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 1 - 10 of 113 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2014 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
Navy in a blend name often signifies a distinct rum taste, but MacBaren Navy Flake has only the lightest kiss of rum. (Curiously. MacBaren Plum Cake could easily be called Rum Flake, as it has a dominant rum, not plum, flavor.) The flavor to the light aromatic Navy Flake is predominately the MacBaren standard maple sugar and water, which provides a taste akin to honey/molasses. Navy Flake also seems to have a little cinnamon added.
This is an aromatic, but it is a light aromatic, and even some pipe smokers who eschew aromatics may find Navy Flake palatable. The room note is not heavily aromatic, and it is quite pleasant.
The flakes themselves are the impeccable MacBaren production, clearly defined, but easily crumbled. Navy Flake may be smoked either by cramming the flakes down or rubbing them out. I tend to cram, and then rub out a topping to ensure an easy light. Navy Flake does light easier than many flakes.
The flakes are predominately burley, lightly sweetened by Virginia and the MacBaren cavendish, a cavendish that does not turn off as many smokers as do many cavendishes. There are some smokers who do not like burley, and they will not care for Navy Flake, as it is burley forward. But aside from these, the majority of pipesters will find Navy Flake quite pleasant.
Normally I smoke aromatics in my meerschaums and/or my cheaper pipes because of the ghosting issue. Navy Flake is not particularly prone to ghosting, so I often use my more expensive pipes when smoking it.
Navy Flake comes short of the WOW! factor for me, but It always gives me a rewarding smoke, and in a large bowled pipe a long lasting one.
I do not have bite issues with Navy Flake when using a leisurely puffing cadence. Be aware that a significant number of smokers have a body chemistry that creates bite problems for them with the MacBaren offerings.
This is an aromatic, but it is a light aromatic, and even some pipe smokers who eschew aromatics may find Navy Flake palatable. The room note is not heavily aromatic, and it is quite pleasant.
The flakes themselves are the impeccable MacBaren production, clearly defined, but easily crumbled. Navy Flake may be smoked either by cramming the flakes down or rubbing them out. I tend to cram, and then rub out a topping to ensure an easy light. Navy Flake does light easier than many flakes.
The flakes are predominately burley, lightly sweetened by Virginia and the MacBaren cavendish, a cavendish that does not turn off as many smokers as do many cavendishes. There are some smokers who do not like burley, and they will not care for Navy Flake, as it is burley forward. But aside from these, the majority of pipesters will find Navy Flake quite pleasant.
Normally I smoke aromatics in my meerschaums and/or my cheaper pipes because of the ghosting issue. Navy Flake is not particularly prone to ghosting, so I often use my more expensive pipes when smoking it.
Navy Flake comes short of the WOW! factor for me, but It always gives me a rewarding smoke, and in a large bowled pipe a long lasting one.
I do not have bite issues with Navy Flake when using a leisurely puffing cadence. Be aware that a significant number of smokers have a body chemistry that creates bite problems for them with the MacBaren offerings.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2013 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
I know that we are supposed to say that MacBaren tobaccos burn hot, but this was not my experience with Navy Flake. I do find the flakes too moist, and you can either leave a flake out or open the tin and wait a couple of weeks. This is a tasty mild VaBur on the burley side of things. It has a mild honey topping and a whiff of rum flavor. It is a good solid smoke, and I will buy it again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 29, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Beautiful looking flake. Mine turned into a crumble cake at the slightest provocation so I simply rubbed it out and smoked it. The honey and rum tin aroma was overpowering and I wasn't expecting much from this one, particularly in light of my lack of success with many of the Mac Baren blends. But this one delivered. Compared to my Mac Baren reference (favorite blend) Symphony, this one was nowhere near as complex and nowhere near as naturally flavorful. But it was a very decent smoke, with the casing burning off almost at the match. It's something that could be smoked all day. But as mentioned, this one along with most Mac Baren blends will bite if you're not extremely careful. I liked this one; I doubt I'll buy more but it's definitely worth a try.
Little nuances in blends and smoking techniques that bring about varying results always interest me. I don't own any Peterson system pipes but perhaps I should! I liked this tobacco best when the smoke was directed at the roof of my mouth. I happened on this when the pipe I was smoking got too heavy for my jaw and I let it relax a bit. I tried the same thing with other tobaccos but so far none of them have shown as much variation in flavor with that than this one. Very interesting!
Little nuances in blends and smoking techniques that bring about varying results always interest me. I don't own any Peterson system pipes but perhaps I should! I liked this tobacco best when the smoke was directed at the roof of my mouth. I happened on this when the pipe I was smoking got too heavy for my jaw and I let it relax a bit. I tried the same thing with other tobaccos but so far none of them have shown as much variation in flavor with that than this one. Very interesting!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 25, 2019 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Mac Baren Navy Flake is the true definition of flake tobacco in my mind, and it always has been. It's also an excellent example of what I understand if I hear the word "Navy" when the topic of the conversation is tobacco. Alcohol (preferably rum), just enough amount of sweet casing with very few spices and perfectly sliced flakes laying inside the tin. Mac baren Navy flake has it all but nothing more. So, you may be disappointed if you are expecting an explosion of flavors from this famous old blend. However, you'll for sure get satisfactory smokes filled with spicy rum scented, bread & oatmeal taste enhanced with sweet raisins. It's the kind of blend, which you'll want to keep a tin around, always. I sure do, and it's one of very few MB blends I genuinely love.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 07, 2014 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Opening the tin I got a strong smell of sweet raisins. Delightful. The flake broke up easy and packed well in my Comoy large bowl. Lit well. No tongue bite. Warm, and taste of sweetness and liquour are steady and ever present. This was very interesting as the flavours began to come and go as you head to the bottom of the bowl. They rotated or popped in and out. I tasted honey one minute and not only tasted liquorice I smelled it as well. Then it vanishes and goes to something else.
Slow burning. Smokes better in small cool puffs, get it too hot and the flavours wash out and go flat on the tongue.
After my first bowl I quickly refilled. However after the second bowl I was hit with a good nicotine rush. This is a great flake and I highly recommend it. I plan on adding it to my steady rotation.
Slow burning. Smokes better in small cool puffs, get it too hot and the flavours wash out and go flat on the tongue.
After my first bowl I quickly refilled. However after the second bowl I was hit with a good nicotine rush. This is a great flake and I highly recommend it. I plan on adding it to my steady rotation.
Pipe Used:
Comoy selected straight grain
PurchasedFrom:
JR Cigars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 09, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
The tin note is absolutely intoxicating. Notes of fig, plum, honey and a mild maple? scent seem to blend nicely together. nice uniform flakes lay side by side in the tin which seems heavy for its size. Perfect moisture content right after cracking the tin, but I prefer to smoke these on the dry side, to the point they break and not bend when flexed. The flakes rub out with ease, and pack very well in the pipe. I also prefer to pack this blend tighter than normal, that allow for less relights and I don't have to puff as hard as I try to avoid tongue bite.
Initial lighting goes without a hitch. Not much of the casing transfers to the smoke, but you do get the sweetness of the Va and Cavendish. Nicotine level is fairly low, but I wasn't expecting it to be anything but. Of all the MacBaren blends I have smoked, this one bites the least, but it still bites. Room note is very pleasant, the wife even commented that she enjoyed it. Leaves a cool, clean and refreshing mouth feel.
If you haven't tried this Navy Flake, you probably should!
Initial lighting goes without a hitch. Not much of the casing transfers to the smoke, but you do get the sweetness of the Va and Cavendish. Nicotine level is fairly low, but I wasn't expecting it to be anything but. Of all the MacBaren blends I have smoked, this one bites the least, but it still bites. Room note is very pleasant, the wife even commented that she enjoyed it. Leaves a cool, clean and refreshing mouth feel.
If you haven't tried this Navy Flake, you probably should!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2014 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I really like this blend. I received a healthy portion of it in our PSF secret santa exchange. Probably a good 4 ounces. It is a lighter bodied VaBur with plenty of nuttiness and sweetness as is described by the contents listing. This could easily be an all day smoke.
I won't put this up to the four star range as there are other vaburs that are more along the line of mind blowing IMO such as Irish Flake, stonehaven or Dockworker. I think I would even put Mac Baren's own ODF and possibly BLB above this one, but it is good for what it is. I think the aforementioned blends have a bit more body than this and that is probably where my preference runs in this genre.
I won't put this up to the four star range as there are other vaburs that are more along the line of mind blowing IMO such as Irish Flake, stonehaven or Dockworker. I think I would even put Mac Baren's own ODF and possibly BLB above this one, but it is good for what it is. I think the aforementioned blends have a bit more body than this and that is probably where my preference runs in this genre.
PurchasedFrom:
gift
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2017 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
A worthy classic.. whenever you don't know what to smoke: Navy Flake will do the trick! I have a few slices of this jarred in the car for when I'd forget to pack some backy when on tour. It matches any pipe and won't leave a ghost, worst case is it sweetens up your pipe a bit.
The smell from the tin is honey-sweet, citrusy with with gentle tobacc spice to it. Very mild somewhat rum-ish alcohol notes. Navy Flake's appearance is delightful. Golden with bright to dark brown colors dominate its appearance. Perfectly cut flake slices are stacked perfectly in the tin - classic Mac Baren Flake presenation, excellent and intriguing! Smokeable right away, but drying it a bit improves its tastes for me. Very flake-beginner friendly slices.
As soon as this flagship of Navy-Flake tradition is burning, or better sailing you get greeted by rich tobacco taste. Rich, nutty-molasses Burley with mild earthy tone to it. Paired with very lemony, citrusy and somewhat bready VAs. A decent toasted/fermented quality, which I guess is contributed by the Cavendish is ever present and very delightfully rounds the taste.
The "Rum" flavouring is rather unobtrusive and (to me) is only perceptible as a citrus-sour, spicy-sharp aroma. Not too boozy, rather smooth and mild. Good amount of honey-ish sweetness make this an easy, no-frills, but solid as rock All-Day smoke for any situation.
A blend I always keep some ounzes of at hand.
The smell from the tin is honey-sweet, citrusy with with gentle tobacc spice to it. Very mild somewhat rum-ish alcohol notes. Navy Flake's appearance is delightful. Golden with bright to dark brown colors dominate its appearance. Perfectly cut flake slices are stacked perfectly in the tin - classic Mac Baren Flake presenation, excellent and intriguing! Smokeable right away, but drying it a bit improves its tastes for me. Very flake-beginner friendly slices.
As soon as this flagship of Navy-Flake tradition is burning, or better sailing you get greeted by rich tobacco taste. Rich, nutty-molasses Burley with mild earthy tone to it. Paired with very lemony, citrusy and somewhat bready VAs. A decent toasted/fermented quality, which I guess is contributed by the Cavendish is ever present and very delightfully rounds the taste.
The "Rum" flavouring is rather unobtrusive and (to me) is only perceptible as a citrus-sour, spicy-sharp aroma. Not too boozy, rather smooth and mild. Good amount of honey-ish sweetness make this an easy, no-frills, but solid as rock All-Day smoke for any situation.
A blend I always keep some ounzes of at hand.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'll join the chorus of those who find this a reliable, enjoyable smoke. It's not especially complicated, it's far from rare, and it's a long way from expensive. But there's really nothing exactly like it either. I've been smoking this pleasant, Burley-based tobacco for several years off and on, but in the last couple, it's become a go-to blend in the heat of summer. And there's a lot of that where I live.
Like all MacBaren flakes, this is beautifully presented — thin(ish) medium brown flakes with fairly low moisture content. Despite the MacBaren website's lessons on folding and stuffing flakes, I usually prefer to rub this out. I know that many seem to have problems with bite from this flake and I suppose I did in the past, too. But I now reserve the entire MacBaren line for filtered pipes, where they really seem to shine. I'd rather not deny myself access to this fine smoke because of bite issues, considering how easy it is to kick those issues to the curb.
Sipped slowly, Navy Flake yields some delightful flavors. Depending on the day and the pipe, I might find a little rum essence, a touch of chocolate, black tea with honey, autumn leaves. Whatever the flavor profile, it's always pleasant. Nicotine sits somewhere between light and medium, which is probably another reason I tend to smoke this most often on hot days.
I doubt Navy Flake will ever sit at the center of my pipe smoking bench, but it's nice to have it flitting about the edges ready to be called in while the stars are all being treated for hyperthermia.
Like all MacBaren flakes, this is beautifully presented — thin(ish) medium brown flakes with fairly low moisture content. Despite the MacBaren website's lessons on folding and stuffing flakes, I usually prefer to rub this out. I know that many seem to have problems with bite from this flake and I suppose I did in the past, too. But I now reserve the entire MacBaren line for filtered pipes, where they really seem to shine. I'd rather not deny myself access to this fine smoke because of bite issues, considering how easy it is to kick those issues to the curb.
Sipped slowly, Navy Flake yields some delightful flavors. Depending on the day and the pipe, I might find a little rum essence, a touch of chocolate, black tea with honey, autumn leaves. Whatever the flavor profile, it's always pleasant. Nicotine sits somewhere between light and medium, which is probably another reason I tend to smoke this most often on hot days.
I doubt Navy Flake will ever sit at the center of my pipe smoking bench, but it's nice to have it flitting about the edges ready to be called in while the stars are all being treated for hyperthermia.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 26, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I bought my 1st tin of this at my local B&M today. A delightful smoke, well behaved & could see myself smoking it all day without tiring of it.
Guess its under rated since as others said its a divisive blend, So far I love the stuff & can see it making it to my top 5
For now 3.5 stars, might bump up to 4 stars after I've smoked the rest of this tin.
Update: 29 May 2009 Bumping this up to 4 stars & now has a home in my daily rotation, a well balanced good all day blend - the pipe tobacco version of comfort food, good - basic - old reliable friend in your pipe.
* Bad ** Good *** Excellent **** Exceptional
Update: 27 February 2010
Haven't had this for a while & just opened a new tin, guess my taste have changed. Aroma is to synthetic for my current taste so dropping it to 3 stars, still think a excellent choice to start with flake tobaccos.
Guess its under rated since as others said its a divisive blend, So far I love the stuff & can see it making it to my top 5
For now 3.5 stars, might bump up to 4 stars after I've smoked the rest of this tin.
Update: 29 May 2009 Bumping this up to 4 stars & now has a home in my daily rotation, a well balanced good all day blend - the pipe tobacco version of comfort food, good - basic - old reliable friend in your pipe.
* Bad ** Good *** Excellent **** Exceptional
Update: 27 February 2010
Haven't had this for a while & just opened a new tin, guess my taste have changed. Aroma is to synthetic for my current taste so dropping it to 3 stars, still think a excellent choice to start with flake tobaccos.
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