Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut

I really like the MacBaren version. Light golden flakes, perfectly presented, easy to rub out or shred, or cube cut. Starts very sweet but soon grows creamy and full (enough) with great high notes and a little grassy base to go along. Cool & dry smoking, a good intro to a straight Va for anyone. Mixed with 1/3 good Perique, absolute VaPer Heaven.

UPDATE: I have now smoked this in every kind of pipe I have. It just gets better , but it is CRITICAL to let it dry a bit to avoid bite & get the full flavor. Also I have decided that so much Perique wrecks it. Best at maybe 10% added; mine is "Blending Perique" from P & C, probably "Acadian," but it's great stuff nonetheless.

Well, as Capstan Navy Cut Medium was my all time favorite tobacco when I smoked it back in the ancient times of the 1970's and 80's, I was hopeful but a bit dubious about Macbaren's ability to even come close to the old Blue Capstan that I remember. Now my taste buds may have cloyed a bit over the past 40 years of pipe smoking but when I opened the first tin of this re-release I was quite pleased, it is virtually identical to the original flake in every respect. If you want to experience a classic from the past jump on the Capstan bandwagon, but do not spread this around too widely or we might have a run similar to the Gawith FVF of a couple of years ago.

This is probably the closest that I have come to a replacement for Dunhill Flake. But since I need to have it imported this saves me nothing. The taste is very close. Great natural virginia sweetness with a good nic content. Burns nice. I bought this while visiting the Danish Pipe shop in Copenhagen. Just in case anyone in the states is curious, they do import and they are a great shop.

I may or may not buy more, but since Dunhill Flake can be had so easily here, I likely won't.

7/25/2022 update

My information above is dated as Capstan has been available in the US for more than a few years now, but it is still more costly than Dunhill Flake. In any case I have a few tins aging in the cellar and I just recently finished one of them. It is still a great Virginia Flake. One thing to note is that the tin I just finished was 6 and half years old and I did not notice any increased sweetness. I will have to report back after trying some older ones later.

I will not belabour the point made admirably by the esteemed NOORRMM, with whose review I fully concur, except to say that this is one of the classics, and just about as pleasant a middleweight Virginia flake as I know.

It has not been distributed in the USA these last few years, but the suggested renewed availability of the AMPHORA blends lets one hope that it will soon again make the delights of American flake fanciers. Now that unrubbed tobacco seems to be in vogue, everyone should make the acquaintance of this old desert island favourite.

I tend to prattle in these reviews some, but I won't embelish exposition for the sake of maintaining the tone set by this superb leaf. This stuff is elegant, yet simple, well-crafted, presented beautifully, and is classic in every regard. Capstan Blue is an institution with standing reputation as a staple tobacco steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. An essential smoke for any pipe smoker seeking pure, refined tobacco.

The packaging is quite luxurious, yet refined looking. A simple, tasteful, and timeless sky blue tin with a gold wrapper on the inside, into which perfect, blonde and mahogany grained flakes of perfectly moist pipeweed are perfectly nestled.

It is quite fruity and grassy smelling, with notes of honey, apricot, and fig. There is a slight grass/hay quality to the nose, with just the slightest hint of citrus and wine, not unlike Champagne.

The flakes rub out beautifully, and the tobacco takes to flame immediately, without effort. The smoke is sweet, bright, and fruity, with grassy leathery notes that linger a little. The flavor changes little throughout the bowl, but at about the last third, the sweetness mellows out to a cappuchino-like note, with tannin flavors not unlike a blonde-roast coffee. Bright and assertive, but not cloying, this is a satisfying smoke with a little lighter profile than heftier English and Balkan style blends that can taste and feel full and rich, often to an extant that can render them overpowering.

Leaves little moisture in the bowl if puffed at a slow, even pace, with very little bite or lingering aftertaste. With that being said, puff slowly to keep it cool though, as it is a Virginia, and it can get a touch peppery if smoked too quickly.

The room note is fairly straight forward without perfumes and toppings found in many aromatic Virginia blends, and no bitter, cigar and swamp smells that can be left after a heartier smoking tobacco like Nightcap or Irish Flake. Best of all, it doesn't leave you with the whirlies as some more stout Virginia/Perique-containing blends can in the nicotine deoartment. True, it is full, and some caution should be taken if you're inclined to smoke bigger bowls, but it won't knock you over if you do.

All in all, great stuff to have in my rotation. This would do well as an everyday smoke for most. It compliments nearly any flavor seamlessly, so you don't have to worry about this ghosting a pipe too badly or generating weird crossover flavors when switching blends between bowls. Good stuff! I intend to keep it in stock.

A beautiful smoke. Straight natural virginia flavours. Primarily malty, lots of toast/bread, with some grass, wood, molasses and raisin. There's a sweetness like honey. Lots of savoury notes. There are alot of similarities to HH Pure Virginia, which I'd say is sweeter, with Capstan being more malty/savoury. Excellent moisture. Easy handling and burn. A cool and rich smoke; no bite, no heat. I love the maltiness. A top 5 tobacco for me. Aside from the price, a perfect straight virginia. Tolkein was indeed a wise man. 4 stars. Highly recommend. In the rotation.

A tasty and straightforward flake. This is not the tangy/zesty virginia blend, as it is more on the roasted/woodsy tobacco spectrum, although it is also sweet. It has a noticeable casing which, in my opinion, could be treacle. It adds some sweetness and goes very well with the blend. This version of Capstan reminds me of Gawith’s Full Virginia and also of Dunhill’s Dark Flake, both in flavour and in the sense that these three blends are very moist out of the tin. Once Capstan is dried out, it becomes tasty and easy to some. The room note might be very acceptable to non-smokers. N.B: I am reviewing the Mac Baren version of this blend.

Capstain Blue is a classic, and one of my favorite straight Virginias. The mechanics are perfect. There's no hint of bite. It smokes cool, slow, and has flavors of grass, hay, citrus and tea. Light notes of bread, earth, and sweet raisins show themselves around the halfway mark, and it slowly climbs in strength, and flavor. The retrohale also gets spicier, but it never pushes past medium. The room note is pleasant to tolerable; my wife doesn't mind it, but it will leave the room musty and stale for a day or two. I think it's a goldilocks blend.

tin was from 2/21. opened 6/21. expected this to burn pretty hot and bite a bit since it was very fresh, what i got was the total opposite. smooth, bready and lightly sweet with a touch of hay, no bite. could be an all day smoke for me, probably will be now. this gets me excited for the gold version, gonna pick that up next time and clear the b&m out of the blue. fresh tins smoking very well right now, pick some up to smoke and some to cellar.