Mac Baren Modern Virginia Flake
(3.05)
The tobacco is pressed into blocks and stored for minimum 30 days before they are cut into flakes. Finally the flakes are hand packed to protect the tobacco from breaking up.
This flake is made of Virginias out of 2 continents. A bright yellow and a darker Virginia have been used in combination with a modern cavendish. A touch of burley ensures a soft and smooth smoke. This flake gives you a natural sweet taste of tobacco and just a detectable topping of sweet, ripe fruit.
Details
| Brand | Mac Baren |
| Blended By | Per Jensen |
| Manufactured By | Mac Baren |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Burley |
| Contents | Burley, Cavendish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Apricot, Pineapple |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 1.75 ounce tin weight |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.05 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 2014 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
- I'm going against the crowd, sorry. Upon opening a fresh tin, ( 3 months of age), the tin note was of Pineapple and an "ammonia Snuff" scent ( my fellow reviewers say it's "Apricot"). The tobacco was damp, so I removed the flakes and spread them out for 5 hours, this only partially reduced the "snuff/ Apricot" scent. Upon lighting a bowl the flavor was predominantly of a Sour Pineapple. I should explain, I'm usually not an aromatic smoker, but this was well done , not an artificial or cloying Pineapple and it did not impart a bite. The flavor remained through a couple of relights and until the second 1/2 of the bowl where it dissipated and the smoke turned "Muddy" and "ashy" . I never really experienced the tobacco flavor, so I can't say if I liked it , the smoke went from "Sour Pineapple to Mud".
There seemed to be very little NATURAL sweetness or flavor from the Virginia's. Taking a closer look at the blends ingredients , it seems that the addition of Burley and "MODERN' Cavendish ( ???) may have tamed what Virginia flavor there was. If I was forced to say what tobacco this was similar to, I would have a hard time, but my guess is a milder Peterson's University Flake with a Pineapple topping.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had just smoked some MacBaren's Virginia No. 1 accompanied with some "Dole's Pineapple" juice !
UPDATE: 1/5/2017- ( two years later)- Saw this tin sitting in the "Misfit Tobacco Pile" and I gave it another go. It was dry as a bone and I didn't rehydrate it. The taste was rather improved; a much lighter Pineapple flavor, actually enjoyable and you could taste the tobacco. Won't increase the rating but after two years it is now 3 stars.
There seemed to be very little NATURAL sweetness or flavor from the Virginia's. Taking a closer look at the blends ingredients , it seems that the addition of Burley and "MODERN' Cavendish ( ???) may have tamed what Virginia flavor there was. If I was forced to say what tobacco this was similar to, I would have a hard time, but my guess is a milder Peterson's University Flake with a Pineapple topping.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had just smoked some MacBaren's Virginia No. 1 accompanied with some "Dole's Pineapple" juice !
UPDATE: 1/5/2017- ( two years later)- Saw this tin sitting in the "Misfit Tobacco Pile" and I gave it another go. It was dry as a bone and I didn't rehydrate it. The taste was rather improved; a much lighter Pineapple flavor, actually enjoyable and you could taste the tobacco. Won't increase the rating but after two years it is now 3 stars.
Pipe Used:
cob
Age When Smoked:
3 month/2 weeks open
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 13, 2015 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I'm primarily a Virginian smoker, and feel better qualified to comment on this end of the tobacco spectrum. Saying that, I was eager to try this blend and was sorely disappointed. It burned hot and bland, and I found little of the fruity tin smell carried through. MacBaren--while having some of the prettiest tins in the business--needs to improve the quality of their tobacco leaves. The quality of their leaves fall far short of Dunhill or McClelland.
Pipe Used:
Bertram
Age When Smoked:
Spankin' brand new.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 04, 2017 | Mild | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is an interesting smoke. There is a nice nutty quality along with a pleasant sweet bread and vanillia, and citrus flavor from the Virginia. As for the top flavors I thought the pineapple flavor actually worked well. As a non areromatic smoker I was very shocked by this. However I was confused by the apricot flavoring. When it worked it felt out of place, but for the most part it was just a flavor that muddied the overall profile of this tobacco. I would smoke it again, but I would not seek it out.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Kinsale XL13
PurchasedFrom:
tobaccopipes.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 03, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
The natural tobacco flavors are wonderful. Mostly Virginia fruit and citrus with just a touch of nut and earth from the Burley. The topping is very tasty, mostly apricot with a hint of pineapple. When they said "ripe" in the description they weren't kidding. In fact, it's almost over ripe. A little too much so for my taste. No doubt, it's a great flake of high quality, but the added flavors make me think of fruit that is a day or two past it's prime. Evidently, a lot of people like this one so maybe it's just my taste buds. At the least it's worth trying.
Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. Flavoring is mild.
Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. Flavoring is mild.
Pipe Used:
MM Country Gentleman, Mark Twain, Diplomat Apple
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh
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