Mac Baren HH Mature Virginia
(3.24)
22 different tobaccos are included in this blend and of these 15 are Virginia tobaccos. Before blending the tobacco the Virginias has been stored for years to mature and develop the final aromas, just like when good wine is put aside for aging. Virginia types like bright yellow/golden leaf, mature red/mahogany leaf, dark Virginia and a black Virginia cavendish are blended and left to store so that each tobacco taste marry into a taste unity. To enhance and support the Virginias a touch of Oriental is added and finally the taste is rounded with just an easy hand of pressed burley.
Notes: Discontinued in 2014.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Burley, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ready Rubbed |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.24 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 01, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
What a weird tin aroma! Are we sure that this is only Virginia? No, it isn't: according to Mac Baren this blend contains 15 different kinds of Virginia (some brights, some reds, and a heavy dose of dark aged ones), but also a touch of Cavendish, of Orientals, and even a pinch of Burley. Anyway, while the name is a bit misleading since this isn't a pure Virginia, I still can't understand what was used to flavor this blend... because the smell from the tin is completely offbeat. McClelland's infamous vinegar/ketchup is nothing compared to this: here we can smell a burning barbecue, a heap of well-grilled sausages with plenty of spices. Yes, I am not joking: it's smoky, spicy, charred, with notes of heavy balsamic vinegar, and even a touch of licorice. We all know that Mac Baren uses casings to flavor their blends, and I usually like their style: anyway, here they don't use their usual sugar/maple/honey, but go for a dark approach instead. Luckily, the flavoring translates very little into the smoking experience. Sure, some licorice and spice remain, but it tastes fairly natural. A weird tobacco indeed: in the taste, the dark stoved Virginias dominate, for a very smooth but also slightly bitter, spicy, fermented, and very smoky experience. Don't go looking for sweetness, fruitiness, for citrus flavors, for grassiness. This is aged leaf, and it shows. It tends to pack a bit too tight, so use a light hand, but then it burns fine as most Mac Barens do. Overall, I like this tobacco but it does not overwhelm me. It remains a bit too light in taste and body, although it has a nice complexity. Good to smoke once in a while, but for regular smoking I prefer the roll cakes from this same brand.
Update: the second tin of this blend seems even blander and more boring than the first. Not bad or offensive, but doesn't make me want to smoke it... I guess I won't buy it again.
Update: the second tin of this blend seems even blander and more boring than the first. Not bad or offensive, but doesn't make me want to smoke it... I guess I won't buy it again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Now that HH Mature Virginia has just come off the market, and given the positive reviews, I finally got around to getting my hands on a tin to try. My tin had a few years on it. The tin scent was somewhat odd. It had some of the normal scent of an aged Virginia, but it also smelled like wine or some type of spirit and was a bit acidic. From a flavor standpoint this tobacco has a lot going on, maybe too much going on as it seems muddled to me rather than complex. For me it’s like a rock n’ roll super group where all the individual players are stars, but the chemistry isn’t there. I had a similar experience with the old version of Lane’s Crown Achievement. The flavors of the individual components have already been well covered here on TR and I have nothing additional to add. The added flavoring wasn’t as strong in the pipe as the tin scent indicated it might be. It didn’t bite me, but did burn hot if pushed. HHMV is unlike any Virginia blend that I can recall and given the addition of the Kentucky and Orientals, I personally would be hard pressed to classify it as one. I know this blend will be missed by many, but I won’t be one competing for a remaining tin. A generous two stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 15, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild | Tolerable |
Another reviewer says this is the grill with ketchup, sausage and all. I agree. That is the tin note. Very unusual.
Taste of the tobacco was not disagreeable but not great.
This was a harsh tobacco for me. I didn't care for it, but you might.
Taste of the tobacco was not disagreeable but not great.
This was a harsh tobacco for me. I didn't care for it, but you might.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Irish made army
PurchasedFrom:
B&B in Asheville, NC
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 06, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is an odd one. Twenty-two different tobaccoes including a black Virginia cavendish... This might indicate as many as 22 different kinds of casing. As has been mentioned often and described well below, the open tin offers many, many different scents. Since Mac Baren processes and produces primarily aromatic mixtures, and tobacco absorbs aroma from its environment (air, contact with containers, machines, etc. that have previously been used for other blends), it may be fair to ask how many of these are intentional, and, again, to what degree various batches differ as a result. It is hard to imagine that there is not at least some top flavoring. Who knows? The gamut in the nose includes vinegar (balsamic, perhaps), various fruits, berries, red peppers, chocolate, olives, wine, whisky (or whiskey), and/or rum and one element common to many: oak! Even the smoke has something of a tannic and balsamic mouthfeel. It smokes softly and has an inviting depth. The Oriental, or Orientals, become apparent from the beginning. A toastiness comes through, and, as the bowl progresses a hint of powderiness emerges very slightly, reminiscent of some of the Lakelands, but very reserved. This is a mild smoke, sweet and slightly sour with a darkness and depth that increase slightly toward the end.
As noted below, it definitely benefits from some drying time.
Kudos to Mac Baren for extending their range. As the reviews show, they've landed a hit! Although HH Matured Virgina is definitely not for this smoker, it's a heck of a lot better in the pipe than in the tin, and, judging by its popularity, this may be just the one for you.
As noted below, it definitely benefits from some drying time.
Kudos to Mac Baren for extending their range. As the reviews show, they've landed a hit! Although HH Matured Virgina is definitely not for this smoker, it's a heck of a lot better in the pipe than in the tin, and, judging by its popularity, this may be just the one for you.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 10, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I personally found this tobacco to be quite bitey and very one dimensional. Granted I am a new pipe smoker, but even still I can't say that I'd recommend this blend to anyone but the most hard-core VA fans. Not horrible, just won't reorder.
After accidently leaving the lid off of my tin for over an hour, I rubbed out this blend and gave it another shot. What I found was that it killed the bite I mentioned before. I should have also mentioned that I was first smoking this blend out of a relatively new molina pipe. I still found this blend to be pretty one-dimensional, but at least now I won't have to ebay my remaining 3 ounces. Sorry for the 1st review
After accidently leaving the lid off of my tin for over an hour, I rubbed out this blend and gave it another shot. What I found was that it killed the bite I mentioned before. I should have also mentioned that I was first smoking this blend out of a relatively new molina pipe. I still found this blend to be pretty one-dimensional, but at least now I won't have to ebay my remaining 3 ounces. Sorry for the 1st review
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 07, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I preface this review by stating that I am not a big fan of straight Virginias, so take it with a grain of salt. I tend toward english/balkans and big baccies like Night Train. However, I did give FVF four stars, so...
I just can't get into HH. I've tried a few times now, and it just doesn't get my attention like FVF. It seems to me too uni-dimensional, and just not very rich on flavor. I will let the rest of the tin rest for a few months and see what happens...
I just can't get into HH. I've tried a few times now, and it just doesn't get my attention like FVF. It seems to me too uni-dimensional, and just not very rich on flavor. I will let the rest of the tin rest for a few months and see what happens...
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 08, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
After finishing my first tin of this tobacco I am somewhat dissapointed. I am a lover of virginias so I thought I would give this a try. This tobacco is very moist out of the tin so I let it dry a while before smoking. Smokes very hot and wet and has the room note of a cigarette. Very flat throughout most of the bowl and a hint of VA would peek through every now and then. Definatly not top shelf stuff. Its just plain. With so many other wonderfull VA blends out there for the same price I will not be ordering any more.
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