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 31 - 40 of 129 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2023 | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I opened a tin dated from Nov 2012 in September 2023.
The smell out of the thin was not that strong as other mac baren i´ve tried.
There is something in there similar to vanilla cream in the thin aroma.
Considering the time it was aging, the moisture kept in a way that for me is perfect, easy to pack and easy to keep it lit, just few relights and it was running perfectly.
Talking about the tobacco by itself, i just saw one of the most beauty sugar crystallization ever. For sure this was the oldest tin i opened so far, never seen something like that.
The virginias were not that shinny anymore and the tobacco presentation is mostly dark.
The flavor is really well balanced, i cannot distinguish any individual character here, i can imagine how sublimated this tobacco can be just fresh but here the topping is faint and the tobaccos flavor can dance in a really sweet dancefloor.
There is no chance of tongue bit, it has a very consistent flavor, smooth and sweet, very pleasing to smoke. Not easy to find here where i live but i could buy it again for sure.
Once it said, there is nothing here i can call extraordinary or something like that, so when ranking it among other tobaccos i tried, this one lay on the same shelf as the best aromatics but not close to the best tobacco i have tried. It doesn't gives me the nicotine i like and lacks complexity. Easy going smoking that could be an all day smoke for most of people who doesn't feel this lack of nicotine.
For me it is closer to 3 stars than 2, for this reason i'm ranking like this.
The smell out of the thin was not that strong as other mac baren i´ve tried.
There is something in there similar to vanilla cream in the thin aroma.
Considering the time it was aging, the moisture kept in a way that for me is perfect, easy to pack and easy to keep it lit, just few relights and it was running perfectly.
Talking about the tobacco by itself, i just saw one of the most beauty sugar crystallization ever. For sure this was the oldest tin i opened so far, never seen something like that.
The virginias were not that shinny anymore and the tobacco presentation is mostly dark.
The flavor is really well balanced, i cannot distinguish any individual character here, i can imagine how sublimated this tobacco can be just fresh but here the topping is faint and the tobaccos flavor can dance in a really sweet dancefloor.
There is no chance of tongue bit, it has a very consistent flavor, smooth and sweet, very pleasing to smoke. Not easy to find here where i live but i could buy it again for sure.
Once it said, there is nothing here i can call extraordinary or something like that, so when ranking it among other tobaccos i tried, this one lay on the same shelf as the best aromatics but not close to the best tobacco i have tried. It doesn't gives me the nicotine i like and lacks complexity. Easy going smoking that could be an all day smoke for most of people who doesn't feel this lack of nicotine.
For me it is closer to 3 stars than 2, for this reason i'm ranking like this.
Pipe Used:
Cob
Age When Smoked:
11 years aged
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2022 | Extremely Mild | Extra Strong | Overwhelming | Overwhelming |
Tobacco in a pouch smells like buckwheat seeds. Smoke has a strong taste of firing rubber tires. The pouch went straight to a rubbish bin after the first sip of smoke. Likely it was just 8 euros.
Pipe Used:
Briar
PurchasedFrom:
Local tobacco store
Age When Smoked:
From the pouch
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2022 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
I usually steer clear of tobaccos “especially blended for beginners “ because of the absence of tongue bite as I’ve smoked about every MacBaren product and still can’t figure out why their products have gotten such bad press . I’m also wary of aromatics that tend to be over the top with cloying sweetness that I find offensive. With that being said, I can see why a beginner would find this appealing, but as a veteran smoker, this stuff ain’t bad. As mild as it is, there’s still plenty of tobacco flavor to let ya know it does in fact have some quality Virginia and burley and the Cavendish is not too sweet…..I like it more than the Seven Seas series as the flavoring is toned down from that. I may not put this in my regular rotation , but I’m giving it a 3 because of the overall quality and it’s a good bridge blend for beginners that are making the leap from1-Q and are getting a little tired of the same old same old…….Original Choice also has a pleasant room note that my girlfriend can appreciate because As I usually blow the place up with Bold Kentucky or a Perique blend which isn’t always appreciated by the fairer ones among us.
PurchasedFrom:
Sergei’s in East Lyme Ct.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 08, 2022 | Mild | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was skeptical because in general I am not attracted to aromatized mixes but this one ... tastes like capuccino and I like it quite a bit. It smokes quite fast, if I am not paying attention it finishes quick and could bite a bit (bowl gets hot and humid too in case, no dottle). Once I paced it more calmly (even taking some breaks) it revealed to be a pleasant and sweet, round, flavorful smoke. I like the bready notes and the aroma in general. I think is a nice blend to break the monotony of non-flavored tobaccos for those who like burley (as I do) and a creamy cappuccino taste.
Pipe Used:
billiard
PurchasedFrom:
online
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 22, 2021 | Very Mild | Mild | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant |
When I was buying this tobacco I was told it was caramel flavour. Well, funny thing, tobacco smell sweet and I do get caramel notes, but it doesn't taste sweet or caramel at all. It tastes like normal tobacco. In my honest opinion this tobacco shouldn't have been gentrified as aromatic tobacco, because it isn't. It's Original choice after all just like the name suggests. Pros of this tobacco is that it lights greatly, smokes easily and you don't get tongue bite even if you overheat it. It's a great choice for non-aromatic smokers.
Pipe Used:
Jack Pot
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 12, 2020 | Very Mild | Medium to Strong | Medium | Strong |
A very mild and sweet smoke. Especially the first three (or so) draws are very sweet and tasty. However, for the more wintered tobacco smoker the taste might become a little monotone. The Original Choice is very fruity and sweet in taste, but lacks a more rounded tobacco taste. Personally, I would puff this blend occasionally when in the mood for a mild smoke. However, I personally remain more a fan of strong non-aromatics. Smoking MB Original Choice is a nice change from time to time.
Age When Smoked:
5 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2020 | Mild | Strong | Mild | Very Pleasant |
This aromatic must be the most used and recommended tobacco for those who begin to smoke a pipe (and I include myself). I think this is because its cold smell is really delicious. However, as with other aromatics, this is lost when it is smoked. The distance between the pleasure you have when smelling it in its tin and the disappointment at the time of smoking it is so great that I can't help but give it two stars. One for its cold smell and the other for the room note, where it passes with an outstanding.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 15, 2020 | Very Mild | Strong | Mild | Pleasant |
In my constant search for "the all day smoke" I decided to try this blend as it's noted for its mildness and flavor. On my first impression out of the tin I get whiffs of caramel and cream; but with additional deep breaths I get a trace of fruitiness. It's hard to exactly put my finger on it, but the more whiffs I take, the more I imagine a raspberry cream-like dessert. A very pleasant, mouth watering aroma overall.
The ribbon cut packs well and is of the right moisture content out of the tin. Easy to light, and after a few tamps and char lights I can get a consistently lit bowl without much fuss. While I can attest to the "hot air" that others have noted, but I get a waft of sugary sweetness now and again. I find it to be a pleasant aroma, however my wife states it smells "like tobacco," but it's certainly not nearly as pungent as any English blends.
As with most aromatics, this can be a bit "bitey," but an experienced smoker will have no issue. I find that packing this a bit tighter than normal gives the best experience.
While one could feasibly call this "an all day smoke," due to its mild strength, I find that it requires a little too much concentration to keep it from biting for me to puff away while mowing the lawn. I'm perfectly content to smoking this on the front porch on a summer's evening. It's a perfect blend for one looking for an uncomplicated and high quality aromatic. Recommended.
The ribbon cut packs well and is of the right moisture content out of the tin. Easy to light, and after a few tamps and char lights I can get a consistently lit bowl without much fuss. While I can attest to the "hot air" that others have noted, but I get a waft of sugary sweetness now and again. I find it to be a pleasant aroma, however my wife states it smells "like tobacco," but it's certainly not nearly as pungent as any English blends.
As with most aromatics, this can be a bit "bitey," but an experienced smoker will have no issue. I find that packing this a bit tighter than normal gives the best experience.
While one could feasibly call this "an all day smoke," due to its mild strength, I find that it requires a little too much concentration to keep it from biting for me to puff away while mowing the lawn. I'm perfectly content to smoking this on the front porch on a summer's evening. It's a perfect blend for one looking for an uncomplicated and high quality aromatic. Recommended.
Pipe Used:
Old Dominion Jamestown, Ben Rodgers Canadian
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Two year old tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2020 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
It's a light and tasty blend, I get a little grassy taste from Virginia, a little sweet, and nutty and bready taste. it has a nice retro hail. doesn't get too hot in the bowl, no bite(or very little). needs to fry out a little bit, and i can keep it lite until the end without any relight. it could be easy and all day smoke for me.
Pipe Used:
Tekkin Meerschaum pipe
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 24, 2019 | Extremely Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
I'm a dedicated Mac Baren smoker and wanted to love this. The tin note is outstanding and the blend is the right moisture. The downfall to me is the lack of flavor. I enjoy aromatics, but this one fell flat. YMMV!
Pipe Used:
HS Studio and Rossi.
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
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