Mac Baren Navy Flake
(3.10)
Carefully selected Burley, Virginia and the original Mac Baren Cavendish have been pressed and stored for weeks before being cut into slices. The pressing process ensures a slow burning tobacco.
Notes: Introduced in 1965. According to Mac Baren.
Details
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.10 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 91 - 100 of 339 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 07, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I've purchased a tin of this while I was on "pipe rest" for 4 years. About an year before I started smoking again.
I started with it, and first few bowls were disgusting. I wondered if that's because the tobacco is poor, or I just haven't really gotten into it as I should. Well, it was both. I wasn't accustomed to pipe smoking, after ten bowls was better, but the tobacco is bad. I smoked original choice after that, and few other aromatics, they were better than this. As good as aromatics can be actually.
If you like navy (rum) blends, you may like it. Doesn't bite much, and the artificial aroma is not overwhelming, you can even feel some of the tobacco here and there, but still the artificial chemical flavor stays there. That's one thing that bothers me much about the danish style aromatics. I'd rather smoke cheap american aros that make the tobacco smell like something totally different, than the danish style flavored tobaccos which casing and topping is supposed to enhance the natural flavors of cavendish and VA. In my oppinion, it just adds some artificial flavor, and that's it.
It's neither pure tobacco, nor heavily perfumed which in some cases can be a good thing (Condor for example). It's just some junk, there's tobacco, but ruined, and there's perfume, but only the one that goes along with cavendish.
I don't know, maybe It's just my taste, but if you are predominantly into English/Balkan and VA, VA/Pers, then you won't like it. Maybe you won't hate it as much as I did, but certainly won't enjoy it. One star from me.
I started with it, and first few bowls were disgusting. I wondered if that's because the tobacco is poor, or I just haven't really gotten into it as I should. Well, it was both. I wasn't accustomed to pipe smoking, after ten bowls was better, but the tobacco is bad. I smoked original choice after that, and few other aromatics, they were better than this. As good as aromatics can be actually.
If you like navy (rum) blends, you may like it. Doesn't bite much, and the artificial aroma is not overwhelming, you can even feel some of the tobacco here and there, but still the artificial chemical flavor stays there. That's one thing that bothers me much about the danish style aromatics. I'd rather smoke cheap american aros that make the tobacco smell like something totally different, than the danish style flavored tobaccos which casing and topping is supposed to enhance the natural flavors of cavendish and VA. In my oppinion, it just adds some artificial flavor, and that's it.
It's neither pure tobacco, nor heavily perfumed which in some cases can be a good thing (Condor for example). It's just some junk, there's tobacco, but ruined, and there's perfume, but only the one that goes along with cavendish.
I don't know, maybe It's just my taste, but if you are predominantly into English/Balkan and VA, VA/Pers, then you won't like it. Maybe you won't hate it as much as I did, but certainly won't enjoy it. One star from me.
Pipe Used:
briars
PurchasedFrom:
Moscow
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 14, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is definitely the quintessential flake. It's mild, smooth, nutty, and peppery.
Tin note: sweet rum
Room note: nutty, slight spicy smell
Taste: Nutty, peppery, very smooth, slightly sweet
Overall: Wonderful! It lit fairly easily for a flake. It doesn't smoke hot, has a really smooth texture. No real nicotine hit. I really love the flavor. This goes well with both a mild dark rum and iced tea.
Tin note: sweet rum
Room note: nutty, slight spicy smell
Taste: Nutty, peppery, very smooth, slightly sweet
Overall: Wonderful! It lit fairly easily for a flake. It doesn't smoke hot, has a really smooth texture. No real nicotine hit. I really love the flavor. This goes well with both a mild dark rum and iced tea.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 31, 2013 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The tobacco comes in nice looking flakes, and is easy to fill and light (take a flake or two, fold them horizontally and verically, stuff them into the pipe and flatten the top a bit; finished!). Burns cooly, and keeps easily lit.
Tongue taste (the taste you feel on your tongue when you first get the smoke into your mouth): starts off with a mild fruity flavour. Not sweet and fruity as many more aromatic ones, but rather dry and fruity. After perhaps a third of the pipe a softer, sweeter side taste kicks in, kind of similar to MacB Mixture´s honey-and-hay taste. All through the smoke quite mild, but very pleasant, fruity but not too sweet.
Snork taste (the taste when you roll the smoke around in your mouth and out of your nostrils): some fruit, some more earthy burley notes, a bit of honey. Very pleasant, but a bit difficult to put a name on.
All together: The flakes look nice and have good burning qualities. The taste is quite fruity without beeing overly sweet (compared to MacB Mixture for example, not compared to heavy English blends). It isn´t a taste explosion, but sneaks up on you with its subtle tones. I have started smoking it as a complement to Mixture, for the times when I want less honey taste. I would really give it three and a half, but being a generous being, I round that off to four.
Tongue taste (the taste you feel on your tongue when you first get the smoke into your mouth): starts off with a mild fruity flavour. Not sweet and fruity as many more aromatic ones, but rather dry and fruity. After perhaps a third of the pipe a softer, sweeter side taste kicks in, kind of similar to MacB Mixture´s honey-and-hay taste. All through the smoke quite mild, but very pleasant, fruity but not too sweet.
Snork taste (the taste when you roll the smoke around in your mouth and out of your nostrils): some fruit, some more earthy burley notes, a bit of honey. Very pleasant, but a bit difficult to put a name on.
All together: The flakes look nice and have good burning qualities. The taste is quite fruity without beeing overly sweet (compared to MacB Mixture for example, not compared to heavy English blends). It isn´t a taste explosion, but sneaks up on you with its subtle tones. I have started smoking it as a complement to Mixture, for the times when I want less honey taste. I would really give it three and a half, but being a generous being, I round that off to four.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 30, 2012 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
This stuff is good. It burns amazingly. Keeping this stuff lit is a no brainer. It is mild and gentle. Very little casing, it is a very natural smoke. One thing, I need to pack this one a bit tighter then usual in order to achieve a slow sweet burn. Amazing, very enjoyable!!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 13, 2011 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is one of my favorites, and I always have a tin on hand. It can bite if it's too moist or smoked aggressively. Tin aroma is honey.. I love it! For about the first half of the bowl the sweetness of the topping comes though, then it levels out to a a robust burley flavor.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 18, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
IMHO the quintessential Navy Flake. A mild smoke with a full tobacco flavor. Perfect flakes in the tin, and wrapped in a gold signature paper, this blend of tobacco's doesn't disappoint. You can "fold & stuff", as some reviewers note, but I like to rub a single flake, let it dry, then smoke. No bite, just a smooth, clean smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mar 02, 2011 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
This was the first flake I ever smoked and turned me into a permanent enjoyer of flakes. Previously, I had mainly smoked aromatics, but this blend made me want to explore different types of pipe tobacco and I am very grateful for that.
As for the flavor, it is a nutty, natural tobacco flavor with a nice touch of sweetness, which I suspect is from the cavendish. It burns wonderfully slow and cool. I puffed on it steadily and never recall any tongue bite. The nicotine hit was a bit overwhelming for me as a new pipe smoker, but I don't notice it now. A great tobacco for a smoker wanting to explore the delightful world of flakes, as well as for the smoker who already enjoys them. I've never tried any of the Samuel Gawith flakes, so I can't compare this with them. But it is because of this blend that I want to try all the different flakes I come across.
As for the flavor, it is a nutty, natural tobacco flavor with a nice touch of sweetness, which I suspect is from the cavendish. It burns wonderfully slow and cool. I puffed on it steadily and never recall any tongue bite. The nicotine hit was a bit overwhelming for me as a new pipe smoker, but I don't notice it now. A great tobacco for a smoker wanting to explore the delightful world of flakes, as well as for the smoker who already enjoys them. I've never tried any of the Samuel Gawith flakes, so I can't compare this with them. But it is because of this blend that I want to try all the different flakes I come across.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 02, 2010 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I can't say enough positive things about this tobacco. It is delicious, slow burning and wonderful. To be honest I didn't realize what an accomplishment this was until I tasted some of Mac Beren's other tobacco choices. This is an amazing tobacco, and stands out from the pack of MacB blends. Cool smoking, flavorful and delicious.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 04, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
A lovely flake, thinly sliced with an elegant presentation in the tin - one of the best I have seen. I left the lid off overnight to dry the tobacco to my liking. It smokes wonderfully with a subtle sweetness and mellow notes. No bite and well behaved. MacBaren hits a homerun with this flake.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Sep 10, 2010 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
As a beginner I can say that I was somewhat disappointed that even the best tobaccos don't have the taste I was looking for. Until I tried this one. Most of the top reviews here are for blends with latakia, I can't stand latakia, it smells like burnt tires, and it contaminates everything.
It may be my taste buds, but I love this stuff. I love honey and this blend delivers plenty of that. Some of the more experienced pipers here will probably not agree with me, but I think this stuff is great for beginners and veterans who don't want too heavy of a smoke. And the room note is absolutely delightful, even the non- smokers kept inhaling the aroma. I smoke it daily. I agree with the previous poster that the tin tastes a bit better than the bulk pack. Try it with an open mind, and you will love it.
It may be my taste buds, but I love this stuff. I love honey and this blend delivers plenty of that. Some of the more experienced pipers here will probably not agree with me, but I think this stuff is great for beginners and veterans who don't want too heavy of a smoke. And the room note is absolutely delightful, even the non- smokers kept inhaling the aroma. I smoke it daily. I agree with the previous poster that the tin tastes a bit better than the bulk pack. Try it with an open mind, and you will love it.
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