Mac Baren Aromatic Choice

One of the blandest blends I've ever smoked. I bought this hoping it would be sweet with a nice aromatic note, but it turned out smelling of cigarettes (Kent in particular) in the pouch and rather bland when smoked. I searched for the nutty character of most Mb blends but was quite disappointed. It lacks character and delicacy but might appeal to those looking for a milder aromatic without heavy casing. Not my type.

Not as bad as over the counter aromatic blends. but... its close. Nice aroma but no flavor to speak of. Just tastes like hot air. Burns wet and leaves the pipe sticky. Nice aroma but no tobacco flavor. Not even any flavor from the casing. Just hot steam like smoke.

They say you can judge a man by his enemies. I?ve used this technique successfully several times on this list to select tobaccos. Why oh why do nicotine addicts try ?mild? blends at all? Yes, this is mild because it is SUPPOSED to be. I?ve smoked cigars and pipes for 30+ years and find nothing wrong with this blend. It delivers as promised and then some.

It starts sweet and aromatic, but not excessively so, progresses to more complex, yet mild flavors of hardwood nuts, and finishes with long anticipated stoved virginia sweet/sour notes. If anything, it needs a bass note of something to stretch the spectrum. It never turns acrid or bitter.

Like the first reviewer, I use this as a reward for evenings when I need to sleep later. A wonderful relaxing smoke it is, and I love the sweetness, be it virginias or casing; it matters not. It would not be an all-day smoke, though; the taste would stop being special.

This was my first MacBaren and remains my favorite. Yes, they all can bite, but I find that to be a matter of technique and experience more than anything. The package claims it to be easy to smoke, and I agree. It seems oblivious to careless packing or lighting or whether you use a cob or Savinelli briar. Because of this, I?d recommend it also to those new to the pipe. Neophytes should also be cautioned to dedicate a pipe to flavored blends such as this so as not to risk carryover when they try english or balkan blends as another ?veteran? reviewer discovered. In fact, I devote a specific pipe to this blend so as not to introduce foreign flavors, welcomed elsewhere, to this one.

I suppose the packaging is a bit full of itself, but no more so than many others with pretentious names and allusions to the leisure class of yachts, clubs and royalty. At least it sets itself apart from other pouches, as well it should. I wish it came in 100g tins.

I?d recommend this to any smoker who can appreciate an upscale mild aromatic and especially to those who don?t need a hit of nicotine to get by.

Update 1/05 Yikes! What IS this now? It went way over the top and I couldn't finish half a bowl. Did they unplug the flavor sprayer? Old package fine, new one gross. Something is rotten in Denmark. Really: my waning old stock is still great. Goodbye old friend...

This is the worst MB blend I hae ever tasted. It tastes like the toacco had been replaced by shredded pieces of the same cardboard they use to produce the pack. Sorry Mac Bare, but this one is realy terrible.

Sorry folks but this is clearly the worst Mac Baren I have tried and had to ditch it after the first couple of puffs. As you open the pouch, its almost reminiscent of opening a packet of tea. I have personally nothing against tea, but if this is an 'Aromatic Choice' they certainly could have done a better job. The tobacco quality is just fine as with all Mac Barens but the casing leaves much to be desired. The room note is not too bad but it not all about the room note is it? If one would be stranded on a desert island, it would be better if one had to drink or chew it rather than smoke it! Apologies to Mac Baren, I really wanted to like it but I just can't.

I guess I would be the "veteran" that Benjamin was talking about. I have a problem with MacBaren's consistent and heavy-handed use of the honey/cheap liqueur casing. This blend is in a recycled-looking corrugated package, apparently to appeal to the younger, hipper crowd. I wouldn't mind the marketing bit, but I found this to have no tobacco flavor, and an unpleasant taste. It gunked up my pipe, and it took three salt-and-alcohol treatments to get rid of the stench. Of course, this is merely MY opinion....

I am totally new to pipe tobacco so ordered a few samples and they arrived today. Tried this one first. It has a pleasant smell in the packet and packed very, very easily. It lit no problem and stayed lit all the way to the end. As mentioned I have no idea about blends, tobacco types etc, but all I know that although there was a ton of smoke, it didn't taste of anything? It burned very hot and felt like I was smoking steam? Along with the steam, it nipped a bit, not just on the tongue but in the mouth as well. I have enough for another couple of bowls, but I won't be rushing to smoke them........I hope the other samples are better!

Its my first tobacco, so I connected this tobacco in full of emotion. But, its really unnecessary and average tobacco to smoke, maybe only smell. 😀

This is another aromatic I can locally find.

It smells like lemon, it tastes like lemon, it burns like lemon. But why, wife loves the smell.

You can find a better aromatic I am sure.