Mac Baren Presbyterian Mixture

Finally got to this classic. I can see why it has lasted the test of time. Loved the colorful variation to this blend. Just the right moisture from the tin so it's ready to smoke. This is a nice English blend that smells and acts like the usual suspects of Skiff Mixture, Squarden Leader and Peterson's Old Dublin. However, there is a twist, a unique smell that defines Presbyterian Mixture. There is a tangy tart smell that also translates to the taste of each bowl and last throughout the smoke. Which ever tobacco this is in the blend that is lending this flavour, is quite dry and gives the blend a flat musky taste. I assume its the smoky flat taste of the Latakia tips. Every single bowl has left my mouth extremely dry with a lingering flat aftertaste. Other than that, I find no fault with this great blend. I do recommend it.

You can expect a musky room note that is not bad but won't be celebrated by a spouse.

I read some of the reviews before purchasing a tin. I'm not a constant smoker of Latakia blends because I find them...eventually to be too much to take.

I'm on my second day with this and I'm really enjoying it and it's not fighting back. I'm not getting all of those supposed nuances of flavoring and complexity, just a real nice Latakia blened smoke. To put those who say there is no Latikia in this, there is. End of story. If you think you can't taste any, go to a neurologist because you occipital nerve complex has failed you. This is a nice, nice choice for the occasional Latakia smoker or the one who wants to stay with it for a while and not get beat up.

This is one of those blends that, for a while, has just barely and perceptibly registered on my consciousness. However, a few folk on a forum I frequent have been smoking this recently so it managed to register a little louder within the merry confines of my ill-used cranium and, after a little inquiry, I decided to purchase a tin.

The smell of mild creosote confirms this definitely has latakia in it. The fine ribbons were easy to pack and light. The first few smokes were a little rough, might have been me smoking it too quick or not giving it time to ghost my pipe. In later smokes though, it did calm down and settled into a pleasant, relatively mild latakia taste with a hint of sweetness. It does require taking slowly though, a little too quick and it can get quite rough.

A quite pleasant, sweet smoke then that does require a little care in smoking slowly. I am surprised there seems to be some debate as the lat content as, to me anyway, it's patently obvious that it's in there even if it is far from being a lat bomb. Could be, of course, that I've got sensitive tastebuds and probably why I got a little roughness too but don't worry folks, it's in there. Anyway, on the whole, a decent smoke that isn't wildly exciting but earns itself a nice three stars.

Did not like the plastic wrapping that the tobacco came in. For me, this detracts from the authenticity of the product. Liked the smell of the tinned raw tobacco - fruity with depth of character. The baccy packed well - certain amount of moisture and pliability in there, the moisture came back later to gurgle a bit and steam on the tongue. However, there is an usual taste and aroma in there that is out of the ordinary. I like it! She who must be obeyed does not like the room note - so generally smoke this outside - no great hardship. This obviously has great heritage and in these days of econimic un-certainty it is nice to draw on the politicians of the past. I have smoked this with a good glass of scotch running alongside it and it is loveley. This, in my opinion, should be sipped gently and allow the smoke to come to the nose - it's double the pleasure. Very good gentle smoke - unusual aroma - like wet leather. Only drawback is that my baccy is moist and as such gurgles and steams a bit - some tongue bite in there but not bad. I have taken the baccy out of the plastic and hopefully this will help with moisture. Good smoke, would buy it again. I think there is world of pipe smokes out there so may try something else and come back to it. Try it!

Tin had about a year and a half on it before I popped it. No reason other than I got distracted by other blends and found this in the stash sitting as pretty as a picture. Open it up, and it's sweet and sour all at once. No expert by any means - I can't say what leaves are doing what. Whatever is happening, I like it. I love the sweet and sour combination that plays back and forth in the nose and on the palate. Can have a tendency to burn a little hot and scorch the tongue. That's about the only thing that I can think of as a drawback. My tin needs just a bit of air before burning properly, but nothing too drastic. Not an amazing tobacco for me - but definitely not bad. I'll keep a tin around for a change of pace.

They say this is one of the benchmarks of a classic English blend. I find it a great mild,contemplative smoke. Upon opening the tin your greeted by a plastic bag *which has the tobacco inside*, the sweetness of Virginias,tempered by a nice dash of Orientals and a smidgen of Latakia,it is a tad damp so I recommend you dry it a while and use a pipe fitted with a 9mm filter system. This is an easy to pack,light and smoke baccy that doesn't burn the tonge.if you take it easy. Not that easy to get hold of,so let's hope it doesn't go the way of Balkan Sobranie. O highly reccomend this blend as I think its quite true to the original blend.

I"ll get to the point quick since this blend has been reviewed extensively, the latakia and virginias inter play almost on every puff the orientals provide a little bit of spice more towards the last third of the pipe, the nicotine is about right on this one for me, the room note is tolerable, in the latakia spectrum this is almost to me a morning mix by this I mean do not expect a latakia bomb, subtlety is the intention on this one, probably created originally to be smoked all day without distracting the smoker. Would I buy Presbyterian yes...but is not something that I would actively try to stock it in the cellar, there's nothing in it that makes it stand out from the competition. (My tin has been sitting on the cellar since Oct. 2003)

Being a staunch Lutheran, I was a bit cautious to try such a Calvinistic blend. 🙂 However, I find I like it a great deal. The Latakia is there but not overly pronounced. I tasted very little sweetness in it, but there is a bit of spice which causes tingling on the tongue. It isn't very complex and the flavor is consistent throughout the bowl. It is a comfortable smoke overall and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. An old classic that I recommend--but not to the novice.

A mild/medium english blend that produces a creamy not in your face smoke. I too found that this blend does better if you give it time to breathe fresh air for about 10mins or so before packing. After reading some of the reviews here I was a little timid to give this blend a smell out of the tin, but can now share that its not an aweful smell just one that its either a win or lose depending on who you are. (Reminded me of high grade cattle feed) and thats not a bad thing, so to each their own in that department. Overall its a cool smoking medium to light English that will make a nice change up if your looking to mix things up from your everyday.