Rattray - Dark Fragrant pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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yugolover	07/25/2008	Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I bought two cans of this today. All I can say is this is one great tobacco. I wanted something to get away from the aromatics that I have been smoking in the past, and this was a great choice. I was tired of burning the inside of my mouth with the aromatics. This is great transitional smoke if you are wanting to get away from aromatics. It's a must try. I will be buying more in the future.
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Tobacco Saves Lives	10/02/2007	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Why so hard on Rattray? This sealed the deal with me and Rattrays. It smells of roasted prunes and burnt toast, but the flavors are certainly not imposing and if you like MC/Dark Star you will like this. its like Dark Star Light..But much easier to light and keep lit. A Fine tangy aged VA. If you are a oriental fan, they are not noticable.
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Graemor	06/03/2007	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I've had this tin of dark Fragrant sitting on my shelf for about 3 years. I decided I needed to open it and give it a go. Dark, moist (for VAs) tobaccos and a dried fruit aroma greeted me from the opening. The fruit wasn't specific to me, but it recalled plum more than raisin, and was muted. Stoved, fermented and aged is what my nose really seemed to sense. The tobacco packed, lit and burned well, but it was a very damp smoke for me. The flavor was fine in my opinion - nice virginias and solid notes from the dark tobacco. I've always loved stoved VA, and this was no disappointment.The fruit aroma didn't really carry over onto my palate or the room smoke. The ladies and gents at the bar I frequent also found the smoke unobjectionable. I'll gladly keep a tin of this about. I may let it set open a bit to lessen the moisture and see if I can attain a drier smoke than the ones I got from taste-testing. I'll need to grab a tin of Dark Star and some other stoved VA-based blends before updating this review.
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NapaWineLover	01/20/2007	Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Dark Fragrant now moves my Rattray?s experience to 5 blends that I truly enjoy. While distinctly different they include ? Accountant?s, Professional, Jocks and Highland Targe. I?m still not able to enjoy the aromatic offerings but I?m not an aromatic smoker. There seems to be at least 2 different versions of this tobacco being enjoyed (as it were) by pipers on these pages. One, I?ve read, without any Orientals, and one I smoke with a light condimental application of Orientals. Moreover, one that from what I?ve read, has a topping, and, one that I smoke that has NO topping whatsoever. Here?s my take on this mysterious and perhaps deceptive blend. Predominantly, dark-stoved VA?s, very much in the style of MC?s 5105, however, much softer to the touch and less biting which suggests that there is Red VA as part of the VA compliment. This mixture is devoid of any Bright VA. I?m also betting that this blend has a very modest amount of Oriental (read that - but not any Cyprian Latakia) I wouldn?t be surprised if there is a mélange of Orientals such as Dubec, Samsun and Drama all pressed and stoved together with the VA?s. However, I can offer no authoritative evidence for my hunch, yet. I taste no perique. Whether it is there or not, I cannot validate since I have seen no such labeling on my supply which is all relatively new from 2005. My experience has been a bit different than many others here have noted. I find it no problem with packing, lighting or keeping it lit. It smokes very mild but tasty just above a smolder and while aggressive puffing will not bite ? it becomes rather tasteless. But, when I keep it just easy going, it is very tasty and kind to the mouth. No question about it, it?s a fine all day smoke. I have become accustomed to milder blends of late and this would qualify as the lightest of them all in my rotation, but it does satisfy me and that is why I smoke a pipe. It burns more quickly and that has a lot to do with the form of the tobacco, which is short pieces of ribbon of varying density. It can be rubbed out further to permit one to load more tobacco in the bowl, however, my choice has been to smoke it in a large bowl without packing it in too tightly and am happy to tamp a bit more often to enjoy this mild but flavorful smoke. The room-note is light, pleasant and it does not hang or permeate clothing or surroundings. The ash is light grey and fluffy. No dottle whatsoever. I typically let it air for 15 to 30 minutes in a wooden bowl I use for precisely that purpose. All in all, I find this a delicious, mild blend with mild-medium taste that is complex in a very refined understated way. It takes relights very well. I can?t comment on DGT because I am about the immediate gratification technique and 30 minutes prep time is all I?ll invest. This would be a good tobacco for a new piper looking to experience VA?s that taste good, are mild, yet a good representation of the darker VA flavor scale. I enjoy this much the same way as used to enjoy MC Dark Star and 221B series Black Shag - however, I find this to be much more refined and flavorful. As I said earlier on, I believe there to be condimental Orientals in the blend which do not detract from the VA flavor. If anything they round out the taste in such a way that it delightfully hums a wonderful taste from start to fluffy grey end. I enjoy this tobacco in any pipe. However, when I smoke it in pipes that are devoted to VAs the taste is simply remarkable. Cheers, VC
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Maimonides	09/05/2006	Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Mellow mix, Not really sweet- a little fruity in the raisin/ fig paste way. Doesnt develope, its nice enough to try.
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Flyboy	01/13/2006	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Where`s the "Oriental?" I detect mostly Va`s. Upon opening the tin you are greated with a very moist, fruit-like aroma, and what I suspect is cavendish tobacco. As I prefer my tobak on the dry side I did let it air for a couple of hrs. Initial light was difficult and the smoke pleasant, the taste seemed musty and left too much dottle in the bottom no matter what type bowl it was smoked in. Drying of the mouth makes it a very unpleasant experience and least favorite of the Rattrays blends!! This is a Dogfight that I could never win, so I will not engage....again!!
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Lochinvar	01/13/2006	Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
Of the old line Rattray offerings (the non-aromatics) this is at the bottom of the list, at least in my book. Contrary to the above noted description THERE IS NO TRACE OF ORIENTAL TOBACCO IN THIS! NONE! Company literature lists this as a mixture of dark Virginias and does not now nor in any of the old literature I have studied EVER contained Orientals. If you smoke it there is no way you can say "I taste Oriental" or for that matter darn near anything else. This is the only Rattray offering I have ever tried that has gone foul. It combines weak, stringy flavor with harshness and essence of pipe funk. No matter what I smoked this in I found it to be without charm, and I gave it a chance in almost every VA dedicated pipe I own and a few Latakia ones, so strong was my dismay at a Rattray letdown.. Were I stuck on a desert island, this would be better than nothing, but would most definitely not be my first, fiftieth, nor five-hundredth choice.
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Meerschaum Man	01/08/2006	Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant
The stoving here is not excessive but is still heavy enough to interfere with keeping it lit. This is a blend of rich and smooth character that is enhanced with coffee on the side. The Oriental leaf is subordinate to the Virginia character and flavor. The tin fragrance is almost coffee like in nature. It is best, smoked slowly and indoors, since much of it's mild presentation would be lost in open spaces. If I were a zealous advocate of stoved blends, I would give this my highest marks. I smoke these blends only on occasion when I'm not engrossed in English or Balkan blends. I'm not appreciative of the residue left nor it's tendency to leave undue dottle. Still, it is not a repulsive mixture, just not one of Rattray's better blends. Meerschaum Man Smoking a noname Meer
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csimser	12/28/2005	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant
For the smoker who enjoys Virginia tobaccos above all others, and has gravitated away from latakia blends, I recommend this highly. A blend of Virginias, stoved and ... well ... unstoved ... it is dark and slightly moist upon opening. It may take a minute to have this lighted fully, though opening the tin and drying briefly will cure this defect, but once lighted it burns well and evenly. The taste is complex - naturally sweet with the stoved component easily detected - yet is clearly an "all Virginia" blend unadulterated by flavorings or additives. Unlike some of my colleagues, I find this truly enjoyable ... and a superior smoke to Dark Star and 2035, both of which I enjoy greatly. In part Dark Fragrant has the advantage of being a ribbon cut tobacco, obviating the need to rub it out, a distinct advantage for one as indolent as I. Moreover, it has a full and satisfying flavor, yet is mild enough in body that it can be smoked first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with no worries. For the smoker who enjoys Virginia tobaccos above all others, and has gravitated away from latakia blends, I recommend this highly.
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tonyg	07/25/2005	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Pleasant
If I could by this tobacco by the pipefull, I'd buy about one a year. A tasty tobacco that just does not come up to the standards of other stoved tobaccos such as Dark Star, McClelland's 2035, McClelland's 5120 and my all time favorite: Stonehaven. All of Rattray's non stoved Virginia tobaccos are excellent. I suggest they leave the stoving to others.
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Briarabbit	07/17/2005	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Sorry to burst some bubbles but, THERE IS NO ORIENTAL LEAF IN THIS TOBACCO! AND, it sure as heck isn't shag cut like someone mentioned. Who ever wrote the description needs more research on this blend. Did anyone actually taste any oriental leaf? Of course you didn't,cause there is none. This tobacco is stoved Virginia, sweetened a tiny bit, and perique added.There is even a small description on the bottom of the tin that will tell you this. The taste is pure mellow Virginia. It has hardly any bite, as the harsh bite that Virginia posseses has been baked out. For optimum enjoyment let the tin dry out,just not all the way. DF is just right,and I'll probaly buy more of this tobacco on down the road.
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Black Dog	06/28/2005	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Rattray's Dark Fragrant is a nice VA, however somewhat mild and monochromatic. It is mostly dark stoved VA's, almost cavendished, with some Oriental hiding in the background. The topping is subdued, but tastey. I've been enjoying this more than McC 5100, which has been a stand-by VA for me. This could easily be an all-day smoke if one were so inclined. I will likely buy another tin or two for the cellar. As another reviewer mentioned, I find it better when smoked in a large bowled pipe.
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fourshephards	05/05/2005	Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
According to the manufacturer, this is a mixture of stoved VA and stoved cavendish. The two work well together. In the tin, the aroma is must/sweet and while smoking the aroma is not unlike a combo of raisins and chianti. Not a bad smoke at all, just nothing exceptional either. It might be just the ticket for someone looking to move away from aromatics and into the world of more natural tobaccos. My wife even approved of the aroma.
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Beer	11/26/2004	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
An interesting tobacco... Dark with some lighter specks, with a sweet caramelized plum smell. A bit moist, but nothing to woryr about. When you light it up correctly, it goes on for a long time. It is quite delicate, yet rather tasty: a sweet, and at times slightly sour, taste, and no tonguebite. It can be a bit watery and light at times, but it's OK. Not the most complex of tobaccos, and it can grow a bit boring after a while, but I find it definitely better than Rattray's own Black Virginia (compared to which, Dark Fragrant seems more "cavendishized"). Tastier, and better behaving. I don't know if I will buy more of it (it takes me long to finish 100g of it, since I usually prefer other kinds of tobacco), but I can't say it was an unpleasant experience... and my wife loves the room note!
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Jakob Kiilerich	06/16/2004	Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Dark stoved Virginia, very similar to Robert McConnell's Rich Dark Madouro. This one is, on the contrary, actually possible to keep lit. Dark fragrant has a pungent sweet 'n sour aroma. People around me said that it smelled as if i had never cleaned my pipe, (read: sour) It is indeed hard to smoke this one dry. The cut is uneven and DF is hard to pack and keep lit, but if you let it dry for some time and smoke it slowly, DF will reward you with an unusual topping that is quite delicious. A nice change of pace if you like pungent and long for something PUNGENT. Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark
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CaptnDan	05/14/2004	Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant
Dark Fragrant greets you with a burst of spicy Oriental flavor at first light. The dark Va?s quickly catch up and even things out at a mild level. The flavor progression is linear from there giving a slow increase in taste. It never becomes very strong, no straying off into anything different that what it starts with. If you like the first third of the bowl, you?ll love the second and last third. I found this blend to be bordering on unpleasant in a narrow bowl, but when smoked in a wider bowl it became fairly enjoyable. A cool smoke that burns dry and clean. The lack of dimension makes it something I would not smoke all the time. Two out of four stars.
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Eulenburg	12/30/2003	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant
The flavour of this very dark, shag-like leaf "hardly registers as smoke". While not exactly in the "warm air" category?there is a very light, English Cavendish-style savouriness to this, particularly on a virgin palate?I would recommend Dark Fragrant to aromatics aficionados who want something very mild and discreet, minus the gunk. Dare I suggest that this might be a good blend for the ladies?
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Paddy	09/22/2003	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
Black and dark brown ribbons. I had thoroughly dried out the tobacco before smoking. It packed and burned well. There is the very subtle flavor of dark pressed English flake lurking in the background. However, this tobacco offers more of a smoking sensation rather than outright flavor. I think the Va. flavor has been hammered out of this tobacco in the processing. Toward the bottom half of the bowl it smooths out very nicely. I will have little difficulty finishing the tin, but I will not be keeping DF on hand. Paddy.
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kcook	02/02/2003	Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I smoked several bowls of DF in larger pipes. This evening I smoked it in a Dunhill group 4 size bowl and found it somewhat more robust in flavor. Not positive the bowl size makes a difference here, but think its worth testing out.
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Tantric	07/23/2002	Mild	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
Nice, interesting tobacco. Pure dark Virginia, mild in strength, with a tangy?almost sour/sweet?flavour quality. The tobacco seems to be broken flake, in very short crimp cut dark (stoved)pieces. This feature makes it difficult to pack, because you cannot rub it out any further and at least I tend to clog the upper half of the bowl, allowing too much hot air on the lower half. Then, when I tamper it, the lower half tends to clog, making it very hard to get a good, nice draw, thus keeping it lit. Otherwise, the taste is very nice but it can be a bit harsh on the tongue and palate. After a bowlful of Dark Fragrant you?ll need a glass of water! I read somewhere that this is a tobacco for those who wish to settle down with a pipe. Due to the time it takes packing it, keeping it lit, tampering it and relightening, there is no chance of doing anything else but paying attention to the pipe. I enjoyed its zesty flavour, the sharp spiciness, and, at times, the mellow sweetness it achieves. However, IMO, it is too difficult a tobacco to deal with (i.e., the exact opposite of Golden Sliced).
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