How about Rattray's Blends?
- Thread starter badbriar
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What's really amusing is how only a couple of years ago prior to the reduced shipments, Rattrays got very little fanfare if any at all. Now with small product drops and panic shopping, it's perceived as amazing. Reminds me of the general opinion of McClelland before and after they closed their doors.
same as G&H..
when I started smoking a pipe every single G&H blend was in stock everywhere.
when I started smoking a pipe every single G&H blend was in stock everywhere.
I bought two tins of exoxtic passion based on all rave reviews, and it smells like potpourri to me. I'm not an aro guy anyway, so that is totally wasted on me. Anyone want to trade 2 full tins of Exotic Passion for Marlin Flake, hit me up. Minus one bowl. Bulk is fine. I jarred both tins, because the bags aren't sealed, but I have the tins I will ship.
I love Marlin Flake. I bought a 15 year old 100gr tin that was awesome. I want to try it fresh to compare.
I love Marlin Flake. I bought a 15 year old 100gr tin that was awesome. I want to try it fresh to compare.
If you like Red Rapparee, have a go at Black Mallory. It is an even richer English.
Oh-Oh... I just went out on a limb and ordered a couple tins of Black Mallory. Must admit that the sizzle of the reviews and thought of a rather strong Scottish style blend was just too much for me to resist.
Was thinking I got another one that is just OK until stbruno chimed in - thanks brother!
Was thinking I got another one that is just OK until stbruno chimed in - thanks brother!
i don't understand this. Compared to Esoterica, you hear about Rattrays 5% as much. It is very under the radar for the quality it is.
That's very true. In the spirit of "realizing what we have" that descended upon everyone after McClelland's passing (i.e. we didn't "realize what we had"), Rattray's and K&K generally garnered much attention.
I'd say it's well worth it too. They make some damn good tobacco (and flakes, in particular) and their portfolio is broad and amazing. Germans are sticklers for consistency so Marlin Flake stepped up to bat for me when Sam Gawith's FVF run this year kind of "mellowed out." I have enough Hal O' The Wynd to last me a lifetime, and Highland Targe, Red Raparee, Black Maloree and others are cornerstones.
I've definitely wanted to try Esoterica blends, but haven't been up to pay the upcharge or chase too hard. I've been able to catch a few Rattray's and the Smoker's Haven mixtures. No major loss.
Most of the remaining companies do. Little spotlight is shown upon a blend or company but then a missed shipment or low volume happens and then suddenly they are the greatest thing ever. I remember how Marlin Flake was considered blasphemy for its inclusion of black cavendish in a Virginia/Perique but now with low availability it's become the greatest thing ever. Here's a tin opened in 2016. The tobacco has never been jarred and only left in the tin with the lid on and is still pliant. More than just tobacco I would say.
It's a good point. Part of what I respect about MacBaren is their consistency and avaiabiity in addition to the fact that I like their blends. I keep checking the unicorns off my list, most of them fine tobaccos, but rarely are they at some unique level of quality that nobody else can match.
You're right about Mac Baren, very consistent and high quality product. They're as good as Dunhill ever was. Expensive too, but worth it. The world will be a sadder place if/when they ever go away.
I remember a few years back when a 100g tin of ODF was less than $12 and folks complained that MacB was low quality because it was cheap.?
I'll confess that it took me awhile to come around to loving Mac Baren (because of the bite issue not because I thought it was low quality). Now that I do though it sort of fills me with a sense of anxiety that they could be taken from us.
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