W.D. & H.O. Wills Capstan Mild Navy Cut

This is a great VA flake that follows through on everything it promises. It is mild in flavor, but surprisingly has a nice nicotine kick. To my taste it is not as good as the original navy cut which is a little fuller in taste.

It is due to this that it misses 4 stars from me, but if you favor a lighter taste in your va's then this would easily jump into the four star realm.

Based on a 1.5 oz sample. I hadn't smoked this for many years, but my memory is that I preferred the medium version. No matter - this is a light colored long flake that folds easily or rubs out just as easily. The flavor leans towards the grassy side of virginia, but with a pleasant and not overblown essence of citrus. At times, it also seems to flirt with a darker VA flavor, but this goes away just as it's beginning to gel.

I'd call this a "steady eddie" in that it provides little in the way of excitement but is completely congenial and inoffensive. Like all straight virginias, it will singe the tongue if the smoker doesn't take precautions. I found no overdose of nicotine here and it was quite easy to smoke. Not terribly long on flavor, I'd call it a refreshing smoke rather than one with much depth. Reminded me of OGS in that regard, but the citrusy nature of OGS was considerably more subdued here. It was more of a bit player rather than the star it is in OGS. If you like light, grassy virginias, this is definitely one to try.

This tobacco is in the same mold as Capstan Medium (Blue) though I would not consider it any milder. It's a much brighter flake - almost yellow in colour with a slightly stronger zesty topping reminescent of fermernted fruit with citris overtones. The moisture is just right and the smoke is pleasent and smooth, but may bite the tongue if not careful. In my opinion Capstan Mild is every bit as good as the Medium, and should satisfy any lover of quality virginia flakes.

Capstan Mild is an exceedingly well-behaved flake, submitting to rubbing out fully or partially or to being folded and stuffed with equal grace, and without bite. It burns cool and leaves a dark granular ash.

It is a little `brighter` in taste than the Capstan Medium, but with lesser depth. I rather enjoy it as the first smoke of the day, and also mid-morning, but by the afternoon the tastebuds need something fuller. The taste and room note are comparable to those of Luxury Navy Flake.

The lettering on my tin is vertical rather than horizontal - I suspect to make room for the fatal warning.

This is a high quality Virginia way too mild for my palate. It varies from a sweet and grassy mild Virginia taste which reminds me of Mac Baren Virginia No. 1 (minus the tongue bite), to an almost flat smoke.

Airing out before smoking improves the taste a lot, as it does DGT. In fact, I only smoke this tobacco after DGT'ing, which kicks the taste and improves its strength significantly.

I haven't tried it yet, but if Capstan Medium Navy Cut is similar at an extra strength, I'm gonna love it.

Just started with this one, I am switching more to flakes these days having tried and liked, McBars Navy Flake. This is a really great mild smoke. I find it fruity and citrus. My first bowl was a bit of a disappointment. But there after it just gets better and better. Its amazing how a 'MILD' tobacco can have so many hidden surprises in there. It was tobacco of the month in Amsterdam's most famous shop here - www.hajenius.com. And, rightly so. I picked-up the Blue tin (Medium) liking it so much, but that felt a little like a Navy Flake with too little flavour for me, I am sure that will change as I smoke it though.

But right now the mild is great. It feels like a good french white table wine, that you just keep going back to (in your superior cellar) because it is so honest and modest. That said the price is a little high. Along with Sherlock Holmes from Peterson, this will be my all day mild and sweet smoke...and I know that for sure 100% only after about 5-6 bowls. Now how many tobaccos can you say that about?

This is a very mild and smooth smoke. But it is not rich. Rather it is refreshing. There is no 'get in the way' flavoring. Best for folks who wants to try out pipe smoking. Or good for short smoke breaks cause I find this stuff burns pretty fast and also vey hard to make this thing bite. Too bad I can't get it over here in HK. If it is then this is my everyday smoke for work and play. But this would not be the end of the day bliss, not enough flavor for that type of use.

I was smoking this for a number of years on and off. One day I found a tin that was forgotten in a drawer for some years. Now, that tasted better! I started to age tins of Capstan Yellow and I have to say that this has upgraded my perception of the blend greatly. A very nice virginia flake with a subtle orange topping, that builds some strength towards the end. Can be very pleasing, provided the tins are aged IMO

There exists a rubbed out version of this also, which I have tried, but for some reason find it inferior

This is a classic english flake. Bright VA leaf and nothing else.

I normally prefer the red or brown VA's but this a nice friendly tobacco i like to smoke in the afternoon.

In Denmark this is the only good quality english tobacco you can actually buy in every drugstore.

There's nothing much to it, just plain tobacco taste. It does not intensify much through the bowl, and some would say it was boring. But as an allday smoke compared with the reasonably low price, this is a good alternative to many uninteresting cheap smokes.

Not outstanding but quite good.