Mac Baren Capstan Original Navy Cut Ready Rubbed

The Blue Capstan has a long history behind its name. I have no idea what it used to be in the glory times of old but what I have here in my tin is a Bland Boring Bity Blend.

Well, it's not bad per se, it's quite a decent Virginia with some subtle notes of fig and citrus and it's got some nicotine in it which is good. But to my taste, any of the cheaper and less celebrated straight Virginias by Sam Gawith is far superior to Capstan.

Leaving one star I'm not saying it's bad, I just mean "I don't recommend to spend your money on this when there's a variety of better options". Some guys may love it but that's not my case.

Note: this was from a pouch. In a briar, slightly bitey and boring. In a cob, this was still very generic but the bite was gone. Overall, for me this was a very decent but straightforward VA, and really a 2.5 star. I wouldn't rebuy it.

This does not taste like pipe tobacco at all, but like cigarette-rolling tobacco (think Old Holborn or Golden Virginia). Very little to recommend it, and I've rarely seen a tobacco that reminds you of how much tax the UK government stick on top. Not recommended.

Just had a first bowl of the ready rubbed capstan original navy cut, a few days after i had my first bowl from the flake version. Well, it is an excellent tobacco for me with a very consistent and little sweet Virginia based taste, easy to pack, easy to smoke. I see some folks describe tongue bite, not sure for this … I avoided non-filter pipe anyways, but also didn’t use coal filter (6 mm for savinelli) or the classic wood-filter from savinelli as it acts against the full flavor in some tobaccos. Instead, I used a 6mm “paper” filter, the one we often use in corncob pipes, which allows the full taste to be experienced but also plays a role of protecting against tongue bite (in savinelli pipe you just need to cut little this filter to reduce its length). Based on this, the experience in smoking the capstan ready rubbed tobacco is very unique. Of course, i will also give it a try with non-filter, e.g., a falcon in due course. It smokes relatively slowly, owing to its coarse rubbed texture, just very few relights are necessary. It makes a perfect combination of something earthy as non-aromatic tobaccos do, with something that has sweetness and leaves you a very unique taste. Perhaps, not an all day tobacco I could think, but every second day a bowl would be perfect for me. Extra note: I did love my first bowl on the flake version, but didn’t think to take directly a second tin, I said, alright let’s finish first this first pack - however, when I visited a local shop to take some other tobaccos and saw this one in the rubbed version, I got it without second thought (just a couple of days after I purchased the flake tin). Generally, I think I really like the capstan tobaccos, and the rubbed version is just easier - of course, the flake one can also be rubbed before loading so it doesn’t make so much difference which one to purchase.

I've never been sure why this is called "ready rubbed". Ready rubbed generally implies a pressed tobacco that's been rubbed out some before packaging, e.g. like St Bruno ready rubbed. Capstan however is a shag(ish) cut that's clearly never been pressed into anything.

I remember the flake as being a good quality "everyday" tobacco, but unfortunately the flake hasn't been available in the UK for many years, instead we just get the "ready rubbed".

The tin note is of a rather aromatic tea, and on smoking there's a tea or tannin quality present, albeit tea that's a bit "stewed". Not much flavour though, and for me at least a really bad case of tongue-bite to go with it. Capstan ready-rubbed is an old blend though, and one of the old English "standard tobaccos found everywhere", along with similar offerings in the form of Gold Block and Clan.

Personally I find it a bit too mild in all departments, and the tongue-bite bad enough that for me it's a no-go zone. Worth trying though if you like milder Va based easy smoking blends or are going through the ritual of trying as many of the old tobaccos once found in every newsagent's or corner shop.

Just wish the flake was available in the UK. It was up there with Player's Navy Cut as the best two common "OTC" medium flakes. Though Players quietly shuffled off this mortal coil in 2015, another good blend gone.

This was a good navy blend, but just not strong enough for me. And it needs perique. I will try the flake next time. But not bad.

I bought some of the ready rubbed version and the tin was 2 years old. This review is the same as the unrubbed flake version for I found no taste difference.

Upon opening tin I was greeted by a hay fragrance with a nice rich earthy, mildly woody, light bread and pleasant apricot aromas dancing in the background. This was slightly damp so I dried for an hour each time and I have smoked it in my Peterson Killarney B10 and various cobs.

It is pre rubbed into long strips and packed easily. It took a bit more to get it lit but once lit it burned slow and cool and had less relights than normal. The smoke was rich, creamy and full. It burned to white ash. Had a very light amount of moisture in the bowl at the end. Had a very pleasant room note.

Upon lighting I was greeted with a very pleasant, medium to full tobacco flavor that was pleasant which was highlighted by a really pleasing hay, earthy, fresh bread flavor that had dancing in the background a mild tangy apricot, lightly woody experience that closes with a very pleasant perfectly sweet honey flavor that sticks around after each puff and Dow a while after the smoke is finished. A pleasant experience. A wonderful medium tobacco that is not overly complex but is balanced beautifully and comes across as a quality tobacco that is a pleasant smoke with a medium nic hit. While not complex it isn’t one dimensional either. It is well done and can be an all day smoke. Doesn’t bite, but if pushed one can get a few mild rough edges.

This is a favorite that will be part of my regular rotation. A pleasing smoke that makes one feel fulfilled at the end. A 5 out of 4 stars.

We all know why you bought this. You heard that it was J.R.R. Tolkien's favorite pipeweed.

Let me put it to you this way: the tobacco we have now has gotta be way better than the tobacco they had back then (exceptions given for stuff like Syrian Latakia and some of the brands that have gone away in more recent times).

It's a little citrusy. Nothing to write home about. The ready rubbed flake packs and burns well.

Overall the taste is reminiscent of a mellow Virginia with an overtone of cigarettes. Not going to go out of my way to smoke more, but we'll see how well it ages.

Tin note of ketchup, mild stewed fruit, and spices. The tobacco is moist but dry enough to smoke. The orange-brown broken flakes rub out easily. Burns slow with a few extra relights. The strength is medium and nic is medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and consistent, with notes of mild lemon peel, floral, mildly sweet grass, bread, spices, very earthy, dry wood, a mildly sweet herbal hay background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.