Mac Baren St. Bruno Flake

Excellent flake tobacco. This shot straight up to my flake favourites, along with University Flake.

Neatly packed flakes in a somewhat unusual type of pouch, easy to work any which way you please. Wonderful pouch note of wholesome, good tobacco, with just enough added aroma to complement it. For a flake, relatively easy to light up and keep burning too, and the smoke also is completely wholesome, full-bodied and strong, providing a totally enjoyable and long-lasting moment of pipe smoking bliss.

It's classed as an aromatic but, compared for example to University which is clearly an aromatic, in my opinion this merely has that just about detectable aromatic undercurrent in it that perfectly supports the main players, ie. the excellent tobacco flavours selected for this blend.

Very good and will be surely buying again.

Tin note features figs, hay and grass with a clear note of wood smoke in the background. Smoked using a fold-and-stuff method and the blend tolerated fast smoking on my part with little to no tongue bite. Smoked to the bottom of the bowl with several relights maintaining a consistent pleasant taste till the end.

Virginia forward with a little sweetness. The Kentucky is in the back with a little spice, especially present in the retrohale. The sweet floral topping is present at the beginning of the bowl, but disappears as the bowl burns down. I tried this flake fully rubbed out, partially rubbed out, and folded & stuffed. It performed best for me mechanically when fully rubbed out. It came moderately moist in the tin, and I didn't dry it out at all before smoking it. No bite, even when I smoked it with a pretty fast cadence.

2.5/4 stars. A decent smoke, but it isn't worth the high price here in the US.

Aye, as a member of several forums I read a lot bout the St Bruno both in flake and ready rubbed style. Being a flake me-self I tend to go fer the flake baccies mostly. Upon the arrival o this tobacco I had high expectations as to it's reputation being so elevated. I were not disappointed! Popping the tin brings much anticipation. The aroma be mild, but familiar wit out havin been in it's presence afore. 'as a nice bit o moisture to it, rubs out to a nice ribbon and bit o crumbles fer easy packing. From the charring lite to the final puff she holds fast to the flavour wit out nary a hint o tongue bite. Gives the smoker a nice light ash and no ashy taste. I let it dry each time and it rewards me e'ry time wit a nice even long lasting smoke! This be a highly recommended smoke to any pipeman wot wants to be reminded o some o the olde timey baccies made bout 40+ years ago. Treat Ye-self to a nice tin t'day! Ye be nae disappointed! And if Ye are then send it to me and I'll dispatch it proper fer Ye!!

At $20 a tin, plus tax, you won't get what you pay for. This flake is a whole lot of nothing and a bag of chips, the salt and vinegar type. No matter what pipe I packed with this, my Savinelli pot, a Danish churchwarden, my Peterson system 315, and others, my mouth felt like I had just eaten a whole bag of salt and vinegar potato chips. It had flutters of my beloved Erinmore flake, but nothing remarkable. Upon opening the tin, I was hit with a ketchup-like aroma. The flakes were perfect, too, delicate and easily rubbed out, save for wads of stem. That enchantment disappeared within a few puffs. There are many raving reviews of St. Bruno, but in my humble opinion, there are far better, and less pricy flakes to be had. Maybe I should have cellared it for a bit, for the tobacco seems young. Not sure I would try it again; once bitten twice shy, as the saying goes.

Fantastic tobacco readily available here in the UK.Always reminds me of the old TV advert fronted by the late John Arlott the old Bobby turned cricket commentator and his fruity Hampshire tones.I have always found this tobacco quite variable from pack to pack.Moisture? age? or just quality control with the common to be found twigs as long as a pipe stem. However, it is a rich nutty tasting quite strong baccy which usually for me needs a couple of charring lights to get going.Taste is consistent from top to bottom of the bowl leaving a fine ash with no wastage.Can gurgle a bit though.I always leave out on a plate overnight to rid any excessive moisture. A very yummy baccy which really satisfies with a long lingering aftertaste. One could be forgiven for thinking it an offering of Gawiths with its slightly floral aspect especially on first light.Very recommended.One of my mainstays.

Packs very well and lights easily, it is also easy to keep lit. Offers a long lasting, rich smoke. It has a cool, semi-sweet true tobacco taste which becomes full bodied at the middle of the bowl. The nicotine kick just fits my needs.

It deserves a four star rating but for an all day smoke I need something much more tasty, not this much monotone.

What happened to St.Bruno rough cut ? It was the staple of the smoking contests back in ......when a measured amount, complete with clay "dodger", were given to hopefuls. I actually came second to my friend, who was an inveterate Dunhill smoker. He agreed to " slum it " for the evening. Another tobacco which made me vomit, and had to take the following day off work with nicotine poisoning.

I guess this was the pipe tobacco that my uncle used to smoke when I was a lad in the mid 70's, and that eventually encouraged me to start smoking a pipe in the first place about 15 years ago - well, that and the cave scene from Dead Poets' Society.

Isn't it funny how the years change your perceptions?

I have to agree entirely with Guyrox. If Satan were to blend a pipe tobacco, this would be it. With his bottom.