Mac Baren Golden Blend

Since I like burley of course I like this one and have nothing bad to say about it, with one exception. I prefer a smaller cut more like a flake over the larger rubbed pieces in this blend. I like the flavor which is a nice simple tobacco taste with a creamy quality. It is not as sweet as golden sweet but that makes it more of a every day smoke. It is popular enough to find at least two places locally at reasonable prices.

MacBaren Golden Blend is really a fantastic tobacco blend! It is produced by Mac Baren Tobacco Company, a Danish company known for their quality products. What I love about Golden Blend is its smooth and mild flavor. It's a combination of delightful Virginia tobaccos, which have a natural sweetness, and a touch of Burley tobacco for some extra depth.

Every time I smoke Golden Blend, I enjoy the perfect balance between sweetness and nutty undertones. It truly delights my taste buds. The best part is that it's not too strong, making it suitable for both beginner and experienced pipe smokers. If you're looking for a smooth and flavorful tobacco, I highly recommend Golden Blend. It's always important to remember that taste is subjective, so what works for me may not work for everyone. But if you enjoy a milder tobacco with great flavor, definitely give Golden Blend a try!

Another good Mac Baren blend. The presentation and moisture of the flakes is correct, and it is possible to smoke directly from the pouch. The flavors are smooth and doesn’t decrease the own tobacco aromas. It evolves during the smoke and increase the complexity of the blend. It is possible to distinguish Virginia’s and burley’s from the mixture. In resume, it is recommended for a long smoke.

First impression of the cut did not say tobacco, more like grated dark brown carrot, a vanillish note, a rather nasty taste, very much in the "sweaty hunting boot" category

This is very good burley. The craftsmanship of this blend is really superb: both the quantity and the flavour of the chocolatey toppings/casings perfectly match the tobacco, resulting in an overall great taste. I would describe this taste as very refined. It has the usual burley earthy/slightly astringent notes with some nuttiness. There is also a bit of some subdued sweetness that could be the result of the Virginia leaf. It is somehow similar to Prince Albert and Carter Hall, but not as nutty nor sweet. Another difference with the latter is that there´s no trace of that plastic like taste that some people attribute to humectants like propylene glycol. You could say that this is like the premium counterpart of PA and CH, like regular chocolate and a fancy chocolate. It is somehow similar to other Mac Baren traditional blends (e.g. Mixture, Navy Flake), but this one is better, in my opinion. Not as aromatic, less sweet, and more elegant. It is very closed to London Burley Blend, although this one was bolder than GB: more earthiness and even more austere. Burns well but can bite if pushed. The room note is nice.

Edit: this tobacco has gone from 4 to 3 stars for me, after having tasted many others (as happens)

Do enjoy this slow-smouldering blend. The almost unflavored, deep inherent sweetness of this blend softly strokes and envelops the smoker, leaving them in a near high. It is a honey-ish tobacco that smokes thick but pleasantly and consistently. Slow puffs with eyes half closed.

Just don't hold your fingers over the bowl for too long or they'll turn brownish yellow..

This is my everyday, go to smoke as such gets my highest rating. MacBaren's Golden Blend (or Golden Extra in the US) is a great burley based blend. As a committed Burley smoker, it is mild, tasty blend with a pleasant room note. It has a slight hint of fermenation/topping to give it a more pleasant flavor and smoothness than domestic drug store burleys such as Prince Albert or Red Cap.

This is the taste I expected and was looking for when I started smoking a pipe. I wish somebody had pointed me to this one in those days. It's very easy to smoke, burn well, doensn't smoke hot. The taste may not be very complex, but it's very good. Something between the ideal taste of a cigarette and the ideal taste of chocolate. That said, I once had a pouch of this that bit no matter how slowly I smoked it. I had to throw it away in the end.

UPDATE: I resisted the instinct to throw the bag in the garbage, as I hate wasting things, and decided to try with an active charcoal filter. It definitely helps against tongue bite, and fights the chemical taste. Another suggestion I can give: leave the bag open for at least two days. The smell and taste will surely improve. I'm upgrading to two stars, as I see that this can be an acceptable no-frills tobacco when you need sonething that burns well and stays lit. ***

I usually don't write a review after only two bowls, but this stuff is not going to visit any of my pipes again. Chocolate? Nutty? This is just cheap burley with some cheap artificial casing. It tastes flat, scorches your tongue and mouth, and leaves virtually no aftertaste. Only the room note is ok. I'm pretty sure this is not the mixture anymore that raised smokers' attention in the 1950s. Folks, stay away from this.