Mac Baren Black Ambrosia

What a surprise! One of the few aromatics that I tolerate!

If you are looking for a Black Cavendish that delivers at least some taste and body, and is not exceedingly goopy, you have to try this tobacco.

Smell in the tin reminds of Amphora Black: dried figs and plums, vanilla... Sweet, intense, dark, but not "chemical" or nauseating. Not exceedingly sticky or unctuous, although it is evidently cased. The black cavendish is rich at the touch, but not greasy. The bright Virginia bits are few, but they add a nice contrast to the darkness of the blend.

The correct level of moisture and the lack of excessive goop allows for easy lighting (no flamethrower needed) and a regular, even burn. It burns a bit fast, but nothing to worry about. It doesn't bite the tongue: rather, it has a slightly astringent and mouth/throat drying effect.

Taste is slightly empty and steamy at first, typical for a black cavendish. Soon it gets more intense: while some are complaining that it's very mild and flat, I don't think it's completely true. It has a good presence and acceptable body, and it tastes similar to Amphora Black but better. Taste is not exceedingly sweet: sweetness is there, but it's a dark one like chestnut honey. Slightly toasted and fermented, fragrant, and it still has some nice tobacco taste. I don't know if Burley is present (Mac Baren website says that there is only Virginia and Virginia-based Cavendish), but I seem to taste some of its nutty flavour. Compared to Amphora Black, it is smoother, less aggressive, and won't become too spicy or bitterish if pushed (the Amphora contains orientals and Kentucky, and IMHO of a slightly ashy and cardboardy quality: it seems to me that the leaf used for the MacBaren blend is higher, or at least it was processed better). Only complaint: in some pipes it tends be a bit too "woody" and with slightly excessive notes of black licorice. Biggest fault of all, in all pipes it is very monochromatic and simple from start to finish. In other words, while quite good, it can become boring after a while.

Overall a satisfying aromatic, easily smokable and pleasant. Not as lovely as my favorite natural tobaccos, but not a crappy drugstore blend. Ideal for the times when you want a little sweetness, but many other aromatics have disappointed you because of their absence of tobacco taste and because their wonderful aromas are only experienced by those around you. It must be said, though, that even in Black Ambrosia the taste will still NEVER be as delicious as the tin aroma. And don't forget to smoke it quickly after opening the tin, because after a couple of weeks it tends to lose something in the taste department.

This is a nice VA/Cavendish close to the VA/Burley Golden Ambrosia but far more sweet and cased! Its too aromatic for my taste actually.. However it has a unique essence that beats most aromatics out there! Low nicotine kick but very sweet..

If you are into aromatics VA blends go for it! If you are more into lightly aromatic tobaccos like me, you should move to Golden Ambrosia without second thought..

Please Note: I am trying to work off my back log of tobaccos i have tried years and years ago. In most cases i have no clue anymore when. Or who produced it back in the day. Also my memories are faded by time and those reviews are based mostly on my notes but sometimes i have a current tin for comparison as well:

I guess there is a reason for all the ambiguous reviews as this blend just is that. Ambiguous. Being far from a bad blend in casings or tobaccos used it still does leave you with a so-so mind about it.

Yes, it is of undefined fruit, even tho back in the day it was labeled as a Caramel / Mocca blend for a while. I have no idea how that came to pass really. To me it always was a very sweet something-something fruit/vanilla blend. It did not bite tongue and had nice burning properties but needed some encouragement to take on the initial light. The room note was *very* nice and the pouch very yielding, as i would get out loads of bowls from it.

But that's really it. I believe there is nothing more to say about this blend. Except that i do recommend it because there is nothing wrong with it either. Plus i think a beginner would have some fun with it.

I do not find anything special here but I recommend it to cigarettes smokers for the following reasons: 1 - it is easy to smoke, low nicotine, no heat, no gurgles, no bite on the tongue, it burns easily without multiple re-ignition, can be smoked many times a day.

2 - the aroma and room note are certainly more pleasant of cigarettes for people who surrounds you, there is a note slightly ashy that recalls cigarettes so it helps to not deviate too much from the usual taste.

So if you are in the transition from cigarettes to pipe that may be a good help.

I am a fan of many of Mac Baren's offerings; Burley London Blend, Navy Flake, Plumcake, Scottish Mixture, Virginia No. 1. All in my first string line up. As far as their aromatics go, I occasionally smoke their Honey Chocolate and Vanilla Cream, but not on any regular basis.

I seem to have more of a time keeping Black Ambrosia lit - even after what I consider sufficient drying. Perhaps it is the casing, which to me smells like black licorice in the tin. Not a bad thing, but perhaps a bit over done. There is also very little tobacco flavor with this one. I can't taste much of the casing as I smoke it, nor can I really smell it like I do their other blends in this category. Initially, the room note is pleasing to all, but after the pipe has been out a while, the room smells a bit like a cigarette ash tray. Not a good thing for me.

The tin aroma is one of the best I have ever smelled. It packs well, there is no bite and little moisture, but I abhor the smell of an old ashtray, and therefore don't anticipate this being a regular.

I like Black Ambrosia but I'll tell you what--after a couple of bowls you start to say "I wish it tasted more like tobacco" I experience a red wine after taste that turns me off. I prefer to drink my wine and smoke my tobacco, not the other way around. Gets worse with multiple bowls. I do however love to smoke this in a crowd or in the company of a woman. The smell from the tin is a real female pleaser and with a glass of red wine the taste makes sense. So Black Ambrosia has its place in my opinion, just not a good everyday tobacco. (Hint - Heavy Italian red wine but no cheap chianti. Rufino or better. Give it a try!)

Keep em' smoldering!

Very mild in taste, and reminds me of some kind of liquor. I am able to enjoy it however it's not the best experience, no complexity, rather boring. I'm going to smoke it on the walk-on during some work from time to time until the end of the tin(in Poland it's actually sold in foil envelope) - after that rather not buy it again

Honestly, I don't get to experience that heavenly feel and wonderful taste every second pipe smoker preaches this blend for. For me, it tastes like nothing. But, literally. Burns fine and all, doesn't bite, but I just got the feeling "tastes fine, has it's mood, but lets just finish it soon enough". Sorry if I feel disrespectful, I'll try to give some respect by writing down the usual stuff. Despite it's rather bland taste it was pleasant in some way, the two factors you need is: absence of sunshine, and solitude. Not only do you need full attention to get to feel it's taste, but once you do, it feels right this way. Not advised to drink any fancy-tasty drinkie if you want to actually taste some of it, what worked for me was milk (not joking), clear, cool water, or earl grey, unflavoured. Another thing is, since it is about 95% black cavendish, makes up for a nice home blend, no surprise included.

This smelled fantastic in the bag. I couldn't wait to give it a try. Cut is dry, coarse ribbons about 1/2 in long, up to a tad longer. Initial light was surprisingly good considering the coarseness. Flavor, is very mild to almost non existent. On the tongue and retro-hale. The closest thing I can think of is something in the vein of Carter Hall or Velvet. A hint of fruity-ness, and a whole lot of ok. Black Ambrosia will NOT knock your socks off I guarantee that. Now it isn't bad, actually, probably my favorite bulk Mac Baren purchase to date. It's just nothing that the name Ambrosia should ever be linked with.