Mac Baren HH Vintage Latakia

A nice easy smoking English blend. Packs easily lights easily and smokes fresh. I actually prefer this one to the now discontinued vintage syrian: from what I recon hhvl lacks the dark fired Kentucky that was present in hhvs and imho this makes for a more mellow blend and allows the flavors from the virginias burleys and orientals to better come through. The latakia Is the main character in the blend but it doesn't overshadow the other components: a nice nutty flavor is still detectable from the burleys, the orientals give a nice underlying spiciness and the virginias bring everything together with a nice but not overpowering sweetness . (The description on the bag and on macbaren website doesn't state the presence of Kentucky in the blend and from what I taste none is present). In the end it's a nice EM, with the added bonus of its price: here in italy it is less than half the price of more popular English mixtures, okay, it's not as bold as some of them so if you are looking for a latakia bomb definitely look elsewhere, but if you give this one a try you will find a nice skillfully blended mixture that you can enjoy all day.

In order to really appreciate this Vintage Latakia, one should choose a long stem pipe with a rather small bowl. Then, the smoking session should be held in a cool but not windy corner. Finally, the smoker should be alone! When you open the tin, the smoker can immediately smell the Latakia particular aroma..and the hidden effect of the Oriental / Turkish tobacco giving to the whole ensemble a magical deep dimension! Virginia and Kentucky are here, ready to be burnt and to sweeten the burning wood sting taste of the Latakia. Burley tobacco is rather at ease.. It is here beside its favorite partners! Quietly, steadily and magically the smoker is lifted... The taste is specially delicious, no tongue bite, no heated smoke...just pure pleasure! But then why the small bowl? Why the smoker shouldn't take a big bowl since it is as exquisite as it is described?! The answer is simple: a pleasure in little dose is much more appreciated!

I´m surprised to see just 12 reviews of this tobacco, mostly from european smokers, at the moment of writing this review. This is an outstanding blend in it's class. Cyprian Latakia is the leading player followed closely by orientals and Virginias which dance harmoniously together in the background. From time to time appear brief but delicious nutty notes from the Burley. Burns cool and uniform with almost no flavor changes to the end of the bowl. This blend has earned a place in my rotation, and it ages wonderfully.

awesome tobacco! ready to fill your pipe without rubbing or waiting to dry and burns great. its flavours seem so balanced to me that nothing gets over-sensed and can't be overwhelming so it can be easily an everyday-all day smoke! damn! i'm filling the pipe again ))