Mac Baren Presbyterian Mixture

After reading all the reviews on Presbyterian Mixture I felt compelled to see for myself what "some" of the hype was about since the majority of users gave it three or four stars. Still, there were objectional reviews as well. I finally broke down & purchased a tin. I concur with those who claimed it had some bite to it... noticed that right off. Whether it contains Latakia or some specially treated Virginia concoction is academic. Taste, flavor?... the tin I received had none. Just burning harshness & bite. Just a flavorless burning of "something" that didn't even taste like tobacco of any kind.

What I'm always looking for in a good blend is an appealing flavor with some punch & I found very few redeeming or alluring qualities in this mixture. I found it to be lacking in flavor, smoke volume, aroma & it was really wimpy in the Vitamin N department. I found the room note to be fairly objectionable & it smoked the same from start to finish & had an extremely fast burning rate. A full bowl didn't last very long. What I am unable to fathom is that almost half the ratings received four stars. You wonder how this can possibly happen but here we are at the most divisive opinions on any blend that's been reviewed. One wonders how this can possibly happen.

After this most recent trial with PM, I find no purpose in sampling any more of these types of blends... this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I certainly wasn't crazy about this one. I was unable to discern the Orientals or Virginia flavor because the way the leaf was processed, it detracted rather than added any flavorful dimension to this blend. This will be a tin that will be sealed in a plastic bag within an ammunition container to maintain freshness in the event I might want to give it another try while I'm still above ground but if I don't take or have that opportunity, I won't regret it. I suppose it's possible that I could have gotten a bad tin. If it were possible, I'd be interested in having it analyzed.

I also contend that the lower & even some obnoxious reviews this mixture received is because many were expecting something different... something better because of many good reviews. FWIW, so was I. Since I don't inhale & choose not to pave my lungs with nicotine asphalt tar & take a chance of coming down with COPD or lung cancer, I opt for the stronger blends that will absorb into the membranes. So, I prefer the Kentucky/Burley, VA/Per, VA/Bur/Per, VA/Bur, a good Balkan or even a reasonably stout VA blend. I'm going to be generous and give this one two stars only because I can't split one in half but honestly, I've never disliked any tobacco blend as much as I disliked this one & it is the only one I've ever graded with less than two stars.

Rather than recommend Presbyterian Mixture, I'd advise one to try it at their own discretion based on reviews other than mine. You might find a tin for a ten like me & might possibly share my feelings about a wasteful expenditure or you may find it to your liking. Would I purchase another tin? No but will use my blending tobaccos to alter the taste & try to finish it off. However, we're all of differing DNA, so, as to how one smokes a pipe, his taste preferences, "shaken or stirred" & considered quality & value of any blend should be respected.

I value & respect the opinions of other pipers who found this blend "pleasurable" & just because it didn't ring "my" bell certainly doesn't mean anything... just didn't work for me. Although being somewhat of a dissenter who gave this blend a fair trial, I felt obligated to impart my evaluation, regardless. My apologies if anyone is offended.

I'm a fan of English mixtures. I love orientals and latikias within English blends so much and thats what makes me pick one up every time I order. I had high hopes and expectations for this one after reading reviews and as soon as it came in I popped it open.

It smells like an English blend. I pick up the latakia and orientals when I sniff at it but its strangely earthy. Or earthier than usual I guess. It caught me off guard. When smoking, it smells pretty good. Not anything out of the ordinary but smells like most English blends room notes. Pretty enjoyable on the room note.

Now I don't know what it is, but there is something about this blend that just really throws my palate off. This is where my overall view of this blend comes from. I'm not a fan to be honest. Its one of those things that you can't really explain other than just saying "I don't really like it". Theres not one thing that stands out that I don't like, theres just something there that I personally don't enjoy. My final conclusion: I want to enjoy it but I just can't. Again, I don't know why and I can't pick out what it is.

I love that this tobacco has a cool story and history to it which is why I got it in the first place (I'm a sucker for tobaccos with a cool story or history). As much as I want to be a fan of this blend I just can't. And I hate it. That being said, I don't NOT recommend it to people. You should totally try it as you should any tobacco you want to regardless of the reviews. But this tin was not my favorite and its hard for me even now to finish a bowl of it.

Soft blend? Ideal mixture? To date, this is the only mixture that has made me feel nauseated. I really wanted to like this blend given it's reputation, history, and noted quality. Unfortunately in the end I was forced to mix the last portion of the tin with my beloved Nightcap to make it tolerable enough to avoid wasting it & tossing it in the trash bin. Sour, harsh, and biting. A nicotine punch in the unmentionables.

Short & sweet: If I could find the sadists responsible for this blend, I'd burn down their offices and salt the earth like the Romans at Carthage. Vae Victis.

Didn't care for this at all. Harsh, hot and what little flavor I found reminded me of smoldering rubber. I know many love this blend and I'm sorry to trash it but these are my honest impressions of this one. Horrid.

I just had to try this because, well, I am a Presbyterian.

I wish I had liked it more. Awesome fragrance out of the tin - figgy and dark fruit, but overly moist - wouldn't stay lit and just tasted strong with no particular flavor dimension. The burning qualities improved after drying a bit and with that slightly more flavor came through, but still pretty one-dimensional to my taste - mostly just strong and ashy. Perhaps an earlier version of this blend was better, but the tin I got was not worth the trouble or the price.

From this day forward, I'll keep my reviews short & simple. Presbyterian Mixture, 'for me" was abhorrent. One of the worst tobaccos I've ever sampled. Most awful mixture of approximately 100 samples to date.

After reading all the reviews on Presbyterian Mixture I felt compelled to see for myself what "some" of the hype was about since the majority of users rated it fairly high. I finally broke down & purchased a tin. I concur with those who claimed it had some bite to it which put my tongue in a sling for an extended period! Whether it contains Latakia or some specially treated Virginia concoction is academic. What I'm always looking for in a good blend is an appealing flavor with some punch & I found very few redeeming or alluring qualities in this mixture. I noticed one reviewer compared it to the BSOM & I pondered... where is he from & what has he been smoking besides the Presbyterian Mixture? Myself?... I wouldn't even give this one away for fear of reprisal.

I found it to be lacking in flavor, smoke volume, aroma & it was really wimpy in the Vitamin N department. I seldom trash a mixture without trying to blend it with something to "fix" it. However, after only one bowl I instantly knew this was unredeemable & it quickly ended up being hauled off with the rest of the garbage because I was afraid it might possibly end up in my coffin. I had no desire to go for bowl number two as I deemed it horrid, an abomination & appalling that Planta would even claim this tobacco! I've grown & smoked tobacco that wasn't all that good but still, better than this. Honestly... I thought it was the worst tobacco I've ever sampled in my life & the only one I've ever given a sole mark. But that's just me & I'm glad that many find it tasty & satisfying but obviously, it certainly isn't my cup of tea.

I found the room note to be objectionable & it smoked the same from start to finish & had an extremely fast burning rate... a full bowl doesn't last very long. Rather than recommend, or "praise" Presbyterian Mixture, I advise one to try it at their own discretion. You might find a tin for a ten & like me, you might have mixed emotions about your possible, wasteful expenditure. Did I end up with a tin of leftover garbage that was scooped from a dirty floor with a pooper scooper from a honey wagon? Would I purchase another tin? No but we're all of differing DNA with varying taste receptors, so, as to how one smokes any type of pipe, his/her taste preferences, "shaken or stirred" & considered quality & value of any blend, I respect their views & opinions...