Rattray

[Butter Side Down]

So I recently picked the pipe back up after a long hiatus. Lots of changes in the time I was away. Latest installment in that series...

This morning I was thinking to myself, you know my tastes have changed quite a bit, I think maybe I should try Red Rapparee again, I bet I'd like it now.

Almost everywhere I looked online, they were out of 90% of the Rattray's blends (pretty much just the Aros in stock). I did manage to find a place with one 100g tin of Red Rapparee left, so I'm good for now.

But now I'm all curious. Is Rattray just another brand that's part of the whole "sometimes they have it, most times they don't" phenomenon that seems to be the new normal for EU blends here in the US? Or is there something else going on?

I did do a search on this but didn't see anything. Seems like it's the kind of thing that probably has been asked before. I just couldn't find anything specifically about Rattray.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

I'm not exactly sure as to why (maybe similar reason to SG blends), but yeah, if you want Rattray's blends, especially the popular ones like Marlin Flake, Old Gowrie, Hal O' the Wynd, etc., then you'll have to keep an eye out for the drops throughout the year. Places like SP will have them a couple of times per year, but those aforementioned blends will sell out within a few hours to a day, give or take.

 

[sablebrush52]

Is Rattray just another brand that's part of the whole "sometimes they have it, most times they don't" phenomenon that seems to be the new normal for EU blends here in the US? Or is there something else going on?

Basically, yes. It's been hit or miss for years now, pretty much like a lot of other blends that K&K makes. Then again, K&K has been sort of hit or miss for several years now. There's no knowing what's actually in the tin, except that it's tobacco and can be burned. That seems to be becoming more and more common. Only the tin art endures.

 

[kcghost]

Yep, that's the way it is. It is out there, and you can get it, but you might want to have a good amount of it and start looking for it before you are out of it.

 

[Butter Side Down]

There's no knowing what's actually in the tin, except that it's tobacco and can be burned.

Good to know. Given that, would I be better off seeking something similar like maybe EMP or Presby or do they have the same problems?

 

[logs]

Good to know. Given that, would I be better off seeking something similar like maybe EMP or Presby or do they have the same problems?

More reliable yes, albeit neither tastes very much like Red Rapparee.

 

[Butter Side Down]

More reliable yes, albeit neither tastes very much like Red Rapparee.

That might actually be fine. As far as the Red Rapparee itself goes, mostly what I was thinking about was finding a light lat, oriental forward blend which could make an occasional minor change of pace from Skiff Mixture which is my current #1. Thought if I could find something in current production that points in a similar direction, it might allow me to stretch my supply of Skiff given that SG drops have also become erratic.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

That might actually be fine. As far as the Red Rapparee itself goes, mostly what I was thinking about was finding a light lat, oriental forward blend which could make an occasional minor change of pace from Skiff Mixture which is my current #1. Thought if I could find something in current production that points in a similar direction, it might allow me to stretch my supply of Skiff given that SG drops have also become erratic.

You can actually grab 8 oz bags of Skiff Mixture on SP right now...IF you wanted to stock up.

 

[Butter Side Down]

You can actually grab 8 oz bags of Skiff Mixture on SP right now.

Problem solved. Thanks Mike!

 

[PA Piper Mike]

Also, if you wanted a touch of perique added, you could give GLP Chelsea Morning a go. That's my morning go-to with coffee.

 

[verporchting]

Good to know. Given that, would I be better off seeking something similar like maybe EMP or Presby or do they have the same problems?

While different both would scratch the itch and offer some easier options. Both fit your requirements I believe and both are tasty blends.

 

[supdog]

That might actually be fine. As far as the Red Rapparee itself goes, mostly what I was thinking about was finding a light lat, oriental forward blend which could make an occasional minor change of pace from Skiff Mixture which is my current #1. Thought if I could find something in current production that points in a similar direction, it might allow me to stretch my supply of Skiff given that SG drops have also become erratic.

Try C&D Star of The East Gold, the lat and orientals have been flipped, so it's oriental forward and light on the lat.

 

[Architeuthis]

Rattray's Jock's Mixture is available and worth considering. I can attest that it is a nice light lat blend, if you are looking for that. I really enjoy it as is, but you could pick up some bulk C&D Izmir and make it as oriental forward as you like...

 

[Butter Side Down]

Returning to the topic of rattrays being on the occasionally hard to find side...

If anyone is currently looking, I stopped by Iwan Ries today and they just got a shipment and had most of the ratrays blends in stock (including the big 3 VAs). Not sure if they're up on the site yet, but I'm sure you could call them. Anyway, looks like I started kvetching too soon. Oh well, everyone has to have a hobby.

 

[mso489]

My theory, based on a couple of undergraduate courses in economics taught by a lanky young guy who always drank black coffee and chain smoked cigarettes at the same time, Is that uneven demand produces uneven supply.

So pipe smokers mostly accumulate enough tobacco to sustain them indefinitely, so their ongoing purchases vary depending on the economy over all and their life situations. There is no steady demand. It fluctuates widely from month to month.

So tobacco production, distribution, and sales also is completely uneven. When blenders need sales, demand dips. Then customers experience an infusion of discretionary spending and they want different and more blends. So it is a permanent rollercoaster.

 

[JimPM]

Used to be you could grab the better Rattray's at any time with no problem, (HOTW, Old Gowrie, Red Rapparee). Nowadays there is a lingering supply issue. So, when they appear I generally power-buy them. Not sure what happened. It could be that the Asian market has come on stronger in the last decade, bad product forecasting, who knows but it's a bummer either way,

 

[Lucashly]

I know the Asian market is getting big on pipe smocking. I don't know if this is the answer to your question. One artisan that I know sells a lot of pipes to the the Chinese. Apparently there is a resurgence of pipe smoking to the people in this country.

 

[pappymac]

You might check Watch City Cigars website. They may have it in stock.

 

[proteus]

That was exactly what I was about to say. WCC has it as of right now. As does pipesandcigars.com, marscigars.com, thecountrysquireonline.com, and blackcatcigars.com. I'd buy a few from each if you like red rapparee as they have limits. Good luck! I'm a big fan of the rapparee...

 

[Lucashly]

Try C&D Star of The East Gold, the lat and orientals have been flipped, so it's oriental forward and light on the lat.

I tried C&D Star of The East Gold. That is my favorite smoke. I asked Wilke what I should I try it. What a good choice.