Mac Baren Mixture: Scottish Blend

According to Mac Baren, this is the same as their Mixture, Scottish Blend. The latter being its newer name.

Here is my original review under MIXTURE from 7-31-09: I enjoy Mac Baren's Scottish Mixture. My review is based on a recent 8 oz bulk sample purchase. Its presentation is that of medium brown strands of broken flake tobacco with just the right moisture level. It packed and lit without effort and required no relights. There was no moisture accumulation and the tobacco burned down to a nice light gray ash. This was sweet tasting and had a slightly floral character to it (not Lakeland, just very subtle).

The Virgina tobacco is the most predominant taste and it is very similar to their Virginia No 1 offering but sweeter (combination of the natural Virginia leaf, cavendish, and the typical Mac Baren honey flavor). There is also a spiciness to it which adds a peppery sensation to the tongue. I am not talking bite. However, if you puff on this too hard the bowl has a tendency to burn hot and it will scorch. Interestingly, in a larger diameter bowl, I bunch up the tobacco like a flake for packing and do not experience any tendency for this to smoke hot. Gentle puffing never gets it above the pepper sensation on the tongue. Its overall taste and strength maintained itself consistently throughout the smoke.

This is a very nicely put together blend. As I stated in another review, many of the Mac Baren blends have been criticized for being too similar in taste. I felt that way during my beginning years of pipe smoking. Today, however, many of the Mac Baren blends are among my favorite smokes. I smoke more of their offerings than from any other manufacture and I have been rewarded in discovering the subtle differences they offer. It took time and patience, but the results were well worth it.

All of the qualities represented by Scottish Mixture are enough to make it a candidate for anyone's daily or weekly rotation.

This blend is a pretty typical MacBaren Cavendish with golden to dark brown tobacccos that have been rubbed out. I only had a sample quantity but that was enough for several bowls. The pouch and room aroma and taste are quite sweet but the casing is not overpowering and you can still believe that you're smoking tobacco and not candy. Compliments on the room aroma, which are quite rare in my house, were received from the family and indicate that this blend offers the nice balance of personal enjoyment without offending non-smokers. The Burley and Virginia also contribute to the varying flavor during the smoke. Although I normally don't smoke such aromatic blends, I'll reserve some of this one for next year when it again gets hot & humid and I'm again looking for a mild but still enjoyable smoke.

I think that the master blender have spent too many times to create this pleasant mixture.

When smoke, you can feel the all notes start with sugary whiskies and light nuts to earthy, grassy, and either goaty.

It's an essential for my weekly smoking loop and balances the aromatics and non-aromatics, thanks to smoothness.

It goes well Turkish Coffee, Stouts and tangy liquors. Its suit for the everyday smoke, except the very mornings. However, I prefer to smoke Scottish Mixture after job to relieve tiredness with Turkish Coffee.

hello this is my second tin one batch from 2013 the other from 2015. there is quality and taste consistency between the 2. upon opening the tin you'll get a sweet almost honey like notes and you'll see a mix between ribbon cut and broken flake . drying for 30 minutes is recommended you may loose a little sweet notes but it will help with relighting, temperature, bite and becomes smokier. i found by loading a medium bowl of this tobacco starting by choosing the ribbon cut first and put it to the side of the bowl , then choosing the broken flake stuff them vertically in the middle and continue the rest of the bowl with ribbons and packing it a little light because tobacco expends when heated to workes best for me its hard to describe this tobacco blend its sweet, bready and leaves a lingering honey like sweetness on your tongue at low temp its the sweetest with somehow floral note when frensh inhaling, at medium temp its smokey stings the nostrils, its unsatisfying yet good, im always searching for that wow factor while smoking it.

i find it to be an all day smoke while im working/driving that keeps me occupied and my olfactory remain sensitive for my evening chillax pipe time of my favorite blend.

1 star for what it achieve for the price. 1 star for quality. 1 star for taste. 0 star for high potential for biting.

Smells of grass and hay. There is a smokey element to this too. Reminds me of summer time camping. Taste is earthy, nutty, sour hay, grassy, smokey and a bit of honey. Easy to light, easy to smoke, lots of smoke, burns dry, flavorful and complex. Does not feel like a typical aromatic.

*update 27-5-2021*

There is a nice sweet Virginia quality to this and yes, the Kentucky adds some body and a tad smokey spice quality to it. It’s sweet but not in an American aromatic way, this is not a goopy heavily topped aromatic. If you’ve ever had any other aromatic from MB then you’ll know what I mean. It’s done just right and brings the natural tobacco flavors to the forefront. Lots of grassy hay sweetness, and some earthy with some wood and spice tones. Retrohale is a bit sharp as expected, short lived ok after taste, a bit spicy. A mildly sweet and a natural tobacco experience. Room note is sweet and delightful.

Mac Baren - Mixture: Scottish Blend is an interesting aromatic that I like to smell when it burns in my pipe. The floral notes and woody, slight nutty spices reminds me kind of a spring pie with a mild sweetnes of it coming nicely together. Needs slow puffing as it burns rather hot if pushed. Ιf you are in for light aromatics I suggest you give it some time to unlock the flavour profile. I give it 2,9 stars, recommended for occasionally smokes.

Tin note is mouth watering; lots of honey. Unfortunately the tin note does not really affect the smoke in any way.

It is a mild, harmless, generic blend. Nice room note and nose smell when the smoke hits my nose, but neutral in taste.

I can see why it gets so many good reviews and I can definitely see why many would make this an every day smoke. As for myself, I will smoke the tin I have without any trouble and move on. Too neutral for me.

I understand why some people struggle with this one biting. I was bitten at first too. But after a few bowls over a couple weeks, I learned to really love this one. The tin note is truly wonderful, and is what kept me coming back to this blend even after I was scared of the bite. If you want it to taste like it smells, then sip it slowly like a young blended scotch whisky (Teachers comes to mind.) The grainy, honey-toast flavors are very satisfying. (Interestingly, I can't get it to bite anymore even if I try.)

I love this blend. Smells great right out of the tin, with a nice aroma that I've likened to nice virginia. The virginia is stronger than the burley, but the burley is there to taste now and again. The tobacco looks nice, packs great and just smells great puff to puff. I always get compliments on the smoke from others with this one, and if I think of scottish blends, I compare it to the look and aroma of this MacBaren blend. It was one of my first scottish type blends and still my one of my favorites.