Great review. The nic hit on this for me was quite hard. I was smoking it in the backyard just putzing around and unconsciously freight trained it. I ended up sitting down with my stomach churning, head spinning, and the cold sweats. Then I promptly ran in the house and barfed several times. User error. I still have some but I’m kind of reticent to smoke it because of the nic hit. Although I’m sure if I took my time with I’d get better results.
I don't understand how you guys get nic fits like that. The only time it's ever happened to me I was a teen who foolishly dipped a half tin of Kodiak. After that I've never had a nic buzz like that again. I can have a jaw full of chew while smoking a cigarette with a nic patch on and be just fine. I think I'm immune.
@@jibblesq I guess everyone has different tolerances for things. I guess it’s similar to someone who can drink coffee all day and not get jittery where someone else can have one cup of coffee and be bouncing off the walls. 🤷🏼♂️
The HH line is in honor of Mac Baren founder Harald Halberg. In his honor they used as minimal casing as possible, making sure the focus of the flavor profile was mostly just the leaf itself. Not sure exactly, but I think most of the HH blends just get a rehydrating sugar water spraying. This is one possibility as to why less people say it bites them. I enjoyed the blend. To me it was a bit strong, but if I pace myself I'm not overpowered by it. It's a solid Dark Fired blend. If you're into that style of blends it's definitely worth checking out.
My good man, this was spot on! I really enjoy this tobacco and yet I couldn't put my finger on that last sensation. Red. Wine. Yes! That is just precisely what it is. Thank you, Mr Bradley, once again you deliver the goods. Greetings from Sweden.
Hello my good friend Bradley! It's good to see you! I recently picked up this tobacco. I've been trying to find a blend that reminds me of a BBQ. I agree with your assessment that it seems like a BBQ out of the tin. Absolutely delightful tin note. Did it still have a BBQ taste when smoking it? Are there any other blends out there that you've found to have BBQ type notes? Thanks for all you do. Take care.
Just finished a bowl and found it very satisfying. As a English Blend/VaPer enthusiast I'm playing around with Burly Blends to experience them to expand my Pipe Smoking horizons. I bought 3 Mac Barren tobaccos that are featured as Burly forward. They are "Golden Extra", "Symphony", and "Old Dark Fired." One can defiantly taste the Burly in all of them so that was what I was after. I like the taste of Burly and find it a refreshing change. I don't like any Aromatics that the topping is tasted. Period. The "Old Dark Fired" has great a fullness and taste. It was my favorite of the 3 Mac Barren mixes mentioned previously. Though I still prefer English, VaPers, and Virginias, this is a nice change up and will keep it in the line up. Once more time a great review Bradly and Thnx. I probably never would have tried "Old Dark Fired" if not for your review. Again Thnx.
Thanks Bradley, I bought a tin of this on your recommendation. I just smoked my first bowl, and it is REALLY good. I get a lot of strong dark chocolate notes (most high-quality burly tastes to me like chocolate). I get the vinegar notes in the tin, but not in the smoke. Yet I agree with you, the beginning of the bowl is acrid, however this does die away after a few puffs. I don't find the nicotine content to be as high as many reviewers state, but it is satisfyingly high. And I'm glad that you compared this to Peterson's Irish Flake. The two blends are similar in flavor profile and nicotine content (Bold Kentucky has more smoky and chocolaty notes whereas Irish Flake has more leathery notes). I think the two are on par with one another, which is high praise for Mac Baren as Peterson's Irish Flake is one of the best and most highly regarded blends available.
Yeah, I've only had the RR version, which works for me. I know buying a RR version of a flake tastes different than rubbing out a flake yourself, but I prefer a ribbon or RR anyway. I think it's a really satisfying blend.
Revisiting this after a couple of years from my first watch. I just love this stuff, simple as that. I bought one of the 100g tins and jarred it almost two years ago in a larger pint jar for my pipe station so I always have some ready for my regular rotation. BTW, I've developed the opinion that intact flakes just age better. When you rub them out, let them react with the ambient air for a few minutes (after a while the moisture level has been just right and barely need actual drying, if any at all) before loading and enjoying. As Bradley mentioned, rubbing out a couple of flakes is practically effortless anyway, so with all things considered I see no piont in laying in any of the ready-rubbed version. Besides, those perfect rectangular flakes are so easy and compact to store, I think next I'll just grab one of the 1 pound pack of flakes and tuck them away for a couple-few years to see what happens. I bet it'll be nothing but great.
A pound of ODF in a mason jar for, say, 10 years will be mana from heavan! Also, you are right: Flakes (and moreso plug) will always age better, due the the reduced surface area better preserving the oils.
LOVE this blend, but I prefer the ready rubbed version, it doesn't have that weirdness at the top of the smoke you were talking about. I'm stocking up on the bulk version, very good stuff.
Red wine is right on! I’m smoking my first bowl of this while watching this video. Honestly I’m not sure about it, but I’m looking forward to getting to know it. As the bowl progresses I’m getting woody, creamy, spicy almonds!! Sounds like a weird combination but reasonably deletable I think! Thank for the video sir!
When you are reviewing the flavors and you were saying raisins, smoky, sweet I was so ready to start smoking so bad! Nice awesome videos actually you are really professional my friend.
I love your tobacco reviews If i may i would add my opinion on this blend -That's a good tobacco indeed , dominant flavor is vinegar but it get weaker and weaker , if you don't like vinegar flavor then you will not enjoy this blend -This tobacco for me is as strong as peterson irish flake so after smoking a full bowl i get exhausted , i usually smoke it after supper before going to bed
One word I would describe this blend with is: Earthy. Not Earthy like a cuban cigar but in a class of its own. Woodland Dirt, Mossy whitered Tree Bark but in the right way^^
Just finished my first bowl. I'm a recently returning pipe smoker and really only had B&M bulk blends that are moslty aromatic in the past. This time I decided to branch out and one my choices to sample Kentucky was Old Dark Fired. With this along with some English blends I have decided my preference is more on the non-aromatic side of things. This one is excellent! Very satisfying and first impression makes me think I'll hesitate to choose anything else... I get the aged fruit note of raisins, the smoky BBQ and occasionally a note of leather. Next bowl I may try to find the red wine.
heyyyy Bradley!!!! very nice Review I really want to try this blend sound very interesting with all those flavors and spices thanks for posting and sharing Bradley see you on Sunday smoke ☺☺☺☺👍👍👍👍. best regards Peter
Great review, thanks Bradley and best wishes for 2019 from West Sussex. Just in my man cave enjoying a bowl full in my old Byford pipe whilst sipping a Talisker 10 year old with a couple of drops of water in it. What bliss!
I don't get that at all. Maybe I should have tried some prior to aging it for 4 years... >__< To me it tastes precisely the way cardboard boxes smell, with a maduro-like spicy note. I dislike strongly spicy tobaccos. If I want spice I'll have some maruga scorpion or reaper. ;-)
I always smoke the RR version of this and just received 1lb of it. I love the strength and has NO bite. It's cousin HH Bold KY has way more Vitamin-N and a different enough taste to have both blends on hand. If I had to choose between the 2, I'd take ODF every time.
Thanks for the review Bradley. Old Dark Fired is pretty tasty. I think that my favorite so far in the HH line has been the Latakia Flake. Good stuff and worth seeking out. Happy Thanksgiving. Clayton
Hi Brad, and thank for this one again, my impression after third and last tine, yes, this was and is complex and quality tobacco without any typical Mc Bite Bite issues there,although, after half a large bowl down,(Peterson Buldog150) I had most always my head spinning and concequately this is definitely higher in nicotine than say Orlik Strong Kentucky,which is also less robust and bold- somewhat near to Peterson University or better Irish Flake,in all probability I shall be back to this one some time down the road- after having me a hefty meal paring this MC Barens offering with a class of Scottish malt wiskey ,
I packed another bowl, this time using the fold-and-stuff method (I usually rub out my flakes; I never seem to have much luck with the fold-and-stuff method). This bowl was even better than the first! I got more nutty flavor this way, and the tobacco burned perfectly without any relights, despite being moist. Up until now, my favorite tobacco was Peterson's Perfect Plug, but I think this is my new favorite. The only downside is that my nicotine tolerance will be sky-high by the time I finish the tin (which shouldn't take me long) LOL.
It's interesting to see that you had to/ decided to cut this video much more than in other reviews (if I recall correctly). I would assume that was because describing the tobacco wasn't an easy job. Would you say so, too? Regardless, I enjoyed your video; in fact enjoy most of your content. I will put this tobacco on my try out list. Thanks a lot.
I just picked up at tin at my B&M. The tin date was a year old ;) I found it more mellow than expected (I am a nubee) perhaps since it has been aging for a year. I am smoking it slowly. Thanks for reviewing it - I may have passed it up!
This is my favorite tobacco to date and I like it in almost all situations. The only think holding me back from saying its my perfect all day smoke is the fact that its a flake, which I like, but its inconvenient in some situations. With that said I'm about to order a one pound box and age at least half of it!
I love this tobakeee! Thank you for thisone Brad! Well the truth is, that whole HH series blends are great. Try their HH Latakia Flake, it´s full of dark fired leaf :) Take care. Jersey.
Great review. This is, beside Irish Flake, one of my absolute favorites. Pretty complex. I just picked up the new Dunhill Dark Flake and imagine you'd like that. It's interesting.
Another great video! Could you comment a list of your favorite tobacco's or ones that you would recommend? You seem to be the most experienced and know what's the best. Not really too keen on aromatics though. I would really greatly appreciate the experienced advice if at all possible. Keep up the good work!
Do you think infusing this with some sort of whisky or bourbon would make a nice blend? The barbecue taste seems like it'd compliment some sort of whisky
there is very few pipe enthusiasts left unfortunately, yet they are going to screw with us! goodbye to the possibility of looking forward to any new blends in the future.. what we got is all that we will have :(
I will defiantly give this a go sounds up my street. I have found your opinions on nicotine content very accurate. I had steered away from night cap until I watched your review of it and now its one of my favorites i don't find it particularly strong in Nic at all. Scared to try Elizabethan mixture though.
...my Fishing/Beer, drinking buddy Smokes the Dark Kentucky Burley with some Beef Jerky in his chomper, ...he told the Beef Jerky compliments... the pipe smoking flavor. ...did give it try, it's pretty darn... Good ....fyi: 😎🍺☕🎮
I like this blend, this and night cap didn't really hit me hard but than again I do smoke cigar quite a bit. one thing to note is the bulk comes in a little on the dry side. might have to get some more in the future
I also adore that tobacco but I prefer its brother hh bold kentucky. if I'm right it is one in the same but there is more dark fired than virginia. both blends are sublime smokes
Hey Brad I love your videos all of em' I enjoy journaling and pipe smoking. I wanted to suggest a blend for you to try not review but go ahead if you want. It's blended by Russ Ouellette of Pipes & Cigars it's RO series Perique Blend B-41. Awesome stuff have a great one.
HI bradley, thank you for this Review! How would you compare the differences between this blend and lakeland Dark? I really like the taste of lakeland Dark but the nic lvl is just a Bit Too strong - could this might be a good alternative? Kind regards
Fun review and interesting review as always! I was surprised you didn't detect a very slight licorice/anise flavoring, not as prominent as most other DFK blends, but it was there for me, if only momentarily. I am of the opinion that it evaporated away completely from the tin by the conclusion of the second bowl. I cannot explain why this is. BTW, did you mean Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky rather than Orlik Bold Kentucky? Was that a Freudian slip of sorts? Whatever it was, me thinks you should roll with it and review MacBaren HH bold Kentucky next, while the flavor profile of HH Old Dark Fired is still fresh in your mind. The two are supposedly similar. Also, since you've been on a wild out of control MacBaren bender (Capstan, 3 Nuns, ODF) lately, perhaps you should consider finishing up the rest of the HH line? I think the only ones left are Bold Kentucky, Latakia flake, Arcadian Perique, pure Virginia flake and Highland. They're all good stuff except Highland, no one will cry if you skip Highland.
great revieuw,absolute tastefull tobacco...but why this rectangular tin??? i just don't get it.its the only tobacco that dries out.hope macbaren will considder a round tin :)
Django Z i had the same thought. The red wine aspect threw me off, though. I'm a big fan of irish flake, so i'm curious about this. Sounds like it won't hit as hard, though.
I have the exact same burn/scar on my left hand near the base of my thumb as you do. Did you get that like I did- as a newbie trying to light a pipe while drunk with a cigar torch. 😮😢😅.
Weird, you and I seem to have very similar tastes except for this blend. I really didn't rate it that much, tasted like a cheap non Cuban cigar to me. Very savoury
I was excited to try this, but feel let down. It has no flavor. I mean no flavor. Tastes like nothing. Its similar to dark twist in that they both taste like nothing, but this one bites less.
