Mac Baren Golden Blend
(3.03)
Since Golden Blend was introduced back in 1952 it has gained many, many fans all over the world – rightly so. The special selected brown burley tobaccos, mixed with just a touch of golden Virginia, are carefully pressed and stored. The large slices are cut and partly rubbed up, which makes this blend easy to fill into your pipe. This slowly burning burley based blend is very satisfying and you will enjoy the slight note of chocolate – a note that all good burley tobacco produces naturally.
Notes: American pipe smokers will find this blend under the name of Golden Extra.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.03 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 12 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 2009 | Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
I am exploring the world of MacBaren tobaccos, and so far the Navy Mixture has been my favorite due to its good balance and sweet but natural taste.
Golden Blend seems similar in composition, except that it's more rubbed out than the Navy Mixture, and it has a slightly less sweet/honeyed smell.
This is a tobacco that packs easily and doesn't require particular care, that burns regularly, slowly and cool to the bottom of the bowl. Truly well behaved, a nice all-day low maintenance smoke. And, quite incredibly (considering MacBaren's reputation), it doesn't bite one single bit. Navy Mixture was much more bitey in comparison!
What I like about this blend is that it tastes natural, with some nice nutty and fragrant quality Burley and a decent measure of bright Virginia. The casing is very unobtrusive, probably just a touch of sugar/honey and some cocoa (at least that's the smell I get from the tin... and may I say a heresy if to me it smells a bit like Dunhill's Royal Yacht?): not artificial at all. On the other hand, it has a rather dry, woody, earthy taste. A bit like Edgeworth Sliced, but less woody and much more delicate. And, most importantly, though it isn't particularly sweet it doesn't get bitter either. It stays very consistent to the bottom of the bowl. Which of course also means little or no flavour development... and this is my main complaint. The other is that it's rather mild in taste (while the body is rather satisfactory), while on the other hand Navy Mixture was way richer and more complex.
Overall, a fine blend: not particularly exciting, but neither is has serious faults. Good to smoke once in a while, quite pleasant to those around you (my wife doesn't like aromatics, and confirmed that this blend has a very subtle and unoffensive room note) and it DOES taste of tobacco.
Golden Blend seems similar in composition, except that it's more rubbed out than the Navy Mixture, and it has a slightly less sweet/honeyed smell.
This is a tobacco that packs easily and doesn't require particular care, that burns regularly, slowly and cool to the bottom of the bowl. Truly well behaved, a nice all-day low maintenance smoke. And, quite incredibly (considering MacBaren's reputation), it doesn't bite one single bit. Navy Mixture was much more bitey in comparison!
What I like about this blend is that it tastes natural, with some nice nutty and fragrant quality Burley and a decent measure of bright Virginia. The casing is very unobtrusive, probably just a touch of sugar/honey and some cocoa (at least that's the smell I get from the tin... and may I say a heresy if to me it smells a bit like Dunhill's Royal Yacht?): not artificial at all. On the other hand, it has a rather dry, woody, earthy taste. A bit like Edgeworth Sliced, but less woody and much more delicate. And, most importantly, though it isn't particularly sweet it doesn't get bitter either. It stays very consistent to the bottom of the bowl. Which of course also means little or no flavour development... and this is my main complaint. The other is that it's rather mild in taste (while the body is rather satisfactory), while on the other hand Navy Mixture was way richer and more complex.
Overall, a fine blend: not particularly exciting, but neither is has serious faults. Good to smoke once in a while, quite pleasant to those around you (my wife doesn't like aromatics, and confirmed that this blend has a very subtle and unoffensive room note) and it DOES taste of tobacco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 10, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
The composition is something like 20% Virginia and 80% Burley. The most intense aromatizant is cocoa, with a little of honey/sugar. It has two 'burning-phases': during the first one, the taste is sweet, with a strong predominant cocoa taste and honey notes; in the second one, it has more body and the taste turns to something nutty and less flavored. It's a good quality tobacco (it let your pipe quite sticky inside), but I like other types of Burley (surely, Rattray's Stirling Flake).
Pipe Used:
Many briars and olive wood
PurchasedFrom:
Local tabacconist
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 11, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Definately not a bad smoke, but at the same time this one just didn't do much for me. It burns very nicely and doesn't bite. The flavor isn't bad, but it is very one dimensional. That isn't always a bad thing, however I personally got bored with it. The room note is pleasant during and after the smoke but it is one of those blends where is isn't so nice the next day. Like I said, not bad but just didn't do it for me, worth a try though.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 17, 2006 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
Okay, I hate doing this, but I have to come back and rewrite my review. After letting this tobacco set for about a week, until the funny topnote has nearly disappeared from the tin, it is smokable. I am beginning to believe that either the humectorant or the topping that MacBaren uses is what causes the notorious blowtorch tongue. And, once aired off, the tobacco produces much less bite.
The first few times I tried to smoke this, I just couldn't pick up any flavor due to the overwhelming taste of the topping, and the tongue bite. Underneath the topping it tasted rather carboard-ish rather than nutty or chocolatey. Now I can definitely pick up a nice chocolate note, and a mellow sweetness running underneath the burley flavor. It still lacked the "creamy" feel to the palate that I'm accustomed to with burleys.
I am still suspicious of this tobacco, as it did tend to want to take off and burn all on its own. So it had to be very carefully nursed along. Smoking it required a lot of work, but there was a reward at the end. I'm just not yet sure if the monochromatic flavor is worth the extra effort one has to put forth with this blend. Were it but less work, or more taste, I think it would rate two and a half to three stars. As it is, two stars for burley smokers (if you love virginias, just go ahead and forget about this stuff).
Flat and flavorless; bites really bad really easily; absolutely no "note of chocolate" as good burleys are supposed to have. I think I will change my handle to 'I hate MacBaren'.
The first few times I tried to smoke this, I just couldn't pick up any flavor due to the overwhelming taste of the topping, and the tongue bite. Underneath the topping it tasted rather carboard-ish rather than nutty or chocolatey. Now I can definitely pick up a nice chocolate note, and a mellow sweetness running underneath the burley flavor. It still lacked the "creamy" feel to the palate that I'm accustomed to with burleys.
I am still suspicious of this tobacco, as it did tend to want to take off and burn all on its own. So it had to be very carefully nursed along. Smoking it required a lot of work, but there was a reward at the end. I'm just not yet sure if the monochromatic flavor is worth the extra effort one has to put forth with this blend. Were it but less work, or more taste, I think it would rate two and a half to three stars. As it is, two stars for burley smokers (if you love virginias, just go ahead and forget about this stuff).
Flat and flavorless; bites really bad really easily; absolutely no "note of chocolate" as good burleys are supposed to have. I think I will change my handle to 'I hate MacBaren'.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 23, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Much better than the Virginia No.1, probably due to the burley in the blend. I tried this in a sampler format, and while it's more of the same honey/heathery MacBaren, it's a bit toastier & cooler. Rubbed out into long strands, it packs & behaves well. Again, so far, at least, Mixture Scottish Blend is MacBaren's representative work of art, though I hear Dark Twist is a worthy contender. The rest of their offerings, including Golden Extra smells & tastes too much like everything else they make: honey, toasty caramel & hints of chocolate. It's strange that McClelland & Cornell & Diehl have their characteristic signatures, yet each of their blends has measurable variety & contrast. Such is not the case with MacBaren, which is all basically the same thing amped up or down a notch or two.
Two of five stars
Two of five stars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
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.
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.
Pipe Used:
Stefano and others
PurchasedFrom:
Local tobacconist
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Medium to Strong | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
In my country it is one of these cheap, drugstore and fuel station pipe tobaccos, which does not imply that it is bad. After all GOLDEN BLEND is on the market since 1952. I categorize this as a Danish Mixture, not as an Aromatic. Artificial flavouring is very obvious. It does not produce a specific obtrusive flavour, it’s just too much in total for my palate. I am generally scared away by (obvious) artificial flavourings and can always identify these chemicals immediately. On top of this, I find it often difficult to identify their intended aromas.
Here it might be some citrus or fruit, and occasionally I think I get some sparkles of honey or tonka bean, among several other flavours that I am not able to name. I can definitely not pick up any cocoa/chocolate as the overhead introduction states. And believe me, being a Swiss I could most certainly make out (good) chocolate aromas.
Besides the mentioned flavouring, Burley is the leading tobacco in this mixture, donating a pleasant tobacco flavour. I guess Virginia plays a technical role only. It might help to cool down and tame the Burley, but the typical aromas of Virginia just don’t make their way through. GOLDEN BLEND comes as a Ready Rubbed in acceptable moisture, burns well and provokes no tongue-burns. Over all it is a simplistic, mellow, everyday/anytime mixture that may please a lot of smokers, especially beginners. Not me, though. I prefer more natural tobaccos with less or no flavourings and toppings. Unfortunately this mixture did ghost my pipes used.
Here it might be some citrus or fruit, and occasionally I think I get some sparkles of honey or tonka bean, among several other flavours that I am not able to name. I can definitely not pick up any cocoa/chocolate as the overhead introduction states. And believe me, being a Swiss I could most certainly make out (good) chocolate aromas.
Besides the mentioned flavouring, Burley is the leading tobacco in this mixture, donating a pleasant tobacco flavour. I guess Virginia plays a technical role only. It might help to cool down and tame the Burley, but the typical aromas of Virginia just don’t make their way through. GOLDEN BLEND comes as a Ready Rubbed in acceptable moisture, burns well and provokes no tongue-burns. Over all it is a simplistic, mellow, everyday/anytime mixture that may please a lot of smokers, especially beginners. Not me, though. I prefer more natural tobaccos with less or no flavourings and toppings. Unfortunately this mixture did ghost my pipes used.
PurchasedFrom:
Local corner shop.
Age When Smoked:
New.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 27, 2007 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I really like the flavor of this one.
Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for the inevitable Mac Baren horror show to begin.
Do we have any native Danes on the reviewing crew? If so, does Mac Baren, translated into English, mean BURNS HOT & BITES ?
Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for the inevitable Mac Baren horror show to begin.
Do we have any native Danes on the reviewing crew? If so, does Mac Baren, translated into English, mean BURNS HOT & BITES ?
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 28, 2006 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a pretty good smoke. Sweet and grassy from start to finish. Its good and solid. Personally, This is like the second cousin to the Scottish Mixture (which is far superior in my opinion.)- But this is what makes horse races- Try it, It might be your thing.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 31, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
This is actually one of the better Burley blends that I have tried recently.
It has been said that this blend bites. If you smoke it too fast, not only will you get bitten, but the flavor will all but disappear. The way it comes out of the tin, it isn't smokable - too damp. Let it dry a bit and you will have a decent smoke. Nothing to get excited about, but decent.
It has been said that this blend bites. If you smoke it too fast, not only will you get bitten, but the flavor will all but disappear. The way it comes out of the tin, it isn't smokable - too damp. Let it dry a bit and you will have a decent smoke. Nothing to get excited about, but decent.
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