Mac Baren Virginia Flake

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I just love this mild VA flake. The base tobaccos used are high quality and beautiful in the tin. The light top note is my favorite of any blend. I normally like natural Virginia and Virginia with perique, but this flavor really is unique and wonderful. It seems to have something more than the normal honey-like flavor of Navy Flake. I can't put my finger on the flavor, but I love it. Absolutely no tongue bite, no matter how hard you try. I prefer to fold the flakes into a wide bowled pipe, like a pot. The pot seems to really bring out the wonderful flavoring that only makes the high quality Virginia taste better. Smoke this stuff really slowly and you will be rewarded.

Quality flake here. I bought a box of it 8 years ago and let it age. Finally just getting around to trying it, and Im’ afraid I’m rather disappointed.

You have to sip this tobacco slower than any other I’ve tried to avoid the bite and loss of flavor. You can get creamy smoke out of it with a subtle marshmallow-y sweetness. But it’s too prone to becoming harsh or bitey if you aren’t careful, even with a lot of age.

People keep saying that this flake has a topping on it, but I do not detect it. Hell, it says right there in the description at the top flavoring: none. Ok, that out of my system, this flake is what I would call decent to goodish. I smoke a lot of Virginia flake tobaccos and this one would probably fit in the bottom third somewhere. I used to absolutely love me some mcclleland Virginia flake(oh, I'm still upset about them going out of business!) and this one pales in comparison. If I could give it 2 and a half stars I would, but I'll settle on three due to the excellent quality and presentation. Also, why the heck did they get rid of the nice yellow tin?

In everything it reminds me of the Capstan Gold Navy Cut: the aroma in the opening of the tin, the cut of the flakes (although they are smaller here), the size and color of the tin, its lack of flavor ... Some say that Mac Baren in his day he took this work out to compete directly with Capstan. I can neither affirm nor deny it. In the smoke the flavor is completely bland and flat. Sometimes I have seemed to perceive a hint of a rush of sweetness, but it has vanished so quickly that I do not know if it was the product of my imagination. You have to smoke it slowly because otherwise it tends to heat the bowl and sting the tongue. It can be a good tobacco to mix, in that it also resembles the Capstan Gold Navy Cut ... I will not repeat.

All virginia flakes are appealing to me so i purchased a tin of this blend.once the tin cracks a sweet and spicy smell comes out(perhaps some sugar-pepper topping?).the bright flakes come at proper moisture,they are very manageable eithet to rub or to fold as they are.lights easy and several relights are needed.while smoking the flavours are clear,natural and simple.the virginias are mostly citrusy and grassy with some rare earth notes.the topping is in the backround till the end making the smoking experience sweeter and more peppery.burns cool and slow without chance ot tongue bite.the room note is discreet and the nicotine level low.burns to total ash with some moisture being created at the end of the bowl.an all day smoke for sure.in conclusion this is a decent blend proper for every and all day smoking pleasure.

The only Mac Baren from myself that I almost gave 3 stars.

It was a solid Virginia taste, that burned slowly, but sadly not cool.

I would definitely recommend this a beginner smoker to flakes because it easy to light and keep smoking. Plus the Virginia taste is definitely one a beginner smoker should come around to smoke for the first time.

Two stars.

This is an alright Virginia flake. Sweet, sugar hay flavor. However not immune to Mac Barens tongue bite cures. Overall, its an alright Virginia. Not even in the same ball park as Samual Gawith, Dunhill of any of the other legendary flakes. but, Its a good low cost starting place for beginner pipe smokers.

Really one of THE best virginia flakes in my opinion! This flake is totally underated I feel. Such a sweet mild flaver, I even get a slight hint of a lemony flaver. It loads great right out of the tin, easy to light and it stays lit. I give this one 3.5 stars! Check out my new youtube video series called "Adventures in Pipe Smoking" It's a fun video series for pipe smokers! I will be featuring this flake soon!

It's a Virginia. Other reviewers mention tasting the possibility of some Burley. I don't. Yes, it is sweet tasting but not overwhelmingly so. Yes it will tingle the tongue a little as all Virginias will if not smoked properly. so smoke it properly -- that is to say-- slow and easy.

Some reviewers say it is no Full Virginia Flake from Sam Gawith.Tha's true it isn't but then again what is? I like Full Virginia Flake a lot but factoring in the price of Full Virginia Flake and its scarcity and spotty distribution (when there is any around) this is definitely not a bad smoke even if it is not the substitute it doesn't pretend to be.It's a simple sweetened Danish Virginia. It smokes well,with enough nicotine and good burning qualites.It does not knock your socks off nor is it bland as some have claimed. Through the years I have smoked most if not all of the MacBarens and Sam Gawith and many many others and still do. This one fits right in my lineup as far as I am concerned. With the boutique tobaccos and other much touted ones being what they are this will find a place in my inventory. Simple reccomendation --- smoke it and enjoy it for what it is. Don't expect Nirvana and conversly don't expect a visit from the I.R.S. with an audit letter either. Smoked a 50 gram tin and then ordered a pound package and then another one after that one.

Do i reccomend it? Sure do.