Capstan Blue.... Meh

[gervais]

So I had my very first tango with Capstan Blue flake yesterday. I was very excited to finally get to try this highly recommended Va, and upon my first light, I was pretty happy. Then a few minutes into the bowl I noticed a taste that didn't quite vibe with me, and I couldn't seem to get rid of it the rest of the bowl. The taste was extremely floral to the point of disgust. Lavender. Alot of it. This ruined the whole experience for me, and on top of that Lavender note, very cigarette-like. In Canada we have a brand of cigarettes by the name of Player's Navy cut. I don't know if they are affiliated with Capstan, but the tobacco tastes the same to me. I don't smoke cigarettes anymore, and Capstan Blue just reminded me of those Player's darts that I use to smoke. I am pretty easy to satisfy when it comes to pipe tobacco. I love straight Va, but this one just didn't sit well with my taste buds. I'll work with it still and see what happens, but I'm pretty sure the lavender juice is gonna prevent me from enjoying it. Thanks for listening to my rant!

Steve

 

[craiginthecorn]

I don't recall having the impression of lavender in Capstan Blue, but your description makes me want to smoke a bowl right now! I love lavender snuff. Sorry it's not for you. It happens to all of us. I've also found that coming back to a tin in a couple weeks can be a good idea. Sometimes opening the tin changes the tobacco more substantially than you might expect.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't recall any floral essence with Capstan Blue. Any chance you smoked it in a pipe that was ghosted from smoking Lakeland? I'm guessing not as you clearly don't like that flavor. As Craig suggested, let it sit for a few weeks to a month and give it another try. It's pretty good tobacco but everybody is unique.

 

[gervais]

I don't recall any floral essence with Capstan Blue. Any chance you smoked it in a pipe that was ghosted from smoking Lakeland? I'm guessing not as you clearly don't like that flavor. As Craig suggested, let it sit for a few weeks to a month and give it another try. It's pretty good tobacco but everybody is unique.

Thanks Hoosier, I'm gonna give it more time and see if I get a better experience. It was definitely not a ghosted pipe, and i find it funny that I am getting an essence that you guys are not. The palate is an odd thing ?

 

[spartacus]

I've never had that experience with Capstan. I don't get any flavor except a good Virginia. It's not the best on the market but my cellar if full of it. It's an all day, not have to think about it smoke for me.

Maybe some age will help.

Good luck

 

[Casual]

So much goes into flavour. What did you eat last? When did you last brush your teeth? Also, I’ve found you need to let a tin breathe a couple of days some times.

Get through a few bowls and let us know how it develops.

As far as Canadian cigarettes, I’ve found the same thing. The more unadulterated the Va, the more of a Players cigarette taste I get. One reason I mostly stick to burley.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Thanks Hoosier, I'm gonna give it more time and see if I get a better experience. It was definitely not a ghosted pipe, and i find it funny that I am getting an essence that you guys are not. The palate is an odd thing ?

You weren't munching on a handful of petunias while smoking were you?

 

[gervais]

You weren't munching on a handful of petunias while smoking were you?

Lol, definately not. Maybe my tastebuds are playing tricks on me, but something was definately floral. Im going to have another bowl tonight and report back.

 

[BROBS]

I could see your description.. but the floral flavor I believe is actually from the varietal of VA used.

 

[workman]

There is a certain sharp sweetness to Capstan Blue, a little floral perhaps, like the flowers of ribes sanguineum. I don't think it tastes like lavender at all, but I could see how someone else might think that.
I find it subtle and nice, not overwhelming at all.

 

[JimInks]

I could see your description.. but the floral flavor I believe is actually from the varietal of VA used.

This is accurate. The note is small, but it is there.

 

[JimInks]

Thanks Hoosier, I'm gonna give it more time and see if I get a better experience. It was definitely not a ghosted pipe, and i find it funny that I am getting an essence that you guys are not. The palate is an odd thing ?

There is a small floral note, but lavender never came to my mind or taste buds. It just might be your body chemistry. Anyway, Hoosier gave you good advice.

 

[cigrmaster]

I cannot count how many tins of Capstan Blue Flake I have smoked but I would venture to guess around 25. Never once did I get a flora not whether the tin was fresh or if it was aged. I can detect floral notes quite easily because in general they ruin the blend for me.
I would to the pipe for answers. Was it clean, what had you smoked in it before. Capstan Blue is a delicate sweet smoke but it doesn't take much to throw the flavors off.

I would recommend trying it in a pipe you know for a fact no English, no Lakelands, no aro's or vabur or vaper. I would graba group 4-5 sized pipe, if you have a straight Billiard or Apple or Dublin, take a flake and fold and stuff it. If you can smoke inside that would be cool Get it going, get your cadence going and enjoy. It is one of my favorite flakes and if I ever tasted floral, I would sell it all and I have over 150 tins.

 

[virginialover]

MacBaren made tastes different to me when compared to the one made by I think Orlik/STG. Now it's more floral and sweeter.

 

[logs]

Sounds like cross-contamination to me. Did you get it from a freshly opened tin or was from a bag where it might have been stored around something aro? You seem like you're getting a lakeland flavor, whereas it ought to be towards the savory/bready side of the scale. Alongside Dunhill Light Flake, Capstan is pretty much a gold standard for straight medium VA. There shouldn't be a lot of monkey business going on with that blend.

 

[JimInks]

MacBaren made tastes different to me when compared to the one made by I think Orlik/STG. Now it's more floral and sweeter.

Actually, Mac Baren was making the Capstans several years before they officially acquired them in 2013.

 

[virginialover]

Actually, Mac Baren was making the Capstans several years before they officially acquired them in 2013.

So what has changed? I still have two of those rectangular tins, you force me to open one for comparison The tins were bought in France in the Summer of 2011, I could add a few years for the shelf presence.

 

[BROBS]

So what has changed? I still have two of those rectangular tins, you force me to open one for comparison

age of the tin?

 

[virginialover]

age of the tin?

Bought 2011 so maybe add 1 or two years on the shelf at most, even the Yellow tastes different as I also bought one tin then, when compared to the new Yellow Capstan. It's now way more sweet and less figgy tasting. Could be the aging, I don't know.

 

[JimInks]

age of the tin?

I find Capstan Blue doesn't change a lot over the years. I had the 1938, 1940, 1980 early 2000 versions as well as the several 2013 tins, and while there are some different nuances, the basic flavor is the same. That's not true for Capstan Gold or many other straight Va.s I could list.