Rattray Bagpiper's Dream

I do love rattrays, but mostly for their wonderful va blends. If I did smoke aromatics on a more regular basis this would be one of them, quality aromatic with a solid baccy taste, not too cased, not too much vanilla and the cognac and fruit flavors work well. Top aromatic.

I really enjoyed this aromatic, and I enjoy only a few. The tin note and taste was boozy, just like I like it. It can bite, but you have to work at it. It is mild enough to smoke regularly but has a consistent tobacco/scotch taste through the bowl. Took a few light but then settled down. I like MacBaren's Scottish Mixture and this is reminiscent but lighter and certainly of a better tobacco quality. I have aged this a bit, one year, and it has developed a hint of pine, not a bad thing overall, and no souring from the aging. This is not a overwhelmingly sweet aromatic but lends itself to a very social room note.

This is my favorite aromatic so far, and I'll update this review if that changes. The cognac topping pairs with the cavendish perfectly, and provides sweetness and flavour all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Even as most of the cognac burns off it still lingers around longer than expected. The Virginias come from four different cuts, so don't be surprised if you even find some curly little coins. There is an unexpected little bit of zest coming from the Virginias that titillate the taste buds. This is perfection in the aromatic genre. The tobaccos are elevated by the flavours instead of being overstated by them.

4/4 relax and enjoy

Could an aromatic be better than this? Creamy, chocolatey, with an hint of liquor (they say cognac) and high class tobacco taste in the background; sweet and spicy aromas perfect in the holiday season. Along with his cousin Buckingham one of my favorites among the aromatics. Four stars

After sniffing the tin of Bagpiper's Dream, I immediately started salivating. It instantly became a high ranking member in my aromatic rotation of which there are very few. I loved the combination of Vanilla & Cognac & how it interplayed with the tobaccos developing a delicious, sweet flavor that hangs on the palate. It's not too harsh & as with any tobacco that may tend to bite initially, employing the DGT method will negate that issue somewhat. It is fairly moist but can be smoked from the opening or dried to the smoker's preference.

The tasty flavoring is there at the beginning & remains throughout but after some has burned off it gets even better... the point where all the varietals & flavoring meld together & form a unique flavor with a pleasing aroma. Drying it out doesn't seem to diminish the flavor or aroma which is my preferred method for preparation. If your taste buds are not dead or suffering from any type of infirmity, Bagpiper's Dream will seem like its name implies & will tantalize your taste buds.

BD doesn't cause chemical burn (bite) or become harsh if not pushed. I'm enjoying a bowl of it right now & I'm not really a heavy hitter when it comes to aromatics. Bagpiper's Dream has an alluring flavor that's surprisingly, tantalizingly delicious & a little "pinch" will go a long way. You could sprinkle a dab of quality Latakia & some Turkish to this and you'd have an exceptionally fine aromatic Balkan blend... "Balkan-Aro," if you will. I'll have to try this idea and edit the results... & here we go: If you mix this to your taste preference with a little Syrian, Cyprian, or both with some Turkish Yenidje, you can anticipate amazing results. However, Bagpiper's Dream is extremely satisfying & flavorful the way it is... just experimenting, as it were. It's no wonder so many appreciate this blend. It's an outstanding aromatic!

I confess at the outset to enjoying aromatics as an occasional change from a general pipe diet of English and Balkans. Normally a latakiaphile, and never having enjoyed either Marlin or Hal o' the Wynd, I wondered how I would get on with a blend that is purported to be Virginia-heavy. However, this could easily be an all day dessert smoke, with its cognac and vanilla overtones and high quality base tobaccos.

Rattray can do nothing wrong for me, at the moment. Highly recommended to those who want a gently sweet blend, which burns to the bottom of the bowl with a consistent flavour and unfussed simplicity. Never goopy, always predictable in the best sense, and very moreish. Sometimes burns a little hot, but that may be eagerness in me due to real enjoyment. Retrohaling increases the flavour profile.

This, my friends, is one of the finest aromatics I had the opportunity to smoke! And, for a change, it does contain enough Vitamin N to keep me happy. The loose cut, broken flakes and curlies that compose BD makes for a very enjoyable burning and smoke. The cognac - and not whiskey - casing is delighful to the nose and palate. Past half point, the casing diminishes and allows for the tobacco taste to emerge, which is a nice bonus. You are looking for a high grade aromatic that smokes dry. tastes great and has a decent dose of Vitamin N? Do not search anymore and get some BD!

I have been smoking this since I opened it about a month ago and just can’t get enough of this. Granted I smoke other blends also but I really like the flavor profile of this one. I also find it interesting that it is comprised of ribbon, plug, curly and flake. On the tin it says that this is lightly top dressed with Cognac. So, I have obviously heard of Cognac but never had it when I use to drink a hundred years ago. So, I had to Google. https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/cognac-drink-more “Cognac is a category of Brandy name named for the Cognac region where it is produced.” Now that that the spirit lesson is over with, moving on. To me this is more than lightly topped as I get a tremendous amount of flavor with virtually with every puff. I had some this evening in a few briars dedicated to my Aromatics. Don’t want to obviously ghost my good English and Virginia pipes. The tin note on this to me is unbelievable especially since my senses are not as good as they were 50 some odd years ago. All I can say is if you like a good quality aromatic this is a must try. I do find the name a little odd as you would think that the name “Bagpiper’s Dream” with a Scottish gentleman on the tin would be flavored with Scotch instead of something made in France. I will probably have some more tomorrow with my coffee. Not sure if I will buy any when this is gone as my collection might wind up like the following sentence. As mentioned in a couple of my reviews, I was gifted around 60 tins from a nice lady whose uncle unfortunately passed away. This is one of them.

There is little to add to the descriptions provided by others. The blend is smooth and sweet as far as aromatics go without entirely overpowering the natural and traditional flavor of the tobaccos. I came to add only one remark, one word, really: Panettone. This is the flavor achieved by this smoke. A wonderful traditional continental Christmas confection, it is now my official holiday and winter indulgence. By this, I mean my holiday aromatic of choice. Perhaps, it will become more than that, but it simply fits the bill.