Mac Baren Capstan Gold Navy Cut

A lighter bodied and lighter colored cousin to the blue tin I smoked recently. Similar tin nose but this one had a bit more citrus and less spice. Both things showed up in the taste. This had more sweetness from the citrus and less of the blue's subtle spiciness - more high notes here, but not so high as to be screechy or annoying, as in some bright VA flakes.

Comparisons with other tobaccos are almost unavoidable. First, this also seemed a cross between Mac Barens VA flake and Dunhill Light Flake but moved closer (than the blue tin did) to the Dunhill fruitiness. Neither is overbearing on the fruit but the Dunhill provides an extra oomph from the spice that this one doesn't possess (the blue tin follows suit, more a bit more subtly). A second comparison is that I might have enjoyed this one more if I hadn't just smoked F&T's Cut Virginia Plug, which realizes the possibilities of a gold VA flake more perfectly for me. This was far from a bad blend, it was just a bit forgettable by comparison. If you have no such biases, try this one if you enjoy some fruit tang without wanting to go overboard, coupled with some light grassy flavor and more than just a hint of sugared something-or-other. It's not overblown on any of those things. In fact, it's pretty middle-of-the-road for me. I prefer the blue tin, but this is still a solid 3 star blend - just one I probably won't buy again.

A beautiful mild,tasty flake that satisfies. What a delight. I can't contain my joy while smoking this. This is the McBaren version. Cool burning and extremely delicious with a lovely dry hay-like taste from the all lemon leaf. I enjoy this and the Blue equally. Why did we have to wait so long.

Update: The more I smoke this, the more I like it. I think this and the Blue are the blends I've been looking for all these years. These are my first 5 star blends.

Update: I find that a year of aging does wonders for this already excellent blend. Also excellent mixed 4 to 1 with Wessex Brown Virginia Flake.

This is a very pleasant and unexceptional Virginia flake. It is slightly sweet and has a citrus note that was constant for me through the bowl. It was an easy smoke for me - rubbed out easily, came at an appropriate level of moisture, took a match easily and was easy to keep lit. There is nothing complicated about it in the flavor profile either. It is good but not nuanced.

This is a very comfortable, reliable smoke for someone who likes a lighter Virginia. I could smoke this every day, but someone else would have to be buying. It works out to about $110 a pound, and that is too expensive for what you are getting.

Good stuff! Not the strongest plain VA flake out there, but a solid and very reliable mild/medium smoke. It always seems to behave very well, without bite or the need for many relights, and is the sort of thing you might want to smoke while driving or out for a walk - or when reading something complicated which requires your full attention. Also good early in the day when you don't want too much nicotine, but still want a bit of flavour. This sort of reliable flake is what I would recommend to the new pipe smoker; it's easy to use and has nothing about it which the beginner will dislike or which may cause problems - such as artificial added flavourings or more highly processed 'condiment' tobaccos such as Perique and Cavendish, which are often 'love it or hate it' affairs. Fold one flake (or two for a big pipe) so that it's half as long, roll it between your palms a little, just to separate the strands a bit (not fully) twist it gently into the bowl with the strands upright, and off you go. I regularly get 90 to 100 minutes from one flake, and sometimes even longer. This baccy does give you some of that basic smoking 'satisfaction', and has none of the common faults of overly complex blends. I can't fault it.

Upon opening the tin, the aroma of this tobacco is a strong bright Virginia scent, with hints of a citrus topping. Very pleasant, it smells gorgeous.

The appearance of the flakes is very uniform, they are somewhat thick-cut & long rectangles. The colour of the flakes is mid-brown to blonde tobaccos mixed fairly evenly.

The tobacco really needs to be roughly-rubbed. I tried it folded & stuffed a couple of times, but it was somewhat difficult to keep burning, due - I think - to the thickness of the flakes.

Once lit, the taste is exactly what one would expect from the tin-note. Bright & light, with a sweet lingering mild aftertaste of toffee caramel. The citrus note is somewhat more muted that perhaps anticipated. Once fairly rubbed, it burns well, the moisture content from the tin is pretty much perfect.

The room-note is also light & bright, with the citrus featuring a bit more heavily that the actual smoke itself.

Nicotine is mild/medium & the tobacco pairs well with light Pale Ales. The tobacco is of good quality, and some times it is just the thing when one wants to have a nice smoke without too much of a nicotine hit. I'll give it a 3, which I think is a fair rating, this won't knock your socks off, but neither will it disappoint. It can bite a bit if puffed too hard, and gentle regular sips are the way to go to keep it cool & flavoursome.

A sweet, citrusy, tangy bright colored Virginia flake. Tin note offers loads of citrus, fresh tomato almost like ketchup, grass and hay notes. Flakes are thin and wide. Excellent presentation inside the tin. Very easy to rub and load into the pipe. Can easily be folded and stuffed into pipe too. Flakes come a little moist. I would give at least 45 minutes of drying time before I smoke. Excellent burning characteristics for a flake. Requires average number of relights. Once pipe is lit, the tobacco offers lots of citrus notes with just a little spice that you get from Virginias. Fresh tomato flavor doesn't come a lot while smoking. No tongue bite or harsh spots. The blend is mild for me in all these categories: nicotine, strength, and flavor. Very easy going all day summer blend for me. I took 1 star away for rating because of price point. Other than price, I have nothing bad to say about this blend. A nice change of pace for me from other Virginia blends. 3 stars out of 4.

A pleasant, slightly complex plain VA, with a touch of extra sweet citrus complimenting the citrus & hay of the VAs. Folded, the flakes burn well and moderately paced. The flakes are easy to fold or work. A pleasant, every day or even all day smoke. I was surprised when I bought this 2 months ago to get a nearly 6 year-old tin, so I'm sure the age helped mellow it. Worth cellaring.

A solid virginia which never disappoints.

In the tin, I get the citrus notes which make me agree that there is a citrus topping.

I break up the flakes and find them easy to light and burns without any problems.

The taste is straight forward Virginia with the sweetness you'd expect. Not overly complex but the same flavor through the bowl. Can burn hot if you over do it, but sipping gives a strong straightforward smoke.

Nice clean citrusy sweet Virginia Flake. Tin note is subtle, not a very strong VA aroma, but it is sweet and lemony. I think there is a citrus top note on this flake. The top note or casing does not really come through in the flavor.

Typical clean, beatiful flakes like sticks of tobacco gum. I cannot tell the difference between this and Capstan blue, but I probably don’t smoke enough of either with the frequency to be able to pick up on the subtleties between the two. The tobacco develops to a sweet and slightly citrusy smoke with toasted and nutty notes on the finish. One of the best aftertaste’s I have experienced and I think that is from the topping. The bottom 3rd of the bowl routinely delivers a dark fruit, nutty flavor and I swear I detect honey, but only towards the end of the smoke.

I may smoke a bit too aggressive for Virginias and Mac Baren blends tend to bite me in general and the VA’s especially. This is no exception if I smoke this in most briar pipes. For anyone who wants to give it a shot I find that Meerschaum pipes are the best way to smoke VA’s/ They absorb a ton of moisture an give a pure tobacco smoking experience. I find that all VA’s are best in a meer. However Briar’s do add a nutty or woody dimension so I need to have that option open and I find Savinelli pipes with the balsa filter in are the best way to enjoy Virginias in a briar. And cobs are also a great choice for VA’s. I rellly like to fold and stuff flakes into a cob, makes me feel like I am really going back in time and enjoying a natural product in a Natural way.

Enough about my VA smoking preferences. Both Capstan’s are nice flake tobaccos and are a one dimensional, pure tobacco smoking experience. Capstan Yellow, some iced tea and a book on a hot summer day is a great way to take a break