Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut

Very nice straightforward virginia... more on the brighter hay end... very similar to dunhil flake. Easy to load and smoke. Mac Baren is not my favorite company- that being said I'm loving these reissues. Sometimes I crave a straightforward bright Virginia. This should do well with some age on it.

Update 9/19... the initial excitement of its release has worn off.. gotta bump it down to 3.. kind of average flavored flake.. nice smoke but a little flat and boring at times..

I have never had the pleasure of sampling previous incarnations of Capstan Original Navy Cut, but the current Mac Baren version is an outstanding example of a pure Virginia Flake.

The presentation in the tin is spot on. Nobody produces more perfectly cut flakes than Mac Baren. Two neatly stacked, identical rows. While the rustic presentation of Samuel Gawith does have its rough-hewn charms, there's something admirable about symmetry and consistency (especially in our often slovenly and topsy-turvy world). The color ranges from medium to darker browns (an intensification of color and maturation of the leaf that is the result of the pressing process), with scattered streaks of lighter leaf intermingled.

The Virginias have a touch of brown sugar sweetness and a dark caramel edge, along with an underlying citrus sharpness and tang. I don't get any grass and hay, which is ok by me since I'm not really into graminoids or animal fodder. I've smoked it rubbed out and used the fold-and-stuff method (or rather a crumple-and-stuff method, interspersed with firm tamps to compress the air pockets), and I've found that the flavors are deeper when it's left un-rubbed.

There's no danger of tongue bite, even if vigorously puffed, nor does a hasty cadence blur or diminish the flavors. A rare straight Virginia flake that is very forgiving of technique, a quality which would make Capstan Original a suitable starting place for those considering a foray into VA Flakes.

I have smoked this and the Capstan Gold Navy Cut. Presentation in the tin is similar. Moisture level is great and I did not dry. I smoked mine rubbed out - mostly in wider bowls.

This is a very high quality Virginia Flake. Strength and flavor are slightly higher than Gold Navy Cut. I claim this has no topping. There is a full and slightly sweet Virginia flavor with grassy and earthy notes. It was easy to keep lit, and it smoked cool for me.

As a value, this is very expensive per ounce, but it is in stock and easy to find. I would consider it very close to Full Virginia Flake at a similar price. FVF might have a slightly fuller taste. As a smoke for me to have in inventory, this is a 3. I like it more than Gold Navy Flake, but this still does not rise to a 4. It is almost there.

This review is based on the Orlik version of this blend that I was buying from Denmark in 2010 & 2011. As with the Willis version, I find this to be more on the mild or mild to medium side. The Orlik version is definitely lighter and there is a bit more “hay” in this version, but the age of the Willis I smoked likely skewed the comparison. It isn’t overly complex and like most Virginias, it needs to be respected and appreciated with a slow cadence. I always smoke Capstan by folding the flakes and rubbing out a very small amount to get things going. Since others have commented on this verses FVF, my two cents is that Capstan is a much better smoke, not to mention far less wet. With additional age, I could easily see this as a four star smoke. As for the new Mac Baren, I have squirreled away a few tins, but I often get bit by Mac Baron blends, so I have yet to open Capstan’s newest incarnation as I am waiting for some age.

Admittedly I get star struck by Capstan partially due to the elite circles it enjoys. It's a classic blend and I love to read with a pipe full of it to keep me company. I was equally delighted to find it's a decent blend in its own right. The taste and nicotine are mild. The Virginias have a simple note of toasted bran tips. Very mild citrus and grassy flavors provide background notes. Its damn perfect for a no muss no fuss all day smoke. Another plus, its light enough to be smoked indoors. It doesn't linger around long and can be undetectable after a few hours.

Looking forward to this one as I enjoy VA flakes. Scored a tin that had been sitting on the shelf of my tobacconist for several years, (Don't know how) but lucky me. The tobacco is beautiful and quite moist with a delightful rum topping. The flakes actually fused together and leaves me tearing them up trying to get them out in sheets. The fact it's been around for 100 years says a great deal about this blend. I enjoyed this tin knowing JRR Tolkien enjoyed it as well and to me there is a connection in a way that only fellow pipers can enjoy. This is a med body Va and quite good but honestly it's a bit pricy for the amount of tobacco you get. For my money Erinmore and Mac Baren's Modern Va flake is a greater value as it delivers the same great smoke but more bacca for the same amount of dough or less. I would buy this again as its a fine smoke, but reconsider it based on the price.

I'm almost finished my first tin of Capstan Original Navy Cut and it's grown on me. At first the smoke didn't seem to be as flavourful as Dunhill Flake (my go-to straight Virginia flake), but it's close and, like Dunhill Flake, it's certainly easier to work with than FVF, which I've given up on because when I want to smoke, I want to smoke and not be forced to wait around for twenty minutes. The moisture level of this Capstan is just about perfect and yet can still stand a little air drying after rubbing out to get a perfect smoke. I haven't had much luck folding and stuffing it, but that just may be my inexpert stuffing technique and I don't think it has to do with moisture level.

I'm finding that now the tin has been open for a week, though, each pipeful is improved greatly over my original experience. I'm noticing a greater sweetness and more of that fresh hay taste I love. I've also started smoking it in smaller bowls, though, and this may have done the trick. I had been shovelling it into big billiards for long walks with the dog and the combination of a big bowl and inattentive smoking while walking and bending to pick up, etc. may not have been fair. Still ... there's something not quite there for me. 3 stars vs. Dunhill Flake's rating of 4 stars. Oh, and it's damned expensive compared to Dunhill Flake -- almost forgot that!

I not going to lie, I bought a tin of this just because JRR Tolkien smoked it... however I'm not a fan. I am not normally a straight Virginia smoker and I found this to be kind of boring and bland, 1 dimensional and not very complex. The whole time I'm smoking it, I'm thinking "This could sure use some perique, or maybe some DFK to kick it up a notch". It is obviously made with some good quality leaf, and the presentation was on point (which is why I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2), but I guess my preferences lean more towards a stronger flavor profile.

Summary: a blend of light Virginias that provides a sweet, non-complex smoking flavor and mild nicotine.

This simple blend gets the pipe smoker as close as possible to the cigarette experience. It is near-monochromatic in flavor, having bonded bright and darker Virginias into a chord, with a sweet taste reminiscent of grain or hay with an earthy lower boundary from the darker Virginias. It lights easily and stays lit well and, like a really good cigarette, delivers a consistent flavor that is both non-distracting and pleasurable. If you like light Virginia flakes, this is a good one to keep around.