Pipe Tobacco Reviews

Hal O’ the Wynd Pipe Tobacco Review

Kevin Godbee
Posted onMay 15, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Hal O' the Wynd Pipe TobaccoWell this is definitely not a tobacco that I would recommend for someone’s first ever pipe and it’s not going to win you too many friends if you light this up in a room full of non-smokers. The non-smoker in my life decided that she would find something to do in another part of the house the first time I lit up a pipe filled with this tobacco. However, if you like a nice full Scottish blend, then Hal O’ the Wynd is for you.


This is a coarse-cut Red Virginia with a medium to full taste that will certainly wake you up the first time you try it. If you want to sink into a mellow mood as you smoke then this tobacco is not going to help you achieve that the first time you smoke it because it’s definitely robust and it lets you know all about it.

From the tin it’s quite wet and I certainly like to let it dry just a little before packing it into my pipe and from there on it’s just a matter of sitting back and enjoying all the rich flavors that you might expect from a Red Virginia and it’s not hard to find some malt whiskey hiding away in there too. If you haven’t tried a Virginia before then this is probably not the best one to start with because it just might spoil all the other Virginias for you … but that’s just my humble opinion and your mileage might vary.

Being a Scottish tobacco and already coming with those hints of whiskey it’s probably an ideal tobacco to smoke with a fine single malt. But once again you’re personal taste might vary and I’ve been known to enjoy a pipe or two of Hal O’ the Wynd with a good ale to keep it company.

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Brand: Rattray
Blender: Kohlhase, Kopp und Co. KG
Tin Description: This is a strong, sharp aged red Virginia blend that will perk you up quickly.
Country of Origin: Germany
Curing Group: Air Cured
Contents: Virginia
Cut: Coarse Cut
Packaging: 50g Tin, 100g Tin
Strength: Medium to Strong
Flavoring: Extremely Mild
Taste: Medium to Full
Room Note: Somewhat Tolerable
Recommendation: Highly Recommended

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Nice review!
I have been wanting to try this tobacco for a long time, I have just not gotten around to it yet.
So many tobaccos, so little time. lol
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    Kevin
  • May 15, 2009
I know!
I have a huge stash of stuff I am dying to get to!
I want to take a week off and smoke all day. LOL.
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    volk
  • June 16, 2009
Although some of the most experienced pipesmokers had issues with a German company taking over the production of Rattray tobaccos years ago, this blend and its compatriots: Old Gowrie, Marlin Flake and Brown Clunee still manage to keep a following and pull high ratings consistently. Kolhase & Kopp makes these blends, and they do it well. If you like tobaccos from the E.U., you'd be surprised at how many of them are actually made by these guys. I like this blend so much, I always think of it first when I'm breaking in a pipe I intend for almost anything but turkish or latakia blends. They say it is strong, but experts believe that this might actually be along the lines of a good first smoke. No funny casings to deceive the buyer or mask a funky base tobacco. No burley to bite the erratic puffer. Nothing but straightforward virginia goodness that is naturally sweet and fragrant to a nose that knows. If you ever smell a cheap drugstore tobacco smoldering away in a glop-funky bondo job, you'd think somebody set the litterbox on fire. Not the case here, my friends. F.Y.I- this is considered an english style blend.(Latakia blends are actually orientals.) Somehow turkish and oriental blends with latakia are often nicknamed "english", and it can be confusing. Here's some "scottish" type blends that are popularly known in their own little sub-catagories: Rattray (K&K) Highland Targe, Samuel Gawith Scotch Cut, Gawith & Hoggarth Scotch Mix and of course Mac Baren Scottish Mix, Flake and Highland Mixture. There is also Highland Whiskey by Peter Stokkebye, but it's not as good as Mac Barens. (Sorry, Pete). Oh,I can't forget G.L. Pease (C&D) Fillmore, which is red virginia and (neo)perique. That's just a few that I have or have tried. This one however, is at the forefront of virginia blends. I recommend it to anyone who is serious about smoking a pipe.
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    Kevin
  • June 16, 2009
Thanks Volk! It sounds like you know you're way around the well-stocked tobacco store for sure.
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    raf66
  • March 3, 2010
It's definitely on my list of favorites. It smokes cool, even for a somewhat aggressive smoker, and it's ash is beautiful, owing I guess to the fact that it burns rather evenly.
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