Mac Baren Presbyterian Mixture
(3.20)
Mellow blend of US Virginia tobaccos and high quality Macedonian grades-exclusive, aristocratic pipe mixture.
Notes: This fine tobacco originally had no name. It was blended before the first World War especially for the Very Rev. Dr. John White, sometime minister of the Barony Kirk in Glasgow and Moderator of the General Assembly in Scotland in 1929. He introduced it to Stanley Baldwin, later Earl Baldwin, Prime Minister in 1923, 1924 and 1935. He liked it so much that regular supplies were sent down to him and it was he who suggested that it be called "Presbyterian Mixture". As there continues to be controversy over the question of whether Presbyterian Mixture contains latakia, the following quote from page six of the blender's 2008 catalogue should leave the matter settled: "Extraordinarily soft blend of finest US Virginia grades and a number of selected latakia leaf tips. Ideal mixture also for beginners with English tobaccos." Originally blended for mass market by William P. Solomon, whose recipe it still follows.
The "International" version is called "Melange".
Currently made by Mac Baren.
Details
Profile
Strength
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
|
3.20 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 47 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Each to his own; I see that some people love Presbyterian Mixture. Personally, I can't see much in it. It's a very bland English mixture, and I found that it burned hot and quickly: the flavour is so bodiless that you can't help puffing hard to try to find some substance in it. I'm not a Latakia freak by any means, but a decent English mixture ought to have more in it than this. Tobaccos are sometimes described in these reviews as one dimensional. This one doesn't have any dimensions at all to speak of. Stanley Baldwin smoked it? Yes: it sort of puts me in mind of the dull, dreary and respectable 1930s. I guess I'm just not a Conservative. If our American friends don't quite get what I mean, think Calvin Coolidge: ordinary and incurably bourgeois. It's an old blend that has survived the horrors of extermination to which so many old blends have succumbed. If only for that reason, it must be worth a try, and palates more subtle than mine clearly enjoy it. Not for me, but I'll give it two stars. It's not horrible; just rather dull.
Update, January 2023: Presbyterian Mixture has now been discontinued in the UK. Another one bites the dust, alas.
Update, January 2023: Presbyterian Mixture has now been discontinued in the UK. Another one bites the dust, alas.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 25, 2011 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Got this one because of the history of it. I've had my original tin I bought a couple years ago and it isn't any better now than when I first smoked it. It has a unique taste that I just can't get my head around. Nah.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 23, 2011 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I'm smoking it as I write this: So what can I say about it? It's really wet in the tin but a few minutes drying time solves any problems with it going out. In the tin it smells like old dung - thankfully it does not taste like old dung, not that I have ever tasted dung. Instead it tastes of Latakia and that is the problem with this tobacco: It's one dimensional. The Latakia dominates the Virginia and Orientals, and sadly that is it right down to the bottom of the bowl. It's also high on nicotine, too high for the first smoke of the day. So it's not an everyday smoke for me, it's just something for an occasional change and nicotine blast.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 16, 2010 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
It's a lesser version of Early Morning Pipe. By lesser I mean less flavorful, and milder. Also, despite its name, I felt neither virtuous nor thrifty while smoking it.
Perhaps I judged this too harshly at first, and this could be due to the fact that the tobacco arrives wet. Not damp, wet. The tin encloses a clear plastic bag of tobacco rather than the customary paper lining, and perhaps this keeps the tobacco overmoist.
The tin note is delicious: it smells of damp, and of dark fruit, and that sort of musty Oriental-ness. I detect no Latakia in the tin note, but some dark strands are visible among the lighter melange of beiges and browns. Whether these dark strands are stoved Virginias or the Latakia which some detect I just don't know.
Damp and straight from the tin, the tobacco provided a singularly unrewarding experience. On some drying out, I found the rough edges smoothed out, and the flavor perked up a bit. Some drying out caused this to burn cooler, and revealed a mellow, musty smoke that, if unremarkable, is also agreeable.
Pleasantly unremarkable after drying. Straight from the tin, less pleasantly unremarkable.
Perhaps I judged this too harshly at first, and this could be due to the fact that the tobacco arrives wet. Not damp, wet. The tin encloses a clear plastic bag of tobacco rather than the customary paper lining, and perhaps this keeps the tobacco overmoist.
The tin note is delicious: it smells of damp, and of dark fruit, and that sort of musty Oriental-ness. I detect no Latakia in the tin note, but some dark strands are visible among the lighter melange of beiges and browns. Whether these dark strands are stoved Virginias or the Latakia which some detect I just don't know.
Damp and straight from the tin, the tobacco provided a singularly unrewarding experience. On some drying out, I found the rough edges smoothed out, and the flavor perked up a bit. Some drying out caused this to burn cooler, and revealed a mellow, musty smoke that, if unremarkable, is also agreeable.
Pleasantly unremarkable after drying. Straight from the tin, less pleasantly unremarkable.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 14, 2010 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This blend is mostly virginia/ burley with a fleating amount of latakia and touch of orientals. This can be nice at times. When smoked very slowly, it is very sweet and delectable. The flavor can be fleeting, however, and many a time a grew disapointed with it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 22, 2010 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Mine says : "Mellow blend of US-Virginia tobaccos and high-quality Macedonian grades-exclusive, aristocratic pipe mixture." I smelled Latakia when I opened the tin, though I left it to dry on the balcony with the window open over night and smoke it in the morning. It is indeed a mellow tobacco with a balanced taste, not too punchy and not to shabby. I recommend it, but not over Dunhill Mixtures.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 08, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I recently picked up a tin at a little over $16.00 for 50 grams. Not worth the price. Nothing special about it to make me fall in love with it. It's a bland English, maybe that's what appeals to some. We all have different tastes, and since tobacco is a very objective thing I can't say the other reviews are wrong. I guess it's in the Hall of Fame because it's been around for a very long time with some history. For the price I can pick up 10oz of Northwoods and enjoy myself for a long time.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 01, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I'm afraid I'm with DeadMensPipes on this one. Tin aroma promised more than the pipe delivers. This may be a good beginner's English, but I would not a good judge of that. Not that there is anything wrong with this blend; I just prefer more punch in my pipe. As evidence of this, Presbyterian Mixture is the first blend in a LONG time to sear my tongue as I pulled far too much trying to coax more from the smoke. More than it has to give, I'm sorry to say. My tin will not go to waste. My father prefers lighter English than I..a perfect gift. For a beginner's English I prefer Cornell and Diehl's Stratfordshire.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 25, 2009 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This has a pleasant aroma in the tin but doesn't quite deliver in the flavor department for me. I find this similar to Smokers' Haven In-B-Tween mixture and SG Skiff mixture, both of which have a little Latakia and a little more flavor. A quality blend, just not my bowl of weed. 6 of 10 stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 02, 2008 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
update: along the way through my tin, i've grown weary of this tobacco. i can't say exactly why, but it may have to do with the somewhat artificial plum/fruit note. downgraded.
original review: presentation: well, i'm not sure i'd dare to let this one store for long, as the tobacco is wrapped in plastic inside the tin. (on the other hand, why would one wish to age it further, as it's a very smooth smoke)
tin aroma: oh, there's no doubt, it contains latakia. not much, but it's there, for sure. how it could be overlooked by anyone is beyond my comprehension. but then, i'm very sensitive to latakia. apart from that, a slightly sweet smell of the 'ginny, and a plum/fruit-smell that might be topping or perhaps perique. there must be a good dose of orientals, too, given the slightly musty smell.
it pack and lights easily, perfect humidity imo. as mentioned above, a smoooooth smoke; with, again, the latakia in moderation, and a discreet virginia sweetness. the orientals play the role of tying together it all. and that plum note could very well be perique, as it seems to me to be a quite strong tobacco. but there may be some topping, too. the jury is still out on that one.
somehow, it's not a complex tobacco: the aromas unite in a very pleasant smoke, much as sugar unites with espresso...
this is the first time i smoke presbyterian, and it must have been fantastic in its english version if it was even better then. for once (at least in my experience), kohlhase & kopp have produced a first-class tobacco.
original review: presentation: well, i'm not sure i'd dare to let this one store for long, as the tobacco is wrapped in plastic inside the tin. (on the other hand, why would one wish to age it further, as it's a very smooth smoke)
tin aroma: oh, there's no doubt, it contains latakia. not much, but it's there, for sure. how it could be overlooked by anyone is beyond my comprehension. but then, i'm very sensitive to latakia. apart from that, a slightly sweet smell of the 'ginny, and a plum/fruit-smell that might be topping or perhaps perique. there must be a good dose of orientals, too, given the slightly musty smell.
it pack and lights easily, perfect humidity imo. as mentioned above, a smoooooth smoke; with, again, the latakia in moderation, and a discreet virginia sweetness. the orientals play the role of tying together it all. and that plum note could very well be perique, as it seems to me to be a quite strong tobacco. but there may be some topping, too. the jury is still out on that one.
somehow, it's not a complex tobacco: the aromas unite in a very pleasant smoke, much as sugar unites with espresso...
this is the first time i smoke presbyterian, and it must have been fantastic in its english version if it was even better then. for once (at least in my experience), kohlhase & kopp have produced a first-class tobacco.
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