Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut

Before I try Capstan I heard about lots of good reviews. Upon opening the tin the presentation is neat, even light brown flake, and it's easy to work with. The strength is on the lighter side of medium, but the flavor develops as the bowl goes. It reminds me of Dunhill's Flake, clear and bright, with a little deeper tangy and never bites.

Perfect flakes, ready to smoke folded or rubbed. As all Virginias, better if smoked slowly. Then it releases its sweetness and aromas. A very honest tobacco. Recommended.

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!