I just got a tin of Black Virginia today. Was hoping I didn't get the one bad blend from Rattrays , this gives me hope
Rattray Tobacco Suggestions From Veterans
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It’s good. It’s like a barely sweet VA cavendish.
I am a newbie. I smoked my first bowl of Old Gowrie today with excitement, but didn't enjoy that much to be honest. I was smoking it in the middle of warm day under the sun so that may have altered the taste. May be I need to cellar it more. I have also 7 Reserve and 3 Noggin's but those tend to bite compared to other blends such as Sam Gawith, Escudo, C&D Bijou. Any recommendations on how to enjoy Rattray's?
Old Gowrie is one of my least favorites. It’s good but others are better. Dry it until it’s crispy before packing.
Thanks. That's what I am doing -- drying for couple of hours and will try it after dinner and when it's much cooler.
This is a minority opinion (but a valid one, of course). I find it quite flavorful and one of the best blends they offer, as do most. @Piper.M1K if you are looking for a more classic Vaper, Marlin Flake may suit you better. Both of them develop quite a bit once taken out of the tin, so after a couple months in a jar they improve dramatically, but Marlin Flake is a much more forgiving tobacco, and is much more similar to something like what Sam Gawith would offer, and definitely more similar to Escudo. Old Gowrie smokes pretty much like a straight VA with only subtle influence from the condiments.
I'd jar the Old Gowrie and return to it in a few months. It is definitely one that needs to be smoked slowly. I actually like it better right out of the tin than I do with drying time also, FWIW.
It mainly depends upon what you're looking for from Rattrays. Brown Clunee, Old Gowrie, and Hal O the Wynd are all of a kind, tending towards the savory VaBur style rather than towards sweet VA or bready VA. They're all pretty good if you can accept the Rattray's style (or entirely useless if you can't). To my mouth, Hal O the Wynd is the best and most flavorful of them and the straightest VA they offer. Old Gowrie is a pretty close match to Esoterica Tilbury (although Tilbury does it better) with the Kentucky pretty forward. Brown Clunee is the mildest of them and slightly more perique oriented. I'm surprised BROBS sees Old Gowrie less flavorful than Brown Clunee. Most reviewers say the opposite. But everyone's mouth is different I suppose.
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Yeah I taste more maltiness with brown clunee and I like a malty tobacco. The old gowrie was more like a straight VA. And it’s good. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just comparing it only to other Rattray offerings.
I'm with Brobsy on OG. I watched a video from Bremen Pipe Smoker one time where he talked about "Golden Retriever" tobaccos. Basically they're fine, objectively good even, faultless... but not very exciting. That's how I felt about OG. I liked HOTW more, but still wouldn't push an old lady out of the way for a tin. Black Mallory is another I expected to love, but have found pretty meh.
On the other hand... Marlin Flake and Red Rap are both exceptional, top of their genre blends for me.
Still want to try Jocks, Bagpiper's Dream, Dark Fragrant and Brown Clunee
On the other hand... Marlin Flake and Red Rap are both exceptional, top of their genre blends for me.
Still want to try Jocks, Bagpiper's Dream, Dark Fragrant and Brown Clunee
My favorites are Red Rapparee, Highland Targe, Marlin Flake and Old Gowrie. That said I like almost all the original line. I often smoke Jock's and Accountant's which are often overlooked. They are simple, straightforward blends. HOTW is tasty, as are 3 Noggins and Black Mallory.
One that I haven't seen mentioned is Stirling Flake, a good Virginia and Burley blend. It is K&K's take on Peterson's Irish Flake, but I liked it a lot more than Irish Flake, which to my palate had a bit of a chemical taste.
My favourite Rattray's is still Marlin Flake though, followed by HotW.
My favourite Rattray's is still Marlin Flake though, followed by HotW.
Grab it while you can...
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Rattray’s Pipe Tobacco Blends at TobaccoPipes.com
Rattray’s pipe tobacco is as legendary as it gets. Taste the legend with a tin of your favorite blend with free shipping at TobaccoPipes.com.
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And also at site sponsor SP.Grab it while you can...
Rattray’s Pipe Tobacco Blends at TobaccoPipes.com
Rattray’s pipe tobacco is as legendary as it gets. Taste the legend with a tin of your favorite blend with free shipping at TobaccoPipes.com.
Yeah I taste more maltiness with brown clunee and I like a malty tobacco. The old gowrie was more like a straight VA. And it’s good. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just comparing it only to other Rattray offerings.
QUIT ITGrab it while you can...
Rattray’s Pipe Tobacco Blends at TobaccoPipes.com
Rattray’s pipe tobacco is as legendary as it gets. Taste the legend with a tin of your favorite blend with free shipping at TobaccoPipes.com.
Wessex Campaign DF in at SP as well!
The other thing that I would note, is that despite this being a good blend, not all good blends are the right blend for newbies. One of my greatest gripes about forum postings is the recommendations for new smokers. I continuously see recommendations for new smokers of favorites of forum members. These all may, indeed, be great blends but, are not for the palate of new smokers. Ol Gowrie is one such blend.
(sorry for not using the possessive, my apostrophe key seems to be in disrepair)
Since the OP mentioned he likes latakia and Virginias, I'd add another recommendation for Accountant's Mixture.
Personally, my favorite Rattray blends are Marlin Flake, Stirling Flake, and Wallace Flake.
Personally, my favorite Rattray blends are Marlin Flake, Stirling Flake, and Wallace Flake.
Opened a fresh tin of old gowerie today to get some jar time before I try it for the first time later today.
There was a nice drop today but 2 Max is a bummer, cup o Joe's had some a few days ago as well with 3 max per day.
I think 3 is better especially for shipping, but then again who buys just one tin (from online retailers)...no one I know!
There was a nice drop today but 2 Max is a bummer, cup o Joe's had some a few days ago as well with 3 max per day.
I think 3 is better especially for shipping, but then again who buys just one tin (from online retailers)...no one I know!
A good workaround for that max of 2 is to buy both the 50g and 100g tins when they have them. (But, yeah, I'd prefer it if I could just buy 5-10 at a time.)
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