Mac Baren: Dark Twist 16oz Pipe Tobacco

Product Number: 003-039-0044

One of Mac Baren's oldest blends, Dark Twist is made in roll cake style. Sweet, mature Virginias and dark-fired Kentucky are cased with maple sugar to enhance the natural flavors making for a robust blend with a soft subtle note.
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  • Components: Virginia, Dark Fired Kentucky, Black Cavendish
  • Family: Virginia
  • Cut: Coins
Customer Reviews
Overall Rating:
4.6
4 reviews
The first tobacco i fell in love with
February 16, 2025
Product: Mac Baren Dark Twist 16oz
I tried this on week two of my pipe journey at the recommendation of my local tobacconist. So many people say "this is not for beginners" and that is the biggest lie ever told. Love the tin note, it tastes just as it smells to me. Id recommend this to anyone on day 1 or day 9,472 of pipe smoking. The virginia's give the nice light bready citrus flavors followed by the warm deep flavor from the dark fired kentucky. Depending on how you pack, you can get more coins with the dark fire center followed by some with less, which gives a full bowl a nice journey through flavors. I've had it with coffee in the morning, after lunch, in the evening with some bourbon and in hot and cold weather. It does it all well. Just a great straight forward blend that can be and everyday smoke. I cellered a few pounds since the STG takeover, looks like we are sadly losing this one....Read More
For those that like Dark Fired, but in a milder form
January 28, 2025
Product: Mac Baren Dark Twist 16oz
Smoked in a Peterson Derry 230. I like Dark Twist with my morning coffee. It has a good amount of nicotine and a balanced sweet/savory mouthfeel which pairs well with a brighter, light-roast black coffee. If you like DF flavor but want it milder and balanced with a sweetness, this is one to have. Dark Fired (DF) is astringent to me and tugs at the back of my throat. I enjoy the flavor it contributes to mixtures, but I have to be careful and prefer smaller proportions. I typically have a couple bowls of burley-based tobaccos in the morning, a couple of aromatic bowls during the afternoon, and a fuller English in the evening. That morning burley possesses the appropriate properties with which to start the day, and it doesn't assault the buds. Dark Twist fits the bill. Though it's not a burley base, the DF is assertive enough. If your routine is similar, give it a try. This is a medium to full bodied mixture on a Virginia base. The oily, woody, savory, bitter, peppery spice of the Dark Fired (DF) is tempered by the black cavendish and high proportion of VA. The sweetness is slight but layered: natural sugars from the VA ; maple sugar casing; and finally Black Cavendish (BC). It's deep and round, but slight. The BC doesn't hollow out the mixture, rather it sweetens and contributes a smoothness to counter the spicy and sharp VA and DF. This is really well constructed and balanced. Absolutely no bite whatsoever. Perfect. The nicotine is 3.5 out of 5....Read More
Desert Island Blend
June 18, 2020
Product: Mac Baren Dark Twist 16oz
Like Per Jensen says, if you wake up on a Monday Morning and you are feeling a bit off, just smoke the ones with with the dark center, and you will feel alright again. There are two full Virginia coins to every Dark-fired center coin in each package. So, you can learn their flavors and strength, and self-regulate accordingly, I've never known any one container to contain so many different flavor and strength options. I love changing it up with every bowl. I can choose to pack a Dark Fired centric bowl or a Virginia centric bowl. And, I am constantly experimenting with layering this tobacco to switch things up mid-bowl and even switch them back again. If I were on a Desert Island, this might be the only tobacco I would need. And, it has that unmistakable Mac Baren natural flavor of, to me, brown sugar or whatever they use to case it. It is fantastic. Almost as good as candied bacon. And, better than candied bacon for breakfast, actually. Love this tobacco!...Read More
Truly wonderful
July 24, 2017
Product: Mac Baren Dark Twist 16oz
This is truly not for the novice or beginning pipe smoker. It's got a learning curve and I have had to get used too this tobacco. The easiest way to pack the bowl is to get a few of the coins of the tobacco and fold them in half and place it in your bowl. You have to be careful to not overpack your bowl. Gently sit back and sip the tobacco and you will have a lot less tongue bite and you will have a great time with the great taste of pure Virginia tobacco. Recommend it for cigar smokers too that enjoy a pipe too....Read More