Mac Baren Navy Mixture

Similar to MacBarens Navy Flake, i found this blend of cured Virginnys and Black Cavendish to be somewhat a little tamed compared to its older brother, but nonetheless enjoyable and richly satisfying. As it is with NF,a soapy but tangy flake tobacco will greet you upon opening its tin and the taste is a slightly sweetened and mild but good old fashioned tobaccy. Between both of these blends i've dedicated a dunhill size D in one of my savanelli's that i can load and light and put down to take a shortened break then light it up again for a rewarding hour to hour and a half smoke. Tongue bite is almost non existent for this blend as well as NF as long as you don't pushit. No lingering residue, no mess and no goop, burns evenly and to a whiteish grey ash. Knock it out then load it again.

I liked it, alittle honey, rum flavor like a real mild escudo you don't have to rub out.

I am a born again Balkan smoker. That being said, I also like to change things up a little and this is a perfect blend to do just that. While it's not an aromatic it does have a slight honey casing to it, which I enjoy very much. I find myself returning to this blend quite often. Give it a try if you want a change of pace.

Navy Mixture was another nice meeting with the McB's world. I would place it in between of Scottish Mixture and Golden Blend.

It came in a navy blue 50grms pouch. At the opening notes of honey, liquorice and rhum. Colours range from bright to medium brown, with occasional darker flecks. The cut is called mixture, and I actually find ribbons and rubbed flakes, some of larger size, probably coming from the Navy Flake itself. Humidity is perfect for smoking.

NM lights perfectly and behaves very much well. The smoke is undoubtly parent of the Flake cousin, just less honeysh. Compared to Scottish Mixture is a bit stronger, full bodied and the "aromatic" notes are less pronounced. Less earthy than Golden Blend, and more Virginia oriented, NM has more honey and the "Navy" note.

I'm just working it in a couple of "Il Duca Pipe", produced by a young Italian artisan of Ferrara, which seem to bring out the best from all the three tobaccos. Navy Mixture produces a rounded but very interesting and lively smoke.

We all know that talking of McB is all about the minimal variation in combining Virginias and Burleys (HH's are a different story, though), and very seldom their tobaccos go further the medium strength and body. Neverthess the quality of the employed weed and the blending skill are very good. I'm keeping studying theirs.

I register Navy Mixture in the list of my tobaccos in regular rotation.

Ok, this is VERY close to Navy Flake by the same maker, only it comes in a broken flake. Actually it's less honeyish, and it tastes a bit nuttier. Nothing particularly mindblowing, but a good reliable smoke which is moderately sweet, smells tolerable and behaves well... provided that you DO smoke it VERY slowly, otherwise it will bite like a pack of hungry demons. Certainly better than the classic Mixture, which is milder and blander.

I'm gonna be the pariah here by saying I like this better than the flake. Great flavor (Big Virginia taste)like sweet grass- Very smooth and tasty. I like it very much. Odd that there is no Rum casing in a Navy Mix, but there is rum in Solent Mix. Hey- I like it....Try it for yourself....

Happy Puffin!

Tasty after the first third of a bowl. The room note is disagreeable to the matron of the house, but the flavour suggests otherwise. Somewhat woody and dry. Delicate draws present a subtle dried fruit, (raisin or figs?) taste-- certainly this does not manifest itself with a nervous habit of deep, hurried puffing. Being a mature virginia base, this is a really satisfying smoke. It's something I'll smoke in the garage while working away. I will definitely be buying another pouch to keep in my collection. Neither english, nor aromatic, this is a hearty smoke.

I am puzzled by previous review that found it to be cased. I can hardly notice anything, and the blend was quite dry, burning clean to the end with almost no dottle.

--hemlock