Mac Baren HH Bold Kentucky

This is a nice bold and full flavor tobacco that has no bite and is good from start to finish. I would even say that it has a hearty “meaty” quality that is satisfying. Works well in various size bowls and while it seems moist from the tin, it lights well and produces thick clouds of smoke. This one will join my rotation list and I’m planning on cellaring some to see how well it does with a few years of age.

I have always wanted to try that old fashioned tobacco, the stuff that puts hair on your chest. I had been smoking through Old Dark Fired which is a reasonably strong blend, and I got the nerve to buy a tin of this. I didn't know much about this blend, so on an empty stomach I packed a full, large bowl of this and proceeded to light it. It was a mistake. I was so dizzy I thought I was going to loose my empty stomach. Learn from me and smoke this after a good meal.

When you get your tin it comes in 1 oz, 3.5 oz, or a 16 lb box. When you open it you will find nicely pressed MacBaren flakes. They are really dark, and show a nice mixture of tobaccos. The tin note is similar to ODF, but there are a lot more dark fruits, BBQ spice, Virginia sweetness. This is really easy to fold and stuff, but it takes a longer time to light than all the other offerings in the HH series. Leave your flakes out for around 20 to 30 minutes and you should be good. A few more than average relights.

As you light and after you will get voluminous clouds of white smoke, this is because there are lots of natural oils in Kentucky. Taste. For a blend that is strong it is really creamy. Ample BBQ and spice from the Kentucky. Dark fruits are in the foreground. There is a molasses note and a slight floral note. I can taste the Virginias they are sweet and bright. Smooth. This is well blended. With age it does get significantly smoother. I've been been cellaring this for a little over six months and I can only imagine the taste after a year or two.

The taste of this blend is full but not in the way you'd expect. It fills your mouth with smooth flavorful smoke. Every puff brings a little nuance. Lady N is here to take you in her arms and keep you in your chair. This is strong tobacco, the strongest I've had the chance to try, but I would say even with its strength it is repeatable for me, so I must be building a tolerance. If you are not used to strong tobacco don't be afraid, I reccomend a meal and a smaller bowl for your first time with this blend. This is a great blend, one which I hope to keep in my cellar, and it is perfect for these cooler autumn months.

This is how I start my day - MacBaren hits it out of the park with this blend.

Dark, rich and sweet. Great smoke from first light to last draw. Fruity, nutty flavours and full creamy smoke. These perfectly cut MB flakes are a slow light, and require a few re-lights. It keeps the full rich flavour right to bottom of bowl.

For the rookies, this has a meaty nic hit, so be prepared. Not an all day smoke, just due to time contraints, a big bowl takes me about 2.5 hrs to get through. Can leave the bowl a bit damp, so dry to taste.

My elocution is not quite as refined as other reviewers since I'm just an old Southern Country Boy. I'm going to give another review on this later in the coming weeks as I smoke more of this tin. Everything I find about this particular tobacco is four stars. As I open the tin and take my first sniff it reminds me of a Beggin Strips for dogs it has that Smoky beef jerky smell that I find very pleasing. I have only smoked 5 bowls of this in my pipe. I'm comparing this to War Horse bar. This particular tobacco when they say is for the experienced pipe smoker there is a lot of Truth to that. Both the War Horse bar in this tobacco are so close and flavor I'm having a hard time at this point distinguishing it. so far the only difference is with this tobacco you have to sip it slowly or it will bite you. The flavor in my opinion is fantastic it is exactly what I'm looking for in a tobacco. The War Horse bar in my opinion does not bite you as quickly as this one will. The flavors are very very close. The more I smoke this I will update a little later. Like I said the only complaint I have is it has to be smoked slowly if you try to smoke it like a freight train you're going to get bit not bad but you're going to get bit. This is a very good tobacco with very good flavor lots of smoke the room notes are pretty good. I don't recommend this for a new pipe smoker. This is an update July 28th 2018. This is a rich smokey tobacco it has lots of flavor the further down the bottom of the bowl I get the nuttier the flavor. It still Burns hot if you sip it too fast. This is a smoke that's mean to enjoyed slowly I will be making another purchase of this.

A good strong smoke not to disimilar to GLP Jacknife plug. This looks a little darker but delivers hearty dose of nicotine with a plesant leathery taste. Not nearly as woodsy or campfire as Old dark fired and for that reason i like it a little more.

Don't be afraid of trying this. Whilst reasonably strong, it is nowhere near Brown Rope in strength and much more smokable. An easy all day smoke and highly recommended. Mac Baren is really putting out great new products these days!

Notes: 21 slices of flake in a 50g tin. These are a bit damp and need drying out a little before smoking ( rub, then 15-20min dry). Excellent after dinner smoke.

Tasty from get-go. Cool smoking with lots of body. Smooth, almost creamy for a burley (say compared to most Burley Flakes). Burns steady. Great inner strength. Not overwhelming but not for beginners. Some chocolate undertones. (Better tasting to me than ODF by same blender which is darker tasting to me in a new tin.)

Although there are a few other English style Kentucky bombs on the market (1792, dark flake, irish flake) this hh bold Kentucky is a very welcome addition.. notably, because of the lack of topping added.. it is a big but remarkably clean smoke.. I'm not saying flavoring is bad.. I sometimes prefer it.. it is just really nice to have this option.. unlike old dark fired this one just has a very small portion of virginia.. I barely notice it in the background.. this is a big meaty earthy smoke.. it reminds me of a cigar I once had (terrible at remembering cigar brands).. woody, spicy, blah, blah, blah.. everything you could ask for in a Kentucky dominated flake.. the hot pressing really helps to tone it down a little.. it is just a relaxing strong smoke.. I love that kind of smoke in the cooler months.. top shelf for me..

Adding a note 5/23/20 Not sure if it is the climate where I live or the tobacco itself.. I only get good results when I dry this over night.. 30 min to an hour doesn't even cut it.. the difference in the smoke is night and day.. only ever experienced this with the gawith flakes.. lots of dry time and it is beautiful!

Bold is an understatement. Every puff is full-throttle - thick with the familiar and tangy flavors of “old leather and oil”, but with a nutty undercurrent of grassy granola running beneath it. At times it is almost reminiscent of wine, leaving a pleasant twang upon the tongue. It’s surprisingly sweet, very earthy, extremely delicious. The peppery sensation on the retrohale is quite satisfying. I smoke it all the way down to the heel of my pipe, where it finishes in a clean and powdery ash, tasty to the last.

Its strength took me by surprise. When it it arrived in the mail last week I immediately rubbed out a flake and packed it into a small briar. I expected this tobacco to be strong and so settled into my chair, lit it up. It hits the throat and sinuses like a bonfire, and within minutes I could feel the tingling sensation pass across my face and arms. Ah, but I have had stronger tobaccos. Later that evening I packed another small bowl and sat down to write this review, but I nearly fell asleep in the process.

No real need to mention the tin-note or presentation on this. Smells like barbecue sauce/ ketchup, which does translate into the smoke just like any good Kentucky. Mac Baren has exceeded all my expectations on this, I must try Old Dark Fired next.

This is a great Burley: one that belongs in the repertoire of any Burley lover, like yours truly. I think it has a similar profile to my favorite C&D Burley Flake #1. It burns steady, right from start. No tongue bite. The various flavors that compose this tobacco - chocolate, cream, nuts, coffee - appear in unison at first. As you smoke through the bowl, each nuance of this savory Burley acquires a more distinct expression. In other words, it becomes "bolder" as you smoke. Not so much in terms of strength, but in the "richness" of taste. There is also an undertone of sweetness that is quite pleasant. Producing a good amount of smoke, yet with a pretty acceptable room note, this is a real winner for the Burley lover.

P.S. Try it with a smaller bowl.