Customer Reviews (10 Total)
Not much there
October 01, 2019
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Well, I was hoping this Mac Baren version might at least be close to the older versions, but it’s far from it. The old recipe had a very distinct vanilla caramel... slightly maple tin note, and had a nice level of nicotine, too. For an aromatic, it a... Read More
ctually had some complexity. This new version has the slightest whiff of a topping aroma, but it’s barely detectable. The ribbon cut is a bit too long, and the moisture is fairly high, so it needs to be dried and it’s not as easy to load as say... a typical Dunhill ribbon. Over all, it was a bland and rather tasteless blend. I decided to play with it, and added a few aromatic components to it, and it helped. But for the price, I shouldn’t have to do anything but smoke it and enjoy it.
If Mac Baren is able to create something as nice as the older version from England, they’d give a nice gift to the pipe smoking world (although the US market might not be seeing many new offerings with their new deeming regulations). Unfortunate. But as much as I hoped this blend would be enjoyable, I can’t give it much praise. It does not do the name justice. Read Less
Not much there
October 01, 2019
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Well, I was hoping this Mac Baren version might at least be close to the older versions, but it’s far from it. The old recipe had a very distinct vanilla caramel... slightly maple tin note, and had a nice level of nicotine, too. For an aromatic, it a... Read More
ctually had some complexity. This new version has the slightest whiff of a topping aroma, but it’s barely detectable. The ribbon cut is a bit too long, and the moisture is fairly high, so it needs to be dried and it’s not as easy to load as say... a typical Dunhill ribbon. Over all, it was a bland and rather tasteless blend. I decided to play with it, and added a few aromatic components to it, and it helped. But for the price, I shouldn’t have to do anything but smoke it and enjoy it.
If Mac Baren is able to create something as nice as the older version from England, they’d give a nice gift to the pipe smoking world (although the US market might not be seeing many new offerings with their new deeming regulations). Unfortunate. But as much as I hoped this blend would be enjoyable, I can’t give it much praise. It does not do the name justice. Read Less
Good For What It Is...
February 26, 2018
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
I actually was pleasantly surprised with this one when I finally got around to smoking it. I haven't had the original so I can't compare it to that but it is my understanding that this was an OTC baccy at one time and for that it is a perdy darn good... Read More
tobacco. The prices we are seeing on this tobacco in the States would suggest it's a top shelf, high end tobacco so it seems Mac Baren is trying to force this blend in a market where it does not belong. I would happily pay OTC prices for Gold Block but unfortunately this blend does not warrant the current asking price. This is not a high end, fancy tobacco and if that is what you are expecting you will be disappointed. It is a good, bland smoke that I wouldn't mind putting into my pipe from time to time. It doesn't have any real flavor that I can speak of, it's like a sugar cookie in that it's sweet but doesn't really taste like anything but is still quite enjoyable. If pushed this will definitely give you tongue bite so go slow with this one. Air dry this one 15-20 minutes before loading up and you'll be good to go. Nicotine is nothing special so if your require large doses of nicotine than I suggest ya snuff and puff with this one. A fun thing you can try out with this blend is mixing it 50/50 with St. Bruno for a whole different taste experience. Apparently this method was very popular for a time, they call it Ogden's Mixture.
They should have kept this one where it belongs... over the counter. Read Less
All Day Blend Under The Guise of A Premium Blend
October 08, 2016
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Don't let the title fool you, Gold Block is quite good. The only trouble is it's a bit pricy for what it is. It's a nice, light leaf with a bit of a woody-sweet note and the ability to bite if abused (It does have Virginia, that has to be expected). ... Read More
I would smoke it as an all day blend where it not trying to have the expense of something far more complex and higher quality. Read Less
Clear winner
February 12, 2018
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Ok, I am bit skeptical at 1st to smoke this. I tried in a Singapore pipe convention during 2017. This blend specially when its aged is a clear winner.
Simply deelish
July 19, 2017
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Simple, straight forward , HIGH grade stuff!! Th flavors were just what I expected with a slight Mac twist! Little pricey so I save it for a treat!!
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
I used to smoke this when I was a young man in England and never appreciated it until I recently picked up a tin since moving stateside. It has a very light sugary sweetness to it (very mild) that makes it a smooth but favourful smoke.
The Aging Pop Star Emerged From Retirement, And...
October 27, 2020
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Gold Block is like an aging pop star who had gone into retirement, after enjoying great fame for decades in England. And once the old pop idol is resurrected and pushed by his new producers into a new market and style, it becomes apparent he cannot h... Read More
it much of his previous range and has lost much of his vocal and performing skills. And then the singer once again re-enters retirement...
Mac Baren should have left its hands off this once widely-consumed blend if it wasn’t going to keep the old recipe, or improve upon it. And while I never sampled the pre-Mac Baren version produced by Ogden’s of Liverpool, I’ve read scores of reviews from pipesters who smoked both. The great majority claim that the Mac Baren version is nothing like the original, and is a shadow of its former self.
I spotted this Gold Block flash sale on Smokingpipes and was excited that these tins dated to January 2016. I almost purchased many after learning that Mac Baren was discontinuing the blend. Then my inner skeptic chimed in: why would Mac Baren kill this offering if it was successful (after there was a large fan club of the original), and why was Smokingpipes offering this limited release at 50% MSRP? I updated my order to only one tin. But I remembered how wildly popular the original over-the-counter version was in England for many decades, and I eagerly awaited my delivery. And alas, I cracked open the tin...
The paper inside the tin was stained as one often sees in long-cellared blends. The note was so pleasing, almost like a fresh grapefruit. But that is where the pleasure ended. I could find scant flavor or any room note, bowl after bowl. The back of my throat rebelled a bit against me—it burned almost as if from much Perique, though I know there was no Perique within. My mouth tasted bad cigarettes, and such a taste is not why I puff so much pipe tobacco. I’m a burley lover, and I know some burley can at times smell of cigarettes, but not like this. Besides, burley doesn’t comprise most of this blend.
Mac Baren can truly deliver some fine premium blends (Old Dark Fired, Bold Kentucky, HH Burley Flake, HH Rustica, etc.) but this contender doesn’t join them in the winners’ circle. 3.0 stars. Read Less
Gold Block Delivers
October 20, 2020
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
Tin note is very pleasant and the bowl smoked well, I got nutty citrus/orange out of it. I can see why this is popular overseas, it seems like a good "anytime smoke."
Product: Gold Block Gold Block 1.75oz
It really is the aristocrat of pipe smoke!
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