There's 3 products being discussed here now. Mac Baren Virginia #1 which is a ready-rub. Mac Baren Virginia Flake which is the tiny wasp-yellow tin, and Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia.
HH Pure is a heat pressed flake, and it's a little... dead, honestly, compared to the Virginia Flake outright. The Virginia Flake is really sweet, obviously has a little top dressing, but I don't find it quite as obviously a honey-fest as V#1. I gave a few flakes to a fried who smokes bigger richer stuff mostly, but he's on board with virginias.... and he took a puff and said "Wow that's sharp." and another puff or two and he said "Wow that's good" and then he ordered a pound for the cellar.
So. The Virginia Flake is a bright, sharp, sweet virginia. When you have it just so, it's magic. I never found magic outright with Va#1, but I haven't had it in a long time either so I can't give a head-to-head. I remember it being pretty honey-forward and pretty nippy.
The HH Pure is good product, don't get me wrong, but it's way more tame - all the edges are steamed right out so it's a much more uniform flavor presentation and a much less finicky smoke.
I think people who like any or all of Capstan (yellow particularly), Dunhill Flake, Brunello, CVP or CBP from FT... then a tin of this Virginia Flake from Mac is worth a try. If you like virginias dirty and mean, like a brown flake, then this is a far cry.