McClelland Navy Cavendish

Some of the reviewers find this a bland tasting tobacco, while others praise this one for its full and rich taste. I have had both experiences and think I can tell you why. Normally (with the other McClellands Virginias) I smoke more or less straight out of the tin. When the tobacco seems a bit moist I dry it for max half an hour. Doing so with NC I found it a nice but rather bland tobacco. Then I got on car holiday for a week, and found it uncomfortable to take the 100 gr McClellands tin with me . I put 50 gr in a empty smaller tin of another brand, Rum Flake (Gawith). I didn't finish this thin in the holiday week and forgot about this tin and its leftover content(20 gr approx.). After 2 months I discovered this almost empty tin again and decided to smoke the leftover, which had turned incredible dry (seems that the tobacco dries much faster in traditional tins than in the Mc tins, with plastic lid). I was rewarded by an incredible tasty full-flavored tobacco. So the trick is (and some other reviewers pointed this already also out): this tobacco should be consumed very very dry, just take it to the point that it is as hard as stone. Then sip very slowly, and you will be rewarded......

Rub it out very Well/Pack your pipe loosely,in layers/Light entire bowl;drawing quite hard...to get tobacco completely involved{tobacco is very densenot unlike"1792"}I find once I've taken a couple solid draws,I used my tamper + push the center(only) of the tobacco right down...I Relight entire bowl,and don't have to relight Med-Pipe,,just tamp from time to time/// HIGHLY RECOMMENDED---My Favorite MCClelland Tobacco---Hands Down! :+}}

It has been a while since I last smoked Navy Cavendish. Its tin aroma was fairly sweet-smelling with that ever-present McClelland vinegar smell. I remember having difficulty with packing (I was new to flake tobacco at the time) and with lighting/re-lighting issues. I happened to enjoy the Virginia/Rum topping taste very much. I'm sure I'll try it again in the future as it was a pleasurable smoke once I got the hang of it, and all of the reviews have resulted in a re-kindled interest with this blend. I must have smoked 4 or 5 tins of this over the years, the last being in the early to mid 90's. Taking all of this into account, I can comfortably give Navy Cavendish 3 stars.

UPDATE 2-19-11: I was in JR Cigar today and spotted McClelland Navy Cavendish and decided to revisit as I haven't smoked it since the early to mid 90's. This time, not a broken flake as I remember it, but individual flakes - about the size of Erinmore. This is even better than I remember it. The vinegar smell in the tin did not in any way translate into the smoke. The rum was present in the taste, albeit subtle. It was a very tasty, spicy smoke. Not hot at all. A very good Virginia presence and slightly sweet without being over the top. No hay-like taste at all. I am very happy I purchased a tin. 4 stars.

I love this stuff! Its a magnificent blend in big golden flakes! Upon opening the tin its quite pungent! I get the ketchup-sour sweetness with a bit of alcohol in the back. I ground some up and was letting it sit to dry a bit. I however was impatient and lit up a bowl right away. It lit and burned fine! Right to the bottom of the bowl. It is a warm full smoke that got thicker, more aromatic and tasty with every puff! Its a natural sweet tasty puff with the slightest whif of rum (could be my imagination) at the finish.

If you dont already have one get an herb grinder. Any headshop, and some tobacco shops online carry them. Get the LARGE!

A traditional navy cav that delivers all it promises. Dark golden flakes here rub out easily, but like I've said in my other reviews of tinned tobaccos, a bit of drying goes a long way. I don't have much to add here, as this is my first navy cavendish.

A fine blend that I let age for @ 2yrs,it got stuck in a drawer that I cleaned out.

The flake needed to be rubbed out some but packed well in a mediuum size bowl.The smoke was dry with hardly any moisture build up.Sweetness wafted in and out of the entire bowl with a subtle spicieness that lingered in the background.The flake mostly consists of browns with a few lighter leaves..

Like most virginias a few relights were needed but this is a minor setback when enjoying such a fine smoke.

This (along with C&D Blockade Runner which I haven't tried) is one of the only US-available traditional Navy Cavendish. The tobacco is good quality and the dark rum sweetness comes through quite strongly.

While I don't smoke this regularly, I do keep some around and enjoy it particularly in the winter, when, as in beer, I prefer stronger flavors than I do in the summer.

A new favorite.

I have tried this in a large Cavicchi billiard, a small Savinelli bulldog, and a medium Parker pot, and it seems as though larger bowls do better.

I have only one comment to make. This delicious tobacco develops a marked nutmeg note after about the one-third point. Delectable and unexpected.

This stuff smells great while you're rubbing it out. It has a spicy flavor, and mildly sweet. Yes the rum is there, but not in a leading spot, and not in a thick casing sort of way either.

It needs some good long drying out. Rub it out, and let it dry to being crispy. Give it a couple of deep draw charing lights.

I think I prefer this to Dark Star, but still prefer #25 to NC. Guess I like just a big more sweetness and tang to my virginia's.