Mac Baren HH Rustica
(3.50)
Notes: The Nicotiana Rustica is the sister of the tobacco plant that we know and love (Nicotiana Tabacum). Native to the Amazon region and other parts of South America, the plant and the various types of use spread throughout the American continent. The English settlers found the rustica tobacco in North America in 1607 and saw how the native Indians smoked the tobacco in clay pipes. Since the nicotine content of the rustic plant is unusually high, however, it quickly went out of fashion when the Virginia and burley tobaccos known today were discovered and spread. Today, tobacco on a rustic basis can only be found in Eastern Europe, in the countries of the Middle East and in Asia. A new process was developed to make this very potent tobacco edible for the German palate. The tobacco leaves are sun dried and thus retain their natural sugar. Dark Virginia and Burley were also added to balance the flake. Like all flakes of the HH series, the Rustica was also hot pressed, which allows the tobacco flavors to combine optimally and to mature through a light fermentation. Despite all these measures, the HH Rustica still has a very high nicotine content, it is by far the strongest tobacco in the Mac Baren range and is probably one of the strongest pipe tobacco worldwide. We recommend that you eat well and use a small pipe before enjoying this flake, but don't be put off; the Mac Baren HH Rustica is probably the most extraordinary tobacco of recent years and an absolute pleasure experience.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Burley |
| Contents | Burley, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Very Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Strong
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Very Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.50 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 41 - 46 of 46 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 25, 2020 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
I'm newer to strong tobaccos but I'm no lightweight. I like to smoke the HH Bold Kentucky and ODF as well as blends like Kajun Kake and Bow Legged Bear. So this is an interesting experience. A little history here might help. From what I can find online, Rustica was a leaf commonly smoked in the Americas before Burley and Virginia tobaccos were found and cultivated. It does have a higher nicotine level than most blends and indeed it is the strongest blend I've smoked to date but I wonder how it compares to Kendall Twist, Black XX or Peterson Irish Flake.
The tin has some nice tin art but that's not why we are here. When you crack it open you find the same perfect MacBaren flakes we've seen for Pure Virginia, ODF and Bold Kentucky. The smell is dark chocolate raisin, BBQ spice, and dark fruits. The flake is easy to fold and stuff or rub out to your preference. I like a long steady smoke so I almost always fold and stuff. This does take some time to get lit just like the Bold Kentucky. Today I have prepacked my bowl a day in advance and it lights a little quicker. Needs more than average relights but because of the strength that shouldn't be a problem.
The taste. Lighting up I find what I think is the rustica up front. BBQ spice, citrus, sourness, cigar-like, floral and slightly leathery. Up next I do taste Burley, it's chocolaty, nutty, and woody. The Burley was heavy in the smell, and I want to say that it is what is contributing to the dark fruit smell that I noticed. There is Virginia in this blend but I am having a hard time finding it probably because the Rustica has some shared characteristics. I can see it is adding some background sweetness and citrus to the mix.
Overall the blend is very well balenced and unique. The room note is strong and even though it is subjective, unless your friends and family smoke I think you will be relegated to porch. Lady N has come to pull out all the stops and if you aren't ready for her she will punch you straight in the jaw. The taste fills your mouth much like a good full bodied maduro cigar. I give it a Very Full. On the strength I give it a Very Strong. I just ate dinner for lunch and I feel it in my head. There are a few sites that still have this available if you are up to the challenge, but I hope that MacBaren rereleases this blend because it is really good. This is not an all day blend, just beacuse it is so full your taste buds might need time to recover.
The tin has some nice tin art but that's not why we are here. When you crack it open you find the same perfect MacBaren flakes we've seen for Pure Virginia, ODF and Bold Kentucky. The smell is dark chocolate raisin, BBQ spice, and dark fruits. The flake is easy to fold and stuff or rub out to your preference. I like a long steady smoke so I almost always fold and stuff. This does take some time to get lit just like the Bold Kentucky. Today I have prepacked my bowl a day in advance and it lights a little quicker. Needs more than average relights but because of the strength that shouldn't be a problem.
The taste. Lighting up I find what I think is the rustica up front. BBQ spice, citrus, sourness, cigar-like, floral and slightly leathery. Up next I do taste Burley, it's chocolaty, nutty, and woody. The Burley was heavy in the smell, and I want to say that it is what is contributing to the dark fruit smell that I noticed. There is Virginia in this blend but I am having a hard time finding it probably because the Rustica has some shared characteristics. I can see it is adding some background sweetness and citrus to the mix.
Overall the blend is very well balenced and unique. The room note is strong and even though it is subjective, unless your friends and family smoke I think you will be relegated to porch. Lady N has come to pull out all the stops and if you aren't ready for her she will punch you straight in the jaw. The taste fills your mouth much like a good full bodied maduro cigar. I give it a Very Full. On the strength I give it a Very Strong. I just ate dinner for lunch and I feel it in my head. There are a few sites that still have this available if you are up to the challenge, but I hope that MacBaren rereleases this blend because it is really good. This is not an all day blend, just beacuse it is so full your taste buds might need time to recover.
Pipe Used:
Basket Pipe
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 05, 2020 | Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Started out with small chambered non filter pipes.Used a 9mm Peterson with a group 5 sized bowl the other morning for the first time after a full breakfast while driving along I 95 south, and managed to stay within the lines.This is a very flavor forward tobacco.The filter pipe just takes the edge off of it, and none of the actual flavor is sacrificed.(remember,JUST my opinion)this is pure high end tobacco, and one fine offering.There is a hint of leather in there,but no asphalt,as in Black XX rope.There is nothing I would call bite, either,filter,or no filter.If new to tobacco, this will make your planets whirl and twiril.Don't be scared off, try a little in a small chambered pipe! Just eat something first. Recommended.
Pipe Used:
Various small bowl pipes/and a Grp 5 bowl
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months in a jar
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 09, 2020 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I love MB HH line, and this is no exception. It's similar to Bold Kentucky, but lacks the sweetness of that blend.
I detect just a slight floral note, not as strong as Lakeland, but I suspect the aging process has contributed to this. There is a pleasant acidic taste in mouth feel that doesn't overwhelm.
Deep, leathery earthy flavour, with great retro-hale. Has a few rough edges at start, but settles in for a great smoking experience.
I had no lighting problems, a few extra tries at start then normal re-lights, usual flake behaviour.
If you are new to dark heavy burley/virginia flakes, you might find this a challenge. I found the nic hit on par with MB HH Bold Kentucky (my daily fave). Room note is OK, but that is something I don't really worry about - it's all about taste, and this tobacco has it in spades.
I detect just a slight floral note, not as strong as Lakeland, but I suspect the aging process has contributed to this. There is a pleasant acidic taste in mouth feel that doesn't overwhelm.
Deep, leathery earthy flavour, with great retro-hale. Has a few rough edges at start, but settles in for a great smoking experience.
I had no lighting problems, a few extra tries at start then normal re-lights, usual flake behaviour.
If you are new to dark heavy burley/virginia flakes, you might find this a challenge. I found the nic hit on par with MB HH Bold Kentucky (my daily fave). Room note is OK, but that is something I don't really worry about - it's all about taste, and this tobacco has it in spades.
Pipe Used:
Pete Kinsale XL17, large Meershaum
PurchasedFrom:
4 Noggins
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 29, 2020 | Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Strong tabac taste. Slow burning. Recommend rubbing and small bowl. Needs drying. Still need relights.
Mostly burley flavor - woody and earthy - and a bit of Va. rustic sweetness. No bite or added flavors, but complex and rich for an all natural smoke. Devil Anse would have liked this ( but all day?).
Nice hit can be felt on a empty stomach by some, but I didn’t feel much. Stronger than ABF.
Recommended for adventurous. Unique experience. Finished 1/3 tin (29 bowls).
Mostly burley flavor - woody and earthy - and a bit of Va. rustic sweetness. No bite or added flavors, but complex and rich for an all natural smoke. Devil Anse would have liked this ( but all day?).
Nice hit can be felt on a empty stomach by some, but I didn’t feel much. Stronger than ABF.
Recommended for adventurous. Unique experience. Finished 1/3 tin (29 bowls).
Pipe Used:
Ropp
PurchasedFrom:
SPC
Age When Smoked:
New tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 07, 2023 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable |
MacBaren
HH Rustica
Blend notes: “The Nicotiana Rustica is the sister of the tobacco plant that we know and love (Nicotiana Tabacum). Native to the Amazon region and other parts of South America, the plant and the various types of use spread throughout the American continent. The English settlers found the rustica tobacco in North America in 1607 and saw how the native Indians smoked the tobacco in clay pipes. Since the nicotine content of the rustic plant is unusually high, however, it quickly went out of fashion when the Virginia and burley tobaccos known today were discovered and spread. Today, tobacco on a rustic basis can only be found in Eastern Europe, in the countries of the Middle East and in Asia. A new process was developed to make this very potent tobacco edible for the German palate. The tobacco leaves are sun dried and thus retain their natural sugar. Dark Virginia and Burley were also added to balance the flake. Like all flakes of the HH series, the Rustica was also hot pressed, which allows the tobacco flavors to combine optimally and to mature through a light fermentation. Despite all these measures, the HH Rustica still has a very high nicotine content, it is by far the strongest tobacco in the Mac Baren range and is probably one of the strongest pipe tobacco worldwide.”
A strong VaBur with a serious nic-hit. Rubs out easily. Probably about 30% Rustica and the rest good Virginia. I think of this as a great smoke every two weeks. We have many members of the IPSL who adore Rustica, and it is indeed very good.
Strong tasting non-English/Balkan blends are plentiful in the market. Others at the stronger end of the spectrum might include Jack Knife Plug, HH Bold Kentucky, Royal Twist Deluxe, HH Old Dark Fired, G&H’s Brown Irish X, Cascadia’s Vertical Limit, and C&D’s Burley Flake #3, but Rustica is definitely in the top three.
Good Stuff.
4 out of 4 stars.
HH Rustica
Blend notes: “The Nicotiana Rustica is the sister of the tobacco plant that we know and love (Nicotiana Tabacum). Native to the Amazon region and other parts of South America, the plant and the various types of use spread throughout the American continent. The English settlers found the rustica tobacco in North America in 1607 and saw how the native Indians smoked the tobacco in clay pipes. Since the nicotine content of the rustic plant is unusually high, however, it quickly went out of fashion when the Virginia and burley tobaccos known today were discovered and spread. Today, tobacco on a rustic basis can only be found in Eastern Europe, in the countries of the Middle East and in Asia. A new process was developed to make this very potent tobacco edible for the German palate. The tobacco leaves are sun dried and thus retain their natural sugar. Dark Virginia and Burley were also added to balance the flake. Like all flakes of the HH series, the Rustica was also hot pressed, which allows the tobacco flavors to combine optimally and to mature through a light fermentation. Despite all these measures, the HH Rustica still has a very high nicotine content, it is by far the strongest tobacco in the Mac Baren range and is probably one of the strongest pipe tobacco worldwide.”
A strong VaBur with a serious nic-hit. Rubs out easily. Probably about 30% Rustica and the rest good Virginia. I think of this as a great smoke every two weeks. We have many members of the IPSL who adore Rustica, and it is indeed very good.
Strong tasting non-English/Balkan blends are plentiful in the market. Others at the stronger end of the spectrum might include Jack Knife Plug, HH Bold Kentucky, Royal Twist Deluxe, HH Old Dark Fired, G&H’s Brown Irish X, Cascadia’s Vertical Limit, and C&D’s Burley Flake #3, but Rustica is definitely in the top three.
Good Stuff.
4 out of 4 stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 07, 2023 | Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
Mac Baren's HH Rustica has a tin note that reminds me of raw beef, with some notes of hay, smoke, and sweetness. The smoke itself has a forward floral and herbal note and is very dusty/earthy, this is followed by some nuttiness, spice, earth, wood, and tart and tangy citrus, and the barest hint of leather. The burley must be cased with molasses leaving a sweetness that lingers with the spice and citrus for a long and pleasant finish. It is big and a little rough around the edges, in a good way and I used this exclusively as my evening smoke. It did suffer from a lot of relights, to the point that it was something that one cannot light and puff and forget about it.
That said, my take on Rustica is a little different from most, my first experience with it was in snuff, it has a musty, spicy, floral, tobacco, old leather note with hay and earth way behind. I would compare it to an old house with a library with long-forgotten books and a hay loft in the barn. I don't get all of this in the smoke, it may be the special processing, but while I do place this in the strong category the nic hit is not so great that those with any tolerance should avoid it. Maybe, they only added it in moderation. Rustica straight would be enough to put one on the sofa feeling nauseous and this does not come near that. It is a big full blend and offers a lot of nuance but because of what I was expecting and what I got are very different, I cannot give this 4 stars. It is a very good blend, I may pick up another tin or two at some point but it is not what those that are familiar with Rustica would be expecting.
That said, my take on Rustica is a little different from most, my first experience with it was in snuff, it has a musty, spicy, floral, tobacco, old leather note with hay and earth way behind. I would compare it to an old house with a library with long-forgotten books and a hay loft in the barn. I don't get all of this in the smoke, it may be the special processing, but while I do place this in the strong category the nic hit is not so great that those with any tolerance should avoid it. Maybe, they only added it in moderation. Rustica straight would be enough to put one on the sofa feeling nauseous and this does not come near that. It is a big full blend and offers a lot of nuance but because of what I was expecting and what I got are very different, I cannot give this 4 stars. It is a very good blend, I may pick up another tin or two at some point but it is not what those that are familiar with Rustica would be expecting.
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