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. I've also noticed that it's the number one selling tinned tobacco on Smoking Pipes website, so, obviously, somebody really likes this stuff. 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.

This review is based on a 9 year old sample vrs new. I used 2 separate 268 petersons that had not been smoked in quite some time and were clean. The 9 year old had been in a mason jar and had retained a good moisture level. The color of the 9 year old also turned completely dark brown. The new blend is sharp and spicy and is Virginia foward but at times the spicey orientals show there presence. If there is latakia in either blend it a splash as it rarely makes an appearance. The 9 year old has mellowed and the Virginia is sweet, and the grassyness has left. Still no signs of the latakia and the orentials dance in and out. The newer version burned to an almost white ash as the older to a gray. This blend requires age in my opinion but probably not years, but maybe 6 months to a year. The nic hit is medium, and smokes relatively dry. In conclusion, there are much better blends out there for my taste, so both old an new get two stars as there was not much going on as the blend didn't have much interplay.

Smoke in Peace- Lager

A spicy opening with a sweetness which emerges as the smoking progresses. A pleasant, rich final. I don't taste Latakia. It lacks in personality. 3,0/5 in my personal rating system.

There is much sturm und drang over whether or not this has latakia, has very much latakia in it, has too much latakia in it, etc. I think it has been established that it does contain latakia, but not an overly large dose of it.

I find it to be a tasty blend, with the virginia and the orientals swapping domination back and forth for the first half of the bowl. The orientals take over for the last half.

The reason I rate this as only two stars is the price. My taste buds register very little difference between this and other similar blends (Villiger Early Day, for example) available at MUCH lower prices.

It's nice, but $12+ for a tin? For that kind of cash, I shouldn't have to pick out stems. Still, I plan to smoke this & Three Nuns around the Baptists in my family, just to get a reaction.

It's a classic that's the best thing I could say about it

Revised 11/6/15- I've been all over the map with this tobacco, liking it , then not so much, was this always manufactured by "Planta" ??? In one word this tobacco is " Inconsistent ". There is a strong "Brine" scent to the tin note and it translates to the smoke. There is also a very "Bitter" taste to the smoke. I really don't know why I'd continue to buy this. This is not the same tobacco from 3 years ago ?

An average English-type blend. I find it very dry with a rough edge to it. The flavour is a bit harsh and doesn't make for a cool good smoke. Not one of my favorites.

I'm always looking to hearing from other pipe-smokers, so pop me a mail and we can share our experiences.

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South Africa

Opened the tin with the usual hiss of air going into the vaccum but the contents were dryer than the Simpson desert. How could the moisture escape if the seal was still good? The plastic bag inside was not sealed so it wouldnt do much. Must have been sealed ultra dry. Couldnt really taste much of the pipe i smoked. Will rehydrate some and hopefully up the score (minus 10 for quality control though). Very disappointed. Would return to retailer if they werent on the other side of the planet. This is in the hall of fame???

I'm assuming that the german writing inside the tin says something along the lines of that i'm a dumb foriegner and not worthy of such good tobacco so we took it out, laughed as we smoked it and then put this rubbish in instead. Enjoy! My tin says made in the EU.

Update: rehydrating and then siting for several months has brought this back. My opinion now is that of an reasonable balkan but not as good as many such as GLP Kensington. I would probably rate this three stars normally but due to the completely dry nature from the tin i'll give it two.