Michael B.
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Mac Baren - Stockton 100g
Delicious
Waiting for a tobacco to appear again after a lengthy hiatus is both anticipatory and nerve-wracking. In this case, the wait was definitely worthwhile. This tobacco is deep, mellow and rich, with moderate smokiness, mild spice, a slight hint of citrus and grass, and a whisper of dark boot-strap molasses. It can smoke a bit warm so watch your cadence. Moisture is not really an issue, but if you favor your tobacco a bit on the dry side, let it dry for 5-10 minutes. As a coin-cut, it's as easy to fold-and-stuff or rub-out as Escudo, but the comparison ends there. I find Stockton to have a much more robust depth of flavor. If you're a wine drinker, it's the difference between a red Burgundy and a Chablis: both excellent but satisfying different cravings.

Former - Cross Grain Flake 50g
A fuller flavored surprise
Upon opening the tin, the tin note aroma had a pronounced Virginia bread-like sweetness, along with the characteristic subtle fragrance of yeasty fermentation and stone fruit of well-aged Perique. The aroma is enticing and definitely gets the juices flowing. The tobacco was slightly drier than my usual experience with flakes. I intended to roll them out but found that they crumpled easily without effort. This blend proved to be a fuller-flavored surprise. Smoking a VaPer that was reminiscent of a Burley mixture in its richness was entirely unexpected. It burned a bit hot at first but a slower cadence rectified that quickly. It burns well with no annoying moisture and I experienced no bite at all. The room note is tolerable, with a darkly sweet fresh bread aroma. This is a superb blend which should age well. It was a fresh tin but had the mellow characteristics of a slightly aged tobacco. Definitely worth checking out if you're a Virginia or VaPer aficionado. Given its reasonable price, it is something of a bargain.

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