Mac Baren Roll Cake

Not your typical VaPer due to the profuse addition of Cavendish. In fact, Roll Cake is similar to Club Blend, only a tad less sweet. The little coins are easily smoked, with no tongue bite (for a Mac Baren) and almost no added flavoring (again, for a Mac Baren).

It's worth a try, but don't expect something spectacular.

Update 2014-12-23: It has been reformulated. Now it doesn’t contains Syrian anymore, still good but different with a prominent Cavendish. I have to cut one star.

Original review: At Mac Baren they proudly describe RC such a “deluxe blend” and yes, it is! Opening the tin the unlit tobacco looks (s)well and smells the same, once lit RC confirms its noble lineage welcoming you with class tobacco flavours, the interaction between Cavendish and Syrian creates an intriguing empyreumatic note: a refined smoky-earthiness that emerges through hints of ripe and mellow Virginias, while a prime Burley rounds the edges taming the tanginess and managing the sweetness. Harshness, tongue biting, bitterness, bad aftertaste … forget all these bad things, anything gross or vulgar here, RC is really a workmanlike job. A top notch tobacco worth a top notch spirit as companion, try it with a small glass of aged Grappa such as “Magia” or “Bric del Gajan” from the stately Berta's collection.

I'm not good at relaying the flavors of a tobacco to others, other then saying "it's good/ it's not good IMO". Roll Cake is good IMO. A nice honey smell out of the tin. A nice sweet natural flavor. As far as RC goes, I don't think you would go wrong picking up some of this if you like your natural tobaccos.

I've found that it is very important to fold and stuff this spun cake, not tear it to shreds. I fold about 4 or 5 coins stacked together and place the "end" (where the fold meets) in line of the draft hole so as not to clog up the pipe. Then I lightly rub 1 or 2 coins out to fill out the bowl, lighting with ease. Burns much cooler and much tastier. This really is a solid "natural" flavored tobacco.

Also, I love what this blend becomes when a bit of Latakia is added. A simple and rewarding hybrid to try out if you are into experimenting.

I would recommend this blend for those who prefer natural sweet Virginia/Cavendish in roll cake, the tobacco disks are so skillfully crafted with an amazing finishing, there is some plain sugar added to the tobacco to enhanced the flavor, the smoke is cool, semi sweet and earthy, there no Latakia in the flavor.

Also I would recommend to completely rubbing out the tobacco disks in order to get a consistent smoke, and finally, an extremely loose packing and slow puffing is the only way to avoid tongue bite and to enjoy this beautiful tobacco.

I wavered between giving this blend two or three stars, but since it's all a matter of opinion anyway and almost all of the tobaccos I try are quality tobaccos whether I like them or not, went with two stars due to my sensitivity to tongue-bite with MacBaren tobaccos, and I don't seem to be alone in this. I liked that touch of honey they use for sweetener (could this be the culprit?) and the overall taste as well, but could not smoke an entire bowl straight. It did not bite me as hard as Symphony. I did have some success when I blended it with an equal part of Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake and added a touch of blending Perique. This seems to calm a bit o' th' bite! I have stuck the remaining half of my tin away to age and will try to smoke some again in another few months to see what this does for it. I have a feeling it's a three star if I can find a way to control that bite! Love the cute little coins.

After a year, and drying overnight, not so bad. Very mild in flavor, yet pleasant, but with the aging I am able to puff it a little harder and not regret it. I'm going back out to have another bowl in a small pipe to see how that does me. Adding a star-as a reward for aging well after opening and being kinder to my mouth. I am coming to terms with the MacBaren bite question. I don't agree with those who say the problem with these tobaccos is only with the smoker, but also disagree that MacBarens have a bite "problem." There is something with the curing that definitely makes them sipping tobaccos. There are some Virginias which can be puffed a little harder, but this is not one of them. Question is, do I dare to give Symphony another chance? I still have flashbacks of the pain it caused me when I look at the tin.

11-17-12 I have had a chance to try some of this that may be as much as 30 years old recently, and Mac Baren ages better than its reputation suggests...

It used to be called Royal Twist...

Much better name back then, and though I wasn't smoking it "back then," I like the stuff from "back then" a whole lot more. These roll cakes develop such a nice, mild sweetness after 20-30 years!

Whats new with this one? I bought about 1.5 oz in bulk and stored in a McClelland Blackwoods Flake can I finished a week earlier. I allowed it to sit for a couple of weeks there in the closed tin as I worked down another selection. Now, I am used to full Virginia and Va/Per mixes so this was experimental on my part. The coins worked nicely in my cob pipe. No drying really needed, so I was able to fill and light in quick succession. The flavors imparted just by drawing air through the unlit but filled pipe was deep and rich. Almost smokey in character.

Upon the initial charring light I tasted a very deep burley/cavendish flavor. This played on the pallet nicely through the final light. As the pipe was smoked down to the half way I experienced very deep earthy flavors that were a good departure from the norm for me. I did however find myself discarding a fair portion of the dottle as it became too rich at the end of the bowl.

I also found I had to set the pipe aside for a bit as the bowl warmed quickly, and this was probably due to my inexperience with this blend. Overall I find this is a pleasurable smoke, and I think if I buy it again, I will try in a smaller bowl at a lower temp (IE smoke it slower) to see what it has to offer. I think there are a lot of nuances of flavor I missed due to my rushing the smoke.

I believe I will try this blend again, but I need to develop my tastes a bit more for it to be fully enjoyed. If you like deep earthy flavors, then this is well worth the money. I will say it didn't totally suit me as I am used to Virginia blends and their inherently sweeter flavor. Please don't allow this to sway you from trying this blend as it good, just not to my tastes at the moment. I say 2.5-3 out of 4 would be fair. Also if you have any tips on this blend, please feel free to drop me a line or comment, as I'm always open to trying something new to enhance the experience.

Well happy smoking to all, and support your local tobacco sellers!

Now it's the time of Roll Cake.

I visited RC the first time its 100grms tin appeared - alongwith Dark Twist and Navy Flake - five years ago or more. I clearly remember that 1) I bought RC and DT in the sincere hope to find something similar to Escudo or Three Nuns 2) upon the opening of the tins I didn't notice any substantial difference between RC and DT and, the hell! DT wasn't Dark as the word "dark" means to me ...

Yes, in the philosophy of McB, Roll Cake (and Dark Twist) is the nearest product to the natural aroma of tobacco, indeed.

As far as I can notice, the 100grms tinned McB's have not encountered the great appreciation of the italian smokers. Maybe it's because they are quite pricey, maybe also because the overall quality (very good) is not far higher from the pouched-brother like Scottish Mixture. All the above to mean that the tin I'm reviewing might be of the same era, therefore it's well seasoned...

Upon the opening the blind aroma is mainly hay-ish of bright Virginia's, and the usual McB's honey-sh topping but in a very much light fashion. The small roundels: bright virginias with inner dark heart of non-regular shape and presence.

The Savinelli Professor (unfiltered) no. 122 pot, which I have recently used to review Orlik's Golden Slices, seems the better axe: wide bowl but not too large. The bottom roundels have been slightly rubbed, then some whole's, on top a rubbed couple. The humidity is perfect.

At the charring light the tobacco react vigorously, a couple of tamp and relights was needed.

The smoke is very intriguing of the family but a bit more complicate than the average McB's. Mild but body enough. Faintly sweet & amicably sour, it has a caramel/biscuity character which is very pleasant. The plus is due to the pinch of Syrian Latakia - declared in the notes placed in the bottom of the tin - which to me is the main difference with Dark Twist, and gives a slight citrusy/smokey flavour. Ehi, just a trace of this.

I perfectly agree with the reviewer who wrote that only the slowest draw will allow to get the best from this truly elegant blend. So, not for the beginner, and it should be considered as a contemplative smoke.

Overall a pleasant experience, it perfectly fits my needs for the hot season. Something more refined than Scottish Mixture or Navy Mixture. Recommended in the same way, not less or more.

With the demise long ago of the previous perique version, I sort of not sure what the point in this blend is other than to maintain a product portfolio despite the general flavor profile that is largely represented in other similiar blends Mac Baren offers. It's good and if you fancy Mac Baren virginia blends and twists in paticular it's probably a winner for you but it's hardly different from what you will find in in Dark Twist or Club Blend; Not much difference between those two either. The characteristic sweetish cased virginia with that wonderful dark fired cavendish dominate. I could not detect the touch of burley as a stated ingredient but I did notice it was a tad cooler than their usual virgina based blends. So far after about 4 pipe bowls I could only detet once the faintest notice of it's trace latakia. Mac Baren should reformulate this for something distinguishable. Perhaps a small dose of another specially spiced cavendish or light casing that is reminiscnet to the fruity character of perique. Also, I can imagine that a faint background of something like raspberries and perhaps cinnamon would work in conjunction to the sweet smoky character of that dark fired cavendish for a "Royal" aromatic. Anyways, it's good on it's own but I see no reason to buy this over the previously mentioned Dark Twit or Club Blend unless those guys are out of stock.

Hard to say something that hasn't been said. The tobacco used in this blend is of quality and there is absolutely no tongue bite. I am a fairly fast puffer and, to my surprise, this stuff smoked very cool.

Although I would classify this blend as your typical Danish (nothing out of the usual) it is flavorful and very pleasant, the room note is nice and the nicotine content is perfect. Enough aromatic flavor for a sweet smoke but still a natural tasting blend.

If there is any latakia in this blend I can't taste it or smell it, in fact I don't really think there is any latakia here.