Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia

My first unflavoured Tobacco and my first Flake-cut too...

During my first tasting it had a lightly sharp flavour which bit my tongue, but the second time it worked better.

Flavour on Skales from 0 to 7: flavoured: 0 smokey: 5 vanilla: 0 roasted: 5 grassy: 0 nutty: 3 acid: 0 wort: 5

I drank during my tasting a cup of herbtee on my balcony. It was a cold but dry evening.

I'm not quite shure if this is really my type of tobaco... But my friend dislikes the aftertaste and the smell of this.

I went into this blend with very high expectations as I love all of the HH line. My expectations may have been a bit too high as I was underwhelmed. The blend was a bit lifeless and too fresh. I wanted that sweetness and depth you get with other Virginia offerings. I placed it back on the shelf within the tin and revisited it a month later. I don't know if it simply needed to breath a bit and rest, but it did the trick. I loaded up my go too straight Virginia pipe and that sweet depth presented itself. Gently sipped brought out the savory sweetness and high citrus notes that we all long for. This offering IMO is a mix between SG Best Brown and Orlik Golden Slice. The grassy citrusy notes are the front-runner here like in Orlik, with the dark earthy depth presenting itself only when sipped and searched for like in Best Brown. This will age wonderfully which will marry the Virginia's to bring out more of that earthy depth and will only increase that sweetness. 3 stars for now, but well on its way to 4. Cellar up men and this one will be able to hang with the legends.

I agree with Pipestud's review: this is a very fine Virginia, indeed; for my taste, it is light years beyond MacBite Virginia classics such as Virginia #1. Complex, a little citrusy at times, some sweet and sour and loads of real tobacco taste. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. 4 stars.

Once again the MacBaren HH line impresses me. I received a sample of this from a friend of mine as he and I frequently trade tobaccos. He gave me enough for about 3 or 4 pipes. The tin once again is simple and nicely done. The presentation of the flakes are beautiful which is expected of MB flakes (they look like perfect sticks of gum) the flakes were bright with multicolored streaks which is from the multiple different va's used. The tobacco fresh out of the tin was moist and has the typical grassy lemon zest of most other straight va flakes I have smoked. I did give the flakes some dry time before smoking but multiple re-lights were still needed. It was good but nothing that blew me away until..... I let them rest in a canning jar for a little while. I re-visited after 2 weeks and the flakes were perfect for smoking (dry wise) I tried it both full rubbed out and folded. Both ways this blend was excellent after some rest time. The sweetness that I love came through along with that farm hay flavor. The blend isn't complex by any means but is very consistent. I have plans for buying in larger quantities to let these flakes age for some time a I prefer them aged in a jar which I feel brings the flake to the perfect moisture and allows the sweetness to build up as well (I am not talking sticky sweet aromatic sweetness) just natural sweetness. I have been playing around with 9mm filters and I like this blend with or without a filter. I give this blend a 3.5 and it will be my new go to Straight VA flake.

Bread, Fruit, Sweet/Honey, Earthy, Peppery and Floral

I smoked this tobacco after Virginia No. 1. When I realized how good Virginia tobacco blends are, I started exploring other Virginia blends from different companies. One of the tobaccos recommended to me was HH Pure Virginia. This tobacco is just as good as I thought, with a sweet aroma and taste, like honey and a slightly tangy lemon-like flavour. However, it had only one flaw for me: it was a bit strong. I mixed a bit of Virginia No. 1 to address this issue.

MacBaren
HH Pure Virginia

The blend notes suggest: “A blend composed of both air dried and flue cured Virginia tobaccos. HH Pure Virginia is 100% Virginia tobaccos from North America and Africa. Both continents have a high reputation for growing the finest Virginia tobaccos in the world. Like all tobaccos in the HH family this blend has no top flavour and only the absolute necessary casing in order to emphasize the natural tobacco taste. You will experience the natural sweetness and “grassy” taste from the Virginia tobacco.”

HH Pure Virginia is a strong, full straight Virginia. Perhaps mild casing to achieve Ph balance but this is not obvious. The flake breaks apart easily and could use a bit of drying time. This blend burns easily and favors a slow cadence.

Decently strong flavor and nic-hit. This is for the lover of true, accurate, full flavored Virginias. Not as tasty as Hamborger Veermaster (though that is mild by comparison). I’d prefer Royal Yacht or Opening Night or even MacBaren’s Virginia No. 1. But if you love good, strong Virginia this will be a winner.

3.5 out of 4 stars rounded down.

Wonderful straight Virginia, similar to MacBaren Virginia #1. Perfect flakes that smoke to perfection. I find that rubbing them out completely makes for a better smoke: easier to light, far fewer relights, cooler smoke. If you love Virginias you’ll love this tobacco.

First time smoking a "pure" Virginia, and - based on what I've heard about Virginias - wasn't at all what I expected. I have a rather fast cadence, and expected a hot burn, but that did not happen. It has a mild, sweet grassy taste, with a bit of black pepper, and a side note of something I can't quite put my finger on. Smoked it in a Venturi "The Pipe" which has a reputation for allowing the "true" flavor of a tobacco to come through. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has never smoked a Virginia before and is looking for a good starting point.