Rattray Black Mallory

Rattray's best blend IMHO. The description states that the basic tobacco is broadly akin to those of Red Rapparee, but that's not exactly how it comes across to me. From my smoking perspective, the only kinship to Red Rapparee is that they both happen to be Englishes, and that's where the similarities end.

Red Rapparee is a much stronger blend, and not quite as flavorful. Some may consider me crazy, but I kind of liken Black Mallory to G.L. Pease's Renaissance. There appears to be a noticible Syrian Latakia presence in this blend, giving it a buttery, nutty flavor.

Unlike Red Rapparee, this medium blend works well as an all day tobacco. While it has only average lighting qualities, it does burn clean and dry. The flavor is consistently good from one bowl to the next. If you happen to like English blends, this may be one you can be loyal to.

This Rattray's Tobacco is el Supremo of the Rattray's line of fine tobaccos. I should also say that this glorious mixture and Dunhill's London mixture are my Desert Island choices. Made up of some really naturally sweet Virginias which are stoved and unstoved that marry so well with fine Turkish and Cyprian latakia. I believe there is another type of leaf in the mix as well but cannot put my finger on it. The cut of the tobacco is narrow ribbon. The taste is full and has an edge like looking over a cliff at the wind swept sea. The fullness of the latakia with the Turkish, Virginia interwoven into the silky heavy clouds of smoke are an english fanciers delight.Enjoy this tobacco while sipping a good smokey single malt Scotch Whisky, its a real treat in taste.

Rattray- Black Mallory

Opened today, and received it in the mail, about 5 days ago, tin reads spicy Latakia two different Va’s blended with black cavendish and Oriental.

Upon first opening I smell the Latakia and the spice, some sweetness come through and I get a nice earthy smell.

The taste upon first light is a slightly sweet spicy smokey flavor, and it continues throughout the bowl, a particularly good Scottish blend, which I am quite fond of so far.

Enough Latakia to satisfy but not overpower with a little sour that works well with the spicy sweet components, I let this dry for 30 minutes as it was relatively wet upon opening.

Nic hit is medium, smokes relatively cool, depending on your cadence this blend could get hot without appropriate drying.

I would recommend this to the seasoned English smoker as it offers something slightly different and to those who may be first starting with “English blends” after only enjoying aromatics.

Will add this to the cellar when I can find it again.

Curious, I observed that the best way to smoke is in a meerschaum pipe or in a falcon pipe with a cup covered with meerschaum. Not compacting too much can be loaded directly from the tin. It does not go out but it is better to avoid re-ignitions because they embitter the flavor. At the beginning the Latakia appears next to the Black Cavendish that gives a very intense sweet note, followed by the oriental attack. The Virginia is in the background amalgamating everything. If you smoke at low temperature that sweet smoke harmony stays well almost to the end. If the smoke is rushed, the taste of the smoke is ruined. Smoke slowly, I do it with coffee in the morning in winter. It looks a lot like 123 Mixture by R.Lewis IMHO. It is not smoke for the whole day, but you have to smoke it at least at breakfast.

This is a decent smoke, nice, mellow, sweet and smokey. A very well balanced blend and nice to smoke with a cup of coffee at relax time, not too powerful or overwhalming, just at the right balance so this blend have it's own character that each composition had "married" so well to build the taste and flavor of the smoke. The tin note is good, smokey and herbal scent smells so good when first open the tin. Is nice to pack and is not difficult to keep the light. Burn so well at my pipe and not make my pipe too hot. Smokey taste with the nice sweetness from the cavendish follows with little bit spicy and earthy from the orientals taste so good at my palate. With medium strength I really enjoy a pleasant smoke and not worried about the tongue bite. Just sip it slowly, with proper pack the draw is easy to make a great smoke and for somewhat, when I smoke this blend, it reminds me with the McClelland's Old Dog and Dunhill MM965, I found the similar sweetness and taste at this blend.

On opening the tin there is a grassy sweet smell that is fairly complex. It then converts into a smokey aroma. You can certainly smell the main components, sweetness from the cavendish, grassy notes from the Virginia and the smokey spice from the Latakia and orientals. Very nice smell

The Latakia is certainly there when you start to smoke but it is not over powering. It’s a nice compliment to the blend. You start to get the broad sweetness come through after the mild smokey flavour. You then get the grassy and fermented spice come through which is very pleasant. Over all a very nice tobacco, first time I have tried it. I was outside with quite a breeze so my pipe was burning a little hotter than normal and this did not effect the flavour at all. Very stable burn and not harsh. Consistent flavour throughout with a nice after taste and beard 🧔 note.

I will smoke some more as the week goes on but I would say this is in line with Peterson early morning pipe, Ashton Consummate Gentlemen with the sweetness being similar to Ashton Artisan blend. This would be a good starter English blend.

This here was part of a gun cabinet find,the tin was purchased in 1998 and found in the case sometime in 2015. The tin was bulging and when the tin was opened it opened with a load kind of popping noise and was met with a rich and smokey aroma hit me and stopped me cold! Upon closer examination there were greenish specks all through the tobacco...maybe the virginia? The whole tin was a rich and dark color and the smell...the smell made me close my eyes and smile. Campfire..or a fireplace comes to mind from the tin and once packed and flamed there was no disappointment at all! There is a smokey and pleasant spiciness sure to please any smoker.I am pleased to report that nothing resembling catsup was detected from the Virginia's.This is a rather heavy smoke so enjoy this before bed with a favorite beverage!

This tobacco might be a good choice for those who want to venture into the world of Latakia for the first time, because even though there's a generous dose of it in this blend, it is balanced by an equally high amount of Black Cavendish among the Virginias and Orientals.

The tin note is clearly dominated by the peat fire scent of the Latakia with only hints of grassy or floral sweetness. The tobacco might be a little on the moist side in a new tin.

The fine ribbon cut makes it easy to fill your pipe. Personally, I prefer the Frank method. Lighting is just as uncomplicated.

The well balanced, mellow taste is sweet and spicy at the same time with the smokiness of the Latakia becoming more pronounced mid-bowl. However, the spiciness of it and of the Oriental leafs is always complemented by the smooth, earthy, nutty sweetness of the Black Cavendish and the tangy aromas of the Virginias. It's a pleasant, complex smoke from top to bottom leaving some powdery grey sah

The room note reveals mostly the Latakia and Orientals and is therefore tolerable.

I've been smoking pipes for a good few years now, I have a tendancy to go for latakia blends, especially ones with a dose of oriental. I didn't know quite what to expect from this blend knowing that it has black cavendish in it. I normally tend to associate black cavendish with more aromatic blends. However, Mr Rattray must've known what he was doing all those years ago when he perfected this one as it seems to complement the rest of the tobaccos seemlessly. It has the typical metallic/smoky flavour from the latakia, but is very well rounded by the VA's and orientals, burns brilliantly right from initial lighting without any drying out prior to smoking, an excellent smoke all round, four stars!