First off, the tin note wasn't as strong or pleasant as with the loose cut, witch was a minor disappointment (very minor) still the amazing true vanilla smell that hooked me. Flakes were a little moist so let them sit for a while before loading. I used the 'fold and stuff' method that Mac' recommends, seems to be a bit quicker method of packing; just take a couple flakes and stuff. A word of advice that I learned a little to late is using a pipe tool to push the tobacco on the walls of the pipe towards the center before lighting, or else you may have the tobacco burn in the center leaving the sides un-burnt.

The flavor was pretty much the same although the topping seemed a little lighter, letting the taste of virginia's get more of the spotlight. Quarter way through the bowl I felt the 'mac-bite' so many complain about, but that was mostly user error: the flake burns a heck of a lot slower so smoking too fast will just heat the tobac up really quick. After I slowed down I got loads of nice blue-ish tinted creamy smoke that just kept coming, and came it did for 1.5 hours. Near the end of the bowl the topping was pushed a bit further back and the strength of the tobacco increased to give me a nice nicotine buzz that I've never had from an aromatic.

All said and smoked, the flake version of my favorite aro' tobacco has earned a permanent place among my other tins. Is it better than the loose cut?- Maybe- but if it is better it is better in a different way (better vitamin N and longer burning) It wont replace the loose cut in my rotation, but I will always have a tin or five on hand.

This is a sweet smoke, staying in my rotation for sure, really like it. Enough "N" to satisfy, good balance of flavours, especially nice to smoke indoors as the aroma is fab. Puff gently and enjoy! I'd say give it a try.

A year on: am upgrading this one to four stars because it's grown on me so much. I agree with some other reviewers that drying out is the key with this tobacco, that and slow sipping. I like it fully rubbed out and well packed.

If you take the time to get to know this one it is no less than amazing, IMO.

30.11.12 Update: Downgrading to three stars after a long struggle. This is a strange beast indeed! It seems from the other reviews that it bites some folks but not others. It surely does bite me, unless I'm extremely careful with it, and have abandoned it for the foreseeable future, as I value my tongue. I found it impossible to smoke straight away, even with a bit of judicious drying. The only time it seemed to work for me was after I'd put it away for a year, after getting badly bitten. I got it out on a whim, and it was pure bliss! It reminds me of that old rhyme - when it was good, it was very, very good, but when it was bad, it was horrid. I just think that no pipe tobacco should make me work that hard, or wait that long. It's an enjoyable hobby, right?

I find it works best with the fold and stuff method of packing. Two flakes works fine in a corn cob. Like that I usually go through the pipe without relights (save the charring light and my habitual relight after the first 3/4 of the bowl). Rubbed out it tends to smoke a bit hot. Never had any problems with tongue bite though (nor have I with any other Mac Barens). Nicotine is hardly noticeable in this one (which of course can be a good thing sometimes).

I think for me the main problem is the mis-match of tin scent and flavour. A tobacco that smells this strong and sweet in the tin should live up to it in flavour. This on is just a little bit too much on the bland side. Overall it's not too bad though. I will certainly finish the tin, but not sure I would buy it again.

A little bitter for an aromatic: I like the high Virginias percentage in this mixture, but their natural sweetness is not enough for an aromatic. More Cavendish or a more noticeable sugar casing would have improved this blend.

Mellow and sweet.

Tastes as it smells.

More than 70% high quality VA.

Good body.

Good Vitamin N.

Burns slow and steady(if you pack right).

Absolutely no tongue bite.

-If this tobacco bites your tongue, you seriously have to reconsider your packing/smoking method. My wife is a none smoker and this one doesn't bite her tongue, she likes it and gets a few puffs when I pick this one to smoke.

Although in my opinion reviewing tobacco is pointless, since not everyone uses the same exact tin to review, and each harvest is different from the one before (heck each bowl is different that the last) and no two people have the same taste buds. I will attempt to "describe" my experience with this tobacco.

I purchased 2 tins and a bulk pack of this one. I think the tins are better tasting so I will go with the tin version. I like it. It has a very pleasant and relaxing vanilla room note even for the smoker. If I smack my lips and tongue I can detect a faint taste of vanilla, and more of a coffee after taste. There is a dominant tobacco taste which is good. There is tongue bite if you puff too fast, and there is slight tongue bite when you light, since you puff faster ( I do). But when you sip, the bite goes away. I used this with a cob, both with a filter and without. More taste and bite without a filter. Taste is consistent to mid bowl, then milder the rest of the way, that can change with the next flake. No goop, nice white ash, good smelling bowl residue. Wife loves it, she said it smelled like a cookie factory in Denmark.

Finding a good all day, and a good aromatic is very frustrating and expensive, but this one goes in my "I like it" drawer and will be smoking more. Overall its good 3.7 out of 5.

The tin aroma is vanilla. The moisture content is minimal. The flakes feel like they are almost dry.

However,despite this impression and despite the fact that there is only about 25% of Black CA, it still smokes kind of slow.

It has a soft, delicious vanilla taste. And my wife LOVES the room note!

Don't get me wrong, as much as I fear She-Who-Withers-With-A-Look, I would risk her wrath if I didn't enjoy this blend. Fact is, I do. Enjoy it, that is.

Moisture content in this blend is everything. Too much and it will bite like Cujo and taste like Cujo droppings. Too little and it won't taste bad, just not very aromatic. I just finished a tin that must have been opened more than most because the last few flakes were quite dry. There was very little vanilla flavor left, but still a very nice Virginia taste. And apparently a good bit of that appealing room note.

I'm afraid I can't give it 4 stars. It's a bit too mild and has a bit too much tongue bite for that. But I'll give it a solid 3. Far better than any other vanilla blend I've tried.

I like aromatics, and find this a good one. If you are a fan of such things, give it a try.

As with most other Mac Baren blends, this one is composed of a high quality tobacco leaf, the tin aroma is fairly nice and one would expect the smoking experience to taste much like the tin aroma; however, this is not the case. The flakes come out of the tin just moist enough to fold and stuff, yet dry enough to light normally. Even when smoked aggressively this tobacco hardly bites, but then it hardly tastes like anything either. I was expecting some vanilla flavor, maybe not a Captain Black White dousing of vanilla, but it's actually quite lacking. Even exhaling through the nose can't pull any flavor out of this tobacco. I will continue to smoke the remainder of this tin but I doubt I'd be buying another.