This Tobacco Must Go

[mso489]

I'm wringing my hands, but I can still hit the compost bucket. About three years ago, I bought a 100 g

tin of Mac Baren's Navy Mixture, and I have tried many times to smoke and enjoy this blend, but having

just tried once again, I have decided to feed it to the compost. It smells perfect, an exquisite balance

of earthy and tangy, it ought to transport me to the moon. But up front, and never to fade, no matter

how long it is aged or how carefully I pack or tamp it, it bites. This isn't a cumulative effect of smoking

several bowls over an evening, it is the immediate result of the first to the last puff. Who blended this

devil and who smokes it? If you like it, let me know. I know I exalt in some blends or leaf that make

others throw up. But this stuff, for me, is just mean and harsh. In fairness, Mac Barens Modern Virginia

is just my style, and I will likely keep it on hand for time to come. But the Navy Mixture, no.

 

[mcitinner1]

PM sent

 

[newbroom]

If by compost heap, you mean the experimental blending tray, I'm with you.

 

[cortezattic]

Elsewhere, I have opined:

For someone who has been smoking a pipe since the late 1960's, I'm a relative late-comer to the Mac Baren line. Because of Mac Baren's reputation for tongue bite, I denied myself half a lifetime of Elysian pleasure on the basis of hearsay! The lesson learned: never trust authority or consensus in matters of taste; sample it for yourself.
In discussing my experience with other smokers I have come to the conclusion that, like the division among people who can and cannot tolerate artificial sweeteners, pipe smokers of the world are in one of two camps: those whom Mac Baren tobaccos sting like an angry wasp, and those for whom it is ambrosia. So if you've been heeding the questionable caveat about Mac Baren bite, give it a try for yourself. You may be very pleasantly rewarded.

 

[melvinsunsmokedcastello]

McBitey...you're not alone.

 

[drennan]

Navy flake is like smoking a hornets nest for me too. I recently tried Capstain and that bites from first to last puff, I believe that's also made by Mac Baren. They're the only two tobaccos to bite me
For those the suffer with Mac baren bite is it all there tobacco's?

 

[peteguy]

Another who does not and will not ever smoke a Mac Baren blend. Stings, bites, and down right hurts. Its a shame because some of there blends have a huge following, dark fired, mature virginia, navy flake, vintage syrian, etc., but I just won't chance it again.

 

[huntertrw]

I thoroughly enjoy Mac Baren's Plumcake, Navy Mixture, and Virginia No. 1, and find no bite in any of them. Biteyness must be in the tongue of the besmoker!

 

[cobguy]

No sting or bite for me, luckily, with Mac Baren blends.
I like the Navy Flake, Va #1, ODF, Latakia Flake, Vintage Syrian and Burley London Blend.

 

[melvinsunsmokedcastello]

"For those the suffer with Mac baren bite is it all there tobacco's? "
It is for me. Disappointing because the tin note, appearance of their tobaccos are great. It looks and smells like a really quality product and seems to be enjoyed by many. Every time I try it,and I've tried it repeatedly over the years it stings, every blend, every time.
I know its not technique or component tobaccos because I don't have issues at all with bite. Its just whatever they top with.
I swear I can load a pipe, puff it BEFORE LIGHTING, and feel a sting on the tongue. Upon actual light up it just gets worse and worse and wont stop...

 

[mcitinner1]

Melvin that's a real bummer that MacBaren's blends all bite you like that.

 

[cobguy]

My theory on this is that the bite is a reaction to alkalinity in Mac Baren blends.
Have you tried drinking a slightly acidic drink such as coffee or soda while smoking?
If so, does it reduce the bite? Just curious!

 

[melvinsunsmokedcastello]

"Melvin that's a real bummer that MacBaren's blends all bite you like that. [] "
Yup..sucks. I would really like to try the HH Acadian Perique or Latakia Flake but all I envision is opening the tin to see a beautiful blend, loading the pipe, and then feeling the pins on the tongue. Followed up by me throwing away a basically full tin wondering why I bothered. Just like the last dozen times I tried their stuff.
Just recently I got the Modern VA sampler that smokingpipes was giving away with my purchase. Result? Load pipe, puff, feel that familiar pin cushion sensation, light pipe, full on assault of tongue. Thats about a mild a blend could be but there's that familiar MacB topping/taste and painful bite...it just wont agree with my chemistry.
Well, maybe its a good thing. Last thing I need is yet another blend I "can't live without" hogging up space in my cellar.

 

[melvinsunsmokedcastello]

mso489: Do you by any chance get the same sensation from Borkum Riff? That stuff stings me in the same manner as Mac Bitey does..

 

[drennan]

It is for me. Disappointing because the tin note, appearance of their tobaccos are great. It looks and smells like a really quality product and seems to be enjoyed by many. Every time I try it,and I've tried it repeatedly over the years it stings, every blend, every time.
I know its not technique or component tobaccos because I don't have issues at all with bite. Its just whatever they top with.

Thanks melvinsunsmokedcastello

 

[mrenglish]

They must do something different with the HH blends. I get no bite what so ever from those but with the regular line up, I would be better off dragging sandpaper across my tongue. Save for the Navy Flake, they all bite like hell.

 

[mustanggt]

I've tried most of their HH blends and really like them. However I tried VA#1 and got stung pretty good. So I now understand all the folks who get bit like a rabid dog from their stuff.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I like the sting. To me, it's not like a real bite that I can feel after the smoke is over, like Paladin Cherry or anything. It's more like the acidic tingle you'd get from a Mountain Dew or other citrus drink. But, it doesn't last after the smoke is over for me. I just think of it as a part of the flavor. But, not everyone is going to like the same flavors.

 

[mso489]

Forums members will be glad to know that at least my erstwhile tin of Mac Baren's Navy Mix is about to go on to

another Forums member who expressed an interest. I hope he is one of those who does not experience Mac Barens

as a hornets nest. I sent along baggies of samples of other assorted tobacco in case he has the same hornets next

problem, to make the package worthwhile to him. Maybe he'll get a good bowl out of the selection. I'm not a particularly

delicate flower with tobaccos otherwise. I love C&D's hearty, full strength non-aromatic burley blends, and smoke

Dark Burley on its own, and enjoy Big 'n Burley, Billy Budd and others. As mentioned earlier, Mac Barens does win my

approval with Modern Virginia which I find and elegant and fulsome flavored smoke. Still, among blenders, my favorites

are Cornell & Diehl, G.L. Pease, McClellands, and selectively by blends other like Nat Sherman 536 and Edward G. Robinson,

and I have a great affinity for Tabac Manil Semois.

 

[david555]

I have the same problem with nearly every Mac Baren product I have tried. They smell and taste fantastic but make me feel like I brushed my teeth with wasps!