Mac Baren Vanilla Cream Flake

Heavenly room note, great tobacco taste , not overly sweet and cheap. This flake is great when you want to please others around you while still enjoying a great smoke!!!!

Now this is an aromatic I can live with. My tobacco of choice is MacBarens Navy Flake, but this Vanilla Flake, may....have edged it out. It's a similar blend of Virginia's and Cavendish, but the expert "touch", of the Vanilla casing, is both subtle, and sublime. Upon opening the tin, it's no doubt....vanilla. But, when smoked, the taste of vanilla, and slight sweetness, adds to, not detracts from, the Virginia and Cavendish tobacco's. For those tobacco smokers, like me, who prefer the natural taste of quality, cured tobacco's like Navy Flake, Virginia Flake, etc., you may want to give this MacBaren aromatic a try.

I’m about 6 or 7 flakes in. This blend is new to me. I was hoping it to be a “new favorite” of mine and it does not disappoint. As usual - JimInks’ review nails the description and I won’t try to recapitulate that here. I have come to enjoy flake tobacco for many reasons - and this aromatic preserves the flavor in a flake, letting you dry it without losing the top note. Still - even without much drying - the flavor is there and good - this is an extremely NON fussy aromatic and an excellent example of a delicate bright Virginia.

I’ve enjoyed how it works in my savinelli 315 KS. The slower you smoke this - the better it is. The strength is not your typical mild. It has been “variable” for me - and oddly so - much like how full virgiana flake can surprise you - sometimes less mild than others. The flakes themselves are extremely delicate. If you expect something all bendy and durable like Erinmore flake you will be disappointed. This is more like a crumble cake where the flakes are more of a “suggestion” than a true flake. I have come to embrace this rather than resist it and store these in a jar I have to remember to keep sideways to maintain the faint whisp of cohesion that prevents total collapse.

There is SO much detail and nuance in this blend. It is subtle - very much worth it. Not to be rushed - best enjoyed when there is nothing much pressing on your mind.

Received this as a gift from a friend. Opening the humidor I was greeted by a creamy Vanilla Aroma that had a very pleasant background of very light honey and grass. The Rich Vanilla was in the front but did not drown out the other aromas. The aroma blended well together. Even with the tobacco seeming to be dry enough I rubbed out the flake into small pieces and put onto paper towel for a half hour. It filled the bowl easily. This lit very easily and burned at a steady medium rate that was cool, offered no bite even when pushed and had only two re-lights even though it was sipped slowly. Left no moisture in the bowl. The smoke was creamy and thick and lingered a long time in the air, The room note is very, very pleasant. This can be an all day smoke. The flavor stayed the same through the whole bowl and burned into a dark gray ash.

Upon lighting I was met by a creamy Vanilla taste that was delicious. This not a chemical vanilla that is sicky sweet but real vanilla that is perfect in strength and does not drown out the tobacco or the other flavors which consist of light honey, a touch of grass with a light tart taste that balances and plays nice with the natural light sweetness and the other flavors. There is a touch of citrus also. The flavors know their place and play delightfully together making this a pleasant and very enjoyable smoke. Its not complicated, its not a change the flavor by the sip, it is just a rock solid, great tasting wonderful tobacco that isnt complicated, doesnt pretend to be. It is for enjoying, relishing, capturing your attention only when you realize how good this is and then go back to what you were doing. This leaves a wonderful lightly sweet, real vanilla and slightly tart aftertaste in the mouth and the same after it is finished.

This is not like many aromatics, sticky sweet and goopy. It doesnt drown out the tobacco or other flavors. It is not only a everyday smoke but one for special occasions. This is a favorite also, to be used for special occasions. I found it very relaxing to smoke and relished every sip. Life is good and smoking this makes the day that much better. A 4star out of 4 stars rating. This would be a great after dinner smoke or for a special occasion.

Not bad aromatic tobacco with good aroma. Tobacco flavor is medium. Lighting takes a little patience,don't puff too hard or you'll bite your tongue. Mildly sweet, wonderful burn, a pleasure to the bottom of the bowl. Recommended.

This aromatic has solid VA character folks. A light sweet grassy tanginess that fans of VA tobaccos love. Just the right amount of vanilla to make it a vanilla fans favorite as well. The VAs dominate, as they should here. Moisture level is just right out of the tin, rub out or leave as a flake and stuff it in, either way this is an easy, no-fuss smoke. Simple, flavorful and true to it's name and a great example of high quality VAs. Thanks Mac Baren,,, another winner ,,,,, 4-stars ****

Bought this tin from The Pipe Shop in Frome, South West England. Go there if you can. Opened the lovely tin to a wonderful smell. Flakes rubbed out well and packed nicely. The first few sips were quite chemically and left me disappointed. It does settle down, lovely white smoke. Bit me hard - think this is what is called the Mac Bite. not sure if I would bother buying again.

I like all genres, but lean toward sweet Virginia’s and flavored Latakia blends/ aromatic English such as Northwoods, Shepherds Pie, Eastfarthing. I’m not a fan of most aromatic burley blends.

I’ve been on the hunt for a good aromatic Virginia, and have often been disappointed.

With this one, I actually found that the taste is better than the tin note. The flavor is a creamy light vanilla with quality Virginia, although the Virginia does seem young and has some rough edges. I imagine a year of age may smooth out the Virginias. Once lit, I find the vanilla comes and goes, interspersed with times where the Virginia dominates, which is a little less pleasant, but minutes later the vanilla comes back. I’m reminded of coffee with a bit of vanilla creamer. You taste mostly coffee but with a flavored sweetness. The vanilla in this flake is light and natural, not artificial tasting. I occasionally taste a hint of something like a faint raspberry or fruit flavor, but maybe that’s what real vanilla tastes like. The last third, the vanilla fades to the background and the rougher edges come out, but it’s not unpleasant. I fold and stuff, which works great with the thin pliable flakes. Fresh from the tin it’s a bit moist. I do have more than average relights, and end up dumping the last 1/5 or so to avoid fighting with relights. Maybe an hour of dry time would help. There is bit of moisture and I find I need to run a pipe cleaner at start of the last 1/3, but no gurgle. I get absolutely no bite, but being this is a Mac Baren, I sip slow. Everyone nearby will love the room note, which is warm and comforting. This could become my favorite social smoke, and it’s everything that I was hoping for when I was disappointed by Pease’s “The Virginia Cream.” I’m still not sure what an “all day smoke” is. Does it mean you could puff this all day and it won’t wreck your tongue or get boring? Or does it mean it’s good any time of day, for both morning coffee and after dinner? Whatever, this is definitely a smoke you could have a couple times throughout the day and find it enjoyable.

I normally smoke VA or VA/Per flakes but gave this aromatic a try. Good moisture content right from the tin that works well with my fold and stuff packing. Vanilla note is evident in the tin, taste and especially the room note. Consistent flavor but still tastes like VA/cavendish tobacco. Lights easily and burns evenly with few relights. No bite if smoked slowly and pleasant aftertaste. I'll try this one again in the hot summer months.