Mac Baren Capstan Gold Navy Cut Ready Rubbed

I prefer this blend over it's blue step brother, although it is nice in it's own right. The gold is smooth and sweet, satisfying dose of vitamin N and doesn't get boisterous if smoked all day. This is in the top 5 of RR VA blends for me, its become a regular for me and shall remain that way.

As mentioned in more than one post, I attend a pipe club at times that meets on Sundays. The nice part of this is that we all from time to time bring in blends that others have not tried. This is one of them and I was graciously given a good three pipe bowls of this infamous blend from a HUGE friend of mine we shall call Big “L”. From what I have read prior to 2013, Capstan was off the US market for 18 years (1995). There is an excellent article by the Dutch Pipe Smoker, June 12, 2013 that talks about the history of this blend, https://dutchpipesmoker.com/2013/06/12/oh-capstan-my-capstan/. There is a good amount of folklore that this 2013 blend has a higher sugar content. I have heard this from my fellow pipe clubbers and there is also an excellent review by Mork that goes into further detail. I had an unsmoked Missouri Pride Corn Cob that I decided to use to provide me the best possible review I could do which will probably be a lot shorter than the preceding information that I have provided. This is a medium-dark rubbed out flake that loads easily into the pipe and has the usual nice sweet grassy hay smell of the tobacco. It took me about 3 matches to get her going. The topping on this one is very light, not even noticeable to me. It has that fantastic smooth, creamy, Virginia taste and produces quite a bit of white smoke to my surprise. As I have never to my knowledge had this before I cannot ascertain if there is any difference between the years, regardless this is an excellent tobacco. P.S. All of my fellow pipe clubbers are “HUGE” friends. 🙂

I recently purchased a few tins from Smokingpipes when they mentioned that they had stock from 2013 on the shelf. I'm not usually patient enough to let tins age that long, so this gave me a quick start.

I enjoy the Gold Flake so I was happy to find that this is basically the exact same goodness in a much easier to load form.

Opening the tin and removing the top paper, I found it packed full of grassy goodness. The tin note is grassy like I want a pure VA to be. The moisture level was great and didn't require any drying. It's easy to pack and stays lit.

The taste has some citrus notes and is not very complex. Its consistent through the bowl and smoked well in a variety of pipe shapes.

Wife is not a fan of the roomnote.

With the age on it, its a great smoke. I compare it favorably to the flake. It does burn quicker than the flake so it requires some attention. I've always preferred the Gold over the Blue versions, but that is just me.

I really liked the flake of this blend and honestly did not think the ready rubbed would be as good....but I would be happy to buy this version, especially since I was lucky enough to get some of the 5 year aged tins that were being sold recently.

That being said, buy the fresh version and and confidently cellar it for a few years for an amazing tobacco that is smooth and tasty without any hint that it would bite.

Delicious grassy Virginia with a light citrusy flavor on the back end. This is a definite all day smoke for me, mostly through the hotter months, as I prefer English blends once the leaves start to fall. I like the ready rubbed version better than the flake, as it's just less work and I don't expect any real revelations as this ages, so no need to bother with the flake here. Highly recommended for all who enjoy a light Virginia tobacco flavor.

It smells citrusy ...and fruity...the taste is tangy and sweet and develops more tastes later in the bowl .
A first class blend...I prefer rubber cause I find flakes moist and like to smoke right away.
As a side note I rate Amphora Virgina very highly more plum smell .
This smokes so smoooooth!
I find the nicotine levels just right.
It is a top world class tobacco.
Just enjoy !

Upon opening tin I was greeted by a hay fragrance with a nice lightly woody, light bread and a faint earthiness and pleasant citrus aromas. This was slightly damp so I dried for an hour each time and I have smoked it in my Peterson Killarney B10, La Roca Canadian 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 medium, 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, mild tobacco flavor that was pleasant which was highlighted by a really pleasing hay, mild fresh bread flavor with a light touch of earthiness that had in the background a pleasing tangy citrus I tasted as a lemon with no bitterness, that ended with a very pleasant sweet honey flavor that sticks around after each puff and one cab taste a while after the smoke is finished. A pleasant experience. A wonderful mild tobacco that is not overly complex but is pleasing and comes across as a quality tobacco 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. Compared to the blue this is slightly sweeter less earthy. This would be a perfect morning tobacco, a great tobacco in hot weather, on a picnic or doing chores or just for enjoyment.

This is a favorite that will be part of my regular rotation. A pleasing smoke that will see lots of use. A 4 out of 4 stars. While the blue is a bigger favorite of the two I will be enjoying plenty of this.

This is in my top 5 easy. When I need a straight Virginia blend that I know I can always count on this is one I grab. A very sweet, grassy, citrusy blend that packs incredibly easy and smokes perfectly. Leaves very little moisture at the end of the bowl and smokes, cool, clean, and requires very few relights if any when dried for 10 minutes. I love this blend, it is exactly what I’d expect from a straight Virginia that’s been around since the 19th century. Ages extremely well.

Tin Note : when freshly opened. It smells like pineapple, which I usually get for pure Virginia tobacco. After letting it sit in a mason jar for a couple of days, we get some citrusy notes, caramel and some brown sugar.

Flavour : sweet soury, savoury I would even say. I get some slight hay and earthy notes but definitely not as much as the citrusy notes. Smoking this blend reminds me of Ice lemon tea. No strong vinegar or ketchup notes detected.

Tongue bite : right out from the tin, yes.
After letting it sit in the jar, minimum tongue bite.

Mechanics : really straight forward. Just pack and puff. Stays lit relatively well even in Singapore humid weather, requires a few relights. No drying time needed.

Strength : medium to strong. Had a lot of time at work the whole day. Smoked four bowls of it and felt some nicotine sickness in the fourth bowl. Hence, repeatable but not an all day smoke.

Will I buy this again : if I happen to be travelling and spot this I would grab 2 tins of it. Chances of me getting this online and shipping it to me is minimal as right now it retails to 19.63 in smokingpipes for a 50G tin. But I would love to have this in my cellar. This is some solid stuff.