Mac Baren Amphora Full Aroma

Having so thoroughly enjoyed Amphora original, I was looking forward to trying this. As it turned out, I still enjoy the original, but wouldn't buy more of this one. I found it just kinda "blah." The blend is not very aromatic; however, a topping could be detected. I got fruits and floral, but what turned me off is I also got a bit of that Play Doh (that is Plasticine for those of you not in the states) essence that I really dislike.

I also found this to be quick to bite even while in the zone. That is not to say it did not have any good qualities. It lit and stayed lit quite easily and it was quite hardy for an aromatic. As the topping is light, there was abundant tobacco flavor that kept you from thinking that you were smoking candy flavored hot air.

Even with these good qualities, I did not enjoy this blend in the least. I am hanging two stars on it as it has its fans and not everyone will get that play doh type essence that I am so averse to.

Amphora is my time machine. It takes me back to 1973 when I started smoking my pipe. Only then it was made by Douwe Egbert. I loved the green pouch Rich Aromatic. It was my regular smoke until I was wooed away by Lady Latakia.

Now MacBaren makes the blend. And the green pouch Rich Aromatic is no more.

So I tried the red pouch to see if the time machine could take me back to 1973.

Alas, it did not.

I found this new version of the venerable Amphora to be essentially tasteless. The pouch aroma was still the wonderful smell of classic Amphora. But where was the delicious taste? At best it was only very faintly there.

A half-dozen different pipes I tried to see if I could capture that satisfying flavor. Regrettably, it was not to be had.

Reading the other reviews, I can only deduce that perhaps my tastebuds are the culprit. That in my old age I've developed a dumb tongue.

Whatever it is, I was sadly, very sadly, disappointed. One cannot relive the past.

I will give this 2 stars out of deference to my fellow pipers who so highly rated this blend.

I did discover that 7 parts Amphora red and 3 parts latakia do make a very tasty sweet-smokey pipe. You might want to try that.

Definitely not a full aromatic, despite the name. Chocolate and orange shine through the pouch and sort of persist throughout the bowl. A decent semi-aromatic for virginia lovers.

Bag note is very pleasant with promise of coco and sweetness. Course ribbon cut with some chunks. I defiantly get the burley and the Virginias and some Kentucky, if there are Orientals in there I am not finding them. I find it burns hot to the tongue and the back of my throat Even when softly sipped. To me its a softened up drugstore blend with better quality tobacco. Defiantly has a coco taste especially as you get to the halfway point it sweetens up and the coco is right there . If you like chocolate aromatics its probably a good blend for you. I find it a bit too harsh for an all day smoke but once and a while it would be a nice smoke.

I really enjoyed the subtle sweet flavor of Amphora's Original blend (in spite of my review going AWOL), so I wanted to try the Full Monty (aroma speaking). The pouch has some fancy gold packaging that helps elevate it beyond those cheap pouches on the market, the tobacco being of great quality is also at play here. The initial aroma is sour and fruity, but not in the advertised chocolate confectioner's playground.

The cut really showcases quality with some nice chunky unbroken strands that need some rubbing, great moisture, and isn't sticky from topping. The Burly comes through and compliments the orange well enough, though I still did not get much chocolate once lit. The nicotine is a bit below medium and there isn't much bite. Midway through the bowl it got a kinda samey for me, so while it is probably a good smoke, I had to go with 2 stars in difference to hoping it was more an Aromatic.

I really don't get what makes this a "full" aroma, as I found it to be less of an Aromatic that their Original blend, and while it lists a whole bunch of flavor profiles, I could easily see this as a Burley blend with more tobacco taste than frills.

Amphora-As the name testifies-"Am for another tobacco". This comes across as a smooth tasting (floral notes) and mild aromatic. However you'll soon find out that it leaves the tongue nipped and the pallatte a little worn out. Nothing worse in a pipe tobacco than having to wait as a result of tough treatement for the next pipe!