Mac Baren Vanilla Cream Flake

I somehow got a very dry batch of this tobacco recently but usually the flakes by Mac baren come in good condition - ready to smoke - so was mine but it crumbled apart when folding so that I had to carefully rub it out. Guess I got a tin from way back in the shelf and experienced square tins dont keep the moisture as well as round ones do.

Look in tin is nice; dark brown and golden structured flake slices - well pressed with cold smell of real vanilla and a touch of black tea. Lights well and burns evenly without much of attention.

Tastes of VA; sweet and almond-like with much of vanilla and bit of honey flavoring. Sometimes BC comes through but the topping is always present. Bit too much for me. Sweet all over even without a filter and some creamy roasting aromas that I like.

Highly recommended for lovers of sweet vanilla tobaccos as the flavoring doesn't taste fake at all. Room note is very nice even non-smokers adore it.

Vanilla Flake is one of Mac Baren nicer blends. As a new pipe smoker i remember greatly enjoying this blend. The vanilla/sweet virginia flavor kept me very interested and introduced me to the wonderful world of virginia tobaccos and flake cut tobaccos. I would recommend this blend to new pipe smokers. It has enough aromatic vanilla flavor to appeal to any new comer and will help ease then into new areas of pipe smoking. A great stepping stone into the wonderful wonderful world of flakes. However, a downside to this tobacco is the tongue bite. It seems no Mac Baren blend is immune to this. Though this downside will most definitely help new pipe smokers learn the value of patience when enjoying a pipe. Unfortunately the tongue bite plague of Mac Baren is enough to keep me from purchasing this blend. Nowadays I've lost interest in aromatics and have moved on to stronger virginias, burleys, English blends and all other wonders the tobacco world has to offer. Aromatics are now in my past but to new pipe smokers looking to find a wider variety of pipe tobaccos and cuts while learning patients I would recommend giving this a try.

Got this one as an accident (I ordered the non-flake version and was sent this one instead). It was my first foray into a flake cut, which reminded me of smoking the cube cut I once tried... neither of which I was a fan of. Something about the way the air rushing past the tobacco just doesn't feel as heavy or full bodied as the ribbon cut I'm used to (though eventually the bowl packs down into a more familiar smoke). The flake cut takes longer to burn, so if you want a longer smoke, there is that I guess.

Aside from my annoyance of the cut, I was not that impressed with the flavor. While it had hints of vanilla, for something billed as vanilla flavored, there was not much there for me. It wasn't an unpleasant smoke, just didn't strike me as distinct, which I wanted it be.

The small tin was an added bonus as I now use it as a travel tin for my other tobaccos.

Let us start with the tin presentation. Beautiful, uniform flakes, almost completely comprised of Va. I truly cannot detect even a spec of black Cavendish on this flake. No difficulty in rubbing out, loads nice too. The tin aroma is of the most unusual scent. Not a true vanilla, but a confectionary type sweet vanilla birthday cake of sorts. MacBaren has been guilty of tongue raping me on just about every occasion we have courted, the tongue bite of the worst degree. However, this blend was tame. During the charring lights, this blend smoked hot, airy, and without aromatic properties. In order to get the subtle vanilla top note to transfer, you MUST only take small sips continuously, and avoid a relight of any form. Keep well tamped, this will stay lit to the bottom of the bowl. However, if you smoke it hot you will be rewarded with nothing but a hot, acrid smoking experience.

This is what I smoke if I know I'm going to be smoking a pipe in close quarters with my girlfriend. It has a great room aroma, but smokes like a flake. Wonderful for an evening out with the lady.

Update: Prior two-star review based on one tin. I had ordered two and the second now forces me to retract my negativity towards both the quality of the virginia (better than thought -- call it good but by no means great) and the nic level (now adequate for me). High two stars.

I'm with the gent whose posting is immediately below. I'm not a big aro smoker but have a bowl or two from time to time (Villiger Mid-Day being far and away the best I've ever had). This beautiful looking and smelling flake tastes of bad virginia and, to boot, gives you no nic hit as a consolation prize. Moreover, if I'm going to smoke a vanilla leaf let it at least remind me of vanilla (apart from the room note). I have many, many more tins of better weeds in my den that will appease not only my taste buds but my bizarre attraction to the ceremony of taking tobacco from little rectangular boxes. I love to smoke as you all no doubt do as well, and if this tobacco suits you then have at it.

Not too sure about this... First few smokes I didn't like it, the vanilla seemed too weak. After finishing the tin I have found it smokes best for me fully rubbed out and smoked slowly. The vanilla is very subtle but pleasant. I have got good feedback regarding the room note. This being my first danish aro, I wasn't expecting the very subtle flavour, but I think I like it. Enough nic to keep me happy, but not a heavyweight by a long shot. I will buy more of this to properly figure it out, once you smoke it for a bit it sorta makes a bit more sense.

I am generally not an aro guy, but this blend is a favorite of mine when I want a tobacco that will smell great and not offend friends and bystanders. The vanilla is strong out of the tin, and these tightly packed and neatly cut flakes are beautiful with various browns and black. The vanilla comes through in the taste, and the underlying Virginia is clearly quality. Not the driest burn, but generally not acrid towards the bottom of the bowl as some aros can be.

Appearance is a brown flake. Tin smells of vanilla. Tastes lightly sweet with, of course, vanilla notes.

Lightly sweet with a nice vanilla flavour, but still biting even with a slow cadence. This is one of the nicer vanillas in re flavour, but also comes with the dreaded Mac Bite.