Mac Baren Mellow Choice

Tasty, very tasty!

To be fair I’m a regular smoker of Mac Baren products and I wasn’t surprised when I received a 40 gram pouch of Mellow Choice from a friend in Budapest. However, despite the nice packaging, I doubt I would have purchased it myself due to its name; I was very skeptical about the word “Mellow”. Well, I had this pouch kicking around, I was in the mood for an aromatic and the pouch description was intriguing enough to get me to give it a go. Upon opening, there was some vanilla coming through the sweet aromas but I couldn’t place the chocolate. I can’t recall the look of the leaf because the aroma raised my excitement level enough to distract me and I got to smoking right away.

If you are unfamiliar with the new generation of Mac Baren aromatics, you’ll be surprised to discover they’ve created no bite blends. Mellow Choice is no exception. Packed with flavor, this delicious blend was smoked up in a flash; I just couldn’t stop smoking this incredibly tasty blend.

It left me so inspired I immediately ordered some Original Choice to see how it compares.

When I get up in the mornings and get myself a nice cup of coffee this is the tobacco that I always turn to, it always succeeds at kickstarting my day with a relaxing pleasurable smoke. Let me say that this is like its name says "mellow", you might not get the most out of it after a big meal and in the middle of the day but this tobacco has that soft touch thats the best for starting or finishing your day. And that smell when you open the pack or the tin ? Absolutely magnificent it has such delicious aroma that you can't wait to smoke it.

I had tried this blend when I was very new to pipe smoking. I literally hated the blend and pipe smoking too. After 4-5 years of the proper smoking experience, now I am a bit more into this blend, occasionally mixing it with some pure Virginias to decrease the artificial aroma of cavendish and to give it some body. The taste is so consistent that it never changes through the whole bowl. I can't smoke this and other relatively lower quality Mac Baren choice series (namely Mellow Choice, Aromatic Choice, Original Choice) in my briar pipes because it burns too hot, leaves an unwanted scent and so on. But a meer pipe is suitable and decent to smoke this type of artificially aromatized blends IMHO. Overall, I partially recommend this blend to whom has some experience in pipe smoking, while for the novice smokers, I am strictly suggesting to avoid this one for a while

Very balanced and tasty blend.

Great pouch note - mostly sweet raisin bread, molasses, little bit of chocolate and vanilla.

Tastewise, flavorings do not overwhelm the tobacco and I would even say that enhance its flavor, making it not just sweet, but satisfyingly pleasant smoke. Not complex by any means, but a very nice desert taste that doesn't get boring and can be an everyday smoke.

Comes pretty wet in the pouch, but smokes cool with zero bite if dried properly. I prefer short unfiltered pipe for this blend to keep its delightful smell closer to my face.

Speaking of smell - the room note is fantastic and will not offend anyone, with the same raisin and molasses notes that impart a lovely pleasant smell to the facial hair that gives an opportunity to enjoy this blend for some time more after smoking it.