Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia

JimInks' review is right on... this is bang in the middle of the road virginia. Nice flakes (typcial MacB 1.5mm CNC Router type flakes, none of your random bacon-chips stuff here) which rub very easily into fine ribbon. A bit more moist out of the tin than I would ordinarily smoke, but smokeable as is or easily rectified with a bit of drying.

This is not as sweet as either Capstan offering, and has none of the complexity of something like Reiner Long Golden or even Mac Baren's other virginia-based blends. Also without the MacB honey or maple flavors. It's just dead-ahead virginia. Easy to get along with and a nice introduction to the genre. This won't probably be strong enough in nicotine to appeal to the long-time Va smokers or people who prefer big strong burleys a la C+D. But as a gentle autumn puff for the casual user, I'd say this blend has lots to recommend itself. Exhibiting the same softness of overall profile as the Capstan Gold, I suspect that ten years in the cellar will make this blend magical, and that's where the rest of my tins are headed. Quality stuff, and worth putting a few away.

As always, Mac Baren gets an A for presentation. Nifty embossed gold wrapper that perfectly fits the beautiful looking, admirably symmetrical dark brown flakes with spots of gold. Wonderful tea-like fragrance in the tin. A bit wet and I ultimately dried this thoroughly to enhance the natural flavors, but I did not "crispify" it. It worked best with a small amount of moisture remaining. It didn't seem to care if it was rubbed out or folded and stuffed, as I couldn't discern a single iota of flavor difference. Since it took the match better when rubbed out, that's how I smoked most of the bowls.

I admit that I'm a huge admirer of the Mac Baren HH series concept. Even when the blend doesn't hit my overall preferences, I like what hot pressing does to their output, and I especially appreciate it when they keep the honey and sugar in their respective jars and make a perfectly natural blend. There is no Mac Baren tongue steam inherent in any of the HH blends, no pastry-like phony saccharine sweetness - just honest to goodness tobacco taste. This one is kind of a conundrum at this point, as I really found very little of the usual straight Virginia descriptors to apply, even the "grassiness" that Mac Baren claims. I did find a little sweetness, but I mostly tasted tartness and sourness with a nice background note of maltiness. This is a soft but spirited tobacco, with a provocative zestiness and tang (thanks to the red VA) which was nicely and just noticeably offset with a hint of citrus. Almost zero complexity but with a decent depth to the smoke. I think this one will age brilliantly and my other tins are headed to the cellar. I liked this and declared it "good" but it's not a great blend... yet! I do think there is some greatness there, but it needs to age awhile first. Kudos to Mac Baren for the HH series. None are currently in my rotation (ODF being recently displaced by SG's Lakeland Dark) but I sincerely applaud the effort. Once again, I find it difficult to disparage a Danish company from producing Danish products, but these more English versions are more to my taste.

Robust and full tasting for a straight Virginia. Fuller than Pease Union Square. Smoked a full tin.

However this does not have the sweetness of Pease's or Mcclelland's Virginias. But you can tell this is a Virginia from the get go, as there is that citrus taste but subdued due to pressing.

Cool, forgiving, and steady burning for a Virginia flake.

Flavor pumped up but not the sweetness. Not dark tasting.

Almost too much richness for me. Recommended for a heavier dose for straight Virginia fan.

HH Pure is a medium-colored hot pressed flake made of what I can imagine are the highest quality VA tobaccos Mac Baren has in the warehouse. I can't knock them for anything mechanical - I smoked an entire tin folded and stuffed, because there was no need to even think about rubbing this out. It lights and burns beautifully, and smells pretty good while it goes.

I dinged it a star because it doesn't show the complexity I find in the English-style flakes or in the best quality McClelland straight VAs. It's not monochromatic by any stretch of the word but it seems to progress predictably from start to finish. Nothing wrong with that, but also nothing standout that would earn that fourth star.

This is good pipeweed, lovingly made and artfully presented, and it might be the stealth blend of the HH line since nobody seems to have noticed how good it is just yet.

This was my first blend from the HH series.As a virginia flake lover i could not resist in this special version of MacBaren.the tin appearance prepares you for something unique and top quality.since the tin breaks a wonderfull smell comes out.pure tobacco notes including sweet and sour notes.the flakes are mostly dark with some bright and brown stripes.the flakes are very manageable in proper moisture.i prefered the rubbing method in this one because with the folding method the lighting is very hard due to it's solid pressing.while smoking the flavours differ a bit than these ones the smell promises you.the dark virginias are dominant offering dark fruits,earthy notes in a tangy way.the other virginias (brown and yellow)are in the backround offering sweet and grassy notes.rarelly some citrucy notes came out.i expected more sweet notes i could say.I also detected some sour notes,something like a plum or vinegar topping also.the flavours combine well each other and after a half bowl the sour notes become more present.the nicotine level is medium and the taste above medium.the room note is pleasant.burns cool and slow with a few relights needed.leaves some moisture at the end of the bowl without chance of tongue bite.in comparison with other virginia flakes i tried this one is one of the strongest.it can be an all day smoke to those who like strong flavours.

Flavor is tasty and well rounded. Fruity, tangy and a bit of grass. The flavor is also mild and mellow which surprised me a bit considering the medium body. Thought it would be a little bolder. If you prefer a milder flavor this would be a great choice. A very nice smoke.

Medium in body. No added flavoring which may be why it's milder and mellower compared to some other flakes I've been smoking lately. Taste is just a shade over mild, I'll go with mild to medium. Burns very well.

Great middle of the road pure Virginia. Sweet grassy hay notes with a bit of citrus. Tin condition was near perfect with no drying of the flakes necessary. Smoked both runned out and folded. No great difference in the taste just the burn time. Formula burned straight through the smoke with few relights. Little to none on moisture in the bowl. Another solid smoke from the HH line. Planning to set a few tins back to age, believe this may jump to a 4 after some age is applied.

I will be honest, if you want a review with more experience from this particular flake there are others to read since this is more of a first impression review. In my experience of Mac Baren, I think there is often little to complain about, because everything is done very well and "correct" (very fine tobaccos, etc). But sometimes too much perfection can get a bit boring, and that is kind of how I feel about this flake. For some, this will be a very well behaved virginia well worth its time. But without really being able to put my finger on it, I feel a bit impatient from the first impression I get. Sure, if you stick around with this one, age it, find the perfect pipe for it, etc., there will be nothing here to complain about.

Taste: The flavour I get is honey-sweetness and hey together with an earthy body that is also a bit sour and tangy and a little spicy here and there and some yeasty bready notes, overall fairly balanced. But the sweetness you get here is from topping, and I find it a bit onedimensional. But easy to smoke with little relights, and a pleasent sweet room note.

Overall, nothing stands out really, nothing to complain about, but for the same reason, as with people so also for tobacco, it can get a bit boring. But maybe I will have to update my evaluation if this grows on me, we'll see. It could be the sour quality of the (red?) virginias that puts me off, and if I feel like smoking a very smooth Mac Baren virginia with slight sugar topping, I will probably grab for Virginia no. 1 instead.

The Flake shape and cut into 3 rows. It uses straight and well-aged good quality Virginia. The taste is rich but not sweet as FVF, not complex and just little unnoticed grassiness. I also feel little spicy like tiny black pepper in the beginning and very subtle citrus taste in the end. Nicotine is in low level. Good for daily smoking especially for the beginners. May good to keep long for well fermented.

The tin is manufactured on Dec 2018.