Mac Baren Vanilla Cream Loose Cut

Several reviews already give enough information to the potential buyer to enable an intelligent choice. Basically, this is a sweet aromatic. If your preferences run the range from balkans to latakia enhanced balkans, you shouldn't even be reading this.

I suppose MB knows what it is spraying on this tobacco, but I take issue with the name. When I think vanilla, I think Captain Black or anything in 85% of the "custom blended" jars of Lane/Consolidated bulks at a Tinder Box. Just as Erinmore Flake's topping isn't pineapple, Vanilla Creme's topping just doesn't taste like vanilla to me. It's fruitier than a drag race in San Francisco during gay pride week! Vanilla may also be there, but only in a supporting role. This is very much more like Amphora or Skandanavik Red with an extra side of essences. Vanilla? No. I just don't taste it.

Do I dislike it? Not at all. There is a time for this, just not very often. I prefer Amphora; this one just goes over the top. I often cut it with ho-hum virginias like Gawith's BBF to dilute.

It isn't a generic black cavendish; it is a quality Virginia blend. It is definitely dessert. If you think you'll like it, you probably will, but dedicate a pipe to it.



Update 3/11: Ok, open it and come back in half a decade or so. Unlike virtually all other aromatics I ever met, time actually improved it, possibly by evaporating off the excess topping. At this point, it's at least a three star. I'm leaving it as a two because nobody will want to bother. But really: it's really really good now. It's finally vanilla and Virginia.

Definitely one of the best vanilla aromatics in existance. Unlike blends such as RLP-6, this blend allows you to actually taste the tobacco while not sacrificing the flavoring and visa versa.

All aromatic smokers should try this blend. It's a big step up from what you normally find at the tobacconist shop.

But watch out! It can bite if smoked too fast.

Mi oh MY, is this a good Tobacco, the vanilla is pure nature...no chemicals at all. This is a whole day smoke. At the top of my agenda.

Johan

Having been smoking pipes and a variety of English and aromatic tobaccos for over 6 years now, I'm not exactly a newbie. Unfortunately Vanilla Cream Loose Cut isn't a very pleasurable smoke. MacBaren claims 'Vanilla Cream', but where is the vanilla taste? It's a very light cream flavor when smoking, with practically no vanilla taste. Almost like smoking hot air. Room note is decent, but not great. Seems to fade fast and leaves behind a slight cigarettish smell. And oh my it's a harsh tobacco. This stuff slowly roasts my mouth... regardless of drying time, packing technique, or smoking cadence. I cannot tolerate smoking this more than one bowl per day. This is a really disappointing tobacco, considering how wonderful their Seven Seas line is. Not recommended- not even for veteran smokers. Go with Mac Baren's smooth and tasty Seven Seas line instead.

This is a better than average, reasonably priced aromatic. It's mild, bite free, smokes cool and reasonably dry, for an aromatic.

However, it just doesn't have a whole lot of flavor. Not much tobacco flavor, not a whole lot of vanilla, either. It's not bad, it's just not that good, so I won't be buying more. If what you're looking for is a very mild, bite free vanilla blend that is a good step up from most goopy bulk blends, this is probably worth a try. While I've smoked much worse in this category, I've experienced better, too.

I eventually got around to this based on some reviews about how light the vanilla flavor was, not overpowering in looking for a slightly sweeter blend. Actually, this has more of a dark sweet fruity aroma with the vanilla in the back seat. This fruit-vanilla flavor style is familiar and can be found one way or another in other Euro manufactured blends so, it's not so unique. The flavor is a bit rough around the edges and slightly flat; The virginias need more sweet casing. There is a slight bitey tang to the virginias if you're particularly sensitive to them as I am. I'm a bit surprised that this turned out to be such a bomb. This isn't much of a vanilla tobacco but an European aromatic in lines with DTM Blue Note and Savinelli's Cavendish. Didn't care for it.

I do not consider myself an experienced pipe smoker. Even though i have been smoking pipe for 3 years, i often fall back to my cigarettes addiction only to stop and start smoking pipe again.

Mac Baren-Vanilla Cream Loose Cut is a well made vanilla flavored aromatic. It has such an attention to detail that its pretty surprising its a drug store tobacco you can find at a reasonable price. The flavoring is mild and by no means does it have an artificial taste to it. The vanilla is blended in nicely and there are occasions where i detect a nutty flavor. It is an extremely tasty tobacco. The taste stays with you till the last puffs.

It doesnt bite the tongue unless you go on fast puff mode, but i guess that is the case with almost every tobacco. The room note is really pleasant. The wife loves it, so much that she actually encourages me to smoke loose cut during the day instead of other aromatics.

Only drawback would be its uneven burn. Especially after the first half of the bowl, the re-lights are pretty constant. But then again it might be just me. Three years in pipe smoking might not be enought to teach me how to pack tobacco properly.

Enjoy Mac Baren Loose cut with a cup of coffee in the moring. Even though its an all day smoke, i find that the taste gives its best in the early hours of a cold morning, accompanied with a hot cup of your favorite coffee. I wouldnt recommend it with spirits. Its sweetness and vanilla flavor does not match well with any kind of alcoholic beverage.

Dr. Leonidas

My wife asks "Is that the vanilla one?" every time I smoke something that smells good, she's convinced they're all Mac Baren Vanilla Cream. This is the reference for quality aromatics - consistent, high quality, flavorful and friendly.

I've seen this one at my tobacconist and I thought I'd give it a try. I was convinced by it's lovely sweet vanilla smell when unlit. Tobacco has a good moisture and it burns really well and even. It has a very gentle creamy vanilla flavor, and at first I was almost a bit disappointed, because it seemed almost to mild, but I've grown to appreciate the subtle flavor and I love to combine it with a cup of good macchiato - with its creamy taste it combines really well. It's a good, sweet and creamy smoke, and I'd recommend it, if you're looking for something light that can be easily smoked throughout the day.