Barclay-Rex Maiden Lane Blend
(3.27)
For that after-dinner smoke — a mixture of Turkish, Virginia, Burley, Latakia and Perique. A truly British blend, created by Mr Nastri to please the discriminating smoker who wants that extra spicy taste.
Details
| Brand | Barclay-Rex |
| Blended By | Vincent Nastri |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Burley, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.27 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2001 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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.
Pipe Used:
Becker Morta & various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Barclay Rex
Age When Smoked:
new & old
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 24, 2020 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
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 .
Pipe Used:
castello sea rock
PurchasedFrom:
barclay -rex NYC
Age When Smoked:
new from shop
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 08, 2014 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 20, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Very enjoyable, classic English blend that can be had for a very fair price. Sold by the ounce at Barclay Rex stores, Maiden Lane could become an affordable all-day smoke. It contains the full breadth of possible English constituents, and so seems to compromise nicely with all tastes.
Furthermore, the friendly gentlemen of Barclay Rex will usually throw in a few ounces of their fine tobacco with any purchase of a pipe. A good deal all around, I think.
Furthermore, the friendly gentlemen of Barclay Rex will usually throw in a few ounces of their fine tobacco with any purchase of a pipe. A good deal all around, I think.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2008 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A nice blend of dark and light mostly ribbon cut with varying texture. The perique gives the blend a nice spicey element and the burley gives it a nutty taste. The latakia is definetly there but does not overwhelm. It burns well and stays lit nicely throughout the smoke. I recommned this blend when as the review says after-dinner when one wants a latakia based smoke but also requires a bit more complexity than a full English. If you are in New York , go to Barclay-Rex and wtry a pipe. Could be an everyday smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 31, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a true medium blend, which artfully combines the best of English and American styles. The medium width ribbons aare nicely variegated in color, and very even in texture. The aroma is spicy and smokey, like a properEnlish blend, but with a nutty note of good Burley. The Perique does show up in the pouch aroma. There is no excessive use of PG to the touch.
The blend packs and lights well, yielding a smooth tasty smoke with some slight complexity. Mostly it produces a well mingled flavor of all the ingreients in an old-fashioned manner. Very well behaved, and smooth on the tongue. If it were a food, it would be "comfort food".
The blend packs and lights well, yielding a smooth tasty smoke with some slight complexity. Mostly it produces a well mingled flavor of all the ingreients in an old-fashioned manner. Very well behaved, and smooth on the tongue. If it were a food, it would be "comfort food".
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