Mac Baren Scaferlati Caporal Rouge

This is sold as RYO tobacco where I live. It really isn't pipe tobacco per se. It is just tobacco. It occupies the same place that Five Brothers, Prince Albert and Sir Walter Raleigh occupy in the U. S.

It's a cheap reliable nicotine fix for those who prefer to get it from a pipe or roll their own. Not for the faint of heart.

This classic and historic French scaferlati tobacco is, as many other reviewers have noted, decidedly not for the faint of heart. Even for those who don't inhale the smoke, it is quite strong and even a smaller bowl might set your head a-spinning. Although I was initially reticent to try it, given my proclivity for aromatic and cavendish-heavy mixes, it has slowly become my every day smoke because of how easy it is to light and keep going, its absolute reliability in strength and taste, as well as its affordability (in France, of course).

Its taste is reminiscent of hot rural summers among cut hay, prancing horses and ripening wheat fields. Although it is light on the VA, it is definitely a tongue biter, and though I'm not a spitter, I've found myself salivating to excess on a number of occasions. It is an excellent smoke to accompany a nice bourbon on the rocks, or even those wonderfully tasting Belgian beers. I recommend smoking it outside or in a well-ventilated space, since the smell will linger and indelibly infuse any porous surface within 10 meters of it.

An old-school tobacco for those who like it rough and rustic, for habitual smokers and highly recommended for filterless cigarette smokers looking to stop inhaling (that's personal experience, by the way!).

A very rich tobacco. It's not the sweetest you'll find, yet this tobacco is full of nuances. The cold scent is reminiscent of old furniture, a book with yellowed pages, and an ancient church pew. It lights easily and burns very well, requiring almost no relighting. The taste is full of good tobacco, with a satisfying strength. Notes of smoky, mature, and well-aged tobacco. It's recommended to smoke it after a meal and with a beverage. It doesn't sting, but the nicotine is pronounced in this tobacco. It's truly delicious. Little to add that hasn't been mentioned in other reviews. A classic and popular tobacco in France. Maigret's and French soldiers' tobacco from Napoleon's times. Who wouldn't want to try something like this? It's worth a shot. The pipe doesn't overheat despite burning quickly. Recommended in small bowls. It's easy to smoke and finishes quickly, but satisfies with its nicotine content. Leaves no moisture, only a fine layer of gray ash. Excellent tobacco.

It would appear that the tobacco content of this offering has been altered at various times over the years. I used to smoke the slightly more refined Scaferlati Superieur, which purported to contain between 50-60% of home grown French tobaccos (all regions from the Dordogne to the Nord), with the remainder being made up of relatively small amounts of Burley, as well as dark tobaccos from Algeria, Brazil, Turkey, and what is referred to as "The Levant", an area of the Eastern Mediterranean which roughly comprises Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. There was always a "gris" area which referred to non-specific tobaccos which made up about 6% of the "melange" or mixture.

I'll get back to the main topic, and I have smoked gris at various times in France, as well as the other mainstream French pipe tobaccos. All of these "Caporal" themed varieties can leave a bitter taste in the mouth if too much moisture from the mouthpiece seeps into the bowl. To those of us who prefer pipes with bent stems this can be problematic. The classic French smoking pipe in the older days was a straight stemmed briar.

To get the best out of these tobaccos it is best to tease out and even break the long strands of shag somewhat before smoking. In France I used to be able to buy small rubber tobacco pouches with a twist top. Every tobacconist sold them and it was ideal for keeping the teased shag in before smoking. The trick is to pack tight, smoke slow and dry, and you'll get the best flavour. Re-lights are not always successful, as the very fine ash tends to fall through the tobacco into the bottom of the bowl when smoking. Many a time I have re-lit and thought I had taken a mouthful of ash from an ashtray!!

An acquired taste if ever there was one, and I haven't seen many pipes smoked in France in recent years. It would appear that most modern French pipe smokers tend to favour the more expensive English type mixtures.

Final Update 12/24/2010

The more I smoke it, the more I enjoy it! As the cut is very fine, very shag like, you must smoke it slowly. Then a world of flavors will outburst: wood, earth, spices and some subtle sweetness.

This tobacco is actually very enjoyable! But it has to have some moisture into it. If not, you will miss the whole experience!

Highly Recommended

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Update 11/13/2010

I received a sample of the Red Band variety of Scaferlati Caporal. I must upgrade my assessment to recommended. This one was moister and made a world of difference in my appreciation of it.

This is a long shag cut, very easy to fill, light and smoke. There is nothing but pure tobacco taste that is smoky, earthy and woodsy. Not very pronounced, but very enjoyable when smoked at a slow pace.

If you can get some that has the right moisture level, this Caporal will prove surprisingly delightful!

Recommended!

Original review 07/25/2010

A rather harsh tobacco, what the French call "tabac gris" because of its colour.

I think that this tobacco is called Scaferlatti.

This tobacco resembles Kentucky, with milder taste and the same or a bit stronger nicotine punch. The problem with this is a horrid tongue bite.

Not bad for a nicotine kick now and then, as long as it's smoked slowly to avoid tongue bite.

My curiosity was piqued when I recently read a couple of Nestor Burma detective stories in comic-book format. "120, Rue de la Gare" has the author's protagonist referring several times to "du gris", the P.I.'s preferred pipe tobacco. The plot thickens with a clue to another tobacco which shall remain unnamed. Yes, Scaferlati Caporal Rouge ("du gris") is rustic, strong and virtually unflavoured. Yes, you can imagine it being dished out to rank-and-file "Poilus". However, to dismiss it out of hand as unsophisticated misses a subtle point underscored by Léo Malet's Nestor Burma character. It in no way impairs his effective thought and action. I personnally find it to burn coolly, to be unsickly and of a consistent strength.

It's not an amazingly strong blend. I was a relatively big fan of two of the local Italian blends, Forte and Italia. However, I am not satisfied with the recent productions since it contains recon tobacco. So, upon a suggestion, I gave this one a try this blend.

Virginia is noticeable and unnoticeable. One, who previously smoked pure cigar leaf or blends, can say that there is something (of course Virginia) thinning the cigar leaf's strong taste. But on the other hand, Virginia's taste is not obvious at all because the blend's strength doesn't allow you to notice. I would say this is a very spicy blend. Frequent retrohales are not suggested. Overall, I enjoyed smoking it.

Apart from the taste, it smokes very drily, no tongue-bites, and burns slowly.