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 1 - 10 of 34 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 03, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
(Original review: 04/03/2009 )
I must be perfectly honest: I like this tobacco. I had never tried it before because I thought of it as a kind of Borkum Riff's Black Cavendish or, worse, something called Black Luxury. But my would be daughter in law was kind enough to give me a pouch of this stuff.
Due to the limited choices I'm currently confronted with, I finally decided to give it a try. I've been smoking this for the last couple of weeks, at least two bowls a day. Just a quick note first. In the pouch there is no mention of Burley. The accent is on Virginias, both a golden ripe variety, and a "slowly roasted Cavendished" one. If there's any Burley in this blend it's far hidden somewhere in the background.
As to the blend's structure and taste, well I was absolutely surprised with both. The highly suspicious, though scrumptious, aroma in the pouch (berries, nuts and a touch of caramel and vanilla) DOES NOT transfer onto the actual smoking experience. This is an extremely well behaved, slow burning and somewhat muted aromatic, with a deep toasty undertone and an elusive sweetness that is neither cloying nor syrup like. To my surprise, as well, the leaf is almost dry (there is a certain resemblance to Troost's Special Cavendish, again not as sweet), and it burns steadily all the way to the bottom of the bowl.
There is no way in hell this tobacco will bite you. For a Mac Baren this is quite an achievement. And it will only burn hot if you push it too hard. Yet, like all Virginias--or predominantly Virginian--blends, it should be smoked very slowly in order to allow the silent sweetness of the leaf to reveal itself in all its nuances. In fact the taste is not sweet (in the sense Cube or Original Choice are), but elegantly bitter-sweet, soft, gentle. This is a nice tobacco to work with. It's not distracting, and the aroma--quaint and traditional--seems to be appreciated even by civilized non smokers.
This a mild to medium strength smoke, with a pleasant aroma. Nothing spectacular, yet one of the best Mac Barens I've smoked in a long time. Think of it as an upgraded version of Virginia No 1, with a little bit more of ump, and a more refined denouement. Nice change of pace. Greatly surprised. (That's one for the would be daughter in law!)
Addendum
As to Black Ambrosia containing any other leaf aside form Virginia, I found this in Mac Baren's site (verbatim):
"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..."
On the other hand, Mac Baren itself acknowledges the fact that many of its tobaccos--due to their processing techniques and high sugar content---tend to burn hot and affect the tongue.
One of the reasons they have been developing a new range of tobaccos (from Black Ambrosia to Original Choice) is precisely to overcome this particular trend in their products. Read the description of Original Choice, a tobacco which they pride "does not 'smart' on the tongue".
True, the smoking technique has a lot to do with the hot burning/tongue biting issue. But the way a tobacco is processed is not above suspicion, especially when the manufacturer is aware of the fact, and so many reviewers--whom otherwise don't find the same problem in other brands--agree.
I must be perfectly honest: I like this tobacco. I had never tried it before because I thought of it as a kind of Borkum Riff's Black Cavendish or, worse, something called Black Luxury. But my would be daughter in law was kind enough to give me a pouch of this stuff.
Due to the limited choices I'm currently confronted with, I finally decided to give it a try. I've been smoking this for the last couple of weeks, at least two bowls a day. Just a quick note first. In the pouch there is no mention of Burley. The accent is on Virginias, both a golden ripe variety, and a "slowly roasted Cavendished" one. If there's any Burley in this blend it's far hidden somewhere in the background.
As to the blend's structure and taste, well I was absolutely surprised with both. The highly suspicious, though scrumptious, aroma in the pouch (berries, nuts and a touch of caramel and vanilla) DOES NOT transfer onto the actual smoking experience. This is an extremely well behaved, slow burning and somewhat muted aromatic, with a deep toasty undertone and an elusive sweetness that is neither cloying nor syrup like. To my surprise, as well, the leaf is almost dry (there is a certain resemblance to Troost's Special Cavendish, again not as sweet), and it burns steadily all the way to the bottom of the bowl.
There is no way in hell this tobacco will bite you. For a Mac Baren this is quite an achievement. And it will only burn hot if you push it too hard. Yet, like all Virginias--or predominantly Virginian--blends, it should be smoked very slowly in order to allow the silent sweetness of the leaf to reveal itself in all its nuances. In fact the taste is not sweet (in the sense Cube or Original Choice are), but elegantly bitter-sweet, soft, gentle. This is a nice tobacco to work with. It's not distracting, and the aroma--quaint and traditional--seems to be appreciated even by civilized non smokers.
This a mild to medium strength smoke, with a pleasant aroma. Nothing spectacular, yet one of the best Mac Barens I've smoked in a long time. Think of it as an upgraded version of Virginia No 1, with a little bit more of ump, and a more refined denouement. Nice change of pace. Greatly surprised. (That's one for the would be daughter in law!)
Addendum
As to Black Ambrosia containing any other leaf aside form Virginia, I found this in Mac Baren's site (verbatim):
"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..."
On the other hand, Mac Baren itself acknowledges the fact that many of its tobaccos--due to their processing techniques and high sugar content---tend to burn hot and affect the tongue.
One of the reasons they have been developing a new range of tobaccos (from Black Ambrosia to Original Choice) is precisely to overcome this particular trend in their products. Read the description of Original Choice, a tobacco which they pride "does not 'smart' on the tongue".
True, the smoking technique has a lot to do with the hot burning/tongue biting issue. But the way a tobacco is processed is not above suspicion, especially when the manufacturer is aware of the fact, and so many reviewers--whom otherwise don't find the same problem in other brands--agree.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2014 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The tin note is wonderful and when I smoke Black Ambrosia I get a subtle taste similar to fruit cocktail. It smokes dry and cool with no bite or aftertaste. My wife claims it leaves a room note similar to cigarettes so she frowns on me smoking it in the house. Otherwise, I'd keep a tin of it in my regular rotation.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 06, 2020 | Mild | Medium | Mild | Very Pleasant |
Mild easy smoking aromatic. Nuts, honey and berries are present throughout the smoke. Burns dry with little or no moisture in the pipe. Takes fire well and requires a minimum number of relighted. All Virginia blend without the usual burn you may experience. Have smoked it new from the tin but I get the best results by letting it dry on a plate for an hour or so. I have found that I get a better smoke from all Mac blends doing this. All in all a great smoke, albeit very mild in nicotine.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2020 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A recent revelation revealed a fondness for (some) fruit Aromatics, and so I was eager to see where this one landed. Overly topped mush or another thoughtfully created, tasty fruit bouquet, perhaps another Stanwell Melange clone (which replaced Drew Estate Grand Central)?
The tin opened to a dull sour, apricot medley which neither overwhelmed nor reaked of chemicals. The almost entirely Cavendish ribbon felt great with strong woody pieces that pack roughly in the bowl making great air flow, albeit requiring a relight or two. The flavor was never syrupy and kept a pleasantly light fruit flavor throughout that complimented the natural tobacco taste.
While I still prefer Stanwell's Melange for it's stronger fruit profile, I was really enjoying Black Ambrosia as an all day smoke. Plus, it is an incredible deal for a 3.5oz tin. A solid Aromatic I'll be rebuying.
The tin opened to a dull sour, apricot medley which neither overwhelmed nor reaked of chemicals. The almost entirely Cavendish ribbon felt great with strong woody pieces that pack roughly in the bowl making great air flow, albeit requiring a relight or two. The flavor was never syrupy and kept a pleasantly light fruit flavor throughout that complimented the natural tobacco taste.
While I still prefer Stanwell's Melange for it's stronger fruit profile, I was really enjoying Black Ambrosia as an all day smoke. Plus, it is an incredible deal for a 3.5oz tin. A solid Aromatic I'll be rebuying.
PurchasedFrom:
tobaccopipes.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 24, 2020 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
This blend will bite you. If you use the "breathe" method, this blend kinda sings. Make sure you dry it really well and take it really easy with the cadence. The best moments I had with this blend was when I could sit and close my eyes and just focus on breathing. You will be rewarded with a dark fruit like sweetness that coats your palate.
I was expecting absolutely nothing from this blend, and it kind of wowed me. This has been one of the go to aromatics of late.
I was expecting absolutely nothing from this blend, and it kind of wowed me. This has been one of the go to aromatics of late.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 24, 2014 | Mild | Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
Beer influenced me to buy Ambrosia when he compared it to Amphora Black Cavendish, one of my favorite tobaccos in the old days... Ambrosia is mild, pleasant, tasty, and has a nice clean burning. I have added some C & D Burley leaf (Burley Flake No 3) to give it sufficient backbone of nicotine without compromising the great flavour of the casing. I will definitivily rebuy some (and more C & D). If you enjoy a mild an aromatic offering, this might be what you are looking for.
Pipe Used:
Stanwell; Cavicchi; Corn Cobsè Meerschaum
Age When Smoked:
18 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 22, 2009 | Mild | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
In springtime it happens I'm moved to experience some aromatics, possibly avoiding the most heavily cased. My "tobacco bar" is currently offering me the following aromatics to taste (in order of appearance):
1. Ashton's #6
2. Amphora's Black Cavendish
3. Peterson's Gold Blend
4. Mac Baren's Gold of Denmark (coming from Haejenius/Amsterdam)
5. Troost Sliced (also coming from H/A)
6. Mac Baren's Golden Ambrosia
I start from the last one, having bought it just Monday, when I found myself accidentally without any tobacco in my pocket and finding myself very much pleased with consecutive bowls of BA, and I mean very much indeed ! I'm working it with the same pipe till the opening of the pouch, a black Savinelli Spigot, straight bulldog, filtered 9mm.
To cut it short BA is described in the pouch to be blended MAINLY with Virginias "carefully toasted to bring out a tasty and sweet Cavendish" with some very special yellow Virginia. I don't see but a word about Burley, but the term MAINLY seems to hide a (very) minor part of different tobaccos: a cased Burley seems to be the possible best candidate.
The smell of the pouch aroma suggests vanilla, nuts, dried fruits: a sort of "muessli" (know what I mean?). The visual thing is a beautiful contrast of almost black, dark brown (coffee) with few light brown and blonde flecks. One could think: what the heck am I gonna smoking ? And that's is not happening: You are not going to smoke that combination of pouch aroma and colours only. The smoke is extremely well balanced, and yes! It's TOBACCO, of the best quality IMHO, with hints of everything above (not the colours, of course). So good that I must impose myself to slow down, but not for avoiding the famous McBite. At every rate BA does not bite, nor turns bitter, only a salty note that's not that bad. To be noted that the tobacco is not wet, and not dry, it's perfect to be smoked. No goop. No tainted pipe.
Comparisons with 2. and 4., which are waiting me opened in the cabinet, seem obvious.
As far as and aromatic of future choice in rotation, I fully subscribe three full stars.
1. Ashton's #6
2. Amphora's Black Cavendish
3. Peterson's Gold Blend
4. Mac Baren's Gold of Denmark (coming from Haejenius/Amsterdam)
5. Troost Sliced (also coming from H/A)
6. Mac Baren's Golden Ambrosia
I start from the last one, having bought it just Monday, when I found myself accidentally without any tobacco in my pocket and finding myself very much pleased with consecutive bowls of BA, and I mean very much indeed ! I'm working it with the same pipe till the opening of the pouch, a black Savinelli Spigot, straight bulldog, filtered 9mm.
To cut it short BA is described in the pouch to be blended MAINLY with Virginias "carefully toasted to bring out a tasty and sweet Cavendish" with some very special yellow Virginia. I don't see but a word about Burley, but the term MAINLY seems to hide a (very) minor part of different tobaccos: a cased Burley seems to be the possible best candidate.
The smell of the pouch aroma suggests vanilla, nuts, dried fruits: a sort of "muessli" (know what I mean?). The visual thing is a beautiful contrast of almost black, dark brown (coffee) with few light brown and blonde flecks. One could think: what the heck am I gonna smoking ? And that's is not happening: You are not going to smoke that combination of pouch aroma and colours only. The smoke is extremely well balanced, and yes! It's TOBACCO, of the best quality IMHO, with hints of everything above (not the colours, of course). So good that I must impose myself to slow down, but not for avoiding the famous McBite. At every rate BA does not bite, nor turns bitter, only a salty note that's not that bad. To be noted that the tobacco is not wet, and not dry, it's perfect to be smoked. No goop. No tainted pipe.
Comparisons with 2. and 4., which are waiting me opened in the cabinet, seem obvious.
As far as and aromatic of future choice in rotation, I fully subscribe three full stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 20, 2008 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
nice pace of change with a nutty and sweet jet black cavendish taste to it. straight burly cavendish is what you are going to get in this blend. burns dry and clean to the last bit, packs very well and the room note is acceptable but not as good as other mac baren offerings aromatics.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 11, 2008 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
I had to re-hydrate my packet, it'd been on the shelf for a while and even longer in my cellar. I'm on a bit of a rediscovery of aromatics at the moment...I find they have a crucial space in my daily selection.
Why do so many people say..it's Yuk!...its bites because it's a MacB? Well MacB have a long solid reputation. They know about their reputation for a wee bite. But they still choose to blend the blends the way they do....and...they still sell very well over many decades. It's a little self-inflating and somewhat carping of us smokers to say it's 'crap'.
B.Amb is a lovely soft, good, tasty aromatic, very similar to Vanilla Cream but with only a touch of vanilla, it's fruity and and salty, it dose not bite much for an aro, and... is a great in between smoke throughout the day. It is NOT soapy, NOR is it overly sweet. It is mild yet with a good natural baccy taste...all the way to the bottom. It is a stroll in the park aromatic, a hot sunny day or a nippy winter's afternoon aromatic.
And lastly it reminds me that I should never pay any attention to pipe smokers on TRev's that say stuff like; "this is total crap and a complete waste of money"! If you are a pipe smoker worth anything...it is never a 'waste' to purchase a new packet of baccy...particularly from a top Danish company like MacB. 3.5 stars for a solid aromatic. Yet again another MacB to add to my cellar.
Why do so many people say..it's Yuk!...its bites because it's a MacB? Well MacB have a long solid reputation. They know about their reputation for a wee bite. But they still choose to blend the blends the way they do....and...they still sell very well over many decades. It's a little self-inflating and somewhat carping of us smokers to say it's 'crap'.
B.Amb is a lovely soft, good, tasty aromatic, very similar to Vanilla Cream but with only a touch of vanilla, it's fruity and and salty, it dose not bite much for an aro, and... is a great in between smoke throughout the day. It is NOT soapy, NOR is it overly sweet. It is mild yet with a good natural baccy taste...all the way to the bottom. It is a stroll in the park aromatic, a hot sunny day or a nippy winter's afternoon aromatic.
And lastly it reminds me that I should never pay any attention to pipe smokers on TRev's that say stuff like; "this is total crap and a complete waste of money"! If you are a pipe smoker worth anything...it is never a 'waste' to purchase a new packet of baccy...particularly from a top Danish company like MacB. 3.5 stars for a solid aromatic. Yet again another MacB to add to my cellar.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 02, 2021 | Mild | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I greatly appreciated the absence of Burley in this blend. This tobacco has a nice tin note and a good room note. In the pipe, it's not the "traditional", fully aromatic black Cavendish you would expect, but it's an interesting, good tobacco. It didn't thrill me to the extent of the fantastic (I repeat, fantastic for Black Cavendish lovers) complexity, depth, variety and fullness of Amphora Black Cavendish Special Reserve n.1. Mild, balanced sweetness, mild, smooth aroma. No tongue bite. Not very complex, but a quite pleasant, relaxing smoke. Ideal for beginners, or for an outdoors smoke in the summer. Good morning starter. The "modern Cavendish" by Mac Baren is probably cased and designed to enhance the natural sweetness of fermented Virginias, without much added. They surely succeeded, but without creating a "WOW!" blend. The flavoring -if any- is barely detectable, but probably that's the actual goal of Mac Baren blenders. The result? A mild, smooth, sweet, easy to smoke blend. I shall smoke it again, alternating it with the superb Amphora Black, or with the distinctively aromatic Davidoff Malawi Dark Cavendish.
Pipe Used:
Dai Mosi Caravaggio billiard "maresciallo"
PurchasedFrom:
Tobacconist in downtown Milan, Italy
Age When Smoked:
just purchased
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