I recently picked up a couple ounces of Navy Flake from a B&M and have enjoyed it. If I were to seek out tins of Navy Flake, what are the better or more well known brands? Any personal suggestions or favorites?
Navy Flake
- Thread starter Bulldog
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
One of the great topics of discussion is, "What exactly makes a navy flake"? I'm not sure anyone has satisfactorily answered that. Lots of times, that means a Virginia flake with a light rum topping. MacBaren Navy Flake, however, is a Viriginia/burley flake, rather heavy on the burley, iirc, and is not topped. Sam Gawith Navy Flake is a rum-topped Virignia Flake, with a touch of latakia.
That's the end of my knowledge on the subject. :D
That's the end of my knowledge on the subject. :D
+1 on the MacBaren! Escudo is a delicious Navy, too. I don't know if PS Luxury Bullseye Flake is a Navy, per se. But it is 100% delicious as well.
Im a fan of Peter Stokkebye's Luxury Navy Flake and SG Navy Flake... both good stuff
Never have tried MacBaren... but I hear nothing but good about it
Never have tried MacBaren... but I hear nothing but good about it
Macbaren's Navy Flake is very good. Their Old Dark Fired is more interesting. Dunhill Flake is excellent too. And Pete's University Flake, a little milder than the others is very nice.
To my mind, a true Navy Flake is either a Virginia or VA/burley flake with the addition of rum. Don't think of it as aromatic, though; typically, the rum is a very subtle flavor that just brings the whole flake together. (Some may also include perique, but my body chemistry can't handle perique so I can't comment on them.)
I enjoy a good Navy Flake on occasion. My current favorite is Samuel Gawith's Navy Flake. You may also see older tins that were rebranded as Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge by one online retailer in the U.S.
I think most European blenders feature a Navy Flake in their lines. I'd suggest just trying as many different ones as you can find. European blenders seem to rely more on African Virginias than their American counterparts, and I find that African Virginias have a darker, deeper flavor. Others will likely feature a stronger burley presence. But it's certainly a fun category to explore!
Bob
I enjoy a good Navy Flake on occasion. My current favorite is Samuel Gawith's Navy Flake. You may also see older tins that were rebranded as Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge by one online retailer in the U.S.
I think most European blenders feature a Navy Flake in their lines. I'd suggest just trying as many different ones as you can find. European blenders seem to rely more on African Virginias than their American counterparts, and I find that African Virginias have a darker, deeper flavor. Others will likely feature a stronger burley presence. But it's certainly a fun category to explore!
Bob
mmm African VA's. It was a sad day when G&H and SG had to quit using VA's from Zimbabwe when Mugabi (sp) had his way.
Picked up a tin of Mac Baren Mixture Flake and tried a bowl in good ol cob. Much better smoke than the Navy Flake. Smoother and creamier, though that Mac Baren cavendish flavor is hard to shake when its thrown into the blend.
If you like a Lakeland-esk tobacco, I recently tried Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bulk Best Brown #2 Flake, and Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Bulk Bobs Flake Chocolate. If really developed a taste for Gawith, Hoggarth & Co blends. Both of these flakes have been pleasant surprises and I'm going to be adding liberal quantities into my cellar.
MacBaren Old Dark Fired, PS Luxury Navy Flake, and PS Luxury Bullseye Flake are also a nice choices.
I'm generally an "English" blend smoker, but the above flakes are nice ventures outside of my norm.
:puffpipe:
MacBaren Old Dark Fired, PS Luxury Navy Flake, and PS Luxury Bullseye Flake are also a nice choices.
I'm generally an "English" blend smoker, but the above flakes are nice ventures outside of my norm.
:puffpipe:
@rothnh: And she be a mighty fine ghost she is. I dedicated a couple of my Petes to Lakeland blends. On another plus side, I must now buy a few more pipes to ease the bottleneck I have in the pipe rotation. I'm short staffed now.
- Status