Aged MacBaren's Scottish Mixture Tasting

[recoilrob]

Some of you may have missed the thread started by papipeguy and the 35 year old tin of MacBaren's Scottish Mixture he found in his parents basement. This gave me the idea to have some members taste old MacBaren's Scottish Mixture (MBSM) from my cellar. The are 7 participants and I hope they give their reviews here.
I am sending each member 3 different 4-5gr. samples of MBSM, one from a sealed 50g packet c.1989, one from some bulk I got from a local B&M that I was told had been in the store about 15 years when I bought and jarred it in 1999 (1985?) and one from a sealed 100gr.tin c.1989.
I also included a sample from the now sadly closed Connoisseur Pipe Shop of NYC. Connoisseur offered a house blend called Scottish Ribbon which I found to be amazingly similar to MBSM. I entertained thoughts that MBSM was bought in bulk, sprayed with some sugar water and then renamed although my friend and Connoisseur expert, Rob Denholtz, disagrees. The sample included was purchased and sealed in a mason jar in 1998, the jar was opened earlier this year.
I find the tinned and bulk MBSM are very similar in smell and moisture content, the packet is the moistest and may require a little drying to smoke well. The Connoisseur is of a similar moisture content to the tinned and bulk MBSM but has a slightly sweeter nose.
The packets will start to go out tomorrow, as you receive them please give us an informal review of
1-Bulk 1985 MBSM

2-50gr. Packet of 1989 MBSM

3-100gr Tin of 1989 MBSM

4-1998 Connoisseur Scottish Ribbon
Rob

 

[uberam3rica]

I should be getting my self addressed envelope out today

 

[uberam3rica]

My envelope is in the mail. I'm really excited to try this. The oldest tobacco I've had is Boswells Countryside that was aged 2years

 

[tokerpipes]

I have never had Mac B Scottish Mixture so I will be going blind and giving my honest opinion on all the samples. I have read the reviews on it and am very excited to try them. And being part Welsh can only be good for the taste buds.

 

[uberam3rica]

I have never had Mac B Scottish Mixture so I will be going blind and giving my honest opinion on all the samples

Same here

 

[tokerpipes]

Although I would love to compare the aged vs. fresh.

 

[recoilrob]

The first envelope was mailed yesterday to Williamstown, MA. Hard for me to put the actual names to the online names. Herbinedave? That you?
Anyway, I'll mail them as they come in, if you haven't sent your SASE in yet it will need 65¢, if you already sent it I have the extra stamps.
Had my firs root canal today and was told to hold off smoking until it's done so it looks like I will be a spectator for a while...

 

[uberam3rica]

1985

1989

The tobacco I'll be smoking, is almost a decade older then me!

 

[uberam3rica]

You where not even in diapers yet

I wasn't even a thought. My parents weren't even married yet

 

[uberam3rica]

Bulk 1985 Scottish Mixture.
Earlier I loaded up my Turkmeer Billiard, and used matches to light it. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, The aroma. It gave me a strong smell of honey, and something that I can't quite put my finger on. Now for the smoke. It took the the char light great, and was quite sweet throughout. I also detected some honey, and maybe cinnamon. It was also very mellow. It's not my usual type of blend, but it was quite good. I'm about to smoke a bowl of the tin from 89.

 

[uberam3rica]

1989 Tin Scottish Mixture
I'm a little late in posting this review, but I smoked this in the same pipe as the 85 bulk. I found it to be basically the same, only slightly better. The flavors were stronger, The smoke was still very smooth and mellow, but the flavors seemed stronger. I'm gonna give the pipe a day or two to sit, then I'll try the other two

 

[uberam3rica]

I want to thank recoilrob AKA Rob for letting us sample all these tobaccos. It was fun to put my mind to work on what I tasted, smelled and enjoyed or didn't. A big +1 to recoilrob!!!

Definitely +1. It wasn't my typical smoke, but I enjoyed it. It was really cool to smoke tobacco older then me.

 

[uberam3rica]

This is so tru and your a stand up fella for letting me have a bit of fun with ya!!!!

I'm used to it. Everyone at work gives me shit simply because I can take it. Hell I laugh at myself all the time

 

[tokerpipes]

I received my packs of bacci yesterday, and am eager to sample and review. I have a nasty head cold given to me by my 19 month old from her day care. Its ok for now it gives me a chance to clean up the pipes I will be using to review these. I will post my review in a few days as soon as my cold has gone away.

 

[dhizzy]

Recoil, I just got mine today and had to go to work + I have a terrible sore throat. All serious piping is post poned but I will put up what I think when I can. Thanks again!

 

[dhizzy]

I'm enjoyig the mixture from the tin c1989 now. What a mellow smoke. I'm not the best reviewer of tobaccos but it has everything that my normal mixture has but is very mellowed out and smooth. I am smoking it in a Savinelli Oscar and its not getting too hot. I tend to smoke a bit fast and this blend is very forgiving! Nice and sweet, tastes like honey and has the floral thing going on. I love MacBaren Mixture! Thanks Recoil!

 

[fnord]

My package showed up last week, Recoil, and the first smoked was the 1985 MBSM. I loaded up an old Kaywoodie and, in hindsight, should've let it dry out a bit. Loved the taste, loved the aroma and will always be grateful you were kind enough to share with the rest of us. I've never smoked any of the MB products and was surprised at the lightness of the '85. My wife liked the aroma and my sons thought it one of the more pleasant tobaccos I've smoked in the past few months.
Thanks again, Recoil.
Fnord

 

[recoilrob]

I snuck in a bowl of the tinned MBSM myself last week and found it to everything the Scottish Ribbon wasn't, it was smooth but had bright notes. It held up the best of all the tobaccos. The bulk MBSM was OK but dull, the packet was still "green" tasting, and the SR was smooth and a good smoke but not nearly as nice as when fresh. In my mind the tinned MBSM was clearly the best of the group.

 

[dhizzy]

I had the MBSM out of the pouch next and I actually liked it better than the one from the tin. It was a little more subdued but was still sweet and satisfying to me. What an awesome smoke. I even have some left for another bowl and I'm thinkin' I'm gonna smoke it tonight by the firepit