Mac Baren Black Ambrosia
(2.25)
Ambrosia is just savoring the word elevates your expectations, because ambrosia was the food of the gods and goddesses in Greek mythology. In 1983 when our tobacco masters first tasted the new, mild cavendish that they had developed, ambrosia was the only proper word to use to describe the taste experience. They had been experimenting with a variety of raw tobaccos for a long time before they finally came up with the right blend. Virginia tobaccos from the third world were selected, each with its own unique qualities. Each one was an excellent tobacco in its own right, but only when they were blended together into a mild cavendish did the pipe smoker experience something out of the ordinary. A rounded taste composed of the finest taste nuances, the natural sweetness supported by a completely new Mac Baren taste. This cavendish was truly something extraordinary, and from its completion in 1983 right up to today it has been used in numerous new Mac Baren blends. The rounded, slightly sweetish cavendish is widely known as: Modern Mac Baren Cavendish.
As the name suggests, Black Ambrosia contains a very high proportion of Modern Mac Baren Cavendish, with only a little loose cut light Virginia added. This blend consists solely of Virginia tobaccos, which is rather rare as the majority of blends contain a little burley tobacco. But not Black Ambrosia, which is made of 100% Virginia tobacco and yet the taste is still exquisite. As the last person to add to the taste, the tobacco master has been no less genial. Of course, the precise composition of the tobacco is a secret, but here is a hint: to complete the Modern Mac Baren Cavendish, the tobacco master has carefully added a blend of different fruit oils, and topping the finished blend is a touch of [?}. Taste it for yourself and discover what an extraordinary taste experience it offers. With a little prudence, Black Ambrosia could almost be described as: food for the soul and the tobacco lover.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.25 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 101 - 114 of 114 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| May 13, 2007 | Mild | Medium to Strong | Mild | Pleasant |
Well, this is my first review. I am relatively new to pipe smoking and this is one of the first blends that I bought. I hvae been smoking it on a regular basis now for a year and I think I have finally just begun to really enjoy it. BA reminds me of chocolate covered berries with maybe a little nuttiness inthe mix every once in a while. I have really come to enjoy this tobacco, but, as with all MB blends, you must take the time to learn how to smoke them where they are enjoyable, and this one takes a while, for me at least. Overall, i think this can be an enjoyable blend for the aromatic lover like myself. I would def pick up a puch and try it at least once. Some seem to hate it and others seem to really like it, it is by no means my favorite, but it is good.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 07, 2006 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I bought a tin of Black Ambrosia just to try a Mac Baren blend. I kind of like this one; doesn't bite as bad as I was afraid it would. I like the sweet taste, which is kind of like cotton candy, as is the room note. There is a complex undertone in there that I can't quite figure out, though, a perfum-y smell.
Room note is BEAUTIFUL, for a bit. However, on settling out and oxidizing, it's not all that great, but at least it's pretty mild.
I like this one. I wouldn't want it full time, but it's a nice switchup.
Room note is BEAUTIFUL, for a bit. However, on settling out and oxidizing, it's not all that great, but at least it's pretty mild.
I like this one. I wouldn't want it full time, but it's a nice switchup.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 08, 2005 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I've been smoking this a lot lately. If it's the only tin in the car... well, you get the idea. Hey, this isn't all that bad. My tin is now several years old and has been open for almost a year and heretofore ignored. My experience is that it mellowed nicely, is NOT over the top flavored and makes a nice, though generic aromatic smoke. The flavoring is vaguely fruity, not much there (by this time in the tin's life). Sweet? not much more than many other MacB's. My early notes on this tend to agree with previous reviewers. All I can say is that if you dislike it, try the same tin again next year. It tones down. I got my tin at a closeout; I doubt I'd buy it again, but I'll enjoy the rest of what I have.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 26, 2005 | Mild | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
OK, I hate to admit I actually liked this highly sweet, highly cased offering from MacB. In order of favorites to less favorites; my spectrum starts with a passion for Balkans, matured Virginias, unflavored crossover blends, lightly topped aromatics. I still scratch my head wondering how black ambrosia slips into my small bracket (10% of my pipe tobacco diet) of pleasureable sweet aromatics.
Plus: pastry like tin aroma, highly complimented room note is the same, taste is sweet & pastry like - exactly like tin aroma, strength & flavor are balanced
Delta: absence of real tobacco taste, too sweet for a subtle aromatic lover
Plus: pastry like tin aroma, highly complimented room note is the same, taste is sweet & pastry like - exactly like tin aroma, strength & flavor are balanced
Delta: absence of real tobacco taste, too sweet for a subtle aromatic lover
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 12, 2005 | Mild | Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The only reason I gave this blend two stars is for the quality of the tobaccos. Might be an all-day smoke for some due to the minimal strength. Maybe I can find something to mix this with to use it up. I will update if I figure out how...
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 11, 2005 | Very Mild | Medium | Mild | Very Pleasant |
BA is a nice aromatic that burns cool. The toasted burley is obviously the dominant leaf in this blend, but, there is no tobacco taste to be enjoyed here. If a sweet tasting aromatic that smells great is your bag, this is a good choice. If you like straight tobacco taste then avoid this one. It flavor and burn qualities earn it 3 solid stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2005 | Extremely Mild | Strong | Very Mild | Very Pleasant |
As a fan of Mac Baren's blends I decided to take Black Ambrosia for a test drive. According to their web site, this blend is their sweetest aromatic so be warned those of you who hate sweet aromatics!
I bought a nice Grabow (oxymoron?) to try this blend in...primarily so I would not contaminate by high grades that are dedicated to more sophisticated blends...and to be able to taste just the Black Ambrosia without the flavors of blends gone by.
Upon opening the tin I noticed the smell is similar to Captain Black (white pouch). It is probably the stickiest (most heavily cased?) blend I have tried. The moisture content is less than most of Mac Baren's blends being an almost dry tobacco. Most of the leaves are black and sticky with a few light brown leaves accenting the tin.
According to the description on the tin, this is a VA and Burley blend but all I can taste (I am smoking some as I write this) is the casing. The flavor is sweet but not overpowering like Skandinavik's Vanilla Cavendish. When first puffed the smoke is dry, cool and sweet. The finish (aftertaste) leaves a slight salty sensation but no corruption of the palate (see Skandinavik's Vanilla for that except replace sour for salt). I can also tell you from my unpleasant experience that this blend does NOT go well with the hazelnut coffee I am drinking while I write this, so let my misfortune be to your benefit!
This tobacco burns cooler than most of the other MB blends however it seems to burn a lot faster which could be the toasted burley that is the obvious dominant leaf in this blend.
So if you like a sweet aromatic, just want something that will smell nice, want something to switch off to, or are just starting out, this is a fine blend. If you like straight tobacco taste then avoid this one.
I bought a nice Grabow (oxymoron?) to try this blend in...primarily so I would not contaminate by high grades that are dedicated to more sophisticated blends...and to be able to taste just the Black Ambrosia without the flavors of blends gone by.
Upon opening the tin I noticed the smell is similar to Captain Black (white pouch). It is probably the stickiest (most heavily cased?) blend I have tried. The moisture content is less than most of Mac Baren's blends being an almost dry tobacco. Most of the leaves are black and sticky with a few light brown leaves accenting the tin.
According to the description on the tin, this is a VA and Burley blend but all I can taste (I am smoking some as I write this) is the casing. The flavor is sweet but not overpowering like Skandinavik's Vanilla Cavendish. When first puffed the smoke is dry, cool and sweet. The finish (aftertaste) leaves a slight salty sensation but no corruption of the palate (see Skandinavik's Vanilla for that except replace sour for salt). I can also tell you from my unpleasant experience that this blend does NOT go well with the hazelnut coffee I am drinking while I write this, so let my misfortune be to your benefit!
This tobacco burns cooler than most of the other MB blends however it seems to burn a lot faster which could be the toasted burley that is the obvious dominant leaf in this blend.
So if you like a sweet aromatic, just want something that will smell nice, want something to switch off to, or are just starting out, this is a fine blend. If you like straight tobacco taste then avoid this one.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 23, 2005 | Mild | Strong | Mild | Pleasant |
OK Here goes and some of you may not like it... I think this is kind of the uprgrade from Captain Black White for those that don't like the harsh chemical feel left on your gums by the drugstore classic ( like me ) Lesser in streaght and in sting but just as in offenssive and with less moisture wich is kind of nice. Also just as easy to find in any town ( just not at every drugstore ) so I guess it takes the place of CB white when ever possible. Not spectacular but if you read my review of CB white and add the positive aspects I think its one to keep on hand for those times you need something to take out on the town that won't offend non smokers. I wanted to add that this tobacco is sticky yet dry and barky and like to be packed well
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 25, 2003 | Mild | Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
According to another reviewer, MacBaren claims that Black Ambrosia is their sweetest blend, an assertion I would not dispute. While still not as sweet as some American aromatics, it is clearly designed to attract the sweet-toothed smoker.
The composition is supposedly burley and virginia, but it is really more like a black cavendish IMO. (Obviously, cavendish has to be made from some base tobacco...) The cut is a rather broad ribbon, again like a lot of black cavendishes. It resembles McB's Vanilla Cream in appearance and begs comparison with that blend. Whereas VC has a well-defined and easily identifiable flavor, Black Ambrosia is less subtle and yet undefinable in taste. The room aroma is wonderful, as is the smell in the tin. For such a heavily cased tobacco, it does burn fairly well. For a McB. blend it does not have a bad bite, though I bet that if you got it sufficiently riled up it may give a nip to the tongue.
My main criticism of this blend is the strength of tobacco flavor, or, to be more specific, the lack thereof. This is a very light-bodied tobacco. The casing sweetness is not intermingled with a natural virginia sweetness. This makes for a mild smoking experience that sometimes leaves me feeling less than satisfied. Other times it really hits the spot, or at least comes close.
This is clearly a blend that cannot be appreciated unless your are a confirmed devotee of aromatics. If you have a sweet tooth though, give it a whirl. It is fun to flirt with, if nothing else.
The composition is supposedly burley and virginia, but it is really more like a black cavendish IMO. (Obviously, cavendish has to be made from some base tobacco...) The cut is a rather broad ribbon, again like a lot of black cavendishes. It resembles McB's Vanilla Cream in appearance and begs comparison with that blend. Whereas VC has a well-defined and easily identifiable flavor, Black Ambrosia is less subtle and yet undefinable in taste. The room aroma is wonderful, as is the smell in the tin. For such a heavily cased tobacco, it does burn fairly well. For a McB. blend it does not have a bad bite, though I bet that if you got it sufficiently riled up it may give a nip to the tongue.
My main criticism of this blend is the strength of tobacco flavor, or, to be more specific, the lack thereof. This is a very light-bodied tobacco. The casing sweetness is not intermingled with a natural virginia sweetness. This makes for a mild smoking experience that sometimes leaves me feeling less than satisfied. Other times it really hits the spot, or at least comes close.
This is clearly a blend that cannot be appreciated unless your are a confirmed devotee of aromatics. If you have a sweet tooth though, give it a whirl. It is fun to flirt with, if nothing else.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 28, 2003 | Very Mild | Medium to Strong | Mild | Very Pleasant |
Out of the tin the aroma was very sweet with only a slight smell of tobacco. The ribbons are very sticky and I was dreading the anticipated bite from the first couple of bowls before getting the proper puff rate figured out.
After rubbing out slightly, I packed a half bent medium bowl and had to experiment slighlty to get the density right.
I was pleasantly suprised at the lack of moisture in the blend. I've had much more buildup from Penzance and FMOT. It does not require any relights and only two or three tampings to finish the bowl to a nice grey ash.
The flavor suprised me as well. I was expecting very little tobacco taste, but the Burley and Virginia come through after the first few puffs, and by the middle of the bowl, the casing while still present, is equalled in flavor by the tobacco's. The flavor is something like a sweet fruit cobbler with roasted grains and nuts thrown in.
Being one who favors english blends, I am shocked to say this will probably become my aromatic of choice when I'm in the mood for something sweet or when I'm around those who object strongly to a pipe in their midst.
As to the room note, in the words of my LSW, "That is Attackable!!! If you smoke that out-and-about, you could have women pawing all over you!". Hmmmm, Mabey one more reason to keep it on hand - or not.
After rubbing out slightly, I packed a half bent medium bowl and had to experiment slighlty to get the density right.
I was pleasantly suprised at the lack of moisture in the blend. I've had much more buildup from Penzance and FMOT. It does not require any relights and only two or three tampings to finish the bowl to a nice grey ash.
The flavor suprised me as well. I was expecting very little tobacco taste, but the Burley and Virginia come through after the first few puffs, and by the middle of the bowl, the casing while still present, is equalled in flavor by the tobacco's. The flavor is something like a sweet fruit cobbler with roasted grains and nuts thrown in.
Being one who favors english blends, I am shocked to say this will probably become my aromatic of choice when I'm in the mood for something sweet or when I'm around those who object strongly to a pipe in their midst.
As to the room note, in the words of my LSW, "That is Attackable!!! If you smoke that out-and-about, you could have women pawing all over you!". Hmmmm, Mabey one more reason to keep it on hand - or not.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 27, 2003 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
I smoke a lot of the Mac Baren Tobaccos and being a smoker of the pipe who loves aromatics this one is right for me. Although, I would not recommend this tobacco to anyone who does not have a sweet tooth for the aromatic tobaccos.
Opening the tin you are greeted with an aroma of sweetness IMO of Vanilla. I consider this as a mild smoke with no tongue bite, or a harshness of a strong tobacco.
I like it very well and that is what really counts and I keep it on hand on my shelf of Favorites right next to Vanilla Cream.
Opening the tin you are greeted with an aroma of sweetness IMO of Vanilla. I consider this as a mild smoke with no tongue bite, or a harshness of a strong tobacco.
I like it very well and that is what really counts and I keep it on hand on my shelf of Favorites right next to Vanilla Cream.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 30, 2003 | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Very Pleasant |
I bought a tin of this because I was in the mood for an aromatic blend and my tobacconist happened to be out of Mac Baren Vanilla Cream.
The aroma from the tin was appealing and the tobacco packed well and stayed lit reasonably well. The tobacco's taste was boring, although not bad and the casing seemed to do nothing but add a slightly "off" taste to the smoke and a strange aftertaste. The room note was very pleasant, however, allowing this to be smoked virtually anywhere.
I wouldn't say that this is a "bad" tobacco, but certainly not one that I would buy again for myself. It tastes OK, smokes OK and smells great but certainly doesn't sweep me off my feet.
The aroma from the tin was appealing and the tobacco packed well and stayed lit reasonably well. The tobacco's taste was boring, although not bad and the casing seemed to do nothing but add a slightly "off" taste to the smoke and a strange aftertaste. The room note was very pleasant, however, allowing this to be smoked virtually anywhere.
I wouldn't say that this is a "bad" tobacco, but certainly not one that I would buy again for myself. It tastes OK, smokes OK and smells great but certainly doesn't sweep me off my feet.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 25, 2003 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
This tobacco had an interesting, but unusual tin aroma. I didn't find the taste very appealing, ( I am a english blend smoker now probably because of this product. The room note was pleasing, but the after-taste stopped me from even finishing the Tin. Sorry Mac, but you have better products than this one.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 08, 2003 | Mild | Medium to Strong | Mild | Very Pleasant |
A lovley sweet and mild smoke. Dosn't demand too much and is a joy for those around you. Burns cool and with great complexity.
