Player's Navy Cut Flake

Tin Aroma: I guess this should be pouch aroma because sadly this blend is no longer available in the round tins. The tobacco has a rich aroma remeniscent of Christmas cake lightly topped with caramel.

Room Note: There is certainly no topping detectable in the room note which can only be described as a generic virginia tobacco aroma with a slight soapiness about it. Similar to St.Bruno in aroma; nothing to offend but then nothing to make the smoker's companions appreciate it either. The best I've heard it described is 'old fashioned in a classic way'.

Packing: If smoking 'pressed' the flakes are thin enough to fold easily into the bowl. If rubbing out the small, thin flakes transform quickly and easily to an almost cigarette tobacco consistancy. The stands are a nice length and the mixture packs well and evenly with little effort whichever method you prefer. I do find the flakes an odd size though, as I always seem to need 'one and a bit' flakes whichever size bowl I'm using. Moisture content is perfect; dry enough to smoke easily but moist enough to be easy to handle and rub out without turning to dust. Because the mixture is a bit springy as well as fine, I pack on the light side as you could easily pack it a little tight if you're not careful. This can make drawing a bit of a pain.

Lighting: The weed takes the flame very well as long as you pack it right. I find one charring light, a very light tamper and a second match are all that's required to create a good and even burn that creates copious amounts of wonderful white clouds of virginia smoke.

Appearance: An attractive flake that's medium to dark brown mottled here and there with light tan and yellow bright leaf. When rubbed out it produces a pleasantly light brown, fine stranded blend.

Smoking: Although I find this tobacco very mild, I really enjoy the light but rich flavour. There is a classic taste of aged virginia, melded with a subtle spiciness which is topped off by a creamy almost caramel top note. Underneath is a hint of soapiness that reminds one this is a classic English virginia blend with an almost 'Empire' feel to it. I have to say when compared directly to St. Bruno, the latter wins due to it's superior flavour and superb coolness. Nevertheless, Player's Medium navy Cut comes a close second and indeed might actually be preferable depending on your mood as it is a lighter smoke. Because much of the complexity of this blend is subtle, I would never smoke it after eating a strongly flavoured dish or it would come across as quite bland. The first half of the bowl is velvet smooth but you need a degree of measured puffing or it can bite a little. I found the blend burns evenly to a medium grey ash but produces a fair bit of moisture which leads to gurgling and a bit of gooey dottle in the base of the bowl. I admit as it's been about twenty years since I last smoked 'Navy Cut', I can't remember how it compares to the original round flakes in the tin. But I did enjoy it in it's current form so I guess it coudn't have changed that much!

Pros: A truly classic blend that smokes cool and evenly with a light but wonderfully rich flavour. Rubs out and packs very well. A great 'mainstay'.

Cons: Can bite a little if you're not careful and does produce a lot of moisture whilst burning which in turn creates a bit of dottle on the last leg of the smoke. Very light in the nicotine department, which ofcourse can be a good or a bad thing depending on what you want out of a blend!

I have not seen a new tin of this stuff in years. I stored away a dozen or so tins in the 1980's, and go back to it from time to time. Quite frankly, I find it odd that it has not previously been reviewed.

This is a virginia mix of decent quality. But, even though the tin I just finished the other day was 20 years old, the 'baccy still burned warm and a little harsh. Typical of what I always get when smoking this blend.

It will bite, so hard puffers and beginners should steer clear (unless, of course, you have a leather tongue!)

I can't write very much about this tobacco, which I found very agreeable, because it has now been discontinued in the UK (as of Summer 2016). I only got to try a couple of pouches and then it was gone; considering it had been in production since 1883, I put this down to my usual bad luck. I liked what I smoked very much - it reminded me rather of St Bruno but milder, slower to smoke thus longer-lasting, and it hit the nicotine spot very nicely. A substantial and elegant smoke, with a good deal of frown in its brown study. In fact, I'm so aggrieved that it's gone that I'm seriously considering quitting pipe-smoking altogether. If you have any of this delicious tobacco cellared, treasure it, because it was one of the best.

Now discontinued. The Danes strike again. I guess there's always a chance Peterson's will have bought another mock up from the culprits, seems to be the game lately.

A classic pipe tobacco being around for a long time. It is a blend composed of Virginia and Burley tobaccos, which also has a very light touch of tasty rum.

It belongs to the English "school" of tobaccos if we can use the term. The taste palette is citrus fruits coming from Virginia and in a supportive role there is the taste of nuts coming from Burley. These flavors are soft and gentle and also very gentle is the taste of rum. It is a tobacco which keeps it's smoking identity of "old-fashioned" classical tobacco.

The flakes, mainly brown with golden accents, are beautifully cut with nice thickness and the moisture is excellent. The packaging of tobacco is in a pouch, in which in it's internal the tobacco is sealed airtight in a plastic box. The smell of tobacco when opening the packaging is very attractive. A sense of earthy aromas found in Virginia tobaccos in combination with fruit aromas.

Rubbing the flakes I noticed that the taste of the tobacco became a bit more rich and also acquire an extra light sweetness. I did not notice any "tongue bite", but that has to do with the calm way that I smoke my pipe. If you smoke intensely and fast it will "bite". The power of nicotine lies somewhere between the light - medium category.

Can be smoked comfortably throughout the day. I rather liked to smoke it during afternoon or evening hours. Not a great complexity of flavors, but in any case it is not flat, tedious or boring smoke, and the aroma in the room is very nice and not bothering the others.

The ideal humidity makes it very easy to lighting and also it is smoked very easy. It is good to be smoked as a flake form in a pipe bowl relatively small -it reacts better-, and as a broken flake or rubbed flake it can be smoked comfortably in a larger pipe bowl.

Not noticed liquids on pipe or bitterness. In the last level of the bowl it becomes more pungent but without being annoying or tedious. Leaving only ash on the bottom of the bowl at end of the smoking.

Also, it's good reputation accompanies the fact that it was one of the favorite pipe tobaccos of author J. R. R. Tolkien.

In conclusion, this is a very good pipe tobacco which left me only positive impressions.

I picked this up to simply experience what I thought was one of J.R.R Tolkien's tobaccos of choice (I understand he smoked a fair amount of Capstan Navy cut as well). Upon buying the pouch and discovering the 'cat food tray' I was disappointed. However, upon opening the tray I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing chocolaty aroma that hit my nose. As a newbie to the pipe, this was not my first non-aromatic but my first over the counter blend. The aroma was like chocolate covered raisins with a hint of hay.

The flakes are nice and plentiful (think there are 14) and are easily rubbed out or folded. I tend to rub out the flakes but I have tried them folded as well.

Upon lighting, this tobacco is a good burner and I only relit once. The sweetness of the Virginia is very nice but if you puff away, the tobacco can be a little harsh. I have experienced some bite to this (my own inexperience) and I recommend taking your time with this one with sipping rather than chugging away. The taste is similar to the smell. I couldn't detect any of the soapishness of St Bruno and I recommend this to those wanting a quality smoke.

On the down side, this was as expensive as my tinned faves but minus the tin. To echo the other reviewers, this dries out very quickly without a jar or a tin so be warned.

Overall a pleasant introduction to virginias and whilst not a fave, I will choose this over St Bruno. The Vitamin N is medium (felt it burn my throat a little) and just right for me.

...I like this tobacco! It meets all my criteria for what I consider a great smoke...and it always has. I smoked this in the mid-1960's and whenever I was in Europe, I would always stock up.

Like its cousins; Condor, Walnut, St. Bruno, Mellow Virginia, etc. it is distinctive, uncomplicated, and one of the best mild flakes still available.

It does not have the floral taste or scent, nor the parfume, that seems to be attached to British flakes...yet has its own character.

Fortunately, I have friends that can send me what I need and while there have been subtle changes over the years, this flake remains pretty much the same as I remember it from my first introduction to it in 1963.

Definitely worthwhile and can be enjoyed any time of day or evening...A great smoke with coffee, tea or a wee dram of single malt!

...a pipe is to be savored...

This tobacco has been going for donkeys years! A friend told me JRR Tolkein use to smoke this frequently. Putting that to one side, this is a straight virginia mix and whilst the tins are now collectors items you can only get it in a plastic foiled tab, which is disappointing as once opened you need to put a in a sealed storage jar otherwise it will turn as dry as a bone in hours. The taste is quite wholesome, and you need to draw carefully as for beginners it can knock you out towards the end of the smoke! But, as a mainstream (over the counter) tobacco) it is I think a fine tobacco. The virginia leaf is quite pronounced but well balanced. A delightful typically English tobacco that is pleasant to smoke. Room note is mixed as my company felt it was "nice, but a bit strong".

This is one of those hidden treasures that you can stumble upon. It comes in a psuch but is packed in the same way as St. Bruno and Condor in a foil sealed tray with the flakes being very precisely cut.

It lights very easily and takes a few puffs to start getting the flavour but when you do it is a very mild sweet virginia that leaves you wanting more. Because it is easily smoked and easy on the palette means I smoke it too quickly.

It is available from online retailers and you can still find it in B&M's in the UK but not OTC from supermarkets.