Mac Baren Amphora Special Reserve No.2

I was lucky enough to get a sample of this one as it is not easy to come by in the states. This is a good aromatic and a great cherry aromatic IMO. To my tastes the bar is low on a good cherry aro as so many repulse me. The toppings in many typically come off as cough syrup or as something chemically designed to taste like cherry.

I realize that you probably just can't squeeze cherry juice on tobacco and expect to taste good or burn properly, so likely any cherry topping is something chemical that is designed to taste like cherry, but this one actually tastes like real cherries to me. There are other flavors involved, but overall it is cherry and it is good. My sample lasted probably 7 bowls and all were enjoyed. I won't go into detail of how the leaf tasted as it is something you really can't taste at all. This is an aromatic and it is all about the topping.

I don't enjoy this as much as GH Top Black Cherry which really isn't very cherry tasting either, but just tastes fantastic. I would say, however, that this will easily go down as my second favorite cherry aromatic. So three stars for this one and it could easily go 4 stars to someone who may think top black cherry tastes like soap or smells like an old lady's perfume. lol

Mac Baren - Amphora Special Reserve No. 2.

The pouch contains quite coarse ribbons and it unfortunately has a few twigs in there. On the plus side the moisture couldn't be any better. The smell from the pouch is just like the taste of the smoke: strong with cherries.

Special Reserve No. 2 lights well, and then gives a good burn, with a temperature that's quite cool. The flavour from the smoke's a bit like a cherry, cream, pie: there's oodles of the fruit, with some vanilla cream as well. The topping cancels out most of the tobacco tastes, it's rather heavy, thus, it smothers the tobaccos somewhat. It also makes the smoke bitey, unless it's tentatively sipped. The smoke's fairly thick and palpable, this would make it even better suited to the evening relaxation slot..... in my opinion.

The room-note's VERY cherry, and the nicotine's very mild.

Mac Baren Amphora Special Reserve No. 2? I think, even though it's quite a good smoke, the best feature of this is the note; it's really good fun! The note doesn't justify full marks though, so S.R.N.2 gets three stars, not four.

Recommended.

I've approached this blend with mixed expectations. On one hand, all the cherry aromatics I've tried before have been horrible, all characterized by a very chemical, syrupy, sickly sweet artificial taste. On the other, I've smoked most of the Amphora blends over time and not one has ever disappointed me. So there was some hope.

As a disclaimer, this review is based on an old pouch that already had 3-1/2 years of age upon unsealing, which is quite a lot for a non-aromatic, even more so for an aromatic.

The moisture content was perfect, maybe a hair on the dry side, but still great for smoking straight away. Easy to pack and light, requiring only a handful of relights. Just like the other Amphora blends, it burns really cool and it never bites or become harsh, even if pushed.

The taste is all about the cherries, which are quite muted given the age of the pouch, but still very noticeable and the aromatic taste doesn't seem affected by the age. I imagine that in a fresh pouch it has more depth. However, I've finally had the chance to smoke a cherry aromatic that tastes like actual cherries, free from any chemical or sickly sweet taste. Being an aromatic, the taste of the actual tobaccos takes second place but, if I dig really deep, the main thing that I pick up is a bit of nuttiness from the Burleys. The taste is consistent from start to finish and it burns down to ash.

Before this, based on past experiences, I thought that it's probably impossible to create a cherry aromatic that actually tastes good. This Amphora offering proved me wrong. I enjoy it quite a lot and I'm really curious to see one day how it tastes like from a fresh pouch. But even with a bit of age, it still tastes wonderful. Not something I would smoke regularly, but definitely one that I would consider when I'm in the mood for a cherry aromatic. It gave me hope that there are quality cherry aromatics out there.

One of the best tin/pouch notes out there. Delicious aroma of cherries that sort-of persists while smoking. Great ribbon cut. One of the better aromatic you can find, especially in a pouch.

For a couple of years I forswore aromatics. My very earliest years as a pipe smoker I mostly smoked subtly whisky flavoured blends that were pleasant enough, but as my fortune waned somewhat I turned to cheaper alternatives. They either didn't taste anything but gave me nicotine, or they didn't taste anything but gave me tongue bite. Then I discovered the pipe smokers of the Internet, such as this site, and English blends and Balkans and so on and on. A flavour revolution.

After awhile, when looking for other tobaccos, I ran across reviews of aromatics that actually sounded good. This was one of them, so I ordered a pouch and a new pipe and was pleasantly surprised.

The tobaccos themselves taste very mild; I find that the cherry flavourings tend to take over. They're sweet, somewhat sour and actually tastes like cherry. I get a bit of vanilla too. It's very mild when it comes to the nicotine as well.

I usually smoke this like a dessert, when I want something light. After dinner I usually go for my Nightcap, but sometimes I find I want to keep smoking after that, and then I'll reach for this. If I smoke among non-smokers, I often bring this along as the room note is very nice.

It comes in a pouch and is fairly dry - it needs no dry time. Store it in an airtight jar to retain moisture. I can puff away like there's no tomorrow on this without getting any tongue bite, but a slow cadence will get you a better flavour.