Mac Baren Navy Flake

MB Navy Flake... With so many Navy, this and that, to choose from, this is one I never got around to trying, so I added a tin in my last on-line order. Tin aroma is real nice, and the flakes are just beautiful, but I just can't get into its smoking qualities. Just not my kind of blend, sums it up pretty good. Add to that I was hoping for something with more manners, this one wants to bite, and leaves me with an unpleasant mouth feel during the smoke.

Many favor this blend and will disagree with my opinion. To them I say, thats OK, after all this is only my opinion, yours will no doubt vary. My findings were gathered from plowing thru a single (seemed huge) 100 gram tin. I'm glad it's over. My personal rating 1/5, because I'm in the minority here, somewhat recommended.

Easy to smoke, easy to charge. Good quality leafs.

I had some expectations on this one, but, finally, the Mac Baren toping/casing hurted again.

Perhaps it is a matter of personal chemistry, cause I cannot bear this honey-like thing they put in many of their offerings. I could many years ago, when I was an Aromatic smoker.

Better after a pair of weeks, when this casing tends to vanish a bit.

In my flakes I look for more taste and less device. And normally prefer more Virginia and less to none Burley.

Good if you want a very light and cased tobacco with very thin flakes.

Rdx score: 84.7 (10 pipes smoked)

Mild tobacco is the way to describe the flake. I supposed it´s the burley in action. It burns to a white ash, the honey smell from the tin is present but it's pretty deep, burns cool and it´s pretty much enjoyable. I guess the perfect way to describe these one is those kind of tobacco that´s good to pass the time. I dont think i will return to it, the prince does the job in the burley department for me.

Here we have a pretty much standard Mac Baren formula in flake form, which does work pretty well. Airing time (months) was required for me to get past the boring dullness I first experienced (not unlike many others that have reviewed it, it seems). Additional airing time before and after packing is also standard procedure, after which it does burn easy, treats your tongue gently and fills the room with a pleasant "old school" aroma, the downside is that it generates quite a lot of moisture, so have a cleaner or two ready. Predominantely burley and va cavendish, with the usual honey, nuts and chocolate notes you've come to expect from Mac Baren are there, as well as very light rum flavour somewhere in the middle of it all. I'd say this is a very good beginner's flake, especially if you're into the traditional danish thing, and willing to dedicate quite a lot of time to get the flakes "just right".

I decided to rate this as 2/4, simply because I don't find myself smoking it very often. Its rather one dimensional mildness and less-than-exciting nicotine content puts it in the 2 star section of my book. There is also a bit of tediousness involved in getting it right - a common trait with most Mac Baren's blends.

As a whole, however, I believe the general rating of 3 that it has now is welldeserved. It has a loyal following, good price and easilly accessible to both newbies and oldtimers.

Bought a tin of this a couple of years ago and it took some effort on my part to plough my way through the whole thing without throwing it away. I assummed this was due to my return to flakes, having spent a number of years on aromatics. Having spent the last couple of years or so sampling a good number of flakes, I was tempted to give Mac B's Navy another try, only to be told by my tobacconist he was out of stock, I did however, come across a sample of Navy Flake some weeks later, which I duly tried only to be dissapointed by a distinct caramel / honey taste which is not what I expected from a Navy Flake. Again, I left this alone for some weeks and fired up a bowl just as I started to write this (with the intention of reminding myself as to just what I'm bitching about) the tobacco has now the charecteristics of rubbing out cornflakes, this pleases me not, it does however seem to smoke a lot better, but I like my tobacco straight from the tin, slightly moist and pliable, and there are so many excellent flakes out there which can be smoked in this way. This one, sadly for me, is not one of them. I will not say that I will not buy this one again, I might, but with the view to leaving it for a couple of years. I therefore feel that I must disagree with my esteemed and distinguished company and give it only two stars, which is one more than I had originally intended.

Very strong full tobacco taste in a VA flake.

This is NOT an aromatic tobacco - not even close. I give it 2 stars, but those looking for a good "straight up" tobaccco could give it 4 stars easily, I can see why. It just wasn't my thing.

The strong, tangy, grassiness of a young VA dominates the taste with the burley and cavendish being barely noticeable, though it is good they were there. If they hadn't been, this would have gotten 1 star from me - a bit harsh and easily bitey if not babied with slow smoking and gentle treatment.

Not sure what "Navy" means but it certainly has no rum or liquor flavor of any kind.

If I were given a bowl of this as a blind taste test, I would have concluded it a young, grassy, full strength VA flake teetering on the bitey side.

Probably won't buy more, unless its all I can find in pipe tobacco. I've had worse.

2 stars.

This is a good quality tobacco, but a bit too bland for me- the burley isn't very interesting, and the Virginia not strong enough to off-set the bland burley.

If you want a tasty traditional Navy blend, try the McClelland Navy Cavendish, a dark brown Virginia with dark rum, a great winter outdoor smoke!

Wow what a popular blend! That said I am going to begin with my impressions of the last part of the tin and what I recall from a few years back. I'm in general agreement with everyone, but find GL Pease's burley blends in a whole different class. Oh and this is definitely a cut above University Flake. ---review--- Finishing up the tin of this had turned from a finely crafted mahogany pressed and sliced burley blend reminded me of a very crumbled Cavendish. This creates multitudes of smoke burning furiously to the end of the bowl. However, I chose the incorrect setting to finish this, driving my car.

The tin aroma is pleasant with a flowery tinge of sweetness (not as flowery as Orlik's Golden Sliced...but much sweeter) and as stated by other reviewers this is beautiful to look at and is very compact for 50 grams of tobacco. With care of cutting this and rubbing the smoking is tolerable. With that said, not being a huge fan of burley (except in strait cube cut) this smokes alright with the Virginia element rising to bite, however, I think it is more of the slight top casing that bites. I can see this being excellent in a corn cob on a cold morning/evening.

Not being a big fan of burley, I may try this blend again just for its curious tin aroma and presentation. However, I am in no hurry to buy any tobacco so it may be a while.

I made the huge mistake of rubbing out the last half of the tin. it smokes WAY too hot and bites like crazy. while in the flake form it smokes slowly and, needs constant relighting and tamping for me. the flake is pretty mild in taste but there are some peppery moments in it. pleasant room note that shouldn't offend anybody. a pretty decent smoke