McClelland No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake

[updated 04/08/2006] I had "canned" some small 250ml Ball Platinum jelly jars with 2035 on 8/05 using the microwave tobacco vacuum sealing method, and I just cracked a jar open today on 4/8/06, about eight months of aging so far. I have several more small jars still in the aging drawer.

Well, this tobacco certainly hasn't gotten any worse through the eight months of aging. I gave it a five star back then, and its better now than it was then, so it is still a five star. It seems a bit more complex, slightly smoother, but it still has the great flavor of 2035. It doesn't taste like DarkStar exactly, but it is better in my opinion. The flavor has apparently intensified, because in my earlier review I said that this wasn't that rich in flavor, but this jar I just opened is a flavor powerhouse.

2035 is great stuff. Its good fresh, and it gets better after a while if you can cellar it. I don't see how you can go wrong with this tobacco if you like stoved virginias. Buy a bunch, smoke some as is, and cellar some for later for a special treat. I can't say that this is an "all day" smoke, because it isn't, but you will probably want to smoke at least a bowlfull per day for a nice break from whatever else you have been smoking,

If you haven't tried 2035, you really should, its a pretty cool baccy. The black rubbery flakes are pretty neat and the flavor punch really improves with a bit of aging. Five stars before, five stars now, simply because I can't go any higher. This is one of the best baccys in the world IMHO. *Well worth trying a bag of it!*

[old review]

For a virginia, this is exceptionally smooth. The flavor is nice, but its not overly rich. If you are looking for a knockout punch of virginia flavor then this probably isn't it, but if you like more of a subdued flavor then you might consider giving this a try. It is fairly cool burning, has a rather mild flavor, and is pretty easy to puff away without needing any special attention to smoking technique. The predominant flavors are a strong creamy sweetness and somewhat malty or caramel character. Overall its good tasting and the flavor is lighter and much sweeter than one would expect from such a evil looking black flake.

I've upgraded this to a four star, as I think its a premium example of what a dark stoved virginia should be. For whatever reason, I actually like 2035 better than Dark Star, to me this just tastes better. This is a good pleasant smoke and a great value at the bulk price. I bought a bunch of this stuff after evaluating an 8oz sample and loaded it up in some jars to age.

This is the best dark stoved virginia flake that I have tried thus far. Give it a try sometime and experience one of McClelland's best bulk tobaccos. This and 2010 are my personal favorites from McClelland so far, and mixing the two together is also worthwile for a slightly different experience on occasion.

this is one of McClellands bulk blends. And its an excellent one, at that. But it IS a bulk blend, not inferior, but just less complex. And thats necessary, to be honest. Tudor House is a masterpiece but not something one can just smoke any old time. Dark Navy Flake is EXACTLY a blend you can smoke any old time. A heavily stoved thick cut virginia flake. Its a lot like Butera's dark stoved (and like Golden Cake, with the clear taste of lemon Va.) only cut thicker. In fact id guess its the same Virginias in fact. If its not, its very close. The Butera does seem a tad sweeter with a bit more of that raisin taste. But its close. This flake is an old school very moist type that needs dry time. Its a must. I give it an hour or more. But it burns as slowly as anything you can find out there and so its perfect for certain situations. Its a 3 and half star blend but im giving it four.

It took years to find unique products and fill out my pipe tobacco rotation. Mc2035 has been in mine for many years. There's been numerous, previous reviews describing flavor profiles so no need for redundanxy.

I'm adding my thoughts because McClelland is going out of business. They've had my business for 30 years due to their style.

Real artisans who will be missed but hopefully someone will pick up and continue their craft.

Best value in bulk blends. RIP

If you like the bitter flavor of dark pressed VAs, or just want to discover what it's like, this flake could be for you. It's pretty monochromatic, so you had best like what it has to offer. It's a somewhat creamy bitterness, with a lot of flavor and not a large amount of N, and it lights and burns well.

Added a about a dozen 1oz samples of various McClelland bulk blends to my last tobacco order looking for another good bulk to add to my cellar. Dark Navy Flake immediately caught my eye, heavy duty dark rich flakes! I love these things! The only mistake I made was not reading the other reviews before I started on this one. I rubbed it out and let it dry for a half an hour, we all know what happened. I went to the source and read some reviews and found that some folks were nuking this stuff, wholly crap. I was a little put off by the micro-wave so I rubbed out some more and let it dry for eight hours, it was actually a little crispy. I still had to use a couple of pipe cleaners even after the eight-hour dry. I hate to admit it but the micro wave for ten seconds is the way to go, makes this flake burn perfectly and well worth the prep. time and effort. I will be buying more of this flake, I don’t see it as an everyday smoke but it is a good one, 3.5 stars.

These flakes look like they've been produced by the gentle evaporation of river water. Crystals of mud! They're very dark implying a rich, musty smoke. The name, Dark Navy Flake, also hints at an autumnal type.

But no, this is lemony zest. It's zingy, bouncy. It's a springtime pick me up. I've never come across anything quite like it.

It's mild and inoffensive. It's lovely!

An addition, I note that some reviewers have difficulty keeping the flakes alight. Try putting them through a coffee grinder. But be careful, 2 second bursts. You want to keep some structure.

Like a nice "B movie." A lightly stoved, dark-flaked Virginia. Sweet-smelling in the pouch and I never detected the ketchup smell. My bulk sample was on the drier side which was a good thing as DNF took to the match readily with a minimum of re-lights. A mildly pungent, mildly Virginia-sweet smoke. I didn't detect any casing or top note with this one. Although never a regular in my rotation - nor in my Virginia line-up - whenever the mood did strike, I was never disappointed. It seemed to go best in a smaller-bowled pipe. An "old reliable" 3 star smoke.

UPDATE 5-18-17: I've revisited this after many years and am upgrading to 4 stars. I'm more noticing a nice molasses/brown sugar note to this smoke, especially on lighting. A smooth smoke that didn't take much preparation to enjoy.

As many others have said...this isnt quite Dark Star but to my mind it stands very well on its own.

I/ve smoked about 1lb now and have some more on order to store and savour. It certainly improves quite quickly in jars...I've noticed a richer flavour as I progress through my present supply but I am sure theres much better to come.

It's rich, dark fruit laden taste is just wonderful; it smells so good you almost feel like eating it...I could sit and sniff the jar for ages and I've felt no tongue bite either...but then I've learnt to smoke it gently through experience I might add!

Definitely one of my favourites and well recommended. As an aside I can quite see where the previous reviewer was coming from when he said that he was finding a salty taste as well.

Altogether a fine fine tobacco.

01/06/08 I was smoking a bowl of aged 2035 and re-reading my 2003 review and I wanted to add/correct a few things. First, I still enjoy 2035 very much. I am now smoking 2035 that has been aged more than 3 years (sealed in Mason jars with paraffin) and it only gets better and better. I find the more I smoke 2035 the more the taste grows on me. Or perhaps, the more the taste grows on me the more I smoke it. And when I think I only paid $100 for 5 lbs. it seems like quite a bargain, too. I can still find it for about $150 for 5 lbs. now, so it's still a good deal.

In my '03 review I refer to sweetness a lot, however now I taste more of a salty taste (in a good way). The flavors are pretty deep and rich with more bass than treble. And boy does it become smooth! Absolutely no hint of tongue bite, which is pretty remarkable for a McClelland Virginia! I often try to make it bite by pulling really hard for a few puffs. All I get is a burst of smooth, rich, and tasty flavor. Still, slow breath smoking is the way to go with 2035. Over the years I have altered the way I prepare 2015 for smoking. After aging anyway, there is no need for drying. The dark black flakes come out of the jar at a perfect packing and smoking humidity. I simply roll a ball and stuff it into my pipe as made popular by Buck on ASP. I will rub out a little tinder to layer the top. It does take a few matches to get it going, but it then burns extremely well and re-lights are a snap with a Zippo.

I changed my strength rating from "mild to medium" to "medium", and my taste rating from "medium" to "medium to full".

07/09/03 For the record, the sample I'm reviewing was aged in a Mason jar for one year. It's the end of about a half pound that I've been smoking for the last year. Of course, 2035 is a dark stoved Virginia that is sold in bulk form. Some say it's the same as Dark Star; I'm not sure.

I didn't need to rub this bowl out, because it's already broken due to the length of time it's been in the jar. It lit with one match and I tamped and re-lit. The flavor is sweet and mild; I'd call it a delicate sweetness. Sometimes it's so mild that I have a tendency to over-puff. The trick for me is to take long, slow draws. This way I don't burn my tongue and I can taste the subtle, sweet Virginias. Towards the middle of the bowl, the flavor increases. This is where 2035 really gets good. Mid-bowl, 2035 is one of the best tobaccos I've ever smoked. The sweetness builds through the bowl and finishes rich and tasty.

Along with 2010 and 2015, this is one of the great McClelland bulk tobaccos. The only downside to this blend is that it can be difficult to manage. It comes rather moist and needs to be dried a bit.