Mac Baren Club Blend

This is similar to Mac Baren Dark Twist roll cake; but the Virginias are a little more piquant, or sharp; and the dark fired Kentucky seems more forward, smokier, and sweeter (the maple syrup topping is more apparent) . There are no similarities to OTC aromatics, so tobacco purists can buy with confidence.

If you like Escudo, Superior Round Slices, P/S LBF, Doblone D'oro, or SG Cabbies Mixture, then Club Blend could fit into your rotaion too. (And no, I'm not conflating dark fired Kentucky with either Cavendish or Perique. Club Blend has dfK, and the others vary.)

You will have to adapt to a slight pinch from Club Blend's Virginias, but that sort of grows on you -- like piquant spices do -- and you'll find yourself gravitating to it.

I am smoking a tin of CB that has aged for 5 years. The vacuum was popped on the tin so the disks of spun tobacco had dried to a moisture content I like with MB. I have found that MB blends new and right from the tin are to high in moisture and burn and taste much better if allowed to dry. Furthermore, aging has improved CB. There are some good 4-star reviews here that spotlight the sweet/citrus/spaciness of this spun tobacco. It is mellow, easy smoking - a nice all day smoke. There is a nice interplay between Virginia and Black Cavendish and what I am guessing is Perique. VaPer lovers should enjoy CB. My advice is buy several tins and age some for a rainy day.

I doubt I would four-star this blend if I tried a recent tinning, but I am smoking some pre 1985 Club Blend right now along with some other vintage roll cakes I picked up recently, and for me at least, they turn into quite a different animal with that kind of age on them; a pleasant, mild sweetness that gives me no problems with "Mac Bite" as do certain Mac Barens when they are new.

Though the differences between the various roll cakes are not all that pronounced at this venerable age, I do like the cavendish element of this one quite a bit, and with most bowls find that the only aged roll cake I might like better is Latakia Blend (though I don't taste any Latakia in it).

Very nice, and my only problem with this or any of the roll cakes at this age is that they tend to burn a bit fast and hot, but I just compensate for this by resting the pipe frequently, and trying to find pipes that work for them the best.

I highly recommend picking up an old tin if you see one, and at least in my experience, Mac Baren in general is a brand that ages quite a bit better than it is given credit for.

A very nice smoke. If you like MB's spun tobacco, Club Blend should be in your rotation. A naturaly sweet taste, citrus (almost mint in a wierd way) cream. More Birdseye in the cake then the others (Dark Twist, Roll Cake, Latakia) I fold 4 or 5 coins after a few minutes of drying, slip it in the bowl, light up and sip. Club Blend is the aristocrat of the spun coin family. Really enjoy it.

This is a good mild Cavendish/Virginia blend that is extremely mild and unless well dried is seriously fire retardent. It requires a lot of dry time I would suggest 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours and once sufficiantly dry this is a nice mild smoke that burns well. I've rubbed it and also tried fold and stuff, and I think rubbing works best. Room note was nice-ish very mild. Flavour is sweet, slightly spicy and mild. Recommendation: Not bad, not great, nothing too special, just okay.

Update: 4/10/09 I have changed my recommendation on this blend from somewhat recommended to recommended. I honestly didn't give this tobacco enough of a trial and rubbing and drying is a mistake, once you realize that no further preparation is needed just load your pipe as is, it gives a wonderfull smoke which I will return to again in the near future.

Update: 4/24/09 Man this stuff is good I have to change my recomendation to Highly Recommended and the strength to a solid Medium, it has quite a healthy vitamin N kick to it. just a lovely all-round tobacco.

You can compare this one to Dark Twist, but a bit milder. It's a sweet virginia roll cake that smokes like a quality virginia should. It's got a bit of an aroma that's pleasant, and doesn't interfere too much with the taste, which is a good thing. Nutty, sweet flavors come from this blend. If you like virginias that have been mellowed out, then you'll really enjoy this blend. I can't explain this blend to a newbie. If you've had experience with VA's, then you'll certainly know what I'm talking about when you try this blend.

This scores an 89 out of 100 for me. 🙂

For 2 years now I have enjoyed MacBaren?s Club Blend. I think highly of the MacBaren Blends (except for Black Ambrosia).

Club Blend wins the trophy. I have it straight from MacBaren that their spun cut tobaccos: Club Blend; Roll Cake; and Dark Twist are cased only with sugar with no other casing or flavorings are used. This is to be appreciated!! The aroma carries the burning sugars as does the taste, that being the wonderful waft-ness of toasted marshmallow.

The small cakes are easy to rub out, but packing them in a variety of ways can help to create distinct differences through the bowl. When the smoke reaches the dark center Cavendish, the signature of a peppery spice comes through to entice just momentarily. I?ve recently sampled Dark Twist which in my opinion is a lighter smoke than Club Blend. Seems from the tin I have, the Dark Twist does not have as much Cavendish, hence, less peppery. I noticed that Club Blend seems to have a tad bit more sugar than Dark Twist too. I?ll offer a review of Dark Twist soon.

But for Club Blend, I recommend it. Indubitably! Three cheers for Club Blend, Hip Hip?.. You know the rest.

The only thing I can really add, this is an exquisit Virgina Blend that gets better as you smoke the bowl of tobacco to the bottom.

If you are a connoisseur of the Virginia Blended Tobaccos, this is a must try blend.

I smoked the Club Blend in a Stokkebye Pipe, I did not notice any tongue bite, although, as with any Virginia Blend tobaccos, one must take their time to enjoy the taste while smoking this blend slow and easy.

First tobacco in my first pipe (it was thirty years ago or so). Taste was pleasant as I remember and now, it is the same. It was the same through the years. Club is the Mac Baren's best blend I guess, fully recommended.