Mac Baren Mixture: Scottish Blend

My all day smoke, in and outside. After first trying this one in my starting days of pipe smoking my tounge got obliterated. Tried it again two years ago and I'm in heaven now. Best tasting tobacco for me, nice different nuances and flavours. No more tounge bite for me even if pushed hard.

Trying this blend again for the first time in almost 3 years This was one of the first tobacos i tried when i began my pipe journey 3 and a half years ago and i remember how i liked it so much that i bought a tin of it. I forgot all about this blend for almost 3 years because i feel i need to try almost every tobacos available here in Denmark. Now as im sitting here smoking it again i will put it in my favorite list of tobacos no bite and an all day smoke for me for sure.

For me just i what i like. And for everyone that reads the reviews EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT LIKES !!! A TASTE THAT FITS ME MAYBE NOT FITS YOU !!!!

So I purchased this tobacco solely on the label, Scottish mixture. This is definitely not a Scottish mixture of today's standards. It's a very lightly cased mixture of different tobaccos. It has absolutely no characteristics of a current Scottish blend. It originated in the 1950's, Back then Scottish meant thrifty or cheap. Old folks like me, remember the old MacThrift hotel chains, dirt cheap and seedy. Anyway I'm thinking that the mixture of lesser tobaccos and the price point generated the name. Anyway I digress, this tobacco was a pleasant surprise. Now I see why it was so highly rated. I hate aromatics, but this one is barely an aromatic. It has a lot of different tobacco flavors, It constantly changes as you smoke it. As far as other people have said that it bites. Stop smoking it like your a freight train. If you take your time, and sip it you'll enjoy it. I sure did.

A personal favorite. While the definition of what makes a Scottish blend Scottish varies, this to me is an excellent staple and starting off point. Very mellow and not overly powerful or aromatic like some. It smokes light and smooth from start to finish and handles a relight or two very well with minimal warping or heat to the palate

Mac Baren has become one of my favorite blenders, yet, for some reason, I've delayed sampling their flagship offering. Probably because I had a long queue of blends that I wanted to smoke first before this one's turn came about.

The tin note is wonderful. Earthy, slightly floral, a hint of honey and some brown sugar. To my nostrils, it's very reminiscent of their Navy Flake, minus the rum. The cut is perfect and it makes it very easy to load and light. No smoking mechanics problems whatsoever.

As for the taste, it's mild, yet definitely not boring. The tobaccos are of high quality and skillfully blended together. It carries a mostly sugary, creamy taste, with just a touch of that honey-like flavoring that Mac Baren is so fond of. Very simple and highly enjoyable. Has just enough sweetness and also leaves enough room for the constituent tobaccos to have a say. Both the aftertaste and the room note are pleasant and short lived.

Mixture is a classic blend and for good reason. It has enough to offer for both beginners and experienced pipers. It's a nice change of pace for aromatic fans who are bored of the typical vanilla, cherry and others, can be fully enjoyed every day, at any time of day and it's definitely repeatable.

Don't go into smoking Scottish Blend expecting an aromatic. It really shouldn't be considered one, because the topping is very mild. It appears to be an anisette liquor and it's very detectable in the tin note. It's far in the background as you smoke it. The predominant "aromatic" flavours come from the citrusy Virginias, if there is possible addition of citrus it harmonises so well with the Virginias that it becomes indiscernible as a topping. The amazing part about this blend is the sheer complexity offered by the 35 different tobaccos. It's phenomenal that this blend has such consistency considering it could have ended up as a muddled mishmash with so many tobaccos, but instead it provides a thoughtful quality smoke. The aforementioned Virginias are not only bright and citrusy, but there is some woody and bready notes as well. The Burleys are nutty and provide a backbone to the smoke. The dollop of honey sweetness from the Golden Cavendish is not overpowering and well balanced amongst the bold tobacco flavours, and the Black Cavendish provides a soft creaminess to the smoke. Their sweetness shines fully in the room note. You will get slightly different flavours with each bowl, which makes you want to keep packing bowl after bowl. Scottish Blend burns cool and won't bite unless you overdo it, but does need a few relights if you don't rub out the broken flakes fully. I got the pouch version of this and I am thoroughly impressed. The price is right, and it will definitely be my go-to when I forget my tobacco at home and need to grab something quick from the tobacco shop. It would be ridiculous to give this blend anything less than a 4/4, it's an affordable classic that has no business being this damn good.