Virginia Tobacco » Mac Baren HH Matured Virginia Tobacco Reviews

Sweet, smokey, full bodied

Purchased bulk . A Virginia blend providing several different distinct flavors. The sweetness you expect from a Va. is present along with a deeper, stronger full bodied presence. They  compliment each other accompanied by a delicious smokey flavor reminding me of a campfire. The initial flavors remain throughout the bowl and there's enough going on to hold your interest. A little drying time ensures minimal relights. I found no tonguebite. Aged two years the blend improves dramatically smoothing out with the sweetness becoming a little more pronounced balancing the deep fullness. This is a great tobacco and remains in my top rotation.   

Different take on VA

Henrik Halberg's Mature VA has been the object of a bit of a fight at a different forum; the way I see it the final tally is still to come.

The second in the HH (Henrik Halberg) line of tobaccos that became available to me, I bought a tin, opened the tin, sniffed, and was rather put off. The tin aroma was somewhere in between the brine used for pickled olives and a certain brand of hot sauce. Not something I had so far assiciated with quality tobacco.

But I am perverse enough to have actually stuffed this stuff into one of my pipes, and the following experience was... er... WOW!

Yes, matured VA, with its slightly smoky and sweet notes, some hay in there, the tin aroma is completely belied by the sweet-savoury room note of this blend when smoked, the all-too-often-cited Mac Baren "bite" (which I personally have never experienced, possibly because I am a filter smoker) is even less evident in this blend than it is in the others, and hey, this stuff actually contains some nicotine...

I have cellared a few tins; chances are they will not survive too long. I am a VA smoker, and this stuff is outstanding IMHO. Not everybody's style, I'll agree, but for me, a beautiful smoke.

HH Mature Virginia..a nice surprise!

Another "newer" MacBaren blend by Harald Halberg...Impressive because it does not follow the typical MacBaren processes. As one reviewer states, "I like it the more I smoke it" is similar to my own feelings.

I have smoked matured Virginia tobaccos for more than 40 years and I like this unassuming blend. Not as complex as many other Virginia's but sure enough, I appreciate this pipe tobacco and MacBaren's efforts.

As I prefer plug cut tobaccos, that would be my only wish for the future...this in plug form would be grand!

Very much worth a try!

Smoked in a group 5 straight billiard...

...A pipe is to be savored...

HH Matured Virginia: gently sweet, wine-like, and smoky

I purchased a 100g tin of HH Matured Virginia about 15 months ago, and when I opened the tin I was greeted with an unusual, somewhat off-putting aroma that I would describe as resembling Pepto Bismol™, or a somewhat smoky peppermint odor. Not to worry though, for nothing like that comes through while smoking it. Visually, the blend appears to be a complex mix of many different leaf types: medium fine ribbon cuts; scant fragments of broken flake; and a generous dose of black, Cavendish-cut leaf. The colors range from medium brown to black, and the moisture level is textbook correct for immediate use.

There are no problems packing or lighting this blend, and it smokes coolly and dryly with minimal relights if one is reasonably attentive to tamping. It is not the slowest burning blend I’ve ever smoked, but there is no inclination to bite, and it keeps pumping out flavor from start to finish. I would describe it as a quintessential Virginia tobacco flavor with a delicate natural sweetness, a faint fruity or wine-like character, and an even more subtle hint of grassiness – though not the least bit sharp or disagreeably piquant.

As the bowl progresses its flavor and smoky character grows in intensity – a development that should delight lovers of Latakia – though I don’t get the impression that there is any Latakia in this blend. What I do taste is predominantly Virginia, with perhaps a touch of Oriental to augment the sweetness and provide some intrigue. I believe there is also some Burley in the background, working to provide its luscious body, or whole mouth feel, and palpable strength. The whole blend generates a wonderful volume of smoke that is fun to breath-sip, channel from mouth to sinuses, and enjoy as it regales both nose and palate alike.

I think this is a very high quality, skillfully crafted blend; and if purchased in bulk, should be considered a best buy. It is an absolute “must try” for Virginia lovers and those seeking to discover what good a Virginia blend can bring to the palate.