Mac Baren Dark Twist Roll Cake

Update: 7 Jan 15

Well, the more I smoke it, the more I like it. The VAs are top of the notch. The smoking experience goes from grassy to sweet notes and sometimes combines both, which really provides a delicious pipeful. I am upgrading my appraisal to 4 stars because I am simply impressed. Again, I would not recommend Mac Baren tobaccos to unexperienced smokers as they require skills and experience. But once you acquire these, my God, they are smashing.

Original review: 23 Dec 14

Before starting, an administrative point: I believe there is no Kentucky in DTRC. Their website says it does but then the tin description says it's VAs with MB's Cavendish. I just can't taste it and I know Kentucky when I smell and taste it. Let me tell you, if there is, then I'm from Kentcuky; and I'm not. LOL Regardless, I still like that tobacco. I had tried it 19 years ago and never finished the tin, finding it uninteresting. But, for some reason, about a year ago, or so, every time I looked at the tin while placing an order, I went "Hmmmmm." So there you go, I bought some. Looks like and smells like pretty much the same it was back then. And it tastes exactly what it smells like: a combinaison of various Vas with a touch of MB's Cavendish. Can I smell or taste the added maple essence? There's a little something but can't clearly say "yea, it's maple!" Nothing complex, nothing to rave about, but good grassy VAs with just a light touch of sweetness. Enough nicotine to keep me interested in it. It could be a good all day smoke for me. As it's mostly VAs, guess what, VAs bite if you don't puff carefully and control your cadence; so I would not advise a newbie to try this one or any of the VAs from MB. You need to be an experienced smoker to smoke Mac Baren tobaccos. Believe me...19 years ago, this tobacco bite a lot. Today, it does not. And I reckon it's me that changed, not the tobacco. Anyway, all this to say I like this one. And I won't have to rebuy for a while as I bought a few tins of it so I'm good for a while.

This blend sums up everything that is wrong with Mac Baren's, in my opinion. This is an unrefined, flat, overly mild blend that bites at the least provocation but that has a nice room aroma. There is a light spiciness in the smoke that promises something good to come but it just doesn't happen. It's not a bad smoke; certainly I found it preferable to Plumcake - but it's nothing that a long time pipesmoker could call a "reference" blend.

If I hadn't had such good success with Mac Baren's Symphony and, to a lesser extent, their Navy Flake and Virginia #1, I'd suggest that I just don't care for the Danish style of tobacco blending. Then again, Alfred & Christian Peterson have produced many noteworthy blends. I think Mac B's caters to a niche group of smokers (those somewhere between full fledged aromatics and natural English-style blends) and does quite well with it, I think. This one just isn't for me. Most Mac Baren's (with the exception of Symphony) will not find their way back into my cellar. But one classic blend forgives all!

To me, Dark Twist is one of the most enjoyable tobaccos in the MacBaren’s catalogue. It looks great in the tin—reddish gold coins with black Cavendish hearts. What’s great about Dark Twist is how easy it is to smoke. There is quite a bit of sweetness in these coins and a gentle, plum-like flavor that doesn’t overwhelm the tobacco. You do have to be careful smoking this. Above a slow smolder, Dark Twist gets hot and the gentle fruitiness pretty much disappears.

I’m often reminded of various other simple tobaccos when I smoke this—especially Marlin Flake from Rattray’s. They strike me as fellow-travelers in this sweet, fruity Virginia category. I do sometimes wish there was more going on in this tobacco—some spice, greater complexity, a little more nicotine—but it is generally satisfying.

Overall this is a nice coin cut presentation by Mac Baren. It is however a double edge sword. For one, I found it quick to bite, yet on the other hand when smoked low and slow I was able to render quite a bit of flavor and a variety of nuances from it. I laud the presentation, and there’s so many ways you can prepare this. One can simply smoke the Virginia coins for a simple affair, or choose to add quite a bit more of the dark fired pieces for a spicier more complex flavor profile. Either way this particular tobacco smokes really well and has a clean, sturdy, lightly-sweet flavor with a great room note.

Altogether Mac Baren’s recommendation of a 2 to 1 ratio of Virginia to dark fired center coins provides good balance, and I can fit about six of them into most of the pipes that I smoke this in. From the tin the tobacco is in perfect smoking condition and requires no dry time. Simply folding the coins in half and inserting them into the pipe with some bits on top as kindling works great, as does rubbing them out and chopping them up a bit. Once again, take it slow & this stuff is good.

Update 8/24/2014..... I gotta say, after smoking through a good 4 ounces of Dark Twist Roll Cake over the last 6 months, I have come to appreciate just how good it is. Perhaps I have gotten better at avoiding the perils of bite that I once received while smoking it too fast, or maybe a spell in a Mason jar with plenty of headroom has mellowed it out a bit. Either way, Dark Twist Roll Cake is a great tobacco with superb flavor and perfect strength for an all day/any time smoke. It's a truly marvelous sweet & spicy tobacco concoction. Another thing I discovered is that it tastes fantastic when smoked in a well seasoned cob.

One of my all-time favourites. Dark twist is in my opinion one of the best Danish blends ever made. It's very unique, and i haven't succeded in finding anything comparable to it - except for Club Blend, which, unfortunately is the same thing, but with added napalm...

Dark Twist has musty notes of Brown toffee, slight, very slight hints of Samson Halfzware, Flapjacks and roasted nuts. I can't help myself always comparing tobacco with food..

It's best when you dedicate a pipe for this blend, because the taste get's better and better over the years if you have a pipe saturated with Dark Twist. I have two, so they won't get sour.. Very unique.

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

I do like this tobacco, but I feel that there is too much Virginia in relation to the cavendish coins. This creates a mainly Virginia smoking experience for me... which I like Virginias, but I like the dark coins better. As stated in my review of Stockton, I prefer to mix one tin of Stockton with one tin of Dark Twist as I feel it gives a more round flavor. Overall this is a good smoke, I just like my mix better.

edit: Since Stockton is no longer available I can no longer make my "mix"... :..( the smoke of Dark Twist is still perfectly great on its own even though I can no longer "improve" it by adding more dark fired coins.

A great virginia based blend. The cavendish cores along with the maple/honey taste give a light but full of natural flavour mixture, which can also be smelled upon opening the tin/pouch.

The coins give a nice pipe filling entertainment, making different packing styles possible.

I read some people had hot smoking experiences, but mine wasn't the case. I also managed to relight only once.

This is a wonderful smoke. At times spicy and other times sweet. Also detect a "buttery" something from time to time. A good "sipping" smoke. Smoking it just on the edge of going out produces the best flavor for me. Have not experienced bite from it, but at times the spice is very prominent and will tingle the mouth. The roll cake is very easy to pack and doesn't require many relights if packed well. I don't rub it all, just fold a few pieces and settle them gently into the pipe, then rub a small amount for the top to get an even burn. This is my first experience with Mac Baren as I am a relatively new pipe smoker, but I sense the beginning of a long friendship.

The tobacco comes in "coins" made from slicing twist tobacco. It appears to be very dark red Virginias wrapped around a center of dark cavendish. The tin smells of cinnamon toast and molasses, which I believe is a sweetener used in a number of MacBaren tobaccos which I like in moderation. As with most tobacco coins I roll each one between my finger tips to loosen the tobacco, make a dottle and add each successive rolled coin to fill the pipe. This is a tin I have had in the basement for over ten years, and the tobacco is perfect for smoking. The charring light produces a sharp, unpleasant acridity in the smoke followed by the smell and taste of burnt caramel. After a few puffs, the tobacco settles down to offer a uniquely sweetened Virginia taste. Although some MacBaren blends can bite me, this tobacco is smooth and sweet. This is not something I would smoke everyday, but it is distinctive enough with true tobacco flavor that I would smoke it once or twice a week. Well recommended. Paddy.