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 1 - 10 of 11 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 2020 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Very unique indeed! Smelling the tin is almost like bold kentucky or G&H dark plug, however there is a floral herbal scent going on in the background. Fermentation is comes to mind whenever i smell it. With minimal drying time this blend burns perfectly to fine grey ash. Room note is not favorable like the 2 blends i compared with. The taste is unique but not necessarily the best, again very floral almost lakeland essence. I prefer the old dark fired and bold kentucky to this but your milage may vary. I consider my self tolerant for nicotine and i did not find this overwhelming. I smoked pure rustica before and its very harsh. This blend is mellowed by the addition of other components which showcase mac baren blending skills. If you love any of the mentioned blend then this worth trying otherwise leave it be. Kindest regards Al janabi
Pipe Used:
Briars
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 06, 2020 | Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Very Strong |
Primarily a backbone of full burley flavor, a noticeable added minor sweetness from the VA, very smooth with no biting. Blend has a bit of a vinegar-tang to it overall that almost smokes away as you get near the bottom of the bowl, likely from the hot pressing of the flakes. Overall, not stronger in nicotine than most already on the market strong blends. GH brown twists and C&D strong burley blends are higher in nicotine than this "Rustica" flake, which would lead me to believe there is barely any Nicotiana Rustica leaf in the blend, just enough to harmonize with the added VA and burley components. A very solid burley flake much in line with the Old Dark Fired or Bold Kentucky blends.
Pipe Used:
cobs and various briar
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes
Age When Smoked:
hot off the press
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2020 | Extremely Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I always look forward to new tobacco from Mac Baren especially in the HH series. Rustica is a hard-hitter. The nicotine is very powerful but leaves me feeling relaxed rather than dizzy. I haven’t been able to get this tobacco to bite no matter how fast it’s smoked. It’s really smooth with a toasty, spicy, nutty, cigar-like flavor. The retrohale is intense with lots of spice. Some espresso notes come and go throughout the bowl. This is not an all day smoke or an everyday smoke for me but it will stay in the smoking rotation because it is unique and tasty.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 10, 2020 | Very Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
An interesting bend, but I do wonder how much Rustica is actually used. Nice earthy tin note, which carries over. Smoking it, the notes are earthy ones: peat, a little leather, maybe a little mushroom, but the VAs really provide the solid base for the blend. Strong N? Yes, but not over the top; somewhere between GH's Black Irish and GH's brown ropes, maybe a little closer to the ropes. If you smoke those, or Revor Plug or 1792, the N here won't bother you (I hesitated between rating the N strong or very strong). The overall flavor itself is much stronger (or at least more noticeable to me) than the N, again along the strength line for many brown ropes.
All in all, interesting, flavorful, but not earthshaking.
All in all, interesting, flavorful, but not earthshaking.
Pipe Used:
cobs
PurchasedFrom:
smoking pipes
Age When Smoked:
3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2020 | Overwhelming | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Mac Baren - HH Rustica.
Like their HH Old Dark Fired Plug Cut when I received this I intended on cellaring it for quite a while. But unlike the 'Plug this arrived with a broken seal on the tin. So, cellaring it became a moot idea.
The tin holds three rows of flakes, dark in colour, and luckily the damaged seal hadn't ruined the tobacco. Just the smell alone sets the precedent for POWER; it smells somewhat 'meaty'. Because the flakes are relatively thin they rub easily.
Now, the smoke. Many blends afford the smoker an excellent opportunity to decipher a myriad of flavours and nuances. Bread, hay, grass, molasses, peat, garden slabs, etc., but this isn't one to offer that opportunity; to ME. As this is my first experience with Nicotiana Rustica I can only describe how I find it: meaty. I don't notice any Virginia grass or citrus, the only flavour, to me, is this formidable, 'meaty', one. A sort of beefy, steak-like, taste. It burns reliably, creating a cool, bite free, smoke.
Nicotine: one of the few blends to make me feel sick; had to abort it last night! Room-note: very strong, and quite appalling!
HH Rustica? Hmmmm, subjectively speaking I don't like it, at all. But, I'm sure lots will enjoy the inimitable flavour. This uniqueness is why I feel it deserves three stars:
recommended.
Like their HH Old Dark Fired Plug Cut when I received this I intended on cellaring it for quite a while. But unlike the 'Plug this arrived with a broken seal on the tin. So, cellaring it became a moot idea.
The tin holds three rows of flakes, dark in colour, and luckily the damaged seal hadn't ruined the tobacco. Just the smell alone sets the precedent for POWER; it smells somewhat 'meaty'. Because the flakes are relatively thin they rub easily.
Now, the smoke. Many blends afford the smoker an excellent opportunity to decipher a myriad of flavours and nuances. Bread, hay, grass, molasses, peat, garden slabs, etc., but this isn't one to offer that opportunity; to ME. As this is my first experience with Nicotiana Rustica I can only describe how I find it: meaty. I don't notice any Virginia grass or citrus, the only flavour, to me, is this formidable, 'meaty', one. A sort of beefy, steak-like, taste. It burns reliably, creating a cool, bite free, smoke.
Nicotine: one of the few blends to make me feel sick; had to abort it last night! Room-note: very strong, and quite appalling!
HH Rustica? Hmmmm, subjectively speaking I don't like it, at all. But, I'm sure lots will enjoy the inimitable flavour. This uniqueness is why I feel it deserves three stars:
recommended.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Atlantic #03
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 2020 | Extremely Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Extra Strong |
This one is interesting. I loved the idea of bringing back Rustica (The original tobacco) to the limelight. When you read early accounts of North American tobacco and how harsh it was, this is what they were talking about. The stuff of legend...
I decided to give it a try after reading the early reviews as something different. I've approached it as that not something trying to become my all day smoke or even a star in the rotation.
Love the packaging/presentation. It was full to the top of nice looking stacking flakes. The tin note to me was leathery and some notes I couldn't define. The flakes were a little moist, but leaving one out for an hour, I was able to easily load one of my small "tasting" Canadians.
Took a little bit to get going, but after that it burned really well. The flavor to me is on the dark end with lots of peppery and leathery notes. It's consistent through the bowl. Retrohaling got straight black pepper to my smell/taste.
I'm a nicotine lightweight usually and the small bowls to me are the perfect size as I don't really think I'd enjoy or be able to handle a large bowl of this at one sitting.
I'm glad I got some while it was available as it is an enjoyable experiment. Not something I'd smoke often, but perfect when I really want a change of pace in the evening AFTER A MEAL.
I decided to give it a try after reading the early reviews as something different. I've approached it as that not something trying to become my all day smoke or even a star in the rotation.
Love the packaging/presentation. It was full to the top of nice looking stacking flakes. The tin note to me was leathery and some notes I couldn't define. The flakes were a little moist, but leaving one out for an hour, I was able to easily load one of my small "tasting" Canadians.
Took a little bit to get going, but after that it burned really well. The flavor to me is on the dark end with lots of peppery and leathery notes. It's consistent through the bowl. Retrohaling got straight black pepper to my smell/taste.
I'm a nicotine lightweight usually and the small bowls to me are the perfect size as I don't really think I'd enjoy or be able to handle a large bowl of this at one sitting.
I'm glad I got some while it was available as it is an enjoyable experiment. Not something I'd smoke often, but perfect when I really want a change of pace in the evening AFTER A MEAL.
Pipe Used:
smallest canadians
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh from tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 08, 2022 | Very Strong | Very Mild | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Not so strong as you could think and not so good as you could wish. The strength is more from the side of the nicotine than from the side of the tobacco. Yes, as the name suggest, this is really a “rustic” tobacco: rough, natural (not totally), strong, “no frills”. Opening the tin, the smell is mainly leather but the citrus note of Virginia is recognizable. While smoking no sweet notes, although the tobacco is less bitter than natural Kentucky. Obviously, some flavoring (casing) is present. “Hot press” method, dark Virginia and Burley fix the mix. Indeed pepper and spices nuances and a classic cigar note are recognizable. And yet in my opinion it is boring, strong but with little evolution. A natural smoke with a very high nicotine content. Robust and full bodied. Only for experienced pipe smokers. Four stars for the idea (N. Rustica), but two stars for the taste. So, in my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 8 and three stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 26, 2022 | Strong | Strong | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Un tabacco vero. Piu speziato che forte in nicotina. Leggermente resinoso è un tabacco che richiede calma per essere degustato: il rischio è di fumare un tabacco forte senza più sfumature ed impazzire per riaccenderlo (è piuttosto ignifugo). Per fumatori esperti e tolleranti... Certo non un "all day" ma davvero piacevole da fumare ogni tanto... a stomaco pieno...
Pipe Used:
Foundation - Savinelli - Ascorti
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2021 | Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
2021 release No. 3591/5300
Smells like BBQ sauce when I rubbed it out. My tin came a little on the moist side. Needed more than a few relights, but can easily be fixed with a little drying time. It’s strong, and full flavored. Very unique tasting. I mainly pick up on cigar, BBQ, earth, wet soil, with some floral notes, and a tiny amount of sweetness in the background from the Virginias. It’s intense on the retrohale, so use caution. I didn’t have a problem with the nicotine levels, but I was aware it was there. I wouldn’t recommend this to an inexperienced pipe smoker, or anyone who isn’t use to nicotine. I think veteran pipe or cigar smokers will love this one.
Smells like BBQ sauce when I rubbed it out. My tin came a little on the moist side. Needed more than a few relights, but can easily be fixed with a little drying time. It’s strong, and full flavored. Very unique tasting. I mainly pick up on cigar, BBQ, earth, wet soil, with some floral notes, and a tiny amount of sweetness in the background from the Virginias. It’s intense on the retrohale, so use caution. I didn’t have a problem with the nicotine levels, but I was aware it was there. I wouldn’t recommend this to an inexperienced pipe smoker, or anyone who isn’t use to nicotine. I think veteran pipe or cigar smokers will love this one.
Pipe Used:
Comoy Everyman Apple (small)
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 05, 2020 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Unnoticeable |
Rustica has an obvious floral and vegetative essence all the way through the bowl . Nothing like anything I have smoked up until now . It is also nutty ,smokey , herbal spicey ,toasty and woody . I get some burley-dark fired familiar notes as well . Very little sweet grassy hay citrus Virginas or the Rustica overpowers them one . The blend gets almost sweet cigar like near the bottom in every bowl . Glad I tried it . I probably won’t smoke it a lot and will experiment with it as a mixer . I’ve been smoking SMALL bowls and I enjoy the nicotine and haven’t felt nauseous yet ! A unique smoking experience. I feel closer to the earth . 3 stars
Pipe Used:
Small
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