Nirvana. The best smoking pipe I own is also the one I have held onto the longest, a Castello 75 Sea Rock bought in the mid 80's that started life as a GG but is now, thanks to an unfortunate accident and the remarkable skill of Jim Cooke, a G. I figured that what I have to smoke tonight deserves the best. Ashdigger recently unearthed,from England, a cutter top can of Rattray's Black Mallory. Cutter tops disappeared in the early 1960's, AFAIK. It is conceivably older than that by a few decades. The tin itself appeared from the pictures he posted here to be completely pristine, and the sample he sent is in perfect shape, no need to rehydrate in any way (typical of cutter tops that have maintained their integrity). I am 20 minutes into this bowl, and it is everything I expected. I have not smoked tobacco from a cutter top in more than 15 years, and never expected to have this experience again. The sugar crystals on the leaf give the first hint that there will be a discernible underlying sweetness that is not in any way cloying. The Latakia is definitely there in what to me is more than the background, but not dominant. More than a condimental amount, though, and a rebuke to those who say Latakia does not age well. This is every bit the equal of a cutter top can of John Cotton's Number 2 that I unearthed that bore a tax stamp firmly dating it to 1951. Until tonight, that was the finest Scottish Mixture I had ever smoked. If the Good Lord comes for me tonight, I am ready. In about 45 minutes.
Ashdigger could not have shared this find with anyone who appreciates it more than I do. Thanks.
Ashdigger could not have shared this find with anyone who appreciates it more than I do. Thanks.