Mac Baren Navy Flake

The striking thing about Navy Flake?a strange name to give a tobacco what's mostly burley?is the perfectly tooled, neatly sliced plug flake one finds inside the small rectangular tin that contains it. A tribute, surely, to Mac Baren's workmanship, if nothing else.

The smell is typical of the honeyed sweetening found in Dutch/Danish style aromatics, though nothing has been overdone. The flakes crumble easily into the broken-flake consistency of so many aromatic tobaccos. This composition burns cleanly and easily, without overheating, in my Peterson's Kildare dublin.

The taste is pure unadulterated burley. Quality burley, of course; smooth and mildly herbal; nothing sour or obnoxious. A refreshing, clean-palate taste: a treat, I should think, for the burley lover.

This is a nice milder flake I like the fact that it is a flake and I use it for the windy outdoors thing. It should not take much breaking up and is afragile flake as is. Burns well and flavor is thicker if you dont break it up too much. Sweet without too much flavoring, a distinct molassas like aroma. This room note is tolerable to most non smokers and pleasent to some. It does burn a bit hot if you are not careful with the puffing and break the flake up, but is however nice especialy on cold days. I use it for cold outside days and use two flakes per medium size bolw. This way it lasts a while, is nice and warm and produces a sweet thick smoke. ***Update*** I have come to like this one more and more I like its packing and burning qualities as well as the nice smoke produced. It is not very complex but still pleasent. A good companion on walks outside. Does not dry out in the tin or come too moist in the first place. This is one of the blend that I keep in my regular stock. ( 2 or 3 extra tins of each of my favorites are always around )

This mixture is heavily flavored, with honey and many other ingredients. There is casing and there is top dressing. When you open the tin you can perceive the honey. You have to smoke it very slowly if you want a decent puff. Otherwise the taste (the flavoring in your mouth) is very bad. Overall it is a mediocre mixture, not bad but of poor quality. I don’t think I’ll buy it again. In my personal rating (from 1 to 10) my score is 5 and two stars.

Never having tried a flake cut tobacco before, I started with this one. Trying different methods of loading the pipe from rubbing to different consistencies to just stuffing it into the pipe whole, I have found the one that works best for me is to simply roll up the flake, bend it in half, and push it into the bowl and pack it lightly. This seems to work well in the pipe I have been smoking it in, a no-name meerschaum-lined bent briar. Flake may be a little confusing at first to those accustomed to loose-leaf tobaccos.

This tobacco definitely smells very nice upon opening the tin. It has a honey-like note to it and somewhat reminds me of the smell of the plug chewing tobaccos I tried years ago. The taste of the tobacco is definitely on the sweeter side. However, it does have a bit of a bite to it at first that slowly subsides over the first few minutes of being smoked. Be careful, though - it very easily leads to burning your tongue if you're not very careful.

It isn't really a bad tobacco, and the packaging allows one to carry a good supply without taking up much space, but it isn't really my favorite. I smoke this when I want something a little sweeter but still has an actual tobacco taste to it.

Update: After trying several other tinned tobaccos, I feel I need to move this down my list. I'm finding I'm liking it less now, and I still can't get over the tongue burn from it (when straight VA tobacco doesn't even do this to me). There's just something about it that I'm finding that I don't particularly like in the taste as well... it may be whatever flavoring that is used.

MacBaren Navy Flake looks perfect in the tin, with those nice wide slices, just perfect for a KKKK sized bowl. That’s kind of where my happiness ends with this tobacco, Navy Flake has no discernible Rum flavor as one might expect from a ‘Navy’ flake, though it does kind of taste like everything but rum. There is a nice grassy Virginia flavor, some Burley toast flavor, a little floral, a little fruit and I got a lot bored. This isn’t so much flavorless, as not flavorful enough in any one direction, I cannot say it’s a poor tobacco, it’s like a generic version of a Navy style flake, the flavor is there, it’s just so toned down and subdued as to be completely forgettable. Try Samuel Gawith’s Navy Flake instead.

MacB's NF is one the most reviewed blends on TR with over 200 reviews, scores average 3.0, quite reasonable, yet with a roughly equal number of 2.0's and 4.0's evident, so there is evidently a fairly balanced difference of opinion.

Almost everyone comments favorably on the quality of the press and slides which must be seen to be appreciated. Likewise, most reviewers find that NF packs and burns very nicely with what seems to be the standard folding technique (once or twice lengthwise, then once or twice against the grain, roll it a bit, stuff loosely - to allow for expansion - then a bit of a top tamp and have at it). Most like the way it holds a light and burns rather slowly. All seem to agree that this is most assuredly a light, slow sipper (the steady burn helps with this).

All of these positives may account ffor Navy Flake's good 3.0 average review, but now to the con's. Navy Flakes are supposed be topped or lightly cased with rum. Although TR states the blend contains "Alcohol / Liquor, Cinnamon, Honey, Other / Misc, Rum", there just isn't much real rum apparent. Instead, most agree the leading impression is honey with any alcohols/rum not really noted. Strike one.

Although NF is said to be burley forward, with Virginia and what may be a bit of Virginia Cavendish, and despite those who praise its burley, what really seems to happen is that the combination cancels it out. Yes, there are some nice rich and toasty burley moments (particularly on relights) but it quickly retreats back into the blend. The Virginia makes its presence known primarily insofar as sipping technique which must be s-l-o-w, small and paced.

This is a bowl you want to draw out as long as you can. If you do, the alleged MacBaren burn is minimal; if you don't have a glass of coconut milk handy.

As for me when I first experimented with MacB's Navy Flake, it was a disaster tongue and palate-wise. I hadn't yet learned how to sloooow down and sip, a talent da'rum highly recommends. Later on and having learned to slow down, I simply loved this flake but again - this was in comparison to some very aromatic vanilla based cavendish - compared to these the NF featured what seemed to be rich tobaccos.

And again with more experience, that again has changed. I've personally come to appreciate well balanced blends that find what for me is my personal "sweet spot". Balanced enough that no single component dominates, but with enough differentiation that each component can be richly distinguishable. This is where NF now fails again for me.

It's not bad but the components - overlaid with the aforesaid honey - come together so completely that the components cancel one another out. Thus MacBaren's Navy Flake has returned to the level of a pleasant but not especially remarkable blend, not to mention the replacement of Navy rum with honey.

Such is life... add 1/2 point for a 2.5 or a tad more.

Very light, golden-colored flake. Nose is honey and slight hint of rum over sunny Virginias (grass, hay).

On first light, all I can think is, "If Tinkerbell had body odor, it would probably smell like this." Very light/airy blend, bit of citrusy/grapefruity funk to it, but that's it. Not dark, complex, or brooding in the least.

Opened up nicely by mid bowl. I don't notice the burley at all, nor the cavendish, except for its role in carrying the flavorings, which it does adequately. It's a very well behaved tobacco that burns dry and clean.

Beyond Tinkerbell's armpits, it occurred to me throughout the smoke that this is not bad in a Darren McGavin (RIP) Christmas Story sense. It's not good. But it's not bad either. Give it a try.

After moving through Blockade Runner and Luxury Navy Flake I moved on to this mix in further investigation of the genre. The 11,000+ hit review on YouTube with the rousing score, nautical imagery, and the huge smoldering pipe sealed it- I had to have this. With anticipation I opened the tin, pulled back the gold foil and admired the look of the perfect flakes. Dark molasses and hay are the prominent tin notes.

I lit up and was rewarded with a bit of the molasses, but more so honey. Some tangy Virginia flavor shined through, but dulled by the obvious presence of a somewhat flat burley and the cavendish. Nirvana! About mid-bowl some spice notes arise, especially clove and cinnamon. Persistent sweetness throughout and some toasty grains. It smoked quite warm and I wised up to some drying and a lighter pack. The lighter honey notes diminish and the molasses ramps up and it started to get a little murky. The lingering aftertaste was quite welcome. Quite a tobacco on the first bowl.

I went through the first 1/4 of the tin (100 g) fairly quickly and also continued to allow it to dry. My enjoyment though started to diminish, both during the course of each bowl and over time. Now, I find this blend cloying and over processed. The base tobaccos are of quality, but it is pretty heavily cased. It has stayed tacky to the touch even while dried to the point where the flames are friable. As the bowl develop it gets wet and develops bitterness. The dark molasses has become unbearable, nearly to the point of nausea. I also feel a coating in my mouth, unlike anything else I have tried. In my greed I have way too many opens tins and pouches and have resolved to remedy that before exploring further. Unfortunately, this damned oversized tin has become a bit of a personal white whale.

I regret that my opinion has so soured on this. I really enjoyed it initially and had high expectations, but just don't care for it now very much. With almost everything else I've smoked I've usually gained appreciation or came to recognize other similar blends as superior, but with this it shrinks in my estimation. With that said it still gains a qualified but lowly recommendation due to the quality of the leaf and presentation as well as the initial impressions, but I surely won't be revisiting.

Finally, a personal quibble on the naming. This not a navy blend. Yes it is a Va flake, but there is no rum and it is adulterated with burley. I would suggest it is a VaBur aromatic. Approached as such maybe it would be more enjoyable.

I have tried several of Mac Baren?s offerings and I hadn?t previously found anything I particularly liked, aside from Dark Twist Roll Cake. I don?t typically smoke aromatics, though smoke Haddo?s Delight by GL Pease, Luxury Twist Flake by Stokkebye and Hartwell?s Evening Stroll. Certain SG and G&H Lakeland scented varieties score high points with me. Navy Flake seems topped or cased with some vague slightly artificial tasting honey flavoring used in many of their products with maybe a hint of whiskey. To me, a ?Navy Flake? should follow more along the lines of what a ?navy blend? should be, using Rum for flavoring.

Appearance: This blend has a beautiful presentation, being comprised of precisely sliced flakes of pressed cake. Though predominately red and golden Virginias, and Burley there are darker bands and bits that are nearly white.

Tin aroma: This is a mixture of matured Virginias, Burley and Cavendish. There are deep molasses tones a slight sour tang one expects in Virginias some slight spicy tones and a deeper fig-like aroma. There is a slightly nutty quality as well; rather quickly and slightly over-powering there is the artificial honey/whiskey topping/casing agent. Together, it is a fairly nice smelling combination, though not something that I'd say I have a strong preference for. The tin aroma also tells me to proceed with caution as with many other Mac Baren offering, this could be tongue bite in a tin.

This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture straight out of the tin. I normally simply roll two flakes fold them over and insert them into the bowl, trimming off any excess. Lighting is usually a one match affair, and generally stays lit throughout the entire bowl, unless I let the pipe go out. As expected, the initial flavor is very tangy VA and sweet though not overly so on either count. There are distinctly citrus notes of the Virginias and a deep harmonious flavor of well mannered Burley. The topping/casing agent quickly yields it?s dominance to a nice throaty Virginia/Burley duet which continues to build throughout the bowl the Cavendish seems only to 'fill in the gaps'. The topping/casing never completely leaves, adding a sweetness and a slightly generic and artificial taste to an otherwise natural presentation.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and while this blend is not very complex, it is however plenty interesting in character. There are subtle changes here and there as each component asserts dominance from time to time. The topping/casing is always ?just there? the Virginias and Burley engage in a friendly competition. While not particularly strong in nicotine, there is plenty of flavor and body to this mixture. The tobaccos used in this mixture are of obvious quality, why then MacBaren chose such an odd topping/casing agent is beyond me. This would have been mighty fine indeed were it topped/soaked in Rum.

Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the strength of this mixture has built to a fine mélange of flavors and fullness. The pervasive sweetness and artificial taste is somewhat annoying, and the temptation toward tongue bite does not help. It has so much going for it, that what little I hold against it is probably not enough to bother most smokers. If there weren't many other tobaccos that I prefer greatly, I might smoke this on a regular basis.

Supplemental Notes: I would recommend this to seasoned Virginia smokers for a change of pace smoke. If you are looking for a true Navy Flake, look elsewhere, this isn't one. Rating for those interested in numbers **1/2