Rattray 7 Reserve

Burned-out on Latakia? Tired of not being able to taste anything after smoking Penzance or Old Ironsides? Then this may be just what you need. Very smooth and tasty with the different tobaccos passing in review. An all-day smoke for sure.

This tobacco is much nicer than Red Rapparee, though it misses the strength. But it has the flavour of Oriental and a touch of Perique, both of which I like very much. You do not get the Latakia blast as you do from 965, Paul Olsen's Blue Queen, and similar mixtures, but the Latakia is there. The Virginias may seem a little bit too sweet, but still pleasant. A good tobacco for the next steps of the beginner in the Mixutre Fields. Bumbum.

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.

Tin Aroma: Very light, almost non-existant. Almost a metallic sort of tinge to it. This is, as advertised, a medium strength English blend. Nothing outstanding about it, but nothing conspicuously missing either. There is a hint of spiciness here, just to keep it interesting. Not out in front spiciness, just a little bit of tickle the nose spicy. Definately a blend that one could smoke all day without a problem. I have been searching for a few blends such as this recently, and am glad to have found something from Rattray's that fits the bill, as I quite enjoy most of their offerings. This is perhaps the least 'interesting' of their blends, and that itself is what is interesting about it. whereas other of their blends have one standout quality overall, 7 Reserve is so well-balanced that it becomes hard to pick out any one thing about to focus your attention (or review) on. No overtone flavors of chocolate or dates or raisins, no spicy perique madness, just an english tobacco, like a mellow friend that you can just share space with, conversation not necessary.

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.

I have never seen Rattray's tobacco before my trip to Roma. when I saw the tobacco; I bought three tins of Rattray's: 1. Black Mallory, 2. Highland Targe and 3. 7 Reserve. 7 Reserve is well balanced English mixture so Latakia is not too much. I enjoy this blend after morning coffee 'till the evening liquor.

recomended for english mixture lovers.

I have not smoked a Rattray mixture for years and I kept a good impression of their blends. This one is meeting my expectations: a nice English type tobacco, easy to light and easy to smoke. Nice room note and long standing smoking experience. It is labelled 'medium': some smokers may prefer a stronger blend but an easy-kind for the chain smoking guy!

This tobacco is wonderful as a mixer! If you've an English blend that you're looking to add an Oriental zip to, look no further. Several reviewers have said that this is a mild/medium Oriental "forward" blend and that's just what it is. Orientals make this blend savory. While on it's own I find 7 Reserve too mild, as a blending tobacco it's excellent.