Mac Baren Modern Virginia Loose Cut

Mac Baren - Modern Virginia Loose Cut.

Tin note's fruity and sharp, and although the paper which surrounds it's heavily stained it's not too wet. It's currently badged as Broken Flake but the cut's a steadfast ribbon.

The toppings are a little heavier than mild, especially the apricots, it tastes like the aromatics are heavier than I found in the flake version. Like the Modern Virginia Flake the Virginias give a lot more flavour than the Burley, I detect only a smidgen of the Burley. The Virginia Cavendish brings a honey-sweetness, curbing the alacrity from the fruity topping. It burns consistently, but I think it goes a little quickly. I get no tongue bite.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: pleasant.

This isn't bad, but I prefer the flake version. Somewhat recommended:

Two stars.

Tin aroma is very heavy fruity apricot but, being a top flavor doesn't come through that much in the smoke. The flavor is more simple and mild, slight sweetness and fruit, balanced with practically no bite which is nice for a virginia. In relation to the milder taste the top flavor is way overboard and would be better if it was somewhat understated yet more complex. I'm not sure what Mac Baren is trying to do with this one, if it's their attempt at something similar in class to Erinmore or other super fruity blends. But again, it doesn't have the heavy flavor of something like Erinmore that it's tin aroma would suggest which seems incongruous to me. A mostly virginia ribbon with an almost insignificant dose of black cavendish that I can't discern offers much. A rating of 2.5 stars.

p.s. I did not taste any off flavors as some have noted.

The pouch reminds me of echinacea tea. Later I heard Per Jensen say that it had some peach flavoring in it during an interview.

Tobacco packs easily and lights just the same. The first few puffs are very sweet and creamy, almost reminiscent of creme brûlée. The flavors I got after that were sweet, similar to a stevia sweetness. I am not particularity fond of MacBaren's cavendish and it is definitely present in this tobacco.

This tobacco has a tendency to burn hot but doesn't leave behind too much dottle at the end of a smoke.

I will say I was disappointed when this came out thinking that it was going to be a true VA flake but instead it's just peachy cavendish and burley and VA. Not for me, but may be for you.

From a demo pouch sent out: a decent enough mild VA-based aromatic. Burns a bit on the hot-side for me, and for whatever reason, this never really caught my interest. The dark fruit topping is tasty enough for the first third of a bowl, but disappeared soon thereafter. What was left wasn't bad, but it was a tad boring.

I don't have a lot of luck with Mac Baren. In their defense, there are a couple of their blends that are magical, but most of the time they are dry, honey-drenched flame throwers. This is one of the latter.

I do have to admit, the Virginias used are of good quality (if a bit over-dry). However, why do they have to put that honey/fruit/sugar topping on most of their stuff? Virginias burn a little hot any way and if they're dry and drenched with accelerant...

Anyway, I'll give this 2 stars and will possibly revisit it later. I've read that the flake version is better and it may treat me a bit less harshly. It's quality stuff, I just don't understand the fruity, honey topping.

I didn't notice any flavor from the topping. I had a pouch of this tobacco. I found it mild and a slightly sweet virginia blend with a bit of spice. The room note was pleasant enough, but this blend just didn't ring any bells for me. It's well made, but I don't think I'm much of a fan of fruit cased virginias, even if its a light casing.

Pouch note is citrus, honey and pineapple, though subdued and not at all cloying. The tobacco is medium to light brown ribbon. Moisture content is lower than what one might expect, and Modern Virginia is ready to smoke right out of the pouch. 

The charring light delivers exactly what the nose promised: citrus, honey and pineapple, perhaps even a bit of exotic fruit (kiwi? lychee?) with the honey slightly more assertive than the pouch note would suggest. There's some body to this smoke as well, some earthiness in the background: coffee, cocoa, leather. This grounds the blend nicely in the "tastes-like-tobacco" niche and places it firmly in the Nordic, as opposed to American, aromatic category. 

The flavoring agent largely burns off within the first third of the bowl and the smoker is left with a somewhat sharp VaBur smoke with an undercurrent of honey/citrus, some of the aforementioned earthiness, and the slightest hint of burley parchment. This blend can definitely bite if smoked too enthusiastically, but when sipped with a consciously slow cadence, there is plenty of flavor. Modern Virginia smokes nice and dry, though a bit hot and sharp. 

A pleasant enough smoke, but doesn't stand out in a competitive field. Could work as an all-day blend if not for the attention required to avoid bite. This reminds me of Erinmore Mixture without the consistency of flavor. For those who enjoy a citrus/honey/pineapple aromatic grounded with good body, and who are naturally slow sippers, this could be a three-star blend. For me, alas. 

I should add: despite the blend's name, true Virginia smokers will be disappointed. This is likely not your blend. 

I received a free sample and was eager to try the blend. I was in a mood for a Virginia with some topping. Pouch notes are fruity . Lighting was easy but it can burn fast . It stays lit no problems. The first half of the bowl I got hints of fruit then on the second half it gets weak a little bit but it still present . The Virginia tobacco is not like the others from what I read not from the states and is not tangy like American Virginia . I do like the room notes but I would like to try the flakes since I prefer flakes. Modern Virginia is anice blend for anyone who likes aromatic tobacco and could be a stepping stone to more of the straight Virginia and VaPers out in the world.