Rattray's Marlin Flake... Interesting Finding

[maulragoth]

Something interesting I would appreciate hearing from others about on Rattray's Marlin Flake.

Recently bought a fresh 17.5 oz and jarred most of it for the cellar. I have never had any before, and thus I saved a few bowls to smoke fresh as well, OF COURSE!

My first bowl was some of the most intense Citrus, Lemony flavors I have had in a piping experience. Reviews I read showed others experienced much of the tanginess as well. I saved the next 2 bowls in a baggy and about a week later just had another bowl today where I was expecting such a salivating explosion, which turned out to be much more muted for me this second time around. The tang is still there a bit, but about 75% less on this second bowl in the same pipe. I had basically gauged this tobacco for powerful mouthwatering sour citrus tang moments in the future, and now I am questioning. It is a wonderful experience on both of my accounts, but now I am just trying to plan for the future after maturity in the jar along with other tobaccos I enjoy.

Is it just a week in the baggy that reduced the tang, possibly just a taste bud funniness on my part? I will hit it again with my last saved bowl to check again. However, I would really appreciate to hear from you all with more experience.

Comments about your experiences with Marlin Flake appreciated!

 

[Waning Embers]

The topping probably faded.

 

[krizzose]

Everyone tastes things so differently with tobacco that it's hard to say. I think Marlin Flake has some tang, but to me it's not very citrusy and definitely not lemony, but that doesn't mean you're not getting those flavors. Anything to do with acidic flavors in particular can come down to body chemistry. I usually get a bready maltiness that's a little on a the sweet side, with the perique kicking in some stewed fruit (and to me almost no pepper). The deeper into the bowl, the more brown sugar/caramel I start to pick up. Whatever I'm tasting, I love MF, and I think it's a blend that gets deeper and richer with age. In other words, if you liked that tang, you might have better luck putting your immediate smoking supply in a small mason jar instead of a baggy.

 

[BROBS]

try ashton gold rush.

I don't find Marlin Flake to be citrusy at all really

 

[maulragoth]

Okay, I'm going to have to experiment around with this further, but that heavier tang I mentioned is back in this 3rd bowl from the same sample that I had rubbed out all the same. This bowl is possibly not quite as tangy as the first bowl I had, but it is very close. The second bowl I had, was definitely much more tang-subdued, which caused me to start this thread. Of note: I got the stronger tanginess when it was the first bowl of the day in bowl #1 and #3. Quite present on the first smoke of the day, and much more muted after a bowl of Five brothers (I think that was what I had on the second bowl).

I am not specifically a fan of the hyper tanginess, in fact I held off for many days to even smoke it a second time after my first bowl, and had misgivings about buying more because I just don't see myself seeking that kind of tartness most of the time. I was planning to just keep it in the arsenal for different times, but could hold off on a pound of it in favor or other blends.

I have to test the first pipe vs later in the day smoke theory more now, because I after experiencing Marlin Flake without the hyper-tang I had put it back in the "definitely want to buy another pound menu."

I am even going to let this bowl go out, have some Five Bros. and then come back to it since I have the rest of the pound tucked away in the cellar already, and this is the last bowl for some probable time unless I do re-pound.

Thank you very much for the comments to consider above as well. Those were helpful! Hope mine might be to someone in the future as well.

 

[Sonorisis]

I have often returned to a tobacco that was spectacular the last time I smoked it, only to have it be so-so the second time around. In fact, I've never had a tobacco taste exactly the same from one time to the next. Lots of variables including the pipe, the exact condition of the tobacco itself, the ambient temperature and humidity.

But, most of all, I think what happens from one time to the next is the "mood" I'm in. I probably come to a second smoke with an expectation that makes me start puffing too much from the onset. Seems like virginias can be strongly affected by how one lights and nurtures the first part of the smoke.

 

[dquisenberry]

Different experiences in the same pipe?

 

[dcon]

+1 to krizzose. That is an accurate description of Marlin Flake in my experience. If gets profoundly more “stewed fruit” and creamier with a year +

 

[rushx9]

Something interesting I would appreciate hearing from others about on Rattray's Marlin Flake.

Recently bought a fresh 17.5 oz and jarred most of it for the cellar. I have never had any before, and thus I saved a few bowls to smoke fresh as well, OF COURSE!

My first bowl was some of the most intense Citrus, Lemony flavors I have had in a piping experience. Reviews I read showed others experienced much of the tanginess as well. I saved the next 2 bowls in a baggy and about a week later just had another bowl today where I was expecting such a salivating explosion, which turned out to be much more muted for me this second time around. The tang is still there a bit, but about 75% less on this second bowl in the same pipe. I had basically gauged this tobacco for powerful mouthwatering sour citrus tang moments in the future, and now I am questioning. It is a wonderful experience on both of my accounts, but now I am just trying to plan for the future after maturity in the jar along with other tobaccos I enjoy.

Is it just a week in the baggy that reduced the tang, possibly just a taste bud funniness on my part? I will hit it again with my last saved bowl to check again. However, I would really appreciate to hear from you all with more experience.

Comments about your experiences with Marlin Flake appreciated!

The pores in a plastic baggie act like a sponge for toppings. A friend gave me a few aged Wallace flakes in a bag and the first 2 were delicious. 2 weeks later and the last flake had none of the distinct topping left but the bag had turned hazy yellow.
I'd also separate your stash into many small jars so you don't lose topping every time you open it.

 

[maulragoth]

Different experiences in the same pipe?

Yeup... same pipe. Difference was in the second bowl it was not my first smoke of the day.

 

[maulragoth]

Small update.....
First bowl - heavy mouthwatering tang
Second bowl - much lower tang after about 5 days in a bag
Third bowl days later - tang is still very much there

Let the 3rd bowl go out.... had a bowl of Five Brothers... kept getting some of the tang from the Marlin even in diff pipe for the Five Bros on the far back of my tongue. Eventually subsided quite a bit.

Had some pizza and beer.....

Back to the same 3rd bowl (yes, after letting it sit a couple hours)... tasting more like the second bowl again, but still a little more tang.

This sure has been interesting to notice the differences. My conclusion thus far is that first fresh smoke of the day gives me a lot of tang on the Marlin Flake. I would have to break it all down into smaller jars now to keep figuring out more, but I plan to just keep this pound cellared and actually get another now. I was not planning to get more until the second bowl was so different later in the day.

I did always use the same sample (though days in the bag is certainly a variable) and same pipe, just the diff was the second bowl was quite muted after having at least one or more smokes previous to it.

Totally agree rushx9, the porosity of a bag can certainly change things. Even the bag it came in, which is where I had left this last few bowls after jarring. In this case it didn't seem too much an effect with the resurgence of the tang in bowl 3. The recurance of the tang this morning was where the real puzzle came in, and it seems to be more about my smoking as the first bowl. I'll definitely play around with it more in the future on a second pound, or if curiosity kills me, I'll unjar into smallers to keep up the experiment.

 

[BROBS]

If it’s a mix of the bag remnants maybe you’re getting a different mix of ingredients than rubbing out a complete flake?

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I know I find a blend can taste quite different once it's out of the tin and air can get at it. I've no idea if that's the case here as I've never bought Marlin in anything but a tin.

 

[saltedplug]

Don't underestimate mood to affect your palate.