The HH range is superb. A luxury to be able to enjoy today, of this mythical brand.
Mac Baren HH blends
- Thread starter RudyH
- Start date
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This comment brings up a point I think of often (and one that others have already mentioned before). For all the longing expressed over discontinued blends, we have more incredible items available right now in this moment than ever before, and that seems to apply in some measure most anywhere. (For example, HH may not be available for retail in the UK, but they can get Revor Plug, which folks in the US are drooling over.)
It often makes me wonder which current blends will be pined for and considered legendary when they're gone. What's the "McClelland Christmas Cheer" or "Esoterica Penzance" of today?
I've only had HH Pure Virginia, but it was very good. Good enough that it makes me want to try every blend in that line at least once. The Vintage Syrian sounds like the best example of pure Syrian Latakia (which I'd love to try before it's no longer on Earth), which of course places it highest on my list, but that list is long enough in the HH line alone to pad a cellar nicely.
We're lucky indeed to be in this era of pipe smoking.
Totally agree. Even “common” blends like OJK or Irish Flake would be prized (by me, at least!) if they disappeared from the market
HH Pure Virginia is my favorite VA of all time. I found it less sweet than other blends, a bit deeper in flavor and gave it 5 of 5 stars.
HH Burley Flake is one I have to try more. I have only had it once but felt like it was like Old Dark Fired with the Kentucky turned way down. It has a Virginia component to it so I have a few tins that have been sitting for half a year or so. I will probably crack one open this fall and let the others keep sitting.
Old Dark Fired is an old reliable. I have only found two other Kentucky blends that I go to as much as this one, JackKnife Plug and Three Friars, but Old Dark Fired is way more Kentucky forward. I have yet to compare it to Birdseye, but would like to soon.
HH Burley Flake is one I have to try more. I have only had it once but felt like it was like Old Dark Fired with the Kentucky turned way down. It has a Virginia component to it so I have a few tins that have been sitting for half a year or so. I will probably crack one open this fall and let the others keep sitting.
Old Dark Fired is an old reliable. I have only found two other Kentucky blends that I go to as much as this one, JackKnife Plug and Three Friars, but Old Dark Fired is way more Kentucky forward. I have yet to compare it to Birdseye, but would like to soon.
Revor Plug has gone missing in the UK, at least with my online retailers who have everything. Is it "au Revor"?
I hadn't heard this! That's sad news... I've been keeping an eye peeled for some with hopes to surprise a couple friends with it.
How about the Original Flake ?(formerly known as Walnut by Ogdens) is that still out there?
Sometimes you don't know what you got til it's gone. I have to admit used to think I'd never mourn a blend. But sometimes that craving hits for one I can't get anymore.
Still available - I may get some next time TAD strikes.
Beautiful flakes - perfect for folding & stuffing! I particularly like the HH Latakia Flake - a very nice tobacco.
Same. I get why people may have struggled to click with Acadian Perique, but Mature Virginia wasn’t an “odd” blend…
I did recently get a tin of the HH Old Dark Fired, might have to crack into it and see what the fuss is all about!
like that one and Bold Kentucky a lot. Both kind of remind me of smoking some ribs in a pipe more then smoking tobacco in a pipe. Actually got that compliment smoking it too from random strangers.
Ok I just checked its actually Bold Kentucky but I will think of that when I smoke it as I smoke a rack or two of ribs.
HH Bold Kentucky is my favorite out of the line up but they are all quality blends. I sure hope they don't have to discontinue any others but just one more reason to stock up while we can.
HH Rustica, Bold Kentucky and Latakia Flake are the only ones I have tried and they are really good.
Bold Kentucky I find smokier and stronger, Old Dark Fired is much sweeter and woodier, smells like cut wood next to a BBQ rather than being IN the BBQ - I prefer it. The discontinued SG Lakeland Dark is very similar to Bold Kentucky, but stronger.
There's always someone that is sitting on a bunch of English blends they stocked up on that later decides "meh, I don't like lat" and sells off what they have.I'm not one to lament long lost blends, but the Acadian Perique and Vintage Syrian were great blends.
I have a pound or so of bulk Vintage Syrian, but I'm GOING to miss it someday.
That's how I got some HH Vintage Syrian and it is indeed a great blend.
I don't dislike Turkish or Cypriot latakia by any means, but I do understand why oldtimers rave about what certain English blends used to be and how they're just not the same. The Syrian lat really is different enough that it wouldn't work the same being replaced by what we have today, much in the same way as turkey and dumplings will never be the same as chicken and dumplings—the blends produced were produced around that flavor, and there's no way to adjust for that.
I was honestly surprised just how different the Syrian is to the modern stuff.
And on the topic of the MB HH blends... the HH Burley is still my #1 favorite burley blend.
My thoughts exactly. I’m a latecomer to pipe smoking and had my first tastes of Syrian a few months ago (HH Vintage Syrian and old Brebbia Latakia Flake No. 9).
It’s absolutely different from Cyprian / Turkish, no mistake. What surprised me the most, though, is that I think the Cyprian / Turkish is more of an essential tobacco—if we’d lost those flavors instead of Syrian, I think we’d really be missing it. So many excellent blends would be crippled.
Yes Vintage Syrian is awesome. Syrian Latakia has almost that Coca cola taste to it, especially when there is vanilla or tonquin involved in the casing. And of course there are some wine notes to it. Vintage Syrian is my favorite next to Old Darkfired. And then Balkan is a pretty nice blend too, although not mentioned too often.
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