Mac Baren Virginia no. 1 Question

frennchy11 · Apr 30, 2012

I recently picked this up from my B&M and while I loved the tin note, smoking it was almost painful (literally!). I tried puffing really slow and not very often but it got the bowl of my pipe so hot I couldn't even touch it! I have only smoked it once so I might try a different pipe next time. Anyone else have this problem?

marmal4de · Apr 30, 2012

The Va curse!

rcstan · May 1, 2012

I get the best out of VA#1 by loading it about a half hour before either in a little 317 P-Lipped Pete System or in my Royal Lane Dublin which has a conical chamber and THICK walls. Oh, and don't rub it out or try to top off with the dust, that stuff turns into gunpowder :puffpipe:

nsfisher · May 1, 2012

Burns hell out of the tounge for me. I can not smoke it at all

judcole · May 1, 2012

I am not fond of Va Number 1, but that's a taste issue.

Have you tried a looser pack? From my experience, a looser pack helps cool down MacBaren blends considerably.
Although I never see it mentioned here, IMO MacBaren HH Virginia blows their Virginia Number 1 out of the water. I have several tins of it cellared. It will never be more than "I smoke about a tin a year" blend for me, but Va Number 1 is a "never again".

frennchy11 · May 1, 2012

I think I'm going to give it a few more goes to see if I can calm it down. If not, i'll probably try to trade it on here

bobby46 · May 1, 2012

Va #1 is one of my favorite mild-flavored smokes. You need the right pipe. Big/fat Cherrywoods handle it and any Va very well.

cortezattic · May 1, 2012

Even Per George Jensen, the product manager for Mac Baren says that Va #1, the only Mac Baren blend made up of 100% Virginia tobacco, bites like an angry wasp. But it doesn't faze me at all -- just a nice, tame, sweet, fully rubbed Va flake for me. I believe that pipe smokers are divided into two types: those whom it bites, and those who can smoke it with impunity. It's sort of like the division among diet and non-diet cola drinkers: some like it, and some just can't stan'it!

jchaplick · May 1, 2012

I smoke it all the time with little burn. It works the best if you you pull it right out of the tin and stuff it on the medium to tight side in a medium to small bowled pipe. I rarley have a problem with it biting, just keep trying

frennchy11 · May 1, 2012

I try playing around with some different techniques. I'll let you know how it goes.

frennchy11 · May 1, 2012

I tried my second bowl in a different pipe and it was a bit better, but I still got pretty bad tongue bite. The bowl never got too hot but I must have re-lit about 20 times. I am going to give it one more shot in my cob to decide whether or not to keep it.

rcstan · May 1, 2012

@frennchy11 It must be a case of what cortezattic speaks of, nothing to do with technique or pipe selection, your mouth just doesn't get along with it. If you decide to rid of it let me know and I'll trade ya something for it.

frennchy11 · May 1, 2012

Alright sounds good. Too bad though cause when I did get it to burn fine (rarely) it actually tasted very good! I'll let you know how the last bowl goes.

igloo · May 2, 2012

Could be the sugar content burning hot I always get a hint of honey from the blend . You will find the right pipe a small billard perhaps .

thbg · May 2, 2012

I smoke this blend regularly. I smoke it in a small chambered bowl with very thick walls and I sip it slowly. Never seemed to have a problem. Also, I don't rub it out anymore than it already is. Hope that helps.

Mac Baren Virginia no. 1 Question

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