This is a VA flake that's been treated/stoved to bring out more robust flavors. The end product is delicious and complex. It's flavor is sweet but never in a cloying way. It has no casing or flavorants, yet one can gets mild fruit and cocao from the smoke. As well (of course) as a delicious aged tobacco aroma.

All in all, one of my very favorites.

Not really sure how to rate it so I'll give it 3 stars. For those smokers who like the aroma I'm sure Marlin Flake will be an excellent smoke. It's definately worth a try.

Interestingly, smoking from a 16 year old tin of Marlin Flake accentuated the soapy flavor rather than subduing it. I found that exceedingly odd. This is one tobacco that does not mellow with age, or at least it did not in my case.

Hal O' The Wynd is in my steady rotation and I smoke a bit of Old Gowrie from time to time. Marlin Flake and Brown Clunee are cut from a different cloth, to my taste, and I found the dryer sheet taste offputting enough that I'll pass on further exploration of those two. YMMV.

Opening the tin, I was delighted by both the presentation and the aroma: this is a flake that shows the true size of the plug it is cut from; the slices are quite long and wide. The scent is of dark bread, figs, good vinegar and sugary hay; I keep finding myself with my nose stuck in the tin just to get more of that peculiar but delicious mix.

While pretty moist at first, flake connoisseurs will be able to light this blend fresh from the tin without drying; just take about a pipeful of leaf off the end of a slice, fold it and sink it in your bowl, rub out a dub of the tobacco to top off, and off you go.

The smoke starts out sweet, bready (aged stoved VA...) and with some freshness; when not rubbed out, the smoker gets a slow, cool and smooth burn rewarding the smoker with a full, fruity, natural taste, a good amount of strength, very little condensation if any, and a yearning for more.

The Marlin Flake has been compared to several other blends, which I do not know, and Rattray's Hal O'The Wynd, wich I do, and it has been said that this were basically the same. I don't agree with that; the MF shows a number of differences from HOTW. I do agree, however, that these two blends can be compared; they do have some similarities. Of the two, I would say I prefer the MF at this time, for its somewhat more complex taste.

As with seemingly all Rattray's blends, I think I can understand those who have experienced the old times when the original manufacturer contributed more than just the name. Since I have never had the chance to experience those originals (the Rattray's blends first became available in my home country only after Kohlhase&Kopp took over production), my review is based on the state of things as it is now. So, no points retracted for nostalgic reasons. This is one great flake IMHO.

-- update 09-09-09: One last niggle. For the shape of the tobacco (looooooooong slices), the packaging format is about the worst choice imaginable for this blend. Being a flake of a format that connot be folded&stuffed by the slice, it needs to be either cut or rubbed out; that would be facilitated by a wide, shallow tin. Unfortunately, the packaging chosen is a very narrow tall tin; I have large, narrow hands with the according fingers and I can hardly reach the bottom of the tins. How'm'I s'posed to rub out and stuff this flake from the tin, then? Just a minor niggle, nothing to change my verdict overall.

Highly recommended.

A companion infusion: a myriad of libations...ranging from hot chocolate to your favorite single malt...just enjoy.

I'll give it a try some more years later again. Maybe then I will edit this review. For now, just 2 stars with a dissapointment.

A dark folded ribbon of flake is extracted from the tin, partialy rubbed out, this is left to dry on newspaper for 24 hours, the aroma of the tobacco is rich and complex, I would have said an aged Virginia and been hoplessly wrong. It is it seems, a Cavendish, Perique, Virginia Flake, and beautifully done.

Loads and lights easily with a single match and already, the tobacco warns me not to puff to hard as a bite will be the reward, the taste is rich and sweet, without being too sweet and cloying, red wine and raisins come to mind. It has been noted that this is similar to Dunhill Flake, I cannot resist, and light a pipe Of Dunhill Flake for a side by side comparisson. I agree entirely. However, I always remember DF having a Buttered Bread like flavour, am i getting gentle hints from both ? Is DF immitating Marlin Flake ? or is Marlin Flake immitating DF ? Either way, both are superb, an excellent all day smoke.

I have one tin open and two in reserve, time to buy some more. I'm not going without this one again. Four well earned stars.

This one will most likely claim a spot in my top 10.

It has a decent nicotine hit, which for me makes it a good companion to the morning coffee. When smoked outdoors it seems to open up a little also, all for the better, which makes this a likely candidate for further outdoor activities.

All in all this is a nice tobacco. Good, but not outstanding. In fact, I am tempted to give it two stars. But somehow, that seems to be too little, so three it is.

Sadly, I can't recommend this. I wish I could smoke it. I really like the flavor. How do you do it?

Pressed and stoved, according to its present manufacturer, Kohlhase & Kopp, Marlin flake is a ?dark flake comprised of dark Virginia, jet black Cavendish, and a whisper of Perique? (= dunkle Flake setzt sich zusammen aus Dark Virginia, tiefschwarzem Cavendish und einem Hauch Perique). In terms of presentation, the overall effect is that of a somewhat oily, dark stoved and pressed Virginia flake cut into a supple belt which requires both careful preparation and substantial drying time. In this, Marlin Flake stands out only as a typical representative of the genre.

Properly prepared, Marlin Flake packs and burns well, offering a range of sweet and earthly flavors and appears to possess enough complexity to maintain ones attention as the bowl progresses. While quite subdued, the Perique is noticeable now and again as is the slightly creamy body lent to the smoke by the Cavendish. As to be expected, however, it is the sugar-sauced and stoved Virginias which take center stage. Medium to heavy bodied with a sweet, rich, and occasionally bright finish, this is a flake which takes itself seriously. Quick to reward gentle puffing, it can bite if abused.

Despite the obviously heavy hand with the humectants and, unconfirmed but likely use of the preservative cocktails typical among the big European blending houses (e.g., potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, etc.), it should age well.

Overall, like many Kohlhase & Kopp offerings Marlin Flake is what it is. While devotees of the genre might find it worthy of some attention, to this reviewer ? who prefers his VAPERS, flake or otherwise, and their ilk unstoved and less processed ? the whole effect is rather uninspiring. On top of this, given the size of the tin, in this case a 100g. tumbler, the presentation is bit disconcerting ? why waste all that space just for the sake of uniform packaging in the line to which this particular preparation belongs? 100 grams of such a densely pressed flake does not take up much space at all. I suspect the 50g. tin presents a similar conundrum, although like the rest of K&K?s Rattray?s ?British Line? Marlin Flake is, however, readily available in bulk. I for one, however, will not be cellaring quantities anytime soon.

For a change this tobacco lends itself to a little perique. If you have no perique try this. Sprinkle just a little freshly milled black pepper during filling your pipe and hey presto, what a beatiful smoke.

This is a top rate tobacco.

Marlin Flake is underrated and its a shame. I do not know why because like Old Gowrie and my beloved HOTW this is right up there and i ALWAYS have a tin open.

Like all Rattray blends, this comes with lots of moisture in the tin. It needs to be aired out to get the best of this delicious blend. Drying it out will also eliminate the tongue bite.

A few months ago, i ordered around half a kilo of bulk HOTW and they sent me the wrong blend. Instead i got that amount of Marlin Flake, i did not complain because this stuff is just as good.

This has a particular musty taste that HOTW and Old Gowire does not and that sets it apart from the other two. Some reviewers compare it to Sweet Potatoe Pie and i can see what they mean. What ever it is, this blend is delicious and it has the same VitN content as HOTW does.

Like HOTW and Old Gowrie, once dried out, you get that mouth filling Virginia sweetness and great aftertaste that is just plain fantastic.

Mo, South Africa

If I have to buy 3 tins of Virginia from Rattray, I would choose 3 tins of Hal O' the Wynd

Marline Flake and Old Gowrie I really don?t care about.

2008 Edit: After almost seven years from this review, I am smoking a tin that I have been cellaring for 4 years, and had become puffy and swollen... Wow, this still is one of my top five Virginias! Ripe, sweet, nutty, rich, mouthwatering... With more experience on my hands, I have to say that it lights and burns perfectly (just crumble the flakes a little bit), and the moisture I had written about in my old review was just a matter of bad smoking technique and crappy pipe (yes, that Savinelli was not that great after all...). I really love this tobacco (enjoying it in a Ruby Bark Dunhill with a very open draw right now), and I just hope they haven't tampered too much with its recipe in recent years... I guess I'll have to buy a fresh tin to check it out...

Without any significant difference in nicotine content from Old Gowrie or Hal O'The Wynd, this delicious flake is richer and fuller in taste that OG. The added Cavendish gives it the heady note reminiscent of rich and sweet red wine.

Four stars for the top quality, but one star away for too little tobacco in the tin. Doctor, is that the yellow color of the tin that makes me so greedy?

I enjoy this blend a great deal. It is my favorite of the Rattray blends. I have smoked tins of Old Gowrie and Hal O'The Wind, which I think are nice blends, but the "red headed step children" to Marlin Flake. As I read through the opinions of some of the detractors of this blend, I would bet that the disappointment that some folks express has to do with either one or both of two things. #1, the tobacco is too moist when you pop the lid and needs to be dried out. Wet tobacco bites and overshadows subtlety. Also, a little aging does a world of good. So opening a new tin and smoking it does not permit the far more pleasant experience that this blend can deliver.

Also, it should be noted that this blend is packaged in at least two ways that I'm aware of: either in the taller cylindrical tin or the flatter disk shaped tin. While both contain the same tobacco, the flatter disks seem to mature more quickly. Perhaps they seal better, I'm not sure.

I would characterize this blend as full, but of medium strength. It has a lot of flavor without being overpowering. It breaks up and packs easily, especially when dried out a bit. Also, it burns very easily....when dried out a bit.

It is sweet and although I don't detect any flavoring, I can't dismiss that it may be subtly painted prior to breaking the packed flake, only because it seems so rich. If there is cavendish, which others have suggested, it is very subtle. I generally don't like cavendish preparations at all, and so if it's there, it's in the background.

It is not too different from Full VA Flake. I may prefer FVF, although I will confess that the Samual Gawith flakes, while fantastic, take considerably more work to rub out. And they need to be dried out as well.

Lastly, Marlin Flake is one of those blends that smokes well to the last puff. Again, no tongue bite at all unless it's too wet or you smoke like a vacuum cleaner on steroids.

Good stuff.

Gold Standard Virginia Flake. For some reason the word "crusty" comes to mind...as in San Francisco sourdough bread with some unsalted butter and a drizzle of honey.

As they say in wine circles: "Right Bodacious".

Readers should take note that the ratings for this blend have gone down over the past several years.

If you're looking for a great straight Virginia, try Full Virginia Flake. If you want a basic Vaper, try Luxury Bullseye Flake.

RATTRAY?S - BRITISH LINE MARLIN FLAKE Dieser dunkle Flake setzt sich zusammen aus Dark Virginia, tiefschwarzem Cavendish und einem Hauch Perique.

The words in question need no translation but here's one anyway:

This dark flake is made up of Dark Virginia, deep black Cavendish and a breath of Perique.

I have a tin of Marlin Flake on order, just because I really don't remember tasting any Perique in there, and I know I never tasted vanilla. We'll see. I hope I don't come off snooty by posting this, as I have never once, in all my life, actually snooted. By the way, I enjoy Mo's reviews quite a bit, and in no way intend to offend. Anyone. Unless they want to be. (Offended, that is). Happy smoke. p.s. Don't even ask about Hal O' the Wynd. (Kentucky and perique, too. Actually, almost all the Rattray pure Virginias aren't).

Another update,- regarding blend content. I did some research at one of my favorite German language tobacco sites, daft.de .There's a wealth of information on all things tobacco there. One thing you won't find there, I don't think, is this importer's descriptive. http://www.daft.de/downloads/oesterreichischer_tabak.pdf I add this only to try to be informative, I'm not endorsing anyone here... But there's that ingredient list again..VA/CAV/PER. aye aye aye.

--Update-- I'm removing a star, because the cans I've bought recently were sharp (the tobacco inside, not the cans themselves) and bitey. It seems the K and K has indeed filled some of the old 'blended in Perth' cans with their concoction, and it just isn't the same. As for the stickers on the can stating the blend includes things unvirginia, go figure. . . Still leaving it 3 stars for what it was, and may someday again be.(insert weepy violin music) ----------------------------------- Earlier. . . . .

I live in Austria, where this is both hard to find, and not the biggest seller. So, I've had both the 'blended for' and the 'blended by Charles Rattray at Perth' versions. I like them both equally and actually have found more variation from can to can as apposed to blender and country.

That said, I have to say my tongue and nose have always been a little supicious about the ingredients of this blend. 'Straight virginia'? they ask. hmmm maybe some dark stoved to boot. Well, the last 100 gram can I bought had a little surprise on the bottom. A sticker, in German.. It listed this as Marlin Flake, a Virginia with both, get this-- Black Cav. and Perique. I laughed. Then I went back and bought another tin and there was the same sticker on the bottom, go figure.

Anyway, I think this is best when mixed 50-50 with Black Mallory. Mix it one bowl at a time. I tried premixing about 50 grams and it turned into a bitter mess.

The tin presentation is very promising. Lovely rough flakes with that earthy hay/grass/peat note that Rattray's are so good at. A bit too moist, but a rough rub produces a good pack. Lighting was a little tricky but it burns well once it's going.

But the smoking experience for me was completely lacking. Hot and sharp, no discernible flavour - certainly none of that mature Virginia I was expecting. Also low nicotine, though I understand this is supposed to be a bit stronger than OG. Not horrible, but lacking, bland and tasteless. The absence of taste, body and strength also had me tugging at it to get something out of it, leading to too much heat and bite.

Not one I shall be buying again. One star.

I smoked a 100g tin of this over three and a half months, and got roughly 30 smokes out of it. Not a very good value money-wise but not horrible.

At first, it was harsh. Too wet for sure and if I dried it out it seemed to lose all its flavor. So I "mellowed" it for a couple of months. It improved, but the dominant flavor was the vanilla cavendish. It burned and packed easily. Not enough perique to make much of a presence, nor to irritate my allergies very much.

Good but not great.

Mo--check out "loosewatches" review below, among others. I definitely tasted vanilla flavoring.

Upon opening, the tobacco was at a perfect moisture level with no need to dry it out as some other reviewers have mentioned. The tobacco was almost completely black, with a light speckling of brownish bits hither and yon. The flavor is deep and rich, heavy with notes of chocolate, plum jam and molasses, with lighter notes of caramel and honey and a hint of gingery sourness (perique I suspect). I smoke this in a meerschaum which I find tends to lighten the flavor, and I suspect that if it's this dark and moody in a meer it's probably too much for a briar. I may snag another tin and only age it for a decade, and see how it turns out. It's great stuff, and easily my favorite virginia, and yes that includes my early 90's christmas cheers which have aged well but still can't compare to this marvel.

Most people find HoTW stronger than Marlin Flake, but I only find it sharper. To me, the strength rank is: 1) MF; 2) HoTW; 3) OG.

05.14.2007. not a bad dark semi-stoved virginia, just not that interesting. somewhat sweet in the german-danish sense. very malty. may work well as a beginners virginia.

none of the rattray's virginia tobaccos have remained unchanged during the kohlhase & kopp period, it seems. and actually, for the most part they're made by orlik. the one that has changed the least must be hotw.

roasting old gowrie saved that tobacco. i may try the same cure for marlin flake. at present, i find it rather sad to smoke, remembering the glory it was.

By the second and third bowl I began to rediscover an old friend. Has it changed ever so slightly over the years, probably. But I'm now three tins later and happy with my renewed relationship.

This blend has been heavily reviewed and some seem irritated that it has received so many accolades. Perhaps it gets high marks for some very simple reasons. It's a tasty virginia with no bite, easy to pack and always reliable. New and old pipe smokers alike can enjoy it!

It's not my favorite. But for starters, the unrubbed flake is much easier to pack and light than the fully rubbed-out OG. The smoke is very light in flavor and density, almost too so, but it has a pleasant flavor that I'd found lacking in OG.

A bit too mild for my taste (having decided only recently to do my garage a favor and move toward some lighter tobaccos) -- but I won't hold that against it. No discernible bite, clean-burning to the end. So though it's not on my "regulars" list, I'll give it three-stars for those who appreciate a pleasant very light smoke.

If you like bitey tongue scorching tobacco that smokes like stale tea leaves....you've go it here!

Another one for the nico-wimps!

I let it sit sealed in the tin to dry for about a week. POW! What a difference! It was just too moist. I loaded a clay cutty and marveled. It indeed has something of a sweet potato flavor, and hints of port. The caramelized sugar in the blend as it burns is scrumptious, and occasionally a nice toasty flavor comes through.

Really delicious with a mild, black coffee, or a full bodied tea.

My only problem with old Marlin, is that it tends to bite the living daylights out of me. So, I can't smoke it often.

UPDATED

Im upgrading Marlins status, because I have found that with 6 months age, It really gets much smoother.

BETTER PICK: MCCLELLAND CHRISTMAS CHEER 05' OR 06

Had to make an update. I still enjoy this tobacco more than any other VA flake, but I got scolded by the missus yesterday due to the room note. So much I nearly lost my indoor smoking permit. Now, I don't really know if there were some other underlying issues here, but still, the "wife factor" went down a few notches...

dunhill grp 3

So I broke down and bought Marlin Flake at the local B&M, with the understanding that it would be of "darker" and "greater strength" than the typical Virginia. Yes, I know that is supposed to represent a comparison to Old Gowrie..well, now I do.

Opening this thing out of the tin affords a wonderful aroma, with dark reddish flakes, beautifully folded into one gorgeous block. Not since Escudo's have I experienced a more attractive presentation just out of the tin.

Like many have stated, this is a moderate strength blend, with a sugary taste. The ripened flavor comes without throwing blatant signs regarding the addition of an articial sweetening agent. Some have suggested such, and I will gladly state my ignorance on the matter. However Rattray's manages to create Marlin Flake, it works exceptionally well--with an almost molasses undertone.

Upon smoking, I barely rubbed out the flakes, with a medium-level packing. This thing smoked straight to the bottom without even the need for a single tampering, an incidence that I rarely come across. Because of the high degree of sugar, I'd suggest a more prudent means of puffing. If you get anxious on this smoke, you'll probably burn a tongue in short time. I didn't get that, however, in the three or so times I lit this up, and I do tend to run though a bowl much faster than others.

In my opinion, this Virginia offering comes second only to McClelland's 2010, which I find slightly less sweet, with a modestly greater jump in nicotine..and a more economical pricetag.

Four of Four.

One of my favorite mixtures is Old Gowrie, and so when I read that Marlin Flake was a related mixture, I thought I'd give it a try.

The first thing I was surprised about was the length of the flakes - about a foot long, rolled up in the tin. I took them out and cut them into about 3 inch lengths, which is just enough to fill the pipe I use to smoke it

I rub my flakes out well before loading my pipe, and I must say that MF rubs out very nicely. The tin aroma is delightful; dark and sweet. This carries well into the actual smoking.

After rubbing it out, I usually let it sit for 5 minutes or so to dry out a bit. This helps in lighting and keeping it lit throughout the smoke.

At first light, there is a barely perceptible hint of flavoring. Maybe it's just the sweetness of the mixture, but I think there is a slight topping. This fades once the pipe is well lit.

Dark sweetness and clean mildness are the characteristics of the smoke throughout. MF is strong, but subtly so. I find that I can smoke this throughout the day with great satisfaction, and not get overwhelmed or bored by it.

Since I've been smoking it I have largely eschewed the other blends that I usually smoke, and do not miss them. There is no harshness or acridity here, just deep, mellow enjoyment.

This may turn out to be my all time favorite.

Bugenhagen

If there weren't other VA's out there that ring my bell, I wouldn't bother sounding off, but since tastes are very subjective, I have found great blends that suit my tastes because of less favorable reviews here; and the fact that I just reviewed another VA that has complexity and depth IMO and gave that a high recommendation.

Cheers, VC

More than a decade and a half ago the assistant at the Davidoff shop in Geneva - where I had gone to pick up some Old Gowrie - recommended Marlin Flake to me. I have reason to be grateful to him as it has become a regular companion. If FVF is the double bass struggling to sing against its own weight, and Stonehaven the viola singing with effortless warmth, Marlin Flake is the 'cello in between - expressive, deep and contemplative.

On the whole I would rate Stonehaven the highest in the genre, but Marlin Flake is a close second. Wonderful stuff, worth every penny.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Canadian Smooth

Appearance: Dark brown with light brown streaks, comes as a foot-long loosely pressed flake folded in the can.

Aroma: Red wine vinegar, cognac, prunes, sharp but sweet, fresh Mission figs, soy sauce, baked bread, a pungent note of sweet chocolate, rather pronounced but I don't think this is a topping.

Taste: Quite nice, mellow strength. Smooth, sweet, figs, and fresh-cut hay, spicy fresh Virginia tobacco flavor. Full and naturally sweet.

Comparisons: Not as nutty as Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake or Best Brown Flake, but it has a full sweetness that the others lack. On the spectrum of nutty-sweet, Marlin Flake is on the sweet end, a few steps past Hal O' the Wynd.

Bottom Line: For natural Virginia flake devotees who are seeking a sweet rather than a nutty Virginia flavor, especially those who are planning to set their tins aside for a year or more, this may be a blend for you.

Initial light fine, had some trouble getting (and keeping) the thing going.

Tasty, yes. Not overwhelming in any way, just stronger than most mixtures I smoke, had a feeling or a flashback to that robusto I smoked the night before last at xmas party.

Balanced, somehow quite a pure taste. The same way I guess, that a single malt is pure compared to a blended scotch. That raisiny smell did come through at times, a nice surprise. Otherwise alternatingly mellow and spicy, quite cool (though definitely gets hot if puffing too quick).

All in all, a great, strong tobacco. Will keep this in rotation and lets see how my taste develops ;-) (updates a'coming)

UPDATE: After half a year on&off with Marlin Flake, it's a keeper. (Upgraded rating to "favorite".) Excellent, truly excellent choice after dinner, with a glass or two of whiskey or just by itself, watching the Summer sunset. This is truly very, very good. I could heartily recommend this to any pipesmoker.

[190705] I can't get enough of this. It seems to suit any mood, any place and any time of day. After more experience with this baccy is cooler, there is more variance in the smoke as you progress through the bowl and the lovely "stoved but fresh" taste is something to truly hunger for. It does benefit from a cooler weather, but I'd never spit on it indoors or on a summer's day, either.

If I were to vote for the best Va. Marlin Flake would get my vote.

Don't get me wrong by the "Might try it again..." rating; Marlin Flake is a quality tobacco. I enjoy virginias but MF is just too heavily cased for me to enjoy. The flavor is anemic but the room note is a sure crowd pleaser. I want more body and substance when I smoke, i.e. Best Brown Flake. MF is just too weak and artificially sweet for me to enjoy.

Tin: Marlin Flake arrives in the tin as a bundle of impressive 6" long flakes of mottled reddish-brown and black strands. A whiff reveals dark fruit notes over a core of good, strong natural tobacco. The moisture level in my tin was high, even for a Rattray's blend. Give this one some airing time.

Pack: I rub out all my flakes when I smoke indoors, and this one does so easily, breaking down into short strands that make loading easy. The strands are dense, so I find myself tending towards a looser pack.

Lighting/Burning: For such a dense flake, the tobacco lights relatively easily. An extra pass with the lighter at the outset is helpful just to make sure, but there isn't any need for extraordinary effort, which is nice. MF burns evenly down the bowl, but is an easy one to smoke hot. This is a flake that absolutely requires good technique.

Flavor: From a freshly-opened tin, MF is dominated by the sweetness of the red VA's, so much so that it's distracting. I believe that this is the source of the occasional comments that that MF is "syrupy". Fortunately, this sweetness dissipates after the tin has been opened for just a few days, making the core flavors of this flake - big, rich, slightly spicy low Virginia notes - that much more apparent. The flavor is fairly consistent across the bowl, gaining just a bit of strength at the bottom, but there's a lot to appreciate in MF's basic flavors. Tongue bite is definitely a possibility, though. I feel like I'm always just on the edge of smoking too fast with this flake.

Pipe/Technique: This is one of the rare flakes that I find really likes a slightly larger bowl, probably because of the benefit that the extra air provides to slow combustion. I've settled into Group 4 sized bowls as my favorite for this, sometimes breaking into Group 5 territory - though MF burns well and tastes good in even bigger pipes, I find the flavor to be strong enough as is. Regardless of the pipe, good smoking technique is essential here - this is the only blend I smoke where breath-smoking or some other kind of forced slow-smoking routine is absolutely necessary to avoid bite. And, as mentioned above, open the tin a few days early and let the flakes dry before rubbing-out.

Overall: In the arena of strong, straight VA's, this is a top contender. The core flavors of Marlin Flake are simply fantastic - rich, strong, natural VA at its best. It reminds me of Hal `O The Wynd, which I used to smoke almost exclusively but have not returned to for a couple of years. I look forward to opening a tin of Hal for comparison to MF sometime soon. My only reservation about Marlin Flake is the propensity to bite - I prefer blends that are a bit less precarious to smoke, and MF definitely requires my full attention. For that reason, I'm going to stop short of giving this a "favorite" rating just yet, but I look forward to seeing if the tins in my cellar mellow any with age. 3/4

Update 4/23/05 - It hasn't been long enough to break another tin of MF out of the cellar, but I did get a chance to smoke a tin of (unaged) HOTW recently. While there is a certain similarity in flavor between these tobaccos, I very much disagree with people that consider them "nearly identical". The sweetness in HOTW is much more subdued than in MF. Perhaps for that same reason, I find HOTW much easier to smoke. Maybe with more aging, the two will become more similar. Only time will tell... But for the moment, I find Hal to be much more to my liking.

The poetic extolling and high hailing in the above reviews may seem excessive, but only to those who haven't tried it. I'm at at odd loss for words, and I can't type my joy at having found this wonderful stuff.

The tin aroma of Marlin Flake is wonderfully pleasing. This aroma is full and smells of sweet ripened figs with chocolate/molasses undertones. Marlin Flake is composed of Virginias of varying grades. The flakes are primarily dark in color but are completely striated throughout with red/brown and golden/orange shades.

The cut of Marlin Flake is a very long (sometimes as long as 8 inches!) flake with a medium width and thickness. The long handsome flakes are coiled neatly around one another inside the 50 gram tin. This Virginia flake tobacco is velvety soft and rubs out easily without any tearing. Marlin Flake can be rubbed out to a ribbon consistency if desired. Marlin Flake is a more dense tobacco and this facet of the flake should be taken into consideration upon packing. The initial moisture content is quite high but curiously enough does not tend to affect the burning or bite characteristics of this blend in any negative manner.

Marlin Flake lights easily enough for a Virginia flake and it possesses an even, medium-slow burn. Marlin Flake does not leave any moisture in the bottom of the bowl. The room note is quite light and is not unlike other flue-cured Virginias.

The taste of Marlin Flake is sweet and uniform throughout without much complexity and lacks any hints of dark spiciness that are present in blends such as Butera?s Royal Vintage Dark Stoved flake. Even though Marlin Flake is quite sweet and rich, it is in no way overbearing or boring. Remarkably, Marlin Flake has very little if any bite even as the burn nears the bottom of the bowl. This is a true accomplishment for a Virginia flake blend, since these blends are notorious for their hot smoke. Marlin Flake is perhaps the coolest smoking Virginia flake on the market. No real drying is needed since Marlin Flake smokes reasonably cool from the start. The smoke produced is medium-thin.

Marlin Flake, although not as complex as some premium Virginia flakes, possesses a wonderful taste, burn, and tin aroma. These characteristics make Marlin Flake one of the premier Virginia flakes on the market today.

THIS IS NOT A REVIEW. TONIGHT I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM AN EMAIL ADDRESS CLAIMING TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH TOBACCO REVIEWS. THE EMAIL CONTAINED THE NETSKY VIRUS. MY VIRUS SCAN CAUGHT IT IN TIME AND A SCAN OF MY ENTIRE HARDDRIVE IS ALMOST COMPLETE.

BUT BEWARE OF ANY EMAILS WITH ATTACHMENTS CLAIMING TO BE FROM ANY TOBACCO CLUB/WEBSITE/DISCUSSION GROUP ETC.

PRISON CHAPLAIN

From the beginning to the end, this Virginia blend delivers a deep, rich, full and natural Virginia flavor.

In a word, Outstanding. I may be ruined.

It's pure VA, no topping added, but nonetheless Rattray's hit the jackpot in some mysterious way. The above reviewers said it all.

If I was stuck alone on a desert island, this one would be the tobacco I could smoke for the rest of my life and never get tired of.

Yes, I admit that MF gives you a quite monochromatic smoke, but it is so good that you wouldn't want it to change through the entire bowl.

I was lucky once, to get hold of a 5 year old tin. The experience here, was twice as good as with a fresh one. Buy 20-30 tins and hide them in your cellar for future holy experiences.

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

I like to rub it out only slightly. This makes it a challenge to pack and light, but it is worth it.

I have a extra large billiard bowl for my Kirsten that is dedicated exclusively to this blend.

The smoke is very full bodied and you can get plenty of it without the pipe getting too hot or too much bite.

Very complex flavor with a certain sweetness that I really enjoy. I usually smoke latakia blends, but I really like this one.

June 2004

I rate this tobacco 9.9 out of 10. I am a fan of the Rattray baccys.

Ahhh!!!!

Touch: Still a little moist for direct smoking. This tobacco is best when thoroughly rubbed out.

Taste: Yet another great VA from Rattray. How it attains such a sweetness without compromising/interfering with its natural origins is unknown to me. Personally, this tobacco might easily be a tad "too sweet" for my every day smoke. I think that this tobacco could provide the allure to VAs for individuals who like flavored tobacco. But, as with other VAs, this should be initially approached somewhat delicately.

Smell: The wife didn't actually give me a review of this tobacco. I find it comparable to other Rattray VAs, but perhaps slightly more pungent.

Conclusions: MF is a great tobacco blend. It only fails to be "one of my favorites" simply because I find it falling in between two of my definitive favorites from Rattray (OG and HTW). My olfactory ruminations usually lead me towards one of my two "poles" (not the right word, but I think readers understand) in the VAs from Rattray, rather than selecting the one that is more centered.

If you smoke more slowly than I do, Marlin Flake is a very good choice amongst dark, stoved virginias.

My tin of Marlin Flake, mail-ordered from JR, came as 100 g "soup can", rather than the 50 g shoe-polish tin shown in the picture.Some of the flakes were doubled over twice to fit the can, making them at least 9" long. Pretty cool, but also ungainly to work with. I have tried several rubbing out strategies. Now, I rip off a chunk, wad it up, stuff it, and smoke it. Once successfully lit it seems to burn at a smolder for ever. I have had medium-sized bowls last a good 90 min. IMHO, this tobacco must be smoked gently and coolly in order to appreciate the huge range of flavors available.

Lately, during the "dog days" of summer (which in coastal Alaska are VERY long but not too doggy) I have taken to a late evening smoke consisting of a half-bowl of MF topped with a well-rubbed out curl of Escudo. The perique tanginess of the Escudo slowly morphs into the fruitiness of MF. Kind of the virginia equivalent of a Bach prelude and fugue, so to speak. Interrelated, but still distinct.

Anyone who is a fan of the subtleties of virginias owes it to themself to give Marlin Flake a serious consideration.

I have little to add to the comprehensive opinions already presented here, other than to say that MF inevitably draws more comparisons than any other flake. And why not? It seemingly incorporates the best features of a dozen of the very best flakes. It's well behaved, bite free, gorgeous to look at, and lush. As rich and satisfying as Stonehaven or FVF without the bloat, as easy as Hamborger Veermaster or Astleys, as complex and nuanced as any, it has long been my go-to flake.

As for the relative merits of the different iterations of Rattray itself- blended by Charles Rattray, blended for Charles Rattray, blended in Charles Rattray- I'll leave that for another day, as comparing different eras in any field is a dicey proposition, at best.

Marlin Flake has an almost legendary reputation among pipesters, and it's easy to see why. Robust yet refined, loaded with flavor yet never overwhelming, this is simply one of the great Virginia Flakes, a classic that can hold its own (and in the opinion of many, surpass) such standard-bearers as McClelland Blackwoods, Gawith Full Virginia, and Dunhill Light VA.

Marlin in bulk has a somewhat different form than the canned variety. In the can Marlin is composed of longish 6-inch flakes, but the bulk bags contain folded-over stacked flakes measuring over 20 (!) inches, requiring some serious chopping, unless you like rubbed-out ribbons nearly two feet long! Tastes the same as the canned stuff, though.

##UPDATE## I am updating this review approxiametly 4 months after opening my first tin. It has since become one of my favorite tobaccos, enough that it has led me to try other straight virginia flakes. I simply had to take some time to learn how to smoke it. I think it helps that I let the tin dry out a bit as well. I give it 2 thumbs up!!!!!

The tin aroma starts pretty much the same way. Tangy at first but after several weeks I can smell a straight tobacco (old tobacco barn in the fall). A wonderful pure and true tobacco smell. One inwhich draws and seduces that tobacco lover in me. ................................................A Real Winner.

Upon opening the tin, I immediately detected that unmistakable tangy Virginia smell. But since the flakes were a bit too moist for my tastes, I quickly rubbed them out and then let the tobacco sit in the open air for about an hour. The airing out reduced the tangy odor considerably.

Because once rubbed, the strands are very short. So, I didn't need to give the tobacco a whirl in my blender (which I usually do to make packing more uniform to produce a much cooler and easier to manage smoke). I loaded up in my P&T mag Cooke POY - one of my favorite smokers - and lit up. The flavor was subdued with no bite at all, and the tobacco stayed lit extremely well. I found the flavor to be fairly one dimentional although the taste perked up a bit during the last half of the smoke. A pure tobacco taste with a nice kick of nicotine! I found the flavor to be similar to Dunhill's Royal Yacht without the casing. It also reminded me of a more refined version of Orlik's Golden Slices.

This is a very nice blend, and I will purchase more for smoking and cellaring. And yes, although this is a straight Virginia, it is indeed a blend. I have read some other reviews where the reviewer mistakenly indicated a blend meant different tobacco types such as the combination of Burley, Virginia and Latakia leaf. Actually, a straight Virginia can be a blend if it contains differing types of the same leaf. Marlin Flake contains several types of Virginia, and is therefore a "blend." And a darn good one!

When packed, after careful rubbing out, one has to be wary of not clogging the bowl. If done properly, it is easy to light. Upon lightening, the naturally sweet scent of Virginia tobacco engulfs not only the palate, but the senses as a whole. A delicate spicy interplay ensues, creating a number of layers in which the basic Virginia flavour spreads out in different phases. It is not a cool burning tobacco, and if carried away by the desirer to quickly explore its different notes, tongue bite will happen next. If smoked slowly, it is absolute pleasure.

Sit down, relax, and open Dickens? Pickwick Papers.

What joy. No dificulty in lighting up at all. Big flavour from the beginning. Delightfully heart-filling white smoke, lots of it. No excessive heat or need to nurse?I have seldom smoked a better-behaved flake.

The smooth-burning stateliness of this tobacco is stunning. I am able to develop a steady-puffing lilt that is just a balm to my cardiovascular well-being! Reading Bob Massey's entertaining book Dreadnought as the sun streams in through the living-room's windows, relaxation is total: this is what smoking is supposed to be like.

I love the flavour: big as in a matured flake but not cloying or bloated. It has something of the best kind of sweet potato pie, without that slightly dusty, salty, sandy note of some gray-flavoured flakes (Limerick); less monotonous that S. Gawith's Full, less predictable and stereotyped than Tordenskjold; comparable perhaps to Royal Vintage Dark Stoved, except that the flavour here, while just as big, is less, well, stoved: more lively, less muddy. There is a fascinating bittersweet fantasy to this tobacco that I love: ideal for Spring cogitations, as Nature renews itself, and we only hope for the same.

As well-behaved as Wessex' Brigade but considerably more interesting and distinct, I give this flake the Highest Recommendation.

Aroma: Oh, boy. The first impression is dark chocolate with raisins and figs (not too dry). I haven?t smelled anything like it since Sobranie Flake went off the market. I was unable to detect any difference between this and Hal O? the Wynd.

Packing: Owing to the size of the flakes, it was easier to pack into medium and larger bowls. Smaller bowls need a bit more care in rubbing out.

Lighting: Best left to dry a bit before smoking, or lighting may be difficult. Once it?s aired out, it lights and burns well.

Initial flavor: Just a rich, sweet, full Va. Flavor with many nuances. The smoke is dense, and there is a decided strength of flavor to it, although I don?t feel a high nicotine content.

Mid-bowl: There is a good range of medium and low notes to the blend, very little in the way of higher range. The blend continues to delight the palate, and remains cool to the tongue. Even a few strong puffs occasionally doesn?t result in any bite. One of the best tasting Virginias I?ve tried in years, very similar to Hal O? the Wynd.

Finish: Smokes dry, cool and gentle right to the end. If I remember to rub out the first pinch a bit, it will burn down to clean ash.

Summary: Maybe too strong for a first experience with Va, especially for a new pipe smoker. Having made that disclaimer, I will recommend to any smoker who loves Virginias, particularly the darker matured varieties.

It burns cooly and well, and has an interesting characteristic: the ash has an odd yellow-gold color that never stops fascinating me. I've been told by Steve Books that this could be from a certain variety of Carolina tobacco which contains an oil that leaves a golden residue.

A great smoke in the dark matured Virginia vein!