I have added this tobacco to my list of definitely must have again, but for now I am still exploring although apart from Connoisseurs Choice I feel that this tobacco has shown me which area to explore in the future and that will in the direction of good Virginias. Am looking forward to trying Marlin Flake, Petersons University Flake and SGs Best Brown Flake. these should make for interesting comparisons.

Of the others I tried I definitely wont be getting another tin of Old Dublin again (see other review)which was not my cup of tea. Which I guess was due to the smokey quality of the Latakia. which gave me hiccups no matter how slow I smoked. I will also give sunset breeze a miss too especially as Connoisseurs Choice is much more pleasant to my taste.

Despite the ‘rubbed out’ description on the tin OG seems to me more like a broken flake. In my experience (though I see that not everyone agrees with me on this) it isn’t necessary to rub it out any further, though it’s a good idea to let it dry a little. Smoke it slowly to avoid bite and get the best out of the subtle flavours. It'll bite if you rush it, but it's a very gentle smoke if you treat it with care.

There really isn’t much more that one can say about this tobacco. It’s superb without being in any way fancy or exotic. It reminds me a little bit, I think, of two old favourites, long gone: W.D. and H.O. Wills's Cut Golden Bar, and Player's No Name. But this is going back a very long way, and maybe my memory is faulty. Anyway, it's a first-rate tobacco.

(A bit expensive, unfortunately: perhaps more of a ‘special occasion’ smoke than an everyday one. Well worth the money, though, if you like the kind of thing it is.)

OG has no added flavors. Fairly sweet/complex aged virginia with a nice perique flavor rounding it out. There are honey, chestnut and fig flavors.

***Update*** desciption of OG on their official website: "Delicate, dark Virginia, Kentucky and a breeze of Perique mature up to 3 months in a press. then the pressed tobacco is cut and hand-rubbed."

so not a pure virginiablend...delicious anyways.

This is truly a delightful tobacco. The difference from Marlin Flake to Old Gowrie is very subtly different. I now prefer OG. This is another excellent virginia tobacco. I hope this has been of some help in choosing a very nice slow burning virginia to slowly sip and savour, please enjoy like I have.

Best wishes to all of you, what a great website, learnt so much, Ian....Liverpool. u.k.

I put it right up there with the best.

Uniq and great taste...Everything is perfect for me...

No need to say too much if you are virginia fans this tobacco best of the best...

Highly recommended.

A companion infusion: pint(s) of cold pilsner...Urquell works just fine. I believe its PlzeHský Prazdroj in Czech.

I try to dry this blend as much as I can for a fully satisfying smoke. The flavorful and cool smoke is suitible for an every hour and day smoke. I realy enjoy the fine and clean virginia taste with this blend.

Very similar to Hal'o the Wynd, but much more bland. I strongly recommend it for meerschaum users in their meerschaum pipes. Have it for your daily smokes and in your cellar forever!

As per the K&K site, OG share the same components of HOTW, of course in other proportions. Its strength is one notch (or two) below HOTW, even K&K puts them in the same scale degree... I feel HOTW being fruity, while OG is nutty. As HOTW may be a bit sharp, OG is absolutely mellow.

OG is delivering me the most soft & velvety smoke I've ever experienced, with the very faintest hidden tones of vanilla and nuts; just a whiff of vinegar to the nostrils. A pure heavenly pleasure !

Well, the most reasonable thing I can do is to alternate the two blends !

My highest reccomendations.

The tobacco is similar in texture and taste to Samuel Gawith's Medium Virginia Flake. A little darker in colour than MVF, and a little sweeter as the smoke progresses. Not significantly so, however, and certainly not enough to justify the price difference, in my opinion.

I would certainly reccomend this tobacco for someone experimenting with Virginias, because I believe that there is a Holy Grail of tobaccos for everyone. While this would be a non-offensive daily smoker for me, I really crave the fuller flavoured Virginias-FVF is perfect for me.

When looking for a lighter smoke, I would probably gravitate toward MVF or Golden Glow. They offer the best bang for the buck in this category.

I prefer to smoke virginias by the morning and on the summer days and Old Gowrie fullfills those roles perfectly.

Note: For some reason, this tobacco seems to bite (throat and mouth) a bit for me. I have to be very careful with it, which knocks it down to two stars.

This is not as sweet as FVF, not as rich as Gold Brick, and not as flavorful as Cut VA Plug, but it is in that class. I wish I could smoke it more often, but for my throat.

There is no bite. It burns even and cool right from the tin. I like the taste, the texture, the aroma, and if I keep it to one or two bowls per week I am okay. I have tried drying it some, I have tried it in several pipes, I take my time with it, but...

They all irritate my throat. I have the best luck with Gold Brick. I do not blame the tobacco. I save it for special occasions.

Old Gowrie is a very special blend to me. It represents all that a memorable medium strength Virginia blend should be about. From the smell and feel of the leaf, to the lighting and sheer quality of this truly luxurious smoke. I love it.

With this blend i have had more memorable smokes than any other and enjoyed exclusively in my finest briars when i relax and ask NOT to be disturbed, it always delivers.

The flavour is truly something remarkable.It does not develope much and thank goodness it does NOT. I would not want that delicious mouthfilling creamy, oasty,slightly toasty taste to change and i think it is an absolute masterpiece.

This does not get boring, it is very well behaved and in a class it only shares with HOTW and Marlin Flake. If dried out properly, this blend will NOT bite at all, Rattrays do come wet in the tin and the moisture causes the bite so remember to air it out well.

This is a masterpiece and you owe it to yourself to smoke this. I cannot put in words how important this is in my rotation.

Mo, South Africa

Nice flake-style tobacco with a mellow sweetness. Can burn hot if you allow it to, so should be smoked in the traditional virginia "sipping" style. I would not call this a complex blend at all but it does have that air of familiarity and comfort that comes with knowing that while it doesn't have the complexity, it also isn't going to turn harsh on you. Sort of the "old dog, no new tricks" thing. Very comforting. No surprises.

I'm really looking forward to what a few years of aging might do for this blend. It's a good smoke as is but it seems to have all the makings of a superior tobacco with some aging. We'll see.

Felt much drier and crackling between the fingers. Now we rub it aggressively between two textured rubber-like gripper-pads and viola, a suitable (for me) ?ready rubbed? for loading in a pipe.

Gravity fed and packed in three stages and ready to char. Still a surprising amount of moisture as I watched it twist and writhe before my nose. A tamp and a touch- up and we are off to hills of Virginia.

Many seem to have trouble sipping their Virginias, but OG can't be had any other way. It makes me sip at it. Savor the smoke, rolling it around the palate over the tongue and up and back through the cave at the back of the nose.

Damn fine!

Wonderful sweetness and rich tobacco. Wonderful with a fresh-ground, home roasted coffee. They begin to play around with the taste-buds, complimenting and supporting one another. What a great morning smoke! Probably would even be great before breakfast; great in the afternoon; great any time you can stop, relax and spend the time to pamper yourself through savoring this blend.

No harsh after tastes or undertones all the way down. Just a gradual increase in depth of flavor and intensity. No bite or suggestion of one lurking, but that could change if not dried as much.

My SigOther complements the room note stating that it is both wonderful and enjoyable. That from one who suffers allergies and sinus problems! All too soon, it reaches the bottom and for a bit I consider another bowl, but, I'm forced to realize that not enough was dried for this, so until the next time.

This wonderful friend is a regular visitor, but still a real treat to entertain and enjoy. Next time, we dry even longer, and see what there is left to discover.

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 dont care about.

I don't know if a Young Gowrie exists, but if it does it sure has a lot of growing up to do to match it's more mature cousin.

This Virginia is probably the best you can get. No bite, easy to light, very forgiving with a wonderful, rounded flavour.

This is a perfect all day smoke, in long, chunky strands it packs easily and just gets better from there.

Highly recommended to all.

From that day forward I believe this is the creme dela creme of VAs. If you have read any of my reviews you are familiar with my take on McCraines red ribbon and Red flake, Folks This blend from Rattrays is on equal footing or slightly surpassing these fine VAs.

The tobacco is a lightly rubbed flake ( not by my difination of fully rubbed) of yellow to reddish color, with No casing, Naturally sweet with NO bite easily packed, a tad too moist but dries out easily. An all day good smoke. BUT I will not smoke it all day for to do that I might become burned out on this blend (pun intended) So I have it in my rotation to smoke a coupla a times a week. it smokes consistant to bottom of bowl with oodles of creamy smoke. Reading the other reviews I am not alone in giving this baccy' 3 and probably a tad more kinda like 3 1/2 stars !

hoo-boy

I will explore Old Gowrie further, but I cannot highly recommend Old Gowrie, when there are many blends I would recommend before this.

Old Gowrie's taste is brilliant, oaty, not too sweet. It's like a nice bottle of a reserved dry red wine. It's definitely a blend that deserves attention, but it did not find place in my cellar due to the high price vs. little tobacco content in the 100 g tin.

Four stars for price/quality, and one for price/quantity. With quality being the more important factor, that would make three greedy stars from this price-conscious smoker.

So far in my piping experience I have leaned heavily to the English mixtures: Renaissance, British Woods, EMP, and Blackpoint. The tin aroma was heavenly. The sweet smell from OG was a welcome change. Some people describe it as grassy, but I noticed a more fruity character. It was more savory sweet and fruity instead of dessert-like--imagine a savory dish made with figs and raisins with a touch of some aromatic herbs like tarragon and lavender. The smoke was the same. Savory-sweet, smooth, and fragrant. I find one bowl not quite enough! It fits into any time of the day or night. Also it is quite good no matter the weather. I find that heavier mixtures like BW and Blackpoint hit their flavor/aroma peak in cooler temps, but OG stays constant no matter if it is summer or winter.

I like OG so much that I wonder about how I would enjoy "the older brother" Marlin Flake? I don't really like nicotine content any higher than OG.

Old Gowrie is a wonderful, comfortable, and satisfying smoke. Highly recommended! It is a mainstay in my cabinet.

***UPDATE*** OG was my first foray into straight VA's and I loved it. After having several other straight VA's tobaccos since then, I have come to appreciate OG even more!!!

On returning to England, I finished the tin which, although is not the OG of old, judgeing by previous reviews, and I detected no "Oatey Flavours" I did find OG to be a good quality easy smoking tobacco with no bad habits, mild and with a taste I can't quite put my finger on, but very pleasant.

Didn't bother to rub out, just loaded straight from the tin, burned well with never more than two matches even in high humidity. Seemed to smoke much better in the cooler climate of England, or maybe that's just me as I am not a lover of high tempratures and high humidity.

I have since bought two more tins of OG, and if these prove to be as good as the last, will most likely end up in my rotation as an anytime smoke and ease out one of my others, Mac Barens Viginia Flake being the most probable candidate.

Subject to the reviews below, I have also placed an order for two tins of Marlin, I am sure I will not be dissapointed.

FINAL NOTE : While in Poland, I tried to find a local offering, the closest being "Grand" (which it was not) but even that was made by Philip Morris, on lighting it up, my polish freind, whose wedding I was a guest of, said "I know we are outside, but will you please stop polluting my country" after a quarter of a bowl I was happy to oblige and donated the remainder of the pouch to the nearest waste bin.

Very nicely done tobacco.

So far, I have had no problem with needing any extra drying. This stuff is exquisite and is, to me, a perfect Virginia baccy. It lights easily, settles down quickly, and smokes with just the right amount of Virginia flavor to keep me settled down. Does not smoke hot if puffed properly and keeps reasonably pure in taste all the way down. Although OG is strongly reminiscent of Hal O' the Wynd (which is one of my very favorites), It has slightly less strength and decidedly less nicotine kick. Could be an all-day choice if ones tastes were not prone to variety.

All in all, I think I am getting to be a Rattray junkie. This stuff gets a strong 5 stars from me.

This is perhaps the most smokable straight virginia I ever encountered. Naturally, it was a bit more sensitve to technique than my accustomed codger burlies but less so than other straight virginias I have smoked. The citrusy taste on this is turned way down. I found that once I got this going at a slow smolder, it required very little follow on attention and had a very smooth but full taste. There was that hint of something citrusy but way less than most virginias. The sweet and sour taste was in the background of something very grassy and a bit leathery. Very nice smoke, but mind you smoke it slowly. It seems a little more forgiving than many but will still bite like a kicked dog if you really start fast puffing it.

Being a virginia, it will never be the backbone of my rotation but it is a very fine smoke for a change of pace. It is top shelf no doubt and very smokable indeed. Three and a half stars for this one.

This has become one of my most loved blends. It is so marvelous: relaxing and interesting, full and rich, that I can't really praise it enough. The flavors are so engaging that whether you run out of time and have to DGT it or whether you smoke it all at once while lingering over a favorite book, you just never run out of joy.

After an especially hard day or when reflecting on the deep things of God, I find that I simply must have a briar with Old Gowrie close at hand. As the other reviewers have wisely advised, let it dry out well and put it in a decent container to store.

Old Gowrie just keeps giving. I couldn't imagine smoking a pipe without this blend somewhere on my shelf.

Accompaniment: Elgar's Enigma Variations.

The tin presentation is great. Rough broken flake with a complex hay/moss/grass/peat note. An easy tobacco to pack and light. One char was usually enough for me. The flavour/strength mix is very well balanced. Neither is very strong. The complexity of the Virginias remain delicate and interesting throughout the bowl, with the overall mildness keeping the flavours forefront.

That said, it is a little too mild for me, so I tend to go at it too hard. That way it gets too hot, sharp and it bites. With discipline, and when I am not after a robust smoke, this is a fine tobacco.

I am being generous giving this a 2 star rating. The tin I tried is over a year old, so I don't think age was an issue. I tried this in several pretty good pipes and it just doesn't do it for me. Oddly enough, I tried it in a brand new pipe and it tasted fairly good - thus the two stars.

Old Gowrie seems to be very pipe dependent.

Maybe it's a bad tin or maybe it is the inconsistency of Rattray tobacco that some mention. This was a 50 gr. tin. I do have 100 gr. tin in the cellar that I will try later. At this point, I am disappointed. I have had much better straight virginias.

However, I find it quite strong in the nicotine department. Indeed it is the only tobacco I've tried that keeps me off the pipe for several hours afterwards. Not so strong that it turns you green and makes you wobble on your feet but it definitely sates your appetite.

For this reason it's not an ideal smoke for me, I feel you have to plan this one into your routine.

Great after a meal or late in the evening. I can see why so many people have given this four stars.

I could be monogamous with this Virginia until my last puff.

I agree with those who describe the taste as "oatish". This is a remarkably cool burner for a virginia and is a very satisfying smoke.

Old Gowrie has opened my eyes (and tastebuds) to how good a straight virginia can be.

04/23/2007. i was about to throw out the tin, having only smoked 1/4 of its boring, almost sickening, content, when i thought "what the heck, perhaps it can be somewhat saved by baking it for 6 hours at 80C." so, i baked it, let it rest for a day, and tried a smoke of it. and lo and behold, a completely different creature: the one-dimensional, nauseating, caramely flavour had magically changed to something pointed, raisiny, malty, marlin flake-ish. it suddenly had lots of different, delightful flavours. i never saw a tobacco change so radically. aging may very well work wonders for it. upgraded from 2 to 4 stars.

03/20/2007. this is a decent if somewhat boring blend. too much sweet german caramel-vanilla topping for my taste. it certainly isn't the taste of pure virginia. all right for the beginner, i guess.

I just received my first can of Old Gowrie today, which I ordered based upon the recommendations in this thread. With the caveat that I've only smoked one bowl, I must say that so far I am not impressed. Has Rattray's changed the formula since the four star folks tasted it? Did I get a bad can? Have I just become set in my tastes? Who knows?

Upon opening, I found the tobacco to be very damp, so I let the can sit open for a few hours before loading my first bowl. I found the can aroma to be very pleasant with just a slight sweet smell. Blackwood's Flake is my favorite Virginia to date, so I find myself comparing all other Virginias to it. However, I hate the smell of BF despite how much I love it as a smoke. This stuff smells great in the can, but doesn't compare to BF in taste for me. I know this is a trivial comment, but the can printing also lacks any character. For a premium priced tobacco, the can looks cheap. Single color and poor printing on cheap cardboard. Ultimately, I found that the tobacco was as plain as the can.

It packed well, with the cut being somewhat finer that that of other 'flake type' Virginias such as BF. After a toasting light and a light tamp, it lit into a nice full, creamy smoke with...almost no flavor. It completely lacks the depth, character and taste of BF.

I figured I'd give it some time to develop as I smoked through the bowl, but found that it did not get any more complex. I found myself drawing a little too hard, probably in an attempt to coax some flavor, but just started getting a hint of bite instead. Ultimately, I regressed back to my usual Virginia tempo, gently drawing in a relaxed and unhurried manner. I saw smoke coming from my draws, but will be darned if I'd know that the pipe was lit if I was blindfolded. The taste did not match the volume and density of smoke.

As I progressed through the bowl, the taste did become more spicy, but in a way that most tobaccos do as the combustion products build up on the unburned tobacco in the bowl.

Again, this was only my first bowl, but I found it to be much less than satisfying. I'll revisit this post as I work through the can, but may find it difficult to choose this tobacco as my relaxation smoke as long as I have cans of BF in my stash. In fact, I'm going in and opening a new can og BF now for tomorrow night.

First off like I said before, I'm really surprised that this is a straight Virginia, it's very smooth for a Virginia. I started my first few tries of this blend in my two Brylon pipes, as I tend to percieve a more neutral taste of the tobacco in them, or at least I think I do. With this blend I found myself seeing if I had lit the bowl, or if I had a hole in the pipe, as I recieved almost no taste from the tobacco. When I switched to Briar pipes I found the body to really fill out for this tobacco. I'm not sure why that happens, but that's been my experience.

For the course of the trial I have primarly been smoking this blend from a wide Willard pot, I wonder if this may not do better in a smaller bowl.

First light- This leaf burns fairly easily to the light, but that is because I have gotten in the habit of letting it dry for 10-15 minutes before packing it up. It comes out of the tin fairly moist, but has a very nice, soft feel to it. After a first light, tamp and relight, it tends to burn fairly smooth and evenly, if just slightly hot. The taste is just slightly sweet, but largely woody, and spicey.

Mid Bowl- The tobacco sweetens a little more about mid bowl, and loses a little of the spiciness; however other then that, it largely remains the same wood/earthy taste I have come to expect.

End of Bowl- Near the end of the bowl this blend tends to roughen up just a little bit, and has some issues staying lit, but all in all it doesn't change too much. I have noticed that the sweetness, and spicy notes tend to fade way to the back, but it still carries a measure of the wood/earthy tones I have tasted throughout the smoke.

It burns to a nice fluffy white and grey ash that tamps easily.

Room Note- This tobacco has almost no room note that I can discern, the thin note I smell as I smoke it is somewhat spicy, and very pleasant.

The big issue I have with this blend, is chemistry. It fries my tongue like the dickens and tends to leave my mouth raw for the rest of the evening, and next morning. I really like this blend but I don't think I will be picking up more as my mouth just can't take it. I will cellar this up, and hopefully in a year it will shine for me.

This is a solid 3 stars for me, unfortunately unless aging helps with the bite, I cannot see it making it's way into my rotation.

Enjoy, Mr. Bush

I'm obviously going against the grain here. Or maybe I got a tin from who-knows-what-storage. As far as freshness goes, it comes in a pop-top dogfood can with the vinyl reseal cap. This may or may not be a better idea than the vacuum-packed twist-offs -- a dent in one of those somewhat ruined a nice can of Orlik GS a month back. On the other hand, once opened, it's probably not as good a seal. Ah well.

It's fully rubbed out. This means you have to repack it to an appropriate density to get it to burn properly. In my case, I can't generate a proper draw from it -- if I tamp it in tightly enough to sustain burning without huffing and puffing, it either clogs the shank, or, once I finally got it going to my satisfaction, it burned so hot that the bowl of my moderately delicate pipe became dangerously hot (for the health of the bowl). I'll try it in a heavier pipe, but I'm not holding my breath that this miraculously transforms it.

It's not flavored. It also has nearly no flavor of its own, and might be as much hay as tobacco. There are mild flavorful Virginias out there that I've raved over -- the aforementioned Orlik Golden Slices, F&T's Vintage, Iwan Ries' slices, Reiner 71, and so on. Maybe someone can convince me I just got burned on this one tin. But the tobacco likely won't be.

Full of flavor and rich in aroma, I find this one particularly satisfying -- especially after it's been out of the tin and in a jar for a little while. I primarily focus on Balkans and English blends, but I like to have one or two Virginias constantly in the rotation: This has become one of my mainstays, and I'm eager to see how it ages in 5-20 years.

I haven't tried Marlin Flake yet, so I can't definitively place Old Gowrie properly in the Rattray's triumvirate of outstanding Virginias. I can say, though, that I personally find it both mellower and richer than Hal o' the Wynd, which comes off a tad harsh to me.

Appearance: The dark brown tobacco arrives in a broken flake presentation. It smells like fresh cut hay..very natural..very nice. I could sit & smell the jar all day. Wonderful aroma.

Packing: I usually take a pipe's worth out of the jar and then break it up. I suppose one could just fold & stuff a clump in but I prefer it more fully rubbed out. It does come moist..as others have mentioned..and may require some drying time. I prefer my tobacco a bit moist anyway, but the burn sucks here if this isn't allowed a bit of air time.

Lighting: Simple 3 step. Char-light/tamp/relight and there ya go..Unless you packed it straight outta the tin. If so you can expect to have some troubles getting this weed to light..

Smoking: Once lit and smoking you can expect a wonderfull experience! OG tastes excellent. Sometimes the VA sweetness comes in othertimes a grassy/hay taste..and still othertimes a smooth creamy smoke. As others have mentioned this one seems to taste slightly diffrent everytime I smoke it. I too have even had the lemony-citrus taste show up ever so lightly while smoking. An exceptional smoke every time. Bite? Nope..no bite even when smoked a tad wet or when your puffing cadence is a tad to fast.

Finish: This seems to finish strong for me. As if all the flavors of the bowl blend together in one final hurrah before going to ashes...and speaking of the ash..it burns to a nice grey/white with no wet dottle to be found.

All & all probably one of the finest straight Va's ever produced & certainly one of my favorites. Highly recommended..grab a few tins & cellar alot more!

An excellent blend, but it loses a star due to being far too wet in the tin. You end up with little tobacco, and these blends just cost too much for that sort of foolishness.

What a difference that made! This is definitely robust enough to take extended aging, and certainly for the relatively short time I put it away. To think that it might not have yet reached its peak!

It is now VERY sweet, it burns beautifully, and the nicotene content has settled down to tolerable levels. This has to go in my top five virginias, and there are some darn good one's I have tried out there. Simply a joy to smoke.

As good as it is out of the tin, I found that after the first smoke, letting it rest for a week or two will improve the flavor. Of course, attention must be paid to the moisture level as it can be too moist when first opened.

Most highly recommended.

I have had a 100 gram tin of this for about six months now. When I first smoked this, fresh out of the tin, I thought this was a very good tobacco, but not quite 4 star material. However, after six months, I have changed my mind. This tobacco has come together very nicely.

If you like this fresh out of the can, wait until you have given it some time and a little airing out. However, keep the lid on, and keep it slightly humidified to prevent drying out.

Six Months Down The Road: The flavors are rich, layered, complex, slightly sweet, slightly natural. Please take your time smoking this, and savor the complexity, cause it is there fellow smokers. Room note ain't bad either. Added benefits, works well in different pipes.

Highly recommended, and one of the best there is!!!

Peterson Baskerville

Especially effective as a restorative with its natural companions, a fine continental pilsner or Belgian white ale.

Refreshing & classic.

Slowly toked, this is an Oatish Virgina. Smoked fast, it's pretty grassy and sweet, but tough on the tounge. Either way, I rub it just a little on its way from can to bowl. I also leave the can open an hour or so to dry a little before I smoke it.

I only load what I can smoke at one lighting, since this is the worst DGT tobacco since Dunhill Three Year Matured (that's gonna be a fun review) Left to sit and re-lit Old Gowrie is nothing but bitter ashes for me. Doesn't matter if the bowl is half full or half empty, I can't get past the first draws and the wet ashtry aroma.

That aside this is a very friendly tobacco. Always passes the wife test, 'course she smoke a pipe too, sometimes. I hear only good things about the room aroma.

In my neck of the woods this is not the most popular. So I've gotten a few cans with, i'd guess from the dust on the lid, at least a few years of age. This good both aged and new. --- I have to drive an hour to buy Old Gowrie or wait for my father to ship it from the States with my other staple, Full Virginia Flake. More on that elsewhere. It's worth a drive; it's worth a wait.

great stuff.

Anyways, I've been enjoying it greatly. It has a pleasant taste and is good for lazy Saturday mornings. It probably could be an all day smoke, but I don't like the idea of an all-day smoke - I certainly don't want my taste buds to become accustomed to this and for it to lose some of its special quality.

It burns great, I've xmoked it out of my Bjarne apple and my Lorenzo bulldog and it's quite nice in both. I put it in as it, no rubbing out. I think that I may have to end up making this a staple - but I haven't tried Marlin Flake yet so I'm holding off til then.

I'll keep this review short.

Everything positive,that has been previouly written about Old Gowrie is 100% correct.I can not fault,this wonderful tobacco in anyway.

More than highly recommended.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Smooth Canadian

A tobacco for all seasons.

The quality of the tobacco is great, the burn qualities are very much to my liking, room note is not offensive to others, and the taste is smooth, sweet virginia goodness with a nutty, raiseny overtone (quite nice0. This is a tobacco that is guaranteed to be on hand in my home at all times. Very highly recommended!

At any rate, burley tends to neutralize it, but it also masks VA flavors I like so well. My next stop is Marlin Flake and hope it fares better.

Update 05/05: Refusing to give up on this, I retried in yet another pipe that finally worked well with it, an ugly pigskin pipe with a metal insert. It may have been the tobacco's age, too, but OG finally gained a seat in my VA rotation. Upgraded my recommendation accordingly.

BTW, Marlin Flake became my favorite. HOTW close second.

Tin: OG presents itself as a pretty, mostly-rubbed, medium brown tobacco. The tin note is pleasant, though not particularly distinctive - just a slightly sweet, natural-smelling VA that suggests a nice middle-of-the-road VA experience ahead. As usual with Rattray's, it's too moist for my liking in the tin, but it dries out easily enough.

Pack: OG packs easily into any size pipe. As usual with Rattray's again, this is a very carefully processed tobacco - I get very little waste in the form of chunks, stems, or dust. Always nice...

Lighting/Burning: Simply one of the easiest, cool-burning straight VA's I've ever smoked. Lights easily, burns evenly, stays cool and dry. Top notch in this department.

Flavor: OG's flavor stays true to its appearance - a medium strength, natural VA with just a bit of sweetness. Others have described it as "toasty" and "oatish". Those seem accurate enough to me. I don't taste the flavor similarities to HOTW and MF that others seem to, however. In both of those, the red and stoved components are more prominent. OG is more straightforward, perhaps more "monotone" (though not in a negative sense). If anything, OG reminds me slightly of Tordenskjold VA Slices in its simplicity, though I like OG quite a bit more. The flavor develops nicely, though not dramatically, down the bowl leaving a barely discernible, but pleasant aftertaste.

Pipe/Technique: While I've yet to put down a bowl of OG, it does seem a bit choosy in the pipes it prefers, and I haven't yet figured out any kind of system to it. Medium (big Group 4 to small Group 5) pipes seem to be the best bets. For one reason or another, OG comes off rather differently if the chamber is too narrow or too wide - somewhere between 3/4" and 7/8" appears to work best for me. As with all of my flakes, I dry it out to just-barely-sticks-when-compressed moisture after rubbing out completely.

Overall: All of the above sounds rather non-committal, but in fact I really love this stuff. When I think about OG analytically, I don't come up with anything exciting to say. But whenever I have a tin open, it disappears in record time. And that, I suppose, is the ultimate test. As Collezionista stated in his review, I never tire of this stuff. And LoisKelly's comparison to an old shoe is perfect. Old Gowrie may not be flashy, but it always works for me. Absolutely a desert-island tobacco, and an easy recommendation as a first-rate VA for the veteran or novice alike. 4/4

2nd third-upon relight flavour becomes slightly more pronounced, an 'oatish' flavour is the most apt way to describe it as other reviewers have alluded to. I had to use a pipe cleaner half way through to stop a gurgle but the taste remains clean and cool, (provided one rubs out the flakes, just enough to separate them) without too much throat tickle.

last 3rd-unless one has packed the bowl correctly (as I often fail to do), Old Gowrie can be a bit fickle and often goes out on me. By now the flavour has become noticeably more rounded and a touch harsh but not oppressively so like Dunhill's Light Flake which can be a bit astringent towards the bottom of the bowl.

Conclusion: For me this is indubitably a finely crafted tobacco but it isn't outstanding in any particular way. I would describe it as good home cooking, uncomplicated but welcome nonetheless. For me if I were to choose a relatively mild virginia flake I would opt for Orlick Golden Sliced, probably because it has been mellowed by the addition of some burley. So while not a regular feature in my rotation, I might keep some on hand for the right moment. An enjoyable smoke.

This is simply a plain VA, you can use well as an all-day-smoke. It packs easily from the tin as a broken flake or can be rubbed out for smaller bowls, lights with the first match and burns down very cool with no tongue bite to a greyish ash. Old Gowrie may appear a bit one-dimensional to those who are used to stronger VA´s like HOTW or Marlin Flake but for my opinion this is a great entry in the range of the Virginias.

Highly recommended to all VA lovers.

9 out of 10 in my personal rating.

When I don't want any suppress, and just want a good smoke without any fuss, this is one of the first tobaccos I reach for. I'm stocking up to see how it ages.

Highly recommended!

This is probably my favorite straight Va blend, on account of its terrific burn properties and full, pure tobacco flavor (without, as many of the above reviewers have observed, the huge tang and tongue bite of other straight Vas). Unlike my usual practice with Va flakes, I did not rub this out at all, but simply stuffed my Radice Silk Cut Bent Dublin until full. The bowl required one light only!

While I don't find it as intersting as some of the better V/P blends, OG has a wonderful straight-up flavor that was perfect for the chilly Minnesota September night on which I last smoked it--on my deck, of course, as wife won't suffer pipe smoking in the house (even though she thinks this one smells nice). Soon it will be the space heater and the garage . . .

I rate this tobacco 9.9 out of 10.

On a side note, I've recently added this, Black VA, Marlin Flake, HOTW, and even RRR to my "taster bar" and all have passed with flying color.

Peacehaven is similar in cut and style, if somewhat zippier, and Light Flake (what the hell did they do to that blend recently?) possesses much of the same simple allure.

To say that Old Gowrie offers not much more than already stated may be taken by some as a pejorative, but there's a reason this simple, unflavored Virginia has been around for so long. It may do little to astound and amaze, but it does little wrong.

One personal observation, however: This tobacco does not even begin to unfold until it has been properly aged. An unopened tin, in the back seat of my car for about two weeks in the summer, and it tastes completely different than "off the shelf". I'm convinced that the high sugar content of the Virginia somewhat carmelizes, and/or goes through a metamorphosis that ratchets-up the flavor by about 500%.

You can age it for a decade or two in the closet, or you can put in in a very warm or hot place for much less time, and the result is magic.

Touch: Still a little moist for direct smoking. This tobacco is best when thoroughly rubbed out and given time to achieve a reduced moisture level. 15 minutes is all it takes in my climate.

Taste: This is a great VA. If one wants to know what an unblemished VA should reveal, spend some time with OG. Unlike many VAs, this is not overpowering or numbing. It has a tacit purity to its sensations, and a muted honey-like artifact within the mind.

Smell: Wife: "Hmmm (curious/surprised)...It smells good out here". Yes, out here, I'm afraid. The rules are the rules ;)

Conclusions: I find this to be a great all-day smoke. It makes me smile. It is refined, great VA quality that draws me in as I puff myself into blissful contentment. The Rattray blends are very appealing to me. Being the pessimistic/worrisome individual that I am, I often feel compelled to stockpile these tins! I find the subtle differences between some of my favorite blends from this blend (OG, MF and HTW) very interesting, and since I am not a blender, I have no idea how they make it happen. The reviewers of each seem to have hit on the differences quite nicely, but I view a good strength progression to be along the lines of OG->MF->HTW. Very similar, but the intrigue lies in allowing ones palate to discern the nuances of each.

To me this seems to have less bite, less sweetness, and more of a fragrant essence than Hal O' the Wynd does. When I first started the tin it seemed like it had almost no sweetness at all, but later I could detect quite a bit. I'm not sure if this is due to drying out, or due to me getting better at smoking it properly.

Anyway, to say it has less bite certainly doesn't mean that it's biteless! This stuff still must be smoked carefully as you might expect. You have to try this stuff at least once if you're a VA fan.

Packing and Lighting: I just packed the partially rubbed out flake as it came but think upon reflection that I should have rubbed it out more. I hate flakes. Once loaded, pipe fired up quite well and stayed lit.

Flavor: Satisfying slightly sweet taste of aged Virginias. Lots of rich flavorful smoke. No bite. A very good pure Virginia blend. I would have given this 4 stars but it just doesn't make my rotation. There are enough other Virginias that I like as well as or slightly better than this, that the "ready rubbed" just doesn't make the cut.

Received my order from JR in one day- can't beat that, especially since I live in a small town. The Old Gowrie got the best of me and I cracked that tin first. It's a broken flake, per se, but in really long pieces which made it hard to pack right from the tin. The color is typical of the Virginia flakes I like- yellow and tan and should be high in natural sugar content. I fired up a few pipes of the stuff during the day to get a feel for the blend. It came pretty moist and probably should have dried out some first, but it still stayed lit well and didn't add a whole lot of moisture to the smoke. Right now I'm smoking it in an old Linkman's Grabow billiard with screw off stem (like Kaywoodies) that is my Virginia Tester pipe. I rubbed the pieces out fully on a piece of paper instead of just cramming them into the bowl from the tin. My Zippo (yeah, I know- doesn't work with Virginias, but I like the old thing) fired it off with two lights and after about 5 bowls of the stuff today and yesterday, I can't see why this is supposed to be the "must try" of Virginias. The flavor is sort of musty and heavy- nothing like I expected from the light colored leaf. The aroma is excellent though, so thats a plus. I guess I was expecting the light, high, sweet notes that these Lemon Virginias usually give off and can only say I'm disapointed right now. My staple tobacco is Mac Baren VA#1 and while sweetened with sugar, is more up my alley than this stuff. I bought 2 tins each of Old Gowrie and Hal o the Wynd, so one tin will be for ageing regardless...I just hope this open tin changes some when it dries out. I know I'm the minority with this review (see tobaccoreviews.com and the P&T mag about Rattrays) but this tin needs to really "wake" up before I can enjoy it. EW

UPDATE**** The tin has been open almost 3 months now and I'll admit it's much better than new. Also, I've learned to pack a bowl and let it sit for an hour or so before smoking and that helps a bunch too.

I received a 50g tin not long ago and was anxious to give this classic a try. The moisture content upon opening was quite high. It does not dry out rapidly and sat opened for 48 hours before drying enough for my personal enjoyment.

The tin says this is a "Rubbed Out" Virginia. My definition and Rattray's must vary widely because the mottled chunks were very flake like in appearance and I chose to hand rub the weed further before loading and lighting.

Once packed and lit, it was obvious why so many give OG rave reviews. The taste was cool, clean and invigorating. No tangy smell or taste at all, just smooth and vibrant Virginia. The room note was spectacular too!

If you want a distinctly rich, yet mellow Virginia taste with no bite, Old Gowrie is a great choice for an all day smoke. If I may compare OG to other Rattray's Virginia offerings; it is not at all tangy or bitey like Marlin Flake, not quite as strong as Hal O The Wynd, and not as one dimensional as Brown Clunee. A delightful and a stand alone Virginia -- I must get a dozen or so tins of this stuff for my cellar!

I have found that I like it better in my briars than in my meerschaums and that if over puffed, the oatish flavor can take over.

I buy this in bulk and keep some available at all times.

A "must try" for every lover of Virginias. Highly recommended.

It's smooth straight virginia. No tangy bite or spicy overtones. Both inwhich, I like from other blends but Old Gowrie stands tall without them.

This could be an all day smoke with no hesitation or regret. This blend is different and unique and yes, "oatish" as one passes the 1/2 way mark towards bottom.

...IMO, there is no resemblence between Old Gowrie and Marlin Flake. Marlin offers more flavor and strength. I lean towards my beloved Marlin.

However, Old Gowrie is a grand old tobacco.

This tobacco arrived in a 100g tin, and is packaged in fairly large flakes. While there are some rubbed out elements, some flakes are as large as 2-3 inches in length by 1/2 inches wide.

I purchased this tin in 1995 and opened it in 2002. I have smoked about five bowls in several different pipes. When I first tried this, I was a bit disappointed at the lack of body, in the way of fullness of flavor. There are nice fruity notes in the initial light of the pipe, which are enjoyable, but which do not really characterize what I look for in a tobacco. However, as the bowl continues, particularly after resting for anywhere from 12 hours to several days, the flavor deepens and becomes much fuller. When smoking this, I am disappointed when I start it, but very disappointed when I finish it. In the first case, I am disappointed with the flavor, while at the end of the bowl, I am disappointed to see it go.

Despite having a rather sensitive mouth, I have experienced no bite out of Old Gowrie. One has to be careful not to push the beginning of the bowl, when there is the temptation to smoke faster due to the frugality of flavor.

A very enjoyable smoke, but not for the beginner as it requires some patience and technique to bring out the fullness of flavor.

Unlike other virginias (most notably Dunhill's Light Flake or G. Smith & Son's Old London 100% Virginia), it does not have a strong tangy-sweet or spicy aroma. There is a subdued oatish flavour that gradually changes into something more complex, though it never reaches the ecehlons of, say, Marlin Flake or even Brown Clunee (another favourite).

It is easy to pack in almost any type of pipe and I find it easy to light. It burns slowly and after the initial "harshness" of many virginias, it becomes very smooth. At first it may seem unobtrusive, so that you my be writing or reading whilst somking it. However, it eventually grows on you, to the extent that without even noticing, you suddenly find yourself completely taken in by the smoking experience and leaving aside whatever you were doing.

It produces a dull grey ash and it leaves the pipe bowl clean, and fresh. If smoked too quickly, it may get your tongue, but not too bad. It does have a relaxing effect. Perhaps it is not suitable for all day smoking, but I find it a perfect companion for the evening, and more so for that particular moment when the kids and the wife have gone to bed, and you are left alone, with the dog at your feet.

Highly recommended!