Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut

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!

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.

A delightfull flake tobacco a friend in EU included as a surprise. If it were available in the states I'd buy it by the case.

I was wondering if these flakes were the unrubbed version of the Capstan's Ready Rubbed pouch. No, they are not the same tobacco. These flakes packs and lights very easily. Offers a cool, delicious and long lasting smoke.

A nice choice for Va flake lovers for their daily smokes. I personally will have this little tin on my shelf regularly.

Original N.C. is exactly identical to the old Medium N.C., the name was changed to regulatory questions about the use of words such as: "Mild" or "Medium" for tobacco. For me confirm what I wrote in my review of Medium N.C. Whatever name it has I love it. I agree with both previous reviewers, who seem to have similar taste to my not only about this tobacco. The comparison proposed by Pseudo Nim between FVF and ONC is really interesting and witty.

I was surprised with a tin of this from DubInTheDam and I can see why he & others love this stuff. Very pleasantly falls between Peterson's University Flake & MacBaren's Navy Flake in its flavor & aroma. A milder version of UniFlake & a great tobacco that is well suited as a all day smoke.

I'd buy lots more if it were available in the states.

A beautiful flake with a strong scent of fig, a little bit wet but still beautiful. It grinds perfect in the hands. It is easy to pack and lights even more easily. What is keeping me from giving this wonderful tobacco four stars is that it has a little bit to fruity taste.

The main difference between Capstan "Medium" (or Original) and "Mild" (or Gold) is not the strength, as the name suggests, but the type of Virginias: while Capstan Mild is mostly (if not all) lemon leaf, Capstan Medium is a mix of lemon and red Virginias, the former being dominant. That gives Medium a bit more depth, more sweetness and less tang. It is a bit stronger, but other than that they're both quite similar.

It won't replace FVF or HoTW in my regular rotation, but the quality tobaccos used here make are enough to give it 3/4.

To be clear, I am reviewing Capstan Navy Cut Ready Rubbed as sold in a pale blue pouch in UK newsagents. It is a very easy tobacco to find in the UK. Not at all sure if this is the same one as others have reviewed here. I can't find the Flake anywhere. The tag line 'A medium to mild blend of carefully selected Virginia tobaccos with a natural aroma enhanced by a subtle flavour' is the same though.

The cut is virtually shag. Very thin ribbons of bright, light Virginia that looks and smells very like cigarette tobacco. Not very promising really. But I have found this is one I go back to regularly. It is just an easy stand-by. It lights and smokes very simply. The taste is pure Virginia - sweetness and brightness. It will bite if you really try and it will burn too fast if you puff like mad, but most of the time it is just a reliable uncomplicated smoke. The strength is much higher than the appearance of the tobacco would suggest. This is often a 'have a rest in the middle' tobacco for me.

Nothing special, but a repeat buy for me and it does the job. 3 stars.