Who Else Loves Old Gowrie?

[Jaylotw]

Old Gowrie is my favorite blend, of all time.

I popped a tin for New Years and had a few smokes from it, and as always it ticks every box for me.

For those who haven’t tried it, Old Gowrie is a broken flake of mature and fruity VAs, dark fired and some Perique. Back in the day, people swore up and down that it was a straight VA. I remember getting into arguments on other forums about it.

The dark fired and Perique are used in such a way where I can’t taste them individually, but they add a lot of depth in a true “condimental” way.

Tin note is almost edible, dark fruits, wine-like and the kind of scent that gets tobacco nerds like us all fired up. A few years of age increase the fruitiness. Taste is just as good, with a little extra smokiness and spice to back it up.

I prefer OG over Hal O The Wynd, although HOTW is some great stuff, too.

 

[logs]

Good stuff. I think it's a pretty close match to Tilbury (and way easier to find).

 

[BROBS]

I like McConnell Scottish cake better and find OG just ok.

 

[Jaylotw]

I like McConnell Scottish cake better and find OG just ok.

What makes it better?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have an 11 year old ton that's going to get popped soon. Can't say I love it but it is very, very good.

 

[seanv]

It is good at any time but after a few years it is outstanding. I recently finished a 2 plus year old tin and thoroughly enjoyed it

 

[pip01]

Good Stuff. I have a 2012 tin I'm itching to pop.

 

[tfdickson]

Old Gowrie is my favorite blend, of all time.

I popped a tin for New Years and had a few smokes from it, and as always it ticks every box for me.

For those who haven’t tried it, Old Gowrie is a broken flake of mature and fruity VAs, dark fired and some Perique. Back in the day, people swore up and down that it was a straight VA. I remember getting into arguments on other forums about it.

The dark fired and Perique are used in such a way where I can’t taste them individually, but they add a lot of depth in a true “condimental” way.

Tin note is almost edible, dark fruits, wine-like and the kind of scent that gets tobacco nerds like us all fired up. A few years of age increase the fruitiness. Taste is just as good, with a little extra smokiness and spice to back it up.

I prefer OG over Hal O The Wynd, although HOTW is some great stuff, too.

I completely agree. If I had to choose one Rattray blend as a favorite, OG would be it. And whatever the label says, I find it at least equal to HOTW in the strength dept.

 

[captpat]

One of my favorites

 

[pantsBoots]

Only I've had is from a canister that's over 10 years old. It needs to be dried out, but is a great Virginia, blended to perfection. Every time I pack a bowl, I wonder why I don't smoke it more often. Have not tried a fresh tin, though I have one set back. I would consider jarring bulk OG, but I seem to always get led astray into buying yet more Red Rapparee instead.

 

[ashdigger]

I love OG, HOW and MF and I hope that’s OK with the OG FMs here on PM.

 

[tfdickson]

Only I've had is from a canister that's over 10 years old. It needs to be dried out, but is a great Virginia, blended to perfection. Every time I pack a bowl, I wonder why I don't smoke it more often. Have not tried a fresh tin, though I have one set back. I would consider jarring bulk OG, but I seem to always get led astray into buying yet more Red Rapparee instead.

I’ve gone through fresh tins, 15 year old tins, and in between. This is one that doesn’t seem to change dramatically with age which could be because the VAs are plenty mature from the get go. So that bad news is that you can sit on it for years and years and not see a huge change. Good news is that it’s awesome right away.

 

[Jaylotw]

Only I've had is from a canister that's over 10 years old. It needs to be dried out, but is a great Virginia, blended to perfection. Every time I pack a bowl, I wonder why I don't smoke it more often. Have not tried a fresh tin, though I have one set back. I would consider jarring bulk OG, but I seem to always get led astray into buying yet more Red Rapparee instead.

Never been able to get it in bulk. Keeping my eyes peeled though! I love the art on the Rattray’s 100g tins though. Very regal.

 

[Jaylotw]

I’ve gone through fresh tins, 15 year old tins, and in between. This is one that doesn’t seem to change dramatically with age which could be because the VAs are plenty mature from the get go. So that bad news is that you can sit on it for years and years and not see a huge change. Good news is that it’s awesome right away.

I agree mostly. I just finished a 2013 tin, and while I found it to have some *extra* dark fruit notes, the fresh stuff is just as good and I can’t say that the aged was really that dramatically different to my tastes. That being said, I’d still take the aged tin just cuz.

 

[jmill208]

Old Gowrie is great! I also think it’s one of Rattrays best.

 

[pantsBoots]

I’ve gone through fresh tins, 15 year old tins, and in between. This is one that doesn’t seem to change dramatically with age which could be because the VAs are plenty mature from the get go. So that bad news is that you can sit on it for years and years and not see a huge change. Good news is that it’s awesome right away.

I'll take that. It did seem very mature

 

[bent1]

OG is one of my favorites too, description is spot on the mark. Brown Clunie is similar (a little less perique), Hal-o-the Wind a little more perique than OG, and Marlin Flake a little more than HOW. All 4 are superb, similar but each distinct. HOW gets my nod for my favorite, but only by a slight bit.

 

[Jaylotw]

OG is one of my favorites too, description is spot on the mark. Brown Clunie is similar (a little less perique), Hal-o-the Wind a little more perique than OG, and Marlin Flake a little more than HOW. All 4 are superb, similar but each distinct. HOW gets my nod for my favorite, but only by a slight bit.

I still haven’t gotten around to Brown Clunee, I need to try that one. Those are the four horsemen of Rattray’s. I do feel that Marlin is quite a bit different though, with no dark fired and that hint of delicious cavendish, but still with those mature VAs that are the hallmark of all four.

Same thing with Red Raparee and Black Mallory I feel. Similar but with small distinctions. I think the only difference between the two is the addition of cavendish?

 

[trubka2]

Another OG lover here. Great write-up! I slightly prefer HOTW, but I smoke them both quite a bit. Though @tfdickson is pretty much always right, I find, I'm not sure I agree with him about aging OG. It seems to me like there's a marked difference between fresh and 2ish years. The latter is much fruitier, more jelly donut than the former to my tastes. Beyond a couple years, though, I wouldn't know as I've never tried it. Yet.

 

[bent1]

I still haven’t gotten around to Brown Clunee, I need to try that one. Those are the four horsemen of Rattray’s. I do feel that Marlin is quite a bit different though, with no dark fired and that hint of delicious cavendish, but still with those mature VAs that are the hallmark of all four.

Same thing with Red Raparee and Black Mallory I feel. Similar but with small distinctions. I think the only difference between the two is the addition of cavendish?

Stand corrected on Marlin Flake, looked back through my memory, and MF has a deep sweetness to it. When first opening any of the 4, pop the metal lid and let it sit with plastic lid for 2 - 3 weeks. Magic.