Mac Baren Original Choice
(2.76)
Original Choice is a new pioneering pipe tobacco which will appeal to "novice" pipe smokers and the younger generation. It has a mild, aromatic taste, and the truly remarkable thing about Original Choice is the fact that we have managed to develop a tobacco that does not smart on the tongue.
Original Choice is made of specially selected tobaccos. It is a blend of Virginia tobacco from North Carolina and mild, air-dried Burley from Tennessee. One of the suppliers of the Virginia tobacco is Boyette Farm, where the Boyette family has been working since 1797 to produce the best possible Virginia qualities. Their success has been due in part to the warm and dry climate. It is now the fifth generation that has taken its place behind the solid oak writing desk to play roulette with Mother Nature, as the family puts it. Fortunately, thanks to generations of experience, the odds are stacked in favor of the Boyette family. That is why a plug of Original Choice is always a good idea. The packaging is made of an exclusive type or corrugated card, which not only looks good and protects the tobacco but is also completely environment-friendly. It is not every year that Mac Baren Tobacco launches new types of tobacco. That is why we have pulled out all the stops to make full use of our experience and our production of the new blends. That is also why we have managed to make sure that Original Choice does not smart on the tongue. Numerous test smokers have already given Original Choice their approval and have already made it their first choice.
Notes: Introduced in 1998.
Details
Profile
Strength
Very Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.76 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 129 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 03, 2018 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
This was my second tobacco purchase ever back a year and a half ago. It was actually the reason I have grown to like smoking a pipe and why I still smoke today. To me it is a perfect begginers smoke. I remember the transition through the smoking habits and the mistakes that I and probably every begginer made within the first year of smoking. The point is that MB Original Choice is the perfect tobacco to start enjoying the tobacco without big repercussions on the tongue. You can pack a pipe tight AF, you can severely overheat the tobacco or even puff like a locomotive but the smoke is going to be enjoyable for a newbie. I bought a 50g pouch few months ago and with all the experience that I have now, the MB Original Choice is still an aromatic delight. I found it to be the most satisfying as a slow early morning smoke since I can't stand the pipe getting hot to the point I can't touch it, which happens at the third quarter of a bowl if I smoke at a bar or café(bad habits). The lovely fruitiness of this blend is a delight which I can't compare to any aromatic I have tried, but it's also a reason I can't imagine to smoke it regularly. I get satiated quickly, and 50 grams lasts for about a month which is rarely the case with other blends. Nevertheless this is a 4 star tobacco which everyone should at least try.
Pipe Used:
Multiple Briars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 09, 2018 | Very Mild | Very Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant |
Dressed down version of Mixture Modern. Very little flavor until you get to the bottom of the bowl. Cinammon, vanilla, chocolate and coffee notes but very subtle. Smoked straight from the tin and to my surprise the bottom of my cob was dry. No dottle or gurgle. Room note was nice. This one is hard to get your hands on. Makes a good day starter or after dinner type.
Pipe Used:
Corncob
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01, 2014 | Medium | Mild | Full | Strong |
When you open the pouch the smell is very sweet. But when you light the pipe the taste is almost overwhelming. A lot of people say that tobacco is for beginners, why not. All I know is I almost stop the pipe smoking because of this tobacco so it sickens me (I wondered if I didn't like smoking or just that brand).
Pipe Used:
Butz-Choquin Formula 1601
PurchasedFrom:
France
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 25, 2009 | Mild | Medium | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant |
This tobacco was kindly gifted to me and though I am leary about MB products I gave it a try. Quite plainly, this was overly cased with some sweetish fruity/vanilla flavoring, bitey, boring and bland. It smelled overwhelmingly strong in the tin and this aroma translated to a harsh, bitey smoke with a flat taste and no appreciably pleasant aroma. I wont be purchasing MB again, but as I said, this was a gift from a true gentleman whom I respect deeply and I had to give it a test run.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 13, 2009 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
This is clearly one of my most favored dailies.
As the day dawns with a whiff of a quality blend of sweet virgina from North Carolina augmented by Burley from Tennessee, one can immediately qualify it as a typical Mac Baren blend - smooth, flavorful and delightfully mild.
Our friends who normally prefer to dabble in latakias, orientals and perique may not necessarily associate themselves with this one, but the lovers of virginas and burleys may find this quite irresistible.
The corrugated look of the packaging is incredibly avant garde will turn heads before you even get an opportunity to light it.
As a matter of fact, I have noticed on several occasions that it remains a topic of discussion and fascination.
Hats off to Mac Baren to have chosen such a packaging gimmick, that adequately retains its natural moisture and flavors.
As the day dawns with a whiff of a quality blend of sweet virgina from North Carolina augmented by Burley from Tennessee, one can immediately qualify it as a typical Mac Baren blend - smooth, flavorful and delightfully mild.
Our friends who normally prefer to dabble in latakias, orientals and perique may not necessarily associate themselves with this one, but the lovers of virginas and burleys may find this quite irresistible.
The corrugated look of the packaging is incredibly avant garde will turn heads before you even get an opportunity to light it.
As a matter of fact, I have noticed on several occasions that it remains a topic of discussion and fascination.
Hats off to Mac Baren to have chosen such a packaging gimmick, that adequately retains its natural moisture and flavors.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 01, 2003 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A true pipe smoker tree huggers dream come true! The same people who like this probally buy organicly grown vegetables,and don't eat any fat,(and fat tastes good). Oh well,if you're just out of high school and want to try a pipe,go for this.You might smoke half of it before you realize that there has got to be something out there better. Good tobacco flavour,quality leaf,Mac Baren sweetner added.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2020 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I tried about 300 other blends before this one, so I guess it was not my original choice, but no matter. The tin opens up to a light, fruity, sweet smelling Cavendish forward mix dusted with some spice I couldn't identify. Seemed pleasant enough to continue...
The filling had a good moisture content and a sturdy enough ribbon cut (no thin fish flakes here). Had to refill my Zippo before getting things working, as it took a hint more spark to ignite. Once there, I puffed out a pleasant plume that didn't want to identify too strongly as a specific flavor, as if wanting to stay neutral enough to appeal to all paletes. It was easy to ingest, albeit kinda boring. The Burley and Virginia acted to bring everything back to the center without being prominent themselves.
I do appreciate the value of a 3.5oz tin not costing much more than one half the size, it is a good deal for a workhorse Aromatic. An easy all day smoker that was in a word: servicable.
The filling had a good moisture content and a sturdy enough ribbon cut (no thin fish flakes here). Had to refill my Zippo before getting things working, as it took a hint more spark to ignite. Once there, I puffed out a pleasant plume that didn't want to identify too strongly as a specific flavor, as if wanting to stay neutral enough to appeal to all paletes. It was easy to ingest, albeit kinda boring. The Burley and Virginia acted to bring everything back to the center without being prominent themselves.
I do appreciate the value of a 3.5oz tin not costing much more than one half the size, it is a good deal for a workhorse Aromatic. An easy all day smoker that was in a word: servicable.
PurchasedFrom:
tobaccopipes.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2020 | Mild | Medium | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
I'm writing this one while smoking it during a sunday morning. It was a great kind of “dessert” for breakfast. For this COVID19 times it is a “merry smoke”, since it has a little nicotine and brings a sense of peace and silence because of its buttery caramel flavours.
This blend is not strong, it is not sweet, but it is creamy with some wooden maple honey flavours. The burley and cavendish adds mild but noticeable an almost butter kind of taste.
I smoked it when it was dry and I did not humidify it, for this kind of tobacco I feel it was a good idea since normally it is a wet smoke probably this was the reason why I did not need any relighting. It burns evenly during the whole time. Almost no tongue bite.The after taste is pleasant and fresh being with me for a long time without feeling cloying.
I have been a pipe smoker for more than 5 years now, and, thanks to the universe I still consider myself a beginner, and I sincerely hope I never quit being a beginner, so I can be open to discovering new, fresh and diverse flavours and experiences.
This blend is not strong, it is not sweet, but it is creamy with some wooden maple honey flavours. The burley and cavendish adds mild but noticeable an almost butter kind of taste.
I smoked it when it was dry and I did not humidify it, for this kind of tobacco I feel it was a good idea since normally it is a wet smoke probably this was the reason why I did not need any relighting. It burns evenly during the whole time. Almost no tongue bite.The after taste is pleasant and fresh being with me for a long time without feeling cloying.
I have been a pipe smoker for more than 5 years now, and, thanks to the universe I still consider myself a beginner, and I sincerely hope I never quit being a beginner, so I can be open to discovering new, fresh and diverse flavours and experiences.
Pipe Used:
briar block pipe
PurchasedFrom:
Amsterdam airport
Age When Smoked:
4 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 2020 | Very Mild | Very Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant |
"We have managed to develop a tobacco that does not smart on the tongue", they said, and they weren't lying.
Now here's an aromatic that I like. A very easy, light smoke without being too spicy yet having just enough wholesomeness to be satisfying at the same time, and no discernible tongue bite; for me, this would be the true definition of an all-day smoke. The pouch note is that of brown sugar and maple suryp, very nice, and the somewhat grainy consistency of dark and light browns mixed with yellow (cavendish, burley, virginia) is pleasing to the eyes and fingers alike, easy to stuff the bowl with as you like. Overall, this is a very non-offensive light aromatic and a very easy smoke by all standards, while still retaining enough taste and wholesomeness to be enjoyable; therefore, this would be my No. 1 recommendation for a beginner to start with.
On a technical note, the corrugated cardboard sleeve this comes in has a nice 'old-school' feel to it and is surprisingly handy as it's sturdy and keeps shape very nicely as opposed to the standard paper-and-plastic pouch, and I would really like to see this style of packaging being used for other brands of tobacco too. Having tested this after Amphora and a disappointing Peterson's made me think that I might be a MacBaren man rather than Peterson, and it turned out to be so.
Currently my favourite of the brands easily available in Sweden.
Now here's an aromatic that I like. A very easy, light smoke without being too spicy yet having just enough wholesomeness to be satisfying at the same time, and no discernible tongue bite; for me, this would be the true definition of an all-day smoke. The pouch note is that of brown sugar and maple suryp, very nice, and the somewhat grainy consistency of dark and light browns mixed with yellow (cavendish, burley, virginia) is pleasing to the eyes and fingers alike, easy to stuff the bowl with as you like. Overall, this is a very non-offensive light aromatic and a very easy smoke by all standards, while still retaining enough taste and wholesomeness to be enjoyable; therefore, this would be my No. 1 recommendation for a beginner to start with.
On a technical note, the corrugated cardboard sleeve this comes in has a nice 'old-school' feel to it and is surprisingly handy as it's sturdy and keeps shape very nicely as opposed to the standard paper-and-plastic pouch, and I would really like to see this style of packaging being used for other brands of tobacco too. Having tested this after Amphora and a disappointing Peterson's made me think that I might be a MacBaren man rather than Peterson, and it turned out to be so.
Currently my favourite of the brands easily available in Sweden.
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
Tobacco shop in Kalmar Sweden
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from pouch
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 07, 2019 | Mild | Medium | Mild | Very Pleasant |
First of all with a name like this and a paper wrapping you'd expect an all natural tobacco with no added flavors but "Original Choice" isn't natural at all.
Cold smell is wonderful with just a bit of vanilla covered in a sweet/sour bread-like smell. Variant cut looks good with much dark brown shares and dots of golden VA here and there.
Packs just fine and takes flames well then burns slow and cool until the end with no tongue bite.
The first few tokes surprised me a lot since I was expecting a bit of vanilla asides natural tobaccos but there's a brutal sweetness in this one. It reminds sometimes of almonds sometimes of banana milk?! and there is (fortunately) a bit of VA and Burley taste in the background. With the last third I can taste a hint of the so called "Modern Cavendish" which is highly sugar coated I guess. While smoking slow and cool a lot of condensate occurred in my pipes.
Mac Baren Original Choice is an aromatic par excellence even if the aroma isn't as artificial as in other aromatics but more like sugar and sweetness but it's still an aromatic; that's where I miss the true tobacco tastes. Sweet and smokeable. Fits great with a cup of black coffee and the room note is very nice and vowed by friends. The price is ok, too.
Cold smell is wonderful with just a bit of vanilla covered in a sweet/sour bread-like smell. Variant cut looks good with much dark brown shares and dots of golden VA here and there.
Packs just fine and takes flames well then burns slow and cool until the end with no tongue bite.
The first few tokes surprised me a lot since I was expecting a bit of vanilla asides natural tobaccos but there's a brutal sweetness in this one. It reminds sometimes of almonds sometimes of banana milk?! and there is (fortunately) a bit of VA and Burley taste in the background. With the last third I can taste a hint of the so called "Modern Cavendish" which is highly sugar coated I guess. While smoking slow and cool a lot of condensate occurred in my pipes.
Mac Baren Original Choice is an aromatic par excellence even if the aroma isn't as artificial as in other aromatics but more like sugar and sweetness but it's still an aromatic; that's where I miss the true tobacco tastes. Sweet and smokeable. Fits great with a cup of black coffee and the room note is very nice and vowed by friends. The price is ok, too.
Pipe Used:
Vauen Churchwarden, Georg Jensen noFi
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin, 2 month in jar
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