| Author | Message | ||
     Vance Andre Member Username: Magicbus Post Number: 13 Registered: 01-2006 |
Has anyone that has been to the Chicago pipe show had an opportunity to sample this new blend? What were your impressions? There has been amazingly little "buzz" (as compaired to previous HH releases) and I find that rather curious. | ||
| Harvey Click Member Username: Fafhrd Post Number: 1457 Registered: 03-2006 |
I haven't had a chance to try it but am eager to. I believe it will be available in August. I know MB was working on it for a long time, because an MB rep mentioned it to me at least two years ago. Some of the MB roll cuts used to contain perique back in the old days (I know some did in the 70s but don't know when the perique disappeared), and they were delicious, comparable in quality to the original Bell's Three Nuns. | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 412 Registered: 10-2004 |
I am looking out for it too, being an all-time Mac Baren fan. Thanks to Vance for drawing my attention to it, as I had not heard of it before. It is, however, called "Acadian Perique".  | ||
| Todd Bannard Member Username: Sasquatch Post Number: 664 Registered: 05-2006 |
Count me amongst the excited as well. I suspect the recent (relative) rash of curly cut Va/Pers of extraordinary quality may be to blame. I think a lot of people are looking at their Davidoff Flake Medallions or Peter Heinrich's Curly and thinking "Gosh, it would be hard to beat these." | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 413 Registered: 10-2004 |
Will it be a Roll Cake type then, Todd? I read that it has no topflavouring at all. Is "Acadian" just a name for this blend, or is it a type of Perique? | ||
| Todd Bannard Member Username: Sasquatch Post Number: 666 Registered: 05-2006 |
Acadian is a nod to the French settlers of Louisiana. An indicator of "real perique" perhaps. Now that you mention it, I'm not sure if it's a roll cake... I will go see what I can find (go find out why I believe was thinking so...). | ||
| Gabriel Houghton Member Username: Gabriel Post Number: 4 Registered: 04-2009 |
I have not sampled a lot of McBaren blends but got a tin of Roll Cake last weekend and love it, smokes smooth as silk and pretty to look at, handle. Two questions. Apaparently, Roll Cake used to have real perique in it; I was wondering how people who have tried the original compare the two and whether adding perique would be feasible to recreate the original. Also, what other McBaren blends would people suggest for someone who doesn't like aromatics? I guess that's three questions. | ||
| Todd Bannard Member Username: Sasquatch Post Number: 680 Registered: 05-2006 |
Gabriel, for "someone who doesn't like aromatics" but likes the Roll Cake, I would suggest Club Blend. Rool Cake has more burley, club more virginia, and plenty of that spicy cavendish. It's pretty sweet and pretty spicy, and some of the sweetness comes from a light sugar topping (as roll cake has too) which gives a sort of marshmallowy smell off. Is it an aromatic? Not in the fruity/vanilla sense at all. Punchy stuff and one of my favorites. Also look at Stockton and Norwood, I suppose. Mac B also has their HH Vintage Syrian which is very good, and the HH Mature Virginia, which is mild but I got bored with it. | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 415 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hello Gabriel Houghton (we might be related, as this was my mother's maiden name!), Roll cake that is offered today is good, but not in the league of older versions, IMO. The Perique (the small amount that was in it) is now substituted by their Original Cavendish, and a whisper of Latakia. I still have a few old tins, sealed, from the seventies so have done a side by side comparison. Whether adding Perique will convert it to its former glory, I don't know, but it will certainly add some zip. Use it sparingly though, MB did as well  Other non aromatic MB blends that you might like are their other Roll Cakes: Club Blend, Dark Twist, Stockton, Latakia Blend. Club Blend is the mellow one, followed by Roll Cake. | ||
| Gabriel Houghton Member Username: Gabriel Post Number: 7 Registered: 04-2009 |
Thanks for the suggestions, I do look forward to sampling more MB blends. I believe the pipe shop closest to me has Club Blend and Stockton on hand so I will soon give them a try. | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 417 Registered: 10-2004 |
Has anyone smoked it yet, or: is it available in shops? | ||
| Vance Andre Member Username: Magicbus Post Number: 17 Registered: 01-2006 |
My favorite online tobacco seller told me last week it should be here any day, which already makes it past it's August release. This means I am checking every day so i can get a tin on order. In addition there is a review on tobacco reviews, but as of this writing, only one. so it must be close, just not quite available yet. ps: so embarrassed i misspelled the name of the blend in the title to this thread. | ||
| Harvey Click Member Username: Fafhrd Post Number: 1500 Registered: 03-2006 |
I was hoping to pick up some at the Columbus pipe show last week, but it wasn't available, and for some reason Mac Baren didn't have a table this year. A lady at the SmokingPipes table told me that the distributor had just shipped it and it should be available in a week or two. | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 418 Registered: 10-2004 |
It is available, check on-line vendors! | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 421 Registered: 10-2004 |
I got my order in today and here is a picture of it. I will light up a pipe tonight and comment on it soon. It looks and smells very promising!  | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 422 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, this is certainly a change of direction for Mac Baren with this unique composition that has no top flavour and only minimal casing. I do not use the word "unique" lightly: I cannot really compare it to anything on the market at present, but this blend does evoke some distant memories of Dunhill's Elizabethan both in looks as well as in taste and strength. It does smoke mild and bite free but is full-bodied as well. The Perique does not particularly stand out in any way but is well integrated with the Virginia's, Burleys, dark-fired Kentucky, the MB Original Cavendish and a touch of (greenish looking) Orientals. Admirers of a natural blend spiced with Perique ought to give this a try real soon! | ||
| Harvey Click Member Username: Fafhrd Post Number: 1508 Registered: 03-2006 |
It's now available in one-pound bulk bags. I bought one a couple weeks ago and have now smoked about a third of it. It's excellent stuff indeed. The Perique has the distinct peppery taste that all Perique had many years ago, but most Perique seems to lack these days. In other words, the P-leaf is the good old-fashioned stuff. This is a complex but well-rounded mix of first-quality tobaccos. No single tobacco takes center stage, though the Perique can often be heard singing just a bit louder than the others. The bag aroma is pleasantly fruity, despite the lack of added flavoring, and the flavor is smooth but spicy with only a hint of sweetness. There is no tongue bite. | ||
| rob van loon Member Username: Smokingrob Post Number: 423 Registered: 10-2004 |
"though the Perique can often be heard singing just a bit louder than the others...." I can attest to that, sometimes I get a concentration of Perique while smoking this blend and then the strength is nearly overwhelming me! |