good stuff?

[SmokinDragon]

MacBaren Plumcake
MacBaren Navy Mixture
Samuel Gawith Chocolate Flake
Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader

[cp478]

if you are asking how good they are i can say the plumcake the choc flake and the squadron leader are all very good smokes.
just haven't tried the other one, sorry.

[dmkerr]

High quality tobacco? Yes. Will you like it? You won't know until you try it. Personally, I like the Squadron Leader and I'm not too crazy about the other three... all of which is totally meaningless to your own taste buds.

[juni]

i really wanted to like Squadron Leader but I just couldn't get used to it. I guess my tastes aren't that refined yet. It got really good reviews at tobaccoreviews too . I stored the tobacco following these instructions:

pipesmagazine.com/python/pipe-news/pipe-tobacco-storage/

..in case I want to try it later at some point.

(the tobacco smells unsmoked like a leather jacket - very weird)

[MarkC]

Could be you're just not a latakia man; I wouldn't sweat it, there's plenty of other tobaccos out there!

[juni]

Well, the stupid thing is that I picked up some cheap Borkum Riff (Bourbon Whiskey) at the store and I actually like it - and these always get one star reviews. (However, I enjoy Peterson's Sherlock Holmes and Rattray's Marlin Flake a lot too)

Do these have anything in common?

[Hermit]

Only one of those I've tried is MacBaren Navy Mixture.
I liked it, but not so much that I bought more of it.
Navy Flake is much better.

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by juni

Well, the stupid thing is that I picked up some cheap Borkum Riff (Bourbon Whiskey) at the store and I actually like it - and these always get one star reviews. (However, I enjoy Peterson's Sherlock Holmes and Rattray's Marlin Flake a lot too)

Do these have anything in common?

I have no idea; the only one I've tried is the Borkum Riff, which I liked okay on my first go 'round with pipes back in the seventies but threw in the trash this time around. Tastes change, I guess. (I loved that Middleton Apple back then as well, but I have a feeling I should hold on to the memory rather than try to revive it...) Marlin Flake is on my 'to try' list.

[Pypkius]

I've never tried McBarren, but the rest are excellent IMO
Just like with most tobaccos, I did not like SQ nor choc flake at first, however, I warmed very well to them after a few bowls. I guess it's down to the fact that tobacco needs some airing, SQ leader for example never tastes good to me straight from the tin, however, it starts to shine when the tin has been opened for a month or two. Same with flakes

[ermtony]

Marlin Flake is one of my favourites. Well worth a try I reckon. I would be hard pushed to choose between that, Hal o' the Wynd and Old Gowrie. All from Rattray's and all very tasty.