Mac Baren Virginia Flake

This is nice, but for me seemed a little light and dry after St Bruno and Full Virginia (SG) Flake. Could be a good option for many though.

I like this tobacco, but when you factor in the cost there are better VA flakes out there for the same or less money. It's not a complex VA like something from the U.K. There is a sweetness but it appears to be more from a dressing or casing rather than the VA itself. The taste is kind of a cross between MacBaren VA #1 and their Navy Flake. It has some slight robustness that reminds me a little of the Navy Flake, but the overall taste is really more similar to the VA #1. I much prefer the Navy Flake to the VA Flake, and feel that if you want to smoke a MacBaren VA tobacco in appreciable quantities you would be better off with the VA #1 due to cost and taste considerations. Still, this is different than the VA #1 and since I smoke a wide variety of tobaccos I do occasionally purchase a tin of this.

When you open the can, you get a pleasant aroma of cooked ripe red fruits, dried figs, chocolate, herbaceous, citrus, hay. When you light the first third, a nice smoke of baked bread, citrus, hay, grassy. It is easy to smoke, you have to smoke it slowly, with relaxation and peace. Leaves some moisture. It is recommended dry, but not crunchy, at least for my taste. The room note is nice and cozy. Satisfactory ride to the end, until the last third. The ignitions depend on the humidity with which you want to tobacco. Pack by gravity. Highly recommended.

Tin note is grass slightly floral and just a bit sweet. As with most Mac Baren tobacco the presentation is outstanding in the tin. I personally don't rub this out, but just break the flakes in half and put them lengthwise in the bowl snuggly. The tobacco lights very easily and stays lit. The smoke is mild if puffed gently and does not bite. This is a straight Virginia with a very lite topping. I had read the topping was cider vinegar and sugar water, but the vinegar does not translate into the smoke just a slight sweetness . Easley an all day smoke. Not complex but an excellent Virginia. 4 solid stars. If you like Virginias this is one to try.

This is the second MacBaren I've tried and another winner. Packs, lights and burns great.. A wonderful all day smoke, can be hot if you don't take your time but has a bright clean tobacco taste without any noticeable casing. Because of the small size of my Tsuge Kaga I like a milder tobacco in it and this one seems to be my favorite in a small pipes. I find I am partial to certain pipe/tobacco combinations and this one I think matches a smaller pipe, my drive to work combo!

If you like flake tobacco and real tobacco taste try this one.

I'm not sure how long this blend has been available in the US market, but I'm glad I found it while on the net. The perfectly prepared, flat, rectangular, pressed flakes of golden to dark brown VAs are @ an ideal moisture content and neatly stacked in the tin. MacBaren certainly knows how to effectively present and market their products. I didn't rub out the flakes resulting in a very slow but even burn rate and a cool smoke in various bowl sizes. Although I couldn't pinpoint the casing, it seemed typical of the Danish, honey additives and resulted in a room aroma that was viewed by others as much improved compared to some of my McClelland regular VAs and VAs/Periques. It's perhaps a nice compromise when in company. The sweet taste and aftertaste were also enjoyable but rather one dimensional. I found this considerably sweeter than MacBaren's Navy Flake which has more of a Burley influence. Another winner from MacBaren.