Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut

The presentation of the tobacco is great. As well as the story about it in the write ups. Who wouldn't want to smoke what Tolkien smoked? I smoked this flake rubbed, and folded. My verdict is that it is defiantly a Virginia flake. This flake was a bit temperamental needing a couple of relights and pokes here and there. However it burned relatively cool, with no real tongue bit to speak of. The flavors are a typical mild Virginia profile. Earthy, and bready, with some notes of citrus, sugary sweetness, and a mild spice. Overall I did like it and it is a quality tobacco, it just does not offer anything special. In my humble opinion of course.

I must confess I am not very familiar with Virginias. I recently finished a tin of Escudo Navy De Luxe and by the end of it, oddly found myself wanting to revisit the taste of hay I initially didn't connect with. While these may be two totally different beasts, to my limited exposure they fell into the same camp.

The Capstan flakes are huge and required one of my larger pipes to take it all in. The tin looked and felt quite nice in hand (as a side note) and held a golden sweet smell that reminds me of hay. It wasn't earthy or flecked with Eau de Manure. Lit well and maintained an acrid heavy smoke that was a new sensation for me.

For me it was harsh, but not bitter, had a mild sweetness and sipped well. I was not in love with it and prefered the Escudo Navy De Luxe for being smoother, but it does offer something without frills for when you just want to smoke and not pay attention to some specific flavor (as I do with Aromatics).

Review warning: I was suffering a toothache at the time and this may of altered my opinion.

A pure, strong, honest, high-quality Virginia flake. I'd love it, if VA happened to be among my favorite types of tobacco; but it isn't so ? my preferences go to Burley and aromatic types.

After 1 tin of this tobacco, I can say that this is a good blend that could be better smoked with a "full stomach" (after lunch)due to its nicotine percentage. It burns very well in any kind of pipe. 2 stars.

I was able to smoke a ten year old tin of this . It had a fruity smell in the tin , but the flavor was not heavily artificial . I'd smoke it again but I wouldn't stock it in the cellar without smoking it some more .It was intriguing , but not exciting . Not bad in any way though .

I have been disapointed by this offering. My tin had 8 years and 8 months of aging (according to MB's date) and despite this, the flakes had not darkened much and the overall taste has yielded very little complexity or nuances. I was definitively expecting more after such aging!

Nice clean Virginia. Easy to smoke mild tobacco that’s good for a warm sunny day. Thin even cut on the flakes make it convenient to fold and stuff when rubbing out isn’t practical.

It is and it has been soince a long while one of my favourite flakes, a very good Virginia one with good complexity, depth and a smoky notes comparable to the one you can taste in some Islay Scotch whisky. A good alter ego to SG FVF in my rotation.

Update 2019: I bought a tin this year after a while without smoking it, I'd say that I'm rather upset, I found it quite flat and untasty. I suppose that going in Mc Baren family didn't help at all.