Mac Baren Amphora English Blend
(3.08)
Amphora's English blend utilizes a mixture of Latakia, Oriental, and Virginia tobaccos for an spicy, earthy, and well-balanced smoke.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams pouch |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.08 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 09, 2019 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The earthy, woody, smoky, leathery sweet Cyprian Latakia is the lead component, but not by much. The spicy, woody, earthy, mildly floral, herbal, vegetative, dry and sour, moderately buttery sweet Orientals provide close competition, and at times, almost upstages the Latakia. The grassy, tart and tangy citrusy, lightly tangy dark fruity Virginias are just above being a condiment in terms of effect, and not by its percentage in the blend. The strength is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium, while the taste just misses the medium mark. The nic-hit is almost as potent as the strength. Won’t bite or get harsh, and has only a light rough edge at times. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a mostly consistent, mildly sweet and smoky, savory flavor from top to bottom. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a lightly lingering pleasant campfire after taste and room note. By design, it’s an all day smoke with a little complexity and depth.
-JimInks
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Mac Baren - Amphora English Blend.
Having finished my tin of Chieftain Blacksmiths Blend I wanted another English on the go. My tobacco tray always has one of each genre opened! So, a few weeks ago I got this out of my stash.
It isn't too fine a ribbon, slightly coarse compared to some, it arrives a little damp in the pouch, and has an emphatic English aroma. Although a touch moist it needed no airing to fire up.
On to the smoke: lovely! The overall feeling is quite heavy, although not too caustic with Latakia. The Lat' leads, without question, but is smoothed by the Oriental leaf. This, rather than being too floral or perfume-like, has a more creamy, glutinous feel to it. The Virginia is definitely in last place. But, this is the usual, honest, case with my English smoking; I find the Va gets smothered! The smoke's cool and comes from a mid-speed, reliable, burn.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: full but I quite like it.
Amphora English Blend? Great. Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Having finished my tin of Chieftain Blacksmiths Blend I wanted another English on the go. My tobacco tray always has one of each genre opened! So, a few weeks ago I got this out of my stash.
It isn't too fine a ribbon, slightly coarse compared to some, it arrives a little damp in the pouch, and has an emphatic English aroma. Although a touch moist it needed no airing to fire up.
On to the smoke: lovely! The overall feeling is quite heavy, although not too caustic with Latakia. The Lat' leads, without question, but is smoothed by the Oriental leaf. This, rather than being too floral or perfume-like, has a more creamy, glutinous feel to it. The Virginia is definitely in last place. But, this is the usual, honest, case with my English smoking; I find the Va gets smothered! The smoke's cool and comes from a mid-speed, reliable, burn.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: full but I quite like it.
Amphora English Blend? Great. Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 01, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I respectfully disagree with oldermanpipe as Mac Baren has done an exceptional job with the Amphora lines and their H&H series line. This one is a very good, rich English and Per has hit it spot on. The cut is a fine ribbon with good quality leaf. The blend dosen't fight itself like some do. This would be a good entry level blend for some wishing to explore English blends. For a more detailed review see JimInks. Highly recommended!
Pipe Used:
Pete's, Savs, Stanwells
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking.pipes
Age When Smoked:
New to 2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 08, 2020 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
The colour of the pouch is rather tacky, but what counts is what's in the inside. In my opinion MacBaren has done more than a decorous job in reinstating the name of Amphora in the pipe tobacco world. And in my view this one is a very good example.
Contrary to the pouch the contents is sober, well balanced and I would even say elegant: a very simple, classic (and classy) blend of matured Virginias and Cyprus Latakia. And that's it! No Turkish or other Orientals!
Very English indeed, but with that Danish twist which tends to downplay the proportion and the strength of the Latakia leaf employed, making it less potent and, above all, less pungent. I'm honestly surprised at some of my esteemed colleagues in the sense of them noting the flavour of the Orientals. I know it also says so in this page description, but if you read the pouch's description, in this mixture there are only matured Virginias and just a touch of Latakia.
If anything this tobacco reminds me of another English style mixture with that Danish touch: Larsen's Selected Blend N°20. Latakia fans may find these tobaccos bland and lacking in character. I find them quite agreeable: tasty, harmonious, not at all overwhelming, and an excellent choice if you want to enjoy in public a good Virginia with that Latakia undertone, whilst avoiding the risk of being lynched.
Recommended for those wanting to experiment English style blends for the first time, or as a change of pace from the stronger an fuller versions of Balkans and English mixtures in order to enjoy a simple, uncomplicated yet surprisingly good smoke.
Contrary to the pouch the contents is sober, well balanced and I would even say elegant: a very simple, classic (and classy) blend of matured Virginias and Cyprus Latakia. And that's it! No Turkish or other Orientals!
Very English indeed, but with that Danish twist which tends to downplay the proportion and the strength of the Latakia leaf employed, making it less potent and, above all, less pungent. I'm honestly surprised at some of my esteemed colleagues in the sense of them noting the flavour of the Orientals. I know it also says so in this page description, but if you read the pouch's description, in this mixture there are only matured Virginias and just a touch of Latakia.
If anything this tobacco reminds me of another English style mixture with that Danish touch: Larsen's Selected Blend N°20. Latakia fans may find these tobaccos bland and lacking in character. I find them quite agreeable: tasty, harmonious, not at all overwhelming, and an excellent choice if you want to enjoy in public a good Virginia with that Latakia undertone, whilst avoiding the risk of being lynched.
Recommended for those wanting to experiment English style blends for the first time, or as a change of pace from the stronger an fuller versions of Balkans and English mixtures in order to enjoy a simple, uncomplicated yet surprisingly good smoke.
Pipe Used:
Brebbia
PurchasedFrom:
Joshua's Pipe Tobaccos
Age When Smoked:
N/A
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2020 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Mildly delicious blend. Tantric's review is about the consent of mine. Easy smoking, simply elegant blend of Virgina and Latakia. As a whole it has a polished mouthfeel to it. It smokes very mild, but, a notch or two above that in terms of flavor. It has that underlying Amphora taste and is an easy smoking all day blend. Mild sweetness, yeasty bread, occasional subtle spice and nut/wood, and smokey presence throughout.
Pipe Used:
Bebbria Puccini
Age When Smoked:
New
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