Mac Baren Plumcake
(2.88)
A mixture of fully ripe Virginia tobaccos, sliced, cask mellowed burley tobaccos, dark spicy cavendish and just a touch of latakia. To give Plumcake an elegant aroma, the blend has been flavoured with aged Jamaica rum.
NEW TIN DESCRIPTION: Plumcake brings the thoughts back to old times, when the sailors onboard the sailing ships filled their pipe with good, satisfying tobacco and having the scent of tar and saltwater all around them. Bright Virginia tobaccos mixed with burley, a little original Mac Baren cavendish and just a touch of [Cyprian] latakia. On top of this masterly made blend original Jamaica Rum has been added to fulfill the impression. This blend is full bodied and rich, giving you the taste nuances of natural sweetness added with a slight taste of smoke, latakia and the distinctive aroma of sailor rum.
Notes: Introduced in 1957.
As of 01/30/2019, according to Per Georg Jensen of Mac Baren it has "Latakia from Cyprus, it is many years since the Latakia from Syria were used.".
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Harald Halberg |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Rum |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin, 50 grams pouch, 16 ounce bag |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild to Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.88 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 133 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 29, 2008 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
This tobacco is a very pleasant surprise to me. I have tried several of Mac Baren?s offerings and I hadn?t previously found anything I particularly liked, with the exception of Dark Twist Roll Cake . I don?t typically smoke aromatics, though certain SG and G&H Lakeland scented varieties score high points with me. I smoke Haddo?s Delight by GL Pease, Luxury Twist Flake by Peter Stokkebye and Benjamin Hartwell?s Evening Stroll, Plumcake will add another to my line up.
Appearance: This blend has a beautiful presentation, being comprised predominately red and golden Virginias, and with darker spiced dark Cavendish. Nearly uniform in cut this tobacco is a fine ribbon variety
Tin aroma: This is a complex mixture of matured Virginias and spiced Cavendish and Rum. There are deep molasses tones a slight sour tang one expects in Virginias some slight spicy tones and a deeper fig-like aroma. There is a slightly nutty quality as well. I detect a sweetness and I?m often tempted to take a small bit and chew it, it smells that good!
This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture straight out of the tin. Lighting is usually a one match affair, and generally stays lit throughout the entire bowl, unless I let the pipe go out. As expected, the initial flavor is very spicy and sweet though not overly so on either count. There are distinctly citrus notes of the Virginias and a deep harmonious flavor of well mannered Cavendish. The ?spice? quickly yields it?s dominance to a nice throaty Virginia/Cavendish with hints of dark Rum medley which continues to build throughout the bowl.
Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and the flavors mix and match very nicely. While this blend is not very complex, it is however plenty interesting in character. There are subtle changes here and there as each component asserts dominance from time to time. The ?spice? is always ?just there? the Virginias and Cavendish engage in a friendly competition and the Rum just continues to drone on and on. While not particularly strong in nicotine, there is plenty of flavor and body to this mixture.
Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the strength of this mixture has built to a fine mélange of flavors and fullness. Though many other reviews mentioned tongue-bite, I have not experienced any. This is a very well behaved tobacco of fine quality. Knowing that it is mainly Virginias is all the information I need to know how to smoke it. I tend to ?sip it? slowly and thereby enjoy the deepening flavors without any trouble with heat or sourness that can result from over-puffing a Virginia mixture.
The ONLY drawback is that something about this blend tends to plaster my palate. I often reserve it for late in the evening; because I?m rarely able to ?cleanse my palate? enough to really taste anything else.
This tobacco blend has earned a place in my occasional rotation, mainly for holidays and when non-smokers are about.
Supplemental Notes: My personal recommendation is that several pipes be reserved for this mixture as the spice tends to ?color? the bowl rather rapidly and might not mix well with other mixtures. Rating for those interested in numbers ***
Appearance: This blend has a beautiful presentation, being comprised predominately red and golden Virginias, and with darker spiced dark Cavendish. Nearly uniform in cut this tobacco is a fine ribbon variety
Tin aroma: This is a complex mixture of matured Virginias and spiced Cavendish and Rum. There are deep molasses tones a slight sour tang one expects in Virginias some slight spicy tones and a deeper fig-like aroma. There is a slightly nutty quality as well. I detect a sweetness and I?m often tempted to take a small bit and chew it, it smells that good!
This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture straight out of the tin. Lighting is usually a one match affair, and generally stays lit throughout the entire bowl, unless I let the pipe go out. As expected, the initial flavor is very spicy and sweet though not overly so on either count. There are distinctly citrus notes of the Virginias and a deep harmonious flavor of well mannered Cavendish. The ?spice? quickly yields it?s dominance to a nice throaty Virginia/Cavendish with hints of dark Rum medley which continues to build throughout the bowl.
Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and the flavors mix and match very nicely. While this blend is not very complex, it is however plenty interesting in character. There are subtle changes here and there as each component asserts dominance from time to time. The ?spice? is always ?just there? the Virginias and Cavendish engage in a friendly competition and the Rum just continues to drone on and on. While not particularly strong in nicotine, there is plenty of flavor and body to this mixture.
Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the strength of this mixture has built to a fine mélange of flavors and fullness. Though many other reviews mentioned tongue-bite, I have not experienced any. This is a very well behaved tobacco of fine quality. Knowing that it is mainly Virginias is all the information I need to know how to smoke it. I tend to ?sip it? slowly and thereby enjoy the deepening flavors without any trouble with heat or sourness that can result from over-puffing a Virginia mixture.
The ONLY drawback is that something about this blend tends to plaster my palate. I often reserve it for late in the evening; because I?m rarely able to ?cleanse my palate? enough to really taste anything else.
This tobacco blend has earned a place in my occasional rotation, mainly for holidays and when non-smokers are about.
Supplemental Notes: My personal recommendation is that several pipes be reserved for this mixture as the spice tends to ?color? the bowl rather rapidly and might not mix well with other mixtures. Rating for those interested in numbers ***
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2022 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I live by a working shipyard in New England, so I liked the tin description of this blend bringing "memories of the old days when sailors on their sailing ships stuffed a pipe with a good tobacco and enjoyed the smell of nicotine and salt water." For me, it brings to mind the image of a tarry sailor. It tastes like burnt plumb and tar, which, while not at all sweet, is a pleasant smoke. Especially when I am on a fishing trawler in Gloucester Harbour. Not a traditional aromatic by any means, but a good smoke for a day at sea.
Pipe Used:
Vermont Freehand Billiard
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 06, 2022 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I find this tobacco bewildering. It is not an aromatic and not a latakia mixture either. It is tasty, with layers of flavors developing throughout the bowl. I've smoked it occasionally over the years, oftentimes in summer cool evenings and during autumn. You need to go your way up the pipe smoking steep learning curve months or perhaps years to judge it fairly as it is actually a very good tobacco. Burns relatively slow to white ash and leaves a pleasant after taste on the palate.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2022 | Medium | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
MacBarren’s Plum Cake is a very mild plum flavor with just a whisper of Latakia. The plum flavor is so mild that I really only catch it on the retro-hale, and the whisper of Latakia makes it special. As a matter of fact it’s somewhat similar to Esoterica’s And So To Bed.
The plum is not as sweet or bold as say a vanilla or a cherry flavored tobacco. I would consider Plum Cake more of a contemplative tobacco rather than a dessert tobacco.
There’s not a lot of plum flavored tobaccos out there that I’m aware of. For me Esoterica's And So To Bed seems to be the only one that comes to mind with regard to a similar kind of flavor. If I were to compare Plum Cake with And So to Bed I would have to say that the tin note for Plum Cake is very pleasant whereas And So To Bed has a somewhat rancid tin note. In favor of And so To Bed, I would say the smoking experience is a tad bit smoother than Plum Cake. However, the differences are minimal and almost insignificant. The similarities out weigh the differences.
If you like And So To Bed, and you get a yen for it, I would say Plum Cake just might scratch that itch.
The plum is not as sweet or bold as say a vanilla or a cherry flavored tobacco. I would consider Plum Cake more of a contemplative tobacco rather than a dessert tobacco.
There’s not a lot of plum flavored tobaccos out there that I’m aware of. For me Esoterica's And So To Bed seems to be the only one that comes to mind with regard to a similar kind of flavor. If I were to compare Plum Cake with And So to Bed I would have to say that the tin note for Plum Cake is very pleasant whereas And So To Bed has a somewhat rancid tin note. In favor of And so To Bed, I would say the smoking experience is a tad bit smoother than Plum Cake. However, the differences are minimal and almost insignificant. The similarities out weigh the differences.
If you like And So To Bed, and you get a yen for it, I would say Plum Cake just might scratch that itch.
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2021 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
This tobacco was easy to pack, light, and it stayed lit. It was easy to smoke all the way through and those in the room liked the aroma. The flavor was good, but as I'm not a fan of Latakia, I did not think this tobacco was as good as other rum flavored tobaccos. I do recommend this tobacco, however.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 02, 2020 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Just as the old bull told the young bull who was in a hurry, walk down the hill. You have to take the time too tame this shrew. Plumcake has a lot to offer, if you search it out. For me, the first bowl was rushed through an unfiltered pipe and I was met with the bite. Virginias dominated, Burley hidden and the Latakia was being washed away by some spicy added flavoring. It was terrible. I wrapped it up and pushed it to the back of the cellar.
A few weeks passed and I thought about Plumcake again. This time I came prepared. With a 9mm filtered pipe, I approached the Plumcake with the prowess of a cat stalking its prey. lifting the tin I let the aroma approach me before I approached closer. There it was.. The smells of fresh tobacco, layered with Virginias and Latakia rising to greet me. Carefully lifting the ribbon and other fresh cuts into the bowl, lighting and first tamp went well with the lightest sip I have ever attempted.. I nearly blushed. The Plumcake thanked me for my care with offering up some of the sweetest tasting leaves grown throughout the lands. The thought of not enough Latakia left my memory. There it was, hidden so softly behind the Virginia. I continued to draw ever so lightly to find yet another. The Jamaican Rum gave in and filled my taste buds. Oh the softness and pleasure was in full motion. All that was needed was time and patience with a gentle touch to realize what this blend could offer. I will always enjoy a bit of Plumcake when available.
A few weeks passed and I thought about Plumcake again. This time I came prepared. With a 9mm filtered pipe, I approached the Plumcake with the prowess of a cat stalking its prey. lifting the tin I let the aroma approach me before I approached closer. There it was.. The smells of fresh tobacco, layered with Virginias and Latakia rising to greet me. Carefully lifting the ribbon and other fresh cuts into the bowl, lighting and first tamp went well with the lightest sip I have ever attempted.. I nearly blushed. The Plumcake thanked me for my care with offering up some of the sweetest tasting leaves grown throughout the lands. The thought of not enough Latakia left my memory. There it was, hidden so softly behind the Virginia. I continued to draw ever so lightly to find yet another. The Jamaican Rum gave in and filled my taste buds. Oh the softness and pleasure was in full motion. All that was needed was time and patience with a gentle touch to realize what this blend could offer. I will always enjoy a bit of Plumcake when available.
Pipe Used:
9mm filtered
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 06, 2020 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I have heard a lot about this blend and when a friend gifted it to me I thought long and hard on what pipe to use. I ended up deciding upon using my GBD Compact that I bought as an estate pipe and whose owner told me it was excellent with Aros. My experience is it does do wonderfully with Aros so with that settled the experience was ready to begin.
Upon opening the Humidor I was met with a smoky aroma that was enhanced by a spicy Rum with a wonderful earthy, woody background. Upon removing I found the tobacco seemingly perfect for smoking and did not dry out on a paper towel .
Filling the bowl with the ribbon cut blend I packed it a bit looser than I normally do for I have read this likes to burn warmer and can bite. It burned medium and even and burned all the way to the bottom leaving a gray ash. The smoke, even though I sipped even more slowly than ever was billowy and tasty. This does burn on the warmer side and I could tell it would bite and bite hard if pushed. But, sipping slowly it was very, very nice.
Upon lighting the char I could tell I had to go slow and toned down my usual lighting technique and even at that after I lit after the char I only had on relight the rest of the way, about halfway down the bowl. Upon lighting I was met by a wonderful smoky flavor that was enhanced by a pleasant spicy rum overtone. In the background dancing was rich earthy, woody, mildly grassy with a tangy fruity taste. I did detect a light touch of brown sugar. The result was a pleasantly sweet, spicy, smoky rich taste that will definitely let you know if you smoke too fast or hard. This left a pleasant sweet and smoky aftertaste during and after the smoke.
This is a very nice smoke that has a lot going on flavor wise during the smoke and is very tasty and I found pleasing. However, if one is going to make this an all day smoke they had better have a tongue of asbestos for while I didnt get bit by sipping super slow, many do complain of it happening and the experience proved this to be like playing with nitro glyceren... gentle, slow or else you will pay. The flavors played well with each other and I enjoyed this blend. Definitely everyone should try this. However be careful on puffing to quick or too hard, the bellows breathing method really helps with this blend.
This would be a wonderful after dinner smoke, or out by a campfire or next to a fireplace in the evening. Will I smoke this again, yes. Will it be part of my regular rotation, probably not for I tend to shy away from biting tobaccos in my older years. I like to not have a burnt tongue and this blend, as wonderful as it is, is to me playing with fire. But, I like it and will smoke it on special occasions when I have time to go REALLY slow.... By the way the room not is very nice!
Rating 3.3 stars out of 4
Upon opening the Humidor I was met with a smoky aroma that was enhanced by a spicy Rum with a wonderful earthy, woody background. Upon removing I found the tobacco seemingly perfect for smoking and did not dry out on a paper towel .
Filling the bowl with the ribbon cut blend I packed it a bit looser than I normally do for I have read this likes to burn warmer and can bite. It burned medium and even and burned all the way to the bottom leaving a gray ash. The smoke, even though I sipped even more slowly than ever was billowy and tasty. This does burn on the warmer side and I could tell it would bite and bite hard if pushed. But, sipping slowly it was very, very nice.
Upon lighting the char I could tell I had to go slow and toned down my usual lighting technique and even at that after I lit after the char I only had on relight the rest of the way, about halfway down the bowl. Upon lighting I was met by a wonderful smoky flavor that was enhanced by a pleasant spicy rum overtone. In the background dancing was rich earthy, woody, mildly grassy with a tangy fruity taste. I did detect a light touch of brown sugar. The result was a pleasantly sweet, spicy, smoky rich taste that will definitely let you know if you smoke too fast or hard. This left a pleasant sweet and smoky aftertaste during and after the smoke.
This is a very nice smoke that has a lot going on flavor wise during the smoke and is very tasty and I found pleasing. However, if one is going to make this an all day smoke they had better have a tongue of asbestos for while I didnt get bit by sipping super slow, many do complain of it happening and the experience proved this to be like playing with nitro glyceren... gentle, slow or else you will pay. The flavors played well with each other and I enjoyed this blend. Definitely everyone should try this. However be careful on puffing to quick or too hard, the bellows breathing method really helps with this blend.
This would be a wonderful after dinner smoke, or out by a campfire or next to a fireplace in the evening. Will I smoke this again, yes. Will it be part of my regular rotation, probably not for I tend to shy away from biting tobaccos in my older years. I like to not have a burnt tongue and this blend, as wonderful as it is, is to me playing with fire. But, I like it and will smoke it on special occasions when I have time to go REALLY slow.... By the way the room not is very nice!
Rating 3.3 stars out of 4
Pipe Used:
GBD Compact
PurchasedFrom:
Gift from friend
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2018 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
You are greeted with a very reddish ripe Virginia's and tin note is of rum only ribbon cut is coarse with some chunks but file bowl easily. Taste of rum is very consisted through out the bowl Latakia couldn't make its presence but can be felt in some time thick smoke. A very good Navy blend similar to MB's Navy flake famous for its rum taste. I often reach for it for a great outdoor expedience.
Pipe Used:
Various Briars
PurchasedFrom:
Tobaccopipes US
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I had written Per Jensen, Product Manager of Mac Baren regarding them creating a Plumcake flake and was delighted to receive an email from him!! If you would enjoy a Plumcake flake, I ask that you write a short email to Per requesting it. This is the email I received:
**Thank you for the kind words and we will consider a flake version of Plumcake, however this will take time. The next new introduction will be in the HH line as well, but this time a complete other direction as with the HH Bold Kentucky. Once again thank you, and I will make sure to relay your Email to every one at MacBaren Tobacco. Happy smoke Per**
3/01/15 - Why O Why does Mac Baren not produce a Plumcake Flake??? The public has stated they love this blend as it has been around for half a century and that it burns very hot, this combined with the fact the name includes the word "Cake" would lead one to believe that it would be extremely lucrative to produce a Plumcake Flake.
Plumcake smells like Redman chewing tobacco when you open a fresh tin. Just a delicious aroma reminding me of cookies and those candy spice drops that stick to your teeth, allspice and cinnamon, very Christmasy and comforting. A varied cut of ribbon and broken flake becons me to scoop up a handful and stuff into my largest pipe but anything but the most gentle pack of the pipe will ensure tongue bite like no one but Mac Baren can create. If you pack this blend lightly, sip and let smolder you can enjoy a sweet and lightly spicy blend that is really delicious. Plumcake really needs to be pressed into a flake, this will turn down the temperature and intensify the flavor, hopefully I will get to try a Plumcake flake in my lifetime... A bargain at $13 per 100gm tin and very high quality. If you are doing anything except putzing around the house use a filter so your tongue survives the blast furnace that a careless smoke will insure, I give Plumcake 3 stars for flavor, aroma and uniqueness but could potentially be a four star blend if made into a plug / flake.
**Thank you for the kind words and we will consider a flake version of Plumcake, however this will take time. The next new introduction will be in the HH line as well, but this time a complete other direction as with the HH Bold Kentucky. Once again thank you, and I will make sure to relay your Email to every one at MacBaren Tobacco. Happy smoke Per**
3/01/15 - Why O Why does Mac Baren not produce a Plumcake Flake??? The public has stated they love this blend as it has been around for half a century and that it burns very hot, this combined with the fact the name includes the word "Cake" would lead one to believe that it would be extremely lucrative to produce a Plumcake Flake.
Plumcake smells like Redman chewing tobacco when you open a fresh tin. Just a delicious aroma reminding me of cookies and those candy spice drops that stick to your teeth, allspice and cinnamon, very Christmasy and comforting. A varied cut of ribbon and broken flake becons me to scoop up a handful and stuff into my largest pipe but anything but the most gentle pack of the pipe will ensure tongue bite like no one but Mac Baren can create. If you pack this blend lightly, sip and let smolder you can enjoy a sweet and lightly spicy blend that is really delicious. Plumcake really needs to be pressed into a flake, this will turn down the temperature and intensify the flavor, hopefully I will get to try a Plumcake flake in my lifetime... A bargain at $13 per 100gm tin and very high quality. If you are doing anything except putzing around the house use a filter so your tongue survives the blast furnace that a careless smoke will insure, I give Plumcake 3 stars for flavor, aroma and uniqueness but could potentially be a four star blend if made into a plug / flake.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 01, 2010 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
After reading all the negative reviews of various macbaren products, complete with various scare tactics like 'mac bite', 'flame thrower', and 'tongue scorcher' I was hesitant to try this despite positive recommendations from several reliable reviewers.. Finally, I gave in - and I am glad I did.. plumcake was a surprise, especially since I usually do not care for aromatics.. it is surprisingly, very natural tasting with a very nice addition of syrian latikia.. the rum is present and tasty.. virginia and cavendish supply a solid (though some might say monochromatic) core.. I did not find any tongue bite.. and I even puffed harder on occasion to see if I could see what people are referring to.. nope nothing there... so 4 stars for a nice change of pace blend for the experienced piper, or a nice introduction to something closer to an english blend for the beginner.. this blend trends delicately accross a few different genres and succeeds.. hey it has been around since 1957 for some reason! So while you are free to review based on personal taste.. I would just like ask reviewers to try to be a little more objective (and I do realize that it is impossible to be 100 percent objective).. A tobacco might bight you- but to give it 1 star might scare away people who may enjoy it.. review on flavor! if the smoking characteristics are not to your liking then maybe deduct 1 star.. but to slam a tobacco simply because you cannot either smoke it properly.. or your own personal chemistry does not happen to correspond well to it - is no the fault of the tobacco or the macbaren blending house.. feel free to express your peronal opinion - but keep others in mind.
update: although i still defend the tobacco and the blending house against some of the short nasty reviews it receives.. I have to deduct a star.. simply because this smoke is no longer very interesting to me.. it is good.. but to me not special enough to warant 4 stars.
update: although i still defend the tobacco and the blending house against some of the short nasty reviews it receives.. I have to deduct a star.. simply because this smoke is no longer very interesting to me.. it is good.. but to me not special enough to warant 4 stars.
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