Mac Baren Original Flake
(3.12)
An exceptionally cool, slow burning flake tobacco with a rich and distinctive aroma. Ideal for those smokers who appreciate the full bodied rich flavor of choice leaves spiced with burley and fire-cured tobaccos.
Notes: Formerly known as Odgen's Walnut, currently made by MacBaren. The name changed in October, 2016 to comply with EU laws.
Details
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.12 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 58 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 22, 2009 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
When I first started smoking pipes this was one of the first tobaccos to really catch my attention (along with Diggers Flake), when it used to come in a little cardboard case with the tray inside (same as Diggers flake). I think it was still made in Liverpool then, so some of this review might be tinged with a bit of nostalgia. The first thing I bought when I started smoking pipes again was this (as most of my other favourites had disappeared from the shelves). As far as I can tell it isn't quite the same product, something has changed. I used to remember it being a sublime tobacco, and I thought upon opening a modern packet that something had gone in the smell of the tobacco and also that the flakes were drier and crumblier (crumbier?)
But having said all that it still smokes well and is easy to handle and is just simple to get along with. I really don't have any trouble with this stuff and I find its taste very agreeable. It smokes pretty evenly and there is a good change of taste about half way into a bowl that gets very nice; a deeper and more robust flavour starts to come out and whenever I finish the bowl it always seems a tad early, which I think is quite a good sign. Burns right down usually too, very little dottle.
I like it and it seems to still be a solid product, even though the packaging has been ruined. I would give it four stars but for the fact that I don't think it's as good as it once was and I hate all this thing where companies buy up brands and still stamp things like Ogden's of Liverpool when such a thing no longer exists. It is good tobacco I think, but there is definitely better stuff out there.
But having said all that it still smokes well and is easy to handle and is just simple to get along with. I really don't have any trouble with this stuff and I find its taste very agreeable. It smokes pretty evenly and there is a good change of taste about half way into a bowl that gets very nice; a deeper and more robust flavour starts to come out and whenever I finish the bowl it always seems a tad early, which I think is quite a good sign. Burns right down usually too, very little dottle.
I like it and it seems to still be a solid product, even though the packaging has been ruined. I would give it four stars but for the fact that I don't think it's as good as it once was and I hate all this thing where companies buy up brands and still stamp things like Ogden's of Liverpool when such a thing no longer exists. It is good tobacco I think, but there is definitely better stuff out there.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 19, 2008 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
Disappointing that a flake doesn't come in a tin but that's cost cutting I suppose. Once you peel the foil off the plastic tray there's no way of resealing the pack.
Presentation was poor with not all of the flakes stacked uniformly and a couple of them not being intact. This being the case I rubbed out one and a half for my first smoke.
It's called Walnut because it tastes of walnuts. This however can sometimes equate to a dry, bitter smoke. I've never had a really "soapy" smoke before this one but now I know what the term means! It has little of the virginia sweetness of its Ogdens relative - St Bruno.
In its favour it burns well, is cool and mellow with no bite (in a 9mm filter pipe) It offers a satisfying nutty smoke without being too heavy on the nicotine.
The packet states "Rich in flavour and exceptionally cool". It's fairly accurate but whether the flavour is for you is a matter of opinion.
No longer readily available in the shops in the UK, I had to get it mail order.
UPDATE - revised review and upgrade to 2* after a few more smokes of Walnut
UPDATE 2 - Two weeks later and I've finished the 25g pack of Walnut and will be ordering some more. Despite my initial misgivings it's turned into a bit of a sleeper plus it's very economical in use. A good satisfying smoke that I turn to in the evening - probably a bit too heavy for during the day. The soapiness is always there but receeds the more you smoke it. Coupled with Gold Block (another Ogdens of Liverpool product), these two tobaccos are my current non-aromatic daily smokes. Recommmended.
Presentation was poor with not all of the flakes stacked uniformly and a couple of them not being intact. This being the case I rubbed out one and a half for my first smoke.
It's called Walnut because it tastes of walnuts. This however can sometimes equate to a dry, bitter smoke. I've never had a really "soapy" smoke before this one but now I know what the term means! It has little of the virginia sweetness of its Ogdens relative - St Bruno.
In its favour it burns well, is cool and mellow with no bite (in a 9mm filter pipe) It offers a satisfying nutty smoke without being too heavy on the nicotine.
The packet states "Rich in flavour and exceptionally cool". It's fairly accurate but whether the flavour is for you is a matter of opinion.
No longer readily available in the shops in the UK, I had to get it mail order.
UPDATE - revised review and upgrade to 2* after a few more smokes of Walnut
UPDATE 2 - Two weeks later and I've finished the 25g pack of Walnut and will be ordering some more. Despite my initial misgivings it's turned into a bit of a sleeper plus it's very economical in use. A good satisfying smoke that I turn to in the evening - probably a bit too heavy for during the day. The soapiness is always there but receeds the more you smoke it. Coupled with Gold Block (another Ogdens of Liverpool product), these two tobaccos are my current non-aromatic daily smokes. Recommmended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 15, 2004 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Febuary 2004. Ogdens Walnut Flake. The flakes look good and smell great,not to moist and not to dry. I have twisted folded and also tried rubbing out the flakes when loading the pipe bowl,any technique results in easy lighting and smoking. Taste is definitely virginia with the added taste of burley bringing a low key spice to the almost even background.The virginia and burley two go well hand in hand compilmenting each other. The taste is consistant right to the bottom of the bowl leaving a grey white ash. If your looking for a very simple tobacco that offers old world charm and without all the additives and sweetners,then this may very well be it. Contains a very earthy taste right to the bottom of the bowl,which maybe a little dull to some. If you have a sweet-tooth look else-where. 4 out of 10.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 01, 2003 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A good friend let me fill a pipe with this tobacco at a recent pipe club meeting.
The pipe was brand new so I like to believe that I got a pretty good taste of the tobacco.
My friend had told me that this tobacco was rather 'full' with a nicotine hit but I found that (to me) it doesn't have the fullness of body that G&H Rum Flake or G&H Kendal flake does.
The tobacco was smooth and burned well. My friend is an advocate of the Butera "chop it up" method and I believe that the taste and volume of smoke would have been different had I been able to roll up a flake and plug my pipe with it.
Overall, this is a good blend with very little if any flavoring. Good body, a little thin on the top but with a big, burley middle.
Enjoyable!
The pipe was brand new so I like to believe that I got a pretty good taste of the tobacco.
My friend had told me that this tobacco was rather 'full' with a nicotine hit but I found that (to me) it doesn't have the fullness of body that G&H Rum Flake or G&H Kendal flake does.
The tobacco was smooth and burned well. My friend is an advocate of the Butera "chop it up" method and I believe that the taste and volume of smoke would have been different had I been able to roll up a flake and plug my pipe with it.
Overall, this is a good blend with very little if any flavoring. Good body, a little thin on the top but with a big, burley middle.
Enjoyable!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2020 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Smells like St Bruno, tastes like St Bruno and vice versa.
The pouch note is more vinegar than plums and figs, there is not the nearest hint of any walnuts. There seems to be something going on whereby one blend of tobacco is being sold under various names by different companies which makes me think they are all made the same, in the same factory but that could just be my old, cynical side coming out to play.
There’s not much to separate this from Bruno or, for that matter, Condor long cut original, which is a shame.
It’s nice enough but I think it was probably better when Ogden’s made it but I can’t be certain because I never tried the old blend.
Update - I have now had this jarred up for nearly two years and there are some interesting developments. There is a floral/fruity note that now comes in to dance on the tongue. It is similar to SB but it has a different finish - I am finding it quite sour when a lot is smoked in one go. This is definitely becoming a blend that I can enjoy lighting, taking a gentle chuff or two and then letting it sit. I find I can repeat this until the bowl is finished and have a more enjoyable smoke. To the reviewer who said “can leave a flavour in the mouth that no other tobacco can move” I agree - the flavour is one that hangs around for quite sometime but that, with constant smoking, may well become the flavour that keeps me coming back.
The pouch note is more vinegar than plums and figs, there is not the nearest hint of any walnuts. There seems to be something going on whereby one blend of tobacco is being sold under various names by different companies which makes me think they are all made the same, in the same factory but that could just be my old, cynical side coming out to play.
There’s not much to separate this from Bruno or, for that matter, Condor long cut original, which is a shame.
It’s nice enough but I think it was probably better when Ogden’s made it but I can’t be certain because I never tried the old blend.
Update - I have now had this jarred up for nearly two years and there are some interesting developments. There is a floral/fruity note that now comes in to dance on the tongue. It is similar to SB but it has a different finish - I am finding it quite sour when a lot is smoked in one go. This is definitely becoming a blend that I can enjoy lighting, taking a gentle chuff or two and then letting it sit. I find I can repeat this until the bowl is finished and have a more enjoyable smoke. To the reviewer who said “can leave a flavour in the mouth that no other tobacco can move” I agree - the flavour is one that hangs around for quite sometime but that, with constant smoking, may well become the flavour that keeps me coming back.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 24, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a little bit bland. But it makes up for that with honest quality. It's no nonsense and stays cool and slow burning. It's pretty much st Bruno flake without the perfume infusion. Smells abit generic in the room, and the pouch note is mediocre. All middle of the road . But it's a honest no nonsense quality smoke. It's like Nescafé original in that it delivers the goods without pomp and ceremony. Satisfying nicotine hit too
Pipe Used:
Poul Winslow crown Viking Rhodesian
PurchasedFrom:
My smoking shop
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 02, 2017 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A good friend generously gifted me a few of these flakes.
Pretty and neat medium brown flake with flecks of lighter and darker spread throughout. The moisture content was perfect, no drying time needed. Smelled of lightly sweet tobacco, earth, and a bit of nuttiness.
Was easy to rub out or just load a flake directly into the bowl. Takes just the two standard lights to get it rolling. It remained lit with minimal tamping.
This tobacco produces large volumes of smoke. The flavor is VA forward, which is just the right amount of sweetness with balanced flavors of toast and hints of sour. The Burley/Kentucky adds some depth and character that are quite pleasing mixed with the Virginia's. I got some spice, but nothing harsh, some earth, a little bit of wood, and some nuttiness. There is the typical strength/flavor or the Kentucky, which isn't overpowering in this blend and I appreciate that. The nuttiness really comes out after the 3/4 point of the bowl. If you sip this smoke you will get more of the sweet and nutty. If you puff harder you will get more of the spice, wood, smokey and it can be just a bit harsh when pushed. However, the smoke was enjoyable with a fairly consistent flavor from top to bottom...down to a nice white ash.
Very pleasant indeed!
Pretty and neat medium brown flake with flecks of lighter and darker spread throughout. The moisture content was perfect, no drying time needed. Smelled of lightly sweet tobacco, earth, and a bit of nuttiness.
Was easy to rub out or just load a flake directly into the bowl. Takes just the two standard lights to get it rolling. It remained lit with minimal tamping.
This tobacco produces large volumes of smoke. The flavor is VA forward, which is just the right amount of sweetness with balanced flavors of toast and hints of sour. The Burley/Kentucky adds some depth and character that are quite pleasing mixed with the Virginia's. I got some spice, but nothing harsh, some earth, a little bit of wood, and some nuttiness. There is the typical strength/flavor or the Kentucky, which isn't overpowering in this blend and I appreciate that. The nuttiness really comes out after the 3/4 point of the bowl. If you sip this smoke you will get more of the sweet and nutty. If you puff harder you will get more of the spice, wood, smokey and it can be just a bit harsh when pushed. However, the smoke was enjoyable with a fairly consistent flavor from top to bottom...down to a nice white ash.
Very pleasant indeed!
Pipe Used:
Lil Devils Anse (cob)
PurchasedFrom:
Gifted
Age When Smoked:
Unknown
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 29, 2015 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
This is an interesting one, I quite liked it. It's an odd taste but was nicer than I expected. Can't really explain what it is but it's nice.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Mysmokingshop
Age When Smoked:
New from pack.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 20, 2014 | Strong | Strong | Full | Strong |
This is what i compare other flakes to, its similar to John Sinclair Highland Sliced in appearance and close in flavour as well. Nice and cool, burns exceptionally slow and certainly a large does of vitamin N. An english tobacco institution.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 26, 2013 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This flake is cut very nicely, but it somewhat dry.
The smell is quite sweet, hints of toffee I would say.
Rubbing is quite easy, filling the pipe as well.
I don't know if it is a coincidence, but there is a certain nutty flavour to the smoke. But also, it is somewhat bitter, and since the flake is a bit too dry, I felt that the smoke was slightly just slightly hot.
It is a nice tobacco to try, but honestly, nothing too special about it.
The smell is quite sweet, hints of toffee I would say.
Rubbing is quite easy, filling the pipe as well.
I don't know if it is a coincidence, but there is a certain nutty flavour to the smoke. But also, it is somewhat bitter, and since the flake is a bit too dry, I felt that the smoke was slightly just slightly hot.
It is a nice tobacco to try, but honestly, nothing too special about it.
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