Mac Baren Burley London Blend
(3.04)
A very distinct tobacco. Made from white burley, well matured in wooden casks and pressed in broken flake form. A real smoking pleasure.
Notes: Introduced in 1965 and consists mainly of carefully selected burley tobaccos. Just a little Virginia has been added to give the blend a natural sweetness. You will notice the slight natural chocolate note, which is found in all good burley tobacco. The very special top flavor in combination with the tobaccos gives you a very distinct smoking pleasure.
Discontinued 2014. Re-released in 2020 and 2021 as limited editions.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.04 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 63 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The burleys were high quality: a lot of earth, nuts and cocoa with notes of honey, oats, some molasses, and slight spice with a dry, woody, rough edge from the white burley. The golden Virginia was citrusy sweet and a little grassy in the background, and has a spice note. A little cocoa topping was evident as well as some molasses and a few drops of vanilla. They mildly toned down the burleys. The strength was just past the center of mild to medium. The taste level was a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit was a notch below the strength threshold. Could nip at the tongue only if puffed like a steam engine, which could also produce a hint of cigarette, which is a common trait with burleys. The flakes were easy to break apart, and fit in a pipe as one preferred. Puffed at a moderate rate, it burned cool and clean and just a tad slow with a very consistent mildly sweet, nutty, lightly savory flavor. Seldom left much moisture in the bowl, and required a few relights. Had a pleasant after taste, and room note. Was an all day smoke. A no nonsense product. Four stars.
Update 7-22-2019: I have been smoking an early 1970s production of this blend. Outside of the fact that the cocoa was a little less pronounced (likely due to the topping fading some), it's consistent in every way with the review I previously wrote.
Update 8-20-2020: Recently, Mac Baren produced a limited run of BLB. It tastes exactly like the previous version. Even the nuances are the same.
Update 9-13-2022: This year's release has a smoother, silkier chocolate topping with a tad less depth of flavor. The vanilla is more prominent than the chocolate. The toppings tone down the burleys a couple of steps more than what has preceded it. There are fewer rough edges and nuttiness as well as a result. Three stars for this production, and my current rating reflects this version.
-JimInks
Update 7-22-2019: I have been smoking an early 1970s production of this blend. Outside of the fact that the cocoa was a little less pronounced (likely due to the topping fading some), it's consistent in every way with the review I previously wrote.
Update 8-20-2020: Recently, Mac Baren produced a limited run of BLB. It tastes exactly like the previous version. Even the nuances are the same.
Update 9-13-2022: This year's release has a smoother, silkier chocolate topping with a tad less depth of flavor. The vanilla is more prominent than the chocolate. The toppings tone down the burleys a couple of steps more than what has preceded it. There are fewer rough edges and nuttiness as well as a result. Three stars for this production, and my current rating reflects this version.
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2003 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I took BriarLaw's advice. I bought two tins of this tobacco, stuck them in my cellar for six months and then popped the lid on one of the tins just last week. Boy, am I glad I did.
I'm singing with the crowd -- yummy stuff!
Upon popping the tin, I was greeted with what might just be the best tobacco smell I've encountered after more than 32 years of bustin' open tobacco lids. I struggled to load my pipe patiently and carefully. I lit up and enjoyed a delightful smoke.
Burley London is partially rubbed out, and burns fast. So, it doesn't need further rubbing. It does not produce a lot of smoke and is rather light in the nicotine department for a straight Burley. It is lightly cased, so, you will get a hint of sweetness throughout the bowl without any typical Burley harshness.
You will know that you've tackled a Burley tobacco while smoking this one, and it's as mellow as any Burley I've ever smoked.
If Burley is in your tobacco arsenal, arm yourself with this. Mac Baren's "went yard" with London Burley.
I'm singing with the crowd -- yummy stuff!
Upon popping the tin, I was greeted with what might just be the best tobacco smell I've encountered after more than 32 years of bustin' open tobacco lids. I struggled to load my pipe patiently and carefully. I lit up and enjoyed a delightful smoke.
Burley London is partially rubbed out, and burns fast. So, it doesn't need further rubbing. It does not produce a lot of smoke and is rather light in the nicotine department for a straight Burley. It is lightly cased, so, you will get a hint of sweetness throughout the bowl without any typical Burley harshness.
You will know that you've tackled a Burley tobacco while smoking this one, and it's as mellow as any Burley I've ever smoked.
If Burley is in your tobacco arsenal, arm yourself with this. Mac Baren's "went yard" with London Burley.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 03, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
London Blend is a simple burley - mild and tasty. I did not taste much Virginia, but I can believe there is a little there. If I ran out of tobacco someplace, I would not hesitate to pick up a tin of this. I am unlikely to just buy some just to have around. It was a little like Prince Albert to me without the harsh edge if you puff too fast. This is a good smoke for the car - it does not require much attention or distract. It has a pleasant room note.
Pipe Used:
various briars and a cob
PurchasedFrom:
gift of 4 oz bulk
Age When Smoked:
unknown
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Finally got around to reviewing Burley London Blend. Back in 2015, I bought a pound of this in a bag, almost the last the vendor had. I am a Burley man and this one had all the hallmarks of a great one. It isn't, though.
It will bite if pushed very hard, like so many Mac Baren blends. I bought an old BLB tin off ebay, full but opened and dried. I rehydrated but not too much. It burned me too much to smoke it, and I never got the flavor to return, gave it away.
The bag I broke up right away into half-pint jars. Some I smoked right away, most left for aging. I did not experience the sweetness, though a bit of sweetness is a good thing for Burley. I did get a bit of chocolate flavor, but many Burleys naturally do this. Moderate nicotine level and good tobacco taste. Room note was OK, not something your S.O. will ask you to smoke. I believe that really good-quality Burley was used in this blend, though it did not produce exceptional amounts of smoke.
It is not the best I've had, by a long shot. Try Solani's Aged Burley Flake, Watch City Cigar's Deluxe Crumb Cut or Scotty's Butternut Burley. I will miss it, because I always miss a good tobacco blend that is discontinued. But I can only give it 3 stars.
It will bite if pushed very hard, like so many Mac Baren blends. I bought an old BLB tin off ebay, full but opened and dried. I rehydrated but not too much. It burned me too much to smoke it, and I never got the flavor to return, gave it away.
The bag I broke up right away into half-pint jars. Some I smoked right away, most left for aging. I did not experience the sweetness, though a bit of sweetness is a good thing for Burley. I did get a bit of chocolate flavor, but many Burleys naturally do this. Moderate nicotine level and good tobacco taste. Room note was OK, not something your S.O. will ask you to smoke. I believe that really good-quality Burley was used in this blend, though it did not produce exceptional amounts of smoke.
It is not the best I've had, by a long shot. Try Solani's Aged Burley Flake, Watch City Cigar's Deluxe Crumb Cut or Scotty's Butternut Burley. I will miss it, because I always miss a good tobacco blend that is discontinued. But I can only give it 3 stars.
Pipe Used:
Cob, Briar
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 08, 2014 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Very nice smoke. The Burley and the chocolate flavoring are delicious. The chocolate is lightly done. The Virginias add a nice sweetness, but can sting at times. No bite, but a light sting. For those who are really susceptible to bite you may have some trouble with this one. Medium bodied with medium flavor.
MacBaren owns Sutliff. This blend is so similar to Sutliff's Burley Delight that it makes me wonder if they aren't the same. Just a thought. Both are available in bulk with the Sutliff version 45 cents per ounce cheaper.
Let me add that I'm reviewing the bulk version and it is a broken flake, not ribbon as listed above.
MacBaren owns Sutliff. This blend is so similar to Sutliff's Burley Delight that it makes me wonder if they aren't the same. Just a thought. Both are available in bulk with the Sutliff version 45 cents per ounce cheaper.
Let me add that I'm reviewing the bulk version and it is a broken flake, not ribbon as listed above.
Pipe Used:
MM General, MM Country Gentleman
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh bulk
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Happened to chance upon a 2008 Tin of BLB in a recent trade. I'd never heard of it before. It has been opened at some point, but was wrapped in plastic wrap, I'll be jarring it
The moisture level was great. The tobacco is mostly dark. Tin note was "bready" still with a slight "chocolate cookie" note. Easy to pack and light.
Might be the age of the tobacco (11 years) but upon lighting I was really taken back by the bakery taste in the smoke. Not overpowering like many chocolate ones.. but sweetness on the top. The base tobaccos still are there and providing a great melody in the mid-range. Didn't pick up any darker notes.
The smoke was consistent from beginning to end it left very little moisture for an Aro. Was sad to see its no longer in production as I'd def smoke it regularly.
Nice blend, well done.
The moisture level was great. The tobacco is mostly dark. Tin note was "bready" still with a slight "chocolate cookie" note. Easy to pack and light.
Might be the age of the tobacco (11 years) but upon lighting I was really taken back by the bakery taste in the smoke. Not overpowering like many chocolate ones.. but sweetness on the top. The base tobaccos still are there and providing a great melody in the mid-range. Didn't pick up any darker notes.
The smoke was consistent from beginning to end it left very little moisture for an Aro. Was sad to see its no longer in production as I'd def smoke it regularly.
Nice blend, well done.
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
trade
Age When Smoked:
11 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
This review is from a tin dated March 2011. Upon opening the tin I noticed that the tobacco was already a tad on the dry side, but really with just the right amount of moisture for smoking. The tin note of this ready rubbed flake was a very strong apricot scent, and fermented. After rubbing out some of the tobacco, I packed and lit. The smoke was mostly the typical burley nuttiness with a hint of fruit. There's also a hint of hay and earthiness, while I found the cocoa to be almost imperceptible and far in the background. While this is a very decent and enjoyable burley smoke, I cannot say it's my favorite. I can only wonder if this blend might have been better from a fresh tin or with slightly less age on it, considering burley isn't one to age as favorably as other leafs. It's good, but doesn't quite knock my socks off, therefore, 3 solid stars.
Pipe Used:
Barrister 16S
PurchasedFrom:
eBay
Age When Smoked:
8 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 2012 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a good Burley/VA mix. The topping is very mild and is felt more than tasted. I like Burley's and this one is good. It is toasty, nutty at times it reminds me of cashews! A nice touch of cocoa here and there but in this case I think most of it comes from the high quality Burley rather then the topping. This was a bulk buy and well worth the money. Only 3 stars as it lacks the I gotta have more element but it is a very enjoyable smoke. For those who really like Burley it is worth a try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 07, 2022 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
They say the first step to fixing a problem is recognizing you have a problem. My name is Chris, and I am a pipe tobacco impulse buyer.
This is not a tobacco style I would seek out. This is not a tobacco style I normally gravitate to, but whats that you say? Re release? In a retro looking tin? It was in the cart before I realized it.
I did not have any experience with the original of this blend. To be honest, I am not sure how I missed it. I like burley blends, I really do. The thing is, they are not the most exciting blends for me out there. When I'm fishing? Hells yeah, CH or granger in a corncob is where it is at, but I rarely get excited about smoking a burley blend.
I liked this one. The retro style tin design was very cool, and 13 bucks for 100g? What a steal. I smoked this blend in a plethora of pipes and it acted the same regardless of the vessel.
Upon opening the tin it has an amazing smell. Just like Swiss Miss hot chocolate powder. Literally mouth watering. A medium to dark ribbon type cut. Lots of tobacco packed in the tin, a good bargain. This has a wonderful burley taste. It was hard for me at times to differentiate what was chocolate topping taste and what was a natural gift from the tobacco.
Smoked well and was a tobacco that chugged along regardless of how much attention I gave it. I would say it was one of the better burley blends I have had. An excellent blend with coffee.
I would get more of this to cellar in a heartbeat, but I am not convinced burley blends benefit as much from a deep sleep as others do. If you like burley blends, you should really give this a try.
This is not a tobacco style I would seek out. This is not a tobacco style I normally gravitate to, but whats that you say? Re release? In a retro looking tin? It was in the cart before I realized it.
I did not have any experience with the original of this blend. To be honest, I am not sure how I missed it. I like burley blends, I really do. The thing is, they are not the most exciting blends for me out there. When I'm fishing? Hells yeah, CH or granger in a corncob is where it is at, but I rarely get excited about smoking a burley blend.
I liked this one. The retro style tin design was very cool, and 13 bucks for 100g? What a steal. I smoked this blend in a plethora of pipes and it acted the same regardless of the vessel.
Upon opening the tin it has an amazing smell. Just like Swiss Miss hot chocolate powder. Literally mouth watering. A medium to dark ribbon type cut. Lots of tobacco packed in the tin, a good bargain. This has a wonderful burley taste. It was hard for me at times to differentiate what was chocolate topping taste and what was a natural gift from the tobacco.
Smoked well and was a tobacco that chugged along regardless of how much attention I gave it. I would say it was one of the better burley blends I have had. An excellent blend with coffee.
I would get more of this to cellar in a heartbeat, but I am not convinced burley blends benefit as much from a deep sleep as others do. If you like burley blends, you should really give this a try.
Age When Smoked:
2022 Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09, 2019 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I purchased this at the Las Vegas Davidoff Venetian, in bulk. Now, it's possible this blend was not MacBaren Burley, the store clerk took ten minutes to check the blend and came back with this answer—Mac Baren. Why am I skeptical? The clerk knew nothing of pipes or tobacco, so, for all I know he was taking a coffee break rather than tracking down the pedigree of this tobacco (why would you hire someone who knows nothing of what they are selling? This store had very few tobaccos and fewer pipes displayed. Hot business tip for any one interested—Las Vegas deserves a much better pipe and pipe tobacco store!).
I purchased two ounces of this and was mostly pleased. This burley is nutty, rather smooth and pleasant to smoke. It did leave a lot of residue in my pipe, however. If this is Mac Baren's Burley London Blend, then okay, not too bad.
Keep on pipin'
I purchased two ounces of this and was mostly pleased. This burley is nutty, rather smooth and pleasant to smoke. It did leave a lot of residue in my pipe, however. If this is Mac Baren's Burley London Blend, then okay, not too bad.
Keep on pipin'
PurchasedFrom:
Las Vegas Davidoff at the Venetian
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