Barclay-Rex Maiden Lane Blend

Vincent Nastri, in my opinion, was one of the all-time great tobacco blenders. He knew how to combine leaf for the best presentation. Maiden Lane Blend has always been my favorite in the Barclay-Rex line due to the way Nastri combined so many different tobaccos, yet produced a blend that was mellow, semi-sweet (n a dark chocolate sort of way) and satisfies Virginia, Perique and Latakia lovers all at the same time. For a wonderful taste sensation, give Maiden Lane a go.

Pipestud

Years ago, when I was living in West Africa, all I could find to my taste as an "English Blend" was Dunhill's 965. Over the years, I have searched for a bulk tobacco to avoid having to buy multiple cans of 965. To my delight, Maiden Lane, with its minimal bite and its all-day utility is a perfect blend, just enough Latakia plus other subtle tastes that make it a perfect choice for my needs. After 45 years of marriage, my wife says she misses the "room note" when I am away travelling.

An American Latakia mixture where the Burley drives the show. The topping could be smelled before lighting and tasted after. Not great but not that bad, an average house blend. It did turn bitter after and I blame this on the topping when I started to puff faster. It was the search for more flavor you see.

Virginia lover

Maagde paetje, Girls' Path, is what the Dutch called the grassy foot-path bordering the brook that ran from Nassau Street to the East River. Servant girls were always to be seen there, on the brook bank, washing and bleaching clothes. The "scrubbing Dutch"! In the evening, the maidens' path became lovers' lane.

Today's Maiden Lane still follows the tortuous course of the olden brook, one of many narrow, mysterious little streets that make up New York's financial district, in Downtown Manhattan. Generations of New York smokers would haunt Maiden Lane, however, not for the girls, but because Barclay-Rex Tobacco Blenders, "Pipes Repaired While You Wait", stood regally at No. 7 for untold decades. Silver-haired types, from the great money-changing enterprises; dapper clubmen on their way to luncheon in wainscotted splendour; younger men trying to appear soigné—all kinds and conditions, and your teen-aged humble servant, too, were to be seen there, oggling the beautiful pipes and the scrumptious tobacco in the crystal jars.

Wall Street has changed much; the patrician financier is not often to be seen, outside the novels of Louis Auchincloss; but Barclay-Rex, now at a spanking new, yuppy location at 75 Broad Street, goes on forever. Founded by Vincent Nastri in 1910, it is a testimonial to the continuity and cultural stability of a Great City—a great Puritan metropolis of Commerce, Learning, and Serious Pleasure.

Maiden Lane Blend is the only relic of the old Barclay-Rex, a perfect Anglo-American mixture from the time when, with very few exceptions, only Anglo-Americans fitted-in the Wall Street milieu. The Anglo part is in the virginia-latakia-turkish ritual; the American burley addition, something the real English would never do, lending the whole composition a simplicity and clarity that I would almost call democratic.

If your palate has been confused or surfeited by too much complexity; if you are tired of singular sensations and want to get back to the real taste of tobacco; or if you have neglected smoking in the busy throng of occurrences, and wish to be reminded of why you took up pipe smoking in the first place, by all means give Maiden Lane Blend a try. It is good, clean taste, up-front, no-nonsense flavour, and will make any bloated pipe snap out of it. And it is my blend of choice to take on trips, because it goes with everything and everybody. Especially dry gin.

The Blend for All Seasons.

Well, my mother often reminded me: "to each, his own". I've lived by those words for over six decades. That's what I attribute to MLB and the admiration of many. I received a 2 oz bag ( gratis ) from an ebay seller, when I purchased a pipe, to which I am grateful too. I've smoked it on several occasions but it doesn't "float my boat" nor leave a pleasant/tolerable after taste either. I realize my body's chemistry is the cause. None the less, I'll pass what's left along. I'm not a big fan of Burley, nor Perique either. Some blends I've become fond of recently incorporate both. This blend ( to me ) reeks of Burley. To those who like it fine.

Early in my life as a pipe smoker, I would get up on cold Saturday mornings and head over to the Barclay Rex location on Lexington Ave in Manhattan and have a cup of espresso from their self serve machine (no longer legal in city tobacco shops) and read the morning paper in their smoking lounge while having a bowl of Maiden Lane. At that time, I felt it was one of the finest English blends that I had smoked. But over time as my tastes broadened, Maiden Lane gave way to new horizons. But having just opened an old Mason jar of ML, I was reminded why I enjoyed this affordable bulk English blend. This, slightly spicy, medium “American English” is mellow with balanced flavors. I am not a big fan of Burley in my English blends, but Maiden Lane is an exception for me. The taste of the Burley is present throughout the smoke, but it really adds to this blend perfectly. Maiden Lane can get a little too spicy if puffed to quickly, especially after the mid bowl point. And ML is not the most complex English blend I have ever smoked, but the interplay of the component tobaccos is enough to keep things interesting. I selected "none detected" for the flavoring, but it could extremely mildly cased. I prefer ML most in a Morta pipe. In some ways this reminds me of Uhle’s excellent Bishop’s Move, although I like Bishop’s a bit more. NY City has made things nearly impossible for cigar and pipe shops, but if you happen to be in the city, Maiden Lane is worth a visit to one of Barclay’s locations for this nice “house” English blend, just be sure to bring your own coffee.

I was in NYC last month and was staying down near the financial district . Luckily there was Barclay -Rex shop close by. I was able to pick up a 2 oz pouch of this and have enjoyed it ever since. a really nicely balanced blend with all the components that i like in a tobacco . It is easy to pack and requires a couple of re lights. a nice white ash that smokes cool and dry ALL the way down .nice staff and place to visit in the city .

I was a hang around at their Maiden Lane address during my up and coming pipe smoker days in the mid 80's.Mr Nastri Sr. smoked this mixture in his Petersons.Well balanced and first rate like all the mixtures they produced.First rate gentlemen as well.I miss them all.I recommend this tobacco.

An american english blend, that is slightly cased to add some sweetness. Not a bad mixture, but nothing extraordinary. This would be a good introduction to english mixtures for the aromatic smoker.

A very nice medium English with some American Burley, excellent balance with pleasant natural flavours. The Perique is done just right, I tend to dislike even medium-handed Perique.

For me more of a midday smoke or a change of pace from my usual heavy English regimen. It behaves very well, packing, combustion and tastes great in all of my briars; nice with a coffee too.

There's something for everyone in this blend: Virginia, Latakia, Perique, and even Burley all expertly done. An excellent value from a great shop and worth trying even if it's only available off the shelf; recommended.