Correction to my previous comment. I just noticed that the old tin you have is 25 grams. The standard size tin for Dark Twist in those days was 50 grams, half what it is today. The 50 gram tin was about $1.25 U.S. and the 25 gram tin that your friend found at the flea market was only sold in a gift pack of either 4 or 6 25 gram tins of various MacBaren blends, I think it was Dark Twist, Royal Twist, Golden Extra and Plum Cake. It was a very popular gift at Christmas time in the 1970's. Just thought you'd and the brothers would like to know.

I just received my most recent tobacco order, purchased 3 tins blindly...I am glad I did. Definitely a top 5 favorite for me now.

I love it! I am the same ... no rotation but many “go to” blends my hands tend to reach toward. So so so many more to try. Love your channel.

This tobacco is sooooo good! I just ordered 16 oz. I keep checking the aroma of the tin and what I take away from it is sun dried tomatoes. It is a very earthy aroma that I can't get enough of! Thanks for introducing this gem!

Wow. What a great find! Glad you got to enjoy it!

A relaxing, picturesque setting for a bowl as always :) Wonderful. Have been interested in Dark Twist, so this video was timely for me!

Greetings from the UK. Binge watching your videos & enjoying them.

Great review! I enjoy the Dark Twist, I like the subtle way the maple/sweet casing prevents the Kentucky becoming too astringent. And also the way the depth of flavour can be adjusted via selecting different coins/cuts from the tin!

Hi Mark, I love your videos. Great presentation with a relaxed atmosphere. It's now 2019 and Unfortunately KZfaq says your channel is no longer available.

Ready right out of the tin... Get the sweet from the Virginias yes, but also an extremely satisfying almost sour taste from the Kentucky. Smokes amazingly dry right away, finished my second bowl awhile ago and already considering a 3rd. Really have to watch myself with this one or it will over heat, only because I want to taste it more and more. But, it smokes just brilliant if you can control yourself with it.

Great video Mark...Good information. Thank You.

Great video, Mark!! I really enjoy watching all of your videos!! Keep up the good work--and, be well, my friend!!

Quite remarkable to find this in 2020. I started pipe smoking in 1971. I lived very close to the Belgian border and that landlord of the Belgian pub, which you reached by just crossing the German road, had opened a shop for coffee, cigarettes and tobacco. Every weekend there was a pilgrimage to this place by people touring the hilly countryside along the border. The MacBaren's did only cost half the price compared to GER. This shop sold every type of Mac Baren's and I tried each of it in those years. The Dark Twist was one of my favourites. It is a rich, but mild tobacco, smoking easily, not to moist for a Roll Cake. But its most characteristic from my opinion is its fine distinctive sweetness, not as thick as many Virginias can be. I used to rub it by twisting my hands, like old men used to do with their rolled tobacco and then filled the bowl from the opened hand. I still don't know if it's really the right thing to do, putting the whole coins into the pipe, like shown in so many videos. On MacBaren's website they advice that to do so with the Flake, well. In the 70s there was no www and so you had no instructions (except books) how to fill a pipe properly. So I tried now with the Dark Twist and surprisingly it works what I thought it would never do to get these coins to burn down in a whole. I got stuck to the other Roll Cakes as well, like Club Blend (spicy but cool blend), Stockton (formerly called Spun Cut, which is still on the old tins - rich and mild, but expensive) and Plumcake (great flavour but always gives a slight tongue bite). Cheers

Hi Mark, as always-fabulous video. Very well done with great knowledge and that tobacco sounds great. I want to say thanks so much for your detailed information on 9mm filter pipes. I recently decided to add a 9mm filter pipe to my collection. I picked up a Vauen York sandblast and its smokes like a champ. I am also really enjoying my Big Ben filter pipe. I cannot believe how much the enjoyment is smoking a cooler pipe with the filter and also the tobacco seems to taste better, perhaps I am just enjoying it that much more. I wanted to say thanks for your videos, they got me on to 9mm pipes and I've never looked back. Wishing you all the best and keep the great vids coming. Cheers!

I fell in love with Mac Baren after trying the recent limited run of Burley London Blend. I watched this video very closely because the Dark Twist is a prospect. Then you produced the older tin from your pocket and I was caught in the moment. What a joyful surprise! Great review.

To add to the other comments... great review, lots of good information, and an interesting story about the flea market "find". My estimation of MacBaren blends in terms of quality just went up a notch. Much appreciated, Mark. Thank you.

Your review really makes me want to race out to pick this stuff up. Guess I will add it to the cart. Thanks Mark

Nice video, Mark. Looks like spring has come to Germany. Hope you are having many enjoyable days!

Smoking some 5 month old Dark Twist, right now. Tin is dated May 2018. It is delicious.

Great review, as always. It was funning for me to see your review because, just a minute before I had placed an order online for this blend. Mac Baren`s Dark Twist is one of my go to blends, though I do have to take my time with it to avoid tongue bite. Looking forward to your next review.

Ordered some up, looking forward to trying it.

man what a find! the fact that the flavor held true for so long is rather amazing :D. I have only viewed a couple of your videos but I am becoming a quick fan. keep up the good work -Lloyd

Hello Mark! Thank you for taking the time to answer my question! I totally understand what you mean about the variety of blends and the difficulty to stick with only a few ones. Of course, being still very new in this hobby (and not smoking very frequently), I have tasted more or less 20 types of tobacco. By now, I know what kind I like (english/balkan) and those that I like less (aromatics). I begin to appreciate more the virginias but I am still very picky, and the Kentucky is really growing on me! Well, that Dark Twist looks very good... it might be something I will purchase in the future! The HU tobaccos you sent me are very good. The aro, is not bad, but found it a little tasteless after mid-bowl. Hope you are doing well... Take care my good friend, and Be well!

I have always kind of liked this blend. The tin note is incredible, and it is fantastic when chewed. I just knew that it was good stuff. However, I could never get a consistently good smoke from it. I tried different moisture contents. I tried rubbing out as well as stuffing the coins. I tried smoking it in several pipes. All without consistent results. More often than not, it bit my tongue and burned my mouth terribly. I prefer smaller bowls, but I recently bought a very large bent meerschaum. The bowl is large enough to stack the coins horizontally. That works beautifully! I'm getting consistently fantastic smokes from the blend now; it has become my favorite tobacco.

Love the dark twist, and really enjoyed your review of it! Thank you!

Hello Mark! What a beautiful Ser Jacopo! Of course you know, one of my favorite pipe makers! Excellent review of this classic blend. I have always had a tin of this blend in my cellar. It looks like a very nice day where you are. I think spring is here to stay now! I hope you enjoyed your pipe in the garden, and also enjoyed your time in the shack making tampers. Be well my friend!

I think you're great, wish you lived in my area in the US & ran a pipe shop, would be there multiple times a week, you're a true inspiration to a fading art of relaxation, what Mark Twain & Albert Einstein said about the pipe is true in you, in your speech & spirit, thanks for doing what you do, don't quit, EVER!

Sounds good, I've been curious to try this one, I think you've convinced me to put it on my next order!

Last week I tried baking the Dark Twist for 5 hours at 90 degree Celsius and my god it came out amazing! So much more of the amazing bread and dried fruit taste and it won’t bite anymore if you smoke it just a little bit to hot, like most Mac Barens tend to do.

I love those little tins. Perfect for the pocket! I Wish they still were made. I too have no rotation. I smoke what I'm in the mood for. Some more than others, but really all over the place, aromatics, English, vapers I like em all

Just cracked a tin of this yesterday and smoked my first bowl today. Perfect moisture content right off the bat and I knew there was “something” else going on besides the Virginia; I find that the Virginias are woven in perfectly with the Kentucky and create an almost sweet roll/bakery flavor. I didn’t exactly know what was causing all of this but I sure did like it and immediately ordered more to age (mine was aged about two years). Glad you like it as much as I do, after watching the video I think it’ll easily become one of my “rotation” blends as well.

This tobacco has a very complex depth when it has age on it I;m Smoking at this time as I watch this video some Old 3 Nuns and it is out of this world hard to find and is a little costly but very enjoyable I must say with a very strong Espresso coffee. Keep up the great work . May your bowl be full may your ash Be white . Ram and Alicia, A&R pipe Co.Have a blessed day.

Hello, great review in what looks a wonderful spot to enjoy a pipe... Sounds like a very nice blend & love the fact it hasn't changed much in all those years, going to order myself a couple of tins. So thanks for the review & advice. Regards Mjs

Great stuff Mark! Virginia + time = good things. I am smoking my way through a 20+ year old tin of Elizabethan Mixture made by Murrays & Sons. What a difference aging makes. I also agree with your point about different blenders having a distinct tin note when compared to others. Hope you are well mate. Glen.

Great review. Next time I make a online order (from Ronnie) this will be on my list. Have a great weekend.

Still have my pouch from Bremen I got! Maybe the twist in the Radice is a good idea for today. Hey, your pipe is bent! Haha! Great video Mark. Lovely spring weather. Talk soon! Peace

Hi Marc ! Very interesting ! The Dark Twist is one of my favorites ! The mixing ratio of "pure" virginia curls and those with heart of kentucky is 2:1 I like the sweet notes of the dark twist very much ! Have a nice sunday and be well Andreas

That tin is from the 70's. I remember selling Dark Twist at our pipe shop at that time, price? About $1.25 U.S. for the tin you are holding. Even accounting for inflation that was fairly inexpensive in those days for quality stuff like Dark Twist.

Just visited Germany (I'm from Sweden) and couldn't help going to a tobacco shop in Bochum to buy me some tobacco, since it's way cheaper than in Sweden and lots and lots more to choose from. Bought a few tins of different tobaccos that are not offerered here, plus a pouch of Dark twist. Didn't know anything about Dark Twist since we can't buy it here. Lit it up when I got home and WOW! I really loved it from the start. My regret now is that I didn't buy more of it. It's got that perfect amount of sweetnes and no artificial flavours that some cased tobaccos have. There is a hint of honey and some kind of peppery thing going on in the background. I will try this in my Peterson Strand, which has wide bowl, next time. So yeah, if I get the chance to buy this again, I definately will. Unfortunately I won't be going back to Germany any time soon.

A steadfast 'rotation' is tricky to quantify! I use a rotation with more room for equivocation: strong, uncased blends in the morning, aromatics in the afternoon!

Very good Mark.

You have to go back to that flea market and buy the other old tobaccos! I love Dark Twist. Great review. Thanks for posting. Cheers.

Mark, I tried Mac Barron 7 Seas Regular and I love it, the date of the can is 4/2020

Missing these vid Mr. Bremen, cheers!

special tobacco,special video.last months my favorite pipe smoker sent me this tobacco.special tobacco,special friend...danke mark.take care

Awesome, to be able to smoke a 40 years old Dark Twist. Dark Twist is also one of my favorite tobaccos. Although, lately I've come to like Stockton a little bit more. Take care, senshi78

Mac Baren is the jack of trades and master of none.

Brother! so great to see you again!Ok, this video comes to show that its not just our lighters and the obsession with Kentucky that we share. Im also completely in love with Dark Twist. It was the very first blend that I bought a pound of. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and kentucky. I still own you a package! I got some new blends I want to send you to try! Im barely finished with the ones you sent me, Ive got to say, you got me into the Rattray's really bad! hahahahhaa Im buying a bunch of Wallace flake now! Also, Mac Baren is my favorite blender. Golden Extra, ODF, Plum cake... everything is delicious! Love the honey and maple flavors of the MB's european style aromatics! Take care brother!!!

great video mark

Great looking tobacco. Sounds like a tasty treat. Have a great week brother!!!

Thanks Mark! I found 3 nuns to be too bland for me. But I would give this one a try. 👍

Hi Mark --- I have enjoyed pipe smoking for the past thirty years but I am brand new to the YTPC (this is my first comment). I have been fortunate to have traveled in Europe and very much enjoy your historical commentaries. I hope you will soon share something on the "Musicians of Bremen."

This tobacco is like a angel gave me a rusty trombone. Mentioned angel played the star spangled banner on my rusty trombone without missing a note. Damn near brought a tear to my eye.

I Like it Very Much..!!

in the old days, the "old guys" chewed twist. the old timers could buy it at the local grocery store, it was sold as a twist of leaves, a very strong tobacco but great flavor

Great review! Makes me want to try out a tin (and buy a Ser Jacopo).

I have a meerschaum carved to look like a Oom Paul briar, hand made by Tekin, with a 9mm filter housing that I use "Elephant" brand meerschaum filters with, one of the best smokes, indeed!

Hey Mark: Just speculating but I think maybe the Kentucky is what the tin description is calling Cavendish. As we know Cavendish refers more to a processing or cut rather than a particular generic type of tobacco, so maybe that is why they don't mention Kentucky in the tin description, just a guess on my part.

very nice. is zippo lighter ok with pipes?

Breman pipe smoker hello how are you I like your video and review of Mac Baren Dark twist I haven't tried this blend yet but I'm glad u reviewed it so I'm going to give it a try I'm so hook on Piper's pleasure buy Boswell's Tobacco's very nice thanks for sharing and Happy smoking my friend :)

Dark twist is one of my favorites too but when I first got it I really disliked it so I set it aside for a year and then it tasted amazing and now I set aside some of all of my tobacco's to age and they always taste even better

Hello My Friend" 90% of the KY tobacco here is Dark fired Burly some is left in the fields to age threw the snow some is striped and hung in the barn to air cure in GA we hang it the the barns and fire it with heat :gas ;Electric my Family still used smoke and hard wood. Like oak or hickory gives it a very smokey taste and it still has a higher Nic level and I love strong bold tobaccos I smoke all day every day so I need a bold tobacco. My wife smokes the tobaccos that are in the middle strong but not as in your face but KY makes some and grows some of the best in the world many farms are small and all hand worked it is a hard life and makes for long days were we can enjoy at the end. Ram and Mrs.Ajett. Keep up the great work. A&R pipe CO.

That old tin brings to mind a old man in a trench coat meeting his Cold War spy handler in Berlin haha. I really like the old Mac Baren tin art, I wish they didn'y change it, but the new ones aren't that bad either. I will give the Dark Twist a try. I'm really learning to like Mac Baren blends this Spring. I just opened my first tin of Scottish Blend today and I like it. Golden Blend is my favorite so far though

فخم روعة الغليون والتبغ في الطبيعة فخم جدااا

Hi Mark, hope you are well. I'm looking for a new pipe (with 9mm filter). Apart from Vauen which you recommended to me, are there any makes which you consider to be particularly good? Thanks, Chris

Hi Bremen Pipe Smoker, What pipe is that? I'm sorry I couldn't hear clearly what you said in the video. Would you please write in a reply the brand and model, and perhaps where I can get one from? Thanks!

Mark saw you on the virtual pipe club recently, enjoy your content, new sub coming your way 🤙

Is this similar to new minster 403 or the other way around.

What is the pipe? Looks great

I will I have seen them in your videos ( the charcoal ) & was curious, thought meerschaum was best, I will order some of these online now, ACT, it's a brand? Thanks, nice to finally meet you, was shy at first but now I am so thankful I reached out to you, indeed.....

Do you all not grow any good tobacco over there like we do in the state's?

hello friend! I have really come to expect great tobacco from MB. I know exactly what you mean. I might be able to to blindly say what blend I am smoking but I will know if it's a MacBarren or a Cornell and Deihl blend. and Dark Twist from the first time I tried it has been a tobacco I love to smoke. plus it seams to be a proper tobacco for every season (except for maybe the harshest of winter days) and just about every occasion.

What a difference in appearance! Which is better fresh or aged? You come across the best aged tobaccos. Royal yatch too if I remember.

Great video Mark. It is always neat to see old and new tobaccos compared. I have not yet tried the Dark Twist, but it sounds like something up my alley. How does it compare to Old Dark Fired? I realize Old Dark Fired is hot pressed and not rolled, and probably has more Kentucky. I am guessing Dark Twist sweeter? Take care and happy smokes! Kent

Hell yeah bro, rotations are senseless with all the choices, plus sometimes on Tuesday i love virginia, and sometimes on tuesdays i love latakia, sometimes i like to drink coffee with a aromatic when i wake up and sometimes i like irish flake with some chocolate milk when i wake up. No method to the madness. Just anarchy.

So, if I understand you, not only does each manufacturer/processor of tobaccos have a taste unique to their product line, each combination of tobaccos (blend) has a unique taste which is to be expected, with an accompanying uniqueness of the most predominant ingredient to the least dominant ingredient of a blend. Did I say that right? Very interesting video and while I have yet to distinguish the unique of flavors and ingredients that undoubtedly comes with experience. Since as the old saying goes, "...time and tide wait for no man...", I better get more thoughtful experience! Thank you for continuing my tobacco and pipe education! John

Dude your hair is insane

Do you sale some of the tampers you make?

Nice review Mike! never tried this one. To me this one looks like the Mac Baren 3 nuns. is it similar to the 3 Nuns? Thanks Again!

Is there a tobacco tax in germany? Here in Florida the tax is 80% on pipe tobacco. I buy my tobacco online and the average price is $14

Nice Pipe Dude!

I like the HH series by McBarren and Im not suprised you like the twist, because kentucky by MB (Old Dark Fired, etc.) is just delicious stuff. By the way I suggest to buy all the "old" tobacco from that man, because he had to definitely lost his mind! :) :)

I picked up a few tins of this in the late 90's maybe 1998 in a store that was going out of business in Florida, Usa. Same size tin, same label and all as the older tin you showed here.. any chance there was a date on your tin? Is it possible the tins I bought had been on the shelf for over 20 years? -Tim

What is the main difference between this and Club Blend?

whaaaaat ?a full tin?oh Germany is heaven

Conan obrien doing a tobacco review😍

The vintage one must be phenominal ! Has to be packed properly or she heats up and gets ashy tasting, but if you pay attention it rewards you with a nice sugary smoke.

Is that Jack Peraltas dad? Pozdro666

whay a nice pipe you have there herr professor :-)

Well 30% of coins contain "Dark Twist" - Kentucky tobacco...so calling whole blend Dark Fired is kinda miss-informing, as I am new pipe smoker I'll stay away from this tobacco and try some other Dark Fired Kentucky blends by other manufacturers thx for a very informative video :)