Rattray 3 Noggins

This was a pleasant english and it really suited the warm weather in which I got to experience it. I tend to not like latakia blends in the summer, but the lat presence is light in this one as it seems to be led by a variety of oriental leaves. They add a nice sour citrus taste that is only slightly bitter.

Otherwise the orientals rest against some a base of virginia and cavendish that is nicely sweet harkening flavors mostly associated with bright virginias yet tempered with the cavendish to allow one to puff a little heavier than necessary without any oral discomfort. The latakia is but a whisper in the background and this blend is only slightly smokey. I seldom smoke in the morning anymore, but I would speculate that this would go great with some coffee as a first smoke of the day as it tends to be that kind of blend.

There is nothing negative I can say about the presentation or quality of the product. It is typical Rattray product, Classy and Tasty.

I recommend this blend to anyone, in particular, who enjoys blends such as Squadron Leader or EMP. Good stuff; I am glad I have more cellared.

I have a very odd relationship with Rattray's Black Cav. Didn't care for it in Marlin Flake. Loved it in Black Mallory. Here, once again, I don't care for it. It's the Black Cav that makes this bland. It taste a little like dirt. The other components are fine except the BC seems to suck the sweetness right out of the Virginias. Just like Marlin Flake it's the BC that spoils this one. Marlin Flake was still a decent smoke for me though, this one, not so much.

Mild to medium in body and taste. No added flavorings. Burns very well. Bland in both briar and cob.

This blend reminded me of a scottish mixture that I tried once. Did it take 3 noggins to come up with it, no I don't think so, maybe half of one... Not really a very original blend IMO. I found it to be very bland and boring, not what you'd expect from Rattray, but I guess you can't do everything right. Not that it's a terrible blend, just nothing very special. I smoked a small sample of it and that was all I needed to know that I didn't need any more. Kind of an old world blend I think, but it just lacks something that I can't put my finger on. The interesting thing is that I can pick up on all the different leaves in this blend, but for some reason the proportions just didn't come together for me to make a very cohesive blend. Not my favorite, but I would say it's worth a try if you can get an ounce or so.

Rattray's 3 Noggins has a tin note that is sweet, earthy, smokey, woody with a little sourness and spice. Smells great! Unfortunately, the tin smell does not translate into the full smoke promised on the tin. It is mild to med. from start to finish. The flavors never really develop, the VA's seem to be the dominate component here but offer only a little grass and citrus with hints of dark fruits here and there. The blend offers some smoky campfire notes and is earthy but there are only hints of sourness, spice and floral elements. The nic just touches mild to med. The room note is tolerable at best. The finish is rather short for a Lat blend. It smoked a little damp for me and required several relights, otherwise the blend would smoke hot. This is not the full smoke as advertised. If this is fuller than 7 Reserve, then I have no reason to even sample that. Personally, taking this for what it is, a mild to med. smoke, there are way better options out there, for example, Samuel Gawith's Skiff Mixture or EMP although both lack the black cav.

This blend has a lower rating than I expected. It’s not remarkable, but it won’t let you down either. There are many types of pipe smokers, some smoke 1-2 bowls a week, others 1-6 bowls a day. I personally fall in the latter camp. I suppose if this was your 1 bowl a week you would find it lacking a bit, but when you are 3 or so cocktails deep and you’ve already had your 2nd or 3rd bowl of the day, you may find yourself staring at your tobacco collection asking, “what next?”

This is where 3 noggins really shines. It doesn’t disappoint, and it goes with just about anything. It’s a solid all day smoke, highly sessionable. It’s not a particular standout, and it doesn’t try to be. Like an old world drugstore brand that one of your dockworking ancestors smoked. He never thought too hard about it, and neither should you. Just light it and enjoy.

Very mild blend. Tin note is very light, lightly sweet and with some notes of grass. This has taken me awhile to review. I have smoked it in every pipe type I have, cob, clay, meer and briar. Large bowl, small bowl, wide bowl and narrow. I cannot get any real flavor from this blend, which in and of itself is an impressive accomplishment. I would say the Cavendish is the lead leaf in this blend, I do not get any flavoring at all just a mineral and slightly sour flavor. There is also a slight woody flavor, similar to a toothpick kept in your mouth, Someone else mentioned Rattray's blends being hit and miss, I would agree. I love Red Raparee, Marlin Flake, Black Mallory, Hal 'O the Wynd and most of the Virginia flakes, Brown Clunee may be an exception. This one is a big miss for me. I truly get no flavor from the smoke and it just isn't worth the effort to try and find it.

As I am lighting one more bowl, I’m getting the same mixed experience.

There’s something of Red Rapparee in the oriental and Latakia although this blend is slightly stronger.

I don’t get much sweetness as the Black Cavendish does not play its typical sweetening role here. Perhaps it’s a question of quantity..

The tobacco lights perfectly and comes a tiny bit moist from the tin, ready to go in a few mins. Beautiful smooth retro-hale smoke and yet something is still missing.

I keep on wishing it was 965...hence, If you find 965 to be too sweet and you are in love with Rattray’s English, this one could be worth trying.

In conclusion: Enjoyable but would not buy more because 1) too many superior English / Scottish Blends in the spectrum. 2) a few pennies more expensive than most 3) it’s different but not special!

A 100 GRAM original Rattray's tin with the silver bottom and pictures on the top lid, a 35+ years old original Scottish mixture.

The smell is of fermented Red Virginia, very fruity and very slightly musty. The tobacco is flawless in its preservation, the moisture is perfect, a short and fine ribbon cut of dark, dark red and yellow golden.

The Red Virginia that dominates is now mellow and the bread accents are subdued, I get a sweet and tangy flavor. The Turkish is there, fragrant and slightly spicy but very light. The Latakia offers a smoky finish. It reminds me of a mellow single malt Scotch.

This tobacco benefits from rehydration and being stored in a jar as the Latakia smell and taste is not at all present if used directly from the aged tin.

Virginia lover

It isn't horrible, just not worth the money. Buy a lighter English from almost anyone else. The tobacco seems to smoke hot and can become acrid and bite. I only smoked 1 100gram tin of this so it might have been the tin. For some reason this blend gets bitter near the end of the bowl which I usually only expect in heavy burley blends. I love other Rattray blends, just can't stand this one.