Mac Baren Virginia No. 1

This one ain't bad but it isn't anything special either. Simple, strait forward Virginias , the taste and aroma to my mind is that of toasted grain. Kinda like Grape Nuts. I didn't detect any of the Virginia sweetness that I so much love. Mild, monotone and a bit flat. One good thing, it did not scorch the old flapper like many MacBaren products.It will get spicy in a habanero sort of way if you get overly zealous with your puffing.

Smokeable and faintly pleasant,yeah,but why bother when there are so many superior alternatives?

The tin aroma reminds me of dried figs. Very good first impression, since I tend to prefer aromatics. Beautiful dirty blond broken shredded flakes! Surprisingly, it is not too sticky, considering how sweet the smell. I rubbed it out a bit more, before packing bowl. Packed the shreds a bit loose. I have no problem keeping it lit all the way through to the bottom of bowl on one match.

It smells and tastes subtly sweet. The sweetness reminds me of chewing on a piece of rye grass. From the first, a noticeable tang...then, hot and juicy! Still, I kept smoking and shrugged it off as normal for an aggressive smoker. I started really paying attention, in terms of technique in smoking. So I began using VA #1 as a training tool in patience. I smoked it slower. Much better slower! And drier! Alas, still, it had some, rather enjoyable, tongue bite. I noticed a sweet after-taste on lips, leaving me wanting more. 10 minutes after smoke, hay-like smell in room.

This is my first Virginian flake and immediately ran out to buy another tin. Not going to be a day after day smoke. Tongue can't handle its roughness. Rather, this will be a change from the day to day. I'll try my best not to smoke until after a year. (See if it's true that it mellows with age.)

Can't really say I'd buy much more then a couple 100g tins. Too many others to sample. Reasonably priced at $8 for +/- 3 ½ oz.

I'm new to pipe smoking. I've started not only to reduce my cigarette abuse (from about 30 a day to half of that) but also because I enjoy a long lasting smoke, and I'm now fully converted to the pipe.

So far, I've only tried a few tobaccos, and Virginia nº1 is not for me... I've never experienced the infamous tongue bite with any tobacco (and I've been smoking 3 bowls a day over the last few months), but the honey sweetness of this Virginia nº1 is not for my taste (and I supose it will not appeal to any ex-cigarette smoker). It packs and lights fine, but it burns too hot.

Still, in my effort to understand pipe tobacco better, I've placed about 35g. in a small jar and will keep it stored for some months.

***UPDATE*** 6 months after, I opened the jar and gave it a try...puff,puff... very nice! I don´t really know if it changed with time or if the change was in my personal taste. It´s not a blend to smoke daily, but when carving for something on the sweet/honey side, I'm going to want Virginia nº1 around.

Upgrade from 1 to 2 stars

Already bought 4 oz. of it and placed them in 2 different jars. One will be cellered for some months, the other for a couple of years. (for some reason, I did´t smoke any from this new batch) Also, this 4 oz. where very dry, and I had it rehydrate with destilled water. Hope it will age fine.

Update: It's funny; I gave MacB VA no. 1 a paltry two star rating, but ever since I used up all of my original half-pound I've found myself craving it. Sometimes I've just gotta have that hay n' honey. So, I picked up another 8 oz., and I still find it a simple, reliable satisfying smoke on its own and a good blender. I'd be doing this modest Virginia a dishonor if I didn't bump her up another star.

Original Review: Fresh outta the tin, Va no. 1 calls to mind hay and honey. It tends to smoke hot, as I hear is to be expected given its pedigree; it is very bright and sugary and sharp. It is not unpleasant if smoked nice and slow.

8 oz. of Va no. 1 + 1 oz. McClelland's blending Perique, left sealed in a jar for a year, yielded delicious results for me. The sharp edges were smoothed, and the bright sugariness subsided to a fuller, more caramelized sweetness.

A very simple, straightforward smoke; somewhat recommended fresh, but recommended without reservation aged with a bit of Perique for a pretty cheap DIY VaPer.

Not being the experienced pipe smoker like many on this forum I was a little apprehensive after reading some of the reviews. The "Bite" often mentioned only happened when smoking way too fast. It has helped me learn to slow down and relax while smoking. Relaxing is what it's all about for me to begin with. This is a nice mild tobacco. It has a very pleasant appearance and aroma in the tin. I really like this and will keep some around. It might be a bit boring for some but for me boring can be a good thing. I know what to expect and get it with No. 1. There are times I just don't want a complex smoke. If you are having problems with "bite" slow down and enjoy yourself. It's not a pipe race.

I have used this blend to mix with some other stronger tobacco to tone it down a notch with good results.

Once again, I am at a loss to understand this oft-repeated complaint called 'tongue bite". Proper packing and slow smoking with patience and gentility have never failed to give a satisfactory smoke. Even if a tobacco is not to my own taste, I have never understood this problem of 'bite'. This phenomenon certainly seems to interfere quite frequently, with reviews of various tobaccos - and one cannot help but wonder how much is the fault of the person, rather than the tobacco(?)

These seemingly technique-related complaints seem to have no bearing, for me, upon the taste and aroma of a given tobacco.

Virginia No. 1 has a very reasonable, barely sweet, and non offensive taste; being neither a strong aromatic, nor having the foul stench of cigarettes. It is a nice, 'neutral' tobacco.

youtube.com/user/MrPLivingstone

Mac Barens' Virginia #1 is, in my opinion, a good tobacco if you will take the time to dry it out somewhat because if not it will bite and bite hard. Also, Virginia #1 is good to learn how to smoke S-L-O-W-L-Y because of said bite. Overall a good tobacco...just be careful!!!

If puffed slowly and gently, it is a mild Virginia with a pronounced citrus flavor mid- bowl. If puffed hard, or with a dry mouth, or smoked outside on a windy day, it is likely to bite you and can taste very bitter.

Appealing can graphics and color, delicious tin aroma, packs and burns well.

UPDATE- This one really benefits from ageing. The good qualities are emphasized and the bad qualities nearly disappear.

This has the potential to be a real virginia winner. The taste is there, the quality is there BUT the notorious Mac Burnen tongue bite is also there.

UPDATE *** Sept. 08

After a long break i decided to give her a spin again.Initially Reluctant but hopefull this has turned out to be a real winner. I dried out the tobacco by opening the tin and leaving it in the open sun (yup) for 1/2 hour. Believe this: No tongue bite at all. This is tasty and rich smoked in my Tsuge Tasting (23mm) pipe. I hope to bring V #1 into my regular rotation and would recommend this as an excellent virginia.