Mac Baren Dark Twist Loose Cut

My tobacco is from a couple of 5 gram foil sample packs that are several years old. The tobacco is still moist but not overly so. The cut is random with some reddish pieces among the brown and black; it packed into the bowl effortlessly and without additional preparation. Virginia provides the finesse of this blend with the black Cavendish bringing in some mellow sweetness. The Burley rounds out the balance of flavors and provides some backbone. The first third of the bowl highlights the Virginia sweetness and flavor. As the bowl progresses the other components crowd in on the Virginia a bit. The high point of the bowl is the middle third; there is some depth and smoothness to be found here. The smoke is relatively cool once the bowl is going good, but caution is warranted in the early stages. The nicotine content is slightly less than medium but is remarkable. The pipes used were a medium-sized Sunrise Canadian and a bent Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman.