Mac Baren 7 Seas Royal Blend

This blend falls victim, as many aromatics do, to being reviewed against type. In this case Mac Baren was going for something very specific with the 7 Seas blends, and it makes no sense to review these in a vacuum and ignore that fact. Comparing this, for example, to the HH Line is like comparing a fruit smoothie and a steak as if they were the same thing. In this case the 7 Seas blends are reflections of very traditional american style aromatics. Within that context I think that they are very good (perhaps the best currently offered) reflections of that style of pipe tobacco. A significant caveat is that Mac Baren uses a base of virginia for these blends instead of burley. I personally like the result, as I find that they retain the American style and flavor, but offer a more well-rounded smoking experience with a little more depth of flavor and sweetness. Of course, they still use burley as well, so that flavor component is retained.

A major difference in my estimation is that flavor and quality of the cavendish. The cavendish found in american blends is often awful, with a strange odor and strong flavor that funks pipes and leaves an aftertaste. Mac Baren has a very fine cavendish which leaves no aftertaste, has softer, purer tobacco flavor, and has better smoking characteristics in that it burns and lights readily.

With respect to the burn characteristics of this blend, I find it is a nice smoke. It packs and lights easily, and stays lit without much effort. Of course, like most blends everything works better when it is not dripping wet. While I think the humidity is good out of the tin, I prefer to dry it out a little. I am surprised at the comments describing this as hot or harsh. It is neither, and if that is what you are experiencing it is most likely due to your technique, and not the tobacco. Sometimes mouth chemistry can be an issue as well, but as a baseline all of the 7 Seas blends are very mild in terms of tongue bite.

This is a mild blend, and Mac Baren describes it as such. The flavor is described as having vanilla and honey. I would agree that it is a very mild smoke, both in tobacco and aromatic flavor. This is pretty typical of American style aromatics, especially those which are not laden with artificial flavors and humectants.

You could describe this as a four star blend in the sense that it accomplishes exactly what Mac Baren intended for it, which is a very mild American style aromatic smoke. I give it two stars because it lacks any wow factor which makes it exceptional, but that should not be interpreted as a strike against the blend. I believe it to be superior in quality, for example, in every sense, to the Boswell aromatics which receive an unwarranted level of esteem, where they as a small tobacco shop merely buy and mix a bulk tobacco product and spritz it with flavors. The virginia used in the 7 Seas blends is unique, for example, and not something that Boswell could ever achieve or offer. There are some interesting videos online where you can watch and hear about the care that Mac Baren took into making this product in an American style.

If you are looking for a mild aromatic smoke that smells nice and will not offend, this is a nice choice. The quality of the leaf and final product is far superior to drugstore blends, and this is reflected in the experience. FYI I give the 7 Seas Regular 3 stars as I feel that it has a richer flavor while still being a cool, mild smoke. Nothing wrong with the Royal, though, and if you are looking to try some aromatics in this style I would include it in your tasting flight.