McClelland No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake

(3.06)
This is unique in that it begins as a very light blend of fine Eastern Belt lemon leaf and cutter grade tobaccos which are transformed through pressure, aging and light stoving into beautiful dark pungent cake.

Details

Brand McClelland
Blended By McClelland Tobacco Company
Manufactured By McClelland Tobacco Company
Blend Type Straight Virginia
Contents Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Flake
Packaging Bulk
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.06 / 4
26

42

17

2

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 42 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 22, 2012 Mild to Medium Extremely Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
A stoved virginia that hasn't been dried out is going to tend towards being a pain to keep lit. Dark Star, Black Virginia, Dark Fragrant, etc... all those cause issues unless they're fully dried. The more matches you use, the more the inherent subtle flavors become dulled and turn harsh. So the secret is in drying this out prior to loading. I tried and tried with Dark Star but could scarcely seem to get it right... but when it was right, it was excellent. However, my battle with Dark Star kept me from trying this one for a few years.

On a pipe forum, I was told to microwave this for 10 seconds. Good advice. Being me, I experimented with cook times and 10 seconds was perfect. It dried out the blend but didn't sweat out the flavor. From that point, I got nothing but a nice, spicy, mildly sweet and complex blend with highly nuanced flavors, similar to what I get from Royal Cajun Ebony. Not much nicotine here, either. I can't compare this to Dark Star since it's been so long since I smoked it but I have heard that this is DS without the additional aging. But I ordered some more of both of these for further experimentation. At any rate, if you dry this out, rub it out fully and take your time with it, allowing it to smolder but not burn, you'll be rewarded with a mixture of spicy and sweet and sort of a creamed coffee taste. Very nice! Not a world beater but definitely worth a shot if you prepare it properly.
26 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 10, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I am smoking through an ounce of this I was gifted. It requires some dry time, and I have had best luck cubing it. It burns pretty well this way, and i did not find it took many relights once you get it going. The broken flake in my baggie almost had an oily look. I have been smoking it in a GBD pot, and this pipe has worked well for it.

The flavor is a heavy fruit, and I think the stoving intensifies these flavors. There is an unexpected slight spice in the profile and some citrus notes. The flavor became more full and a slightly earthy mellow toward the end of the bowl. It was an easy, smooth smoke once you prep it.

This has been a good blend and very enjoyable. It is easy to recommend.

15 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 22, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
The Virginias sport a citrusy, tangy dark fruitiness with a fermented sweetness, though I would not say this is overly sweet. There a light grassiness to back up some earth along with some spice. The “vinegar” note is mild and quickly disappears. Needs a bit of dry time as this broken flake seems to hold quite a bit of moisture. I got better results when I cube cut the tobacco and drop the bits in the bowl, loosely packing it. Burns slow, requires lots of relights, but the flavors hold to the finish with no dull or harsh spots. Has a mild to medium nic-hit, and won’t bite. Leaves moisture in the bowl, and you’ll likely have to stir up the last quarter a little to burn it all up. Has a very pleasant after taste and the room note is nice. Can be an all day smoke.

-JimInks
15 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 25, 2014 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
DNF is a pressed and lightly stoved VA flake similar to Dark Star. The tobacco is of good grade VA, and the process has rendered a smoking experience that is unique in some aspects to smoking other VA flakes. The pressure and stoving allows the flake to impart a greater level of sweetness that is quite mild in the delivery, with little tongue discomfort. There is a natural and somewhat citrus flavor combined with a vanilla essence that is achieved without additives, and it is quite detectable on the palate as well as in the aroma. The flavor is wonderful.

The drawback may be the need for relights, and additional puffing which can result in slight discomfort to the mouth if such is not checked with patience and good smoking practice. I have smoked this as a folded flake, and completely rubbed out and it still remains a challenge to keep lit. I have aged it for over 3 years, set out overnight to dry, and still the flake remains a challenge to smoke without several relights. However, the patience and extra time it takes to smoke this flake is worth the trouble, in my opinion as there are some unique and very pleasant aspects to the flavor it imparts.

As one post already mentioned, it is not an all day smoke, but one that can be enjoyed while relaxing and while reveling in the handling of your pipe and tobacco. It is not a strong smoke, so those looking for a milder experience should find that it suits them. For those who enjoy sweet flavor but abhor the cloying sweetness that comes from aromatics, this flake will certainly make you smile. It loses one star for the difficulty in keeping an even burn, but the flavor is 4 stars all the way.
Pipe Used: Castello
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: new and also again in 3 years
12 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 10, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I don't smoke a lot of straight Virginias, but I try them every once and a while hoping I'll find one that knocks my socks off. This one comes close. I took the advice here and rubbed this out and let it dry for about 9 hours. It was just about crispy. Loaded up and lit it and was hit with a wine-like note. That didn't last though. It quickly became a nice spicy, fruity flavor that I found very pleasant. It pretty much stays that way throughout the bowl. I found this to be a satisfying and tasty smoke. No harshness, no bite, and it burns cool. Been a while since I smoked FVF, but I think this has more flavor. Not quite 4 stars for me, but better than 3. I'll give it 3.5.

Mild to medium in body. Medium in flavor. Burns well when dry. I'm gonna stash some of this.
Pipe Used: MM Country Gentleman, MM Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: fresh bulk
11 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 24, 2006 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
At this year's Kansas City Pipe Show, I was told by the lady selling tobacco at the McClelland's table that 2035 Navy Flake is not stoved nearly as long as Dark Star, and that is why most people find it to be fuller in strength and not quite as sweet in taste. I concur.

I like to rub out my flakes and, like Dark Star, this one requires work. Also like Dark Star, this one burns poorly and needs constant relighting, even when dried out a bit.

It is an enjoyable flake when lit and seemed to be at its best when consumed in a smaller pipe.
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 21, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I was lucky enough to get a good size sample of this from a forum friend. Immediately in appearance, this blend screams "compare me to dark star" as it is similar in both appearance and scent. From what reviewer DK has written, it is the same as dark star with just less age. This would make sense to me as I found dark star to be much sweeter than DNF.

The blend is also similar in that it is a bit of a pain to get lit and the flakes are not easily rubbed out. These are problems I also experienced with dark star. I have had a few different blends that are similar to this, dark stoved Virginias. The one thing they all have in common is additional sweetness that tastes like a dried fruit of some sort with perhaps a little molasses tang to them as well. I personally think they make a good change of pace smoke rather than all day type smokes.

So when I smoke one of these I want a lot of that sweetness. Dark star does this, 1776 Old dominion does this, royal Cajun ebony does too. This one is also sweet, but not quite sweet enough to fully satisfy those sweet tooth cravings. This is why I felt the blend to be between two and three stars, so I decided to see what I gave Dark Star and it was four stars. As this is similar, but not as good to my tastes I will give this three stars.
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 22, 2014 Medium Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I was very excited to finally try this one. The flakes are very dark, oily, moist and smell of liquorice and sour vinegary notes. You get the slightest hint of sweet virginias and some spices, but the aroma is just dominated by the pungent sourness. I absolutely love it. I smoked this rubbed down in my Savinelli Hercules 803 EX Canadian. On the charring light, it was very sweet on the tongue as well as very mild, without much of a lingering after-taste. Though, after a bit of smoking that liquorice taste crept into the finish, and a slight spiciness/fruitiness came into the draw. About half way down the bowl the tobacco became a tad more stout and rounded, leaving the brighter flavour profile behind, but remaining mellow and smooth to the end. The burn was a little temperamental throughout, needing quite a few relights (especially near the end), but as stated earlier, it was very moist. Overall, This is not at all what I was expecting going into this tobacco judging by the aroma and appearance! But a nice, mellow, and mild smoke nonetheless. I would recommend you give this one a try!
Pipe Used: Savinelli Hercules 803 EX
Age When Smoked: Fresh
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 17, 2014 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
This is somewhat underrated. To the new smoker it might appear off putting due to its hard black flakes and chunks. The nose is smokey with minute sweet notes. After several manners of smoking, I found that hand rubbing, leaving open over night then gravity feeding to be the most effective means. Feed, char, tamp and light gives me a single light smoke. The mellowness and cool smoke are thoroughly enjoyable. The mild smokiness is a delight. No tongue bite. I love this flake. The only shortcoming is the hardness of the flakes. It makes it a chore to hand rub evenly. But I'll put up with hard rubbing when the end product is a delightful mellow smoke.
Pipe Used: Peterson's, MM cobs et al
PurchasedFrom: Jades smokers corner
Age When Smoked: New bulk
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 31, 2011 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
After having a shall we say, interesting, experience with a tin of Dark Star, I decided to grab a quarter pound of 2035 for comparison. Similar, very similar. DS has the edge in sweetness and spice, but 2035 is cheaper, and doesn't have copious amounts of vinegar to its nose. I gave Dark Star three stars here already, mainly due to the difficulty I had in figuring it out. Four ounces later with Dark Navy Flake and I'm still learning the best way to prepare and enjoy these damnable flakes. Normally my ADD personality would chalk these up as a waste of time, but when either one is 'on', boy howdy, they are a delight! I'm of a mind that with more experience, DS and DNF will both become familiar friends of mine. At last I hope so.

Three stars...hopefully with a fourth to be added soon.
5 people found this review helpful.
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