Stoved some MacBaren Scottish Mixture...nice change

[EvanS]

The first tin I ever bought a few months ago was from a local B&M, MacBaren Scottish #1, also know as "Mixture". Great plum/fig aroma and actually a pretty good taste BUT the lingering aftertaste was always like what you'd get from a baaaad, stanky and overly bitter dark beer along with a tongue that was so scorched that it's hard to describe.
Well I have been reading on stoving and figured I might as well try it, sure can't hurt. Cuz even though I liked the basic taste I actually feared this tobacco more than anything. My last several bowls I have used strictly as a training device, figuring if I can smoke this without getting burned i should be able to tackle most VA mixes. (and it actually worked, sort of in the same way that strapping a beartrap to your nuts will encourage a shorter backswing).

Anyway I did the 220 220 in the stove last night, wrapping the tin in aluminum foil. Man what a nice difference. The tobac is now a nice darkly golden toasted color with the same plum aroma but swirled in amongst a toasted almond and walnut scent. The flavor carries to me similar as before stoving with the addition of a smoother tobac flavor/texture as well as the added toasty nut flavor. I've had two bowls now and found I can smoke this "almost" without fear if i take it easy. Previously it WOULD bite, almost no matter what. Now I have to be a little careless to get a nip. And anything that resembled being a BAD aftertaste is gone!! I actually want this finish to linger.

A little roasting has turned this tobac from something I was going to toss into something I may very well buy again...especially since this particular B&M is selling the 100g tins for $4!! Make no mistake this is not my favorite tobac but the flavor was, and especially now IS so unique that I plan to keep some around. I also hear rumor that stoved tobacco changes in the 2 or so weeks following the stoving...so we'll see. Now on the other hand i also have some Pluncake on order which might make the whole excercise moot, but that's half the fun.

I'll be sure to let you know....

[Canadian_Scott]

I hated this tobacco the first time that I tried it. I had tongue burn for at least four days, and I didn't try it again for quite some time. I read a few reviews, considered what they had to say, and give it a go. I'm about half way through the pouch and find that I can smoke it now without getting even a tingling, but you're definitely right - gotta take it slow.

The aroma is beautiful on this smoke, but the after-taste is kind of tart/citrus and is the reason that I only smoke it about once a week now. I just wanted to see if I could smoke it without getting tongue-burn or having it burn like wildfire in the bowl. Heh.

Stoving is something that I have yet to try. Maybe I'll give it a shot once I have some time.

I tried plumcake a few years back and loved the scent of both the unlit tobacco and the smoke. I smoked maybe three bowls of the stuff and decided to toss it in with a mixture of blends that I don't plan on smoking again. It was very strong for my tastes.

Great to hear about your experience!

Scott