Mac Baren Amphora Original Blend

Surprised this old standard hasn't had a review already ... maybe we just take it for granted. Back in my sweet-lovin' younger days, I used to buy Amphora Green, or Special Black for preference. Haven't tried the Original in decades, but I was in a drugstore with a selection of about 2 tobaccos ... well, you know how it goes....

A pleasant surprise. In the package the scent was mild & agreeable, not too much of the characteristic Amphora flavour, with a subtle topnote that reminded me of new-mown grass (mint??), giving it a fresh smell. I could smell the Virginia, but according to the manufacturer, Burley predominates (chocolatey???) - which suits my taste. I couldn't detect a chocolaty taste, but then straight air-cured Burley doesn't taste chocolaty to me either. A little dry, but then it had probably been on the shelf for 2 years.

Enjoyable smoke, stronger than I remember other Amphora blends being. That may have been partly because it was dry & fast-burning. Good even burn to the bottom, almost no gummy dottle left. Easy on the tongue, typical of a good Cavendish. Room note pleasant, primarily straight tobacco, not heavily scented.

Technically Cavendish can be completely unflavoured (although I've never found one that is); this comes fairly close. More for the experienced smoker than the beginner, I think. I would buy it again, although I'll probably use what's left for some home blending.

Another Van Nelle-licensed product. Years ago when I first started pipe smoking this was my regular brand, but the blend has changed somewhat since those days when it was a true D&E product.

Available in the 50 gram pouch and 200 gram "can" in Canada.

I recall the D&E pouch aroma was very earthy.....now I detect what smells to me like a light rum topping, though nothing but tobacco in the room note. Carefully packed because it is rather coarse, it lights and smokes well in a small bore as long as you keep it tamped, with just one match.

The first half bowl smokes dry and smooth, but its character gets a bit aggressive on the tongue and back of throat in the last half. Best to puff on this slowly and lightly. Smoking this on its own is something I seldom did way back when, and something I seldom do today.....even less so with this modified baccy.

While I always keep this blend on hand, I use it to add some burley body to my black and gold cavendish blends. Smokes nicely mixed 25/75 with Captain Black Royal...which takes the nip out of both but gives a nice mellow smoke and a pleasant, but less intense room note as a bonus.

A D&E Original Blend, its not, so if you're expecting to relive the Amphora brown experience of yesteryear, forget it! But if you want a rather mellow smoke for at least the first half bowl, or want to add some burley body to another blend go ahead and give it a go.

It's an old friend Like Amphora Full Aroma. It's better than smoking candy sweet stuffs when you are not able to find something else. Or maybe it would be interesting to smoke a bowl of this in the memory of old days.

Fortunately I have possibilities to smoke better tobaccos.

Abstract: This review is based on the mixture called Original Blend. On the envelope are shown as components Burley, Cavendish and Orientals. As I said in my review about Park Lane N.7 by comparing the two tobaccos, AOB has a certain elegance, but lacks depth. The aroma and flavor is slightly nutty and chocolate, may remind the Gianduja. Nothing unpleasant, but the taste is as exciting as a harpsichord concert! This tobacco is often used in "home mixtures" as stabilizing strength and aromas. Excellent for "breaking" of a new pipe.

This, along with Full Aroma, is the best version of Amphora. It is cheap and easily found, so you don't have to search far and wide to find this (at least here, in Romania). The cut is almost like the Full Aroma, and the lenght of the tobacco makes it a little hard to fill a pipe, but not too hard. I couldn't detect any aroma in it, so I will put it more in the category of natural tobacco, with no chemicals in it. It isn't strong, so it is an excellent choice for beginners. But be warned, you need a lot of patience to smoke this one to the bottom, especially if you have a large bowl pipe. For me, it took one and a half hour to smoke it. It doesn't bite the tongue and it burns very dry, even though the tobacco is a little wet in the pouch. The room smell it is almost identical to Full Aroma. It is a good tobacco and recommended for every smoker. You can try this and I guarantee that it is not a waste of money.

Upon opening the pouch the smell was not exactly aromatic, more pungent like inexpensive cigars. The tobacco on the dry side but packed well. The burn was even and burn through with one tamping and re-light. A little tongue bite, I attribute to the dryness it burned quick and hot. Flavours were mellow notes of nutmeg and vanilla with some bitterness near the end. I may abandon the last 40g because its now has the moisture level of shredded news print and the taste following quickly. I imagine this is more a problem with freshness, I bought the pouch at a corner store in a pinch. I would try another pouch if I knew it was fresh and stored well.

I don't quite think that this is 4 star tobacco, but it is definitely worth a try. Like Casper, I am smoking the "Canadian" version, pouch saying Amphora Original, and coming apparently out of the Netherlands.

cut is rough shag, fairly fine, with a bit of very fine mixed throughout. Lighting and keeping lit couldn't be easier, and you can really puff on this without it biting, or even heating up the pipe much - a very good choice for a beginner.

Smooth and rich, just a little spice, but not much. I kind of wonder if just a little chocolate flavoring is added.

Very good with a cup of tea for sure. Or even a root beer. Undemanding tobacco and a classic. It's too bad the Imperial Tobacco version seems to be a dud.

Amphora Regular is a large cut, broken flake that smells like plain, pure tobacco smell. Somehow, it reminds me of Drum cigarette tobacco, but on the sweeter side.

Being the traditional danish/Dutch cavendish blend, it's rather on the dull side of things. But the bakkie is still a nice one.

It needs some rubbing out before filling; lighting is easy and it's not hard to maintain; it doesn't require a lot of attention. It smokes dry, I'll give it that.

It is a nice tobacco, it's just that it lacks that little kick in taste and nicotine, but it might prove too strong for beginners.

However,it really builds up a new pipe nicely...

Update: The new version I bought stateside is not near as strong as the sample I had 10 years ago. However, it is very bland, and the full aroma version does not have the same fruity topping as I remember. So I'm not going to upgrade the rating.

Extremely bitter and tasteless with a suprising dose of nicotine, like a cigarette. I can't believe the old stuff was like this, but I don't remember. The full aroma version masks this bitterness and is one star better, but I can't believe this is the same as the tobacco that used to be so popular, which when available I never really tried.