Tobaccos Mac Baren - Amphora Black Cavendish Special Reserve

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steden (100)	2013-08-10		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Opening the pouch the tobacco is rightly moist and fluffy, not greasy at all, pouch smell reveals something like coffee, licorice, spices and a slight sweet-tart fruity note, plums perhaps. Unlike many aromatics, the taste is quite coherent with the smell: just little sweetness, almost a dry taste with hints of licorice and freshly roasted coffee. SRBC has a good body with spicy Orientals in the forefront, or so it seems, difficult to say because all tobaccos are harmoniously melded by the Cavendish processing, it smokes cool without stings and leaves the bowl clean.

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3047)	2015-03-06		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

While there’s an ample amount of smooth black cavendish present (seemingly about 60% of the blend), it’s not nearly as sweet as I expected, so it’s obviously unsweetened for the most part, though I do get some sugar and vanilla from it. The Virginias are lightly grassy and very citrusy with a fermented taste, and touch of earth. The burley is toasty nutty, woody, mildly earthy with a minor molasses note, and at times, takes the lead. The Kentucky is fairly woody, earthy and a little sweet in a secondary role. The Oriental is a minor player, but offers a woody, earthy, floral, lightly sweet spiciness that you’ll continually notice. The toppings are licorice with a little fruit and caramel. They sublimate the tobaccos just a little without muting their complexity. Has a mild nic-hit. The strength is shade past the mild mark, while the taste is mild to medium. The tobacco is lightly moist, but requires no dry time. Burns cool, clean, creamy smooth with a very consistent, well balanced sweet flavor that doesn’t weaken or sport any harsh spots. Needs a minimal amount of relights. Leaves very little moisture in the bowl as it easily burns to ash. Has a pleasing after taste and room note. An all day medium sweet aromatic that bears repetition.

The earlier version (known simply as Amphora Black) is much the same as the above, except it was spicier, less creamier, a tad less sweeter, and stronger by a notch or two.

-JimInks

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-03-14		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This Black Cavendish mixture still is, to this day, a favorite. But as tpatriarche pointed out, this tobacco is extremely - if not impossible- to find in Canada nowadays. When it was available in every good convenience, grocery or tobacco store I used to smoke it regularly.

The licorice pouch aroma is outstanding and the taste of the tobacco, nevertheless, tends towards a robust, almost unsweetened tobacco which I find outstanding because the crowd is pleased and the smoker is really pleased. And this leaf smokes dry until the end and leaves a nice aroma in the pipe.

If it would still be available I would buy it on a regualr basis but I think it has been discontinued. Too bad, it is a shame.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tpatriarche (43)	2010-01-23		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I have not been able to find this blend in Canada for years, but I remember it as the best of any major brand-name tobaccos I have tried. Compares favourably with many expensive custom-blend black Cavendishes. A smooth even smoke, with a strong but pleasant spicy aroma. Plenty of character, e.g. more character than E A Carey's black Cavendish blends.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (233)	2014-08-21		Very Mild	Very Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This is not only black cavendish but black and golden cavendish. The description isn’t correct: the contents are all cavendish tobaccos but to be more precise we must speak of black and golden cavendish. Unfortunately this tobacco is a cake, a “panettone”, full of chemical additives and sugar. It is sickly sweet, cloying, too sugary. It is a perfume and not a tobacco. A product of low quality, crummy, unsmokable. Tobacco ‘s taste doesn’t exist. Perhaps this commercial product is ok for aromatic tobacco lovers but it is unacceptable for natural tobacco lovers. I am really disappointed and my score (from 1 to 10) is 1 and only a star.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dixcreek (184)	2017-11-10		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Very pleasant surprise for me. Was not expecting this to be as good as it is, I guess. Cavendish is not overly sweet and the combination of the different tobaccos all work together in unison to provide a solid smoke. Taste run from to subtle sweetness to woodsy to sour. A touch of fruit, vanilla and licorice play well in this mixture. Not a heavy hitter in The nicotine department but enough to satisfy. I have been smoking this codger style the last few days three bowls in succession. No harshness no bite, just good smoke. Will purchase again. Wish they had canisters or bulk though.

Age When Smoked: New

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3047)	2016-02-26		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

While there’s an ample amount of smooth black cavendish present (seemingly about 60% of the blend), it’s not nearly as sweet as I expected, so it’s obviously unsweetened for the most part, though I do get some sugar and vanilla from it. The Virginias are lightly grassy and very citrusy with a fermented taste, and touch of earth. The burley is toasty nutty, woody, mildly earthy with a minor molasses note, and at times, takes the lead. The Kentucky is fairly woody, earthy and a little sweet in a secondary role. The Oriental is a minor player, but offers a woody, earthy, floral, lightly sweet spiciness that you’ll continually notice. The toppings are licorice with a little fruit and caramel. They sublimate the tobaccos just a little without muting their complexity. Has a mild nic-hit. The strength is shade past the mild mark, while the taste is mild to medium. The tobacco is lightly moist, but requires no dry time. Burns cool, clean, creamy smooth with a very consistent, well balanced sweet flavor that doesn’t weaken or sport any harsh spots. Needs a minimal amount of relights. Leaves very little moisture in the bowl as it easily burns to ash. Has a pleasing after taste and room note. An all day medium sweet aromatic that bears repetition.

The earlier version (known simply as Amphora Black) is much the same as the above, except it was spicier, less creamier, a tad less sweeter, and stronger by a notch or two.

-JimInks

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2019-12-15		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

The tobacco in the pouch has a faint hint of fruit and alcohol. I don't smell vanilla which seems to be the ubiquitous black cavendish topping. It is more than half black medium ribbon mixed with some tans and browns.

The tobacco is delivered more moist than I might prefer. I smoked it without drying. Given the slightly moist nature of the tobacco, it is easy to pack too tightly if you are not paying attention.

By way of disclaimer, I should admit I am not usually a fan of black cavendish blends. Having said that, this one is pretty good to my palate. It is mild and a pleasant smoke. It is really tobacco flavored with licorice and fruit notes. I did not pick up and vanilla in it. There is a little spice and some burnt sugar when puffed. It is easy to keep burning at a slow pace and was a cool smoke.

Someone looking to try a good black cavendish blend should try this. I claim others will find it pleasant but a little thin.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2018-11-11		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Mac Baren - Amphora Black Cavendish Special Reserve.

Surprisingly the contents of the pouch aren't only black. There's a decent amount of medium and light brown ribbons also. The moisture's good when first opened.

The smoke. To be fair there's a more than notable amount of black Cavendish, but some of the stickiness is restrained by the other leaves in it. The Kentucky/Burley dries out the smoke, and adds a rustic note, while the Orientals give a spot of sourness. To be fair, I struggle to pick out the Virginia. The topping seems a little sweet, slightly glutinous, with a touch of coffee. It burns nicely, being mid-temp' and steady, giving a bite-free smoke.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: pleasant.

Amphora Black Cavendish Special'? It's not bad, but I don't exactly 'love it'. Two stars:

Somewhat recommended.

Pipe Used: No Name Freehand

Age When Smoked: 7 months

Purchased From: Can't remember!!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TEO (33)	2011-10-06		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

With much respect to those who like this stuff (pipe smoking is all and truly about one's taste and that's why we love it so much), I think this might be the worst of Amphora products I puffed. Tough the smell on opening the pouch is really sweet and licorice/vanilla pleasantly full, that aroma doesn't transfer to the bowl. This might be a good thing for me, 'cause I'm not an ARO freak but I cannot even taste all the complexity there should be after reading the amount of different leafs listed on the pouch, from Burley to Oriental.

Plus that licorice/black tea aroma makes me crave for tea-time and butter cookies instead of having me puffing. Not that difficult to keep lit, not that sweet as it may seem from pouch aroma. Never finished my pouch and think I'll never buy it again; I'll cellar a couple of teabags and vanilla cookies instead.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wintermute (90)	2019-02-21		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a great Black Cavendish in the European tradition. I mean to say that the Virginia component is a lot more prevalent. The American style tends to be more Burley based and have a vanilla edge to it. The moisture content is perfect and the pouch aroma is sweet tobacco. The ribbons seem a little longer than what I am used to from all of the other aromatics I smoke, but that just could be my perception. It packs nicely and takes a light well. A charring light then a full light is a must with this stuff or it will go out on you. The flavor begins as a typical Black Cavendish, but soon you you will notice the heavier use of Virginia. You will also note that lack of vanilla, cherry, or other flavorings that accompany this genre in most American blacks. The smoke is aromatic, but less so than you might think. The nicotine level is low, but it is there. As the bowl progresses the flavor takes on much more of the Virginia quality while the sweetness from the Cavendish processing heads to he back. If you like Amphora Original, you will like this version. Amphora Full Aroma goes in another direction and fans of that blend may find this to be too much of a departure. I just love all three versions, but I accept them for what they are. The Ash is fine and jumps out of the bowl with a knock. There is no real after taste save that of smoking tobacco. No tongue bite, but do not puff too hard. In my opinion, this Amphora line is the best line of tobaccos that Mac Barren produces.

Pipe Used: cobs

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (242)	2018-01-07		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I last smoked this back in the 1980s when it was readily available on the shelf of every CVS, Rite Aid, and the like (the good old days!), and I have been meaning to rekindle the acquaintance ever since Mac Baren reintroduced this to the US market. The pouch was fresh and ready for a smoke at just the right moisture content for me. The aroma was of black licorice, toffee and caramel. Very sweet but not cloying. Loading and lighting were easy as was keeping the bowl alight. The pouch aroma did lightly translate into the taste with this one along with a mild brown sugar sweetness till the bowl's end. The side stream aroma wafted in and out throughout the smoke and was quite pleasant. Perhaps just a smidge of a harsh, bitter taste at the outset, but not off putting. I was impressed with the ever present sweetness of the smoke which was very delightful and I could detect the flavor of Virginia leaf throughout. All in all a very nice mixture and a set it and forget it smoke. No heat or bite with this one either and it smoked clean and dry. Can be an everyday smoke for me and certainly nice to save this one for special occasions or when around non smokers. Well worthy of a 4 star rating from me.

Pipe Used: Dunhill Bent Billiard Cumberland

Age When Smoked: Fresh from pouch

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: Mac Baren's Black Ambrosia, Flying Dutchman Black (no longer in production), Sail Black.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PennsylvaniaPiper (20)	2021-11-13		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Amphora Black Cavendish Special Reserve is one of the best black cavendish blends I have ever tried.

Creamy, spicy and sturdy all in one. The room note is very pleasing, but does not become cloyingly sweet at any point. Ribbon cut is great for packing and lighting.

This is nothing like BCA or RLP6 or any other popular black cavendish forward blend which I tend to not enjoy. The burley, kentucky and orientals give this mix some backbone while the black cavendish provides cool, mildly sweet smoke. Very smooth mouth feel; not too much flavor strength or nicotine strength...just right. The gold foil pouch is also nice and solid.

In short, in my opinion, this is a black cavendish blend done right.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Oombergen (13)	2020-11-13		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

I cannot imagine a better way to design a Black Cavendish blend. This tobacco has a fantastic pouch note (a complex mix of dark fruit, dehydrated fruit, licorice and others), which translates very well into the very first part of the smoke. The smoke is not dull and monotonous, because different flavors (the orientals, the BC...) come forward and alternate, giving a satisfactory and full smoking experience. At the beginning, the complex bouquet gives the impression of sipping a sweet dark liquor of "deep" fruity taste. The ribbon-cut mixture is mainly composed by sumptuous Black Cavendish, produced by double fermentation of quality Virginias. The burley is in the background, and never comes forward to waste the smoking experience with an unwelcome cigarett-ish whiff. By the end of the bowl, you feel you have taken up a fair dose of nicotine. I am glad to know that many EM lovers do not disdain having now and then a good smoke with this blend.

=>June 2022 update: I have the impression that in 2021-2022 the blend has been modified. Less black cavendish and more of a thin ribbon blond tobacco (burley?). The aroma has considerably changed, the depth and sweetness has partly gone. The pleasure given by the previous formula has partly faded away. I downgraded my rating.

Pipe Used: Savinelli oom Paul, Grenci Freehand bent Dublin

Age When Smoked: just purchased

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Viscfab (36)	2019-06-03		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Oh this is a fantastic aromatic blend. Mac Baren has done a fantastic job re-blending this classic pipe melange from the Netherlands. Packaging is pretty with a nice description. Upon breaking the airtight seal, you get a whaft of Prunes, raisins and a bit of dark chocolate according to my olfactory data bank. Tobacco is not moist nor dry - it is goldilocks! There is a lot of black cavendish here but at least 50 % of the blend is comprised of excellent quality virginias and dark fired kentucky which really makes a great difference on flavour profile. You will notice a fantastic nose tingling when you retro-hale. The double fermented blend provides a more intense flavour experience and provides a fantastic melding of tobacco natural aromas with the casing added, in a perfect balanced way. It is medium in nic contents and burns to a very fine dry ash all way down to the bottom of the pipe without leaving any goopy residue. It is one of my favourite blends for sure. Amphora is quality! I also tried the new Virginia Blend and it is another fantastic blend on its own! Hail to mr Per Georg Jensen for creating such beautiful melanges of pipe gooodnes.

Pipe Used: Several Vauen, Savinelli, Stanwell, Brebbia, Gigi,

Age When Smoked: less than one year

Purchased From: Local importer

Similar Blends: Mac Baren - Black Ambrosia.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2017-04-03		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Pretty nice smoke. Not a lot of sweetness here, but still pleasant. In the first half I get mostly Black Cav with some vanilla and caramel. The Kentucky with a nice smoky note and earth. The Oriental with a little sour wood and spice. In the second half the Burley comes and goes and the Virginias make a nice showing. Gets a little sweeter when the Virginias show up. Somewhat complex with a nice evolution. I could go 4 stars on this if the first half had a little more sweetness. 3 as is.

Medium in body and taste. Flavoring is very mild. Burn is excellent.

Pipe Used: MM Marcus, Country Gentleman, Mark Twain

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SiChange (45)	2011-09-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

This is a review of the original Douwe Egberts version; the Imperial Tobacco Special Reserve Black Cavendish is reviewed separately.

This blend had no close substitute. Rather than being wet "in the pouch" as most black cavendish blends are, it was dryish yet cool smoking. The room note was rich, redolent of licorice, the smoke abundant; the taste mildly sweet and spicy in a delightful and hard to describe way. This was an expensively made blend disguised as "drugstore tobacco."

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	North State (72)	2021-04-13		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Not being a huge fan of black cavendish, I only dared buy this because it's Amphora Line. And this time I did hit a jackpot; it's a very good light aromatic, completely unpretentious and genuine tasting, with a smooth, full body. To me, the lead player in the pouch note as well as the smoke and the room note is the sweet vanilla, which thankfully does not feel chemical/fake at all. The tobacco is mostly black with a few shades of brown mixed in. My pouch was quite moist on the opening, almost greasy, and required a bit of drying out before being smokable; once it did it took to light well and smoked well to fine ash with the occasional relight. Rather long and wide ribbons too, so a bit of rubbing out is occasionally needed to pack well.

Very nice, and will be buying occasionally again if available.

Pipe Used: Falcon meerschaum, Chacom, corn cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh from pouch

Purchased From: Kiosk in Ustka, Poland

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Megalo Al (38)	2020-11-19		Mild	Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Uno dei pochi Amphora buoni, ottimo a crudo e buono in fumata. Il sentore di liquirizia da metà busta in poi, nel suo essere ripetitivo, può stufare un po'. Facile da fumare può scottare lievemente la lingua. E' comunque un tabacco di eccellenza, tra quelli in busta.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	canvas (337)	2019-09-23		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Another gold lined pouch from the good people at Amphora (er, Mac Baren). For something simply labeled Black Cavendish, with an added "special reserve" moniker (like it's dark chocolate), I just assumed I was getting repackaged 7 Seas Black. I was mislead, as the contents is not uniformly Black Cavendish, in fact there were more tan ribbons of Virginia? No matter.

The aroma was not dark chocolate either, but rather a sour (sorta cherry), alcohol rich (whiskey?), musty-tangy affair. The stuff felt ready to go, right from the bag, but really packed down tight with a dense putty feel that was moister than initially assumed. Ignition took a tad more work from the unexpected moisture, but the first few puffs were easy on the palette, not terribly "dark", and yet still had enough body to satisfy as a milder Aromatic.

The flavor was hard to place as nothing really stood out. By bowls end, I was just getting hot steam. By the end of the pouch, I was disappointed and hadn't found anything "special" about this "reserve".

So far I was happy with most of the Mac Baren Amphora blends I've tried, Original is still the best with it's yummy chocolate taste, and this one the worst without much taste.

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RingGrain (10)	2018-11-25		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I'm not so much in Cavendish. I am not in possession of a palate so fine as to discern nuances and shades of aromas. Even though I've been lighting my pipes for 30 years. I do not clearly perceive heere my beloved burley, nor the grassy nuances of Virginia. Well, even considering this, I must say that this mixture, where the Cavendish reigns, is really lovable. As soon as the pouch is opened, the humidity is perfect. The lighting is easy, the resulting combustion is of exceptional regularity. The aromatic yield is gradual and continuous throughout the smoke. A full bowl of a medium pipe allows me to smoke for 1 h and half with just 1-2 relight. It does not make me crazy, but in some way I really like it ... And I agree with Mr. STEDEN here, when he says the Cavendish process melds all the tobaccos in nice harmony. I must say I will certainly buy it again to keep it in my stock.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Punto Oro 4001, 4005, Brebbia Pura.

Age When Smoked: New from shop.

Purchased From: City tabacconist.

Similar Blends: Resembles Amphora Full, but Black is far more perfect!.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Drummerguy (5)	2016-09-05		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Offered in the U.S. again and purchased at Pipes and Cigars online where it's not easy to get. Burns well, smokes cool, with some sweet plum fruit and licorice on top of the bright hay and lemony Virginia, Burley backbone, and spicy Orientals that waft in and out. I'm more of a Virginia flake, Burley, and Perique lover and I love this stuff. What is so compelling is the balance, with no component fully dominating. Burns to a clean white ash with no gurgling gunk trail. A very very pleasant change of pace.

Pipe Used: Graco pot

Age When Smoked: new pouch

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Roberto (2)	2013-04-27		Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I bought this tobacco because I had heard great things about it and smoke it with great pleasure. Hints of licorice very pronounced, my wife likes it because the room smells ............. GOOD.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CoolPilot (69)	2011-09-06		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

The Black pouch Amphora with Black Cavendish is sold everywhere, in every tobacco shop even in the smallest town in italy, together with the green amphora (Rich Aroma), the red amphora (Full Aroma) and of course many others. It is cheap tobacco, around 8 euro for 50g, of very good quality as staed by everyone here already. I just wanted to correct the fact that these Amphora tobacco are sill manufactured and sill market leaders at least here. Being dutch stuff, I guess they are everywhere were they are distributed.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2010-07-23		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

This will remain my favorite "drugstore" blend. The room note is a huge hit and the taste is spicy and sweet, the sweetness not being dominant.

The aroma is of licorice, proportion is 2/3 black CA and 1/3 VA. It is possible that there are Orientals because of the spicy sweetness.

Too bad I can't get it anymore!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Skando (203)	2009-04-26		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Starting from the point of the (obvious, IMHO) comparison to McB's Black Ambrosia:

- the pouch aroma is something different, more on the coffee/caramelized nuts thing than vanilla/nuts/dried fruit thing;

- the cut is also ribbon, medium-fine strips that are longer than BA. The colour is more contrasted.

The smoke is also something middle-of-the-road with the "regular" family of Danish/Dutch tobaccos. The scrumptious pouch aroma reflects on the smoke in a very much milder way than one may expect, and that's a good thing. But have to say also that - compared to BA - SRBC is a bit duller and seems going partially lost during the pipeful. It starts displaying its aromas and ends in the full regular field. I do agree with Beer in that the last part of the bowl leaves an ashy aftertaste and my throat is a bit "touched". Nevertheless SRBC smokes very even and dry and needs really minimal care. It's not hot nor bitey.

Bottom line: SRBC is a good quality tobacco, a bit stronger but - in my preference - a step below BA.

A note to Jon: reviews of Amphora's are splitted into the brands 1) Amphora and 2) Imperial Tobacco. As long as it's now, the brand should remain Amphora, Imperial Tobacco being the owner of the brand and Van Nelle (The Netherlands) the manufactures under license.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2008-07-09		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

I recently was gifted several Amphora blends from a fellow TR member, including this black cavendish which sure tastes "different," than what I was expecting. It is not a typical cased black cav. Rather, it reminded me of burley based blends I've smoked.

Amphora Special Reserve is not really much of a smoke regards complexity, but is an easy smoke. It is not rough on the palate and burns very well. There's just not a lot of flavor here. I did detect the casing, but sure can't identify what it is. A little bit sweet, but not overpowering at all. I think aromatic fans will enjoy this if they can round up a pouch.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-09-16		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

This tobacco from Amphora is a very well kept secret. I would add, a hidden treasure. Despite the fact that I retried it last year ( after quite a number of years) and found it too mild now for me, it was still a pleasure to smoke it.

Despite the unevenness in the blending - sometimes the tobacco in the pouch has a lot of Black cavendish and just a bit of golden and brown leaf,all rather of small cut, sometimes it's all long cut, the Black Cavendish being a minority- and despite the fact that I now smoke either Rattray's, G.L. Pease, McConnell, I find Amphora Black Cavendish is actually of half decent quality despite the fact that mostly, you will find it in drugstores or convenience stores rather than on serious tobacconists shelves.

This tobacco smells licorice like crazy, to the point that when I smoked it on a regular basis, I would take the pouch on a regular basis over the evening and fill my nose with the sweet, incredible smell of this blend. It was almost an obsession and my girlfriend of the time would not say anything, but look at me in a very weird way.

Here's the magic of this blend: it smells like licorice, people freak out over the room note - it is just fantastic, of course, I can't smell it like everybody that's not smoking a pipe, can, but the taste of the tobacco is not overwhelming in the aroma; it's actually more like tobacco than the flavouring.

The advantage is thus that Black Cavendish from Amphora doesn't really taste like the traditional aromatics, it smokes DRY despite the fact that it's an aromatic, and everybody LOVES the room note, even the worse, most radical or intolerant non-smokers will bend in front of Amphora Black Cavendish!

Hey, everybody's happy! If you do smoke the Big League's names like myself and do find Amphara Black Cavendish in a drugstore, grocery store, convenience store, you want to give it a try.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-06-03		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant

A true classic in its range, this tobacco just satisfied me under every point of view. I remember one evening, when I had to re-load immediately my Peterson after finishing the first smoke; because I just didn't want this pleasure to end. Round, spicy (you can actually taste liquirice that you smell opening the pouch)it's an everyday's never boring and pleasant smoke. Very nice the little vanilla aftertaste.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tantric (321)	2005-02-26		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Due to the sudden impossibility to import my usual Virginia and Latakia blends from Cuppojoe's in NYC, I have to resort to those tobaccos readily available in Mexico City. The Amphora range is among those. I have already submitted a review of Amphora Regular, an old favourite when it was blended by D&E, but somewhat of a disappointment under Imperial Tobacco. Just to keep alive that endless search of a new blend, I recently opened a three-year-old pouch of Amphora Black I had stored somewhere in the upper shleves in my studio.

I must admit that even though this is obviously an aromatic, it does not resemble in any way a drug-store blend, nor does it taste like a Danish one. This is no vanilla-flavour concoction and it is not goopy or overridden with moisture. Dry black Cavndish, golden Virginia and some toasted Burley thrown in provide the base for a medium strength, floral like smoke, not at all bad, with enough tobacco flavour in the background to make you almost forget (and forgive) the fact that you are actually smoking an aromatic!

It burns rather cool and dry, and it does not infest the pipe with its floral-maple like aroma, provided you run a pipe cleaner through the stem and the shank once you've finished and the pipe is cool enough to be opened. I am not an aromatic fan, but this is not a bad change of pace if you suddenly crave a sweet taste.

Amphora black is a long lasting, not prone to bite, medium strength smoke. If you want a point of comparison, I believe this is slightly similar to Gawith's Grousemoor, but far less aggressive in terms of flavour and aroma, and with a more manly tobacco structure. All in all, a worthwhile experience.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2004-09-02		Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

The winey smell in the pouch almost reminds of sweet Marsala: quite unusual! It's not a bad cavendish oriented aromatic, but as usual it can taste a bit "empty". Typically easy to pack and light like the other Amphoras, it may burn too fast and scorch your tongue. The taste is OK at the beginning, but vanishes as the bowl progresses. It used to be a fine tobacco several years ago (sweet, dark and spicy), but today it's very bland and uninteresting.

2009 Update: a few years ago, Amphora renewed its product line. This tobacco is now called Black Cavendish Special Reserve. It hasn't changed much: wonderful sweet but natural pouch aroma, full of plums, dried figs, and a slighty alcoholic topping (rum?). Now it smokes rather cool and even, a truly low maintenance tobacco. Too bad that, while not exactly flat in flavour, it delivers very little of what the nose promised. It tastes like a very generic oriental+burley+virginia blend, not particularly sweet. Rather nutty, on the other hand, and not without body. Unremarkable, but not unpleasant. At least it tastes of tobacco, and it's not goopy. If you savour it slowly, it might even be quite pleasant. Slightly ashy aftertaste.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BruineBear (7)	2020-10-11		Medium	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Unnoticeable

I was looking for an aromatic blend for a change to my usual EM o VaPers. Wrong choice, IMO. One of the flattest and most insignificant smokes ever had. Period.

Pipe Used: Stanwell PS collection

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2017-12-12		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This tobacco is one of my favorites OTC. Yes, the tobacco is a bit harsh, at times. Yes, it can also smoke slightly hot at times. No, there is not a lot of tobacco taste going on here. And no, the nicotine is not very present. But this is not saying there is no nicotine and no tobacco taste! Amphora Black Cavendish's lovely flavoring, both in the pouch and while smoking, makes up for its shortcomings as it provides a wonderful spicy and just a tad sweet taste. In fact, ABC provides, because of its topping, a taste that is very unique, I find.

Similar Blends: I cannot find any equivalent to its unique topping and taste..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Robykeys82 (25)	2017-04-07		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Amphora Black Cavendish is a strange blend to write about. Comments usually range from terrible to really good, and I find that the truth is in the middle. The pouch aroma is really good, the cut makes the tobacco easy to pack, it burns quite well and tongue bite rarely occurs. The taste, however, is somehow bland, compared to the rich pouch aroma. Here and there the licorice notes emerge. I'd rate it 2,5 out of 4.

Pipe Used: Frabenver, American Ben Apple

Age When Smoked: Fresh from pouch

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Vraal (3)	2017-01-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Tolerable

Did not like this blend at all. While it has fine tin and room notes, the taste is acrid and utterly unpleasant. No "amber tones" or "spicy bouquet" mentioned in the description are present. The slow burn is there, but what's the use if one does not find the taste enjoyable?

Pipe Used: Capri Billiard

Age When Smoked: New

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Aro Lover (13)	2017-01-04		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This is a very nice aromatic tobacco. Surprisingly, for being a cavendish blend, it comes fairly dry in the pouch, but still requires some drying time before smoking. Topping aroma and flavor when smoking is black licorice/plum. A sweet and a bit spicy smoke. This tobacco actually tastes like the pouch note when smoking. It burns well and has very little bite. Room note is wonderful. Nicotine level is a decent mild/medium . I subtracted one star due to the fact that personally I'm not too crazy about black licorice. Amphora Black Cavendish Special Reserve is everything that MacBaren Seven Seas Royal should have been, because even though Royal has the same flavors, it simply has too much propylene glycol (PG) and bites quite badly.

Pipe Used: Briar Dublin half-bent (unfiltered)

Similar Blends: MacBaren Seven Seas Royal.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tabaco (112)	2016-10-28		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

First off I'm not an aromatic fellow with only two dedicated briars in the stable.

The pluses: economical and fairly easy to find, packs and combusts well, mildly sweet and easy going, room note is pleasant so I've been told (don't really care), surprisingly it has some natural tobacco flavours and presence in the mouth with a bit of finish mildly complex, moderate Nic noticeable but not over the top, works well both indoors and in the woods too.

The minuses: borderline pH alkalinity it does bite a bit, slight bitterness not a good bitter either akin to over steeped tea, ashtray and bad cigarette aftertaste on the tongue and back of the throat.

Not recommended, bites with a lousy aftertaste. I'll be giving the rest away to a briar friend who likes aromatics otherwise it'll be jarred for many years and eventually dumped. Personally I'd rather pack Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic, Lane BCA, Boswells Piper's Pleasure, or Hearth and Home Trout Stream.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2016-04-25		Mild to Medium	Strong	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The most intense aromatizants are liquorice (first of all) and pepper (just second), but there are also something sweety, like liquor and ripe fruits. For me, the aromatizants are too strong, and I can find only a very mild similarity with the tobacco's taste (this mixture is something like a pleasant 'parfum': recommended if you like flavored mixtures, but not so if you like natural tobaccos - however, try it, if you want).

Pipe Used: Many briars

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: local tabacconist

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2016-04-21		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Update 25 Dec 2016 The same pouches I purchased last spring had some time to mellow down. The harshness is now gone and the Black Cavendish, which remain my favorite because of its unique spiciness, combines extremely well with the Virginias and golden Cavendish to deliver an awesome smoke every time. I am doubtful there are any Orientals and Kentucky, but it's not because I seemed to not identify them that they are not there. I think MB has faithfully reproduced this old favourite of mine and will definitively rebuy. This, as a matter of fact, will remain the only pouched tobacco I will get on a regular basis. All I can say is, if you love Black Cavendish, Amphora Black Cavendish is to die for. I am upgrading to 4 stars! =Original review= Despite my terrible experience with the Original Blend, I still decided to give Black Cavendish a try, as I had already placed an order for it before trying the Original. After all, I have very fond memories of this Black Cavendish which has always remained my favorite among the Amphora line. When I opened the pouch, I was taken back 20 years in time. I did not notice any major differences in aroma and composition, except that the aroma is less spicy than it was and a bit more on the sweet side. There's still a lot of Black Cavendish in a smaller cut with long streaks of Golden tobacco. Easy to pack, very easy to light up, the tobacco burns extremely well, delivering a spicier taste than sweet, but which does not deliver a lot of tobacco taste throught it. Mild to medium on the nicotine range, I find it can become a bit harsh at times throughout the pipeful. Progressively, the taste becomes rather on the neutral side starting at the last third. It does smoke dry all the way down and does not leave any goop. It does not bite either. After 5 or 6 pipefuls, I am not sure what to think of it yet. I will let the other pouvhes sit for a while and revisit at a later time. For now, I am not convinced I would buy it again and hesitate to recommend it. 2.5 stars.

Pipe Used: Dunhill, Wessex, Ashton

Similar Blends: The Black Cavendish in this mixture delivers a spiciness like no other, so I can't see any comparison to another Black Cavendish misture. As far as I remember, this is exactly the same tobacco as when it was a favorite of mine throught the 1990s..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SiChange (45)	2015-09-19		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This is a review of the tobacco produced by Imperial Tobacco under license from Van Nelle Tabac of the Netherlands. Mac Barens actually manufactures the Amphora line according to a 2007 profile of Mac Barens in Pipes & Tobaccos. My pouches were purchased from Italy where I understand it is quite popular. The pouch description includes the following: "Finest Virginia tobaccos are double fermented to produce a rich, dark tobacco which combines perfectly with the amber tones of the burley, oriental, and Kentucky leaf. The result is a finely balanced blend with a luxurious slow burn and full bodied and spicy bouquet."

The pouch note is sweet and redolent of licorice. The virginia-based black cavendish predominates. The flavoring is chiefly and without doubt licorice; maple sugar is also present and probably other flavorings. The room note is appealing, but not in your face. There is a spice note in the taste and bouquet as the pouch description indicates; this may reflect the Kentucky and oriental tobaccos. Tobacco flavors come through from start to finish. This tobacco is very close to the Douwe Egberts Amphora Black Cavendish that was sold in pouches and large tins in American markets at least though the 1980s. But the Douwe Egbert offering had a more elegant spice note and was drier in the pouch, although this tobacco is not wet and can be smoked well without drying. As for the DE product, J. Paul Kalman is given credit for the blend. This Imperial Tobacco version rates a solid three stars. It is more complex than most American and Danish aromatics; how many such aros include orientals? It is best smoked slowly. It rates a solid three stars where the predecessor DE offering rated four in being among the best aromatics then available at any price, in my opinion. The Dutch style aromatic as made in Holland is sorely missed. Update (2017): The version crediting MacBarens on the pouch and now sold widely online in the US gets an identical review.

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Italy

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darkmood (1)	2014-01-28		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

When you open the packet you can feel smell of liquorice, raisin and spices, it's very pleasant. Also the color which is very dark with some bright filament. You can feel the liquorice also in your mouth when you smoke it, taste is very smooth.

Pipe Used: Savinelli

Age When Smoked: 36

Purchased From: Nooli Tabacchi, Milan, Italy

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2014-01-21		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I believe Douwe Egberts does not manufacture this tobacco? And I do not think it is still available. Black Cavendish is one of a kind, delicious mixture. It has a beautiful chocolate and licorice aroma that is not heavy to the nose. When smoked, it tastes more on the spicy than the sweet side, but the room note, I was told, is sweet and, simply, out of this world. If BC was still available, I would purchase it regularly!

Similar Blends: I know no tobacco that is close to this one, it is, to me, a unique Black Cavendish mixture..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mac (20)	2013-04-12		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I love the Amphora Original Blend and this blend is a very tastey offering in its own right.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SimonCornwall (1)	2012-03-11		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Having read the earlier contributions from reviewers on this site, I pick up a sense of disappointment from people seemingly unable to to source this wonderful Tobacco. To cut a very long research story short I buy this on line from http://www.imparato.it/shop/index.php? target=categories&category_id=153 The owner is called Carlo and he is very helpful indeed. I've been buying Amphora Black Cavendish from this Northern Italian on line Tobacconist quite happily for some time now and I highly recommend both the Tobacco and the supplier. It's just a shame we have to go to so much trouble to get it. Please take note Imperial Tobacco!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Arkie (129)	2011-01-24		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Tolerable

This is the only Amphpra blend I can't recommend. It smells and smokes like fermented socks.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-07-25		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

The best Amphora blend that was out there. Very dark leaves with a dark caramel flavour. Burns well, decent taste and room aroma. Cannot find it anymore. A pitty.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2009-02-16		Mild to Medium	Medium	Full	Very Pleasant

the smell of licorice is almost overwhelming when opening but at the same time delightful. My grandfather would come to my house on sunday and this is what he smoked. So perhaps that is why I am Drawn to this tobacco it brings back fond memories. This is a good smoke when higher quality tobacco is unavailable. The room note is great, one of the few my wife will let me smoke inside, and it is available just about anywhere.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lbarraa (29)	2008-09-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is a classic aromatic-cavendish blend. Rich and spicy, low nicotine and easy burning, sometimes heat the bowl or bites the tonge. This is a "social" tobacco, perfect for smoke in a friend`s meeting, the people around will love the aroma.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CapnStuby (33)	2003-09-14		Very Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Extra Strong

This is like smoking shredded tires and peppercorns. It will make your family disown you and your animals pray for your demise.

Avoid it, if possible, run quickly in the opposite direction, if not possible.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2003-02-07		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

The Amphora Black is really Dark and Spicy as the pouch says. It packs easily but you must be careful because it tends to tounge bite if you puff too quick. The taste is nice and full if you like black cavendish, you'll enjoy Amphora Black. Non smokers aren't quite happy with the strong room aroma. Otherwise I enjoy smoking it from time to time, usualy when I don't have my favorite tobaccos at hand.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (563)	2023-05-07		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Package note of sugar, peaty vegetation and spices. Tobacco is a ribbon and ready rub cut of dark brown, tan and black. Moisture content is great. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild, with notes of vanilla and licorice. Both flavors tend to show up in the first 1/3 and remain in the background. Taste is medium and moderately consistent, with notes of cocoa, peaty herbal vegetation, tangy dark fruit, vanilla, wood, dry earth, sweet grass, citrus, spice, floral, toast, molasses, orange peel, acidic, a spicy licorice and nutty background note, and a peppery retro. The double fermented Virginias are leading with Burley, Kentucky, Oriental/Turkish and Flavoring supporting. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is good.

Pipe Used: 2016 Northern Briars Premier Rox Cut #4 Prince

Age When Smoked: 13 years

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	charlesduncan (1)	2023-02-11		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Lovely chocolate/licorice with earthy spices greet my nostrils as soon as I open the pouch. The beautiful ribbons feel dry to the touch but smoke wonderfully. I start to taste plums and pepper while entering the second half of the pipe. Very pleasant experience.

Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2021-12-23		Mild	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Since I normally smoke VA or VA/Per flakes, this was really an experiment. The pouch aroma was inviting. I felt that a high moisture content and the ribbon cut made it too easy for me to pack too tightly leading to multiple relights. Smoked cool without condensation but too aromatic to be my everyday smoke.

Pipe Used: charatan; estella

Age When Smoked: unknown

Purchased From: smoking pipes.com

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-08-14		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

I smoked this tobacco in the last Italian holiday.

Smell after opening the pouch 50g: After opening the pouch, one rises a pretty intense aroma of sweet cocoa butter, vanilla and a bit of a hint of coconut in the nose. Is accompanied by the smell from the typical amphora flavor. Smells exciting once, but not extraordinary.

Consistency of tobacco: The tobacco picture is very dark and comes in a ribbon cut (shredded fine cut). The mix itself is a bit too dry for me personally, but could not be easily introduced into the pipe.

Smoke properties: The Glutkissen did ignite easily. The tobacco burns evenly itself but because of the drought, from fairly quickly. The quality of tobacco is average. For beginners, it is also suitable because it requires little attention. As the whistle I recommend a medium to larger filling volume, so that the flavor can develop better. The disadvantage, however, this is because fine cut and dry together bad qualities are the flavor of an unfolding.

Taste: What is it? I asked myself when I had smoked this tobacco for the first time. I really must admit, I had severe problems at the beginning, to classify this blend of tobacco. Something between interesting and disgusting. After a few more whistles, I could do better with him. So I realized that for me personally, the tobacco is more suitable for outdoors. In confined spaces, I like it, not easy. So I smoked him in Italy at the beach. Taste it tastes like it smells. Cocoa butter, vanilla and a bit of a hint of coconut. No real highlight for me. Sweet flavored tobaccos for friends he could be.

Conclusion: A tobacco, the smoke can be, but is more suited for lovers. To me it does not taste real, and more than a mean average, not the point. Well have smoked it once, but again I would buy him. The taste is nothing sensational.

Nobody has rated this review yet.