Kyle Weiss
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
- Messages
- 11,988
- Reaction score
- 7
I had a couple of days off. One of which was spent running errands, getting the oil changed, shuffling bits of money here and there for bills for "Z" and me, but I ended up at the Tinder Box while I was waiting for my truck to get the tires rotated, etc. Funny, it just happened to be close by! Totally not a planned move. No sir.
One of the workers and I were talking about Mac Baren products, because I really enjoyed (as did he) the new Old Dark Fired, but he was hesitant to try other varieties due to the bad rap "Mac Bite" seems to get. Of course, I mentioned Navy Flake and Plumcake, which have treated me (and my sensitive tongue) quite well. Then again, I smoke very pragmatically and with a purpose to flavor, so that likely helps. I have a feeling my "chemistry" also lends itself well to not intensifying any issues others may have with poor Mac Baren.
No sooner mentioned by me as something I've been meaning to try, out comes a fresh tin of Virginia No. 1, and suddenly becomes a sample for the worker (apparently they're allowed to try pretty much anything they like--jealous much?) and we headed off to a friend's house to go try it out at closing time.
The shaggy "ready rubbed" stuff is chunky, very golden, and smells really, really good. Mac Baren typically has a great moisture percentage in the tin, it's never too saturated--which means there's probably more tobacco in the tin than water, as we do buy this stuff by weight! I didn't need to do much, other than gravity-feed and pack down slightly the blend, and grab a lighter.
There's nothing I enjoy more than beginning to smoke a brand-new tobacco, one with perhaps a negative stigma behind it, and almost half-expecting people to be right--to suddenly take a few puffs and say, "...holy sh*t." I managed to catch some whiffs of the "room note" from the other guys, and it had one of the nicest, natural, balanced, ever-so-mild-toasted-bread-with-sugar smell to it. Even better than McClelland's FMC 2000--which surprised me more, realizing this blend has almost no up-front sweetness to it. Thank goodness. If it's worth mentioning once, I'll say it again: I don't like sweet stuff. At all.
Bright and bread-like, smooth as silk, excellent wheat-like nose, hint of orange, aromatic hops, just a touch of honey. DGT actually clarifies and crisps-up the blend, making it taste almost like a hefeweizen beer. It's refreshing, clean and full of personality.
I have been smoking this now for the last couple of days as my "morning smoke," when my tongue is freshest and only Virginias will do. It's below a "medium" on nicotine content, but lately, I've been after plug tobaccos, so it's possible I'm just not as staggered than I have been. Tea pairs up astonishingly well, a mild black or a green tea (unsweetened, of course) really compliments the flavors.
Mac Baren tobaccos, if approached wisely and considerately, can be as gentle as a sleeping kitten. Start roughing it up, or pick a difficult pipe, though, and the claws come out. It's all in the method, and this one is fun if you enjoy a challenge or trust your "puffing skills," or simply just don't trust hype (glowing or terrible). I can see this easily joining the ranks of some of my favorite non-matured Virginias, and this is fast becoming my favorite Mac'B product yet.
8)
One of the workers and I were talking about Mac Baren products, because I really enjoyed (as did he) the new Old Dark Fired, but he was hesitant to try other varieties due to the bad rap "Mac Bite" seems to get. Of course, I mentioned Navy Flake and Plumcake, which have treated me (and my sensitive tongue) quite well. Then again, I smoke very pragmatically and with a purpose to flavor, so that likely helps. I have a feeling my "chemistry" also lends itself well to not intensifying any issues others may have with poor Mac Baren.
No sooner mentioned by me as something I've been meaning to try, out comes a fresh tin of Virginia No. 1, and suddenly becomes a sample for the worker (apparently they're allowed to try pretty much anything they like--jealous much?) and we headed off to a friend's house to go try it out at closing time.
The shaggy "ready rubbed" stuff is chunky, very golden, and smells really, really good. Mac Baren typically has a great moisture percentage in the tin, it's never too saturated--which means there's probably more tobacco in the tin than water, as we do buy this stuff by weight! I didn't need to do much, other than gravity-feed and pack down slightly the blend, and grab a lighter.
There's nothing I enjoy more than beginning to smoke a brand-new tobacco, one with perhaps a negative stigma behind it, and almost half-expecting people to be right--to suddenly take a few puffs and say, "...holy sh*t." I managed to catch some whiffs of the "room note" from the other guys, and it had one of the nicest, natural, balanced, ever-so-mild-toasted-bread-with-sugar smell to it. Even better than McClelland's FMC 2000--which surprised me more, realizing this blend has almost no up-front sweetness to it. Thank goodness. If it's worth mentioning once, I'll say it again: I don't like sweet stuff. At all.
Bright and bread-like, smooth as silk, excellent wheat-like nose, hint of orange, aromatic hops, just a touch of honey. DGT actually clarifies and crisps-up the blend, making it taste almost like a hefeweizen beer. It's refreshing, clean and full of personality.
I have been smoking this now for the last couple of days as my "morning smoke," when my tongue is freshest and only Virginias will do. It's below a "medium" on nicotine content, but lately, I've been after plug tobaccos, so it's possible I'm just not as staggered than I have been. Tea pairs up astonishingly well, a mild black or a green tea (unsweetened, of course) really compliments the flavors.
Mac Baren tobaccos, if approached wisely and considerately, can be as gentle as a sleeping kitten. Start roughing it up, or pick a difficult pipe, though, and the claws come out. It's all in the method, and this one is fun if you enjoy a challenge or trust your "puffing skills," or simply just don't trust hype (glowing or terrible). I can see this easily joining the ranks of some of my favorite non-matured Virginias, and this is fast becoming my favorite Mac'B product yet.
8)
