Mac Baren's "the cube"

[cb25]

Anyone tried the Cube?

I ordered it a bit ago since it was such a reduced price ($6.99 i think the special was) and I gotta say, i'm quite disappointed.

the box it came in was very cool...nice little touch, and now i use it for storing other stuff.

the tobacco itself was obnoxiously sweet to smell...almost too sweet. i figured that would leave a nice room note, but even that was a letdown.

the smoke was hot and not at all tasty...in fact, it didn't have much taste at all.

anyways, i had heard good and bad about it before...but you can add me to the "bad" opinions. basically i see it as paying $6.99 for a cool box.

[rutkus]

I actually really like it, i had a bowl last night, initially when i got it, it was too wet, about a month or so has gone by and its dried out a bit i think this is what has helped it be a better smoke.

[fitzsmoke]

Originally Posted by rutkus

I actually really like it, i had a bowl last night, initially when i got it, it was too wet, about a month or so has gone by and its dried out a bit i think this is what has helped it be a better smoke.

Haven't had "the Cube" yet. I agree that most MacB's I've tried need some drying out to lessen the bite. At the least, try filling a bowl way before you intend to smoke it. Maybe an hour? Also, if you have smoked any strong (English or Aromatics) blends before the MacB it will pale in comparison.

[LSU Tiger]

This is what I hate about buying "sight unseen" tobacco through the mail. I like to smell it, roll it through my fingers, and maybe try a bowl before plunking down cash. I took a whiff of MacB's "Plum Cake" at he local shop, nice smell, but haven't tried it. Has anyone tried it?

[joed]

One of the things about pipe tobacco - the risk in buying before you try.

However, I have also found that something that is disappointing at first - can be much better 6 months later - especailly if there is a heavy VA component.

So, I would suggest putting this away for at least 6 months and then giving it another try. If it still disappoints and hasn't gotten any better, you can use it to practice blending or as an addition to you compost pile. (which is where some of my first attempts at blending have wound up!)

[fitzsmoke]

Originally Posted by LSU Tiger

This is what I hate about buying "sight unseen" tobacco through the mail. I like to smell it, roll it through my fingers, and maybe try a bowl before plunking down cash. I took a whiff of MacB's "Plum Cake" at he local shop, nice smell, but haven't tried it. Has anyone tried it?

A notorious biter. Takes a fair amount of drying to be well smoked. It seems to be a love / hate mixture. I like it better than average for an Aromatic.

I prefer McB's Golden Extra, but the same advice would apply.

[Nooner]

Originally Posted by fitzsmoke

Haven't had "the Cube" yet. I agree that most MacB's I've tried need some drying out to lessen the bite. At the least, try filling a bowl way before you intend to smoke it. Maybe an hour? Also, if you have smoked any strong (English or Aromatics) blends before the MacB it will pale in comparison.

I was fortunate to recieve this tobacco as a gift in the Pipe Tobacco PIF a while back - as with all other gifts, it pleases me to enoy because it affords me the chance to think of the wonderful people who have been a part of my life(Thanks Dave!!!), but it is also a pretty good aromatic if you areinto that kinda thing.

The Cube does indeed need a fair bit of drying out - I might even go so far as to advise packing the pipe the morning or evn evening before you plan to smoke it - if it gets a bit too dry you can always breathe a little bit of moisture onto the top of the pipe to get it to where it will smoulder well. It definately will let you know if it is too damp though... ouch!!!

I have found this is a good tobacco to smoke in those pre-carbonized bowls, or pipes with a very neutral taste. I smoke it in a fairly well broken in Boswell. It is a pretty good tobacco, give it another try just let it dry out a fair amount.

Good Luck!

[cb25]

awesome, thanks for the input everyone.

i'll indeed let it dry a bit...i'll give it a few months and revisit it and see how it holds up then.