McClelland Navy Cavendish
(3.07)
With this tobacco, we reintroduce the smoker to the traditional navy cavendish, pressed in cake and aged naturally with dark Jamaican rum to achieve its rich depth of flavor, color and aroma.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Matured Virginias |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | Rum |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.07 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 74 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2011 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Wasn't sure whether I believed this was a cavendish; not what I usually think of when I hear that term, but a more experienced pipe smoker has assured me that one could call this cavendish by strict definition (along with a lot of other blends we normally think of as matured or stoved Virginias). I like it. It reminds me of the others in the Matured Virginia series, and that is not at all a bad thing! My tin is from 2006. It is nicely aged at this point, and I can hardly taste the rum. It just adds to the matured mellowness. There may be a certain astringency here (but no bite) beyond what one finds in even the typical McClelland Matured Virginia, but it is not as overwhelming as something like Black Parrot (Ashton). The attractive flakes are more complete than the usual broken flake one finds with this brand, but they are not perfect flakes. Who cares? I break up all my flakes! All in all, any lover of Virginia Flake (especially the American classics produced by McClelland) will be happy to have this fine offering in their cellar. I find this makes a great blend 1:1 with SG FVF.
11-7-2022 It's been a while since I smoked this, and I sure do wish I had some more, and even though I don't have another bowl to smoke, and it's highly unlikely that I will ever see it again, I'm upgrading to four stars. Not sure why I gave it three in the first place, and at this point, would give McClelland's worst blend four stars just out of respect.
11-7-2022 It's been a while since I smoked this, and I sure do wish I had some more, and even though I don't have another bowl to smoke, and it's highly unlikely that I will ever see it again, I'm upgrading to four stars. Not sure why I gave it three in the first place, and at this point, would give McClelland's worst blend four stars just out of respect.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 03, 2018 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
I snagged a 13 year old tin of this tobacco, and boy does it sing! Thirteen years of aging has ripened the Virginias to a mellow sweetness. The rum plays a nice background role, enhancing ing the flavor even more, although I would not classify this as an aromatic. A light smoke, gentle nic hit, and a pleasing room note.
Pipe Used:
Becker bent billiard
Age When Smoked:
13 Years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2016 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
I'm surprised there are as many not enthusiastic reviews to this. Perhaps its the expectation that comes with the name. This is just one of the best blends in the world, I believe. Its very old school, and while not overly complex, I dont think its meant to be. It is a virginia cavendish flake marinated in rum. The rum note is there but its in the background. Though without it, this would be another very good virginia flake. Or rather, its not quite that. Its a cavendishized (sic) Virginia flake. Whatever you want to call it, the taste is terrific. Its not overpowering at all, but its rich and creamy. In some ways its a milder version of Pease's Navigator. In some ways. But this is the purest version of navigator. One can get very addicted to this blend. I say that from experience. For me its an everyday smoke that I smoke once a day nearly every day. The nic hit is below medium, but barely. Its creamy and rich in taste and consistent start to finish. Dry it out for fifteen minutes though and rub it out a bit. I think more experienced pipesters will be the ones that most appreciate this. A classic.
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 25, 2016 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
There's something in Navy Cavendish to confuse every possible pipe smoker ... It's a flake that says Navy but it's not like anyone else's Navy Flake, it's a Cavendish but many smokers haven't even had a VA Cavendish, much less something trying to recreate an old-style Cav, it's got rum but really doesn't make for an aromatic. I can only imagine how many missed expectations have come out of this little can.
The smoke itself is pretty good, although if McClelland wanted to be historically accurate they'd have twisted the leaf after hitting it with rum, and wrapped it in hemp rope to press. As is, it's a standard McC flake, well built and easy to work with. The rum is on the light side, leaving a plenty sweet smoke but without the kind of flavor an aro smoker might be looking for.
My main criticism of the blend is that it should have been steamed and pressed longer to take more of the bitey edge off of it and to smooth out the harshness. The flavor gets pretty blunt by mid-bowl in a way that I don't usually associate with Cavendish, although it's got some of the throat hit and flavor punch that C&D's Red Virginia Cavendish blending tobacco does.
It's an interesting experiment, but it just doesn't quite get there for me.
The smoke itself is pretty good, although if McClelland wanted to be historically accurate they'd have twisted the leaf after hitting it with rum, and wrapped it in hemp rope to press. As is, it's a standard McC flake, well built and easy to work with. The rum is on the light side, leaving a plenty sweet smoke but without the kind of flavor an aro smoker might be looking for.
My main criticism of the blend is that it should have been steamed and pressed longer to take more of the bitey edge off of it and to smooth out the harshness. The flavor gets pretty blunt by mid-bowl in a way that I don't usually associate with Cavendish, although it's got some of the throat hit and flavor punch that C&D's Red Virginia Cavendish blending tobacco does.
It's an interesting experiment, but it just doesn't quite get there for me.
Pipe Used:
basket pipe
Age When Smoked:
newborn
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 04, 2015 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
McClelland Navy Cavendish is a fine, delicate specimen of it’s kind. It is not Black Cavendish, but rather traditional Navy stile of rich, brown color. The tin doesn’t indicate the Jamaica rum as strong as expected. Mature, high quality VAs dominate presented in a broken flake.
Upon first light, there is a very nice and subtle malty, slightly creamy note together with full but smooth tobacco flavor at medium strength. More constant than complex this is a reliable companion any time of the day.
Upon first light, there is a very nice and subtle malty, slightly creamy note together with full but smooth tobacco flavor at medium strength. More constant than complex this is a reliable companion any time of the day.
Pipe Used:
Several briars with and without filter
Age When Smoked:
fresh to 2yrs
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 09, 2006 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I basically agree with The Keeper below... this is what Captain Black and the other Vanilla/Black Cavendish mixes are trying to imitate. That said, this product bears absolutely no resemblance to the drugstore aromatics.
I would have called this a broken flake rather than a ribbon, but maybe I'm out to lunch on that.
This tobacco needs a bit of a rub, but not much. Moisture content wasn't bad, and unlike some McClelland's, this stuff actually will dry out.
Inoffensive in the pipe, there's a nice dose of vanilla, rum, and the carrying Va tobaccos. Not as sweet as a black cavendish by any means, but the balance of flavours is really good. It's not real heavy, and a guy could smoke this all day without trouble, I think.
I wasn't terribly impressed with this tobacco until I tried it in a really good pipe- I don't know if it was the size, or the quality, or whatever, but right at the end of the tin I had one fantastic smoke with this tobacco, and finally understood it.
I would have called this a broken flake rather than a ribbon, but maybe I'm out to lunch on that.
This tobacco needs a bit of a rub, but not much. Moisture content wasn't bad, and unlike some McClelland's, this stuff actually will dry out.
Inoffensive in the pipe, there's a nice dose of vanilla, rum, and the carrying Va tobaccos. Not as sweet as a black cavendish by any means, but the balance of flavours is really good. It's not real heavy, and a guy could smoke this all day without trouble, I think.
I wasn't terribly impressed with this tobacco until I tried it in a really good pipe- I don't know if it was the size, or the quality, or whatever, but right at the end of the tin I had one fantastic smoke with this tobacco, and finally understood it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16, 2020 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The Virginia varietals seems to consist mostly of red leaf that was stoved or processed in a similar method. They offer a nice earthiness and slight fruit undertone. The casing melds well with the tobacco and the smoke is mellow. This flake does nip at the tongue a bit more than usual but not enough to hinder another bowl.
*This review is based on a small sample and limited life experience.
*This review is based on a small sample and limited life experience.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2020 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
Many, many years ago I bought some different McClelland tins and without purpose they wound up aging between ten to 20 years old. I never had a huge collection but I have maybe 6 unopened tins left. I decided to open this tin dated 290300 at our Sunday meeting. Twenty years this has sat on my shelf. I let a fellow friend of mine have the honors. It still had the McClelland Vinegar smell and was still slightly moist in the tin consisting of beautiful dark brown flakes. This smokes good with what I believe to be a light rum topping but this has a taste that I just can’t put my finger on, maybe it is the Cavendish, can’t really say. I also read in a review, which I cannot find now that this probably would reach its peak at around 10 years. Due to the age I had really blown my expectations out of proportion but in honesty it is good but not 20 years good. Who knows, I am going to let it sit in the can and try some more after it breathes. Guess I am lucky to have lived twenty years to try it but really don’t think the age made much difference on this blend. Of course, I will never know as I cannot buy a new one to compare. Glad to have tried it, even more glad to have shared it.
PurchasedFrom:
JR
Age When Smoked:
20 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 08, 2015 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
This is my favorite rum flake. Seems to be just rum added to a wonderful red and orange virginia flake. The rum gives the Vas another dimension of sweetness and depth. People say to smoke on the dry side. I don't like dry tobacco so I smoke fairly moist like normal. This works well for me with a little bite at the beginning if you're not careful. It's a great tobacco though.
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 08, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Take this review with a grain of salt because a friend gave me an 8 year old tin that was pretty dried out. I rehydrated it and this is where my impressions are coming from.
Very dark tobaccos that is easy to rub out.
There are some nice tangy and sweet lemon like flavors here but the rum gets in the way too much for my preferences. They're very different tobaccos, but it kind of reminded me of GL Pease's Barbary Coast and the alcohol used to top that blend. I got a lot of dottle left over in the bowl and it smoked a little wet.
If you want some rum flavor with your VAs this is a good option. I personally would just prefer the matured VA without the rum and maybe a splash of burley for variation. If you're looking for a zesty dark VA with no impinging toppings, I would look into the McClelland 2035, Dark Star or Butera's Dark Stoved.
High quality tobacco that is just not for me here.
Very dark tobaccos that is easy to rub out.
There are some nice tangy and sweet lemon like flavors here but the rum gets in the way too much for my preferences. They're very different tobaccos, but it kind of reminded me of GL Pease's Barbary Coast and the alcohol used to top that blend. I got a lot of dottle left over in the bowl and it smoked a little wet.
If you want some rum flavor with your VAs this is a good option. I personally would just prefer the matured VA without the rum and maybe a splash of burley for variation. If you're looking for a zesty dark VA with no impinging toppings, I would look into the McClelland 2035, Dark Star or Butera's Dark Stoved.
High quality tobacco that is just not for me here.
Age When Smoked:
8 years
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