Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut

a very nice sraight VA blend that does very well as a everyday smoke! subtile hints of figs, hay and some slightly sweet flavours i cant define.

This is a review of the 2013 USA reissue of the "Original Navy Cut" flake purchased in June 2013. I cannot compare it to any of the earlier versions because I never smoked them.

VA flakes such as SG FVF have become my personal favorite smokes and Capstan Blue really delivers. I've worked my way through a full tin and I'm ready to say this is in my top 5. The tin note is the first hint that this is going to be great. It has a molasses smell that makes me drool. I find it wet enough out of the tin that the flakes should be dried before smoking. Otherwise it produced a far too wet smoke that reduced the flavor and enjoyment of this wonderful tobacco.

I have smoked it both folded/stuffed and rubbed out and I tend to prefer it rubbed. When properly prepared, it produces a sweet straightforward smoke characteristic of a pure VA but with a fair amount of nuance in the flavors. I taste a creaminess as well as a certain saltiness. Its never bitten me but I take VAs sort of slow and let it go out a few times per bowl. Retrohaling its thick, voluminous clouds brings a fine tickle to the sinuses but definitely doesn't make my eyes water. I'd say it tastes almost caramelized beyond the halfway mark and I look forward to reaching it, even though the first half is divine!

I'm a Virginia guy, that's for sure, and even though I've tried many interesting takes on this category of leaf the old blue Capstan simply can't be pushed out of my personal top 5.

I prefer the darker types, especially those with red Virginias in the front, and this one (being a golden/brownish composition) technically belongs in another category. But this one doesn't care about technicalities, it seems, and to me it acts more like one of its darker cousins than its obvious, blond sisters.

Meaty, complex, deep, yes, but surprisingly easy to deal with. Wonderful stuff. Only downside is the new square tins. I really liked the older rectangular ones better. Luckily I don't have to puff the tin.

Highly recommended!

Capstan Medium Navy Cut is another of my all time favourites...smells good enough to eat right out of the tin. Simple, uncomplicated virginia tobaccos with a light raisin-like topping. Burns beautifully, with rich smooth body nut mild tangy flavour that's easy on the tongue. A good day time smoke enjoyed with a cup of English tea.

One of my very first tobaccos was Capstan Navy flake, it was in fact the second one i ever tried. And it was love from first puff. The tin aroma is indeed as sweet hay, reminds me of when i was a kid i used to go out on the fields with my uncle and grandpa. That wonderful smell of freshly cut hay a warm fall day in the field. This might be why i love it so much, nostalgia. The taste i cannot properly describe as i still am a quite new smoker, only 1,5 yrs with the briar now. But it tastes very pleasing smokes smooth and cool, no bite. As of the comment earlier of where to get this, i buy it in Sweden its sold in 50g tins and are hurtfully expensive, but still half the price it is here in Norway

Does not work for me. Maybe because of the Kentucky

2 stars because of the very practical tin that i now use for other tobaccoes

Update july 2011 Tin open for 6 months, and smoking this outside, it has wormed it't way into my favourite list.

Better, more consistent review to come after the summer

This is a wonderful Virginia flake tobacco. A long, smooth, cool burning smoke that, in my opinion, is as good as Gawith Full Virginia Flake. A bit milder perhaps, but still very very good. Fully rubbed out I didn't get anywhere near a bite and the taste was consistent to the bottom of the bowl. An earlier reviewer felt FVF was more sophisticated, but my experience is just the opposite. As I mentioned before, FVF is fuller, but it was a bit harsher with my experience. I don't think any U.S. retailer stocks this but it can be gotten through tobaccoonline.co.uk and Dan Tobacco, Germany, but shipping makes it pretty expensive. I like this a lot-- 4 stars!

Capstan Medium/Original Navy Cut is a tobacco I always go back to after trying different brands. A straight forward Virginia blend, with probably spiced with a small amount of Perique. I'm smoking a bowl right now!

I remember my first tin back in the 1980's. It was a cool autumn evening at our summer home. Fog over the river, and dew started to form in the grass. I remember the fig and raisin smell from the tin, and how good the tobacco tasted.

I have smoked many tins over the years, and it's difficult to say if and how it has changed since the production moved to Denmark.

This WAS my everyday tobacco until someone took it away from the American Market several years go. This tobacco tasted like sweet hay,and smelled like it. It was sweet Virginia goodness, smoky billows of yummy goodness. I would roll it up tight and rub it out completely. Ahhh the dreams of yesterday. Where oh where do you get this tobacco these days?

Update; It's back! I missed this flake tobacco a lot. After I waited for it to arive at my online retailer I ordered 4 tins. I couldn't wait to open one up. I opened the tin and broke the paper back, I wondered if the new producer had gotten the recipe right. They did it! It's the very same tobacco I used to enjoy! Mellow, malty, mellow, slightly tangy but smoothed over. Welcome back old frined.

Update:2016 Yes, Capstan is back and I must say it's the same recipe. I got both the flakes and the ready rubbed. The original only came in flakes but this new ready rubbed is outstanding! RR comes at just about the right moisture level and needs very little drying time. Packs easy and easy lighting. The mellow deep rounded flavor is as I remember it. Oh my goodness it's good to have this old standard back!