4th Generation 1931 Flake

[Mr.Mike]

This was a new arrival last week and I can't put this stuff down! I bought the 3.5 oz tin and I wish they offered it in a pound bag like Mac barens offerings. I have seen reviewers liken this to Mac barens navy flake, but better. I haven't had their navy flake and would like to hear an opinion of someone who has had both.

 

[stbruno70]

When Erik Stokkebye introduced 1931 (about eight years ago?), we at the Golden Gate Pipe Club were excited and put him on a speaker box at a club meeting for a conference call. He was peppered with questions about the new flake and graciously answered all but one - what was that fabulous top note? He demurred and just called it an "essence".

And that's fine - every baccy blender, chef, and distiller guards his secrets. The 1931 flake presents a wonderful old fashioned taste on top of a solid foundation of burley and VAs. There is a sweet quality- honey? But something else lurks in the background. Is that "essence" a drop of anise? That might account for the grandpa feeling to this fine Navy flake.

It should age marvellously and I wonder if the moment has come to pop one of the original production tins I have.

I have tasted the Mac Baren navy flake but do think the 1931 is in a league of its own.

Enjoy.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Great story!

 

[sasquatch]

1931 is in a league of it's own. Obviously kin to Mac B Navy Flake, but I find the honeyish topping more evident, and it's probably smoother. Of real note in the flavor though is where MBNF has their "patented cavendish" which is a sort of perique-ish stand-in, the 1931 has a weird sour note - it's VERY similar to the weird sour note in Savinelli Brunello (also a MB product) which contains "macedonian leaf". Anyway once you figure out the 1931, it is crazy good stuff - I think very highly of the MB NF but the 1931 is just... better somehow.

 

[subsalac]

Ah nice, another fan. Yeah, I've been blasting through this tin myself lately. It's an uncomplicated, very tasty and well behaved smoke.

There is a sweet quality- honey? But something else lurks in the background. Is that "essence" a drop of anise? That might account for the grandpa feeling to this fine Navy flake.

See, people say honey often but I get no honey. Anise is a possibility however, I smelled the flake several times yesterday and the topping reminds me a little bit of that licorice-y topping that Orlik's Dark Strong Kentucky has, but not quite, a little more perfumey. I was honestly worried because I don't like the smell of the dry life but it doesn't really come throguh the same way in the smoke.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Yeah I couldn't figure out the topping either, but I love the flavor and tin note. They are the most well behaved flake I ever smoked, no dry time either, I smoke right from the tin with no moisture problems or relights. I did find it to be similar to brunello flake, except for the topping/tin note, brunello has a very obvious strawberry topping (which is delightful).

 

[workman]

I think there is orange in there. The Navy Flake is a burley blend with a topping that's probably honey or sugared water and rum.
1931 Flake is much more virginia forward and topped with what I percieve as oranges. My guess is that the sweet liquorice-like notes come from the cavendish. There might also be some oriental leaf in it. I like it a lot, where I find MacB Navy Flake rather dull.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Thanks for the opinions guys. Reason I asked was this is a tobacco I want to cellar, but Mac barens comes in a one pound bag so it's cheaper. If it was close I would have just went with Mac barens. Looks like I'm gonna stick with 1931. Now time to start saving up for 10 tin order!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I didn't realize that this line was still being made. The Briary had some tins that were covered in dust and hadn't been moving years ago, so I bought the rest of them. I am not exactly sure how old they are, but I will pull one from this line out occasionally to pop. I haven't noticed any benefits of aging, but then I wasn't 100% acquainted with this blend when I first got it.

 

[briarbuck]

Great. Another to add to the list. Awesome. tic

 

[Mr.Mike]

Cosmic, the tin I received last week from smoking pipes was from March 2018, so I'm not sure what a fresh tin is like either. Hopefully I'll be able to stock up before they stop making it.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Hopefully I'll be able to stock up before they stop making it.

Surely it is within the deeming date. It is one of the first things that I explored. I do think that as I pop tins now that whatever the casing is dissipates much more as time goes by. But, I am tempted to get some fresh tins to see what the comparison is. I always forget what the differences is between the different tins in this line, so I just grab one and pop it to surprise myself at what I will be smoking.

 

[danimalia]

This one has been on my (neverending) list to try for some time but it sounds lie I need to move it near the top. It sounds great! I've also heard the English tobacco in this line is pretty good too

 

[Mr.Mike]

You won't be disappointed ?

 

[sasquatch]

This one has been on my (neverending) list to try for some time but it sounds lie I need to move it near the top. It sounds great! I've also heard the English tobacco in this line is pretty good too

It's okay, but there's a hundred more interesting takes on English blends around, whether you want more latakia, or more spice, or more turkish, or whatever. It's a good intro to English type blends, it would give a guy a nice baseline, but if you smoke lots of good English mixtures already, this one is... adequate. Like the Aylesbury ones. It's okay, but I won't buy more, there's just too many great ones out there. If you need a really fine English, I'd recommend Old Dublin any day over the 4th gen one.

 

[BROBS]

have you tried Newminster Superior Navy Flake?

give her a shot.. I think it's pretty close to 1931

 

[Mr.Mike]

have you tried Newminster Superior Navy Flake?

give her a shot.. I think it's pretty close to 1931

Thanks I will do that! I do like bulk!

 

[BROBS]

and it's dirt cheap.. made by MacBaren. All their product is great IMO (Newminster)

 

[subsalac]

I'm having a bowl of this 1931 as I write, and before packing I really took the time to sit down and inspect the topping. I think I've finally figured it out. North Americans may not be too familiar but if any Eastern Europeaners can confirm this is a common flavor profile over there-- I think it's...........








Blackcurrant.

It wasn't easy to spot because there's a lot of natural tobacco aroma that mixes in, the topping isn't very heavy at all, it just adds a little special something to the smoke.

 

[Mr.Mike]

That's interesting. I don't know what that is. I'll have to look it up.