Incense Worthy of a Temple...
October 04, 2024
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
...if only it would stay lit.
Delivery: No issues whatsoever. Remember that description from O Brother Where Art Thou? I live in a geographical oddity; two shipping days, no matter where I go.
Packaging: Intact on receipt. Sturdy and keeps in moisture, even after opening multiple times. As a former Navy man myself, I do appreciate having flakes. They are convenient and keep the tobacco from spilling everywhere if you hit serious sea state. Also, when I see "flake" on the tin, it reminds me of my goofball shipmates.
Smell: Did you want to know what it's like to stick your nose in a bee hive without getting a face-full of angry critters? I popped the top on this and got all the clover honey with a few traces of dark fruit and caramel swimming in there.
Flavor: Sweetish (Cavendish) with balanced nutty body (Burley) and tang (Brightleaf). It burns cool for a long smoke. Just approach with patience. I can go an hour on one good packing.
Room note: Dunno. I went outside to light up. Smells like a nice enough October day to me.
Strength: Just enough buzz to remind you that it's there without laying you out.
Primary gripe is the need for relighting. Given the amount of casing, it's to be expected....Read More
June 19, 2024
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 16oz
All my Baren/HH flakes are drying out, due to nonsense additives. I just opened a jar with more than three years of age, and it's so dry the flakes are impossible to fold. They just crumble. I'm noticing this with all my Baren/HH: Navy Flake, Burley Flake, Dark Twist, Pure VA, Vanilla, Golden Extra (broken flake), etc., etc. They're all drying out despite airtight storage and the insides of the jars are clouding. When those two things happen together — cloudy jars and dried out flakes — you know they've used Glycols and other additives as humectants for false moisture and heavier weight. The flavors become increasingly bitter the older these additives get, because they go rancid. I'm not surprised, but I am incredibly disappointed. My stocks from 2020 and older are okay, but ones from 2021 and later all look like this. This is bad news. What a waste. Unless I learn that the issue has been resolved, I will not buy Mac Baren/HH again....Read More
June 17, 2024
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
Wonderful I received a three year old tin from smoking pipes. They hooked me up and I’m very happy I was able to break in my new Savinelli Punto Oro Gold pipe with this excellent tobacco. It’s sweet and has a very nice hint of Fig flavor. I couldn’t be happier.
One of the easiest flake blends
October 30, 2023
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
MacBaren said only a tiny amount of rum is present, but I think it’s a little more intense than that. This is a classic, the more I smoke it, the more I like it. Good tasting, easy smoking. The overriding factor of the blend is that is has more Burley than Virginia in the taste.
February 13, 2023
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
Tin note of honey, spices and rum. Tobacco is a marbled dark brown flake. Moisture content is great. Rubs out with little effort. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. Flavoring is mild, with notes of Honey, which dissipates before the halfway point. Rum is listed, but I couldn't detect it. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of toast, wood, fermented vegetation, nuts, leather, spices, bread, grassy/hay, earth, floral, orange peel/zest, mild acidic/spicy, savory, dry bitterness, a tart vinegary sour background note, and a peppery retro. Virginia is leading with Burley supporting. Cavendish starts off strong and is sidelined in the first half. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great....Read More
Best Navy Flake on the market
January 04, 2023
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 16oz
By far the best Navy for your pipe. Amazing notes, easy to keep burning, sweet taste with good smoke. I buy it and keep it in stock.
May 15, 2022
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
Fine for a smoke but after a few days (dries?) and loses its aroma-smoking pleasure. The flakes feel a bit *woody* and flakes harder to crumble. I tried keeping it in a bag @ 80% RH but did not help much.
April 20, 2022
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
This is a good blend. There is a faint booze scent in the tin but little to none on the smoke. First half is mild, better as you go. Decent all day, flakes are nice and dry after a little jar time.
March 24, 2022
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 16oz
Is it an aromatic Tobacco? Or not?
February 03, 2022
Product: Mac Baren Navy Flake 3.5oz
An excellent burley flake that smokes wonderfully.