Mac Baren Presbyterian Mixture

Well, 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. 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 about 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 doesn't last very long.

I've also noticed that most, not all but most Latakia blends are lacking in Vitamin N & Latakia blends were never my cup of tea anyway. I have stumbled upon a few that weren't too bad and some just overpowering. I loved the BSOM & the original MM 965 but fat chance of acquiring them now. At this point in time, Mississippi Mud & Old Dublin with its unique flavor will be the only Latakia blends I will ever use & 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 did not dislike the Pres mix so much but certainly wasn't crazy about it either. 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 also contend that the lower & even some obnoxious reviews this mixture received is because many were expecting something different. FWIW, 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, etc., or even a reasonably stout, shall we say?... a concentrated VA blend akin to Royal Yacht or maybe Ye Olde Signe. As many of you may be aware, Kentucky/Burley has twice the strength of Virginia tobacco & will hit you harder & faster... like a good, strong cigar or a Burley that can't be inhaled anyway & might give you the hiccups. Rather than recommend, condemn, 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 feelings about your possible, wasteful expenditure. Would I purchase another tin? No need to! This one will last the rest of my life & will most likely be handed down to my descendants. 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. For me, Pres Mix didn't quite measure up... two stars.

Smoking a bowl out of a Meer now. It's a fairly smooth bodied oriental/turkish dominant blend to me. I taste the Virginia's with very little Latakia present. The oriental's are pronounced, so I'd suspect this is the light smattering of latakia giving them a fuller flavor profile, but not enough latakia to taste "latakia".

Reminds me a bit of Durbar, but this one is a bit more oriental tasting than that one. I really like it and it's a bit on the White Knight, Durbar, side of a Balkan. A good day smoke, not heavy to my tastes.

Planta’s Presbyterian Mixture smells quintessentially “English” in the tin, with loamy, musty, slightly spicy Orientals over vaguely “soapy” Latikia, and grassy, somewhat earthy, flue and air cured VAs underneath. The rough-cut mixture ranges from golden brown, to medium-brown, to some dark brown chunks. It’s easy to load and light, right from the tin, and it’s easy to smoke. The tastes and aromas while smoking it run thusly from top to bottom, with each varietal staying in character: Orientals, followed by VAs, followed by ever-present Latakia. IMO, PM is a very well balanced blend, with no rough edges. Strength is more mild than medium. Tastes run closer to medium than mild. Room note is not bad, at all. Aftertaste is best of the smoke. English lovers might well find they can smoke PM all day.

Bottom line? It’s hard being an English blend these days. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with PM; it’s just that, IMO, it is just short of the top blends in its genre. 3+ stars; not quite 4.

I've been wanting to try this for awhile and am glad I did. I'm a big fan of Dunhill Standard Mild/Mellow. Presbyterian fits right in here. It's very mild and this is the kind of Virginia taste I love. I'm not that fond of matured V's/slices etc. I wish it was available in bulk.

Summary: a light English that de-emphasizes Latakia for Orientals and aged Virginia, paradoxically bringing out more of the Latakia flavor.

Latakia can be an overwhelming taste. "Presbyterian Mixture" solves that by making Latakia a condimental ingredient, focusing instead on a spicy mixture of Orientals and a subdued, aged Virginia that is less sweet than hay-like. The result makes the pine flavor of the Latakia pop to the fore, framed in sweetness and spice, where it can shine but not overwhelm the others. It is easy to see why this blend has endured the test of time: it is nuanced and yet functional, perfect for distracted sipping while poring over old texts.

I really wanted to try this, exciting history and was relatively hard for me to find a tin. Opened it to see German label inside and a plastic bag, a disappointing start. My tobacco was not coarse, more like tiny wood chippings found on the floor. Dry tobacco. Easy to light due to dryness from can. Huge nicotine hit, the biggest hit I have had for some time, I love Vitamin N, but wow! A double whammy and then some. Aroma reminds me of Dunhill Royal Yacht. I guess I should try another can, but will save it for some time in the future, too many good smokes out there to enjoy.

Having read the other reviews, I think mine has serious quality control issues, the cut is terrible, tiny. 🙁

EDIT…On thinking, I would have said this is Royal Yacht is blind tasting. This is not what I expected

Everything I heard from this tobacco is true. It's a one in a kind experience for everyone, from experienced pipe smokers to the english-type novices as well!

Upon lighting i could taste the sweet virginias and the spicy orientals. I know there is a neverending discussion about the latakia content, but I find hard to say that I'm only tasting orientals here.

Whatever the case might be, I got from this blend exactly what I was looking for, a great and smooth english experience. 4 stars!

I remember when the tin of this was painted . The tin I get nowadays has a sticker of the product for the American Market. Underneath the lid it's still a fine pipe tobacco. It's strange to me that an English blend like this gets so many compliments in the aroma department but it certainly does.

The spicey macedonian leaf is amazing next to the sweet virginia. With the smokey Latikia this almost turns into a BBq of flavour.

If I had to pick my favorite english mixture that I would want on that island, this is my Choice.

A quintessential, quality all-day medium High English in the same family as Squadron Leader, Margate, Artisan's Blend & Blackpoint. Like the others of its ilk it has its own nuances, but there's nothing extraordinary to make it stand out from a crowded field. Worth trying if you like the others as this one may be the one that perfectly tickles your tastebuds.