Mac Baren Roll Cake

This one surprised me a little. I was expecting more strength and richness, given the tin description. I have smoked it many times, but am recently going through all of my Mac Baren blends again after having an epiphany about how to approach them. HIstorically I smoked them shortly after rubbing them out. They are very moist in the tin, and bit the hell out of me most of the time. I have now learned that if you let them dry out A LOT, you get a much improved, and less painful, smoking experience. The bowl I am presently smoking of this was rubbed out and let to sit for at least three hours. It is dry to the touch. You will be surprised how much moisture is still in the tobacco, even after that degree of drying. The result is a much cooler smoke which burns more readily, and more of the tobacco flavor with more depth. In the past I was not a big fan of these Mac Baren blends. Now I am finding a lot to enjoy about them, and look forward to working through more of them with fresh eyes, so to speak.

Now to the surprise. My tin of this says that, in addition to the virginias, cavendish, and a little burley, this has a touch of Syrian latakia. I taste none, and none is noted on the Mac Baren website. I would also point out that no perique is noted on either my tin or the website as a constituent of this blend. I detect none, it is not spicy in the least, and I believe that this is simply an error to be found on the blend description above. So the first surprise was expecting a little of that smoky latakia background, and finding none ( if I really try, I think I can detect something, but I wonder if I am just trying to convince myself). It may be that there is some small amount of latakia in the mix, but it is so lightly used as to be almost non-existent.

The second surprise was how mild this blend is in every sense, except for bite. Mac Baren describes this as medium in strength. It is not. I can find no appreciable nicotine. As discussed more herein, I am smoking a pretty good size bowl of this, and really and finding nothing in the way of strength. With respect to the flavor, it is again mild, and really just a sweet virginia type of mouthful with every puff. That is not really a bad thing, but as this is rated medium by MB, and that is was I was expecting, I was let down.

I will say that the second half of the bowl is much tastier than the first. While the overall flavor remains the same, it develops into a richer and more well rounded and fuller version of that sweet flavor, which is very enjoyable.

I find this to burn a little hotter with more bite than Club Blend, which has a similar flavor. Bite really is not a fair description. Smoking it slowly and with care, as I am, provides an experience which, while not "cool", does not bite. It is clear that if this was smoked with a higher moisture content, and with more force, it would feel like a thresher across your tongue. I am smoking it presently in a wide and deep bowled Neerup, and I think it would benefit from the more narrow tobacco chamber found in one of my Ashtons, for example. I am going to give that a try, and update with my impressions.

I was torn with respect to the star rating. If you are looking for a very tasty, albeit mild, sweet virginia smoke, than this is a solid three star blend. If you are looking for a richer, fuller smoke as MB represents it to be, than I think they missed the mark a little. I can say that I am truly enjoying this now that it has gotten going. It definitely has the MB "roll" flavor going on, which you just have to try in order to be able to relate to. The quality is very fine, and I think many suffer and do not give these blends a second look because they are both cased lightly with sugar, and very moist, which in my experience creates the tongue bite so many complain of. It is a different animal when you get rid of that moisture. So 2 stars for now, but we will see what magic one of my Ashtons can work on this slice of cake.

I have just finished smoking nearly half a tin of this tobacco (6/22/02), not all in one day of course, but it was tasty enough to deserve a half dozen or so bowlfuls.

The Virginia and Cavendish tobaccos make their subtle presence known throughout each bowl in gentle measures. Typical of Mac Baren's discs, the tobacco was easily rubbed out.

I tried this tobacco in 2003 with my friend Joe who I was teaching the wonders of pipe smoking and all that I remember about this tobacco was the Blue Oyster Cult song "I'm Burning For You" going through my head as my tongue was set on fire! My friend Joe after we lit the tobacco promptly took off his hat and hit me with it right before telling me to never do that to him again! We both decided that this was not one of my better choices of tobacco and that this should be given to Paul the head security guard,also a pipe smoker, in exchange for a pizza and a dozen wings. Paul happily agreed and all involved in this tasting were very happy..Joe and I got a free lunch and Paul loved the tobacco! I love it when a plan comes together!

This was another try into the world of Virginia tobaccos and this was a total failure! I later found out that many people whom I know also had the same experience with many of the Mac Baren blends, so this was not something unique to me and my aversion to all things Virginia. Recommended for the very experienced smoker not a novice such as myself!

As typical of most Mac Baren tobaccos this one is not going to knock your socks off with flavor or strength. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but its mildness is its most discernible attribute. I would prefer a bit stronger taste and a bit more of a punch. With that being said, what taste I did enjoy was that of grassy and earthy Virginia. There was some vanilla from the Cavendish and possibly some honey or molasses as well. There was absolutely no temperature issues or gooey aromatic problems with this blend which leads me to believe what little Cavendish is in this blend must be really potent. The tobacco burns very well and I love the presentation of the roll cake. What keeps this from being in my rotation is the fact that unless it is the first pipe of the day, I would be left wanting far more that what this blend has to offer. If mild tobacco is your game, this may be all you need to try.

Tastes like honey, quite sweet with a little of the mac B cavendish 'spice'. You have to smoke this very slowly, too slowly for my liking to get the delicious taste from this. Low in nicotine, not enough for me. DGT's very well.

All in all a pleasant smoke, but if you are a medium paced puffer, or require a bit of nicotine, give this a miss. Definitely not for ex ciggie smokers. I won't get more.

Doesn't bite as bad as Plum Cake, but still shows it's teeth.

This is a fun tobacco to experiment with, as far as the coins are concerned. But other than that, no excitement here. As one reviewer stated, it does smoke like hot air.

not a bad smoke just one that doesnt have much to offer. i would describe this as a netural blend nothing turned me away from it but nothing really stood out and grabbed my attention either. just ho hum

As a former cigarette and roll-your-own smoker this tastes like virginia cigarette tobacco with the burning paper flavor included. It is a handsome tobacco and I hope will improve with age. If it does get better as time goes by I will update my review. As it stands now I just don't like it much. Club Blend and Dark Twist are much better. It will also roast your tongue if not cautious.

I smoked this on and off in the past and haven't smoked it for well over 15 years. That was the time it was distributed as Royal Twist. It didn't do anything for me in the flavor department. I would describe it at best as smoking hot air. I do enjoy - and have since my early piping days - many of Mac Baren's offerings, but would have to try this tobacco once again to see if my opinion has changed any.