not the bags be good for poor lazy SOB's like me???
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you know your friend started the bags???
- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Saturday, 15-Dec-2007
Who say's you're poor, lazy SOB? My friend, I'm not in the habit or mindset to be taking other people's inventory; since there use to be so many willing and ready to take mine, I thought they were lined up 6 deep in rows of 3!
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Yes, I know, but who would have thought it'd take this long to catch on, and for all the wrong reasons if you remember way back when? Back then all there was available was cans and small pouches. The cans all were 7oz; in that it takes one Gram to fill a tube, and about 3/4 Gram for a RYO. Tubes came in boxes of 200, and everyone was happy; till some buckaroo figured out that many of us rolled our own! I use to get up to 220--225 smokes rolling with a hand roller. I'd roll a can in a sitting or two, and they all fit
back in the can. Have you ever wondered why all the can manufacturers only offered regular sized papers? It's because the average weight of a regular is about 3/4 Gram; where as King size roll--ups weigh about a Gram. I'm getting more detailed than I wanted to here, so l'll say it straight out! Mark told me back in 1992 when he first started, he used the 1 lb bags, because it was a standard American measure of weight. His shipping boxes were designed to hold one bag of tobacco, and 2 boxes of tubes. After a time folks complained of having left over tobacco, and having to order a spare box of tubes; which he then had to send out in a box filled 3/4 full of packing material. A decision was made to go to the 14 oz bag to be consistent with the 200 tube boxes, and everyone lived happily ever after!
Now, the bulkers are making 1 lb bags, and there only a few tube manufacturers who produce a 250 count box of tubes to accommodate the extra two oz. Mark likes the historical 7 oz--200 tube setup, and will stick to it. I'm sorry about the long post, but I thought I'd try and explain things as I understand them to be. Capt Mike
- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by mike c on Saturday, 15-Dec-2007
he told me all that too
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I'm getting a Zenomatic come hell or high water,so long as they are available SOMEWHERE
- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Saturday, 15-Dec-2007
What is a Zenomatic?
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Dave L on Saturday, 15-Dec-2007
Mark told me that story as well. It never occurred to me that the 250 count tube packaging was designed for 1LB bags. The whole concept of packaging to achieve an equal tube to tobacco ratio implies 100% brand loyalty (tubes and tobacco, e.g. refill kits), its the only way it can come close to being a viable concept. To fully experience and enjoy making our own cigarettes we have to deal with all sorts of packaging, keeping an extra box or two of tubes around is no big deal.
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Sunday, 16-Dec-2007
It never occurred to me either that there was a supply side to the 250 tube boxes. Having extra boxes of tubes around these days kind of negates the necessity of the 250 count boxes I think. In fact, I buy tubes when I get down to one or two boxes. I'm able to get Gambler tubes for $1.29 a box, and El Rey for $1.89. I'm sure many of the folks who buy the pounders also buy tubes buy the half case & case. I agree with you on the brand loyalty concept! It would work perfect as long as the customer didn't get curious and try other brands now and then, but one could always pick up and extra box for such endeavors. Capt Mike
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Saturday, 15-Dec-2007
I just checked, and they have a manufacturing facility in Tarnowo, Poland,( Imperial Tobacco Polska S.A.). They also have a plant in Volgograd, Russia, ( OOO Reemtsma-Volga Tabakfabrik). May be with so many holdings all over the world; they will bring some new products our way? This is the statement they make on their Manufacturing Locations Page. "We currently have 31 manufacturing sites around the world. They focus on production quality, business simplification and optimising our cost base". Capt Mike
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by jim on Sunday, 17-Feb-2008
Well, I found this out the hard way. Bought some in the bag at JR, didn't know it was different. Been using it for several years. Noticed right away it didn't smell right but thought it was just me. Finally looked at the bag and saw the Poland line. This stuff is really lousy. Sent a message to Commonwealth, not too nice. I have to say they really screwed up a good blend. Anyone tell me if there is a Stokkebye that is similar or is very good in their opinion. I have tried most all of D&R, wasted a lot of money. McClintock was the best I ever found for me. Everything else I have tried is harsh to me. I have sensitive sinuses I guess, but McC never stopped me up or made me cough. My opinion, don't waste your money on the Polish McClintock. YUCK.
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Sunday, 17-Feb-2008
I have found out many brick and mortar stores are no longer willing to carry the Polish McClintock. You may think you're getting a pound of tobacco, but in reality you are getting much less smoking tobacco, and more stuff meant to be put in the compost! Remember the old adage-"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't"? I don't remember where on this site I posted it, but I posted a link to a short movie showing how Expanded sheet, puffed stem, Reconstituted Tobacco is made and Flavored to match any brand it is intended to dilute by computer! All it takes is common sense, and a little knowledge about tobacco. The Johnnie come latelies with their pound bags aren't fooling me a bit! When they sent McC to the Poles, not content to let it alone I knew something was up, and now I'm positive. Capt Mike
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Monday, 18-Feb-2008
I have been able to locate legacy stock McC Light that is made by Stokkebye, but God only knows how the supply will last. I know Cheap Tobacco still carries it, and the Polish Bagged crap too. The smoke shop closer to me isn't going to carry any more McC branded stuff--just the Bali Shage line. The problem with the McClintock FF is that the tobaccos in it are expensive. So expensive that Stokkebye decided that rather than cancel the brand; they'd carry it as a "Loss leader". I imagine that is one of the reasons the brand was sold off. Capt Mike
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- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Monday, 18-Feb-2008
BTW-FYI Mr. Stokkebye himself developed the McClintock blends.
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Capt Mike
- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Jo on Friday, 22-Feb-2008
jim, what McClintock do you smoke? I am like you and have trouble with most cigarettes.
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Of all the brands D & R carries, I can only smoke Windsail. It has to be the plain Windsail, not the Windsail Silver or Light. It has American Gold on the front of the 14 oz package, but is listed on the order as Windsail. It is made of Virginia Gold leaf tobacco.
I don't know what the difference is, but the other Windsails and other tobaccos they carry make me cough and some of the tobaccos give me a headache. It is the same at other tobacco companies. I don't know whether I am allergic to something in the others or what.
I have tried a lot of mild virginia tobaccos that others have recommended, but Windsail is the best I have found for me.
There is one other brand, I can smoke, but I will have to look up the info about it, so I will post about it later.
- Re: McClintock (new 16oz)
- Posted by Jack on Saturday, 20-Aug-2011
Thought I'd bring the story of McClintock current. I too was a longtime user of McClintock. However, when they went Polish, their tobacco turned to absolute crap, and since they now only produce "expanded" tobacco in NY ('lower cost' for smokers taxed up to their eyeballs), it's even worse. Always stale, overly chopped up, at least 1/4 shake and inecusably large sticks. It hardly even qualifies as tobacco any longer. And it jams the machine beyond hope. Wish I could find a tobacco that tastes like McClintock tasted when it wasn't junk.
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