Mac Baren HH Latakia Flake
(3.39)
This is a hot pressed flake tobacco, meaning that during the pressing steam is added to mature the tobacco further and to ensure a mellow smoking experience. A blend of bright Virginias, spicy Orient, a bit of burley, and a fair amount of Cyprus Latakia is the foundation of HH Latakia Flake.
The taste is complex with the smoky note from Latakia in the front seat, the subtle sweetness from the Virginias working in the back, and the mellow spiciness from the Orientals popping up from time to time, creating an intimate interplay where all tobaccos play their role and contribute to this unique smoking experience.
HH Latakia Flake has very little casing and no top flavour at all. The only taste you will experience is the natural taste from the tobaccos used.
A mellow, yet satisfying tobacco, with a lot of nice, smoky aroma.
Notes: Released at the 2014 Chicago Pipe Show.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Burley, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 3.5 ounce tin weight |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.39 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 81 - 90 of 92 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 03, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The 2019 excise can was difficult to open. Apparently, the tobacco was still fermenting or had been sliced and packaged while still warm. The smell from the can turned out to be very complex and multi-layered. Certainly, in the name of the blend, the latakia played a major note - the tar, ash and leather were quite clearly indicative of the English blend. But there was a musky-spicy oriental scent, a nutty burley note, and a bit of a sweet citrusy scent mixed in very harmoniously. None of the notes were prevalent or out of place in the ensemble. No latakia bombs, exceptionally smooth.
The tobacco itself was an even dark chocolate color, no bright flecks. Extremely evenly sliced, the thickness and format are the same as Old Dark Fired, a little more moist, dense, but very easily kneaded into quite fine fibers. You can see that the tobacco is very well matured. The two plates fit neatly up to the top in my Peterson 05 without the filter.
When I lit it, I felt the bouquet of a very solid, expensive English blend. The carefully calibrated intensity of the latakia flavor, of course, will be unfamiliar to a beginner. But it harmonizes well with the nutty and woody notes, to which there is a distinctly fragrant pepper, a little bit of withered hay and a slight sweet accent. Also (I'll tell you heresy!), I prefer Cypriot latakia to Syrian latakia. It's softer, and has a less pungent smell of tar, with tan leather and musk mixed in, and there's a brighter woody note on the palate. Given the fact that Syrian latakia is becoming extremely rare, this is the future that awaits us. The strength of the tobacco is slightly above average, the tobacco does not bite, burns very slowly, evenly and coolly.
The smoke is bitter, with a bright spicy note and a characteristic smell of latakia. It is very soft, it does not hang like a column in the room, it dissipates easily, but the tobacco flavor remains. That would be the end of it, admitting that the blend is extremely successful, and for sure it will take its place in my collection, constantly needing to update it, because it is impossible to refuse smoking it.
But I moved on. I took a couple of flake records and set them aside, packing them in a jar under a vacuum lid. A month later, I opened it and tried the tobacco again. I was pleasantly surprised by the difference: during this time the latakia had weathered slightly, the aroma and flavor of the tobacco became even more harmonious, turning into a luxurious blend without a single flaw - dense, medium strength, with terrific flavor. Bravo, Mac Baren! And thank you.
The tobacco itself was an even dark chocolate color, no bright flecks. Extremely evenly sliced, the thickness and format are the same as Old Dark Fired, a little more moist, dense, but very easily kneaded into quite fine fibers. You can see that the tobacco is very well matured. The two plates fit neatly up to the top in my Peterson 05 without the filter.
When I lit it, I felt the bouquet of a very solid, expensive English blend. The carefully calibrated intensity of the latakia flavor, of course, will be unfamiliar to a beginner. But it harmonizes well with the nutty and woody notes, to which there is a distinctly fragrant pepper, a little bit of withered hay and a slight sweet accent. Also (I'll tell you heresy!), I prefer Cypriot latakia to Syrian latakia. It's softer, and has a less pungent smell of tar, with tan leather and musk mixed in, and there's a brighter woody note on the palate. Given the fact that Syrian latakia is becoming extremely rare, this is the future that awaits us. The strength of the tobacco is slightly above average, the tobacco does not bite, burns very slowly, evenly and coolly.
The smoke is bitter, with a bright spicy note and a characteristic smell of latakia. It is very soft, it does not hang like a column in the room, it dissipates easily, but the tobacco flavor remains. That would be the end of it, admitting that the blend is extremely successful, and for sure it will take its place in my collection, constantly needing to update it, because it is impossible to refuse smoking it.
But I moved on. I took a couple of flake records and set them aside, packing them in a jar under a vacuum lid. A month later, I opened it and tried the tobacco again. I was pleasantly surprised by the difference: during this time the latakia had weathered slightly, the aroma and flavor of the tobacco became even more harmonious, turning into a luxurious blend without a single flaw - dense, medium strength, with terrific flavor. Bravo, Mac Baren! And thank you.
Pipe Used:
Peterson 05
PurchasedFrom:
Online
Age When Smoked:
2019
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Impeccable presentation as always with MacBaren HH flakes, the smell from the tin is a bit barbecue/vinegar, not dissimilar to the initial smell of HH Old Dark Fired, and Latakia underneath.
Each flake makes for a single regular-sized bowl, either folded and stuffed, or crumbled, and can be smoked immediately without further drying.
The taste is what it says on the tin: it is an English blend in flake form. I need to draw parallels with Dan Tobacco's Old Ironsides as it's the last Latakia flake I smoked. MacBaren's offering is more refined, but also subdued. Latakia is the main flavour you'll get, but it is somewhat weaker and the different tobaccos are better melded together, so you won't get a highlight of Virginia, or Oriental from the Latakia base. While this is in principle a good thing it makes is a bit of a blander smoke overall.
It is a great product, for sure, but I know I'll go to Old Ironsides when I'll next shop for a Latakia flake.
Each flake makes for a single regular-sized bowl, either folded and stuffed, or crumbled, and can be smoked immediately without further drying.
The taste is what it says on the tin: it is an English blend in flake form. I need to draw parallels with Dan Tobacco's Old Ironsides as it's the last Latakia flake I smoked. MacBaren's offering is more refined, but also subdued. Latakia is the main flavour you'll get, but it is somewhat weaker and the different tobaccos are better melded together, so you won't get a highlight of Virginia, or Oriental from the Latakia base. While this is in principle a good thing it makes is a bit of a blander smoke overall.
It is a great product, for sure, but I know I'll go to Old Ironsides when I'll next shop for a Latakia flake.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 08, 2020 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Once this tin is open, it is time to move it to a jar. The flakes are very thin and fold easily to fill the bowl. a few false starts gets it going and some relights will make it to the bottom of a slow burn. The burley is lost in the blend. I get a hint of cigar flavor. The Virginia and fruit flavor casing add the very mild sweetness and slight citrus tingle. The orientals add a bit of spice. Halfway through a bowl I can get a bit of bitter taste from the pipe end. not very pleasant, but the only thing memorable about the smoke. I feel there is a lot going on here, but not well blended. There are way better Latakia flakes out there for me. A mild latakia blend that is less sweet and uninspiring than what I usually like. Some may enjoy the mildness of the blend, if they can ignore the bitter.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 11, 2019 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
Very nice perfect thin flakes. Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia and burley.
Exceptional Latakia forward blend with high quality Virginias and hits of Orientals to spice things up but very much in the background. I did not detect the Burley, it is very much in the background. Very smooth mouth feel that burns evenly with no relights. Tin smoked was 4 years old which might enhance the mellowness. Very rounded marriage of the components, Latakia is very pronounced but not over the top like, for example, Pirate Kate or BlackHouse, both of which I love. This blend is a perfect example of how to balance the typical Lat, Virginia and Oriental components. Taste is very rich while still mellow enough to enjoy without any harshness whatsoever. Soft mouth feel, lots of smoke, strength is moderate to full, smokes cool, with a very pleasant aftertaste. NIc hit is mild. No topping or casing detected, just natural tobacco with some sweetness from the Virginias, the smokiness of the Latakia is delightful and the hits of Orientals compliment the experience. Smoked in Nording freehand. Again, tin reviewed was 4 years old so flavors were perfectly blended over the years. I am a fan of Latakia and Balkan blends and this is one of the best. Very highly recommended.
Exceptional Latakia forward blend with high quality Virginias and hits of Orientals to spice things up but very much in the background. I did not detect the Burley, it is very much in the background. Very smooth mouth feel that burns evenly with no relights. Tin smoked was 4 years old which might enhance the mellowness. Very rounded marriage of the components, Latakia is very pronounced but not over the top like, for example, Pirate Kate or BlackHouse, both of which I love. This blend is a perfect example of how to balance the typical Lat, Virginia and Oriental components. Taste is very rich while still mellow enough to enjoy without any harshness whatsoever. Soft mouth feel, lots of smoke, strength is moderate to full, smokes cool, with a very pleasant aftertaste. NIc hit is mild. No topping or casing detected, just natural tobacco with some sweetness from the Virginias, the smokiness of the Latakia is delightful and the hits of Orientals compliment the experience. Smoked in Nording freehand. Again, tin reviewed was 4 years old so flavors were perfectly blended over the years. I am a fan of Latakia and Balkan blends and this is one of the best. Very highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
Nording freehand
Age When Smoked:
4 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 04, 2019 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Very well balance bland, the latakia and oriental on the background you can taste it but virginia always on the front. It not boring, smoke slowly because it tend to burn hot. Very nice and recomeded
Pipe Used:
Peterson, Unknown Briar Pipe
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
1 Year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 19, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I've tried and tried and tried with Mac Baren. I wanted to like their blends, but i just can't do it. This blend has been another fail for me. It actually starts of pretty good. It has a very creamy quality to the flavor, a semi sweetness and semi smokiness, but it all drowns out after 15 minutes of so into flavorless steam. This is my experience with this flakes new and at 4 years. Some things just don't change.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 01, 2024 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
A l’ouverture du sachet c’est le Latakia qui domine avec des notes de cuir et de fumé.
Les flakes ont de belles couleurs noirs parsemés de bruns plus ou moins foncés.
Allumage très facile.
Dès le départ je suis surpris par la douceur de ce mélange. La fumée est presque froide mais généreuse.
En tout premier lieu je détecte une légère pointe de pain grillé; ça ne dure pas, c’est assez furtif.
Puis viennent ensuite des notes épicées.
Le Latakia est bien là mais pas trop fort; je vais donc me risquer à faire quelques retro-olfactions.
Cela passe plutôt bien. Bien sur c’est le cuir qui domine mais il y a aussi une petite note de noisette.
En bouche c’est soyeux, épicé, acidulé et sur la fin du premier tiers légèrement sucré.
Tous les types de tabacs sont présent. Parfait.
La combustion est très bonne.
Au deuxième tiers le mélange prends un petit peu plus de corps et de sucre aussi. Les Orientaux sont bien présents. C’est surprenant mais agréable. Cela adouci le Latakia et laisse un peu plus de place au Virginia.
En retro-olfaction ce sont des notes de cuir et de noisettes.
La fumée n’est pas très chaude et la combustion toujours aussi bonne.
Au troisième tiers le mélange continue de prendre du corps sans toutefois être trop fort.
En retro-olfaction c’est le cuir qui domine.
En bouche il y a une note acidulée, épicée (très légère) et fumée.
Sur la fin le Burley se réveille avec une belle note de noisette.
Un mélange surprenant avec son coté sucré. Non linéaire et une combustion très bonne.
Les flakes ont de belles couleurs noirs parsemés de bruns plus ou moins foncés.
Allumage très facile.
Dès le départ je suis surpris par la douceur de ce mélange. La fumée est presque froide mais généreuse.
En tout premier lieu je détecte une légère pointe de pain grillé; ça ne dure pas, c’est assez furtif.
Puis viennent ensuite des notes épicées.
Le Latakia est bien là mais pas trop fort; je vais donc me risquer à faire quelques retro-olfactions.
Cela passe plutôt bien. Bien sur c’est le cuir qui domine mais il y a aussi une petite note de noisette.
En bouche c’est soyeux, épicé, acidulé et sur la fin du premier tiers légèrement sucré.
Tous les types de tabacs sont présent. Parfait.
La combustion est très bonne.
Au deuxième tiers le mélange prends un petit peu plus de corps et de sucre aussi. Les Orientaux sont bien présents. C’est surprenant mais agréable. Cela adouci le Latakia et laisse un peu plus de place au Virginia.
En retro-olfaction ce sont des notes de cuir et de noisettes.
La fumée n’est pas très chaude et la combustion toujours aussi bonne.
Au troisième tiers le mélange continue de prendre du corps sans toutefois être trop fort.
En retro-olfaction c’est le cuir qui domine.
En bouche il y a une note acidulée, épicée (très légère) et fumée.
Sur la fin le Burley se réveille avec une belle note de noisette.
Un mélange surprenant avec son coté sucré. Non linéaire et une combustion très bonne.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 12, 2023 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
MacBaren HH Latakia Flake
This is a very good, classic style English blend. You can easily smell the Lat when the tin is opened or after drying but … it’s a very mild Lat in the smoking. The orientals and other elements merge in a wonderful way such that I lose track of where I am. To me this is what makes any blend outstanding.
MacBaren says: “This is a hot pressed flake tobacco, meaning that during the pressing steam is added to mature the tobacco further and to ensure a mellow smoking experience. A blend of bright Virginias, spicy Orient, a bit of burley, and a fair amount of Cyprus Latakia is the foundation of HH Latakia Flake. The taste is complex with the smoky note from Latakia in the front seat, the subtle sweetness from the Virginias working in the back, and the mellow spiciness from the Orientals popping up from time to time, creating an intimate interplay where all tobaccos play their role and contribute to this unique smoking experience. HH Latakia Flake has very little casing and no top flavour at all.”
And there you have it — the occasional admission of added sweeteners via a casing.
I’d give this 3 of 4 stars. It’s a competent , journeyman mild English with decent taste but not a lot of nuance. Magnum Opus from Hearth & Home or Thomas’ Blend from Emerson_Southern_Forged are both mild and better.
This is a very good, classic style English blend. You can easily smell the Lat when the tin is opened or after drying but … it’s a very mild Lat in the smoking. The orientals and other elements merge in a wonderful way such that I lose track of where I am. To me this is what makes any blend outstanding.
MacBaren says: “This is a hot pressed flake tobacco, meaning that during the pressing steam is added to mature the tobacco further and to ensure a mellow smoking experience. A blend of bright Virginias, spicy Orient, a bit of burley, and a fair amount of Cyprus Latakia is the foundation of HH Latakia Flake. The taste is complex with the smoky note from Latakia in the front seat, the subtle sweetness from the Virginias working in the back, and the mellow spiciness from the Orientals popping up from time to time, creating an intimate interplay where all tobaccos play their role and contribute to this unique smoking experience. HH Latakia Flake has very little casing and no top flavour at all.”
And there you have it — the occasional admission of added sweeteners via a casing.
I’d give this 3 of 4 stars. It’s a competent , journeyman mild English with decent taste but not a lot of nuance. Magnum Opus from Hearth & Home or Thomas’ Blend from Emerson_Southern_Forged are both mild and better.
Pipe Used:
IMP Meerschaum
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 02, 2023 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Unnoticeable |
Mac Baren HH Latakia Flake-The Latakia is always present but not overpowering . The Virginias are grassy and citrusy and sweet . The burley adds body and is recognized in the retrohale . It is probably cased with something sweet? The Orientals are floral and buttery and tangy and add a little bit of spice . A creamy smooth tasty sweet blend and very enjoyable but nothing special. 3
Age When Smoked:
3 yr old tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Package note of tart smoky, moderate spice and vinegar. The mostly black and dark brown flakes easily rub out, moisture content is fairly high, a bit of drying is recommended. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and consistent, with notes of sweet campfire, earth, pine wood, floral, herbal spice, leather, sour musty vegetative note, sweet grass, tart lemon, mild bitter nuts and a moderately peppery retro. Virginias is barely winning the lead over Latakia. Orientals are supporting. Burleys is providing backup. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is awesome.
Pipe Used:
1981 Peterson Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom:
TobaccoPipes.com
Age When Smoked:
5 years
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