Rattray 7 Reserve

I really enjoy Red Rapparee so I had high hopes for 7 Reserve. I found it to be somewhat bland. I enjoy latakia, but not in large doses so 7 Reserve's lack of flavor wasn't a result of a light dose of Latikia. I found to to be a nice ribbon cut with a pleasant tin aroma, but that's where my interest ended. I'll finish or blend the rest of the 100 gram tin, but I won't buy any more. Two stars as it may be a good intro English for some smokers.

Like its companions Accountant Mixture/Jocks Mixture/Highland Targe/3 Noggins, I think that this blend has too little latakia and orientals and has a dull taste. Really, it's quite boring and gray. Anyway, this is probably the best of the bunch as it's quite decent to smoke throughout the whole day: for example it doesn't have the mouth-drying heaviness that 3 Noggins has (while being almost equally weak flavored), and doesn't turn bitey and nasty as Jocks, or as boring as Accountant (well, almost...). It burns quite well, being cut in a nice way and not too moist: sometimes it may be fine to smoke such a light EM, when you don't want something that catches your attention. While unmemorable and eneventful, it's quite balanced and at least smokable, alternately sweet and smoky... albeit in a light way. So, dull or simply a subdued exercise in understatement? I'll leave the judgement to you: I won't buy it again, but if I had to save one from the above mentioned Rattrays, this would be the one as it's the most pleasant and "middle of the road"

7 Reserve is billed as a light blend suitable as an all-day smoke. I have to agree.

It starts off fairly spicy, but before the 1/3rd mark the Virginias kick in and tone down the Oriental spice, even taking the lead from time to time. From that point, everything settles down and you are in for a relaxing smoke that is easy to enjoy. The room note is relatively mild. There are no surprises, 7 Reserve is well behaved. The Latakia is what I would call ultra-mild, and stays well off in the background from beginning to end.

The finish is unremarkable; the smooth flavor just slowly fades away. I smoked it very well dried, and when I was done, the pipe was nice and dry. Burns clean and dry, never any hint of a bite. A little light for me, but not something I would avoid.

According to Charles Rattray, this was developed as a milder version of The Red Raparee, more suited to the constant smoker. I'm not a chainsmoker of pipes, and I'm not sure who could afford to be in this day and age, but as I love the Red Raparee I had to give it a try.

The tin aroma is very similar to 3 Noggins, itself developed from 7 Reserve to be a slightly stronger version! It smells immediately of sweet and fruity Virginia tobacco, with yeast, hay and bready aromas, and a hint of Oriental spice. The latakia smoke in background is very subtle.

This tobacco was packaged far too moist, Charles "a good mixture is dry" Rattray must be spinning in his grave. He was dead set against sealed tins unless for exporting tobacco to the tropics, to protect it from moisture! Smoked out of the tin it was quite unpleasant, the steam overwhelmed the (very mild) flavour and made my tongue and palate sore like a wet aromatic! I dried it out as best I could and have been keeping it in one of those old round tins with a spring lid. If you're familiar with them, they've no seal at all and tobacco tends to dry out in them - not this tobacco though! It must have had an overdose of humectants at the factory. Still, now I've got it in acceptable condition and I've had some more enjoyable smokes with it.

The first thing to say is that this tobacco is extremely mild, both in the flavour and nicotine departments. It lights up easily when dried, and the flavour is primarily bready - granary bread, oh so lightly toasted, with accompanying gentle sweetness. Here the flavour remains, light and airy, not distracting, suitable for a background smoke while engaged in other activities. The Orientals are very subtle, and the Latakia vanishingly so. Don't puff away chasing more flavour, there isn't any and you'll overheat it. But gentle breath smoking will be rewarded with a sweet, mild flavour and pleasant aroma. You'll not get much nicotine so if you want to chainsmoke, or fill a really gigantic pipe, by all means do.

For comparison with similar very mild English blends, to my taste Early Morning Pipe has a little more complexity and interest with Oriental spice and the Red Virginias. Dunhill Standard Mixture Mild is perhaps milder and blander still. Wingfield mixture is a similar blend, but a little sweeter and citric. 7 Reserves brother, 3 Noggins is considerably punchier in the nicotine, with a flavour profile only slightly stronger, which I prefer. And as for it's Daddy, the Red Raparee, well that's a totally different beast, brimming with mysterious Orientals all set to take you on a magic carpet ride.

50g tin. As advertised, an all day mild Latakia mixture. The Orientals drive this blend with Virginia and Black Cavendish in the background. Also perfect for smokers who want to try a Latakia mixture for the first time, or for a change of pace. Too mild for me as I prefer fuller mixtures.

Virginia lover

okay, i must rewrite my review almost completely. i wrote the first one about two years ago when i had just started smoking englishes etc., and i had no idea how spicy and interesting they can (and, imo, should) really be. i found the oriental leaf in 7 reserve quite interesting, and that's what they'll probably be to most va or vaper smokers. alas, now that i've tried a lot more of what's available, i find it rather lacking in character and strength.

i'm sure it's a fine introduction to the realm of oriental tobaccos. it worked for me.

I must say up front that I do not have an "all day" tobacco. I can handle one tobacco for my first three bowls, which gets me through to lunch, and then feel the need for something different. That being said, 7 Reserve lives up to its tin description of being Red Rapparee's little brother.

If there is Latakia lurking hereabouts, it does a great job of hiding. A bit here and there, but not a dominant seasoning.

An Oriental-forward smoke, with a very solid Virginia base. Somewhat bitey at first, but only a brief nip. The Virginias are more light and toasty than rich and creamy, and play well with the Turks.

I like it, but it gets boring after three bowls and leaves me craving Latakia. And nicotine.

This stuff isn't too bad, Its a bit nippy on the tongue, Cannot detect much if any Latakia. Low octane Nicotine, moisture content seemed perfect for me, 2 lights , nice burn, tin aroma is fairly mild, not unpleasant, Room note is Ok, won't chase away your freinds, Price was right, won't break the bank, This would be great on a fishing trip or perhaps camping, Should go well with a nice Pilsner or Pale Ale. Probably won't buy it again, but a smoker can do alot worse

If you like VA/oriental blends you will like this one! But if you want a solid Virginia look nothing but HAL O THE WYND or of course FULL VIRGINIA FLAKE from S. Gawith. Good stuff but not good for me..