Mac Baren Three Nuns

Only have the Mac Baren version.

My pipe guides like it very much, and the inventory is amazing. (Probably all versions, including imitation)

This is really a high quality tobacco. I can't find a leaf stalk, which I have never met. The ribbon after drying is very fluffy and complete with only a few crumbs. (meaning very little waste)

filling can not be too compact, must be fluffy, which is the key to good taste. (Really important)

The cool smoke, full, sweet, and fragrant, is really great. If the strength of nicotine is lower, it will be perfect for me.

Highly recommended, you must try.

This review is based on the original Bell's tobacco, not the McBaren's rendition by the same name, speaking of which, I understand it is a VaPer, that is, a Virginia/Perique blend. As this sample is from a 50 year old tin, it is difficult to asses what it would have been like back in the time when it was fresh out of the production line. The Dark Fired leaf is quite apparent. but somewhat faded and subdued because of the passing of time. As you open the tin, the tobacco comes in small jet black little coins, which is another tell sign of how old this tobacco actually is. Surprisingly enough, I think I can still detect a topping of some sort, and the tobacco is sweet and mellow beyond measure. The vintage and character of this tobacco shows in every sip, it has a silky texture and it seems to keep its consistency through every quarter of your bowl. That is to say he does not evolve that much, but its complexity is already there because of its age. Highly recommended, but I do not think you will by able to sample it anyway.

A solid full flavored smoke that can replace a meal if needed. Dark-fired Kentucky dominates the blend—providing a strong smokey-barbecue aroma and flavors that carry some nutty undertones. The Virginia leaf plays a supporting role with some grassy notes, but mostly get lost in the tin note and the smoke. There is no harshness present in the smoke.

I have never tried earlier versions of Three Nuns and its relation to specific authors is not important to me. This iteration of Three Nuns is similar to Savinelli's Doblone d'Oro in its smokey character. However, Three Nuns is a bit stronger, edgier, and lacks the slight spiciness from the perique. I don't reach for Three Nuns as often as other similar blends, but I fully enjoy it when I do.

It is definitely worth a try.

This is for the Original Version. Got my hands on some 30 year old Three Nuns.. I expected some dull peaked out tobacco’s, but no sir! Wow, the amount of pepper spice that’s still in this, the depth of flavors.. figgs/fruit, apple pie, pecans and a chewy smoke... it’s really amazing. I can understand why others have included Burley in their reblends of this because it does give off almost this sugarcane/grainy bread kind of flavor almost of pumpernickel.. but it’s also got so much more heat, especially on the retrohale.. and a depth that’s missing in the more recent iterations. Will be smoking some more out of a briar and either a cob or meerschaum.

I have to say that Three Nuns is a truly intriguing, yet absolutely delicious blend that I must admit has captured my heart from the moment I cracked the tin and took a deep sniff of the smell.

Right off the bat you get an excellent aroma from the tin with the Virginia providing the nice sweet aroma to it and the Perique soon following in suit with the spiciness. The aromas that I could describe on the nose for this would have to be along the lines of a sweet sort of fruit cake or plum cake on the backnotes, with very prominent woody aromas like that of hickory on the front. Now when I say fruit cake/plum cake, it is not something that is topped or cased. This is a 100% natural aroma coming from this tobacco that is absolutely enamoring for me. Just the aroma of the blend makes it a perfect blend to enjoy on a winter's day. Time for the flavour profile. The moment after I finished lighting up the tobacco, my mouth was awake with a plethora of delectable tastes. The natural sweetness of Virginia immediately washes over your palate before the taste of subtle floral notes similar to that of fruit blossoms soon crosses over your tongue. The bouquet of flavours soon develop into that fruit/plum cake that is on the nose of the blend soon comes around on the finish of the puff.

Now, for the remains. What remains for an aroma in the bowl after the pipe is a robust tobacco aroma with very subtle notes of flowers and some spice. Don't ask why I do that leg of the review, I just do.

When I got this tin the moisture for it was just fine, and since the tobacco is in a coin cut you'll have to rub it out. For me the coins/curls were a bit dense, so it took a good few minutes to rub out enough for a pipeful of this goodness.

Now there is one topic I have to touch on with Three Nuns. This review is mostly catered towards that of the newer blend produced by Mac Baren, thus I do not know any of the former blends of Three Nuns. Don't get all harsh on me!

One last word of advice, (ESPECIALLY MY CANADIAN FRIENDS) do try your best to get it online. If you find it in your B&M and you're in a dire rush to try it (like I was) then go ahead, but you might have to deal with a hefty cost. I advise buying it online if you can.

For a pairing on this I would suggest a nice cup of hot apple cider to go with this, or perhaps a glass of eggnog. Call it obscure, but it will go well with this unique taste! Trust me!

Now go forth, and enjoy!

Before writing this review, I waited 'till one whole tin to be finished. Unfortunately it has finished. It is diffucult to find it in my country. because of this, I expect longingly the new one.

when I opened the tin. baccy seems to me little dry. But as I read reviews it is normal also the baccy is highly smokable. Nic level was OK for me. the taste is rounded and well balanced. I smoked this delicious blend with only one meerschaum pipe. And no gurgling or tongue bit was occured.

when I smoked at home while watching TV with my wife, she never bothered so the room note was OK.

I recommend this baccy for all never smoked it yet. hate it or love it, it deserves a try. I hope you will love it.

Summary: spicy dark fired Kentucky surrounded by sweet Virginia with the edge taken off, this is a nice easy smoke.

The navy flake in coin form with a center of something spicy and outer bright Virginia has formed a genre in which the original version of this tobacco was a pioneer. The blenders have dropped the Perique, added a plum/fig style topping like on "Royal Yacht," and replaced the center with dark fired Kentucky that is similar to the MacBaren "HH Dark Fired Kentucky" in that it is spicy with internal flavors emerging from behind the smokiness. This blend tones down the Virginias so that they offer more of a honey-grain taste than the sugary hay smell flavor, and the result is a smooth smoking blend which reveals nuances over time.

Three Nuns is, by far, one of the best English blends out right now. It saddens me to see a few?reviews on this fine blend that see it lacking or unfavorable. However, to each their own and I can only give my personal rating.

Where to begin? It is very traditional in its construction and very bold with its taste. This is not a blend for Aromatic-only pipe smokers and perhaps not for beginning pipe smokers. To paint a more allegorical picture: it is like asking a person, who only drinks his/her tea with lots of sugar and milk, to drink straight tea.

In Japan, the price is around 2,000 yen which is about the same as 20 US dollars. It does sound expensive, but you are paying for quality and it does not fail in this area. Here in Japan it is available in the 50g tins and by Odin's eye I am thankful for that.

On opening the tin there is indeed a unique sight that hits you; that all of the tobacco is sliced into coins. These are wonderful for people like me who enjoy the ritual of picking out our tobacco and rubbing it into the consistancy we desire.

On smelling the tin, the strong smell of something akin to Jagdwurst of my native Germany or for others - dried deer sausage. A "gamey" smell, if you will allow the term. This smell continues with the tobacco even as it is dried out further or even aged.

Smoking is a wonderful experience, but be careful! Too fast and too strongly of a puffer, if you are one, will result in a nicotine over-drive. It is to be smoked gently and calmly, just as a good clergyman would do while reading some sacred text.

The taste is full and natural and I, personally, highly recommend it for those of you with a taste for the English blends.

NOTE: The four star rating is for the original Bells Three Nuns... read on. This newer mix is pretty good but the vintage tins are otherworldly. However, I did note a similarity in taste to the original Bells Three Nuns on occasion. The quarter size coins rub out easily & burn cool & evenly. They require a little drying time which was not the case with the "old" version & the coins seemed to be smaller "back in the day". The initial tin aroma was a nice, smoke fired tobacco smell with a bit of sour note. One might notice a slight acrid taste initially but after a little is burned off, you will get a little burst of sweet, natural tobacco flavors that meld together fairly well. Three Nuns has not earned legendary status for no reason & this newer blend works OK for me. As good or better than most blends of this genre.

It is strong enough to satisfy and delivers a semi-sweet smoke above mid strength. Anyway, this is just a gentle, friendly, tasty tobacco with respectable strength that can be smoked right out of the tin if one desires to do so. I'm sure it would be much better with a little age & will cellar some for later consumption. It smokes/burns well all the way to the finish. There's a lot of tobacco packed in a 50g tin and it is a fairly good value as the leaf is not weighted down with excessive moisture & I haven't noticed any stems thus far. It cost a little more than similar blends. I don't have money to burn but don't mind burning a little of it on this newer version. As the tin states... carefully selected Virginias dominate and are the wrapper leaf of the dark fired Kentucky & Burley. I don't inhale and a bowl satisfied my Vitamin N "necessity".

I will mix a tiny bit of quality mixing Perique with my next bowl just to see if it might taste anything like the older version. So, for the reasons explained above & since I loved the older version very much, I think this newer Three Nuns deserves at least three stars.

I had mixed feelings about the addition of Perique to this blend... like when my ex drove my new Mercedes over a cliff. It did raise a stink while blending a pinch within a bowl sized amount but smoked pretty good about midway through a size two Meerschaum billiard. I don't advise this & "curiosity killed the cat". It's fine for what it is just the way it is... still enjoyable to me & that's all that matters. Four stars for the older, original Bells version, three stars for the Orlik & later Mac Baren versions.