Tobaccos Mac Baren - Capstan Original Navy Cut

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3025)	2014-09-26		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Recently, I have had the good fortune to smoke 1938 and 1940 Capstan Blue. Here are my thoughts on them and the MacBaren version, starting with the 1938.

1938 Version: I’ve smoked three bowls and have enough left for one more. I think similar tobacco varietals are used in today's production. Dark Virginias usually have a dried dark fruit note or two, depending on the processing, and CB is no exception. The 1938 version obviously had time to age, and the further fermentation of the earthy, woody Virginias caused the stewed fruit flavor to be more prominent and sweeter than when it is fresh. I thought it was slightly more sugary, floral and bready, too, which was also caused by the aging process. New CB has a couple of rough edges (not to the extent of FVF or similar Va.s), and they were smoothed out over time in the 1938. I thought the nicotine level was lightly higher in the 1938, too.

This 1940 Capstan almost tastes like a cross between the 1930s version and the current version. The Virginia has a few grass notes (a shade less than the '30s Capstan), but is more earthy, floral and woody than the new version, which I attribute either to the tobacco varietal or age or both. The dark fruit and citrus notes area little more pronounced than the '30s version and very close, but slightly deeper than the new version, though a shade less sweeter than the new manufacture. It has the taste of fermented sweet matured Virginia. I'd say this is slightly tangier than the others, and has a minute spice tingle not found in the others, too. This is just a little muddier in flavor than the other two as well as a little more nicotine. There was a very, very slight hint of cigarette near the finish of the 1930s version which I do not experience here or in the MacBaren version. The flavor holds to the finish. Frankly, I like this a little better than the '30s version - not by much, though - and I think it has a little more interesting character and is a little more complex than the new version.

Current MacBaren Version: This is a little stronger, less sweet, and less cased than its brother in the gold tin. Slight citrus, fig, and a little grass/hay and a more earthy, woody, breadiness with a nice mild to medium tangy dark fruit Virginia flavor. Also is slightly sugary with a light floral quality. Not a very complex blend, though there are a couple of different Virginias in the mix. The strength is a step below the medium mark, and the taste level is medium. The nic-hit is a step past the center of mild to medium. Won't bite or get harsh, and barely has any rough edges. A rather uncomplicated blend that burns cool, clean and smooth with a very consistent flavor at a slow pace. Requires a few relights. Leaves very little moisture in the bowl. Has a very pleasant, short lived after taste and room note. A very comfortable all day smoke to pack and light with enough nicotine to get your attention without overwhelming your senses.

-JimInks

98 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CoolPilot (69)	2014-02-16		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

An excellent virginia flake at a very reasonable price, at least here in italy. Equivalent to FVF, this tobacco is ready to be smoked, not too wet and not too dry. Always perfectly ready: and this is something Samuel Gawith will hardly learn. Flake come in thin slices, so rubbing them is a matter of a second.

I dont know why this is so underrated, and FVF get all those stars, but so much better for the price of the tin..

Pipe Used: lubinsky

Similar Blends: Full Virginia Flake.

41 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3025)	2013-10-08		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Recently, I have had the good fortune to smoke 1938 and 1940 Capstan Blue. Here are my thoughts on them and the MacBaren version, starting with the 1938.

1938 Version: I’ve smoked three bowls and have enough left for one more. I think similar tobacco varietals are used in today's production. Dark Virginias usually have a dried dark fruit note or two, depending on the processing, and CB is no exception. The 1938 version obviously had time to age, and the further fermentation of the earthy, woody Virginias caused the stewed fruit flavor to be more prominent and sweeter than when it is fresh. I thought it was slightly more sugary, floral and bready, too, which was also caused by the aging process. New CB has a couple of rough edges (not to the extent of FVF or similar Va.s), and they were smoothed out over time in the 1938. I thought the nicotine level was lightly higher in the 1938, too.

This 1940 Capstan almost tastes like a cross between the 1930s version and the current version. The Virginia has a few grass notes (a shade less than the '30s Capstan), but is more earthy, floral and woody than the new version, which I attribute either to the tobacco varietal or age or both. The dark fruit and citrus notes area little more pronounced than the '30s version and very close, but slightly deeper than the new version, though a shade less sweeter than the new manufacture. It has the taste of fermented sweet matured Virginia. I'd say this is slightly tangier than the others, and has a minute spice tingle not found in the others, too. This is just a little muddier in flavor than the other two as well as a little more nicotine. There was a very, very slight hint of cigarette near the finish of the 1930s version which I do not experience here or in the MacBaren version. The flavor holds to the finish. Frankly, I like this a little better than the '30s version - not by much, though - and I think it has a little more interesting character and is a little more complex than the new version.

Current MacBaren Version: This is a little stronger, less sweet, and less cased than its brother in the gold tin. Slight citrus, fig, and a little grass/hay and a more earthy, woody, breadiness with a nice mild to medium tangy dark fruit Virginia flavor. Also is slightly sugary with a light floral quality. Not a very complex blend, though there are a couple of different Virginias in the mix.The strength is a step below the medium mark, and the taste level is medium. The nic-hit is a step past the center of mild to medium. Won't bite or get harsh, and barely has any rough edges. A rather uncomplicated blend that burns cool, clean and smooth with a very consistent flavor at a slow pace. Requires a few relights. Leaves very little moisture in the bowl. Has a very pleasant, short lived after taste and room note. A very comfortable all day smoke to pack and light with enough nicotine to get your attention without overwhelming your senses.

-JimInks

37 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2014-07-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Capstan has quickly become my favorite morning smoke and is giving Samuel Gawith a run for their money as my favorite Virginia flakes.

The flavor and aroma remind me of freshly baked bread, or toast. A little honey sweetness, especially on relights. No fireworks, just excellent plain tobacco flavor.

My mornings tend to be busy so it's not often that I can devote the time to completely finish a pipe. I'll smoke for a few minutes, let it go out, and come back to it several times throughout the morning. A bowl might easily last me until just before lunch time. Capstan is very tolerant of this smoking pattern. Each relight brings renewed sweetness and flavor. Doesn't get bitter or nasty the way some other tobaccos do when you set them down for a while. If anything, it gets better.

I also appreciate that Capstan is not a palate wrecker. I can smoke it all morning and still be game to smoke anything in the afternoon and evening, whether I decide to stick with straight Virginias all day, or switch to Virginia-Perique, or something with some Oriental/Turkish, or whatever.

Burns easily and stays lit with slow, gentle puffing. Works best for me rolled up, rather than folded and stuffed. It comes apart a little when rolling but I try to keep it together in a roughly cylindrical shape as much as possible and stuff it into one of my preferred flake pipes, either a little Group 2 Parker billiard or an Ashton XX canadian. I do this last thing before bed the night before and it's dried out to perfection for smoking the next morning. I suppose you could also rub it out, but that sort of defeats the whole point of a flake.

I love this tobacco and will be cellaring as much of it as I can afford. Some days it's seriously the most pleasant thing in my earthly existence and I don't ever want to run out of it. It's a little more expensive than some other Virginia flakes but in my opinion completely worth it.

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Best Brown Flake.

35 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2002-11-19		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I have just completed my adventure with a 20-plus year old tin of Capstan Medium and found it to be a delightful experience. This is an old classic, and while nostalga probably played a part in my determination to like this flake, the leaf itself also had a lot to do with it.

Capstan Medium had a pleasant enough smell in the tin, but certainly nothing unusual. My nostrils detected a slight essence of hay and fermented fruit. The strips were moist but not overly so. I did rub out fully for an easy pack job in one of my smaller Mark Tinskey Billiards.

The flavor was bold, my Virginia Bite-O-Meter barely registered, and the pipe kept the weed at a wonderfully even burn throughout each smoke.

Is this one of those rare "I've gotta celler some tins" type blend? You bet, and I was certainly pleased to meet Capstan Medium's acquaintance!

29 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-09-26		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

New version by Mac Barens. Beautiful light brown thin flakes in the tin, perfect for folding. A nice clean tin aroma with the usual virginia hay and grass and an underlying spicy fruitiness. But not over the top on any one aroma.

In the pipe, this reminds me of a mix of Mac Barens Virginia Flake and Dunhill Light Flake. It has the formers middle-of-the road hay flavor but not its lack of pizzaz. It has the latters hint of sour fruit and spiciness but not its bold flavor. This would then be a solid if unremarkable virginia flake that smokes very cleanly and easily, and with a very moderate amount of complexity. No overabundance of nicotine and it stays lit very well. It shows some potential greatness at times and this would be a good one for me to cellar and smoke again with some serious age on it. Something tells me a 5 year old tin of this would hit 4 stars solidly. I never consciously wanted for anything when smoking this - never wished it were this or that. It was just a nice comforting smoke that completely took my mind off the fact that I was puffing. A nice "set it and forget it" tobacco, but with the promise of something great down the road.

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cargohold (14)	2014-12-04		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Back in about the 1970's and early 80's the all time favorite Virginia flake in the pipe shops where I worked in Portland, Oregon was Dunhill Light Flake. However when Dunhill farmed their tobaccos out to Murrays the natural flavor of that tobacco was overwhelmed with a topping which made it smokable but not nearly as good as the original. Many of us went at that time to Capstan Navy Cut which was actually more like the original Dunhill Light Flake than Murray's version of the Dunhill product. When Macbaren reintroduced the product last year I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that their version was very very similar to the Capstan of old produced by W.D. and H.O. Wills. It is now my "go to" flake although I find it occasionally interesting to mix it half and half with Capstan Gold Flake for a little more sweetness. I must disagree with the reviewer that claimed that Capstan's charm lies only in its heritage. Take it from an old timer, this is what great Virginia flakes tasted like back in the day!

Pipe Used: small bowls, Dunhill,Sasieni, Comoy, GBD

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: cargohold at Poulsbo, Washington

Similar Blends: The original Dunhill Light flake..

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tantric (321)	2005-03-22		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I had never before tried anything with the legendary Capstan name on it, so I cannot comment on the original virtues of this blend. Hunting for some decent tobaccos whilst on a short trip to Spain (or, to be more accurate, to that Arabic enclave in Southern Europe also known as Andalusia), I spotted these small rectangular tins, a la Dunhill's Light Flake, with the Capstan name clearly inscribed on them. There was a light blue tin, with the inscription Original Navy Cut under the name, and there was a mustard-yellow version, with the Capstan name in red and the inscription Gold Navy Cut underneath. Eager to try some natural tobacco taste (according to the very cute Spanish señorita behind the counter, both tobaccos were of the English type, meaning by that they had no artificial aromatic agents), I bought both.

These are my impressions on the blue tin, or the Original Navy Cut. I kind of expected a Gawith or John Sinclair type of flake, with that soapy and rather sweet Virginia aroma English tobaccos sometimes have. This expectation augmented when I read a very small print on the side of the tin stating: ?made in Denmark under license of Imperial Tobacco Limited, England?. I was wrong. The tin aroma was closer to Orlik's Golden Sliced or Stokkebye's De Luxe Navy Cut. The texture of the flake inside was also rather similar: light and dark brown intermingled in neatly pressed, pliable rectangles. The more I smelled the contents the more it reminded me not of molasses or dried raisins, but of freshly mowed hay, with an agreeable grassy note, quite inviting and fresh. Packing in the flakes was a very simple process. They are easily rubbed up, but they can also be packed in as they are. It looked promising! I lit the pipe, and yes, a wonderful, natural Virginia flavour ensued, ever so smooth, buttery and mild, with a toasty undertone, which I very much appreciate.

As I progressed through the bowl, I was happily surprised by both, the smoothness and at the same time the consistency of flavour of this blend. It is a very mild Virginia, but somehow it also very tasty and rich, in that Danish sort of way. I thought to my self, either Capstan used to taste like Orlik or this is just another excellent mild Danish type of flake under an English name. Then it hit me: this is very similar not to Orlik, but to Fribourg & Treyer's Virginias (be it Cut Virginia Plug or Cut Blended Plug).

In any case, this is a very gratifying, reliable mild smoke, excellent as a change of pace after a couple of weeks of smoking alternatively Dunhill's Standard Mixture Medium (a tobacco which, by the way, I have come to appreciate much more in recent times) and some of Mac Baren's aromatic mixtures. As a final note, I can only say that this a very nice Virginia, well pressed, with a very refined taste and excellent burning characteristics. It may not be that original, but it certainly is a good choice when looking for a subdued smoke, that does not seem to bother anyone and that packs enough flavour to make it memorable (03/05).

15 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Doctor Max (29)	2017-03-12		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

There are tobaccos, and then there are _tobaccos_. I'll cut straight to the point: this is an exceptional tobacco. Already the 50s styled and coloured tin somehow gives off an air that something special is awaiting you. Tin notes are beautifully rich, with notes of honey, grass, hay, figs and raisins. The flakes are clearly of exceptional quality: dense, regular, cleanly cut and carefully packaged in two neat stacks. For me, Capstan Blue works best with the fold, stuff, twist method. It allows the sweetness and complexity to come out better, undoubtedly due to the somewhat cooler smoke with this method. It can be a little bit tricky to get going, but once started, burns evenly to the heel. On first light, I was immediately transported to pipe smoking bliss. How can tobacco taste this good? Light at first, then develops a honey sweetness with an ever so slight balsamic vinegar tang, without any harshness or ashiness whatsoever. Extremely expansive and persistent flavour, not unlike a good Sauternes. Room note is light and elegant, sweet and without harshness, with notes of cedar, orange peel, cloves and allspice. One of those that could probably be passed off as incense. I've been looking for a pure VA I like (in theory it should be my preference) without success; but here I found the holy grail. This has got to be one of the best tobaccos I've ever smoked, all categories.

Pipe Used: Corn cob, Olive billiard

Age When Smoked: 0-6 months

Purchased From: Tobacconist in Spain

Similar Blends: Mac Baren - Virginia Flake, Dunhill - Royal Yacht, Mac Baren - Three Nuns, Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia Flake, Dunhill - Flake.

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2076)	2016-03-25		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Capstan - Original Navy Cut.

I've had this in my cellar for about a year now, I've just never gotten around to opening it up. I'm glad I popped the lid today though; it's been well worth the wait!

When I removed the lid I was met by two rows of wide, medium brown, highly mottled flakes. I took a sniff to try and identify the other/misc flavouring but I couldn't smell a thing; obviously I could smell the tobacco but no enhancements of any sort seemed to be present. As the moisture's good I rub and fill right away; because the tin's air sealed I assume the year I've cellared it hasn't ameliorated the moistness of the blend any.

The second I took my first sip from my Erik Nording I could understand why this has been around for so long; it's a brilliantly simple smoke. Just like the tins aroma, I can't pick out anything extra that's embellished the taste. The flavour I can identify is a lively and zealous Virginia one. It's almost the archetypal flavour of a lesser matured Virginia actually; there's a lot of lemons/citrus and grass/hay to the smoke; it's so lively it would be a great smoke for the outdoors on a nice hot day!

I don't find the nicotine to be at all strong; it maybe becomes medium at a huge push but for me it's pretty mild for most of a bowl.

The rest of this review consists of positives: it burns great, doesn't bite, has a good note and leaves me wanting more!

Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Erik Nording

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: The Danish Pipe Shop

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stefanos (222)	2018-08-09		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Capstan is a classic. Definitely a five star tobacco. Luxurious packaging within an elegant tin with flakes neatly stacked in two rows. The flakes are soft and pliable and can be rubbed easily in the palms of two hands. They can also be torn and folded for a slower smoke. Each flake can fill a big bowl. Moisture is just a bit higher than optimum.

The tobacco from the tin has a beautiful sweet aroma of stewed fruit like fig and a touch of vanilla together with hay notes from the tobacco itself. No trouble to get it lit. Burns impeccably, evenly, cool and to the end with no harshness at any point and has an extremely easy draw.Instantly, it produces a smooth and flavorful smoke with a creamy texture. Mature, dark, bready, oaty, figgy and honeyed Virginias intermingle with a faint but detectable touch of something like molasses and vanilla. While I mentioned quite a few aromas, it’s not complexity that is the greatest asset of Capstan, rather its uniform – does not evolve much throughout the bowl - and characteristic taste, one that is instantly recognizable and its creamy and soft mouthfeel. If I had to describe it in two words only, they would be sweet and figgy.

Capstan is an excellent product from packaging, to leaf, to casing which though only mild plays a significant role in the taste of this tobacco. Strength is medium and room note sweet and tobaccoey, quite pleasant …for smokers at least.

Overall, it’s a very easy smoke, recommended for experienced smokers and I think it is a great introduction for newcomers to flake tobaccos.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CTS (138)	2014-02-22		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Extremely smooth, creamy smoke - almost silky. Two flakes, folded, fit perfectly in the bowl of my Grabow Grand Duke (no filter). Perfect straight from the tin. Slight raisin-like fruit flavor. Tastes like Best Brown Flake and Full Virginia Flake, in equal amounts, with the positives of both. Flavor and strength build through the bowl. Excellent flavor, particularly when sipped. 4-*.

Pipe Used: Grabow Grand Duke, MM

Age When Smoked: APR 2013

Purchased From: P&C

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2002-01-27		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Appearance: Well made flakes, finely cut, about 2 by 3 inches. The color ranges from lemon to rich chestnut, with no dark traces. Over time, a cellared tin will turn .mostly dark, but this takes several years.

Aroma: The aroma is well matured Virginia, with a small quantity of Burley, and a trace of top dressing. Overall, the bouquet reminds me of Fribourg & Treyer?s Cut Va. Plug.

Packing: Owing to the fine cut, it packs well in any bowl. Rolling the flakes into cylinders is very easy..

Lighting: The quickest lighting flake I can recall. A one match light is possible.

Initial flavor: The initial flavor is sweet medium strength Vrginia, quite beguiling and gentle.

Mid-bowl: The tobacco burns cooler than expected unless puffed too quickly. There is a full range of medium to high notes that keep you interested, but don?t stress the tongue or palate.

Finish: Even at the finish, there is no harshness. The ash is medium gray and quite fine.

Summary: This is to me, an excellent all day tobacco that can be smoked either casually or contemplatively. It is rewarding either way.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2016-09-24		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This shares a lot of the same qualities with Cap Gold. Similar flavor profile of hay, citrus and slightly darker fruit. This is a bit spicier and not as sweet. It's a little smoother than the Gold, in fact that's the first thing I noticed upon lighting. Both also maintain a consistent flavor with no fading, but evolve very little. This version has a little more strength. I like both equally and I'll rate them the same. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A very fine and enjoyable smoke.

Medium in body and taste. Flavoring is mild. Burns very well.

Pipe Used: MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	moniker (217)	2016-07-23		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Kudos to MacBaren for keeping Capstan Original Navy Cut alive. I paid a pretty penny for a "retro"-style tin of this offered by my local tobacconist, and on popping the tin I was immediately transported (way) back in time, when (Tinder Box proprietor) Ed Kolpin gave me a tin to go with a Dunhill pipe I was to dedicate to this blend. He then went so far as to offer a money back guarantee for the lot, provided I used only wooden matches, and I was not to try to smoke the very last of it. Today, as I smoke this tobacco in the very same pipe, I offer TR readers the same advice, though I admit I am addicted to the convenience afforded by my Tsubota “Bolbo” lighter, and I imagine any “good smoker” might be dedicated with good results. In other words, it’s the tobacco, not the pipe, that makes CONC great.

In the tin, this fine flake looks and smells, for all the world, like the same tobacco I “remember”, slightly musty/earthy, distinctly vegetal, yet unmistakably VA, rough-sh, brown bread over damp silage, with some dry meadow grasses, and nary a trace of else to spoil the experience. I still smoke it straight from the tin (or the jar), folding and loosely stuffing a flake, then slowly, patiently bringing it up to the point where it stays lit. Well tended, it burns OK at a slow pace, and I still leave some dottle at the end of a bowl, to avoid spoiling the last of the smoke. The aroma and the taste are all fragrant VA tobacco of the highest quality, mostly air-cured brown, with some flu-cured lemon, well aged and conditioned. IMO, CONC compares very favorably with Germain’s Brown Flake, in terms of overall quality and in the realization of its potential. Though CONC's lighter, flue and air cured VAs offer a different spectrum of tastes and aromas than GBF's darker VA/Bur blend, it is also very rich and subtly complex (rather than overtly so)., with a similarly natural, sweet aftertaste that goes on and on. Strength is mild to medium. Tastes build from mild toward medium. Room note is spectacular.

Obviously, IMO, CONC is something special for VA lovers. While my own rating system turns a 3.5 into a 4, CONC is a solid 4, best of the best VA flake.

Pipe Used: dedicated briar

Age When Smoked: old and new, from tins and jars

Purchased From: Liberty Tobacco

Similar Blends: More natural and "even" than Astley's 109; "lighter" than Germain's Brown Flake; "lighter" and even more natural than F&T's Vintage..

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Glorfindel (86)	2017-08-30		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This is, simply put, one of the best VA flakes I have ever tried. I went through the first tin very quickly and without "trying" - a definite sign that i really liked it. This is not a "try-hard" tobacco. Burns clean and evenly with few relights, moisture is perfect right out of the tin and all that classic VA creaminess that we VA fans love and crave. Rubs out easily with a wonderful VA haylike grassy smell. This one smokes cool with no bite and no bitterness towards the bottom of the bowl. I think this would be a great VA flake for the veteran or the beginner. It can easily be enjoyed by all. There is no reason that great pipe tobacco should be a difficult effort. Capstan original is surely not difficult. It is quite simply one of the few perfect smokes I have ever had in my adventures with the pipe. PLEASE don't stop making this one Mac Baren. It is a Classic!!

4 stars **

Cheers All,,

Glorfindel

Pipe Used: Peterson Half Bent Christmas Pipe 2016

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake, University Flake, Orlik Golden Slice.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tommyboy1749 (27)	2017-07-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I have never had the pleasure of sampling previous incarnations of Capstan Original Navy Cut, but the current Mac Baren version is an outstanding example of a pure Virginia Flake.

The presentation in the tin is spot on. Nobody produces more perfectly cut flakes than Mac Baren. Two neatly stacked, identical rows. While the rustic presentation of Samuel Gawith does have its rough-hewn charms, there's something admirable about symmetry and consistency (especially in our often slovenly and topsy-turvy world). The color ranges from medium to darker browns (an intensification of color and maturation of the leaf that is the result of the pressing process), with scattered streaks of lighter leaf intermingled.

The Virginias have a touch of brown sugar sweetness and a dark caramel edge, along with an underlying citrus sharpness and tang. I don't get any grass and hay, which is ok by me since I'm not really into graminoids or animal fodder. I've smoked it rubbed out and used the fold-and-stuff method (or rather a crumple-and-stuff method, interspersed with firm tamps to compress the air pockets), and I've found that the flavors are deeper when it's left un-rubbed.

There's no danger of tongue bite, even if vigorously puffed, nor does a hasty cadence blur or diminish the flavors. A rare straight Virginia flake that is very forgiving of technique, a quality which would make Capstan Original a suitable starting place for those considering a foray into VA Flakes.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Greekpipesmoker (201)	2017-01-29		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

That's the stronger version of capstan flakes.similar to the gold one but with a few differences.when you open it you get get citruses earth and a fig topping.rubs easy with i bit moist.no drying is needed.lights with i bit effort and might need a few relights.burns cool and slow with proper moisture.the flavours are between citrus,dried fruits, earth and sweetness from fig topping in my opinion.leaves a little moisture at the end of the bowl.the nicotine level is ok for an all day smoking experience.the differences between this one and the golden version.this flake is darker with deeper flavours and more sweetness.the golden flake is more citrusy and lighter in nicotine level.both blends are not complicated with natural flavours and certainly a must try!

Age When Smoked: Rubed and left it dry for 1/2 hour.

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith's full virginia flake.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2014-07-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have smoked this and the Capstan Gold Navy Cut. Presentation in the tin is similar. Moisture level is great and I did not dry. I smoked mine rubbed out - mostly in wider bowls.

This is a very high quality Virginia Flake. Strength and flavor are slightly higher than Gold Navy Cut. I claim this has no topping. There is a full and slightly sweet Virginia flavor with grassy and earthy notes. It was easy to keep lit, and it smoked cool for me.

As a value, this is very expensive per ounce, but it is in stock and easy to find. I would consider it very close to Full Virginia Flake at a similar price. FVF might have a slightly fuller taste. As a smoke for me to have in inventory, this is a 3. I like it more than Gold Navy Flake, but this still does not rise to a 4. It is almost there.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2013-08-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I waited awhile to review this fine flake, smoking it in various pipes and with various prep methods. And I'm still struggling to articulate the flavor profile of this outstanding blend. While some have described this as a sweet Virginia, I must agree with several previous reviewers that there is a spiciness to this blend. Not peppery but rather salty. There is, however, the most delightful, subtle, natural Virginia sweetness that asserts shortly after the charring light and remains present throughout the bowl. It's enveloped by a more classically robust Virginia flavor that frames the sweeter notes. Then there's that saltiness- could there be some high quality burley in this blend? Regardless, the sweetness and the saltiness intermingle in an almost magical way.

I enjoy a number of Virginia flakes and ribbons and can honestly say this one stands out as unique in the field. An outstanding blend. All of the classic VA flake presentation, visually and in tin note. Benefits from some drying time (I like 45 min to an hour, but I'm in a damp climate). But otherwise takes a match well and requires little prep or maintanance (unlike another popular VA flake). That mellow spiciness might just make this the VaPer lovers favorite straight VA flake.

This one has world class aging potential written all over it from the first puff.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WoodcraftSmoker (21)	2021-10-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is a wonderful tobacco! It has a sweet, grassy, hay like aroma in the tin that plays out well in the bowl. The flakes are perfect for my Peterson 999. Roll one up and stuff it in the bowl; it fills it perfectly and burns well. the initial light gives a sweet, bright and citrusy flavor that is truly delicious. It makes me know why I love to smoke pipes. Halfway through bowl, the flavor becomes a bit more earthy. I find Capstan an excellent balance of bright sweetness and rich earthiness. Not heavy like a Latakia, but musty and solid with a pleasant lightness that I think is characteristic of good Virginias. I think Mac Baren does well by its tobaccos; they are well worth the cost. The flavor burns through consistently and clearly, and Capstan is a delicious blend of mildly sweet, bright and bready tobacco. I tried this to get a sense of what a solid Virginia would taste like. I think I found it.

Pipe Used: Peterson 999

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: TobaccoPipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BingCrosby (161)	2018-02-16		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very nice straightforward virginia... more on the brighter hay end... very similar to dunhil flake. Easy to load and smoke. Mac Baren is not my favorite company- that being said I'm loving these reissues. Sometimes I crave a straightforward bright Virginia. This should do well with some age on it.

Update 9/19... the initial excitement of its release has worn off.. gotta bump it down to 3.. kind of average flavored flake.. nice smoke but a little flat and boring at times..

Pipe Used: Butz choquin

Age When Smoked: Fresh tin

Similar Blends: Dunhil flake, Orlik golden sliced.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Corncob3 (77)	2014-05-25		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

A really nice find. Beautiful tin/ artwork-lovin' the blue label. Smooth and silky. Slightly tangy in the right places and at the right times with a delicate spicy undertone. Well pressed sheets of brown and yellow flake. I wish it were offered in a larger tin, but a little goes a long way. Just when I think I've hit the bottom of the bowl, there's more to be smoked. Got a good 25-30 minute smoke out of a full bowl. I found no bite with this blend. Just a tamper or two to keep things in check. A must try and must have in your rotation. Four stars for this one.

Pipe Used: Grabow Briar

Similar Blends: Mac Baren Virginia flake.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2014-01-07		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

My wife, an occasional pipe smoker herself, gifted me two tins she found at the West Coast Pipe Show several years ago. I still have half of one tin remaining that I opened from a Ball jar for a Christmas treat this year. This review is based on those aged tins as I was not a pipe smoker back when this Willis version was brand new. If I had to pick one Virginia tobacco to smoke for a lifetime, this would be the one. Its beautifully sweet, with a slight taste of hay and with all of the age on these tins, it was just sublime. Maybe it was more medium when first tinned, but I would place this more in the mild, or mild to medium category. It is topped, but very lightly and at this point can’t quite tell with what. What I can say is that I would happily pay the price on another tin! Great stuff.

Age When Smoked: over 25 years

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Halbarad (4)	2013-11-30		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Great little tobacco. The flakes are very well packaged and come out of the tin ready to smoke. Has a light sweet smoke to it that reminds me of champagne. This blend must be smoked slowly to really let it shine, if you smoke it too quickly you will loose the beautiful delicate flavor.

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stah (139)	2021-06-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

The legendary blend, a former favorite of Professor Tolkien, which jumped through several masters before falling into the clinging hands of the Danish manufacturer, has been changed the varietal composition a bit, but is still a pure blend of Virginia tobaccos - simple and without frills.

The open tin smells like bread and floral hay. A little bit of citrus flavor is felt. The slicing is quite thin and very neat, no brambles or sticks that can be found in mixes from Gawith. The color of the cut is light wood.

It lights up and burns medium-hot, doesn't overheat the pipe. I've tried Capstan in large and small pipes of various shapes - the result is always the same.

The flavor is bready and barely sweet, reminiscent of the sweetness of a dried apple - but very close to neutral. It doesn't bite, doesn't have any harsh undertones. The strength of the tobacco is just below average.

The tobacco doesn't distract you at all from what you're doing - it just burns slowly and evenly in the pipe, giving a moderate light smoke, the smell of which - all the same floral hay, bread - immediately dissolves in the air. The blend is very simple in taste and odor, probably will not irritate those around you. There is practically no aftertaste.

This is a amazing and rare True Neutral in the world of tobacco blends these days. I will definitely keep a jar or two in my collection.

Pipe Used: Peterson 106, 230, 69

Age When Smoked: 2019

Purchased From: Online

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LiterarySmoker (143)	2020-10-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I have already tried the Ready Rubbed version of the blend and if you are interested to hear my thoughts I do have a review of that one as well. When I first bought this I had a strong idea what I was getting into, having smoked through a whole tin of the Ready Rubbed.

All this aside, when you first open your tin you are greeted with those perfect MacBaren flakes golden brown in color, and the tin note smells of hay, grass, sweetness and spice. I did find that my flakes were very wet compared to the dryness of the ready rubbed version, so much so that they left residue on the paper in the tin itself. So, what I ended up doing is leaving the tin open for a few weeks and then I rubbed it out into a jar. Room note is very subjective and I'm loathe to say anything either good or bad, but in my mind this has a very pleasant sweet Virginia smell. Lighting is relatively easy and it requires the average amount of relights. It burns a bit slow, but that's exactly what I want.

The taste is sweet, hay-like, grassy, woody, almost honeyish. There is a spice to this, vaguely cinnamony. Its a well rounded taste and I don't find it changing much throughout the bowl. The slower you smoke the more you will get out of this one. Capstan is really my first foray into straight Virginia's, I normally smoke VaPers but this is so good I've now ordered tins of HH Pure Virginia, and John Cottons Double Pressed Virginia to see if I can expand my palette.

Very smokeable, easily repeatable, and could be an all day smoke.

Pipe Used: Kaywoodie Birkshire Large Billiard

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kokinhenik (93)	2020-04-12		Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Admittedly I get star struck by Capstan partially due to the elite circles it enjoys. It's a classic blend and I love to read with a pipe full of it to keep me company. I was equally delighted to find it's a decent blend in its own right. The taste and nicotine are mild. The Virginias have a simple note of toasted bran tips. Very mild citrus and grassy flavors provide background notes. Its damn perfect for a no muss no fuss all day smoke. Another plus, its light enough to be smoked indoors. It doesn't linger around long and can be undetectable after a few hours.

Pipe Used: Bjarne

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smoking pipes.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	John_B (33)	2018-12-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

Well I finally got around to trying this straight Virginia blend and I'm very glad that I did. It is everything I expected and more ! The tin note is sublime to say that there are no toppings applied and it all comes from the choice of leaf. It smells like a toasted cinnamon fruit loaf and just makes the mouth water in anticipation. Baked goods, spice and fruit with some lemon are all melded in a symphony of olfactory delight. Presentation is the usual Mac Baren flakes in a handy sized retro styled tin, cut to perfection and just right to smoke straight away witn no drying. I was cautious at first upon lighting, as a straight Virginia can be a recipe for bite if you go too hard at it, but it was very cool burning and got going well after only one char light and a single true light. Rich and fruity with plenty of flavour all the way down the bowl and a rediculously good after taste. The room note is exemplary of a quality Virginia flake and just as intoxicating as you could wish for. Half a flake rubbed out gave me about 35-40 mins of pure pleasure. I wish that I had a ready supply of this wonderful tobacco, as for some senseless reason, it is only available ready rubbed in the UK, and so I am led to believe, it ain't a patch on the flake, so I am going to use my supply of the real thing wisely as a treat and not an all day smoke. It may sound like a cliche, but I really would be happy if it was all I ever had to smoke. A full 4 stars and very highly reccomended !

Pipe Used: Falcon

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Import

Similar Blends: Mac Baren Navy Flake.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gahdzila (61)	2018-05-26		Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

This is a somewhat darker fuller flake than the Capstan Yellow that I tried last week. Still.... seems extremely mild and one dimensional, though not unpleasant.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeDawg (82)	2015-07-07		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Looking forward to this one as I enjoy VA flakes. Scored a tin that had been sitting on the shelf of my tobacconist for several years, (Don't know how) but lucky me. The tobacco is beautiful and quite moist with a delightful rum topping. The flakes actually fused together and leaves me tearing them up trying to get them out in sheets. The fact it's been around for 100 years says a great deal about this blend. I enjoyed this tin knowing JRR Tolkien enjoyed it as well and to me there is a connection in a way that only fellow pipers can enjoy. This is a med body Va and quite good but honestly it's a bit pricy for the amount of tobacco you get. For my money Erinmore and Mac Baren's Modern Va flake is a greater value as it delivers the same great smoke but more bacca for the same amount of dough or less. I would buy this again as its a fine smoke, but reconsider it based on the price.

Pipe Used: various.

Age When Smoked: Early 2013.

Similar Blends: Erinmore and Mac Baren modern VA flake..

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Peter Piper (41)	2014-01-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

A mediocre tobacco based on a widespread British blend of yore. Acidic, acrid and a wee bit green. Apart from the attraction of the long-established and historic name, I cannot think why this has been hyped up to the heavens. There are far too many straight Vas out there of greater superiority to be wasting your time on this pocket full of nostalgia.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2014-01-07		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This review is based on the Orlik version of this blend that I was buying from Denmark in 2010 & 2011. As with the Willis version, I find this to be more on the mild or mild to medium side. The Orlik version is definitely lighter and there is a bit more “hay” in this version, but the age of the Willis I smoked likely skewed the comparison. It isn’t overly complex and like most Virginias, it needs to be respected and appreciated with a slow cadence. I always smoke Capstan by folding the flakes and rubbing out a very small amount to get things going. Since others have commented on this verses FVF, my two cents is that Capstan is a much better smoke, not to mention far less wet. With additional age, I could easily see this as a four star smoke. As for the new Mac Baren, I have squirreled away a few tins, but I often get bit by Mac Baron blends, so I have yet to open Capstan’s newest incarnation as I am waiting for some age.

Age When Smoked: 3 years

Purchased From: FF Pipes and Tobacco

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2013-11-24		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Opening the tin presents nicely prepared flakes, typical of Mac Baren, with an ideal moisture content that are pliable for my fold and pack technique. Even with this method, the tobacco lit easily on the charring light and few relights were required. It smoked cool and sweet in all sized bowls without condensation and the taste was consistent throughout the bowl. I enjoyed the deeper, richer flavor of the darker VA's when compared to the Capstan Yellow although both are great smokes. Glad this one is available in the USA again.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (241)	2013-07-30		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I've been smoking the new Mac Baren incarnation of this classic; the flake in the blue tin is what I'm speaking of. Upon opening the tin you are greeted with a predominantly darker brown flake with some speckles of lighter leaf present. The tin aroma is one of prunes and figs with a moderately sweet note. Loading with the fold and stuff method and lighting were a breeze. The taste is very raisiny with little if any Virginia hay/grass present. There is a spice to this one especially when allowing the smoke to enter the back of the throat and come up the nasal passages - not over the top, but present. The smoking experience reminded me of a milder, but slightly fuller in body, Dunhill Flake (one of my favorites). No matter what my smoking cadence, I could not get this to smoke hot nor bite. This was certainly one fulfilling Virginia smoke and I can see why many have raved about it. I have yet to try the yellow-tinned flake yet, but will do so after I smoke more of the blue.

I've tried many Virginias over the years and my biggest complaints were that they were either too grassy/hay-like in taste or they had very little taste and body. The blue Capstan Flake seems to me the near perfect - if not the perfect - Virginia flake. For those who like Virginias, this will not disappoint. All the trouble spent with Sam Gawith's offerings were truly a waste of my time when compared to Capstan Original Navy Cut Flake! As a predominantly Burley smoker, I can smoke this every day and be happy. Truly a 5 star, and stellar, smoke that rates a highly recommended from me.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Eulenburg (193)	2002-04-18		Mild	Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

I will not belabour the point made admirably by the esteemed NOORRMM, with whose review I fully concur, except to say that this is one of the classics, and just about as pleasant a middleweight Virginia flake as I know.

It has not been distributed in the USA these last few years, but the suggested renewed availability of the AMPHORA blends lets one hope that it will soon again make the delights of American flake fanciers. Now that unrubbed tobacco seems to be in vogue, everyone should make the acquaintance of this old desert island favourite.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2022-08-13		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This has very quickly become one of my all time favorite blends.

I have a real attraction and fascination with old time traditional blends. I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of those who enjoy a pipe have a fascination with things of yore and days gone bye. The provenance of this blend is unmistakable, and the varitable hall of fame of past famous pipers who have enjoyed this particular blend just adds to its lore.

The presentation is beautiful. A square tin with a humble yet regal label. Inside, a beautiful gold presentation of nicely done flake. The tin note is magical, raison, fig, and various dried fruit...apricot maybe? That said, it all comes off as very pure tobacco. I am sure there is some form of casing here, but it is almost not noticeable at all.

The flakes came a little moist, I prefer my tobacco to be rather dry anyway. The flakes smoke rather well both moist and dry, but a much easier time to keep lit and less pipe cleaners required after some air time. I smoked this blend both rubbed out and folded and stuffed, and I much prefer the later. The fold and stuff method also produces a very slow and long smoke for me, which is perfect, because every time I load a bowl of this tobacco I do not want it to end.

Some have mentioned this as a "middle" english, and I would agree. It is not as bright as OGS but is not anywhere near as dark as my beloved Wessex brigade dark flake. It is anything but boring, great flavors off this tobacco. It behaves well, and although it is considered a "pure" Virginia, it has many different flashes of different flavors throughout the bowl, which keeps it very engaging. At times, when it hits just right, there is an almost incense like flash, that is so fleeting, and I find myself looking for it.

I cannot say enough good things about this tobacco. I wish it were a tad bit cheaper, but will gladly pay to stock up and cellar (which I think it will do beautifully). Quality and enjoyment is always worth a little extra.

Age When Smoked: 2022 tin

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Thorbacco (6)	2019-04-30		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Strong

I found this one very boring compared to capstan gold, smell from tin is good. The taste and smell when smoking is however more towards the cigarette departement, room note is no good, non smokers think it does smell like cigarettes. I get a kind of bitter, acrid sensation in the bowl, escpecially towards the end, what should be nice flavourful virginias is unfortunatly drowned by this bitterness.

Would not say its terrible, its just not any good for me.

Pipe Used: Noname meer, briars

Purchased From: Kioskpiraten

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Voyaging (80)	2019-02-28		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is a review of the Mac Baren-produced Capstan.

The flakes are uniform, thin, and even, as expected, being produced by Mac Baren.

The taste starts off grassy, sweet, maybe a hint of honey. Overall there is a natural tobacco taste, and it is very pleasant. There are notes of honey, cereals, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, citrus tang, almost molasses, a clove-like taste that develops as well. There is also some spice that I initially perceived as mouth irritation, but I think it's just spice.

My only problem with this blend is the price. It is, however, a great straight Virginia flake that's quite full, that covers the entire spectrum of Virginia tastes, in my opinion. It is delicate and full and rich, all in one flake.

Nicotine level is mild, strength is mild to medium, but I never smoke on an empty stomach.

If you like Virginias, especially straight Virginias, I recommend this one. If you like sweet blends, in general, I recommend this blend as well.

Pipe Used: Billiard, bent brandy, Canadian, bent apple

Age When Smoked: One year

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Cornell and Diehl Opening Night.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	geoffc (6)	2018-10-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Recently got to try a tin packaged in the 80s and I'm ruined. It was a beautiful thing! Citrus and dark fruit were very complex. Zero bite and a fine mellow smoke!

Pipe Used: Peterson Silver Fishtail spigot

Age When Smoked: Just under 40 years

Purchased From: Friend

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CanadianCobCodger (4)	2018-05-04		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

My favorite straight Virgina. Love the darker virgina leaf. High quality stuff. Burns cool and slow. More on the bread/sweet side, but there are no detectable toppings... just great Virginia flavor. I prefer this to other straight virginia flakes like Dunhill flake (more of a citrus flavor in that one which I don't love). Nic hit is mild. An all day smoke.

Pipe Used: Various Cobs

Age When Smoked: New (great), 5 years old (better)

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

Similar Blends: darker virginia flakes.....

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	1/2 (17)	2018-04-20		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is my first time trying out Navy cut tobacco. The flavour is very Nice my favorite tobacco to date. Very Nice and sweet natural flavour, worth every penny spent on it. I really enjoyed the texture, very smooth. The tobacco burns slowly sp it is easy to savour.

The mrs is not to Keen on the scent from this blend. Not enough to complain, just enough to mention it on one ocation.

Pipe Used: Talamona Reverse Calabash

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: M.Sørensen Tobakk AS

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2018-02-19		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This Virginia flake is one that I would consider slightly leaning toward the lemon yellow-orange side of the spectrum, offering a plethora of high citrus/lemon notes while also deepening with some darker fruits, raisin, and a bit of zest.

There is a slight sugary element to this tobacco, which is not unpleasant by any stretch, but serves the blend wonderfully, emphasizing the natural sweetness of this blend. The flakes were thin and almost a perfect moisture level straight from the tin, but could benefit from a small amount of dry time. They also work beautifully whether you rub them out completely or simply fold and stuff. This blend did not get harsh or bite, and the flavor seemed to pretty consistent the entire way down the bowl. The smoke was a bit monochromatic, but this did not bother me in the slightest, simply because the flavor that comes through is almost unmatched.

A perfect baseline Virginia to judge other blends by as well. The nicotine level was just a shade above mild; you know it is there, but it doesn't offer any negative effects. Overall, a great Virginia flake.

Pipe Used: Briar

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	coldmoon (24)	2015-10-26		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Currently I'm finishing the 2nd tin of this blend. Very neat flakes of various shades of Virginia leaf. The flakes are a bit too moist to smoke right out of the tin so I leave them out to dry for about 30 - 40 minutes before packing in to the pipe. The tin aroma is of your typical Virginia blend - hayish grassy aroma with some sweet fruity/citrusy overtones. Don't get me wrong, this is not an aromatic tobacco. It is a straight Virginia blend. Fruitiness is barely detectable but is definitely there.

Once dried, the packing is fairly easy. As per usual I use fold and stuff method with flake tobaccos. Works best for me.

It takes two charring lights to get the tobacco going. But once it's lit, it stays lit with no problems.

From the start I thought this is very simple and basic tobacco with no frills. But it kinda grows on you and you crave it more and more. The taste is very sweet. Maybe it is just my imagination but there are barely noticeable rum like notes from the smoke. I find that it is almost the same as Orlik's Golden Sliced, very similar to Peterson's University Flake but not as strong and MacBaren's Virginia #1 but not as sweet. The taste really changes depending on how fast you are puffing. You have to smoke it very slowly. Nicotine level gets noticeable after two thirds of the bowl. I would say that this is a medium strength blend.

Room note is noticeable but not unpleasant. I don't get too much complaints when smoking this blend indoors.

Leaves nice gray ash with no gunk at all. Definitely recommended as a solid VA flake with excellent price/performance ratio.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Bruna straight billiard

Age When Smoked: 6 months

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	McGrandpa (2)	2015-08-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I can find no words to describe this blend other than fantastic. Opening the tin, I was greeted with a very pleasant aroma, similar to dried plums with a slight note of fresh cut grass. I packed using the fold and stuff method, and found lighting to be a bit tricky (two days of drying seemed to remedy this). The flavor was, at first, very sweet with notes of citrus and dried fruit, as well as some very faint nutty flavors. Further into the bowl, some earthy, grassy notes begin to show through. However, the citrusy flavors remain dominant for the entirety of the smoke. Concerning room note, I've been told the scent is "straight tobacco". Overall this is nothing short of a fantastic blend

Pipe Used: Falcon Coolway 12

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Orlik Tobacco Company A/S - Golden Sliced (Red).

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Toasterbottom (13)	2015-05-17		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'm almost finished my first tin of Capstan Original Navy Cut and it's grown on me. At first the smoke didn't seem to be as flavourful as Dunhill Flake (my go-to straight Virginia flake), but it's close and, like Dunhill Flake, it's certainly easier to work with than FVF, which I've given up on because when I want to smoke, I want to smoke and not be forced to wait around for twenty minutes. The moisture level of this Capstan is just about perfect and yet can still stand a little air drying after rubbing out to get a perfect smoke. I haven't had much luck folding and stuffing it, but that just may be my inexpert stuffing technique and I don't think it has to do with moisture level.

I'm finding that now the tin has been open for a week, though, each pipeful is improved greatly over my original experience. I'm noticing a greater sweetness and more of that fresh hay taste I love. I've also started smoking it in smaller bowls, though, and this may have done the trick. I had been shovelling it into big billiards for long walks with the dog and the combination of a big bowl and inattentive smoking while walking and bending to pick up, etc. may not have been fair. Still ... there's something not quite there for me. 3 stars vs. Dunhill Flake's rating of 4 stars. Oh, and it's damned expensive compared to Dunhill Flake -- almost forgot that!

Pipe Used: a variety of straight and bent billiards

Age When Smoked: a couple of months

Purchased From: 4noggins.com

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Uban (60)	2014-05-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I really like the MacBaren version. Light golden flakes, perfectly presented, easy to rub out or shred, or cube cut. Starts very sweet but soon grows creamy and full (enough) with great high notes and a little grassy base to go along. Cool & dry smoking, a good intro to a straight Va for anyone. Mixed with 1/3 good Perique, absolute VaPer Heaven.

UPDATE: I have now smoked this in every kind of pipe I have. It just gets better , but it is CRITICAL to let it dry a bit to avoid bite & get the full flavor. Also I have decided that so much Perique wrecks it. Best at maybe 10% added; mine is "Blending Perique" from P & C, probably "Acadian," but it's great stuff nonetheless.

Pipe Used: Everything

Age When Smoked: 70 for me, new for the tin

Purchased From: Pipe Guys

Similar Blends: Best Brown, DH Light Flake.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cargohold (14)	2014-02-21		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Well, as Capstan Navy Cut Medium was my all time favorite tobacco when I smoked it back in the ancient times of the 1970's and 80's, I was hopeful but a bit dubious about Macbaren's ability to even come close to the old Blue Capstan that I remember. Now my taste buds may have cloyed a bit over the past 40 years of pipe smoking but when I opened the first tin of this re-release I was quite pleased, it is virtually identical to the original flake in every respect. If you want to experience a classic from the past jump on the Capstan bandwagon, but do not spread this around too widely or we might have a run similar to the Gawith FVF of a couple of years ago.

Pipe Used: Sasieni, Comoy ,Dunhill, Astleys

Age When Smoked: one year

Purchased From: Carghold Poulsbo, Washington

Similar Blends: Orlik Golden Slices, Dunhill Flake, Gawiths Full Virginia Flake.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (632)	2012-12-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is probably the closest that I have come to a replacement for Dunhill Flake. But since I need to have it imported this saves me nothing. The taste is very close. Great natural virginia sweetness with a good nic content. Burns nice. I bought this while visiting the Danish Pipe shop in Copenhagen. Just in case anyone in the states is curious, they do import and they are a great shop.

I may or may not buy more, but since Dunhill Flake can be had so easily here, I likely won't.

7/25/2022 update

My information above is dated as Capstan has been available in the US for more than a few years now, but it is still more costly than Dunhill Flake. In any case I have a few tins aging in the cellar and I just recently finished one of them. It is still a great Virginia Flake. One thing to note is that the tin I just finished was 6 and half years old and I did not notice any increased sweetness. I will have to report back after trying some older ones later.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pip'n'Piper (51)	2022-10-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A beautiful smoke. Straight natural virginia flavours. Primarily malty, lots of toast/bread, with some grass, wood, molasses and raisin. There's a sweetness like honey. Lots of savoury notes. There are alot of similarities to HH Pure Virginia, which I'd say is sweeter, with Capstan being more malty/savoury. Excellent moisture. Easy handling and burn. A cool and rich smoke; no bite, no heat. I love the maltiness. A top 5 tobacco for me. Aside from the price, a perfect straight virginia. Tolkein was indeed a wise man. 4 stars. Highly recommend. In the rotation.

Pipe Used: Stanwell 140, savinelli 321, mm morgan cob

Age When Smoked: 2 + years

Purchased From: 4noggins

Similar Blends: HH Pure Virginia.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ithian (14)	2022-09-01		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

An excellent straight Virginia, and there's no other quite like it (unfortunately, since I would welcome a cheaper alternative). It's my favorite Virginia, to be precise. Strong on the dark fruit, plums and figs, I don't detect hay notes. Rich and round flavor profile and at no point overbearing. Its simplicity and reliability are what make this blend shine. There's enough facets to keep you engaged but not too much to distract you if you do something else while smoking your pipe, making it the perfect all day smoke. I can see why Tolkien loved it and can imagine him smoking it while writing his masterpieces. The flavor is consistent throughout the smoke and pleasant at all times, apart from a few more relights than I would have wished, it remains a reliable and low maintenance smoke. There's absolutely no spiciness or harshness, very little brightness to the profile as the flavor remains dark. A hint of breadiness on the very smooth retro hale without any stinging or spiciness, but nothing else. Burns surprisingly slow, so a bowl can last much longer than you would expect (for me 1-2 hours, so I usually just pack a half bowl). I have yet to find a Virginia that compares to Capstan. Other Virginia blends generally seem to be brighter or more complex, and I think Capstan not being those things sets it apart and let's me wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone who enjoys Virginias, wants to dive deeper into the world of Virginias or desires to broaden one's horizon on what Virginias can be.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pipelicidad (26)	2022-05-21		Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A tasty and straightforward flake. This is not the tangy/zesty virginia blend, as it is more on the roasted/woodsy tobacco spectrum, although it is also sweet. It has a noticeable casing which, in my opinion, could be treacle. It adds some sweetness and goes very well with the blend. This version of Capstan reminds me of Gawith’s Full Virginia and also of Dunhill’s Dark Flake, both in flavour and in the sense that these three blends are very moist out of the tin. Once Capstan is dried out, it becomes tasty and easy to some. The room note might be very acceptable to non-smokers. N.B: I am reviewing the Mac Baren version of this blend.

Age When Smoked: 3 years

Purchased From: Estanco in Madrid

Similar Blends: SG Full Virgina Flake, Dunhill Dark Flake.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PaulMcCoy (78)	2021-11-15		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Capstain Blue is a classic, and one of my favorite straight Virginias. The mechanics are perfect. There's no hint of bite. It smokes cool, slow, and has flavors of grass, hay, citrus and tea. Light notes of bread, earth, and sweet raisins show themselves around the halfway mark, and it slowly climbs in strength, and flavor. The retrohale also gets spicier, but it never pushes past medium. The room note is pleasant to tolerable; my wife doesn't mind it, but it will leave the room musty and stale for a day or two. I think it's a goldilocks blend.

Pipe Used: For review: Morgan Bones Oval Apple

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	unsociablehobbit (6)	2021-06-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

tin was from 2/21. opened 6/21. expected this to burn pretty hot and bite a bit since it was very fresh, what i got was the total opposite. smooth, bready and lightly sweet with a touch of hay, no bite. could be an all day smoke for me, probably will be now. this gets me excited for the gold version, gonna pick that up next time and clear the b&m out of the blue. fresh tins smoking very well right now, pick some up to smoke and some to cellar.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MarkTheLad (46)	2020-10-19		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Tolerable

I not going to lie, I bought a tin of this just because JRR Tolkien smoked it... however I'm not a fan. I am not normally a straight Virginia smoker and I found this to be kind of boring and bland, 1 dimensional and not very complex. The whole time I'm smoking it, I'm thinking "This could sure use some perique, or maybe some DFK to kick it up a notch". It is obviously made with some good quality leaf, and the presentation was on point (which is why I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2), but I guess my preferences lean more towards a stronger flavor profile.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Bings Favorite

Age When Smoked: 1 year old

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Liam Tyr (22)	2020-02-08		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Wonderful tin note, it is slightly citrus and aged Virginia. Sweet taste, full tobacco flavor and it burns slow and easy. Easily a full hour long smoke with one flake in a normal bowl. Love this tobacco, I can see why so many people love it

Pipe Used: Rattray’s Druid / Rattray’s Lowland 67

Age When Smoked: 5 years

Purchased From: Mission Pipes

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BirdseyeBriars (2)	2019-11-11		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

As this is a well reviewed blend I will just honestly attest that this tobac just gets better with age. Flavour develops as the bowl smokes down with the last puff wishing I had put in a deeper bowl. 🤜🍂🔥💨🦜

Pipe Used: Various meerschaums an orlik stack

Age When Smoked: two years

Purchased From: Major retailer

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Spinkle (16)	2019-06-22		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Capstan Blue

I purchased a tin of this from a local brick and mortar shop. It was quite expensive given the huge tobacco taxes we have in Ontario, but I figured it’s a pretty storied blend so I’d like to try. It is one of the first straight Virginias that I’ve tried (along with Samuel Gawith’s Best Brown Flake).

Opening the tin I do get a bit of a grass-like scent but mostly it smells like citrus, especially lemons to me.

The flakes are perfectly sliced and the tobacco is a lighter brown colour with some strands of yellow running through. Presentation is top notch and makes me feel almost like I’m spoiling something when I rub it out into strands for packing (I have learned that I seem to prefer to smoke these types of flakes rubbed out).

When I light up it takes a couple of charring lights to get it going but once it catches I do not have to relight through the whole bowl. The only maintenance required is a tamp every now and again.

The taste is what really surprised me; when I get about halfway through the bowl this turns into something strangely savoury and mouth-watering to me. I can’t describe the flavour more specifically than that except to say that I find it delicious. I have read a lot of the previous reviews that state this can be a sweet tasting blend, but for some reason I don’t taste much sweetness except in the aftertaste.

I’d have to say that this is now one of my favourite tobaccos, and having just finished the tin I can say this was the fastest tin I’ve ever gone through. Very much looking forward to trying more straight Virginia blends. Well worth the price, and in my opinion this could be an all-day smoke if you wanted, I know I certainly have smoked it all day the last few!

Pipe Used: Neerup Freehand, Savinelli Billiard 101

Age When Smoked: Tin Dated April 2018, Opened June 2019

Purchased From: Casablanca Tobacconist, Toronto

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnH (24)	2018-11-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I'd had this in the cellar for a while. I was debating on what tin to open when this blue tin started calling me.

I do like a good Virginia, and that's exactly what this is. It isn't going to knock your socks off, but if you fancy a Virginia this is going to tick every box.

Looks great in the tin, darker side of blond, close to red. Nice uniform flakes with a few sugar crystal hiding. Almost perfect moisture content, on first opening smokes fine, but after a week or so in the tin, just a little drier, is perfect for me. Rubs out quickly without any hassle, and packs very well.

It can take a little lighting, but burns well once lit. I've smoked the exclusively for the last five days, and only today did I divulge in some Plum pudding special reserve which had been calling me. I've smoked it in around half a dozen or so pipes and it performs well in all of them, with surprising differences, but always very enjoyable.

This is indeed a very fine tobacco worthy of high recommendation, but I can only give it 3 out of 4 as for me there are some slightly better blends, and I don't believe this tobacco warrants the rather high price. I'd like to buy ten or so tins of this for the cellar, as I can imagine it will age beautifully, but at the price there are others, such as Germains that I would rather spend my cash on.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: 1 year +

Purchased From: smoking pipes

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2018-11-10		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

When I first lit up a bowl of Capstan, I knew that I was spellbound by this flake. The Virginias are grassy with a little sweetness and some hints of figs when smoked with a leisurely cadence. The smoke has some crisp edges that I find thoroughly enticing. There is no bite—just pure bliss.

I feel like Capstan Original Navy Cut is a benchmark flake for exploring other Straight Virginias. Capstan falls in the medium range in terms of complexity and smokes great right out of the tin without any moisture problems. If you desire a slightly stronger smoke with more nuances, check out Samual Gawaith Full Virginia Flake. If you want more citrus notes, look at Mac Baren's HH Pure Virginia. If you find yourself wanting more earthy and dark fruit flavors, check out Wessex Campaign Dark Flake or Astely's Dark Virginia Flake. If you want a milder Virginia flake, find some Hamborger Veermaster.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Grayskwerl (8)	2018-06-23		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This stuff really grew on me. Have to admit I wasn't crazy about it at first. Perhaps I needed to get used to Virginia based blends. I had been exploring mostly burley blends prior to trying Capstan Blue. Now for me it is one of those few tobaccos that both tastes and smells wonderful. It is funny how many blends give you taste or aroma, but not both. Nice natural tobacco taste and aroma. If there is a topping, it is quite subdued. Personally I find that many Virginia based blends bite me, but Capstan (both blue and gold) are well behaved. The taste is a citrus, hay, little spice, sometimes sweet (honey?) tobacco goodness that I've grown to really like. It has a pleasant aftertaste, and a room note I think is very nice in a non-aromatic kind of way. Very pleasant to the bottom of the bowl. Sipping seems to bring out more of the sweetness. Nothing overly complexed here, just a really well done Virginia. Recommended for the Virginia novice or veteran. Can be an all day if you like Virginia blends. Not quite an all day for me, but I do enjoy it whenever I indulge.

Pipe Used: cob, briar

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: n/a

Similar Blends: capstan gold.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dixcreek (182)	2016-11-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

Grassy, sweet and notes of dried fruit from both the tin note and the taste. Smokes well being folded or rubbed out, though I do prefer rubbed out. Never smoked the original but this Mac concoction is top drawer. Consistent in burn and flavor throughout the bowl. Medium nic hit with no harsh notes or bite. 4 stars without hesitation.

Pipe Used: Gatlin Burlier house Bulldog

Age When Smoked: New and jarred 2 plus years

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Alper.e (12)	2016-06-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

if it is possible this blend deserves five stars. no harsh no gurgling, absolutely no bite. very smooth and delightful smoke.

It turns me from English to Virginia

Pipe Used: meerschaum only

Age When Smoked: new tin

Purchased From: milano, italy

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Corvus (36)	2016-01-30		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

A very nice straight Virginia flake, although whether it is a true navy flake is debatable as I detect no rum. Like all Mac Baren products there is a real air of quality and an impeccable presentation. The classic light blue of the 20th century blend remains and the namesake capstan with several turns of line is illustrated on the lid. Printed paper with a repeating geometric image cradles these beautiful flakes. Deep straw like odor in the tin, and when fresh has some slightly dried fruit scents, especially raisin. Light brown flakes, slightly moist, with some bright leaf and birds-eye like flecks.

The flavor is deep and grassy, yet soft. It burns quite nicely. Some light molasses or honey is evident at the light, what I've found to be relatively characteristic of Mac Baren blends, but it's possible this could just be the natural sugars. A subtle sweetness that develops throughout the bowl, with some herbal components and fleeting butter. It has a very clean finish, but can be slightly acrid at times with the faintest citrus. Very light toasty note and some white chocolate. A little woolier when moister with some different fruit flavors.

A well behaved, good burning, light to medium Virginia. I have been pondering the rating on this for months and ultimately it earns 4 stars; that is, I highly recommend it. The quality is undeniable, it's slightly stronger than expected (a good thing), and it's very nice in a middle of the road way. That is what gave me pause because it's not a must-try, however there are simply no faults to it and that is worthy of a full rating. To me superior in all respects to FVF, but it certainly carries a premium price.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeathMetal.org (231)	2015-11-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Summary: a blend of light Virginias that provides a sweet, non-complex smoking flavor and mild nicotine.

This simple blend gets the pipe smoker as close as possible to the cigarette experience. It is near-monochromatic in flavor, having bonded bright and darker Virginias into a chord, with a sweet taste reminiscent of grain or hay with an earthy lower boundary from the darker Virginias. It lights easily and stays lit well and, like a really good cigarette, delivers a consistent flavor that is both non-distracting and pleasurable. If you like light Virginia flakes, this is a good one to keep around.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cajun (11)	2015-09-29		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Strong

Yet another tobacco which seems to have changed somewhat over the years. I first smoked this when I was in the Royal Navy in the 70s as it was available to us duty free as part of our wages (if you know of any anti-tobacco campaigners please note this and refer them to it). As it was about the only offering available to us on board ship, it was tried by many, but often rejected in favour of the "blue liner" cigarettes which were also available as an alternative.

Having tried some recently I would submit that there is not much "original" about this blend, and I found it to be a fairly rough smoke prone to burn the tongue and mouth. Consequently I never finished the 50g tin.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Country Gent cob

Age When Smoked: straight from tin

Purchased From: Spanish tobacco shop

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ArmedOctopus (20)	2015-09-20		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

My goodness, what a tin note. Something about this blend in the tin made my mouth drool. Fantastic. Very fruity....almost identical to apricots. Perfect moisture level. Easy to light and smoke, burning to the bottom right out of a newly-opened tin. And that is saying something because I am terrible at packing a pipe.

The flavor is good. Solid Virginia. Deep and dark, although not as dark and strong as Old Dark Fired. However, it was unmistakably in the same vein. Bold flavor, with no unpleasant aftertaste. I didnt notice a nicotine presence, although I am sure a bigger bowl or more than one bowl would have made it surface. No tongue bite even after puffing like a train.

I am beginning to like flakes more and more and this one is a keeper. I wouldnt consider this a top tier grab for me, but definitely worth many bowls. Recommended.

Oh, and my wife liked the room note. So that is REALLY saying something.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Roger Xavierq (34)	2015-07-28		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I love this flake! Capstan Original Navy Cut was my first VA flake and it didn't disappoint me. The flakes come in a very nice presentation and regular sizes, of bright colours and fresh grassy aroma. Easy to fold and stuff. I smoked couple of bowls using the rubbing out method, but I got less flavor using this method. It can smoke a bit hot if you, like myself, like to puff like a train, but otherwise is a cool smoke for a VA. I got my tin from Danish Pipe shop and I went through it very quickly. I know there are plenty of other VA flakes out there, but Capstan is quality stuff.

Edit 15/08/2015 It ages very well and turns even better and sweeter with time.

Age When Smoked: Fresh from the tin

Purchased From: Danish pipe shop

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2015-07-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I waited awhile to review this fine flake, smoking it in various pipes and with various prep methods. And I'm still struggling to articulate the flavor profile of this outstanding blend. While some have described this as a sweet Virginia, I must agree with several previous reviewers that there is a spiciness to this blend. Not peppery but rather salty. There is, however, the most delightful, subtle, natural Virginia sweetness that asserts shortly after the charring light and remains present throughout the bowl. It's enveloped by a more classically robust Virginia flavor that frames the sweeter notes. Then there's that saltiness- could there be some high quality burley in this blend? Regardless, the sweetness and the saltiness intermingle in an almost magical way.

I enjoy a number of Virginia flakes and ribbons and can honestly say this one stands out as unique in the field. An outstanding blend. All of the classic VA flake presentation, visually and in tin note. Benefits from some drying time (I like 45 min to an hour, but I'm in a damp climate). But otherwise takes a match well and requires little prep or maintanance (unlike another popular VA flake). That mellow spiciness might just make this the VaPer lovers favorite straight VA flake.

This one has world class aging potential written all over it from the first puff.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jorge Soler (202)	2015-04-27		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant

The tin note, as you open it, does not hit you as something out of the ordinary. It just smells like plain virginia tobacco (there is nothing special about it). The flakes are well presented and they're all pretty much the same length and width. As they contain a fair amount of Virginia gold leaf, they look rather light (brown) with visible gold spots. Virginia tobacco will in most cases burn hot in your bowl, but I haven't experienced any issues with this respect. In the nicotine department it seems to be rather mild and I haven't detected any flavouring at all (not that it is not in there somehow). As you light up your pipe, the taste is rather mild, but it seems to evolve quite nicely as you progress more and more with your smoke. I find this tobacco quite pleasing on the tongue and really satisfying as you pass it through your nose. As you enter your the 3/4 of your bowl, its virginia characteristics will start to show off. Despite its apparent sweetness and sugar content, I find this tobacco to be a slow burner. This is a virginia tobacco that will display all of its glory and splendour if you know how to approach it. That is to say this it is not recommended for newbies, virginia hatters or hard puffers.

Edit1: This is probably one of the best full virginia tobaccos I have ever tried so far. In terms of value for money, I believe this is one of the best options there is out there in the market. Pity they don't sell it in bulk.

Pipe Used: Bent Moretti

Age When Smoked: ?

Purchased From: Spain

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nicotiana_rustica (23)	2014-10-21		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Before some time i could easily say the best straight virginia out there is:::: SG Best brown flake !!

Sorry; for me not any more! To much "problems" with tobacco preparation; why on hell should i pay dam 12,5 EUR for moist flake (moist like somebody has urinated on it.....sorry Sam!) if the CAPSTAN BLUE is avaliable for 10,2 EUR!!!!!! Be fair and sell normal (dry) tobacco. Now- i just simply open my nice small tin, pack a pipe, 3-4 matches and THERE WE GO.....(without any preparation...drying, cutting, cubing etc....)

So; Capstan has quickly become my favourite all day virginia smoke. The flavor and aroma remind me on chestnuts and raisins. A little honey sweetness, especially on relights.... excellent plain tobacco flavor. I can smoke it all morning and still be game to smoke anything in the afternoon and evening, whether I decide to stick with straight Virginias all day, or switch to Virginia-Perique. Burns easily and stays lit with slow, gentle puffing.

I love this tobacco and will be cellaring as much of it as I can afford. Some days the CAPSTAN will turn to LEGEND.

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Best Brown Flake.

Purchased From: https://pipe-shop.net

Nobody has rated this review yet.

Purchased From: https://pipe-shop.net

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipe Beard (8)	2013-12-17		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Simply put, I do not go through tins of any other blend faster

Here are some additional words to hit the 25 word minimum :)

p.s. This is what Tolkien smoked

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (241)	2013-07-30		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

First reviewed under Original Navy Cut.

I've been smoking the new Mac Baren incarnation of this classic; the flake in the blue tin is what I'm speaking of. Upon opening the tin you are greeted with a predominantly darker brown flake with some speckles of lighter leaf present. The tin aroma is one of prunes and figs with a moderately sweet note. Loading with the fold and stuff method and lighting were a breeze. The taste is very raisiny with little if any Virginia hay/grass present. There is a spice to this one especially when allowing the smoke to enter the back of the throat and come up the nasal passages - not over the top, but present. The smoking experience reminded me of a milder, but slightly fuller in body, Dunhill Flake (one of my favorites). No matter what my smoking cadence, I could not get this to smoke hot nor bite. This was certainly one fulfilling Virginia smoke and I can see why many have raved about it. I have yet to try the yellow-tinned flake yet, but will do so after I smoke more of the blue.

I've tried many Virginias over the years and my biggest complaints were that they were either too grassy/hay-like in taste or they had very little taste and body. The blue Capstan Flake seems to me the near perfect - if not the perfect - Virginia flake. For those who like Virginias, this will not disappoint. All the trouble spent with Sam Gawith's offerings were truly a waste of my time when compared to Capstan Original Navy Cut Flake! As a predominantly Burley smoker, I can smoke this every day and be happy. Truly a 5 star, and stellar, smoke that rates a highly recommended from me.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pseudo Nim (128)	2009-10-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A beautiful, wonderful tobacco, one of my favourites. On opening the tin, one is presented with 2 x 3 inch flakes which are easily seperated, ranging in colours from lemon yellow to dark chestnut. I tend to lay mine out on a sheet of newspaper for 24 hours as their is a light topping (fruity ?) which soon dissipates and I am left with a superb virginia.

I tend to rub out my flakes, which means I have difficulty in packing a full flake into a Group 4, fold and stuff would be recommended for those who do not like to rub out.

So with two thirds of a flake in a Group 4 or a half flake in a Peterson No6, a single match and I'm greeted with a naturally sweet virginia, the topping is gone in the first quarter and a good honest tobacco is left, smoked slowly, this will not bite.

Smooth and sweet, with more body than FVF but perhaps a little more coarse. If FVF is for the Gentleman, Capstan is more for the outdoors type of man.

An excellent day time or evening smoke, now although I do not detect a range of notes, this is not a monochromatic tobacco by any means, it builds slowly in taste and flavour without becoming overpowering. A good nicotene content that is not agressive.

Burns down to a fine grey ash, I would place this in the Freibourg & Treyer's stable of cut plugs and virginia's

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubinthedam (133)	2007-09-04		Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is an edited review, last time I gave it a one star, I up it to 4, why? Well by the time I finished the tin, I'm begging for more. I love the mild (yellow version) but this is quickly taking it over. For me it is similar to R. McConnell's Scottish Cake and Petersons Uni Flake. It is milder in strength to Uni Flake and not as hay/grassy as Scot Cake. Top flake, ages well in tin, doesn't dry out to much by the end. I get a nice sweet VA with a little sour after taste and a hint of Licorice.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jakob Kiilerich (120)	2005-01-18		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

An old classic. It is sold anywhere here in Denmark, and Capstan is what i buy when I am out of my favourites.

Dark, pungent and fruity (dried fruit) with hints of well.. Just plain old, good quality matured VA. It is way better than Yellow Capstan and much more complex. The nicotine-level is satisfying and it does not burn at all.

I have not tried it aged yet, but it is very nice fresh. A little drying should be necessary; It is a little too wet, straight out of the tin.

I like to smoke it in the evening, together with a nice cup of hot strong coffee..

One of the Patriarchs of VA-flakes

======= Update, June 14 - 2004=================

Blue Capstan is growing on me. The past 10 days I have been puffing it all day long. It will never burn and can easily be smoked on mornings as well as evenings.. Gets better and better!

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smokily Dokily (13)	2023-03-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I tend to prattle in these reviews some, but I won't embelish exposition for the sake of maintaining the tone set by this superb leaf. This stuff is elegant, yet simple, well-crafted, presented beautifully, and is classic in every regard. Capstan Blue is an institution with standing reputation as a staple tobacco steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. An essential smoke for any pipe smoker seeking pure, refined tobacco.

The packaging is quite luxurious, yet refined looking. A simple, tasteful, and timeless sky blue tin with a gold wrapper on the inside, into which perfect, blonde and mahogany grained flakes of perfectly moist pipeweed are perfectly nestled.

It is quite fruity and grassy smelling, with notes of honey, apricot, and fig. There is a slight grass/hay quality to the nose, with just the slightest hint of citrus and wine, not unlike Champagne.

The flakes rub out beautifully, and the tobacco takes to flame immediately, without effort. The smoke is sweet, bright, and fruity, with grassy leathery notes that linger a little. The flavor changes little throughout the bowl, but at about the last third, the sweetness mellows out to a cappuchino-like note, with tannin flavors not unlike a blonde-roast coffee. Bright and assertive, but not cloying, this is a satisfying smoke with a little lighter profile than heftier English and Balkan style blends that can taste and feel full and rich, often to an extant that can render them overpowering.

Leaves little moisture in the bowl if puffed at a slow, even pace, with very little bite or lingering aftertaste. With that being said, puff slowly to keep it cool though, as it is a Virginia, and it can get a touch peppery if smoked too quickly.

The room note is fairly straight forward without perfumes and toppings found in many aromatic Virginia blends, and no bitter, cigar and swamp smells that can be left after a heartier smoking tobacco like Nightcap or Irish Flake. Best of all, it doesn't leave you with the whirlies as some more stout Virginia/Perique-containing blends can in the nicotine deoartment. True, it is full, and some caution should be taken if you're inclined to smoke bigger bowls, but it won't knock you over if you do.

All in all, great stuff to have in my rotation. This would do well as an everyday smoke for most. It compliments nearly any flavor seamlessly, so you don't have to worry about this ghosting a pipe too badly or generating weird crossover flavors when switching blends between bowls. Good stuff! I intend to keep it in stock.

Pipe Used: Various Briar

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Jon's Pipe Shop (Champaign, IL)

Similar Blends: Peter Stokkebye- Luxury Twist Flake, Former-Private Flake, Ashton-Winding Road.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Greybeard (63)	2022-10-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Pleasant and enjoyable smoke. This Virginia flake brings the expected sweet, grassy, citrus flavor, with a touch of darker fruit in the background. Needs to be relit more than normal, and can bite if not intentionally kept at a slow pace. Comparable to SG's Full Virginia Flake. Recommended, but not quite 4 stars for me.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Caramella & Cobs

Purchased From: Gift from a friend

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith: Full Virginia Flake.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sergio Petillo (4)	2022-09-18		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

È la prima volta che fumo un tabacco Virginia, prima la mia concezione di tabacco da pipa era sugli aromatizzati, specialmente i vanigliati o al whisky. Ma assaporando questa delizia, specie il tipo di taglio Flake, senza ombra di dubbio posso confermare di aver trovato il tabacco che mi accompagnerà. Purtroppo mi sono avvicinato al fumare la pipa quando in Italia avevano già esaurito le scorte dei vari SG (avrei voluto provare il FVF). Inizialmente ho provato a piegare i fiocchi, ma vuoi che la latta sia appena aperta, vuoi anche la mia inesperienza, credevo di essermi sbagliato. Allora ho adottato il metodo di sminuzzamento e sfilacciamento. Posso solo dire che è stata una gioia per il mio palato. Non morde la lingua, non è stucchevole e soprattutto il mattino successivo non si sente la bocca impastata, cosa che succede con gli aromatici specie se sono secchi. Ovviamente per assaporare a pieno le qualità bisogna tirare leggermente e trovare il giusto ritmo di fumata, ma basta poco per trovarlo. L’odore nella latta ricorda quello del fieno appena tagliato. Fumato in varie pipe non cambia e non si forma condensa, anche nelle curve. Il mio giudizio finale è: se lo vedete nello scaffale del vostro tabaccaio di fiducia non indugiate ad acquistarlo, se invece non c’è fatevelo ordinare che non ve ne pentirete

Pipe Used: Savinelli 606 KS Marron Glacé

Age When Smoked: Nuovo - 2 settimane

Purchased From: Matera (Italia)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NoAsh (1)	2022-08-08		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

Simple to say Virginia but more difficult to compare to other pure Virginias. Something different and enigmatic that doesn't let you get bored of this straight bo.

Pipe Used: Briar

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Skygazer (6)	2022-06-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Yeah I mean, you can't expect me not to buy a tin after discovering that this was Tolkien's favorite blend. If a gentleman and a scholar with an extraordinary taste in things such as Mr. J.R.R. loved this, it means I must love this too.

Well, I like this.

I get it: the zesty, mildly acidic taste. The freshness. It's a nice tobacco that can be easily smoked all day, but I'm probably still in the equivalent of a rebellious teenager phase for pipe smokers: I need stuff that punches my tastebuds and nose. I love English blends and Aromatics alike, so a tobacco like this feels too mild for me to feel the call of the tin. But, as a wise man once wrote...

The Road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	brusaerba (8)	2022-02-05		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I have recently discovered this Virginia based tobacco mix. I confess, knowing this could have been one of Tolkien's favorites, affected my decision to buy a tin. I liked the capstan as soon as I tried it for the first time. It brings together woody and bready flavors. Only mildly sweet. Smokes well, slow, without biting or getting wet. I am smoking it with most pipes I have (straight billiards) indoors and outdoors. No strong nicotine hit. It's an all day tobacco for me. Room note is pleasant, the smoke is not dense and not particularly aromatic. It remains the same throughout the whole smoke. I use to crush the flakes a bit usually, since I noticed that in case the flakes are just slightly bent or rolled, the bowl won't be properly loaded and the smoke will be wet..perhaps this is a newbie comment (I am not an expert piper, I admit). Overall reccomended! I like it.

Pipe Used: straight billiard

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: Online store

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	glcslv (3)	2021-10-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Straight Virginia flake, the tin smells grassy, with a strong tomato/vinegar note. Easy to smoke, it will bite a little if not smoked slowly. Taste is very pleasant from the beginning to the end, plain for most of the time, not too sweet and very balanced, with some toasty and chocolate notes emerging from time to time in the second half of the bowl. I usually break it apart before packing and leave it drying for 15 minutes, pack it loose preferably in a large bowl pipe. If you smoke it without expecting too much it will be a very pleasant hour, if you are in the mood for a complex taste evolution go for something else. Anyway it never disappointed me and I always have a tin of this tobacco.

Age When Smoked: New

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rustedrailsmokes (293)	2021-01-16		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

JRR's recent birthday and a good sale got me to pick up a few more tins of this to add to my cellar. I was talking to my wife about the blend and instead of digging out an aged tin to open, I decided to go with a new one. The date on the back was Oct 2020, so it was pretty much a virgin virginia still.

Presentation: I love the square tins, I hate the "health warning" which covers half of it. Upon opening with a nice swoosh of the magic seal, you're presented with what is a gift. Folded card holder with a gold sticker. Nice classy packaging touch.. open the leaves of the card.. and you have perfectly matched and stacked flakes.

Tin Note: From a fresh tin there was a little sweetness and a little grass

Preparation: Remove one stick of gum, I mean flake of tobacco and fold it twice and insert into my Morgan Blackjack Professor (Author Shape) and it magically fills the bowl to the top. I rough up the top edges to help with lighting and give it a good char. Light tamp and then off we go.

Taste: Not as sweet as it's Golden Haired Little Brother but still with a sweet top note which I'll guess might be a topping of some sort. It's not as complex as my usual VaPers but you get a nice consistent taste along the sweet hay end of the spectrum. It is consistent through the end of the bowl

Smoking: Once lit, it burns nice and slow without a lot of effort. No tongue bite and as long as I keep my cadence slow burns cool. Puts out a nice amount of smoke. Room note to the wife is "tolerable but a little cigarette like". It's a blend that I have to be ready for a long smoke as it will last a long long time if smoked slow from one flake.

I've never been lucky enough to try the older vintages of Capstan, but I know that I prefer the Blue over the Gold personally and the flakes over the ready rubs due to my preparation preference. I make sure to keep them in my cellar happily aging, but even new (3 months) they are a hell of a good smoke.

Pipe Used: Morgan Blackjack - Professor

Age When Smoked: 3 months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrAcula (62)	2021-01-11		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Presentation: Iconic light blue and dark blue Capstan tin.

Cut: Comes in neat, thinly cut flakes—standard for Mac Baren. They rub out easily and the moisture is fine for smoking out of a fresh tin.

Tin note: Smells like sweet graham crackers. Quite an unusual scent and very delicious smelling.

Tasting notes: Tangy, dry, grassy flavors on light up. There is a nice sweetness too—it's not quite a grassy sweetness nor a fruity one, but somewhere in the middle. It is creamy in additionto the other flavors and has a woody finish. A light spiciness and smokiness come into the picture later into the bowl.

Mechanics: N/A—A well behaved blend.

Extra Remarks: This blends beauty is in its simplicity. It is a beautiful mild-med blend. While lacking in complexity and robust flavor, it is a very good blend and flavor is certainly still there. This is the perfect "all day" blend for a virginia lover. 3 stars.

Pipe Used: Mr. Paul Freehand Bent Dublin

Age When Smoked: 7 months

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Thepipehunter (43)	2020-11-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Capstan Blue is a very typical looking Navy Cut of uniform Flakes. Upon opening the tin I am pleasantly greeted with a sweet aroma, and notes of hay, raisins, grass, earth, fig, a little citrus, and a very mature fermented fruit smell that was very pleasing. The flake broke apart very easy and packed well. It also took to flame very well.

The first thing I noticed was the very sweet hay taste. But not sweet in an artificial way as I could not not pick out any toppings. It was a very natural sweetness found in good quality Virginia. I also tasted raisins, fig, earth, grass, and a bit of citrus. This blend has a very strong fruitiness that is in every puff. It is a dark fermented fruit that almost reminded me of Perique but without the pepper notes. This blend is a lot like LNF but with more mature Virginias, less citrus, and more of the mentioned dark fruit notes. It already has the aged and fermented tobacco taste that several years of age brings out. This blend smokes great out of the tin, but I am sure it would continue to age very well if desired.

Capstan Blue did not sport any rough edges or leave any tongue bite. It smokes down to a very clean and dry ash, though it did require a few more relights than usual, but not enough that it gets in the way of enjoyment. 4/4

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Megalo Al (38)	2020-11-18		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Un grande Virginia. Ingiustamente ritenuto inferiore a tabacchi più blasonati come il grande FVF, regge invece il confronto senza problemi. Relativamente economico, buonissimo, semplice da fumare. Taaanto tempo fa era uno dei tabacchi preferiti da Tolkien (dicono sia un po' cambiato nei decenni, ma ha anche questo aspetto romantico).

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia Flake, Samuel Gawith - Golden Glow, Samuel Gawith - Best Brown Flake.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BrokenRecord (124)	2019-05-23		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Capstan Blue: My favorite Straight Virginia Flake

The Virginia varieties used in the flake are a mixture of dark and light leaf that bestow a good deal of natural sweetness and pleasant grassy notes to the smoke. The rum casing is barely noticeable in the tin-note, but helps smooth out any rough edges from the Virginia leaf. A slight crisp edge and just enough body in the smoke helps to keep me interested for an hour+ pipe session.

After smoking numerous straight Virginias, Capstan Original has become a go-to flake. If you want something with more citrusy zest, check out Capstan Yellow or try to bag a remaining tin of Dunhill Flake. If like more body to your Virginia flakes, check out Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake or F & T Vintage Flake.

Similar Blends: F & T Special Brown Flake is a near dead ringer for Capstan Blue, though the Special Brown Flake has a little more of the darker Virginia varieties..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Leppo (3)	2019-04-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Very good tobacco! It was my first virginia tobacco, and i loved it! Let the flake out of the tin for some minutes can help lighting it; i nticed that, if smoked without care, it can burn a little your tongue, so be careful! It leaves a very sweet taste in your mouth when you've finished the bowl.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Doctor Willet (13)	2018-12-12		Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

For a while I avoided trying this blend because of the price. I was happy when I finally caved in and tried it. Capstan Blue is the pinnacle all-Virginia flake. It is supremely tasty and mild, with excellent characteristics all around. The moisture content is perfect, the flakes are easy to rub apart, and it burns evenly. There's a distinctive but very mild citrus flavor present in it that's just sublime. Before I smoked Capstan Blue, I never really tasted the citrus-y notes in any Virginias, but I can taste it here; it's not like oranges, just an ever-so-faint whiff of, well, citrus—like a tiny bit of lemon zest that tops-off a simple but well-prepared plate of white meat chicken or whitefish. In fact, if it were a food, that's what Capstan Blue would be.

I don't notice the nicotine in this flake. It is very mild in that respect. Tin note is of figs and raisins—exactly like figs and raisins. This note didn't really translate much into the flavor of the smoke, but is enjoyable all the same. Room note is pretty typical of a plain Virginia flake, and probably won't win you any friends (but you'll enjoy it). The tin presentation is similar to all Mac Baren flakes in that you get some very neatly stacked flakes that are entirely uniform, only the flakes are wider and don't appear to be hot-pressed. Overall, I'm very happy with this stuff; it's milder than most of the VA and VA-Per flakes I'm used to, but it's a superb puff, especially for the morning or daytime when lots of nicotine and/or bold flavors aren't wanted. I've smoked a bowl or two every morning since I first popped the tin.

Pipe Used: BW Rhodesian, bowl dimensions: 1.42"D x 0.76"W

Age When Smoked: 3 months

Purchased From: SmokingPipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Catholic Hoosier (6)	2018-10-02		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I bought this because supposedly it was J.R.R. Tolkien's choice tobacco. The initial smell inside the tin is wonderful and sweet. The flakes stuck together, and were very difficult to separate as wholes, since they crumble easily; however, if one prefers to rub out the flakes, this may be quite the advantage. As far as the flavor, this is a very good Virginia. There isn't anything particularly distinguishing or complex about this smoke, but there is definitely a very noticeable, consistent flavor of hay and sweetness. I am not sure if the sweetness is from the natural Virginia, or if there is also some kind of light casing, as is typical of flake/navy cut tobaccos. Something to keep in mind is that this tobacco, being a flake, can be hard to tamp down, and may sometimes err on the side of overpacking. This, however, may carry some advantages. I could easily imagine a dockworker or sailor smoking this tobacco on a cold, windy, and rainy day out of a corn cob pipe all day long.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2018-04-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I hate to sound campy but this is a nice clean, honest tobacco. This is pure VA goodness and nothing more (that is a good thing) and definitely nothing less.

The tin note is bright, lemony Virginia with some light grass notes. Sweet and full of pure tobacco goodness. The flavor is typical VA for me: toasted bread and sweet fruity undertones (Plum or fig comes to mind). A very consistent smoke. As the bowl builds the toasted flavors become more prominent and there is a molasses like sweetness that comes on midway through the end of the bowl. I think I give this plug in most of my VA reviews but I hope to share the experience with others that have not tried it. Virginia tobacco's are best enjoyed in a meerschaum pipe in my humble opinion. A meer cools and dries the smoke and delivers a super pure tobacco flavor. This is another that I enjoy most in my meerschaum pipes.

Pipe Used: briar's, cob's and meerschaum

Age When Smoked: fresh from tin

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Italo Svevo (26)	2017-12-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

As I'm sitting here on my couch, sipping red French wine and enjoying my pipe, I understand why this classic Virginia flake is still so popular. It provides a good balance between earthiness and sweetness. A straightforward, natural-tasting tobacco with a nice to tolerable room note. Capstan Original can't reach up to champions like Dunhill Flake, but it could play in the same league, so to speak. Less sweet than Orlik GS, but as good.

Pipe Used: Savinelli

Purchased From: Sample from cigarworld.de

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesthang (4)	2017-09-26		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This was my first ever Straight Virginia blend and it made me really enjoy Virginias. Love the fig smell coming from the tin. I really enjoyed the sweetness of the smoke and the delicate character of the virginia. Simple, but tasty. Was great on a hot summer day. On one occasion, for some reason, the nicotine hit me pretty hard. But that only happend once. I learned quick to smoke slower ;)

Pipe Used: Blatter&Blatter Haiti

Age When Smoked: Fresh from tin.

Purchased From: Blatter

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PhantomWolf (41)	2017-08-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Being Tolkiens go-to smoke, one has to assume he had it in mind when describing his beloved characters puffing away on their own pipes. I would describe this much as I wold describe a Hobbit- A little sweet, very simple, stout, dependable.

The tin note is nice. Slightly fermented with that molasses and grass aroma. Smells darker than it tastes.

A varied spectrum of hay and grass and that whisper of brown sugar. This has only gotten better over the past couple months after the tin had been opened. The more it dries to the perfect moisture content, the more grassy and earthy notes I get and the more the molasses morphs first to brown sugar and then nearly to refined white sugar.

Smokes well with little lighting (when dried a bit) and no gurgle. As far as bite, I felt a little spice on the tongue when I got too fast with it, but I never experienced tongue bite.

I really enjoy this blend and will certainly keep a tin on hand always. As for the rating, I am torn. Though it is a tin of perfect VA tobacco, it is also 40-50% more expensive than a tin of many competing blends. I feel docking it a star is only fair.

Pipe Used: Bjarne Viking

Age When Smoked: Fresh from Tin -And-3 months open from tin

Purchased From: Allegheny Smokeworks Pittsburgh, PA

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gordon Tavistock (23)	2017-05-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

EDIT, OCTOBER 2018:

This lovely little bastard still bites me without any apparent reason. It's not even a proper bite of the kind I get if I puff too hard, but an increasing and unpleasant tingling that develops into outright stinging at the back of my tongue. The tingling starts making itself noticed around 5 min into the bowl and increases from there. Some time after the half-way mark the stinging subsides to a mere tingle again, and that's also when the really nice and juicy and bready notes of the blend rise to an amazing intensity. I absolutely love the blend when I've reached that point. It is so good, that it's worth to go through the initial bite. However, I can't give the CONC more than two stars as this flake really stands out as a notorious biter for me. I will buy a tin to cellar for a few years, just to see if that case that improves things, but I don't think I will ever buy this again. There are plenty of other VAs to love!

Taste: Five stars; The tongue bite situation: One star. Over all: Two stars.

EDIT, JANUARY 2018:

I don't know how I managed to smoke this tobacco as a pipe newbie without getting my tongue bitten off. Perhaps I did feel a lot of bite, but wrote it off as a result of my undeveloped smoking technique.

Anyway, I put CONC aside for a long while and have only recently returned to it. The flakes are now shiny with sugar crystals and the smell from the jar is divine.

However, having finished all that was left of it (which was most of the 50 g tin I originally bought), I have to say that this is an unusually bity tobacco! The taste is fantastic, but I very very rarely get to enjoy it, because the whole experience usually feels like eating nettles. And the retrohales feel like snorting freshly opened Coca Cola.

I know by now that I am probably a bit bite sensitive, and I know that I probably still can improve my smoking technique, especially with some Virginias. But I also know that I over the last year have learnt to master and enjoy tobaccos that used to fry my tongue like habaneros -- including other Virginias. But CONC remains impossible to tame, regardless of how I rub it, regardless of how I fold and stuff it, regardless of what pipe I use, and regardless of how slowly and carefully I sip it.

Perhaps is it a Mac Baren thing? I've heard people complain about their tobaccos being bity. The only other Mac Baren tobacco I have tried is their Navy Flake, and that is another tobacco that tends to bite me (although not as much as CONC).

Anyway, if you can smoke this without getting bitten, enjoy! I do really love the taste of it. For my own part, I'll probably steer clear of this one for a while. Reduced to two stars from the original three.

ORIGINAL REVIEW, MAY 2017:

After having smoked this as my very first straight Virginia, I strongly recommend others who want to try their first straight VA to start here. I must say I like this.

The tin note has very obvious dark fruit and fig aromas, as well as hay. There also seems to be some higher-note freshness, as if the hay smell in it is of a fresher and more spicy kind, rather than deep and moist.

The smoke tastes like... Tobacco, nothing more, nothing less. But it has quite a bit of natural round sweetness and the mentioned tin notes come and go also in the smoke. But very subtle and not very exciting, but a satisfying balance.

I had a few relights, but I attribute that to me being a novice pipe smoker. Ok moisture level out of the tin, but closer to moist than to dry.

The nic-hit is moderate, but will perhaps seem mild to a more seasoned smoker.

Pipe Used: Savinelli 104

Age When Smoked: Straight from a tin purchased a week earlier

Purchased From: Havana-magasinet (tobacconist in Stavanger, Norway)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JustinCarcerated (99)	2016-12-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I see similarities between this and Dunhill Flake, and minus the Burley the Va component is much like University Flake to my tastes.

Blend is 4 years old, reads April 2013 on the tin (thanks for setting a good example for your Euro competition MacBaren!!)

Like Dunhill, Mac Baren understands that the cut matters - here the flakes are soft, pliable, and cut very thin. Thin to the point where I can take half a flake, roll it gently between thumb and two fingers and just like that I have a light airy tuft of super thin strands of sugary goodness.

Burn is spot on, and in part because of the cut enough air can be trapped in the wad as it is packed that a slow, methodical but bite-free smoking experience.

As is perhaps more important with straight Vas then other blend types, keeping the bowl burning in a cool, slow manner is very important to bring out the natural citrusy goodness that this type of cure demands.

Having said that, I don't sense any flavoring at all, its all Virginias here - and that is just fine with me.

Deeper in complexity than Capstan Gold, still a very good option for Virginia Lovers!!

Pipe Used: Meers and Briars

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake, Capstan Gold.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2015-10-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I absolutely enjoyed the Capstan Yellow; logic would have it I'd like the Capstan Blue, too, and, I do. The front end of this baccy is every bit as good as the Yellow; not as light, though. The baccy changed for me around mid-bowl; it got slightly bitter on the retro. The snork here reminded me of Dunhill's Flake, the same bitter effect (though not taste). Overall, this is a nice flake but I prefer the Yellow over the Blue—and, one serious negative, a big one in my view, as of 10/7/15 the list price for both of these blends (Yellow & Blue) is $16.00 a tin! Ouch! If the price doesn't go down soon, I'll be looking for another flake.

Keep on Piping!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pipedrum22 (15)	2015-03-23		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I smoked this flake side by side with it's more mellow brother Capstan gold. Comparatively, it is a bit stronger and has less of a sweetness on the palate. I would say it is a bit stronger in nicotine, but not overwhelming at all. The subtle sweetness of the natural Virginias is extremely pleasant and enjoyable. I suggest sitting it out for 5 minutes or so before you smoke it so it can dry out and burn better, but other than that it folds, stuffs, and burns fairly easily. It is a mild smoke that you can put in a pipe and enjoy all day. Highly recommend this blend for every flake lover.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jose Ruiz (7)	2015-03-22		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Very Strong

I hope everyone's doing ok today, for your viewing enjoyment tonights review is on Mac Barens Capston Original Navy Cut the one in the blue can.

Pipe Used: M.M. freehand corn cob

Tin Size: 1.75 oz.

Tobacco: Virginia

Type: Pressed

Tin Aroma: Natural honey sweet aroma, nice Virginia leaf aroma.

Taste: Nicely aged Virginia that brings on the natural sweetness of the Virginia as the more you smoke it. Richly smooth smoke, some robustness.

Strength: Medium to Medium Full

Room Note: Full strength and lots of body

Notes: Nice pressed flakes, the aroma out of the tin was fantastic. It reminded me of natural honey comb sweetness, it comes from the aging of the Virginia leaf. I noticed it was a bit moist and can use some dry time. I had to dry it about 30-45 min for a better smoke. I used the bend and fold method which I think produced a better complexity compared to if you rubbed it out, but if you do rub it out you get a nicer robust flavor and a little less sweetness, fuller flavor. Only needed a few relights other than that it stayed lit, you need to smoke it slow and is better in a deeper bowl for me. Burned cool,long and produced more of a nice natural sweetness as you smoke it longer with a nice rich flavor and remained a medium flavor through out the smoke. I recommend it not a bad smoke at all. I rate this one a 2.75 out of 5

The Wife's Review:

This one was weird for me. When the hubby started it I got so little odor I had him come by me to smell it. The smoke wafting out of the bowl smelled icky gross like burning wet wood. The smoke emanating from him at first was non-existent in odor but it built up quickly like a freight train gaining speed. It went from, "are you smoking that?" to "holy crap are you done yet?" in about a minute flat. It wasn't the worst I've smelled by far but if you don't like creepers stay away. I could handle this one in the summer with the patio door open, or maybe once in a blue moon. It certainly wouldn't be my first choice.. and since it chased my neighbor out of the apartment.. it might be good for getting rid of guests you don't like (although I like them and was sorry to see them go).

Pipe Used: M.M. freehand corn cob

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Sutliff

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (217)	2015-02-19		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a good flake. Easy to see why so many love it. It is simple and straightforward. The VA's have a light citrus and hay note that form the backbone of the smoke. The casing seems to be clearly tonquin bean and liquor of some sort. Odd that the reviews I have read (I have not read them all) have not commented on this too, so maybe it is just me. In any case it is a lightly scented flake that could be an all day blend except for the fact that after about 3 bowls my cheeks, not my tongue, are irritated. Because what you get with the first puff is all you are going to get out of this blend it is a great set it and forget it blend and works well while working from home.

Age When Smoked: 2 yrs old

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	John Georgiou (1)	2015-01-06		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Unnoticeable

This is the number one for me.I like so much straight virginias.This is my all day tobacco never let me down there is always in my cellar colection and this is my first priority.

Pipe Used: Rattray's Glory Days,Rattray's Sir William

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: The Pipe Shop Germany

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesmoke (75)	2014-11-30		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Capstan is a nicely constructed flake, but has a topping I don't much care for. The good news is that this medium strong flake does start to shine through the topping after mid bowl and shows its teeth some. Not too strong, not too soft, Capstan is full in body and gave me a good amount of smoke to chew on. Aside from the topping this would have been a 4 star winner.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (231)	2014-09-26		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Straight Virginia, without any doubt, and I believe natural Virginia. I think there is no flavoring in it, perhaps a light top dressing, but not casing at all. This is a great tobacco. Very good, natural, a classic. The taste of Virginia is unmistakable. If you want to learn to smoke straight Virginia, Capstan is absolutely the best. In my personal rating (from 1 to 10) my score is 9 and three stars.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	meerschaum (8)	2014-09-26		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I got this tobacco for free and wasn't sure about it at first, the packaging seemed to target another customer. However, it turned out that this was a nicely made tobacco. If you are looking for a complex tobacco this isn't it, I would describe it as a corse but agreeable, well balanced mixture with a few surprises and excellent burning properties.

Pipe Used: L´Anatra Scottanaso

Age When Smoked: New

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Joeray (61)	2014-02-06		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is really a great tobacco, I really love it since I open it for the first time. A little bit smell of citrus and a pleasant virginia really attractive me, also the view of the yellow golden flake is so beautiful.

To pack it, I just need to roll it slightly and then tamp it slowly. Is a very correct size to my Peterson full bent billiard so I don't need to rub it again. The 1st smoke is please me a lot, very sweet with a little bit citrus or fruity scent. The smoke is great, but at beginning, I'm enjoying a sweet smooth taste and without too much strength, this is makes the journey not too fast and boring.

After relight it, the fruity scent is getting little bit stronger. The strength is increasing but not too strong so it makes a very comfort smoke. Just a little bit kick but not make my head getting dizzy too much. Just a slow kick to give this blend an extra taste

I really enjoy this journey from the beginning till the end. Just a sweet pleasant smoke that's makes me always to smoke it again. This blend is very great, almost without any bite at my tongue so without doubt, I highly recommend this blend.

Pipe Used: Stanwell 163 Facet

Age When Smoked: 1 year

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cakeanddottle (105)	2013-10-07		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a very enjoyable light Va flake. Toasted wheat bread notes with extremely vague but present whispers of honey. This is lighter fare than even MVF. It's a great warm weather smoke, and when your palate is on it's flat out delicious. Not a stockpile flake for me, but I will grab 15 or so tins to see what develops. Not a firm favorite, but a pleasing new to me blend.

update 20Jan2020 not raising the score but raising my opinion of this one. Any other flake along this line would have some sort of citrus going on. This one has zero citrus, instead presenting oat and raisin. This makes it stand apart from virtually all the other flakes in this genre. really the only thing I'd compare it to that is still produced is Samuel Gawith Golden Glow. It's really amazing what Mac Baren has done with their catalog the last 10 years. They've become a blender you absolutely have to pay attention to.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stan (178)	2013-08-20		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This flake does not fairly compare to full Navy Capstan of old, which was no doubt a light white burley and mainly Virginia mixed flake, with a hit of vanilla or almond or something else very light to give it just a little swetness. i would not look here for its twin, but....

However, this is a great, rich blend which to me stands out due to its burley fullness, indeed with a good base of Virginia in the flake. Tasty and cool.

Sort of half-way between SG's Full Virginia Flake and Solani's Aged Burley Flake. Natural tasting even if cased a bit.

Highly recommended to somone wanting a rich, no nonsense flake, but without the heavy hit (I hope) of something like Irish Flake (which I crave at times).

I also smoked a tin of the ready rubbed version. The Virginia clearly stands out more in this version. More of a bright and haylight smoke, still with some extra body but not as complex as Hal of the Wind. I liked the flake version better.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PeterD (91)	2013-08-10		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

...a very nice tobacco indeed...in both flake and RR form, this and its (yellow)brother are examples of what a re-issue should be... Since I smoked the original (Imperial) back in the 1960's-80's, it has been a pleasant surprise to experience again this first rate tobacco.

I still have several tins of the original and have made some comparisons and find the new Orlik version quite suitable. Perhaps a nuance here and there that would separate the new vs old but frankly, almost "dead-on" in my book.

I enjoy straight Virginia, especially one that is not overly complex. This is a great down to earth smoke, with a taste and aroma that I'd put near the top of the scale. A must try for those who like a straight Virginia or for those who are open to experimenting with straight tobaccos.

...a pipe is to be savored...

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-08-09		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Capstan Blue Ready Rubbed

Appearance - beautiful golden strands marbled with light brown

Tin Scent - slight figgy tones with a hint of grassy classic VA Fragrance

Texture - very well rubbed up, soft and very slightly moist

Packs very well, lights fairly easy

I knew that when I would smoke this that it was going to be very basic straightforward tobacco flavor. That's exactly what it was, very smooth, light and tasty. Everything a classic Virginia blend should be. No fake flavors, just an undying promise to deliver. This is like FVF, but nowhere near as fussy. I hate comparing tobaccos but in this case it fits. Except Capstan is better. I would bet a fair amount that if you rushed this, it would bite.

It is strange to smoke one bowl and instantly add it to your rotation, but it is perfect.

EDIT: I have already had to purchase another tin, which arrived on 9/10

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-07-07		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is the second of the new McBaren version in flake form. My first bowl was unrubbed and a little too strong for my taste. This time, I rubbed out a flake and found it a little milder and more flavorful. Also easier to keep lit. Vey cool smoking with a gentle sweetness throughout the bowl. Like the Gold Navy Cut, it is a delicious smoke. The added red Virginias provide more depth of flavor than in the Gold. I can see why this is the more popular of the two. McBaren has done an excellent job with these two flakes.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	the_german (309)	2012-02-01		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

And another package from DanPipe hit my doorstep a couple of weeks ago. I had so far only tasted the Gold Navy Cut by Capstan, so this time I had ordered a tin of the Original.

The 'baccy comes in a very small tin that I normally associate with the more extremely pressed flakes like University or Irish Flake; inside there are actually layers of fold-and-twist slices that are fully the width of the tin, stacked horizontally. And folding/twisting works just fine straight from the tin.

The tin note is of good VA varieties -- some grassiness, some mature VA notes, and a spicy/sour topping that I cannot quite define; it is remeniscent of MacBaren's HH Aged VA, but far less obtrusive. Goes well with the leaf, though.

Lighting and maintenance are easy; a no-brainer for the VA flake smoker. The strength is pretty much even throughout the smoke, the room note typical VA with a bit of added spice (from the topping, no doubt), and the taste has enough variations over time to keep it interesting. As with all VAs, sip slowly and you shall enjoy.

Out of the large selection of pure VA flakes available, I count this among the top 10%; solidly recommended for the VA fan.

Pipe Used: Stanwell Shape 11

Age When Smoked: Fresh from new tin

Purchased From: Various

Similar Blends: Orlik Tobacco Company A/S - Richmond Navy Cut, Dan Tobacco - Kriswill Medium Navy Cut.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipemanuk (76)	2010-02-21		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I am so confused by all the variants on the site for Capstan, but needless to say that this is a most pleasant, smooth flake with a depth of taste far far superior to it's yellow tinned brother Capstan Gold...I'd go so far as to say just buy this and don't bother with the Gold. This I understand was Tolkein's favourite flake and it's easy to see why: even in brand new tins the flakes have a maturity and a meltingly gentle smoke. If you store them for a few years you get an extra depth of wine like fruitiness. I've been lucky to smoke very old tins of this as well as new tins and I can unhesitatingly recommend it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2010-02-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The main difference between Capstan "Medium" (or Original) and "Mild" (or Gold) is not the strength, as the name suggests, but the type of Virginias: while Capstan Mild is mostly (if not all) lemon leaf, Capstan Medium is a mix of lemon and red Virginias, the former being dominant. That gives Medium a bit more depth, more sweetness and less tang. It is a bit stronger, but other than that they're both quite similar. It won't replace FVF or HoTW in my regular rotation, but the quality tobaccos used here make are enough to give it 3/4.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipemanuk (76)	2009-11-27		Mild	Mild	Mild	Tolerable

This comprises two reviews really.....firstly the modern tin. Medium Navy Cut (which equates to Original Navy Cut) is a perfectly fine but bland flake. It's certainly a step up on the Mild, which I found to be thin in taste and harsh on the mouth, but otherwise it's unremarkable. The only way I can think to improve this is to put it away for a few years....and that leads me to the second review....

Fortune smiled on me recently and I was gifted with two round 2 ounce Capstan Full Navy Cut tins probably from the 1950's and a 2 ounce Medium Navy Cut tin from the 1930's. I've not opened the Full Navy Cut tins yet but I just couldn't resist opening the 1930's tin! The scent was very strong indeed...like a very old wine, almost a port. The tobacco was a broken flake, fairly dry and ready to smoke. To be honest it smelt so strong, you could almost just sit there breathing in the scent, but when I did light it I was greeted with wonderful clouds of smoke and the taste of alcoholic stewed dark fruits which lasted through the whole bowl. I imagine at something like 70 years old the tobacco has reached about as far as storage can take it....it's been such a privilage to have the chance to enjoy what must be a once in a lifetime opportunity. :-)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dk-piper (25)	2009-10-24		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

tobacco Smell: Raisins, fruity sweet, sweet plums...all natural aroma-like very similar to ThreeNuns but sweeter and fruitier

appearance in tin: larger flakes neatly arranged on top of each other. more dark and some light stripes

Perfect moisture. Smoke is cool and smooth as silk. Just delightful. Little nuances of fruitiness, sweetness. Pure Freshness. This one beats MacBarens Navy Flake by knock out.

Wonderful Navy Flake!

try it!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-09-30		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I have been a pipesmoker since the biginning of the sixties. Since then I have tried more then 30 difrent brands of tobacco and have came to the folloving resolt.

Capstan medium is not medium it is more mild then medium. In the good old days when it vas medium made by Inperial Tobacco Co in Liverpol in good ol England, it was a blessin. Today when made in Danmark it´s more tastless (soft) then before. I cant undersand why Inperial Tobacco accepts the change of this old and famos brand. My Regrets ThomK in Sweden.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Griswold (21)	2009-09-29		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Capstan Medium Navy Cut is my 'default' Virginia tobacco and one of my all-time favorite tobaccos in general. I smoke more of it than all other Va.'s combined, and if I were forced to pick only one Va. tobacco to smoke for the rest of my life, Capstan would be it.

It has just the right amount of strength, a wonderful Va. flavor enhanced with just a hint of sweet topping, excellent burning qualities...what's not to like?

There are stronger tobaccos, there are tobaccos with more complex flavors, but IMO no other Va. flake is as well-rounded as Capstan.

In short: a true classic. If you like Va. flakes, try it at least once.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steden (100)	2009-07-29		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Oh, my friends ... you could say I'm a sentimental fool... But yes, this is the tobacco that "really" made me fall in love with the pipe! I must admit that objectively there are other better Virginias, but as noted dryfly11, CMNC is never boring and I can confirm having smoked a lot of tins. This tobacco has in its repertoire of all that a lover of the Virginias may ask: grass, hay, dried fruits, a natural fruity sweetness reminiscent of glycerol, a taste of malt biscuits. After smoking in the back of the palate flavor lasts a long time. The smell of biscuits and hay wafts light in air. A glass of Recioto di Soave or Strevi Passito match this Flake

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-07-18		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I've just finished a tin of 50 grams. The tobacco was aged for 4 years and I can tell you it's a great stuff!

I love Virginias and Latakia Blends. This one is a very smooth smoke without boring you. Some blends get boring after aging.

Smoking slowly and you get the reward of excellent flavour. Is it pure virginia? I cannot detect artificial flavour, but do I perceive Perique? Nobody mentioned it.

Highly recommended for Virginia aficionados!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pseudo Nim (128)	2008-06-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

At Last I had the pleasure of smoking the flake, purchased in Germany, as opposed to the ready rubbed available here in England, what a difference, the RR looked, felt and smelled like cheap han rolling tobacco, where as the flake was a world apart.

My only complaint being that it did burn somewhat hot in the bowl, not quite asbestos gloves time, but not far off. I'm unsure of any toppings, although I am sure they are there, this is most likely due to my poor sense of smell, but then, I'm more interested in the taste, after all, what use a wonderful smelling tobacco if it tastes like dogs vomit, (which has a distinct buiscuity flavour and poor burning qualities I might add) IMHO Capstan Medium simply tastes like a good quality Virginia, a good daytime to early evening smoke.

Towards the end of the day though, I go looking for inspiration from Sammuel Gawith Navy Flake or FVF or maybe Gawith & Hoggarth Bobs BB No 2

Still, Capstan Medium, 4 Stars.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-03-26		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Now smoking my fifth tin of this blend, I think I can do a good review, for clarification, it is the light blue tin of Capstan Original Navy cut, made by Orlik under Licence of Imperial Tobacco Ltd.

This is the flake that led me into virginia flakes in the first place, telling the tale of how sweet a tobacco can be, and that there is a great difference when it comes to flakes VS ribbon cut tobaccos.

the tin aroma is kind of sweet, fresh fruity smell, a tad of honey as well. The flakes are as wide as the tin, and not really thick. Easy to fold, and there is no extra stiffness at the edges, as there might be in other flakes. The color is lightly brown with some golden streaks.

The thinn soft flake is easy to fold, sometimes I roll it a bit between my thumb and index finger, to give a torpedo like shape before putting it into the pipe.

It lights easy, maybe a bit too easy, the first few puffs can be quite hot before tamping and slowing down. Carefully smoked, it is sweet and mellow, not alot of nicotine, sometimes an slight earthy tone is present, and this is a nice thing, keeping it from being overly sweet.

The smoke is consistent all through the pipe, giving a fine white ash. A freshly opened tin might, sometimes, give a bit of gurgles. Not to overly moist like penzance thoguh.

Room note: the room note does not scare off the spousal unit from the living room

The lack of nicotine is, to me, the major flaw, I can smoke Irish Flake in the morning, even before my morning coffee, without feeling any nicotine hit, this makes me still want to smoke even more, even though I just spent 40 minutes with my pipe.

Compared to SG - FVF, or another favorite: Solani - Silver Flake, this is kind of meek, therefore the 3 stars, it is good, but there are better alternatives at hand.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipepundit (168)	2008-03-15		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

When I first started smoking a pipe -in 1964 - the variety of tobaccos available to me was limited to a few heavily cased and highly moist tobaccos, infrequent tins of Three Nuns, an English style scented flake called Prince Henry, and Wills and Capstan flakes. Both the latter were made by WD & HO Wills. They came in two presentations, a fine cut for rolling cigarettes and a flake cut for putting into pipes. The capstan, in a blue pouch containing a sealed gold foil inside was definitely the better of the two, though the default choice was Prince Henry. That experience kept me from ever trying the Capstan Flakes elsewhere.

After reading reviews on this site I decided to give the trademark another try. What a revelation it has been! This is a delicious tobacco for any time of the day, in any pipe, with any beverage. Sweet and nutty, it reminds me most of the richness of Cut Blended Plug by Fribourg and Treyer. It has a dark, coarse ash often found in blends containing some perique or cavendish or both, and I would not be surprised if I was told that the blend contained one of the two, or both, in some measure.

I thought the social contract behind trademarks was that goods bearing the same trademark would be of exactly the same quality everywhere: it would appear it is not the case.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gho (9)	2006-08-24		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I decided to give Capstan a last chance and packed it into a clay, which I am smoking right now. First off, let me say, that the presentation and quality of the tobacco itself is quite good. The flake crumbles down nicely to consistent strips, packing is easy and there is nothing to be wished concerning burning characteristics.

What turns me off is the topping. To me, the tin smell is not very appetizing. While burning, the smoke carries a very distinctive falvour which reminds me of orange peel. Slightly sweet, slightly bitter. The taste will stay in the bowl for some time. If you like it, go for it. I didn't get the hang of it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Danno (106)	2005-11-10		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

My first foray with the famed Capstan house. My (one) tin was blended by Imperial and I have not tried the Danish offering. I am too young to harken back to the days of old with nostalgia brimming in my eyes, so it seems fair to say that I was somewhat underwhelmed by this tobacco. It is tasty and serviceable but does nothing spectacular. Yet, perhaps one should not ask for more than consistency and good manners from such a classic. I enjoyed my tin and, occasion occuring, would purchase more.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2004-09-01		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

A good, not spectacular, traditional British flake. No awkward flavorings like the ones found in St. Bruno, rather a nice Virginia taste from the start to the bottom. Good balance of sweet and sour, fruity taste: I might even be tempted to suggest the presence of a bit of perique and burley, but it might just be the particular kind of Virginia to give such impressions. Think of a McClelland tobacco like #22 but without the ketchup (and with some vague hints of Limerick), and you might have an idea. The flakes are very elastic and can be folded easily to pack the bowl: I feel, though, that the humidity level in a freshly opened tin is a bit too high. This results in a higher number of relights compared to other products like Full Virginia Flake, some wetness and some tonguebite. Nothing that can't be solved by some exposure to air of the flakes for drying before smoking. Anyway, the decent taste of the tobacco (though some off-notes can be detected once in a while, and it can be weak tasting compared to McClelland virginias) and the attractive price compared to similar products in Italy can be good reasons to cellar a few tins: beware that I tried the original light blue British tin, and that the new version made in Denmark is reported to be of inferior quality. One MORE reason to cellar some of the old while it still is in stock...

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pounder 5000 (178)	2004-02-10		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a nice medium level Virginia flake and is certainly much improved over its brother- Capstan Mild! This flake actually has some flavor and even a tiny bit of complexity. It's great in the morning with a good cup of English Breakfast tea. It doesn't bite and its aroma is a pleasure. This is what is so very wonderful about the diversity in pipe tobacco. A great tobacco for any situation! I had to order this from Synjeco in Switzerland, but sometimes it's worth the extra money to be a part of these sublimely perfect moments.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TheOtter (61)	2023-02-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The classic no nonsense straight Virginia blend that has been loved for decades. It was a favourite of JRR Tolkien and for good reason. The Virginias are bright and flavorful, with a slight tanginess. It can be an all day smoke, as the Virginias are not sharp and nic hit is medium. If you are looking for a simple Virginia blend you can enjoy throughout the day, then this should be at the top of your list.

4/4 a classic.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wally Frank Collector (46)	2023-01-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

A gift that I truly enjoyed. I bought some of the ready rubbed version and the tin was 2 years old. This review is the same as the rubbed version for I found no taste difference.

Upon opening tin I was greeted by a hay fragrance with a nice rich earthy, mildly woody, light bread and pleasant apricot aromas dancing in the background. This was ready to smoke and I have smoked it in my Peterson Killarney B10 and various cobs.

It rubbed easily into long strips and packed easily. It took a bit more to get it lit but once lit it burned slow and cool and had less relights than normal. The smoke was rich, creamy and full. It burned to white ash. Had a very light amount of moisture in the bowl at the end. Had a very pleasant room note.

Upon lighting I was greeted with a very pleasant, medium to full tobacco flavor that was pleasant which was highlighted by a really pleasing hay, earthy, fresh bread flavor that had dancing in the background a mild tangy apricot, lightly woody experience that closes with a very pleasant perfectly sweet honey flavor that sticks around after each puff and Dow a while after the smoke is finished. A pleasant experience. A wonderful medium tobacco that is not overly complex but is balanced beautifully and comes across as a quality tobacco that is a pleasant smoke with a medium nic hit. While not complex it isn’t one dimensional either. It is well done and can be an all day smoke. Doesn’t bite, but if pushed one can get a few mild rough edges.

This is a favorite that will be part of my regular rotation. A pleasing smoke that makes one feel fulfilled at the end. A 5 out of 4 stars.

Pipe Used: Peterson B10 and cobs

Age When Smoked: 3years old

Purchased From: Gift

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nathaniel (35)	2023-01-10		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Smell from a freshly-popped tin is grape juice, 100%. Welch’s, Protestant communion, grape juice. Pre-light draw gives the same effect, with the slightest addition of burnt toast. Loaded into an estate Clark Layton blowfish that is fresh from the shop, no ghosts here.

Takes the flame easily, despite the moisture in the flakes. Initial flavors are of hay, like many Virginias, a little wheat, a little stewed fruit. Very typical Virginia profile. I also pick up hints of a sweetness like custard that enhances the sense of stewed fruit. Very nice, and also very consistent. That’s at a sipping cadence. Speeding up doesn’t do much for this blend, except heat it up and introduce the threat of tongue bite. There is a burley-like note of oats, more understated even than the custard, barely present enough to be a counter note. Other flavors include a note of cedar or pencil shavings, not present in every puff, but weaving in and out, and graham crackers, even more subtle, and the merest suggestion of brown sugar.

Burns well and quickly for a flake (I used fold-and-stuff). Not much of a nicotine hit. I could definitely inhale this one if I wanted. Wouldn’t call it cool-burning, but it’s well-behaved. From what I can tell, the room note is pretty pleasant. No relights needed.

I like this stuff a lot. Maybe the most user-friendly Virginia I’ve smoked so far. If it were not for the price, I’d make this my everyday smoke. I’d definitely recommend this, especially to beginners who want a friendly, mostly sting-free introduction to the world of Virginia tobaccos. The whole experience is exactly what I love about Virginia tobaccos. Easily four stars.

Pipe Used: Clark Layton blowfish

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hmoya (38)	2022-12-28		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I came to Capstan Navy cut as a Tolkien fan and also looking for this well-recommended tobacco. I found a very pleasant mixture of Virginias that invite you to a very nice smoke. The tobacco moisture is in perfect condition in the tin. The flakes are full of aromas from mature Virginias that put a little more complexity into the blend. The smoke invites you to keep a long slow smoke. Completely recommended and a must-taste.

Pipe Used: Peterson Aran Smooth Nickel Mounted

Age When Smoked: 1

Purchased From: Cigarworld.de

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (453)	2022-12-16		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Tin note of stewed plums and mild spiced figs. The yellowish-brown tobacco flakes easily rub out. Tobacco is moist, but no drying needed. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is medium. Though listed with Other / Misc flavoring, I couldn't discern it. Taste is medium and consistent, with complex notes of tangy sugary dark fruit, floral, mild lemon grass, sweet bread, spices, very earthy, dry wood, a mildly sweet musty hay background note, and a peppery retro. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is great.

Pipe Used: Peterson Bard Rusticated 221 Fishtail

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nuvoleazzurre (36)	2021-12-19		Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

Il Virginia è un mondo; costruire un tabacco con un monocomponente può essere una sfida, si rischia di creare un qualche cosa di mono-tono, noioso. Poi il Virginia è un tabacco che va corteggiato, conosciuto prima di poter dire di "so tutto di te", ti si concede nelle sue sfumature solo se ci sai fare, se no è difficile poterne cogliere le sfumature, il carattere e le suo grandi sorprese. Trattato male si chiude in se stesso non regala alcunché. Come la donna che offesa alla domanda “Cosa c’è?” risponde “Niente”.

Il Capstan può essere considerato una palestra per introdursi nel mondo del Virginia appunto. Non è facile (come nessun tabacco, d’altronde), ma è paziente e sa tollerare un maltrattamento. Più che un amante è una madre che sa rimproverare, ma ti vuole sempre bene.

Innanzitutto parliamo del taglio il flake, questo non è solo una forma di confezionamento, ma un procedimento di lavorazione atto ad esaltare determinati tipi di maturazione soprattutto coi virginia.

Apriamo la famosa scatola azzurra, saremo accolti da una grande varietà di aromi dal pungente al morbido, un po’ di pazienza e si sentiranno altri aromi come agrumi, fichi, erba. Il tabacco è di un bel colore biondo scuro, il taglio delle strisce è ben realizzato e fine, Il tabacco più che umido è untuoso, si può accendere subito, a me piace più secco, ma questo è gusto personale; un certo grado di asciugatura e ossigenazione lo migliora, senza dubbio. Sapete io arrotolo il flake e in questo caso rende molto rispetto allo sbriciolarlo.

L’accensione paziente, fatta col fiammifero è il top. Formatasi una brace uniforme questo è un tabacco che fuma da solo (grande vantaggio).

I primi puff ci seducono in modo gentile sopratutto il fruttato e quello speziato intrigante per il palato e il retronasale che ammalia e imbriglia, nella voluttà e passionalità. Le note poi virano in un gran alternarsi acido dell’agrume, dolce della frutta, secco della terra.

Ripeto è un tabacco da corteggiare, va fumato a fil di respiro, e saprà donare tutte le sfumature del Virginia. Fumato in modo nervoso, diventa acido, agre; riportata la fumata a ritmi più consoni ti perdona e sa manifestare le sue sfumature. Saputo sedurre si concede ai sensi in grande voluttà.

Il massimo lo traiamo da pipe dal fornello capiente, più lo si fuma e più si svela. Nelle pipe piccole è piacere, ma di una “sveltina”.

Il neofita non può che imparare e crescere, anche prendendo in considerazione considerato il prezzo imposto non esagerato. La forza media ne fa un buon tutto giorno, un tabacco sia disimpegnato, che da meditazione.           La nota ambientale è buona e di rapida dissoluzione. La persistenza in bocca invece abbastanza lunga e dolce. Accompagnato con un ottimo Calvados ha il massimo.

Chissà se era questa l’erba pipa di Tolkeniana memoria.

Pipe Used: Savinelli, Armellini, Peterson, Gasperini

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Honest&Simple (25)	2021-10-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very approachable flake. This was one of the first flakes I ever tried. The tin note is a beautiful mix of hay and dried fruit. The presentation is also pretty, you can tell it is a very high quality flake as soon as you open the tin.

I tried rubbing it out and the fold and stuff method, both worked well. It was well behaved from start to finish. It was a light Virginia smoke. No bite, a beautifully mild bready smoke.

My palate is still developing so i can't pick out many flavors. What I do know is it is an approachable flake for a beginner.

Pipe Used: Cob, Peterson system

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: P&C

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ANDERSEN (4)	2021-09-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Cuando abres por primera vez la lata, el aroma caracteristico de un virginia puro, con los tipicos aromas a chocolate, higos y frutas maduras, heno, pan horneado, tierra y madera, quizas algo mas amaderado, es el unico punto negativo que le doy. La fumada es completa desde el principio hasta el final. La nota de habitacion es muy agradable. Es uno de mis grandes favoritos. El punto de nicotina es muy tatisfactorio. Un tabaco que nunca faltara en mi bodega y en mi dia a dia. Muy recomendable.

Pipe Used: Corn cob

Age When Smoked: 3 meses

Purchased From: España

Similar Blends: Virginias oscuros.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Antonius Blok (190)	2021-08-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I was very surprised by this tobacco for its quality / price ratio, which is the best I know among the tobaccos in tin. A mixture of different virginias, rich and with fruity, hay, slightly sweet flavors. Its qualities are as good as those of the best tobaccos: it burns well, does not bite the tongue or produce moisture.

I have never taken into account the price of a tobacco to value it, but this being such a remarkable case, I am going to make an exception with this one. Three stars for tobacco, four for the total product.

Age When Smoked: 1 year and 6 months

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kaisersoze (10)	2021-04-04		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I’ve had a tin of this that I’ve jarred for a year or so, and it was the first straight Virginia I’ve ever tried. I know there is a little bit of hype behind this being the famed flake that Tolkien enjoyed, and quite of few reviews are very positive, but it just didn’t do it for me, Don’t get me wrong it is a good blend, and I would even recommend to try it just for its renowned status, you may even like it better than me but for the price I feel I can do better. Tasting: Charring and true light give hints of citrus, fading quickly giving way to a very raisiny bakery taste, consistent flavor to the bottom of the bowl. Like I said a decent smoke, I proabably made it sound worse than it is but I much prefer OGS. I’m rating at three stars only because it’s only slightly better than two stars.

Pipe Used: Peterson 303, MM diplomat

Age When Smoked: Fresh, and one year of age

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	widepluto (5)	2021-03-13		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Wonderful straight Virginia with notes of citrus and hay. Some might find it not complex enough but I enjoy loading a pipe of this when reading a book as it will last very long. The smoke is nice and mild. Somehow great for the summer and depending on where you live, a really good price for a quality tobacco.

Pipe Used: Vauen

Age When Smoked: 1 year old

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MangoLegs (72)	2021-03-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Preparation & Burn: 5/10 Too moist, but it's a lovely thin and pliable flake. Burns fairly cool, not much bite. A few too many relights. Best to pack loose, let sit for 10 minutes then tamp a bit and light.

Taste: 19/20 It's a great, rich flavor. I think this is my favorite straight Va so far. Lots of flavor, does not get boring.

Mildness: 7/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine.

Total: 31/40

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Karam (59)	2020-10-02		Extremely Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Edit: when I first tried it it didn't do much for me, but I have learnt to appreciate it, however I appreciate other straight Virginias more

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: Estervals pipe house

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Davedmn (17)	2020-07-11		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Others have described this in great detail. So I will just give my impressions. It has a tin note of tobacco, Virginia tobacco. I find this to be a mix of hay,wood,and dried fruit. There are no hints of added flavours.

The flakes can be either rubbed out or folded and stuffed. I find it benefits greatly from being lit and then slowly allowed to go out then relit. A natural consequence for me as I get distracted easily!

It smokes cool with no tongue bite. But it is a Virginia so slow is the way. I imagine it would be an all day smoke. But I only have a couple of bowls a week so not my thing.

A very small amount of dottle each time.

It's really a classic blend.

Pipe Used: Barling fully bent

Age When Smoked: About 1 year

Purchased From: In spain

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia Flake, Samuel Gawith - Best Brown Flake.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lingo (39)	2019-04-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

It was my first experience with a “flake” (it is not a real flake, or rather it’s the simplest flake around, so easy to rub and pack). I feel somehow attached to this tobacco, for the tin -so old style- for the perfect shapes in the tin, for the straightness and honesty of the smell and of the smoke to come. The smoke is easy, quite full but with little/no evolution. The taste will be a good bridge for the cigarette smokers who are passing over to the pipe. Nothing to store in my cellar, but something to buy once in a while.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Theocharis (38)	2018-12-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

If you really like straight virginias, this has to be one of the best out there. Very nice tin (reminded me of old cigarette tins) and flakes. Although the strength is mild to medium, the taste is there.Very satisfying natural grassy notes. An easygoing smoke.

Pipe Used: Briar

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Little Steven (76)	2018-11-23		Mild	Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Unnoticeable

It doesn't bother me that old, reputable labels are resurrected for a modern market. It doesn't bother me because it doesn't fool me.

Capstan is absolute rubbish. Hardly tobacco at all. It leaves me dissatisfied in every way.

Don't by Capstan. Buy cheap Greek cigarettes instead.

Pipe Used: Stanwell billiard.

Age When Smoked: New.

Purchased From: The corner shop.

Similar Blends: A Greek dog end.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr.Jones (9)	2017-12-12		Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The tobacco is presented in clean, uniform flakes, with a dark brown color and some lighter specks. The smell is the usual in virginias: fruitness and a sweet aroma. My prefered method is to prepare it is to rub the flake completely: it crumbles to small long pieces. I've found that works best for me when packing and lighting, but your mileage may vary. It may need one or two relights, but otherwise burns very well until the end of the bowl, leaving very little residue. It has a rich body and a moderate nicotine content. The taste is on the milder side but still you get a pleasant smoke with the usual hints of grass, citrus and even a little vanilla. It's a good -if simple- tobacco, it will not overwhelm your taste buds but it's not boring either.

The room note is not bad, not an aromatic, but will not raise complains.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (317)	2017-09-23		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very straight forward basic VA flake. No obvious added flavor, other than a tinge of sweetness, as I think the very (very) slight fig-like notes come from the VA. Might take just a bit more to get lit than other flakes of similar thickness, but holds the light pretty well (I do fold flakes rather than rub them out) but you might have to relight slightly more than usual. Burns at a moderate rate. If you often smoke VAs like Gold Brick you might get a bit more complex flavor out of this, but not nearly as much as many other straight VAs. If you're looking for a mild-to-medium/medium all-day VA, you might want to check this out. If you're looking for power (in flavor, N, and/or complexity), skip.

Pipe Used: briars, cobs, and meers

Age When Smoked: 2.5 years

Purchased From: 4 noggins

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	steppx (186)	2017-08-22		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I cant really recall the older versions of this, not completely anyway. But i suspect this is a bit more generic in taste. That said, its very good. I Reminds me of HHMacbaren Virginia flake. Very similar. There is a very very very very mild casing, but one does get a taste of it now and then. Thats not a complaint. It is a very fine tasting and easy to smoke virginia flake. Macbaren has tried to duplicate the old version and in a sense they have. The tin note smells very old timey to me....much as dan tobacco's Patriot Flake does. Im not sure the reason. Nothing exceptional.....its not a hall of fame blend and its not meant to be. Two and a half stars. And it does tend to get a bit warm if not smoked slowly. Honestly, its fine, but i think there are better versions of this out there.

as an added note: please, the complaints that Gawith's lack of uniformity in flake size is just provincialism. Gawith uses 19th century presses and creates something very rare in today's mass produced world./

Purchased From: 4noggins

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JJ Sir Emmitt (40)	2017-05-07		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

The presentation of the tobacco is great. As well as the story about it in the write ups. Who wouldn't want to smoke what Tolkien smoked? I smoked this flake rubbed, and folded. My verdict is that it is defiantly a Virginia flake. This flake was a bit temperamental needing a couple of relights and pokes here and there. However it burned relatively cool, with no real tongue bit to speak of. The flavors are a typical mild Virginia profile. Earthy, and bready, with some notes of citrus, sugary sweetness, and a mild spice. Overall I did like it and it is a quality tobacco, it just does not offer anything special. In my humble opinion of course.

Pipe Used: Peterson Kinsale XL13

Age When Smoked: 1month

Purchased From: JR Cigars Detroit

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Newbie2010 (18)	2017-01-31		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Not sure what all the fuss is about. My opinion is clearly the minority. I have tried 2 tins of this. No matter how I prepared it, rubbed out, fold and stuff, cubed, it burns hot and gloopy, and is not tongue-friendly. The first time I bought this, I couldn't wait. Got home, put on Lord of The Rings, as this was a favorite of the author, and packed my favorite churchwarden. I was disappointed. While the roomnote was nice, the taste was acidic and inconsistent, sour. And yes, I let flakes air a bit before packing the pipe. I let the other tin age for a year, and it was a little better, but it still bites, like a lot of Mac Baren blends. Some aging did help. The second-half of the bowl wasn't bad. There is a nice sweetness to it, but it's short, a dry mouth feel, and it still gums up my pipes. Maybe a year just isn't long enough. And from what I have read in other reviews, it may just be a candidate for extended time in the cellar. In my humble opinion, there are far better flakes to be had...

Pipe Used: Savinelli Pot, Danish Church, Peterson's

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Watch City

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake, St.Bruno, MacBaren Navy Flake..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	canvas (337)	2016-11-14		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

I must confess I am not very familiar with Virginias. I recently finished a tin of Escudo Navy De Luxe and by the end of it, oddly found myself wanting to revisit the taste of hay I initially didn't connect with. While these may be two totally different beasts, to my limited exposure they fell into the same camp.

The Capstan flakes are huge and required one of my larger pipes to take it all in. The tin looked and felt quite nice in hand (as a side note) and held a golden sweet smell that reminds me of hay. It wasn't earthy or flecked with Eau de Manure. Lit well and maintained an acrid heavy smoke that was a new sensation for me.

For me it was harsh, but not bitter, had a mild sweetness and sipped well. I was not in love with it and prefered the Escudo Navy De Luxe for being smoother, but it does offer something without frills for when you just want to smoke and not pay attention to some specific flavor (as I do with Aromatics).

Review warning: I was suffering a toothache at the time and this may of altered my opinion.

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Sunday Evening Pipe Smoker (54)	2016-11-11		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

What drew me to this tobacco was that it was that which J.R.R. Tolkien smoked and I was curious to know what his tobacco experience was.

When I first popped the tin, what surprised me was that in addition to that usual grassy-hay sweetness you expect from Virginias, there was a very pronounced fruity, citrusy type of scent -- I am certain there must be some sort of topping to that affect. If there is / was, I cannot say that I've detected it in the tobacco as of yet.

At any rate, beyond the tin note, what I experienced in smoking this tobacco was pure, naturally sweet Virginia bliss. Prior to trying this I spent last weekend smoking F&T's Cut Virginia Plug and I'll have to say that Capstan Blue very much reminds me of that. In fact, I'd easily see the two as being interchangeable for me. CVP isn't always easy to get and this would suit me absolutely fine as I get a similar flavour profile from it.

Really just very enjoyable. Worth spending the bit of extra for it. Also the most perfectly formed flakes I have ever seen.

This is definitely one that I can see myself stocking up on.

Age When Smoked: Fresh from new tin

Similar Blends: F&T Cut Virginia Plug.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bayro (30)	2016-10-13		Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Although I am not a big fan of flake tobaccos, this tobacco I smoked for the first time some thirty years ago, as a young smoker pipe. Then I was found very strong ( then I loved aromatics, which is normal!), so that at the time I was very disappointed. A few days ago I got this "new version" of Mac Baren and I was very pleasantly surprised! Yet more than thirty years of experience in the matter! This tobacco is a superb blend of several types of virginia. The first time, when they lit a pipe, is quite flat, but when smoking goes on, develops deep, high quality sweet aroma of superb Virginia! Tobacco for the all day, undemanding, with very pleasant room note! For each referral!

Pipe Used: old tanzanian meerschaum, Peterson, DMP,

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: Dreier, Graz, Austria

Similar Blends: Mac Baren, Virginia No. 1.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	raybrown55 (45)	2015-01-29		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

It's my favourite straight-virginia. Mild at start, with a subtle honey taste (maybe a slight casing), its flavor becomes more and more full troughout the bowl, ending with a nutty hint in the last quarter. Burns slow even rubbed out and the smoke experience is fully satisfying from the start to the end. I'm cellaring some tins of this cause I guess it will age great.

Purchased From: Noli Tabacchi, Milano

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Solle66 (2)	2015-01-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Nothing special about this tobacco. Taste like cigarettes. Can not recommend it. However no tongue bite. Lights and keeps easily lit. Burns to white ash. Very over hyped tobacco!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nicotiana_rustica (23)	2014-10-21		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Before some time i could easily say the best straight virginia out there is:::: SG Best brown flake !!

Sorry; for me not any more! To much "problems" with tobacco preparation; why on hell should i pay dam 12,5 EUR for moist flake (moist like somebody has urinated on it.....sorry Sam!) if the CAPSTAN BLUE is avaliable for 10,2 EUR!!!!!! Be fair and sell normal (dry) tobacco. Now- i just simply open my nice small tin, pack a pipe, 3-4 matches and THERE WE GO.....(without any preparation...drying, cutting, cubing etc....)

So; Capstan has quickly become my favourite all day virginia smoke. The flavor and aroma remind me on chestnuts and raisins. A little honey sweetness, especially on relights.... excellent plain tobacco flavor. I can smoke it all morning and still be game to smoke anything in the afternoon and evening, whether I decide to stick with straight Virginias all day, or switch to Virginia-Perique. Burns easily and stays lit with slow, gentle puffing.

I love this tobacco and will be cellaring as much of it as I can afford. Some days the CAPSTAN will turn to LEGEND.

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Best Brown Flake.

Purchased From: https://pipe-shop.net

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	xox51 (1)	2014-04-12		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I saw SP's sales ranking, see its noble price, since that is very good. Bought a taste, unfortunately, there is smoke ridge!!! Even as PS luxury sections of these cheap chips will not happen.

Taste, delicate, mellow, the price is generally.

Pipe Used: all

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	O'Confrère (40)	2014-02-07		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This tin is from the early 90's made by "Imperial Tobacco Liverpool England." Tin note: dried figs! Dark, slightly moist flakes rub out into fine shag. Takes the match beautifully. First sips lightly fruity, soft, develops a moderate depth quickly and has a slightly peppery prickle, a prickle which makes you alter your puffing automatically. What an easy smoke! And forgiving! Used to smoke this frequently in the early nineties, and now I remember why. This was my go-to tobacco for televised football (soccer) matches at the pub, just fire it up and let it go. Never required too much attention, tasted great (like bright and red Virginia - with Burley? - not too much sauce), did not punish over-puffing (if the football match became involving), produced plenty of smoke, burned long and dry, went great with a pint (or pints), never elicited complaints from others, supplied a decent dose of nicotine, was readily available, and not too expensive.

Capstan Blue was not anything really special. It was just plain good; an easy choice at the time.

This was a solid three to four star flake back then. Even today's version, if you like Virginia flakes, is one you should not miss! It may be a solid four stars for you.

Age When Smoked: 20+ years

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pipey duck (49)	2014-02-07		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Simply the best,when it comes to a straight virginia! Never find out what kind of flavour used here, but it works amazingly. Perfekt in the nic-department also. A nice semi sweet and never biting cool smoke. I review a new tin and i am not sure who is the blender right now. 2 years ago it was made by orlik but i have heard it is made by mac baren now. Are all orliks made by mac baren now? Doesn t mind. Highly recommended

26/04/2015 Update I have to downgrde it because of the somewhat changed flavour which is used here. In thr current version i get bored afzer a half bowl. 10 years ago this was my benchmark when it comes to bold and simply virginiaflakes. Now it lacks on the perfekt virginia scent

Pipe Used: captain black bulldog

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: Pfeifen Timm Hamburg/ Germany

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeKing David (134)	2014-02-05		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This might be the tastiest, most bite-free Virginia flake that I ever smoked. This is the new version made by MacBaren, and I like it a lot. More fruit-sweet than honey-sweet, this flake also burns well for effortless enjoyment.

Govern Yourself Accordingly.

Pipe Used: Radice Twin Bore Dublin

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: JR Cigars - Southfield, Mich

Similar Blends: Dunhill Flake.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steve Lewis (5)	2013-11-30		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Middle of the road Virginia that is very enjoyable smoke. Nothing exciting but that's OK. One of my favorite Virginia blends is Dan Tobaccos Hamborger Veermaster which I would put in the same class with Capstan Blue. An easy to smoke consistent very pleasant Virginia with a sweet to semi-full smoke with a very nice room note. Occasionally I am asked what would be a good Virginia flake, as an introduction, and I usually direct them to Capstan Blue Flake.

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Dan Tobacco - Hamborger Veermaster.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-11-07		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This is my first "full Virginia flake" style tobacco. I will admit that I bought this mainly as a Tolkien fan (don't judge). Having no prior experience with this style of tobacco, I waited till I smoked it 10-12 times and even mixed it with some left over Escudo at one point just to really try and get a good hold of what I had. Let me say first off, that I love the smell of this directly from the bowl, but if you walk up on someone smoking it, you think... Marlboro light! And consequently, that's the impression after you smoke it as well, in your clothes, hair, and aftertaste. After all though, remember that we are smoking... tobacco. I personally just find that one aspect rather unfortunate. Now on with the nuts and bolts; It is sweet. Naturally sweet, which is different if you are coming from syrup laden aromatics or relatively low sugar content heavy Lat blends. I catch the fig/prune taste others have described and also the hay/straw taste as well. It is not a complex smoke like so many English blends, but rather a... meat and potatoes blend? I find packing these works best completely rubbed out using the air pocket method(personal preference). lights well, good moisture level, but you don't want to fight with VAs to keep them lit, they'll bite. I just let mine go out and re-light if necessary, and practically keep it on the edge of going out most of the time, slowly sipping. I might buy this again, but for now I shall continue trying other VA flake blends just to see what's out there.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	puro66 (73)	2013-08-26		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This review is for the Capstan that was recently reintroduced to the U.S. market and is made by Mac Baren. Beautiful stacks of precisely cut flakes greet the eye immediately denoting a MacB product.

The flake is medium dark in color with more of a fig and prune aroma dominant and less hay forward. This is good for me as I prefer less of a hay smell. From the first light this tobacco had good flavor, no hard puffing was required to get taste. It packed great using the simple fold and twist method and burned very well. Perhaps there is a slight casing but it's subtle. It's also light to medium in nicotine (IMHO) which is a plus for me.

This was a very enjoyable smoke and surprising since most "Navy Flakes" don't work for me. My only knock on it is the price and I do feel bad citing that given what my fellow pipers around the globe must pay for tobacco, but...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-12-22		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This is the same tobacco as Capstan Medium Navy Cut.

A straight forward medium Virginia that has become my staple pipe tobacco. Not a complex smoke, but with a wonderful Virginia taste and some spiciness that tickles my nose.

Capstan has been made by Orlik for many years now, but something has changed. Last year they started using new tins with less then good seals, so once opened the tobacco dries out faster than before. And now it seems that Capstan has been discontinued by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group, and replaced by My Own Blend (in Sweden called "Blå Cap", and perhaps "Blue Cap" on other markets?). I haven't tried the My Own Blend version yet.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	o3Ho3 (28)	2012-12-04		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Pleasant

If you want V at his (almost) best this is the one for you. Not very enjoyable for nonsmoking ppl around. Highly recomended...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-10-18		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I had the privilege to smoke a 2 year aged tin of the pre ST Group era of Capstan, when the tin was still rectangular in its presentation. A friend of mine brought the ST Group version of capstan which strongly reminded me of orlik Golden Sliced both in the colour and the tin aroma of citrus and hay. The version I smoked smelled of figs, raisin and a slight smoky note that makes me suspect there might be some Ke into it. The flakes rubbed out extremely easy and were at the perfect humidity level, thus avoiding me to make it dry out prior to fill in the pipe. Smoking Capstan is a real charm. It will bite slightly upon the charring light but will not insist. It smoked remarkably well and brought forward the taste of figs, raisin, a slight plum like note as well as the famous smoky taste I was referring to earlier. Capstan reminded me enormously of the delicious Four Square Red VA flake that has been discontinued for years (sighs...). Unfortunately, I do not think the new version will match this one. I will not even attempt to try it as I have already tried Golden Sliced and can not say I truly enjoyed it.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2012-04-13		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The bigger brother of Gold Navy Cut. Nice, dry fruit smelling flakes that produce a beautiful blue smoke upon lighting. The taste is of a slightly cased Virginia Flake tobacco, slow burning and medium bodied. Tangy, sweet with some brioche-like accents once in a while especially if smoked slowly. The topping shows up once in a while as an very mild licorice note. A solid Danish style Virginia flake.

Virginia lover

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fireball (36)	2011-07-15		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

A good, clean, straight-ish, mild, pale Va flake with minimal topping in a handy little tin. Doesn't set my pants on fire but a reliable standby to have at hand epecially in hot weather when I just want a smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-03-22		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A generous PSF forum member and friend supplied me with this in a trade. Masochist that I am, I couldn't resist a chance to try a blend that is all but impossible to source here in the colonies. My thanks to him for the chance to grumble yet again.

This is Irish Flake lite. There are differences(sweeter, possibly more of a topping, less oomph), but this is my take. To be sure, I find this to be a good thing...a blend that reminds me of one of my favorites, but doesn't kick like a mule with a grudge.

If it were easily procured, this would be a welcomed addition to my rotation, one that I think I could even smoke exclusively, heavens forbid. It cannot replace IF, but as a milder, less in your face rendition(again, my take), I should imagine it would get more than its fair shares worth of burn time.

0 stars for availability, 8 stars for my endorsement equals...

4 stars. (Funny how that math worked out.)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2011-03-10		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I really like this one, it is a new tobacco for me since I've moved to Spain. It has taken me some time in my pipe smoking journey to get to the place where I can appreciate blends like this. These type of blends require the highest degree of attention and take the "art of pipe smoking" to it's highest heights. This tobacco is not for those who just want to light and go, very different from your american aromatics or your english blends with latakia. You don't want to go to town puffing on this one, no it requires a slow sipping technique, but once you get that down it opens up a whole new world of flavor in pipe smoking, and I feel like blends like this with their light sultry sweetness and their temperamental bite teach you to relax and take your time with the pipe, which is what it's all about. I love to lightly rub this one out or fold it and pack it loosely and just sip away, a slow smolder, lots of relights, but keeping this one on the edge of going out will keep you in heaven!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-02-27		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I have been smoking pipe for more than 40 years.....started up with Macbaren....mixture...dark twist.....virginia.....after many years trying i started with Capstan......and have been smoking that in 25 years now......its the most complete tobacco for everyday smoking.. sometime i try ...just for fun another brand.......but very quick i am back on the Blue Capstan....there is two bad things i think....first.....its not good to light up the pipe again after it is cold......and second.....and the worst,,,,now they changed the tincan......and its so bad that the tobacco drys out very quick...its not sealed ok.....i smoke 3 - 4 cans a week......and after new can i am so tired of this....but the tobacco is still the best i ever smoked.....but like all navy cuts/flakes......dont rush...take the time to smoulder proper....then its like heaven...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-12-29		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

A classic tobacco I had ever tasted. Better late than never... I kept it closed in my “cellar” for about a year. So, I tried a quite matured Virginia flake tobacco, rich and sweet flavor, with perfect humidity that causes no tongue bite, with moderate nicotine power. I am under the impression that it has a very light fruit flavor, which makes it even more pleasant to smoke. Even towards the end of the bowl has no roughness, and leaves a very white ash. The aroma is not at all annoying. Fills easily the bowl, but be careful not to over-fill it because the flakes can expand and stuff the pipe. Lights and stays light easily. Ii left with the same positive impression as the Orlik Golden Slides.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Skando (203)	2009-11-26		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Quite long time from my last encounter with Capstan Medium (now Capstan Original) Navy cut. This is now happening since my nearest local tobacconist was displaying the last tin, I thought it was chance to grab it and review.

I don't detect any heavy changes between the older version (Imperial) and the current (Orlik) , thus CMNC remains one of my favourite classic flakes to keep in stable rotation. A true example of plain and uncomplicated medium Va, with the most discrete top dressing. Easy lighting and burning, cool and refreshing smoke.

And I do agree with Noorrmm's review back in 2002 in saying that it's a rewarding smoke both casually or contemplatively.

What keeps me from rating 4* is that it starts “really” too plain, the true game starting from the second third.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Moçambicano (13)	2009-02-14		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

A pure, strong, honest, high-quality Virginia flake. I'd love it, if VA happened to be among my favorite types of tobacco; but it isn't so ? my preferences go to Burley and aromatic types.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-07-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

After 1 tin of this tobacco, I can say that this is a good blend that could be better smoked with a "full stomach" (after lunch)due to its nicotine percentage. It burns very well in any kind of pipe. 2 stars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sasha (228)	2005-07-07		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

3 stars upon trust of what the British version of this truly legendary flake used to be. Now it's made in Denmark and don't know how does it taste. It's plain, good virginias, with just a little flavour of dried fruits, nothing else. It packs well, smokes cool and dry if you leave it on the air for a while. Maybe a bit too "normal", but it's the standard against which you judge every Virginia flake. A Classic.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bumbum (20)	2003-04-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

One of my favorite tobaccos for years. I've now shifted to Paul Olsen's "Plantagenet", but still smoke Capstan Medium (or Full) on occasion.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gae (46)	2003-01-24		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

As far as I'm concerned-the way this tobacco is described, is exactly what you get.And I go along with all that has been said in the "positive" review's before me. It's easily rubbed out & light's very easily.It give's me a nice uncomplicated smoke,but with a satisfying flavour & doesn't bite the tongue.It leaves my pipe nice & clean,with a nice lightly grey ash.In it's class I'll give it 3 star's out of 4.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2002-01-17		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

I was able to smoke a ten year old tin of this . It had a fruity smell in the tin , but the flavor was not heavily artificial . I'd smoke it again but I wouldn't stock it in the cellar without smoking it some more .It was intriguing , but not exciting . Not bad in any way though .

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Quiggifur (92)	2023-02-27		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Raisin, spiced, bready, grassy, like a cool breeze. Slightly sweet and acidic. Maybe a hint of cardamom, the suggestion of cardamom. I'm not so far a huge fan of straight Virginias, they're usually too subtle for my palate, or entirely fade into nothing. I'm giving this 3 stars, but i could upgrade it to 4 after i spend some more time with plain Virginias. Seems like there's a fair bit to contemplate here, even if the flavors aren't as strong as i prefer.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	b7q (51)	2023-01-11		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This is similar to FVF and tastes like a thick soup, which most Straight Virginians can't do (they lose moisture in their mouth when they eat it).

This is easier to light than FVF, I can fold and rotate into the pipe slowly smoke, friends who need nicotine will not be disappointed. It's 1/3 cheaper than FVF and easier to procure.

Pipe Used: Briar&Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: new

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lord Guyrox (24)	2022-01-06		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I have been disapointed by this offering. My tin had 8 years and 8 months of aging (according to MB's date) and despite this, the flakes had not darkened much and the overall taste has yielded very little complexity or nuances. I was definitively expecting more after such aging!

Age When Smoked: 8 years

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	KrzysD (24)	2018-11-26		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Nice clean Virginia. Easy to smoke mild tobacco that’s good for a warm sunny day. Thin even cut on the flakes make it convenient to fold and stuff when rubbing out isn’t practical.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Matt C (1)	2016-12-16		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I Give this a 7 out of 10. Excellent at any time of day. It is easy to rub, pack, and smoke or just fold into your pipe.

Age When Smoked: New tin

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	point9 (114)	2015-06-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Before I try Capstan I heard about lots of good reviews. Upon opening the tin the presentation is neat, even light brown flake, and it's easy to work with. The strength is on the lighter side of medium, but the flavor develops as the bowl goes. It reminds me of Dunhill's Flake, clear and bright, with a little deeper tangy and never bites.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Alfonso (3)	2015-05-01		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Perfect flakes, ready to smoke folded or rubbed. As all Virginias, better if smoked slowly. Then it releases its sweetness and aromas. A very honest tobacco. Recommended.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kaizoku (12)	2013-10-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

a very nice sraight VA blend that does very well as a everyday smoke! subtile hints of figs, hay and some slightly sweet flavours i cant define.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-07-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is a review of the 2013 USA reissue of the "Original Navy Cut" flake purchased in June 2013. I cannot compare it to any of the earlier versions because I never smoked them.

VA flakes such as SG FVF have become my personal favorite smokes and Capstan Blue really delivers. I've worked my way through a full tin and I'm ready to say this is in my top 5. The tin note is the first hint that this is going to be great. It has a molasses smell that makes me drool. I find it wet enough out of the tin that the flakes should be dried before smoking. Otherwise it produced a far too wet smoke that reduced the flavor and enjoyment of this wonderful tobacco.

I have smoked it both folded/stuffed and rubbed out and I tend to prefer it rubbed. When properly prepared, it produces a sweet straightforward smoke characteristic of a pure VA but with a fair amount of nuance in the flavors. I taste a creaminess as well as a certain saltiness. Its never bitten me but I take VAs sort of slow and let it go out a few times per bowl. Retrohaling its thick, voluminous clouds brings a fine tickle to the sinuses but definitely doesn't make my eyes water. I'd say it tastes almost caramelized beyond the halfway mark and I look forward to reaching it, even though the first half is divine!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-03-22		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'm a Virginia guy, that's for sure, and even though I've tried many interesting takes on this category of leaf the old blue Capstan simply can't be pushed out of my personal top 5.

I prefer the darker types, especially those with red Virginias in the front, and this one (being a golden/brownish composition) technically belongs in another category. But this one doesn't care about technicalities, it seems, and to me it acts more like one of its darker cousins than its obvious, blond sisters.

Meaty, complex, deep, yes, but surprisingly easy to deal with. Wonderful stuff. Only downside is the new square tins. I really liked the older rectangular ones better. Luckily I don't have to puff the tin.

Highly recommended!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Connoisseur (47)	2012-02-09		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Capstan Medium Navy Cut is another of my all time favourites...smells good enough to eat right out of the tin. Simple, uncomplicated virginia tobaccos with a light raisin-like topping. Burns beautifully, with rich smooth body nut mild tangy flavour that's easy on the tongue. A good day time smoke enjoyed with a cup of English tea.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-01-16		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

One of my very first tobaccos was Capstan Navy flake, it was in fact the second one i ever tried. And it was love from first puff. The tin aroma is indeed as sweet hay, reminds me of when i was a kid i used to go out on the fields with my uncle and grandpa. That wonderful smell of freshly cut hay a warm fall day in the field. This might be why i love it so much, nostalgia. The taste i cannot properly describe as i still am a quite new smoker, only 1,5 yrs with the briar now. But it tastes very pleasing smokes smooth and cool, no bite. As of the comment earlier of where to get this, i buy it in Sweden its sold in 50g tins and are hurtfully expensive, but still half the price it is here in Norway

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-05-04		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Does not work for me. Maybe because of the Kentucky

2 stars because of the very practical tin that i now use for other tobaccoes

Update july 2011 Tin open for 6 months, and smoking this outside, it has wormed it't way into my favourite list.

Better, more consistent review to come after the summer

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-08-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a wonderful Virginia flake tobacco. A long, smooth, cool burning smoke that, in my opinion, is as good as Gawith Full Virginia Flake. A bit milder perhaps, but still very very good. Fully rubbed out I didn't get anywhere near a bite and the taste was consistent to the bottom of the bowl. An earlier reviewer felt FVF was more sophisticated, but my experience is just the opposite. As I mentioned before, FVF is fuller, but it was a bit harsher with my experience. I don't think any U.S. retailer stocks this but it can be gotten through tobaccoonline.co.uk and Dan Tobacco, Germany, but shipping makes it pretty expensive. I like this a lot-- 4 stars!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-08-01		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Capstan Medium/Original Navy Cut is a tobacco I always go back to after trying different brands. A straight forward Virginia blend, with probably spiced with a small amount of Perique. I'm smoking a bowl right now!

I remember my first tin back in the 1980's. It was a cool autumn evening at our summer home. Fog over the river, and dew started to form in the grass. I remember the fig and raisin smell from the tin, and how good the tobacco tasted.

I have smoked many tins over the years, and it's difficult to say if and how it has changed since the production moved to Denmark.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-07-08		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This WAS my everyday tobacco until someone took it away from the American Market several years go. This tobacco tasted like sweet hay,and smelled like it. It was sweet Virginia goodness, smoky billows of yummy goodness. I would roll it up tight and rub it out completely. Ahhh the dreams of yesterday. Where oh where do you get this tobacco these days?

Update; It's back! I missed this flake tobacco a lot. After I waited for it to arive at my online retailer I ordered 4 tins. I couldn't wait to open one up. I opened the tin and broke the paper back, I wondered if the new producer had gotten the recipe right. They did it! It's the very same tobacco I used to enjoy! Mellow, malty, mellow, slightly tangy but smoothed over. Welcome back old frined.

Update:2016 Yes, Capstan is back and I must say it's the same recipe. I got both the flakes and the ready rubbed. The original only came in flakes but this new ready rubbed is outstanding! RR comes at just about the right moisture level and needs very little drying time. Packs easy and easy lighting. The mellow deep rounded flavor is as I remember it. Oh my goodness it's good to have this old standard back!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	baldo (1)	2010-05-02		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

It is and it has been soince a long while one of my favourite flakes, a very good Virginia one with good complexity, depth and a smoky notes comparable to the one you can taste in some Islay Scotch whisky. A good alter ego to SG FVF in my rotation.

Update 2019: I bought a tin this year after a while without smoking it, I'd say that I'm rather upset, I found it quite flat and untasty. I suppose that going in Mc Baren family didn't help at all.

Pipe Used: Peterson De Luxe, Pascucci billiard

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-02-07		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

A delightfull flake tobacco a friend in EU included as a surprise. If it were available in the states I'd buy it by the case.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-01-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I was wondering if these flakes were the unrubbed version of the Capstan's Ready Rubbed pouch. No, they are not the same tobacco. These flakes packs and lights very easily. Offers a cool, delicious and long lasting smoke.

A nice choice for Va flake lovers for their daily smokes. I personally will have this little tin on my shelf regularly.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steden (100)	2009-10-25		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Original N.C. is exactly identical to the old Medium N.C., the name was changed to regulatory questions about the use of words such as: "Mild" or "Medium" for tobacco. For me confirm what I wrote in my review of Medium N.C. Whatever name it has I love it. I agree with both previous reviewers, who seem to have similar taste to my not only about this tobacco. The comparison proposed by Pseudo Nim between FVF and ONC is really interesting and witty.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-06-11		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I was surprised with a tin of this from DubInTheDam and I can see why he & others love this stuff. Very pleasantly falls between Peterson's University Flake & MacBaren's Navy Flake in its flavor & aroma. A milder version of UniFlake & a great tobacco that is well suited as a all day smoke.

I'd buy lots more if it were available in the states.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-05-20		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

A beautiful flake with a strong scent of fig, a little bit wet but still beautiful. It grinds perfect in the hands. It is easy to pack and lights even more easily. What is keeping me from giving this wonderful tobacco four stars is that it has a little bit to fruity taste.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2008-06-12		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The main difference between Capstan "Medium" (or Original) and "Mild" (or Gold) is not the strength, as the name suggests, but the type of Virginias: while Capstan Mild is mostly (if not all) lemon leaf, Capstan Medium is a mix of lemon and red Virginias, the former being dominant. That gives Medium a bit more depth, more sweetness and less tang. It is a bit stronger, but other than that they're both quite similar.

It won't replace FVF or HoTW in my regular rotation, but the quality tobaccos used here make are enough to give it 3/4.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-03-24		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

To be clear, I am reviewing Capstan Navy Cut Ready Rubbed as sold in a pale blue pouch in UK newsagents. It is a very easy tobacco to find in the UK. Not at all sure if this is the same one as others have reviewed here. I can't find the Flake anywhere. The tag line 'A medium to mild blend of carefully selected Virginia tobaccos with a natural aroma enhanced by a subtle flavour' is the same though.

The cut is virtually shag. Very thin ribbons of bright, light Virginia that looks and smells very like cigarette tobacco. Not very promising really. But I have found this is one I go back to regularly. It is just an easy stand-by. It lights and smokes very simply. The taste is pure Virginia - sweetness and brightness. It will bite if you really try and it will burn too fast if you puff like mad, but most of the time it is just a reliable uncomplicated smoke. The strength is much higher than the appearance of the tobacco would suggest. This is often a 'have a rest in the middle' tobacco for me.

Nothing special, but a repeat buy for me and it does the job. 3 stars.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-03-28		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

UPDATE: i've been informed on smokersforums.com that this blend does not contain burley. quite surprising, really! END UPDATE

of course, this is not quite the tobacco it used to be in the days when it was made by will's, and neither is it as good as when it was made by imperial. some 20 years ago it used to be almost full strength, fig-smelling, dark brown, sour-nutty-sweet. now it's mild-medium, citrusy, medium brown, with no sourness and some nutty sweetness. but still, it is a decent enough virginia tobacco (with a touch of burley), considering that it's made in denmark by orlik.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-12-03		Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

In choosing which Straight Virginia I would take to the proverbial desert island, I would be torn between this one and Sam Gawiths FVF. This is a wonderful Virginia flake, with beautuful presentation. One of the few flakes I can smoke a little moist without any bite. A sweet grassy/hay flavor which is nothing short of delightful. Flavor intensifies a bit as it goes down, but never bitter. Nicotine is satisfing....I love to take this flake in a bulldog for long walks as it takes very little attenton- It just gives good flavor..... Well recomended. Only 3 stars as its hard to get being only sold in the EU.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-10-01		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I've been smoking a tin of Capstan Navy Flake (at least I think it's the same stuff) by Imperial that is made in Denmark but now comes in a blue tin that I bought in Barcelona in one of the ubiquitous TABAC stores.

Not a complicated tobacco, but an honest, high quality, medium Virginia flake. It is a bit damp in the tin but smokes sweet with little residue even in that condition.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-08-09		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

God, do I miss this stuff. It's far from the best flake I've encountered, but it's just so damned yummy. Dunhill's Light Flake looks like it, but lacks the sweet, zippy taste. My substitute du jour for this legendary blend is Fribourg & Treyer's Cut Virginia Plug. It's a most worthy alternative that is perhaps even better qualitatively, but this 8yo tin of Capstan I'm sampling is awfully hard to beat.

Basking in the sunshine of a bygone afternoon.........

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-07-12		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The tin is actually blue of this Capstan Medium. It is a lovely blend of Virginia tobacco. It has a longstanding reputation and is favored by many a pipe lover as noted from the reviews above. I have tried only 1 bowl so far and feel compelled to write a review even though I cannot say very much about it. It was a little hard to get going after several lights. Lovely flavor and will continue smoking this until my tin is used up. Which means I like the stuff although my socks are still on my feet. I will return to update later. ==update== It is now about 3 weeks since the above review and I have not changed my opinion. It is a very good virginia blend and is growing on me. I seem to enjoy it mostly in the morning with some espresso. Because of the nature and cost to procure this tobacco I will not likely purchase any more, however.It is not available in the US of A.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2003-12-11		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Ok, I lied I don't smoke this everyday,BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOLD IN THE U.S. ANYMORE! @^%&(*&^&%#$ Please, please bring this back to the U.S. and quit punishing us inocent pipe smokers. This (IMO) is the worlds best Virginia flake. I know there are lots of Virginia flake adicts who would agree. Mild,wonderful Virginia, cut into long rectangular strips, and naturaly sweet.Burns so good and long,and tastes oh so good...Please bring this back to the United States.

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