Mac Baren ― HH Bold Kentucky

Mac Baren - HH Bold Kentucky
Mac Barren's HH Bold Kentucky comes as a dark brown flake with sparse flecks of lighter Virginia leaf. The tin note is smokey with hints of fermented plum, dark fruit, and molasses. Being a pressed tobacco, the flakes are fairly moist in the tin, and could benefit from a bit of drying time. The cold draw is marginally sweet with a touch of molasses.
Even rubbed out, the tobacco takes some effort to get started, and requires several relights throughout; issues that might be minimized with a bit of patience and experimentation, but I doubt can fully be remedied.
As the name suggest: the dark-fired Kentucky leaf is bold; front and center. The vaguely sweet tin aroma and test draws are nowhere to be found during the first half of the the bowl, with the flavor of Kentucky leaf strong, pure, and unadulterated; a taste similar to dry, bitter chocolate and dark roast espresso. A perceivable casing or topping is absent, with the blend being allowed to speak for itself. The body is full, with an obvious nicotine content, and may be best enjoyed as a late, second dinner. By mid-bowl, the grassy Virginia leaf helps round out the strength, slightly softening the blow... but not before the Kentucky comes back swinging harder than ever.
Contrary to the moisture level ― fresh from the tin ― the blend burns cool and fairly dry.
Mac Baren's HH Bold Kentucky is a stout, straight forward blend, that excels at what it was blended to do: deliver a dark, rich, punchy dark-fired Kentucky flavor for lovers of that special breed of burley. Where HH Old Dark Fired is a mellow, hip, crowd pleasing tobacco, that often tries to play to the judges ― Bold Kentucky is it's much beefier cousin; always proud to flaunt exactly what it is: simple, brash, unapologetic, and a bit punch-drunk.
3/4 stars.

Click to expand...