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 31 - 40 of 140 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2019 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
I just have to pitch in my ratings here for this exceedingly decent tabac.
My search for regular all day smoke has ended. Now this Mac Baren Navy Flake is one of the two tabac that I smoke regularly every day. The other one being Peterson Wild Atlantic.
Before this, I have tried Straight Virginia (Capstan Blue Navy Flake) and I have also tried Solani 656 Aged Burley Flake - hoping either one of them becoming my stable daily tabac, alas my pesky tongue could't really agree with both of them. The Capstan Blue gave me erratic sour after taste which I attribute to the "citrusy" sweetness of full Virginia. Solani on the other hand, my tongue find it difficult to savor the depth of the famed Burley taste (yes my palette is not as refined as how I wished it is).
However, this Mac Baren Navy Flake - I had them all rubbed good and aired substantially, then bottled them all in a glass jar, this tabac offers the tobacco feel that I longed. You see, I was a chain cigarette smoker for 24 years, my last cigarettes being of Mac Baren Maxi Roll (Original & Coffee). I totally stopped cigarettes by the turn of 2019, and I needed a substitute for daily smoking. I get satisfying sweetness of the combined Burley and Virginia from this flake, very natural tasting sweetness - not like the ones you get from the Aromatics. Most importantly, I love that there's no sour aftertaste that my ever sensitive tongue could detect. The nicotine was just about right for regular puffing, similar to The Mac Baren Maxi Roll (considered as mild cigarette tobacco) and Lookout Vanilla Shag.
So as it is, I am writing this from the perspective of a non aficionado point of view, just a normal pipe smoker enjoying his tabac.
Yes, I would highly recommend this Navy Flake, it is what a refined mild/moderate tobacco should taste like.....IMO
My search for regular all day smoke has ended. Now this Mac Baren Navy Flake is one of the two tabac that I smoke regularly every day. The other one being Peterson Wild Atlantic.
Before this, I have tried Straight Virginia (Capstan Blue Navy Flake) and I have also tried Solani 656 Aged Burley Flake - hoping either one of them becoming my stable daily tabac, alas my pesky tongue could't really agree with both of them. The Capstan Blue gave me erratic sour after taste which I attribute to the "citrusy" sweetness of full Virginia. Solani on the other hand, my tongue find it difficult to savor the depth of the famed Burley taste (yes my palette is not as refined as how I wished it is).
However, this Mac Baren Navy Flake - I had them all rubbed good and aired substantially, then bottled them all in a glass jar, this tabac offers the tobacco feel that I longed. You see, I was a chain cigarette smoker for 24 years, my last cigarettes being of Mac Baren Maxi Roll (Original & Coffee). I totally stopped cigarettes by the turn of 2019, and I needed a substitute for daily smoking. I get satisfying sweetness of the combined Burley and Virginia from this flake, very natural tasting sweetness - not like the ones you get from the Aromatics. Most importantly, I love that there's no sour aftertaste that my ever sensitive tongue could detect. The nicotine was just about right for regular puffing, similar to The Mac Baren Maxi Roll (considered as mild cigarette tobacco) and Lookout Vanilla Shag.
So as it is, I am writing this from the perspective of a non aficionado point of view, just a normal pipe smoker enjoying his tabac.
Yes, I would highly recommend this Navy Flake, it is what a refined mild/moderate tobacco should taste like.....IMO
Pipe Used:
GrandMaster Mini Lovat 17mm
PurchasedFrom:
Kamelah Tobacco House
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2017 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Lots of positive reviews and the ages this blend continues to be producted motivated me to purchae a tin.once the tin cracks a florall and citrucy smell comes out.stuck your nose in and you detect some alcohol and spice notes.though a bit moist the flakes are very manageable either to rub or to fold into the bowl° i noticed that this flake behaves the same good.lights easy and some relights are needed.while smoking the tastes are pleasant and balanced.in my opinion the cavendish and the virginias are balanced between them leaving the burleys behind.floral assences,spices,grass,citruses and fruits are mixed really well giving a great taste mixture from the beginning till the end.rarelly some spices and alcohol notes are present.burns medium hot and slow to total ash with no tongue bite and moisture at the end of the bowl.the room note is pleasant.the nicotine level is medium .defenitelly an all day smoke and a must try!
Age When Smoked:
Rubbed and packed at once, folded at once
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 09, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Rum is tastefully applied and easily discernible beneath the Virginia and burley which bounce in and out of the lead, I'd say theFruity and sweet from the Virginia stars , with some of the toasty tobacco taste from the burley and some elements from the cavendish tying the experience together in a good performance for cavendish. Smokes cool and clean and easily folds and stuffs into the bowl without even any dry time necessary. Some relights needed but not overly necessitated. Easily a 4 star for me, satisfying all day smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28, 2023 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Review based on 2022 batch.
Natural tasting flake with subtle aromatic elements. Differs from others similarly named as navy flake which are mostly VA’s. Soft and rounded by its harmonious composition of leaf, with the welcome Mac Baren cavendish added to the virginia and burley. Mild honey, brown sugar accents work well with the tobacco forward flavor. No rum detected and not really fruity. Packing lightly rubbed out flake with air pocket method results in a smoke that needs few relights. Effortless to achieve a smoldering, long lasting smoke. Sipping and gentle puffing draws out the flavors such as nuts, honey and hint of figs. Hits the zone about a quarter of the way through when using 0.75” diameter bowl. Burns to a white ash. Full and satisfying with low to moderate nicotine. Room note is ok but not as appealing as an aromatic.
It’s a representative, quality tobacco that is highly recommended to those who appreciate a natural tobacco taste, scarcely aromatic, and something different than straight VA navy flakes. Suitable for a multi-smoke day.
Natural tasting flake with subtle aromatic elements. Differs from others similarly named as navy flake which are mostly VA’s. Soft and rounded by its harmonious composition of leaf, with the welcome Mac Baren cavendish added to the virginia and burley. Mild honey, brown sugar accents work well with the tobacco forward flavor. No rum detected and not really fruity. Packing lightly rubbed out flake with air pocket method results in a smoke that needs few relights. Effortless to achieve a smoldering, long lasting smoke. Sipping and gentle puffing draws out the flavors such as nuts, honey and hint of figs. Hits the zone about a quarter of the way through when using 0.75” diameter bowl. Burns to a white ash. Full and satisfying with low to moderate nicotine. Room note is ok but not as appealing as an aromatic.
It’s a representative, quality tobacco that is highly recommended to those who appreciate a natural tobacco taste, scarcely aromatic, and something different than straight VA navy flakes. Suitable for a multi-smoke day.
Age When Smoked:
December 2022 batch
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2022 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Rum, brown sugar, and slight floral qualities. A well done navy flake, not harsh and smooth and rich. Off the start it's rum dominant but the Virginia comes through shortly after with sweet grassiness. The burley adds a cocoa note which translates into brown sugar when it all comes together. This is a smooth smoke not raw or rough like Peter Stokkebye navy flake. Aroma is pleasant with a rum and brown sugar/ honey quality. Can bit if pushed hard, smokes sweeter when rubbed out. Nic hit is medium, I'd recommend this to one who is stepping up from mild aromatics. All in all a good navy flake.
Pipe Used:
Nording Royal flush Queen
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
New to 5 years aged
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 08, 2020 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
When I switched from my 40-a-day cigarette habit to a pipe, once adjusted I made a point of choosing mild blends [because I inhale] with no more than a mild nic-hit.
MB Navy Flake is medium strength with a nic-hit that's mild to medium. So why did I buy a pound after smoking a tin? Because it is really tasty. I'm a bit surprised to read other reviewers experiencing tongue bite. I'm quite sensitive to tongue bite myself but have not been bitten by this flake. Maybe because I jarred the flake for a year before loading a bowl?
My tolerance for nicotine is now so low, that I've jarred the pound & keep it for an occasional treat or those times when I'm in the mood for something stronger than my normal fare. [This is NOT a strong blend nor is it loaded with Vit N. So please don't get that impression]
If MB Navy Flake was a bit milder & had a touch less nicotine, this would be an everyday smoke for me because it is so darned tasty.
Despite it not fitting my exact preferences, it's easily a four star blend. A must try for every pipe smoker, even if you're a lightweight like myself, lol. Highly recommended.
MB Navy Flake is medium strength with a nic-hit that's mild to medium. So why did I buy a pound after smoking a tin? Because it is really tasty. I'm a bit surprised to read other reviewers experiencing tongue bite. I'm quite sensitive to tongue bite myself but have not been bitten by this flake. Maybe because I jarred the flake for a year before loading a bowl?
My tolerance for nicotine is now so low, that I've jarred the pound & keep it for an occasional treat or those times when I'm in the mood for something stronger than my normal fare. [This is NOT a strong blend nor is it loaded with Vit N. So please don't get that impression]
If MB Navy Flake was a bit milder & had a touch less nicotine, this would be an everyday smoke for me because it is so darned tasty.
Despite it not fitting my exact preferences, it's easily a four star blend. A must try for every pipe smoker, even if you're a lightweight like myself, lol. Highly recommended.
PurchasedFrom:
TobaccoPipes.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 07, 2020 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
Why: If you like Navy Rolls and something not as fruity as Sunset Breeze you will like these Navy mostly Burley flakes. Smooth and a little fruity but not leaning too much Virginia. Get the pocket-sized 50g tin and the flakes are almost still in a block packed tight within the foils. Pressed burley tobaccos with fruity Virginias and Cavendish.
Looks: Beautiful inside. Nice box. Perfect pocket size. The tobacco is darker flake but don't let the darkness deceive you. It is a light to medium strength with a good dose of nicotine.
Using: Flakes are easy to manipulate. Recommend for rubbing out into a ball in your hand for a taste that peaks more. Leave whole for a deeper richer draw. Easy to dry if you want. It will burn fairly fast and somewhat quickly but you don't constantly puff on this one. Easy to put aside and take now and again.
Result: It's a cut above most over the counter packet tobaccos from the same company. Reserved for a tin box and while you reach deeper in your pickets by a little more you have something a bit better quality that will last. So expect nicotine doses every so often and set aside while you wait again for it. Mild taste but a heavy dose. Tastes is smokey but slightly fruity. Not quite full-bodied but that's fine. Taste memories of Peterson's Sunset Breeze but lighter fruits and more Burley,
Conclusion: Not as fruity as sunset breeze, then this canned Navy Flake not only looks great but may help remind you of the good old times. The craftmanship of the block in flakes is second to none. Very nicely pressed and neat.
Pipe Used: Peterson Dracula 68
Similar Blends: Peterson Sunset Breeze
Looks: Beautiful inside. Nice box. Perfect pocket size. The tobacco is darker flake but don't let the darkness deceive you. It is a light to medium strength with a good dose of nicotine.
Using: Flakes are easy to manipulate. Recommend for rubbing out into a ball in your hand for a taste that peaks more. Leave whole for a deeper richer draw. Easy to dry if you want. It will burn fairly fast and somewhat quickly but you don't constantly puff on this one. Easy to put aside and take now and again.
Result: It's a cut above most over the counter packet tobaccos from the same company. Reserved for a tin box and while you reach deeper in your pickets by a little more you have something a bit better quality that will last. So expect nicotine doses every so often and set aside while you wait again for it. Mild taste but a heavy dose. Tastes is smokey but slightly fruity. Not quite full-bodied but that's fine. Taste memories of Peterson's Sunset Breeze but lighter fruits and more Burley,
Conclusion: Not as fruity as sunset breeze, then this canned Navy Flake not only looks great but may help remind you of the good old times. The craftmanship of the block in flakes is second to none. Very nicely pressed and neat.
Pipe Used: Peterson Dracula 68
Similar Blends: Peterson Sunset Breeze
Pipe Used:
Peterson Dracula 68
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 2019 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
I keep returning to this tobacco as it gives me a full taste satisfaction. A Danish style aromatic with burley, virginia and black cavendish makes a good, rich smoke, burns slowly and is packed with sweet honey aroma with a hint of floral, rum and fruity notes. I accompanied it with dark rum enriched green tea to a perfect enjoyment.
Pipe Used:
Adsorba 210
PurchasedFrom:
Pipe shop Dreier, Graz/Gradec Austria
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 24, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
When I opened my first tin of Navy Flake, I was both impressed and disappointed. I was impressed by the perfectly shaped, uniform flakes but disappointed by their smell. It was very faint and weak, almost like there was no smell at all. Nevertheless I packed a bowl.. and didn't really like it. It was way too mild and I didn't get any of the flavour so many people had told me about.
I was trying out 9mm Meerschaum filters at the time, which turned out to be a huge mistake. They take away way too much flavour, compared to the ones with active charcoal. So I changed the filter, and immediately fell in love with Navy Flake.
The subtle sweetness, combined with a hint of spice and a lovely, fragrant aroma, which reminds me of floral essences and dark, sweet molasses are just absolutely wonderful. I also get a tiny hint of citrus peel.
After the first bowl, I knew why it was/is such a classic tobacco and it very quickly became my absolute favourite. The moisture right out of the tin is pretty much perfect and whether you fold and stuff, or rub it out, it takes a light easily and requires little to no relights. It might bite you, if you're not careful, but if you let it dry out a few minutes and learn how to properly pack it, you'll be fine. Just sit back, relax and enjoy this wonderful flake.
It's definitely my "lonely island tobacco" and I hope I'll be able to enjoy it for many years to come. 10/10 (or 4/4 stars) for me. Highly recommended, even for beginners who want to get into flakes. Navy Flake is easy to get, uncomplicated and very tasty!
I was trying out 9mm Meerschaum filters at the time, which turned out to be a huge mistake. They take away way too much flavour, compared to the ones with active charcoal. So I changed the filter, and immediately fell in love with Navy Flake.
The subtle sweetness, combined with a hint of spice and a lovely, fragrant aroma, which reminds me of floral essences and dark, sweet molasses are just absolutely wonderful. I also get a tiny hint of citrus peel.
After the first bowl, I knew why it was/is such a classic tobacco and it very quickly became my absolute favourite. The moisture right out of the tin is pretty much perfect and whether you fold and stuff, or rub it out, it takes a light easily and requires little to no relights. It might bite you, if you're not careful, but if you let it dry out a few minutes and learn how to properly pack it, you'll be fine. Just sit back, relax and enjoy this wonderful flake.
It's definitely my "lonely island tobacco" and I hope I'll be able to enjoy it for many years to come. 10/10 (or 4/4 stars) for me. Highly recommended, even for beginners who want to get into flakes. Navy Flake is easy to get, uncomplicated and very tasty!
Pipe Used:
Briars and Cobs
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Superior all day smoke, easy to pack, lit, few relights. No tongue bite at all even if you are puffing like freight train. Honey toping is dominating, rum hiding somewhere in background. Overall very nice flake, highly recommending to everybody.
Pipe Used:
Various
Age When Smoked:
6 month
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