Dobie's Four Square Medium Navy (Light Blue)

I have smoked my fair share of fabled brands that have gone off into tobacco heaven, some great, some overrated and some a shadow of their former self’s as age has changed the blend for better or worse. This review is based on my one and only tin of Dobie’s Medium Navy Cut. It is from what I believe to be the final era, as it was made in Denmark. The wide flakes, mostly tan in color have done well with age. I would agree with those that compare this to Dunhill (Light) Flake as there are similarities. Being that the flakes are too large to fold and stuff. I smoked each bowl either totally rubbed out or with the flakes broken into smaller pieces. MNC burns cool and smooth. I cannot place the topping. It does offer a hint of apple in the tin as another reviewer mentioned, but in the pipe, the unknown flavor is just enough to complement the blend. No bite, lightly sweet and tasty to the end. I only have one old tin of the Dunhill Light Flake left and did not open to make a comparison, but from memory, I would give the edge to Dobie’s as the flavor seems fuller. Great stuff, it’s sad that it is no longer produced.

This hard to find treat was absolutely delightful! To be fair, I was able to obtain an aged tin (over 10 yrs.), and the mellow smoke it provided kept me coming back for more and more and more. In fact, I smoked the tin up in just four or five days.

The virginia is superb and soft, the flavor was that of pure tobacco, and the aroma in the room and in the smoke as it wafted up the ole nostrils was heavenly.

If you can find this tobacco, grab it quick if you like aged, mellow virginia. In fact, grab two tins, one doesn't last very long. (sob!)

This was an excellent Navy Flake, available in a small rectangular tin that was easily put into the pocket of your pants.

The flakes were nice, sweet and light to medium brown in colour.

A pleasure to smoke...

I remember smoking this a few years back, I got a tin in a little tobacconists in Bishops Stortford. Anyway, as I remember it was very much like Dunhill's Light Flake, but a little less strong, and with slightly more tendency to bite. I stuck with the Light Flake after that, but I did enjoy this tobacco very much. Light Flake just seemed to me a tiny bit better to smoke, although I thought these flakes seemed a lot tidier in presentaion- neatly cut and laid flat in the tin, rather than being slightly folded like the Dunhill Flake.

I picked up a tin of this from an estate tobacco sale. Later I discovered that the tin had opened up at some point between the late 90s, or whenever it was last available, and when I got it in 2006. Of course the tobacco was dry as dust. I put the flakes in a Mason jar and put a wet paper towel over the opening and lightly secured the top. I repeated this a few times over 2 or 3 days, removed the paper towel, and then sealed the jar. I let the flakes sit for a month or so.

The flakes are mostly brown in color with some yellow strands throughout. A light dusting of crystals are on the flakes. This is my only encounter with this now extinct blend. Too bad, because it's outstanding. It's smooth, delicately sweet, with a flavor that is unique, possibly a light fruity topping. It burns extremely well with no tongue bite whatsoever. In the same estate sale I got a tin of the Dobie's Curlies and one of the Dobie's Mild Navy. This is my favorite of the three. It's hard to believe that a tobacco that had completely dried out could be this good. I wish I had been aware of this brand before it folded or I would have stocked up on this classic. I've got about 25g left and I will enjoy every bit of it.

It may not be proper to start a review with a whopper of a lie; but I couldn't not give this flake a four star rating. If it was still available I would be smoking it every day. In so far as I can ascertain, Dobie has gone the way of so many other blends and brands (Oh Redbreast Flake! Oh Digger, Oh Capstan Blue Sob!).

Sic transit and all that.

My tin, plucked from my stash, benefited, like Pipestud's, from a period of aging, but memory serves that it was always good. It reminds me very much of Dunhill's Light Flake, but better. Rounder, smoother, naturally sweeter. The topping, reminding me of apple flavour, is very lightly applied: reminds of a cross between the Dunhill flake and Capstan Blue.

Dobies had, in years past, I am told, an enviable reputation for blend quality. This doesn't disappoint. The real surprise, for the ever sceptical me, is that this tin was made in Denmark by A.C. Petersen, not in Scotland by Mr.Dobie. Petersen did as good a job with this as they did with Escudo. If you see either of the Dobie flakes on Ebay or on the shelf somewhere, pick up and enjoy.

I had to give this one the top rating as a great flake. However, although I was fortunate enough to stock away some tins, I've been unable to currently find this or the 'Mild Navy Cut' even on the internet. If you can get some, give it a try. An ideal moisture content from the tin results in easy packing and an even burn without relights. The tin aroma is quite sweet but I believe it's just from great, natural VAs. The taste and strength is exactly as labeled = medium but in a clean and smooth way. No bite or even a hint of bitterness and rather consistent throughout the smoke. Where did Dobie go?