Capstan Medium Navy Cut Pipe Tobacco Reviews

These long strips of English-made, Virginia-burley flake tobacco contain a variety of brown tones, from light to dark. A rich, sweetish, slightly fermented aroma greets you when you open the tin. This is one of those scents that has a distinctly plant-like aspect to it, and it is topped off with notes of something richer and almost chocolate-like.

It is moist and sticks together well, but is not difficult to crumble up. Once the pipe is packed, a puff on the unlit tobacco provides the taste equivalent of the scent in the tin. Not only does the aroma in the tin remind me of Orlik Golden Sliced, but the smoke's taste also reminds me of it, although this is a little richer and less "green" in flavour.

The smoke is thick and cool, rich-tasting, but not with a very heavy flavour. It possesses a certain neutrality in that it is neither sweet nor bitter; if one had to choose between the two, one would have to say that it is barely sweet. It has a stimulating sidestream smoke that tickles the nostrils quite nicely.

This might suggest that this is a tangy, biting tobacco, but it doesn't bite the tongue at all. In terms of strength, this is a nice, satisfying smoke, a definite medium. Its subtle balance of Virginia and burley, smoothness and medium strength make it ideal for frequent smoking.

I think this would be a great alternative for someone who is tired of aromatics, doesn't care for the latakia-based English blends and has found some Virginia blends to be too spicy. It leaves a light, natural tobacco aroma in the room that shouldn't disturb too many people.