BryGuy reviews navy flakes

Ok, a while back, I started a thread inquiring what exactly constituted a "navy" tobacco. After some valuable feedback, I decided to travel down this path of navy tobaccos, and see what I can find out for myself.

As I smoke them, I'll post my reviews in this thread. If I've reviewed one of these before, I'll review it again for this thread.

Here is what I'll be working through:
PS Luxury Navy Flake
Escudo
Mac Baren Navy Flake
Comoy Cask 4
Samuel Gawith Navy Flake
Newminster No. 400 Superior Navy Flake
McClelland No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake

I decided to start with the offering from what is fast becoming my favorite brand, Samuel Gawith.

Date: 4/6/15
Tobacco: Samuel Gawith Navy Flake
Age: delivered about a week ago
Blend Contents: Latakia, Virginia
Pipe: MM Eaton
Tin Note: like a less-sweet Full Virginia Flake
Prep: Dried a flake for about an hour. Cube cut and gravity fill. The draw like a thick milkshake.

Notes:
On the initial light, and first few minutes, the hay from the virginia was very present, and the mild latakia came through in a pleasant way. I’m usually not a fan of the oriental & latakia mixtures, but this was not too strong.
After a few minutes, something magical happened, the smoke became smooth, buttery, and sweet. It is difficult to nail down. The image that came to my head is kind of like brown sugar and butter heating on the stove, but with an added “coolness.” Maybe like a buttered rum or a caramel popcorn. Again, this is hard to discern, not an in-your-face flavor.
This flavor was only in my mouth. It did not come through the retrohale or the exhaled smoke.
About halfway through the sweetness faded, and the virginia shone through again.
Every exhale that hit my nose popped with the mild latakia.

I think I should have let it dry some more, as it wanted to go out. I enjoyed it so much, that I had a hard time not puffing too hard. I get the feeling it would bite pretty good, with too much puffing (as I am prone to do).

I really enjoyed this smoke. My next order will have a bulk box of this. :D

Nice review. I have some of this but did not dry it enough to get anything good out of it. I hate it when I dont dry enough. Just a waste of baccy

SG makes the best Navy Flake. I'm about to light a bowl up as a matter of fact!

Thanks for the great review Bryan :thumb:

Thanks, Bryan, thanks a lot! Another tobacco on my to-git list :)

Number 2!

Date: 4/9/15
Tobacco: Newminster - No. 400 Superior Navy Flake
Age: New - maybe 2 weeks
Blend Contents: Virginia
Pipe: MM Missouri Pride
Tin Note: mild Virginia. No hint of a rum topping.
Prep: Dried a flake overnight (I fell asleep), put back in baggie for the day, fold and stuff method

Notes:
This tobacco lit easily with one match, and burned reliably.
It tasted of mild virginias. The smoke was light and unremarkable.
A few minutes in, the smoke thickened a bit, and got more interesting.
There was a mild citrus note on the sides of my tongue, sometimes with a hint of something I can only describe as the taste of a sweet tin can. The mouthfeel of the smoke has greatly improved, as I can feel it coating the inside of my mouth.
As the smoke progresses, the bright “can” taste is still the main note. It is not bad.
The smoke is a bit one-note, but if you like bright virginias, you will probably enjoy that note!
This doesn’t strike me as what I think of as a “navy flake.” More just a nice virginia flake. I miss the rum.

Date: 4/12/15
Tobacco: McClelland No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake
Age: New
Blend Contents: Virginia
Pipe: MM Missouri Legend
Tin Note: sweet, very dry dates.
Prep: Cube Cut. Dried about half an hour

Notes:
This smoke is more subtle than I expected. The first half of the smoke was kind of dull, requiring patience and concentration. Sometime after halfway through the bowl, I picked up some subtle changes. I got some sweetness, and pops of citrus. The usual virginia notes were also muted; I guess from the stoving.

I had a hard time keeping it lit. I expect the relights may have cut into some of the nuances of flavor.

This tobacco did not strike me as interesting enough to want to keep it in rotation. I don't think I'm experienced or slow enough to properly enjoy this tobacco.

I appreciate you doing these. Have never bought a navy, but you've listed several tobaccos I've wondered about or been interested in.

SG Navy flake is my favorite "Navy Flake" so far.
I don't consider Newminster 400 to be in the same category, name notwithstanding. It's more like SG FVF.
Escudo 'Navy Rolls' are good to... although being a VaPer, I'm not sure what 'Navy' has to do with it.

Date: 4/16/15
Tobacco: Comoy’s Cask 4 Navy Flake
Age: New - maybe 2-3 weeks
Blend Contents: Virginia, Perique
Pipe: MM Missouri Pride
Tin Note: Sweet, hint of raisin
Prep: Rubbed out a flake, and let it dry about 30 minutes.

Notes:
This tobacco lit easily with one match, and burned reliably all the way down with no relights.
This was a solid smoke. Mostly virginia, with just a hint of perique.
I picked up citrus and toasty hay notes, with an occasional bit of spiciness.
This is a nicely balanced tobacco, especially if you don’t like too much perique.
The smoke was good. Not thick and creamy, but pleasant.
I don’t really have anything bad to say about this tobacco. It was not exceptional, but it was not bad.

Having some PS Luxury Navy Flake right now. Thinking about enlisting :)