Mac Baren HH Highland Blend
(2.81)
Fully matured Virginias, ready rubbed burleys, latakia and a touch of fire cured cavendish is the recipe. We added one of the worlds finest 30-year old Scotch whiskies, Glenfarclas. The natural flavours from the tobacco and the delightful taste of the Scotch marry perfectly, so when smoked you experience the mellow taste and subtle smoky note of the tobaccos combined with the overtone of a fine scotch.
Notes: Discontinued in 2014.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Burley, Cavendish, Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Whisky |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.81 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 11 - 20 of 26 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Mmmm, quite a disappointment here. I usually like the MacBaren flakes, their coin cut ones and even some mixtures (Navy Mixture on top of them all), but this one is rather bland. It doesn't seem to have anything more to offer compared to the classic Mixture, or Symphony, of Gold of Denmark... and actually, something less.
Sure, it's one of the most complex mixtures by MacBaren from the point of view of composition, but that's where the complexity ends. I find it has too little flavour, while having a medium body that can sometimes even hint a bit at harshness (even without pushing it).
And the 30yo Glenfarclas? Actually, I can't smell it in the tin, and I can taste it in the smoke even less than that. It's just your usual average slightly biscuity/nutty/earthy MacBaren mixture, simple as that. Just a hint of smokiness in the tin due to the (infinitesimal) amount of Latakia. I have yet to find a "whisky-flavored" blend that actually tastes of whisky... Not that this is bad, because wasting a pricey and lovely sherry cask Glenfarclas for flavoring tobacco would be a serious crime in my book. (To those finding hints of peat due to the whisky, please reconsider: Glenfarclas is NOT peated... it's the Latakia giving that smoky hint!)
Anyway... No, sorry, this is just a bland unoffensive smoke for me. Decent, but I'll pass.
Sure, it's one of the most complex mixtures by MacBaren from the point of view of composition, but that's where the complexity ends. I find it has too little flavour, while having a medium body that can sometimes even hint a bit at harshness (even without pushing it).
And the 30yo Glenfarclas? Actually, I can't smell it in the tin, and I can taste it in the smoke even less than that. It's just your usual average slightly biscuity/nutty/earthy MacBaren mixture, simple as that. Just a hint of smokiness in the tin due to the (infinitesimal) amount of Latakia. I have yet to find a "whisky-flavored" blend that actually tastes of whisky... Not that this is bad, because wasting a pricey and lovely sherry cask Glenfarclas for flavoring tobacco would be a serious crime in my book. (To those finding hints of peat due to the whisky, please reconsider: Glenfarclas is NOT peated... it's the Latakia giving that smoky hint!)
Anyway... No, sorry, this is just a bland unoffensive smoke for me. Decent, but I'll pass.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 01, 2012 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I was really keen on trying this stuff and i am glad i did.Afther 150 gramm I can say , this baccy entertaint me very well ,but I have no decision about it. First i have to say, i have seldom tongue bite and also HB bite not really but it is a bit harsh, I smoke it sometimes with filter which i never do with my favourits. But the mix of an english blend in addition with the whisky give a delicious smoke.Let it air for a few minutes and sip it and you get sweet spicy event which i was looking at for long. The only minus is the harshness due the flavour. 3 Stars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 13, 2011 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Smells nice in pouch. Packs and burns easy enough. Flavor is light until second half of bowl. A soft taste until then, probably from the whiskey. Not hot nor really bitey but does nip a little in last half of smoke. The latakia may cool it, but I don't taste that leaf much. Puff slow to steady. Still an aromatic smoker may enjoy this more
Not much of an improvement over their Highland Mixture of some years past, which I recall as milder. I think I tasted the whiskey more in that version. Still something soft is present on the taste buds from the HH version.
Not much of an improvement over their Highland Mixture of some years past, which I recall as milder. I think I tasted the whiskey more in that version. Still something soft is present on the taste buds from the HH version.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 26, 2011 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Like PipeNosher, I too got a sample pack of this blend when i ordered a Brand New Peterson Kapet pipe from smokingpipes.Opening the packet,the aroma just hit me.A little Musky,smoky and smells like a forest early in the morning in the summertime.I'm not really particular on English blends + it's not really my cup of tea but since it came in w/ my pipe free,Hell why not try it? I had a past experience tasting an English blend namely Northwoods when i ordered some from J.M.Boswell and i almost coughed trying to smoke their stuff!Smoking this MacBaren, It's a lot milder than the Northwoods and More tolerable. I smoked it a little bit more and i have to say:I'm really starting to like this blend! So far, it's in my tobacco line up rotation whenever i have the mood to smoke an English.Good tobacco i must say after 3 bowls & now keeping a 2oz. In standby. If you like Aromatics and curious to try an English blend,here's the stuff to start.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 25, 2012 | Mild | Mild | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This is my first review here and I mostly use this site prior to making tobacco purchases. With that said, this stuff was bad enough to motivate me to write a review, albeit a negative review.
I like just about every Mac Baren product I have tried. The Vintage Syrian being one of my favorites.
On first draw my tongue was on fire. I tried to stay with it, but it bit hard. Also the smoke was very harsh. I was smoking a sample from a sealed pouch, so I assume it was stored well.
It room note was so bad, and it's the first time my wife came into the room while I am smoking and said that stuff stinks!
I like just about every Mac Baren product I have tried. The Vintage Syrian being one of my favorites.
On first draw my tongue was on fire. I tried to stay with it, but it bit hard. Also the smoke was very harsh. I was smoking a sample from a sealed pouch, so I assume it was stored well.
It room note was so bad, and it's the first time my wife came into the room while I am smoking and said that stuff stinks!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 16, 2012 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I am in fully agree with marosi, the HH series are unlike regular line MacBarens. The flavoring in this tobacco is wonderful and compliments the tobacco well. I really admired the cut of this tobacco; a very rustic consistency. I found it tangy and robust without being overbearing. Unlike regular line MacBarens I have no problem with tongue bite from this tobacco. Would really recommend this. Great change of pace.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 02, 2012 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm a fan of this blend. Nice manly aroma. Stout without being overwhelming. Solid natural flavors with a little extra thanks to the Glenfarcas. Very nice nic level. This blend is pleasing and satisfying in several ways. Could smoke it all day.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 11, 2011 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I found this blend very appealing. The aroma right out of the pouch was nice, a bit leathery and indeed only a hint of the whiskey. The latakia was almost nonexistent to me. I couldn't detect any nicotine kick either. I don't think it produced tongue bite naturally, only when I puffed it hard and fast. That was my fault. I'd buy it again, and I recommend it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 2011 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This tobacco looks great in the tin and smells good too. But like so many Mac Baren blends its just plain harsh. I enjoy strong tobacco and by harsh I mean not smooth. Its not a surprise that so many complain about tongue bite with their blends, it affects me the same way and I seldom get tongue bite. I am not sure if its an additive to their blends, but its not one that will hit my cellar again. Not Recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 01, 2011 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was very excited when I got this new edition to the HH line up. I received it in a sample pouch from swmoking pipes.
Puch smell was smokey with a little bit of pine forest. The alcohol scotch smell makes it self known.
First part of the bowl I had a pine aroma, with a lemony citrus after taste. Towards the bottom of the bowl it became very smoky and spicey like HH Mature Virginia. Still noticed the pine, and the citrus taste remained.
I have smoked this out of three different pipes, cob, briar and meerschaum. I found the meerschaum to be the best smoke with this.
I will say that this is best smoked slowly, I do tend to puff hard sometimes and that really ruins this smoke.
As far as the scotch goes I really didn't detect it, but I've never drank scotch so I really wouldn't know it if there was any.
I think this is nice edition to the HH line up but it is probably my least favorite of the 4. I think they missed the rating on this one since they rate it a 3 for stregth on the pouch, which is the same as Acadia perique. This is not near as strong as Acadia Perique and doesnt have near the nicotine content.
Overall I give this 3 stars as it is good but not as good as the other HH blend. When this comes on sale, I will buy ba tin and let it age for awhile to see what effect it has.
Puch smell was smokey with a little bit of pine forest. The alcohol scotch smell makes it self known.
First part of the bowl I had a pine aroma, with a lemony citrus after taste. Towards the bottom of the bowl it became very smoky and spicey like HH Mature Virginia. Still noticed the pine, and the citrus taste remained.
I have smoked this out of three different pipes, cob, briar and meerschaum. I found the meerschaum to be the best smoke with this.
I will say that this is best smoked slowly, I do tend to puff hard sometimes and that really ruins this smoke.
As far as the scotch goes I really didn't detect it, but I've never drank scotch so I really wouldn't know it if there was any.
I think this is nice edition to the HH line up but it is probably my least favorite of the 4. I think they missed the rating on this one since they rate it a 3 for stregth on the pouch, which is the same as Acadia perique. This is not near as strong as Acadia Perique and doesnt have near the nicotine content.
Overall I give this 3 stars as it is good but not as good as the other HH blend. When this comes on sale, I will buy ba tin and let it age for awhile to see what effect it has.
target="_blank"
