Mac Baren - Golden Blend pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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Hermit 78	09/17/2008	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Less incendiary than most Mac Baren blends. The sweet casing goes well with the burley. I liked this back when I first started smoking, but I don't bother with it now. Danish blends are for girls.
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Sailorjack	02/16/2008	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable
I like burley but I don't like this one. I find it bland and boring. There is nothing here to hold my interest at all. There are plenty of much better burley blends available. I am not even going to finish the tin I have.I'll just give it away but then again I wouldn't do that to a friend!! NEXT!!
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Markos	02/08/2008	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I really like this blend. It has that nutty choclatey taste that good burleys do. The tin aroma is somewhat fruity, perhaps even sweet and sour. It burns relatively effortlessly, but pay it due care, as it can get hot. I didn't really get any bite, but I can see how it may have the potential to bite. I had to force myself to give it a rest when it got my pipe too hot, but that's easier said than done as it is a thouroughly enjoyable tobacco. If it weren't for this blend's high temperature burn, this smoke would most likely have received that elusive fourth star.
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Jaybee	12/05/2007	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Although burley blends are not my favorite, I am a big fan of MacBaren's burley. Although GE can smoke hot, I usually don't have a probem with being bitten. Golden Extra is easy to light and the flavor is full so I don't have to puff too hard to be satisfied. The taste is dark, nutty and creamy. For burleys lovers, and maybe even some that aren't, this is an excellent choice. ADDENDUM: For those of you who like this blend, but have problems with bite, I have found that if you rub this into thin strands and pack it loosely, the burn and flavor are enhanced while the tendency to bite decreases dramtically - Excellent
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renoguard	10/08/2007	Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant
I got me a tin of this a few days ago. Enjoying a bowl in my GBD Rockroot with a big smile:-). It reminds me of Mac Baren's Harmony, but with a little bit more personality. The room aroma is pretty good in my opinion. If you are exculively a fan of majorly sweet aromatics and HATE anything else, You may as well reach for the can of Blue Note on the next shelf. If you want to try something different, with flavor, grab a tin. Don't smoke it out of the same pipe as you do your Cpt. Black (if you smoke it like me). I am a fan of both Aromatics and non aromatics. Aromatics such as Blue note is like having a chocolate sundae, Blends like Mac Baren is like having a steak. (not literally, but figuratively). Either one should be savored and enjoyed depending on mood and personal taste.
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mo	09/19/2007	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I do enjoy the taste of this blend. The hidden tastes when smoked slowly is rewarding, it packs easily and the smell of the tobacco in the tin is good too. But boy does it burn hot. Even with really careful packing and puffing, it seems to burn all on its own. Very disappointing indeed considering how good it tastes while smoking. The volume of smoke is also not good at all. Great taste but very hot indeed, it blistered my pipe 20/09/2007 Hmmm, seems as if I am suffering from foot in mouth disease again. After reading the reviews on this tabac again yesterday I read that this blend smokes best in a big bowl, I then visited the MacBaren site and read somewhere that the bowl should be packed fairly loose. The result was a stunning smoke from first light to the last puff. Please bear in mind that this tabac has been extensively aired out and was just right for a smoke. I doubt I will get the same results from a new pouch or tin. I left the best for last, would you guys believe that this blend did not bite??? Enjoy, Mo, South Africa
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mo	09/19/2007	Mild	Mild	Medium	Tolerable
This tabac has a really great taste similar IMHO to Old Gowrie, I cant recommend this because my conscience wont allow it. It burns so hot that it has blistered one of my pipes, it burns hot even with careful puffing and goes off all on its own. Too bad tho, it tastes really good and the price is right, just goes to show that you cant buy a Mercedes with bmw money.20/09/2007 Update and upgrade. Please refer to my review on Golden Blend
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orka	07/09/2007	Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable
If you've ever thought of Mac Baren blends as hopeless tonguescorchers, give this one a try. It smokes remarkably cool and effortless. Actually I think it's one of the coolest smoking- and burning blends I have ever tried. It comes in almost flake form in the pouch, and as usual with Mac Baren, just stuff it down your pipe and light up, and think no more of it, and you're off to a very enjoyable and long lasting smoke. Tastewise it is cool, clean, nutty and with a wholesome milk chocolate tone. The sparsely used virginia creates hints of subtle sweetness here and there throughout the course of the bowl. The only thing that is preventing me from giving it full score is that it lacks somewhat in body and nicotine to be just perfect. Definately recomended.
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Pipestud	06/28/2007	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant
This is a favorite of mine in the MacBaren line. It is not too sweet and has a nice tobacco taste. Perhaps a bit bland for regular consumption on my part, but a nice change of pace. One of the best tips I received regarding smoking Mac Baren's blends is to "take your time and puff slowly." A terrific article on Mac Baren's appears in the Summer 2007 issue of Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine. Most of these blends are extremely popular the world over due to the quality of the leaf and the attention to detail regarding curing methods and the cut of the leaf. Mac Baren's is one of the largest blending houses in the world and they obviously take pride in their product. Again, as I find to be the case with most MacBaren tobaccos, a slow burn is necessary to get the most out of Golden Extra. It is nicely rubbed and will pack easily in any size pipe. Since the flavor and strength are not overwhelming, fire it up in a big Ben Wade or some other Danish freehand and enjoy a long, slow and flavorful smoke.
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Nick O'Teen	06/27/2007	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I really like the flavor of this one. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for the inevitable Mac Baren horror show to begin. Do we have any native Danes on the reviewing crew? If so, does Mac Baren, translated into English, mean BURNS HOT & BITES ?
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bird dog	05/04/2007	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Like MacBaren Navy Flake, the base tobacco is light and grassy. The flavoring is one I can't put my finger on....some write chocolate...maybe, I guess. A pleasant smoke and can be rubbed out a little more or pack it just like it is....smoke gently, and will give you an honest smoke. An occasional choice for me, somewhat prefer the honey cased navy flake when I want a little more flavor. 3-4 stars...combined it 1/1 with some mature red cake, and I liked the combo.
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CheckeredFlight	04/16/2007	Mild	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
Opening the tin, as typical with MacBaren, the tobacco is well presented; aroma, appearance, moisture content. Having smoked Golden Extra in smaller pipes, today I decided to try it in my Ardor Sherlock. Although I found it to be a good smoke in standard size pipes, I must say that in the larger bowl this blend is much more satisfying. It is labeled as ?ready rubbed?, I?m not sure of the origin of that term but felt it worth noting that I found this to be partially rubbed rather than fully rubbed. Without any further rubbing I lightly loaded a wad into my pipes leaving an air gap at the bottom of the bowl. That with a light, and an enjoyable smoke ensued (no tamping required). Observations include: a very pleasant room note through the entire bowl, that being a subtle aroma of a "chocolate cake baking" and "coffee brewing" on the fringe of a tonic leathery bass note. Flavors were also of the same notes. This blend does contain some Virginia leaf. That Virginian sweetness peaks through midway through the bowl (if one is puffing gently) and like a child wanting attention, keeps coming around time and again, giving a little nudge to the Burley. Having acclimated my technique with MacBaren Blends, I experienced absolutely no tongue bite. A slight gurgling, once or twice through the bowl reminded me to lighten up my draw and my pace. MacBaren tobaccos are excellent if you know how to draw out their best behaviour. I give this tobacco four stars, it?s a masterful blend and a high quality product. I believe it to be best in a larger pipe, but find it enjoyable in the standards too.
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SopwithCamel	02/11/2007	Mild	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Really a very nice, toasty sweet burley. One of the few Mac blends I can enjoy without destroying my tongue. Give it a shot!
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BEN	01/11/2007	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I just recently obtained a sealed 7 ounce tin of this blend on Ebay that is around 30 years old. I was excited, thinking maybe, just maybe, the older incarnation, with age, will be much better than the current. It smelled absolutely wonderful upon opening the tin, a nice grassy aroma. Sugar crystals on the tobacco from aging made me hold out hope. I then packed a vintage Kaywoodie Prime Grain Billiard, and lit up. Boy, what a disappointment!! The old incarnation, like the present, bites like a rabid dog, and no matter how gently I puffed, the tobacco heated up the bowl to the point that I had to hold it by the shank! Great flavor and room note, but the roof of my mouth and my tongue need skin grafts!! It is a shame, but they don't jokingly call it MacBlowtorch for nothing! On the upside, I only paid $10 for the tin, and it is a nice looking tin! Maybe I will put it on display with some other vintage tins I have.
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LV9	12/07/2006	Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
excellent burley blend, it's a one note blend but an excellent one! there is some chocolate taste to it but very mild, the nicotine is just right not a all day kinda of smoke but is a good change of pace for me since I mostly smoke Vapers, no tongue bite what so ever as of yet, it goes great with a cup of coffee. I started smoking it in the summer but definetly goes better now during the winter (I have to smoke in the porch). It does take time to appreciate the subtleties of the burley. Update I have to downgrade one star to this great blend because it does not behave well in small size pipes as my tongue has come to know, beware this thing can bite!!, anyways it baheves like a champ on my Macarthur corn cob and bigger size pipes.
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Talonr1701	10/28/2006	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is a pretty good smoke. Sweet and grassy from start to finish. Its good and solid. Personally, This is like the second cousin to the Scottish Mixture (which is far superior in my opinion.)- But this is what makes horse races- Try it, It might be your thing.
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Captain Pete	09/17/2006	Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Okay, I hate doing this, but I have to come back and rewrite my review. After letting this tobacco set for about a week, until the funny topnote has nearly disappeared from the tin, it is smokable. I am beginning to believe that either the humectorant or the topping that MacBaren uses is what causes the notorious blowtorch tongue. And, once aired off, the tobacco produces much less bite. The first few times I tried to smoke this, I just couldn't pick up any flavor due to the overwhelming taste of the topping, and the tongue bite. Underneath the topping it tasted rather carboard-ish rather than nutty or chocolatey. Now I can definitely pick up a nice chocolate note, and a mellow sweetness running underneath the burley flavor. It still lacked the "creamy" feel to the palate that I'm accustomed to with burleys. I am still suspicious of this tobacco, as it did tend to want to take off and burn all on its own. So it had to be very carefully nursed along. Smoking it required a lot of work, but there was a reward at the end. I'm just not yet sure if the monochromatic flavor is worth the extra effort one has to put forth with this blend. Were it but less work, or more taste, I think it would rate two and a half to three stars. As it is, two stars for burley smokers (if you love virginias, just go ahead and forget about this stuff). ________________________________________________________________ Flat and flavorless; bites really bad really easily; absolutely no "note of chocolate" as good burleys are supposed to have. I think I will change my handle to 'I hate MacBaren'.
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ruffinogold	04/18/2006	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Golden [extra] blend is one of the best burley blends on the planet!Again,you guys that smoke heavy latakia stuff won't like this.For the rest of us who like burley .... wow !
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F. Prefect	03/21/2006	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
It's no accident that this Burley based blend is still going strong over 50 years since it was first introduced by MacBaren. Made up of predominantly cask aged Burley, small amounts of Virginia leaf are also added, producing a cool flavorful smoke. If you like Burley and haven't found this one yet, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Although labeled ready rubbed, you may have to rub some of the larger flakes out further to obtain the size you prefer. The taste is nutty with a hint of sweentness and a noticable chocolate flavor. Like most MacBaren tobaccos, you need not be all that careful in packing, and the blend will in most cases burn to the bottom of the bowl leaving only small amount of light grey ash. If you're not a Burley smoker, it could be you just got ahold of one of many Burley blends that are, for the lack of a better word, bad, and you may find this Burley blend will give you an idea of what a good Burley can taste like. Recommended. F. Prefect
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swfriends4you	03/14/2006	Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
This is my first review---I have returned to smoking a pipe. I start off where I left off -almost 25 years ago. My very relaxing time of pipe smoking has returned. My first pipe full-brought back so many wonderful memories and smells of a fine tobacco-not changed much in those many years. -Still packs easily and burns evenly. I decided to introduce my new Peterson 303 bent with Golden Blend. What a wonderful combination.
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