Mac Baren HH Burley Flake

I really enjoy all of the HH series and how each of them bring something different to the table. I purchased some Burley Flake in 2019 and cellared it and decided it was time to give it a try.

The jar note after 3 years is very mild. Just a little earth, but not the usual barn yard of many burley forward blends. The moisture was perfect on the flakes now and they are easy to deal with, either folding in larger bowls or breaking up for smaller chambers. Lighting was easy and it burns really well.

The primary taste range in this one to me is mid-range. There is just a little note of sweetness on top, but mostly nutty/bakery flavors to me. Not much on the low-end. The nic level seems just right as this is one of the few flakes in the series that I could really see coming into my rotation as an all day smoke.

The tobacco shines to me in a larger flatter bowl where you can use the fold/stuff method, it slows down the burn and this is usually one of the longest burning blends that I smoke. There is no tongue bite and it burns cool unless really pushed.

The room-note is tolerable to the wife's judgement especially compared to the darker versions.

HH burley flake

This blend, comes in thinly cut flakes, that need little drying time, although I did let the three flakes I smoked sit for 10 minutes just to ensure it was ready.

Upon first light I got a slight hay like taste, that soon morphed into a full on burley nuttiness assault, wow this tastes amazing, I smoked two bowls of this in my MM general which fit two flake inside. The taste is out of this world, a general and even nuttiness that continues to grow deeper as the smoke progresses, never harsh or overpowering.

This blend stayed well lit and I needed little re lights I think two max, I did not get any cocoa taste from the smoke, more crispy toast. I bought this blend in bulk from the b&m liberty tobacco. I immediately placed it into a jar upon purchase around mid may.

This blend is a medium strength blend, that I can imagine with age will sweeten slightly. Great fall going into winter blend, perfect accompaniment to a nice cup of coffee.

This is a blend I can see myself adding to the rotation.

I have to agree with my esteemed colleagues before me. This is a very good tobacco, full of nutty flavors, rich in taste, very straightforward in its structure and composition (Burley being the predominant taste, with a discreet yet eloquent support from the Virginia and Kentucky). It's smooth, harmonious, easy to pack as it is (folding the flakes or rolling them up), but it can also be broken up with no hassle. It's a medium strength smoke, not as sweet and nutty as Golden Extra and not as dry and formal as London Blend (both, by the way, excellent Burley smokes). Perfect for an autumn evening, when the wind starts to get cold and crisp. A highly recommendable, natural tasting smoke.

Excellent presentation, with its neat square tin containing a bright gold foil that holds two neat rows of dark brown tobacco. Looking at the slices, even the least practiced smoker knows what they’re going to get: dark brown burley, a few streaks of tawny and golden Virginia. The scent from the tin is understated, even faint; just the merest suggestion of figs. Perfectly typical of tobacco, and I detect no topping at all. The mildness of the scent might be attributable to the tobacco’s youth; my tin is dated March of this year.

I smoked two bowls back to back (during a long-ranging conversation with a friend), which tells you something about this tobacco’s strength. Both fold-and-stuff and rubbing it out produce a nicely smokable bowl, even with the minimal drying time I gave it. The array of flavors quickly presents itself, and it is classic burley. This is the dark, earthy type of burley, not the nutty taste of lighter burley. Hardwood and earth, a little smoke, but nothing like the floral, complex smokiness of latakia— rather a clean, salty smoke that takes the fore on the retrohale. I associate a certain citrus flavor with burley, almost like an orange peel, but here it cones through only in the tingle on the tongue that you get from squeezing orange peels, and a little bitter pith.

Flavors remain consistent from the top to the bottom of the bowl. That’s about it. For all the boutique presentation, this is a simple and straightforward smoke, easy to handle and simple to enjoy— if you like burley.

If you don’t know whether you like burley, I think this would be a good place to start for an idea of what a classic burley tastes like. I liked it, although the sourness and citrus tingle were a little too much. Burley will never be my favorite tobacco, but this scratches the occasional itch I get for it. I would probably cube-cut this and sell it in bulk for a fraction of the cost, but I’m sure the quality wouldn’t make that feasible. I will stash this tin away and put some age on it. It has the makings of a good smoke down the road. As it is, it’s merely decent.

As to my present sojourn over the landscape of Burleys, the path travelled, being wide and diverse, has presented some interesting geography along the way to say the least. The road now leads me to yet another milestone stop. This time, with pipe in hand, I opted to bring my tastings wagon to a halt at the door front of the great house of Mac Baren.

First and foremost, the Mac Baren Tobacco Company is worth admiring, in my opinion. With its core operating philosophy and customer-centric values, Mac Baren has established itself as a brand of choice for countless discriminating fine tobacco enthusiasts. Worth noting, Mac Baren is the largest independently owned, family-operated, and successful tobacco firms in existence today. The inception of the company goes way back to 1887. A long-standing Danish-based company, whom we find operating behind a Scottish Gaelic moniker, is somewhat puzzling. Being of Scotch origins myself, of course, I personally show no prejudices.

Mac Baren professes to be unhampered by your typical heavy-handed corporate governance. Generations of the Halberg family (the owners) have created an environment that is postured to be inventive while supporting investments in researching and developing products that appeal the great masses of discriminating pipe smokers. Most importantly the firm is renowned for its canny ability to source and integrate supreme blending tobaccos from every corner of the globe. Housing perhaps one of greatest modern day blenders, Mac Baren presents it’s highly successful HH product series on the laurels of its creator Per Jensen.

The HH Series of blends pride themselves on being unadulterated mixtures prepared with the top-notch natural elements, free of the tainted influences of independently applied toppings or casings. Per Jensen’s ultimate vision for the HH Series line, for which Mac Baren undertook extended development time and experimentation, was to create a collection of pure, original, high quality, blended tobacco offerings.

For all practical purposes, one from this series, HH Burley Flake is typical of the subject genre. A natural mix comprised of assorted Burley leave which impart the essential rich cocoa, woody flavors, choice sweet citrusy Virginia stock, and a hints of Dark Fire Kentucky for spice and lower notation. Although practical it is not. This finely pressed flake is exceptional with respect to the major markers. Mechanically pressing tobacco allows the inherent flavors to ferment and blend together more harmoniously. The science or art, if you will, regarding how much tonnage and time to apply is a matter of pure experimentation. HH Burley Flake is a classic example of tweaking the process to perfection.

The flakes themselves can be easily folded and inserted into the pipe bowl or rubbed out into gorgeous pillow of rich tobaccos. My personal preference is the latter, given that the tobacco packs nicely; sitting dense and snuggly within the cavity of the bowl. The moisture level fresh from the tin, in this case, was ideal for a pleasurable session of smoking.

Tinned in a handsome square container, wrapped in a golden envelope, I found rich, beautifully formed strands characterized by an array of variegated brown Burleys, golden strips of Virginia and selectively placed chards of the DFK. Visually I could easily discern that this was a quality tobacco. In specific, the blend configuration appeared to be Burley dominant @ 80%. The Virginia, the second primary ingredient, is placed uniformly across the pressed pieces at @ 15%, while the DFK takes its place in a sparsely scattered pattern. I have to believe the final ratios were played with intensively to arrive at this distinct recipe. The ensuing taste experience, as I was to discover, proved that to hold true.

The resting tin note of this HH Burley Flake blend is exquisite. An all natural bouquet characteristic of delicious earthly woody Burley, mellow tangy Virginia hays, dark prune-like fruit notes, with just a tinge of remarkable spiciness. The prevailing room note upon smoking is unquestionably bold and strong; almost cigar-like to my estimation. Characteristically, the aroma is a thick, deep and robust, a heady perfume of sweet, soured wood with a touch of pungent tartness. It’s reminds me of that old classic pipe smell that smacks one rather smartly upon entering a typical cigar/pipe establishment; delightfully enveloping the senses.

The note utterly permeates the room being longstanding and eminent. The hang time is, like I said, reminiscent of a cigar-like presence. In smoking this blend, gently sipping, one can’t but help savoring its lavish character. The nose on HH Burley Flake brings a deep satiating feeling that any discriminating tobacco enthusiast will thoroughly relish. Frankly, the fragrance of the blend simply “wowed” me.

I conducted three individual tastings all from within a larger capacity briar pipe. A fine blend like this, in my opinion, naturally bids to be burned in such as manner to truly and experience the inherent richness and nuisance of optimum flavor. The taste of HH Burley Flake moves around beautifully and is simply a delightful experience. The smoke produced is a heavy thick cloud of zesty brilliance.

The delicately sweet but staunch woodiness of the Burley takes front stage on this one as one would expect. There are constant light cocoa over notes, with deep, dank, earthy tones of dark fruits folding nicely in the center. I wasn’t getting too much of the standard heavy nuttiness one typically finds in Burley, however. Furthermore, there is a lovely incensey, floral, spruce-like spirit also dancing around in a lovely pattern with this one. To state that the smoke has character would be an understatement. It has charisma.

A Burley is a Burley is a Burley; right? Not so. By comparison to the comparable blends, Mac Baren’s leave is truly superb and stands out among its peers. Granted that the essential and common Burley attributes are there, HH Burley’s elements are unique in a very pleasurable vain. It has a compelling and magnetic nature. As my present tasting expedition has crossed over land of several matched blends from different manufacturers, I can honestly say Mac Baren’s Burley strains sit on the high road above others.

The use of the Virginia is an interesting one. It is presented on the very bottom underneath the dominant Burley producing a balanced, elegantly sweet woody, tangy hay like progression to the extended taste. Occasionally the Virginia does show proud, but for the most part is kept consistently at a well metered presence. The very spicy top note from DFK moves in a lovely manner as a precise trailing accent persistently in attendance draw to draw.

There was some mouth dryness that I experienced with this particular blend as I mulled the smoke around in my mouth rolling over the taste. Nonetheless, the flavor had an enduring effect long after the smoke was exhaled; a dry sweet woody essence. This was remedied by having a cool glass of water handy to offset and refresh. Nothing too obtrusive or detracting by any means, but the dryness I consistently noticed.

HH Burley Flake burns cool, very slowly, and evenly. Neither bite, nor sting whatsoever subsequently. It’s long lasting smoke, one that I was able to unwind and truly savor. And let me tell you, this was wonderfully pleasant and indulging experience. I did note that the smoke seemed to become thicker and therefore the much more pronounced about 2/3 the way down the bowl. A few relights and very light tamping are required even so. Overall, the cake was well centered and burned uniformly to the very bottom of the pipe bowel.

I suppose one could smoke this blend casually all-day long. For me, however, it begs of a shoeless relaxed sit back in my favorite recliner; a slow sipper. Partaking of HH Burley Flake in such a manner, this top-notch mix will definitely tantalize your senses with its smooth, full and rich character. Accordingly, one must be thoughtful and respectful of the quality of this recipe. Give it justice and smoke it suitably; truly experience what it has to offer.

Indisputably, Mac Baren HH Burley Flake a fabulous quality crafted blend overall. In retrospect, I am delighted that my navigation over the lay of Burley brought me to this particular bend in the road. I simply loved it and suspect any Burley enthusiast would as well. I highly recommended you make this particular stop along the way. With confidence, I can assert that at the end of my travels, Mac Baren HH Burley Flake will finds it’s well earned place in my standard rotation of favorite Burleys.

Tannin would be the closest thing I could associate with the flavor in this blend. It’s not so much complex, but rather mysterious in an odd way. It’s a blend that you need to really focus on. And it always has you “ on your tippy toes trying to see just a little more into the window, but there’s also a glare in the glass when you get there”....

This is a very nice looking flake and it can be enjoyed fresh out of the tin, even if it’s a little moist, but drying it made it taste better to me.

The flavor takes a little bit into a bowl to develop - at the halfway point it gets better in my opinion.

It’s mild and light in flavor and strength but there is a little nic hit if you retrohale it enough.

I find that there is something woody about this blend. I know people often describe tobacco as woody- and this one takes the cake! It’s a flavor I’d say akin to smoldering bark . It burns nice and slow and although I do get some deep notes and a very slight sweet spot here and there, it still leaves me wanting more of something. Bold Kentucky has deep tones and sweetness and a nic hit other tobaccos could only dream to achieve. Burley flake is maybe quite bland, possibly can be a little bit flat sometimes. It’s very woody with a rough tannin walnut flavor.

I personally would take the other hh offerings any day over this one. I can’t decide weather I hate this blend, or wether it will grow on my as others have in the past. I’m not jumping on the band wagon to give this 4 stars. When I read the reviews before I packed this for a smoke, I was thinking I hit the jackpot. I was sadly taken back a bit, and I was shocked so many 4 star reviews on this 2 star blend. And keep in mind, I really do want to like this blend , and I’m trying my best to search for the good things here. Every time I pack this, I think “ maybe this is the bowl that I’ll finally get to see through the window clearly”.... but it hasn’t happened yet !

Update- I don’t hate this blend. It’s become evident that it’s just a mild burley treat that I can puff on and enjoy. Being so mild you would think to maybe use a bigger pipe for this blend. But this really was much better to me being smoked in a small little thin stemmed bent briar with a bowl that’s about 1 1/4” deep and maybe 3/4” wide. It makes a big difference in a good way for me at least. Definitely growing on me as I become more familiar with this new blend. I am actually satisfied after having a small bowl.

This is a very nice burley flake indeed. The tin note is of semi-sweet cocoa with an earthy/woody aroma. Mixed in is some brown sugar with a hit of smoke and very subtly tanginess, probably from the Virginians.

The flakes were all uniform in size and color. I broke up all the flakes up at once and then jarred them all up. The moisture level was spot on. This is a very smooth light bodied smoke and will not overwhelm your senses. No bite or harsh spots to be found.

I get mostly the earthy cocoa notes and some Kentucky once in a while. The Virginia flavors are hard to pick out for me although I know its there from the tin note. I like Solani Aged Burley Flake better as I find this offering to be less sweet more earthy and not as deep as ABF. If you can't get ABF this is a fine replacement.

Bang! Another Instant Classic! No sooner is it released than Mac Baren’s HH Burley Flake joins Old Dark Fired and Bold Kentucky at the head of the class! Though it’s not so easy to find these days, BF is easier to find than Stonehaven, and it’s a fine substitute!

I actually watched and waited for this stuff for some time, finally found it in bulk at my “local” tobacconist’s (only 45 minutes away…). Bag note is subdued dark chocolate over dark fruit leather. The well-formed flakes are mostly dark brown with lighter striations and flecks ranging to blonde. It handles, loads, lights, and smokes down evenly and easily, like a fine cigar, when it’s folded and stuffed loosely, right from the bag. Initial scents and tastes are rich, sweet, fermented, air cured brown VAs, possibly some stoved red, and darkly fermented Burley, with just a brooding hint of Ky. I suppose the lightest flecks in the blend might be a smidgeon of flue cure VA, and this could account for the “open” nature of the smoke, especially at first. It starts out soft, like a caress, then it gets richer and more focused, and it winds up more like a deep, full body massage. Right nice. For all the Burlley, and the rich, deep and deepening tastes, BF is pretty darn sweet, top to bottom. But don’t worry, Burley lovers, there are bitters aplenty, as well. Scents and tastes run parallel, top to bottom. A #4 bowl lasts me a good long while, and I am pulling for the last ¾. Strength is more strong than medium. Tastes are more full than medium. Room note is nice, Aftertaste is the best of the smoke.

Based on experience, you'l probably have to search it out. IMO, it's well worth the effort. 4 stars.

I love MacB blends, and I don't think I've met one that I don't like - at least I don't remember any MacB blend that I don't like. When I heard that MacB was coming out with a burley flake blend, I got all excited. Golden Extra in flake form? The return of the beloved BLB, but in flake form? Two awesome buley blends to be sure, but when I read the ingredients and saw "dark fired Kentucky" I knew this was gonna be different. I figured maybe it was a burley companion to their ODF blend, and thus it had to be awesome. I ordered five of the big tins on the assumption that it was gonna be awesome.

Guess what? It's AWESOME. I fished the package out of the mail box, ripped it open, and cracked a tin: burley goodness mixed with hay and...smoke or ketchup? OK, the burley companion to ODF seemed likely. Rubbed out one of those beautiful brown flakes - a classic MacB flake to be sure - filled my pipe and fired it up. Tobacco Nirvana!!!. So many similarities crossed my mind: Granger in it's heyday, the new ERR, Solani, Wessex - but so many differences. The burley companion to ODF? Sorta. More seasoned tongues and more experienced reviewers may get a similarity to another blend out there, but I mostly get a fantastic burley blend that is different than any other.

The spice of the dark-fired bridges the cocoa nuttiness & molasis of the marvelous burley and the soft & pleasant hay/clover quality of the Virginias, but that bridge doesn't stand out like some post-modern monstrosity - it's an old ivy covered bridge that blends in with the Virginia hay and clover fields. The burley goodness takes the forefront, but the Virginias and dark-fired refine it. I get a little of the MacB honey topping (which I still say is some version of mead)...but not as heavy as some of their other blends. MacBite? At one point I began puffing like a freight train and not even a tingle on the tongue. Presentation? Classey: that embossed golden MacB liner lovingly cradles the traditionally perfect MacB flakes.

I've only smoked three bowls of it, so I'm still wrapping my mind around it. Still, I'd easily give this four stars. An all day smoke? For sure. Will it hold your interest? Yezzir. Is the room note nice? Yezzir, very pipe-like... but also a wee bit cigar-like. If you've never been able to cozy up to burley-based OTC blends, give this a shot cuz I think you'll appreciate the refinement. If you're an old-school burleyphile like me I think you're gonna love it cuz it takes burley tobacco to a whole nuther level. In short, a monster blend well-worth every penny. I'll be buying a lot of this over the years.