Mac Baren Navy Mixture
(2.56)
An exclusive and satisfying blend, manufactured from high class, full ripe Virginia and matured burley tobaccos, rounded by a tasty, dark cavendish.
Notes: Introduced in 1989. Discontinued 2014.
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
|
2.56 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2015 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
If I can ever say point to one blend that started me on the path to Virginias it would be this one. Very lightly topped with maybe honey or something similar that marries seamlessly with the suggestion light golden fig and dried plum on the nose. Beautiful, nuanced, and layered this is meant to be a cool, slow, and reflective smoke. (This product has been discontinued… stock up when/if you find it).
BRING THIS BACK!
Some people may have thrown up in their mouths by the above statement (Mac Baren Navy Mixture really?) but I'm an unabashed fan; a delicious light sweetness enveloped by Burley's buttery texture and a flirty disposition thanks, in-part, to the judicious use of Cavendish.
It is an elegant and pleasing smoke, always cool, and never boring--- given that you smoke it slow; power-puffers beware, smoking this hot makes it taste like a whole bowl-full of nothing with a side of zeitgeist.
WHY THIS BLEND IS RELEVANT This is an ideal Tobacco to begin ones descent into the world of Virginia's and VaPers which are so nuanced and ethereal that they can go right over your head. As much as Solani's Virginia flakes enthrall the world a new pipe smoker may find them as compelling as wet grass.
Like Grand Cru Chablis and other highly-regarded but less 'mainstream' wines one 'arrives' at Virginia/VaPers but certainly, IMHO, one doesn't start out with them. The kind of nuance, care, patience, and coaxing many of these Virginia-dominant and pure VA blends demand.
And so, a blend like this is relevant, as a prelude to things like Escudo, Luxury Navy Flake, and Solani Va Flake et. al. - to get one's wheels primed for the fig, honey, and hay nuances that are so revered by lovers of Virginias but can be completely taken for granted by those not-yet fully indoctrinated (as an experiment, especially if you are not that familiar with white wines and especially French white wines, go out and splurge and buy yourself a bottle of Savernieres Clos Coulee de la Serrant from Nicolas Joly, and give it a whirl- the wine-geeks adore this wine, I do to, and its considered one of France's best-- but most everyone else finds it repulsive and think it's old). It's a context vs. experience thing.
But this is the beauty of worlds like this- that of tobacco, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, cheese, perfumes, and the like and such progression the goal (it is, after all, the path that matters) and Navy Mixture, to me, a once-important milestone on that journey.
(I am buying up tins FYI)
BRING THIS BACK!
Some people may have thrown up in their mouths by the above statement (Mac Baren Navy Mixture really?) but I'm an unabashed fan; a delicious light sweetness enveloped by Burley's buttery texture and a flirty disposition thanks, in-part, to the judicious use of Cavendish.
It is an elegant and pleasing smoke, always cool, and never boring--- given that you smoke it slow; power-puffers beware, smoking this hot makes it taste like a whole bowl-full of nothing with a side of zeitgeist.
WHY THIS BLEND IS RELEVANT This is an ideal Tobacco to begin ones descent into the world of Virginia's and VaPers which are so nuanced and ethereal that they can go right over your head. As much as Solani's Virginia flakes enthrall the world a new pipe smoker may find them as compelling as wet grass.
Like Grand Cru Chablis and other highly-regarded but less 'mainstream' wines one 'arrives' at Virginia/VaPers but certainly, IMHO, one doesn't start out with them. The kind of nuance, care, patience, and coaxing many of these Virginia-dominant and pure VA blends demand.
And so, a blend like this is relevant, as a prelude to things like Escudo, Luxury Navy Flake, and Solani Va Flake et. al. - to get one's wheels primed for the fig, honey, and hay nuances that are so revered by lovers of Virginias but can be completely taken for granted by those not-yet fully indoctrinated (as an experiment, especially if you are not that familiar with white wines and especially French white wines, go out and splurge and buy yourself a bottle of Savernieres Clos Coulee de la Serrant from Nicolas Joly, and give it a whirl- the wine-geeks adore this wine, I do to, and its considered one of France's best-- but most everyone else finds it repulsive and think it's old). It's a context vs. experience thing.
But this is the beauty of worlds like this- that of tobacco, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, cheese, perfumes, and the like and such progression the goal (it is, after all, the path that matters) and Navy Mixture, to me, a once-important milestone on that journey.
(I am buying up tins FYI)
Pipe Used:
Savinelli Oscar Lucite Pipe #313
PurchasedFrom:
Local Pipe Shop
Age When Smoked:
New tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Pleasant, perfectly pleasant.
To be honest, I didn't really expect much when I decided to open the tin. In fact, I decided to open it because I thought if I didn't it would deteriorate further. Boy was I wrong. Upon opening the 100 gram tin my nostrils were greeted by the rich aroma of honey The rough cut ribbon strands were of every shade from pale yellow to deep Brown with a general hue of burnt sienna. Surprisingly, the moisture level was low enough to put straight into the pipe, so that I did. I simply pinched a clump and stuffed it straight into the bowl of my trusty King's Cross Featherweight 110A Blast, a pipe I often use to try new blends. Not much taste on the charring light, but with the true light she was burning slowly and evenly. Both the natural tobacco flavors and the elusive sweetness of the topping were hard to place but interesting enough to keep me smoking until the bottom of the bowl. No dottle, just ash and a small amount of dried, partialy burnt leaf starnds were all that was left when the pipe finally went out on its own. The aftertaste wasn't bad, but not too good either. However, since the very first bowl this has become my new "go to" blend. I have found that bowl after bowl I'm given just enough of a tease to keep me interested. Really nothing amazing, yet these days it's the first blend that comes to mind whenever I'm in the mood for a smoke.
Keep in mind the tin had over 5 years on it and the moisture level was perfect for smoking when I cracked it open. Unfortunately this blend has recently been discontinued, but the fact that it ages so well makes it a great investment to ensure years of pleasant smoking.
I'm one of very few that rate this blend so high, and perhaps the age of my particular tin was what made all the difference.
All I know for sure is bowl after bowl I get a great smoke that always makes me come back for more.
Pleasant smoking to all.
To be honest, I didn't really expect much when I decided to open the tin. In fact, I decided to open it because I thought if I didn't it would deteriorate further. Boy was I wrong. Upon opening the 100 gram tin my nostrils were greeted by the rich aroma of honey The rough cut ribbon strands were of every shade from pale yellow to deep Brown with a general hue of burnt sienna. Surprisingly, the moisture level was low enough to put straight into the pipe, so that I did. I simply pinched a clump and stuffed it straight into the bowl of my trusty King's Cross Featherweight 110A Blast, a pipe I often use to try new blends. Not much taste on the charring light, but with the true light she was burning slowly and evenly. Both the natural tobacco flavors and the elusive sweetness of the topping were hard to place but interesting enough to keep me smoking until the bottom of the bowl. No dottle, just ash and a small amount of dried, partialy burnt leaf starnds were all that was left when the pipe finally went out on its own. The aftertaste wasn't bad, but not too good either. However, since the very first bowl this has become my new "go to" blend. I have found that bowl after bowl I'm given just enough of a tease to keep me interested. Really nothing amazing, yet these days it's the first blend that comes to mind whenever I'm in the mood for a smoke.
Keep in mind the tin had over 5 years on it and the moisture level was perfect for smoking when I cracked it open. Unfortunately this blend has recently been discontinued, but the fact that it ages so well makes it a great investment to ensure years of pleasant smoking.
I'm one of very few that rate this blend so high, and perhaps the age of my particular tin was what made all the difference.
All I know for sure is bowl after bowl I get a great smoke that always makes me come back for more.
Pleasant smoking to all.
Pipe Used:
King's Cross Featherweight, Szabo Baby Hungarian
PurchasedFrom:
Gift
Age When Smoked:
Over 5 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2015 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Just had this with a friend and I'm not sure why anyone should think this anything but a sophisticated and enjoyable smoke.
In the pipe the topping does not transfer to the smoke- but in comrade's tin there was a mild vanilla/fruit custard that was so mild it could barely be made out. It just made it interesting.
Check out the boards about proper smoking technique with Virginias; this tastes like nothing too hot.
Great- hate to see this go!
In the pipe the topping does not transfer to the smoke- but in comrade's tin there was a mild vanilla/fruit custard that was so mild it could barely be made out. It just made it interesting.
Check out the boards about proper smoking technique with Virginias; this tastes like nothing too hot.
Great- hate to see this go!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 04, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Notwithstanding what is described in the heading, I did not detect any aromatic additive. I found this blend to be quite enjoyable and one of MacBarens best. I am not an aromatic smoker thus I am sensative to any flavoring in tobacco.
Pipe Used:
home made billiard
PurchasedFrom:
NA
Age When Smoked:
4 years
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