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
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