Mac Baren Symphony
(2.74)
A very harmonious ready rubbed tobacco dominated by the selected burley tobaccos and with a minor part of Virginia and the original Mac Baren Cavendish. In this blend the tobaccos are adjusted to bring out the slight natural sweetness and with the tender note of chocolate - which is found in all excellent burley tobaccos.
Notes: Known as "Harmony" in Europe.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.74 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 21 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 03, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
MacBaren Symphony is a burley/Virginia/cavendish mixture which is marketed outside of the United States as Harmony. There seems to be some sort of copyright issue with the Harmony moniker in the U.S.
Pop the tin and you discover a ruddy brown broken flake with a distinct fermented raisin or fig smell characteristic of many MacBaren tobaccos. The MacBaren broken flake presents a fairly rough cut, and I usually rub it out some more, With a bit of the tobacco rubbed out at the top pf the bowl it will light easily enough in its natural state, but you will probably need several relights during the smoke. Rubbed out you have a good chance of smoking the entire bowl without relighting.
The aroma presents a quite pleasant natural tobacco smell that by and large most will find pleasant. As with other MacBaren offerings, I personally do not encounter bite problems when I smoke Symphony with a well modulated puffing rate. Nevertheless I must note that a fairly significant number of pipe smokers encounter bite problems with the MacBaren blends, either because of extreme tongue sensitivity or due to the state of their personal body chemistry.
Symphony is a burley forward blend. The burley component presents some note of chocolate and a bit of cashew nuttiness. As with the entire MacBaren line the quality of the leaf used is high.
The Virginia portion of the mixture is present in a more than negligible amount and offers a mildly sweet haylike contribution to the smoke.
The cavendish is the MacBaren Original Cavendish, which is burley that has been pressed and fermented down to a blackened state and then cased with a honey-like flavoring which is in fact (at least primarily) maple sugar water. The sweetened cavendish creates what I would term a semi-aromatic smoke, although it is at least as strong as that used in Scottish Mixture, which MacBaren rates as a light aromatic.
The Harmony moniker fits this blend more appropriately than Symphony. The constituent tobaccos offer their contributions in a mellow in and out harmonious fashion. Symphony suggests great variations ranging from restrained to bombastic, and that is not the case here. It burns to a light grayish ash with little moisture.
I find it difficult to rate Symphony. For me personally it is a solid three on a four star rating for I do enjoy burley forward blends. I suspect most pipe smokers who include and enjoy burley frequently in their puffing experience would also rate Symphony as a three star. But for those who have little affinity for burley based blends, I suspect the conclusion would be that this is a somewhat blah offering. Although the taste approaches the medium range, and it demonstrates a bit of underlying sweetness, it is nevertheless a somewhat restrained flavor. So I give only a two star rating, although I do think burley lovers will be more appreciative than that.
I use numerous pipes when I smoke Symphony. As many reviewers note, burley often shines most brilliantly in a cob.
Pop the tin and you discover a ruddy brown broken flake with a distinct fermented raisin or fig smell characteristic of many MacBaren tobaccos. The MacBaren broken flake presents a fairly rough cut, and I usually rub it out some more, With a bit of the tobacco rubbed out at the top pf the bowl it will light easily enough in its natural state, but you will probably need several relights during the smoke. Rubbed out you have a good chance of smoking the entire bowl without relighting.
The aroma presents a quite pleasant natural tobacco smell that by and large most will find pleasant. As with other MacBaren offerings, I personally do not encounter bite problems when I smoke Symphony with a well modulated puffing rate. Nevertheless I must note that a fairly significant number of pipe smokers encounter bite problems with the MacBaren blends, either because of extreme tongue sensitivity or due to the state of their personal body chemistry.
Symphony is a burley forward blend. The burley component presents some note of chocolate and a bit of cashew nuttiness. As with the entire MacBaren line the quality of the leaf used is high.
The Virginia portion of the mixture is present in a more than negligible amount and offers a mildly sweet haylike contribution to the smoke.
The cavendish is the MacBaren Original Cavendish, which is burley that has been pressed and fermented down to a blackened state and then cased with a honey-like flavoring which is in fact (at least primarily) maple sugar water. The sweetened cavendish creates what I would term a semi-aromatic smoke, although it is at least as strong as that used in Scottish Mixture, which MacBaren rates as a light aromatic.
The Harmony moniker fits this blend more appropriately than Symphony. The constituent tobaccos offer their contributions in a mellow in and out harmonious fashion. Symphony suggests great variations ranging from restrained to bombastic, and that is not the case here. It burns to a light grayish ash with little moisture.
I find it difficult to rate Symphony. For me personally it is a solid three on a four star rating for I do enjoy burley forward blends. I suspect most pipe smokers who include and enjoy burley frequently in their puffing experience would also rate Symphony as a three star. But for those who have little affinity for burley based blends, I suspect the conclusion would be that this is a somewhat blah offering. Although the taste approaches the medium range, and it demonstrates a bit of underlying sweetness, it is nevertheless a somewhat restrained flavor. So I give only a two star rating, although I do think burley lovers will be more appreciative than that.
I use numerous pipes when I smoke Symphony. As many reviewers note, burley often shines most brilliantly in a cob.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 02, 2014 | Very Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A broken flake of mid brown tobacco. It shares a tin note with Norwood, and both reminded me of Royal Yacht in that regard. Sweet, vanilla, perhaps honey, and a maltiness suggestive of biscuits.
Takes a light easily and smokes to the proverbial white ash without any drama. Tends towards the hot side, uncomplicated and a bit harsh. Straight out of the tin it will give off moisture, so drying is recommended.
This is one of the few tobaccos that will reliably give me niccups and I would rate this just a shade lower in nicotine than Royal Yacht. I consider Symphony to be a poor man's version of RY.
Takes a light easily and smokes to the proverbial white ash without any drama. Tends towards the hot side, uncomplicated and a bit harsh. Straight out of the tin it will give off moisture, so drying is recommended.
This is one of the few tobaccos that will reliably give me niccups and I would rate this just a shade lower in nicotine than Royal Yacht. I consider Symphony to be a poor man's version of RY.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2017 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
much like Golden Extra, this is the quintessential MacBaren burly blend. It is what it is. And on occasion I quite enjoy a pipe full. There is not a lot to separate this from Golden Extra. I think I prefer GE because i love the room note but mostly this is much the same sort of smoke. Different flavors, but not THAT different to be honest. Must be smoked slowly or it can heat up. But its high quality as is always the case with the often maligned Macbaren product. Im glad they still produce this because as I say, its of very high quality. 2 and a half stars.
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 22, 2014 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
I just got through reviewing Golden Extra and I have to say, these blends are incredibly similar. If I had to choose....well....come to think of it, If I had to choose, I have no idea which I'd prefer.
The tin smells strong of fermented raisins. I don't know why, but this smell is not my cup of tea. I find it offputting, but always enjoy the blend smoked. Weird. Anyways, the flavor is pretty solid in the medium category with the nuttiness of the burley shining through. As the tin suggests, the nuttiness has a certain dark chocolate characteristic. Perhaps only noticeable when you see that the tin suggests it. Suddenly you think, By George! It DOES taste like chocolate! Not heavily or aromatic in the least, but naturally done.
This blend is definitely in the same family as Golden Extra, so if you liked that blend, you will enjoy this one, and vice-versa.
This is a solid blend. Again, nothing spectacular, but smokable, enjoyable, and repeatable.
The tin smells strong of fermented raisins. I don't know why, but this smell is not my cup of tea. I find it offputting, but always enjoy the blend smoked. Weird. Anyways, the flavor is pretty solid in the medium category with the nuttiness of the burley shining through. As the tin suggests, the nuttiness has a certain dark chocolate characteristic. Perhaps only noticeable when you see that the tin suggests it. Suddenly you think, By George! It DOES taste like chocolate! Not heavily or aromatic in the least, but naturally done.
This blend is definitely in the same family as Golden Extra, so if you liked that blend, you will enjoy this one, and vice-versa.
This is a solid blend. Again, nothing spectacular, but smokable, enjoyable, and repeatable.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 06, 2012 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I found this to be similar to Burley london, and Golden extra, but significantly sweeter. It goes ok in a cob, but seems a bit sweet for my liking. If you prefer softer blends, get into it,it's very cheap and not a bad smoke, just not for me.
Everyone complains about toungue bite from these MacB blends. I am 6 tins into their selections, and have not been bitten once. Must be a body chem thing. Take it all with a graain of salt and see what works for you.
I won't get more of this, I'm gonna stock up on its brother, London burley.
Everyone complains about toungue bite from these MacB blends. I am 6 tins into their selections, and have not been bitten once. Must be a body chem thing. Take it all with a graain of salt and see what works for you.
I won't get more of this, I'm gonna stock up on its brother, London burley.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 08, 2011 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
McB Symphony; I found this tobacco's taste too thin, and is very slow in its flavor development when smoked straight from the tin, I was ready to put this one down as another Mc dud. So as a last try before giving up I fully rubbed out a bowl, what a difference, it now had a nice rich flavor from light-up to ashes. And that ever present tongue irritation this stuff IMO is plagued with, now seemed less annoying. The tin says “ready rubbed” it should say “ready to be rubbed”. In the fully rubbed state I found no real tongue bite, plenty smoke, instant flavor development and naturally a faster burn, but not so fast as to cause any serious heat problems. Still not my first choice, but IMHO this simple change now made Symphony worth smoking. 2 1/2 stars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 30, 2011 | Medium | Mild | Mild | Tolerable |
I was initially disappointed with this tobacco. It was my first tin and I felt I had made a bit of a mistake. It was too mild and burned really hot. It seemed like I always had to set the pipe down to let it cool.
After a long while, though, and going through other tobaccos, I kept coming back to the Symphony.
Now that I am through with the tin my feelings have changed. It's a nice blend, nothing fancy, and it requires care when smoking. But once you get the hang of it it's a nice, cheap, go-to smoke. I'm not going to be buying another tin anytime soon, but I'd smoke it if I had it.
After a long while, though, and going through other tobaccos, I kept coming back to the Symphony.
Now that I am through with the tin my feelings have changed. It's a nice blend, nothing fancy, and it requires care when smoking. But once you get the hang of it it's a nice, cheap, go-to smoke. I'm not going to be buying another tin anytime soon, but I'd smoke it if I had it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2021 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
After indulging in a fair amount of Scottish mixture, I decided to explore the other Mac Baren broken flakes to see what I was missing. Between Mixture, Symphony, Golden extra, and VA #1, mixture is (in my opinion) still vastly superior, however I do have to commend all of these blends for their smokability. They are all solid, relatively well behaved, mild, and affordable smokes.
Tastes like a solid, well cased, danish style burley blend. Smooth and light bodied. Very Woody and earthy with a little bit of hay and a peppery spice. There's a bit of honey up front, and the chocolate notes really come in late in the bowl. A little bit of sweetness but not nearly as much as Mixture or Extra. Overall pretty monotone and one note, mild, burley flavors. Takes a light easily, burns well without any drying, and bites a tad if inattentive. Low nicotine.
Overall while this blend performs well I just find it a little too bland. I feel like Golden Extra does many of the same things but with just a little more sweetness and slightly more complexity. Nevertheless it's still a pretty solid smoke and worth a try if your looking for an all-day smoke contender.
Tastes like a solid, well cased, danish style burley blend. Smooth and light bodied. Very Woody and earthy with a little bit of hay and a peppery spice. There's a bit of honey up front, and the chocolate notes really come in late in the bowl. A little bit of sweetness but not nearly as much as Mixture or Extra. Overall pretty monotone and one note, mild, burley flavors. Takes a light easily, burns well without any drying, and bites a tad if inattentive. Low nicotine.
Overall while this blend performs well I just find it a little too bland. I feel like Golden Extra does many of the same things but with just a little more sweetness and slightly more complexity. Nevertheless it's still a pretty solid smoke and worth a try if your looking for an all-day smoke contender.
Pipe Used:
Cobs, billiards
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 13, 2021 | Extremely Mild | Extremely Mild | Very Mild | Unnoticeable |
Smells good in the bag. Almost like old school plug chaw tobacco odor. Coarse mulch cut that isn't ready rubbed enough. Flavor is an oddity. It isn't bad, but it's like a conflicting event, which is clearly appropriate for something named Symphony. Overall, it is a very mild smoke to me. I can however, taste faint dark, smokey tones, and light fruity tones. Tones that really never meld at any pace. Imagine you had a pipe devoted to English or more English-esce blends for months, or years. Then one day, cleaned it, and decided to smoke a bowl of Carter Hall in it. A faint semi-English ghost into a very mild OTC. That is what Symphony tastes like to me, even though it is a Burley/Va blend only. Room note was "makes my nose itch". Overall, I give this a Mehh. A shrugging "It's Aaaight" as they say. I'll certainly smoke it, but it will last me my lifetime.
PurchasedFrom:
JR's
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 03, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I was only interested in this kind of pipe tobacco in my early 20s when I started smoking a pipe, but I grew out of them soon. They usually smell quite good in the pouch, I shall give you that, but once you lit, I personally can't stomach them. The topping is the culprit. I find Danish type tobacco absolutely horrendous. If you are a newbie you should probably try it, but a seasoned pipe smoker is to avoid it.
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