Mac Baren Solent Mixture
(3.15)
A fine composition of choice Virginias with a fully ripe cavendish and Syrian latakia, giving this classical mixture its satisfying taste. Solent is specially manufactured from quality selected tobaccos.
Notes: Aka "English Mixture". As of 04/16/2018, Syrian latakia is still used as a blending component. According to Nick Shane at SmokingPipes.com, the label indicates Syrian latakia is used in this blend, and that Mac Baren's does have some stores of Syrian latakia, but it is unknown for how long.
Update: As of 01/30/2019, according to Per Georg Jensen of Mac Baren it has "Latakia from Cyprus, it is many years since the Latakia from Syria were used.".
From the tin: Solent Mixture was first produced in 1950, making it the oldest brand in the Mac Baren range today. The actual mixture is particularly interesting. Essentially the tobacco consists of sweet Virginia tobaccos mixed with a full bodied burley, to which is added the original Mac Baren cavendish and making this mixture very special, Syrian latakia tobacco. Solent Mixture is a full bodied tobacco with highly distinctive spicy flavour and aroma. A tobacco that harks back to the age of full-rigged ships with the air on board pungent with the smell of salt water, wharfs and tar. An authentic English mixture.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Burley, Cavendish, Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Cocoa / Chocolate, Rum, Vanilla |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.15 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2021 | Medium | Mild | Full | Tolerable |
Come on....Dear Mac Baren....as a Dane I have often greatly enjoyed your wonderful tobaccos...but this....
- It lights up like damp cartoon. -Impossible to keep lit. -Burns hot as lava, when you puff to keep it alive (and puff you must!)
10+years experience as a pipe-smoker, and I STILL cant get to terms, with this soggy mess..
Mac Baren...you proud provider of tobacco to the Danes. Why do you deliver an end product, that's wet as Cardi B's *****???? When I buy a tobacco, my initial idea is to...duhh... smoke IT!! ...not go "Ohhh, I'll just leave this to dry for 2 weeks, before I light it up"
- It lights up like damp cartoon. -Impossible to keep lit. -Burns hot as lava, when you puff to keep it alive (and puff you must!)
10+years experience as a pipe-smoker, and I STILL cant get to terms, with this soggy mess..
Mac Baren...you proud provider of tobacco to the Danes. Why do you deliver an end product, that's wet as Cardi B's *****???? When I buy a tobacco, my initial idea is to...duhh... smoke IT!! ...not go "Ohhh, I'll just leave this to dry for 2 weeks, before I light it up"
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 23, 2005 | Very Strong | Mild | Extra Full | Tolerable |
I tried a sample of this one & was overwhelmed by the strength & how it burned my tongue. It's typical MacBaren in the pack: honey atop strands of rubbed out golden Virginia. It was all too powerful to taste any latakia. Hot, hot, hot! I spilled it out. Nothing else to say except pass.
1/2 of five stars
1/2 of five stars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Mac Baren - Solent Mixture.
I've had this in my cellar for about a year; I'd never got round to opening it due to the size: 100g's; once opened, if I didn't like it I'd still have to smoke it; either that, or commit the heinous crime of binning a near full tin!
The initial whiff of the mixture seems quite pungent; I detect both the aro' additions and a woody smell of Latakia. Although it's definitely an aromatic smell I don't find it very off putting.
The selection of ribbons looks to be divided into two parts; a high quotient of brown with below a quarter of them being black.
If Solent isn't packed correctly, it's a swine to get lit and then keeps going out; after a few attempts I found that leaving it a little loose in the bowl gives a fuller flavour and a much steadier burn. I don't mean stupidly loose, just don't plough too much into the bowl!
If it's loaded this way I quite enjoy the flavour; the aromatic appurtenance is above mild, but it's not at all strong; it gives the smoke a bit of a laid-back feeling. I get a slight flavour from the rum but no astringency, and the chocolate gives it some creaminess.
I find the flavours from the tobaccos are a bit boring. I'm not saying they're horrible, they just lack lustre and zeal.
Ahh, with Solent I can see why Mac B' has a notorious reputation for tongue bite; it does so quite viciously and the smoke can get far too hot if it's smoked too fervently; I guess having to pack it loosely doesn't help the heat.
My initial opinion of Solent was great, for about three minutes. After that it all went a bit wrong:
One star.
I've had this in my cellar for about a year; I'd never got round to opening it due to the size: 100g's; once opened, if I didn't like it I'd still have to smoke it; either that, or commit the heinous crime of binning a near full tin!
The initial whiff of the mixture seems quite pungent; I detect both the aro' additions and a woody smell of Latakia. Although it's definitely an aromatic smell I don't find it very off putting.
The selection of ribbons looks to be divided into two parts; a high quotient of brown with below a quarter of them being black.
If Solent isn't packed correctly, it's a swine to get lit and then keeps going out; after a few attempts I found that leaving it a little loose in the bowl gives a fuller flavour and a much steadier burn. I don't mean stupidly loose, just don't plough too much into the bowl!
If it's loaded this way I quite enjoy the flavour; the aromatic appurtenance is above mild, but it's not at all strong; it gives the smoke a bit of a laid-back feeling. I get a slight flavour from the rum but no astringency, and the chocolate gives it some creaminess.
I find the flavours from the tobaccos are a bit boring. I'm not saying they're horrible, they just lack lustre and zeal.
Ahh, with Solent I can see why Mac B' has a notorious reputation for tongue bite; it does so quite viciously and the smoke can get far too hot if it's smoked too fervently; I guess having to pack it loosely doesn't help the heat.
My initial opinion of Solent was great, for about three minutes. After that it all went a bit wrong:
One star.
Pipe Used:
Erik Nording Freehand
PurchasedFrom:
The Danish Pipe Shop
Age When Smoked:
1 year
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