Rattray Marlin flake

buster · Mar 30, 2012

I had an hour to kill today so went to my local shop, "Smokers Paradise" and I had been eyeing some Rattray's on the top shelf for a long while. There was only one tin of Marlin Flake left so I pulled the trigger. On the price tag was a date code, dated 2006. A gentleman was making quite a pile of tins saw I paid for it got excited. " HEY YOU TOOK THE LAST MARLIN FLAKE!" he said. He said they age very well and that I did good in my choice. I said it was from 06 and his eyes bugged out! 8O
I have not tried this blend yet. I have a Stanwell flake pipe I plan to smoke it in. Any takes on this blend? Should I let it age some more would it just get better? I'm in no hurry as I have plenty of fine opened tins I can work my way threw before opening it.

markw4mms · Mar 30, 2012

Well it already has over 5 years on it, I'd say it should be good. Nice score on your part!

thesmokindragon · Mar 30, 2012

It is primed for pop'in, let the flake dry a good few hours before

packing yourself a bowl...after that u are in for pure smoking bliss my friend
This is one of my fav blends, burned through many a 100g tin,

wish I had the power to let it age 3-5 years...maybe on my

next TAD order I score a few more for age'in ;-)

buster · Mar 30, 2012

I may age this a bit more just because I have so many tins open at the moment. Do you guys have an opinion on the nic hit on this blend? I am kind of a light weight when it comes to heavy nicotine blends. Just want to know to lay off the snuff before smoking a bowl If I should. I am a snuff-a-holic. I have found that my nic tolerance has gotten a bit stronger but just want to know what to expect.

bigvan · Mar 30, 2012

I don't know if you need to age this any more. From everything I've read, after 5 years or so a tin stops "aging".
I remember this as having a slight amount of nicotine (I'm a lightweight myself) so I don't think you have much to worry about.
I think you're going to enjoy it.

buster · Mar 30, 2012

Thanks for the input. I will open it as soon as I finnish off my last tin of flakes. Only a few left but I am not a daily smoker so it may take a week or two?

pawpaw · Mar 30, 2012

whats a week or two when it already has years on it and where did ya see a date on it ?

cortezattic · Mar 30, 2012

I reviewed this about 5 months ago for Luxury Tobacco Reviews.com. It's a Virginia / Cavendish / Perique blend, but mostly a dark Va flavor with a woodsy character. Nicotine is a little more than medium in strength. Like Bigvan said, you won't gain much by aging it more than 6 years. It probably won't improve noticeably for a considerable time to come, so dig in any time now. Charles Rattray advocated smoking his blends as soon as he brought them to market, without aging.

buster · Mar 30, 2012

This is my first Rattray blend so it is not like I would notice any thing as far as age. I just hear that Virginia ages gracefully? The date code was on the price tag the store put on it when they received it into stock. I use to do shipping and receiving for retail so I asked the clerk and he confirmed it. The gentleman who commented on my purchase chatted me up and is a member of a local pipe club. I offered him a toot from my snuff tin and he gave it a sample. We had a nice chat. One of the perks of going to your local B&M I guess. Local dudes who enjoy the same things chatting for a few comparing notes on this and that. Turned out to be a good Friday.
The pipe club guy had a pile of tins and about 5 pipes in his to buy pile. I was impressed with his haul to say the least.

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