Mac Baren Three Nuns

This review comes immediately after I finished my first tin of Dunhill De Luxe Navy Rolls (the Escudo-clone), so I knew what to expect from another coin-cut Va/Perique blend. I guess that one of the reasons for what I am going to write is that I am not a fan of this kind of blends (and anyway Rattray's Virginias and Ashton Pebble Cut are still unbeatable, IMHO), but I also suspect that there might be some exaggeration in chanting the qualities of Three Nuns. Aesthetically, the difference is that Three Nuns has a smaller cut: the coins are very small and some of them are already half crumbled (not because dry - they were rather moist - but because very pressed in the tin and irregularly cut). The colour is a bit lighter, more on a light brown-orange tone with some occasional darker bits. The distribution of Perique seems rather irregular. The size of the coins makes it possible to stack them in any pipe, while I had to crumble Navy Rolls. Tin aroma is not as wonderfully pleasant, fruity and sour, as the one of Navy Rolls (which is one of my favorites among all VA/Perique blends): it is somewhat more "rotten" and fermented. This tobacco insures a slow and cool smoke, but I find nothing exceptional in it. As usual, I think that getting a nice full taste is a very hard task with this kind of blends... I find that the taste more or less equals the one offered by Navy Rolls, only much more acrid and with an unpleasant aftertaste. If you like this kind of blends you will surely enjoy it: myself, I keep thinking that I will never be a great fan of it (but I am not a fan of Haddo's Delight either, so you can blame it on me). I guess I'll stick to english mixtures from now on, with the occasional Marlin Flake or McClelland when I want a naturally sweet Virginia without having to get mad in search for some flavor... Ah, I tried the tinned version, not the pouched one which is said to be even worse!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Review made in 2002 on a 2002 production tin.

2009 Update: I have recently bought a fresh tin from Germany, and I confirm my impressions. While not bad at all and very very natural-tasting, not as sour or unpleasant as some are saying of the modern production, I find this tobacco a bit unexciting. It smokes well, cool and slow, and with a nice body... but the flavour is often monochromatic and dull. Ok, but I prefer some of the best coin cut offerings from Mac Baren.

I used to smoke this one, along with another flake that Dunhill doesn't sell anymore (their dark flake). The flake shape to me didn't add anything one way or another to the flavor or burning qualities, but I do agree with many of the other reviewers, it was a prime slice in it's older days. I liked the Dunhill a bit better, but you couldn't beat that dark, deep flavor. My recommendation is only based on it being rare in my neck of the woods. I'd keep a tin on hand if I could find it.

As you probably know, there is a controversy among Nun lovers (I can't believe I just typed that) regarding the original English-made blend and the current one manufactured by Imperial. Many of those familiar with the English original believe it to be far superior to the current production. Others say there is no difference. In case you missed the four stars at the top of this review, I fall into the latter category. To me the Imperial version tastes just as good as the original -- with one very important caveat, which will become clear shortly.

I came to Three Nuns late in the game, having ignored it when it was readily available here. But once I started hearing about its reputation on the Internet, and my curiosity was piqued. I was able to find a tin of the original English version, James B. Russell import sticker and all. Upon opening it, I was greeted by a mass of delightful little discs, reminiscent of Escudo but smaller, with an enticing russet color. I lightly rubbed some out (sorry, folks -- I think stacking discs is more about playing with your food than properly packing a pipe), and eagerly lit up.

Everything I'd heard about this blend was true. It has some of the richest flavor of any English blend, redolent of cinnamon cookies and a smoky hint of good Scottish whiskey! I'd swear this stuff has some kind of cased burley or cavendish in it, but there was no odor at all other than that of pure tobacco. Good lord, but this was great stuff.

When at last the tin disappeared, I discovered a European supplier -- and promptly ordered a case of the stuff. I had heard about the dreadful pouch version, but since these were tins I assumed I was getting old stock. When the package arrived I eagerly opened one, saw the discs, and filled my pipe...

In the words of Fred Willard in "A Mighty Wind": Wha' hoppen'??

The basic flavor components were there, but the experience was boring and flat. It was like smoking a Xerox of a carbon of the original. I finished the tin, but each bowl was a hollow experience. Soon thereafter, I learned about the change in manufacture, and about those who felt disappointed by the European version. Oh, well, maybe I can sell all these tins on Ebay someday. And off into my attic the box of tins went. And there they stayed, for almost two years.

Until a few months ago, when I happened to encounter the box again. I pulled out a tin. What the hell, I thought -- this stuff isn't getting any more valuable. But inside, I was desperate to re-experience the pleasure that 100-gram tin had given me 30 months earlier.

I popped the tin -- and immediately noticed that crystal had appears on the discs, the classic sign of aging. The discs in my original James B. Russell tin also had crystals. Would this mean the Imperial blend had improved with age?

Long story short: that's exactly what it meant.

Now, I am no great believer in aging tobaccos. I don't always feel the fermentation process improves the flavor -- let's face it, basically we're talking about smoking rotted vegetable matter. But in the case of Imperial Three Nuns, it makes a HUGE difference.

And so I say the Imperial version of the Nuns is quite possibly the equal of the original Bell's -- provided you let it sit for a year or two. Is the current version equal to the original's heaven-parting revelatory powers? Almost. Maybe ninety-five percent. But sometimes ninety-five percent is enough.

This is special tobacco. First, it takes some effort to get it in the USA. Second, the packaging presentation is classic, as is the tobacco preparation. Third, it is just downright delicious. Whatever the previous manifestations of Three Nuns were, this is worthy on its own.

Upon opening the tin, it smells like sugar-cured bacon. The rollcake coins are moist and, for me, require a bit of drying intentionally. If you wait for the moisture to reduce in the tin over time, you have a long wait ahead of you.

I seem to get the most performance from this blend by slightly separating it with my finger tips, having tried practically every other suggestion (stacking, rolling, chopping).

I recommend small to medium sized pipes here. This would be a hammer blow in a group 5+ due to the Perique and difficulty packing it properly. Do not pack this too tight, for it does compress easily to ruin.

If you want complexity and a migration of flavor throughout the smoke, try Three Nuns. It migrates from bright, sweet flavors, to caramel-toasted effects, then spicy-something from the Perique. The latter is here in no small measure, but not overdone for my preferences (as opposed to Haddo's Delight).

If you behave puffing, it will behave. Stoke this tobacco to your tongue's regret.

Lay some tins down lest it disappear again and reappear in another interpretation less respectable. A benchmark blend.

Alot of people have already described the glory of this wonderful blend so I will not as the other reviews have mentioned it. I have only had 1 tin of this and I sorely regret that it is gone. As many people there are who want this you would think that it would be made available in the U.S. I would have to say that this is somewhere on my top ten of all time list and probably pretty high up!

This was a nice discovery that I got to experience recently with an order I got from Synjeco in Switzerland. When I opened up the tin I swear that I could smell a Latakia presence. I know there isn't any in the blend, so I have to assume that the orientals are a big presence here. To tell the truth though, they didn't come through in the smoke very much at all. I did get a blast of very good Virginia and Perique with a smidgeon of Cavendish? I'm not sure, but I know what I like, and this is very nice. Fuller in strength than alot of the other VA/P's that I smoke, I enjoy this in the evening with a good cup of black coffee. It'll never replace Escudo, but it sure is a nice change up. It can nip so be warned. The smoke is sweet and the Perique is nicely tamed here. Everyone should try this classic.

I, unfortunately, came to Three Nuns late in the game, as it were. I understand that the tins are no longer available, which is sad.

That said, let me tell you about the first "exquisite" smoke I've ever had. I chose a 1/4 bent BBB, with a big bowl, thinking that it would give me time to appreciate the mix. Putting a little in the bottom of the bowl that I had roughly rubbed out, I then placed the discs directly in the bowl, stacking them as I had heard of from a friend. I took the last disc, rubbed it out a bit, tamped gently and lit.

It took me about three tries, including the charring light, to get the bowl going. My first thought was that it didn't seem to be as full a mouthful of smoke as I was used to from C&D's Irish Blessing, but it still was a nice presence.

The taste was pleasant, less "in your face" than I was used to. As the smoke continued, I started noticing a real smoky flavor, which stayed, but wasn't overwhelming. This taste continued throughout the bowl.

Here's the joy - I didn't relight. Not once. The bowl smoked cleanly to the bottom, with no gurgling, no heat, just flavor which seemed to grow. Above all, after I finished I noticed no strong aftertaste, no sense of ash in my mouth, no burn.

I did get quite a bit of nicotine hit, but not so much as to make the room spin.

If there was a chance to get more, I'd jump on it, and I encourage you to do so.

Another believer here..........this one is also on my Top 5 favorites list. It's also a blend that noone's ever really come close to duplicating, which an impressive statement in its' own right. If you like Virgina/Perique blends.....this one's a must experience.

I've tried but never been successful with the "stacking the coins" technique. Perhaps it just takes patience and practice but I always end up with something that doesn't draw very well and is tough to keep lit toward the middle of the bowl. I prefer to take a pinch of coins between my fingers and roll them into a loose ball, dropping it into my pipe, tamping lightly and then repeating until the bowl is filled. Some may say I'm not getting the full experience but it works for me.......

It's not available in the States anymore, but once or twice a year I order some from one of the online shops in the UK. With the internet, it's pretty easy to connect with a supply of this wonderful blend......

Three Nuns was formerly one of my personal favorites, but reecently it has become too sharp and "biting" in the taste. I don't know why, the maturing process? Occasionally I buy a tin finding out that the last third of the contents is to dry. I know that Paul Olsen in Copenhagen makes exactly the same tobacco. It might be worth a try; their firm deserves far more reputation than it does now.