Mac Baren St. Bruno Flake

Having tried the ready rubbed version of SB it was only natural that I would move onto the flake version.

Opening the wallet I was surprised to see a sealed plastic tray holding the flakes, a new one on me. Peeling back the film revealed neatly packed flakes of a mid to dark brown colour, the smell of which was to me a rather vague sweet grass aroma that struck me as being rather 'thin'.

I tipped out the contents onto a copper tray to rub them out and to allow some airng time though they weren't as overly moist as some blends I have tried. They rubbed out easily enough and wasn't too sticky either.

Loading up a bowl I sat back to enjoy this new to me blend. Well I say enjoy but unfortunately that wasn't really the case. Once the burn got going I was reminded of cheap cigarette tobacco tastes, nothing really distinctive in there really. Only occasionally did I get a burst of sweet fruitiness come through but it wasn't present in every puff. Mid bowl I was aware of a slight pepper/spice flavour but that was pretty much it.

In my view this is a pretty bland smoke, somewhat reminiscent of Gold Block and far too much like cheapo cigarettes. Nicotine is there of course but not enough to totally ruin an already sub standard blend.

I appreciate SB is a very popular blend but am always puzzled when I read folks comparing this to Condor. There are no similarities at all in my view.

I have mixed equal quantities of SB with some Old Dark Fired (Mac Baren) and stashed it away for a week or two hoping something interesting may come of it...fingers crossed!

Not one for me I'm afraid.

EDIT: November 2017. Smoking some St. Bruno from June 2014 and this is a totally different experience. The flakes are a much darker brown than when fresh and the flavours that many reviewers have mentioned I now taste! So clearly, for me at least, this blend needs some age for it to show its true colours. Thankfully I have another pouch with the same date so shall sit on that for a few more years. I am now able to mark a higher star score from 1 to 3 stars out of 4.

After finishing my first pouch of St Bruno I now well understand why it's been such a popular blend for such a long time. It is flavoursome and satisfyingly potent. I don't find it to be a typical aromatic, it's flavoured and cased way more delicately than most aromatics.

St Bruno is simple, reliable and honest blend, giving thick smoke and pleasant flavour, sweet and spicy. I won't call it however a friendly smoke as it tends to bite and changes unfavourably down the bottom of the bowl.

It will not become my staple tobacco but many like it, and not without a reason. Recommended.

I smoked a full tin minus some scraps. This seems much closer to Former's SGF and Astley's 109, than the former European St. Bruno Flake. SGF is supposed to be an older knock off of SBF.

But this is still close to SBF of old. Close but not as magnificent. St. Bruno of the not too old was/is a stout, darker, and intensely sweet flake, but not as sweet to me as Condor long cut or Ennerdale Flake. But still in a class by itself.

This is probably red Virginias plus dark fired Kentucky that gives it extra body. Semi-sweet, fruity flavor (not orange) that doesn't cover the tobacco like a full Lakeland may. Easy to rub, smokes steady, not too moist, and didn't bite but was a tad spicy. This is what is left of the old recipe, and is not bad at all. Even rich I'd say. If you've not tried older SBF, you will like this more.

Recommended for fuller flake fanciers with a touch of darker sweetness.

I bought this tin recently, as I have always wanted to try it. I'd read that this is a full-on Lakeland-style tobacco and when I saw it was finally available in the States, I had to try it. It is a good Lakeland tobacco, but there are others I prefer.

At first match light, I can taste the Lakeland sauce and a dark burley flavor, which may actaully be dark fired Kentucky. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this was Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired sprayed with Lakeland flavors. (Especially since Mac Baren is producing St. Bruno now.) The Lakeland flavoring is there, but you can definitely taste the tobacco, as well. The strength of this tobacco builds towards the bottom of the bowl and it has given me the nic hics (Nicotine hiccoughs) on occassion. The Lakeland sauce is present in the smoke throughout the burn, but it fades into the distance after a while.

Though quite enjoyable, I'm not sure that i will order any more of this. St. Bruno is very similar to GH & Co.'s Brown Flake, scented or Dark Flake , Scented and is something of in between the two in strength. All in all a very good tobacco, but I really like GH & Co. for the same experience (and GH tobaccos are much more economical). I do recommend it, however.

A tobacco that has that has stood the test of time and one well worth seeking out from the the UK.I wish it was readily available here in Australia.

To paraphrase an earlier reviewer, In Britain the the smell of pipe smoke was synonymous with St. Bruno. Unfortunately, whatever essences that used to be added to it are no longer present. It still tastes pretty damn good though, and has a good helping of vitamin N. I prefer Condor however.

In Britain the the smell of pipe smoke is synonymous with the aroma of St Bruno and it is likely the most widely available blend (along with Condor). The flake version is certainly better quality than the ready rubbed. A faultless flake in terms of preparation - easy to fold and stuff or rub out and stays lit with minimal fuss. Very smooth and consistent smoke - full and flavoursome. Personally I dont find it that strong although I know some people find it potent stuff. The room note is great and is the very definition of old time pipe smoke aroma. This is not one of my favourites but it is certainly a quality tobacco. I probably wouldn't recommend it to a novice pipester - one to work your way up to.

Update November 2011 Found myself craving this after my last pack was finished . It leaves a delicious full and toasty taste on the palate. Updating to 3 stars

1 of the first tobaccos I ever smoked, Its a great smoke nice flavour and cool smoke. Watch out tho it does tend to bite if smoked to fast. It's one I will always go back to

A good tobacco, high quality, if you like the taste it's a four star, but it's not my favorite taste.