Rattray Black Mallory

Update2: Ok, I've learned to appreciate it. I've had a tin of this in the office for the last few weeks and have been smoking a bowl or two a day. It's actually pretty nice, a solid medium English/Scottish, no sweetness at all, just this background tinnitus like hum of seawater and a just a straightforward middling latakia hit. Worth a try if you want a no-nonsense English/Scottish. And despite my earlier reservations, there's a significant difference to the very mild 7 Reserve. I wouldn't rush and and restock on this, but that's only because there are so many similar mixtures out there to try.

Update: Immediately after writing this review just I went and smoked a bowl of BM. To be honest, maybe I'm being a bit harsh. There is flavour present, it's not that salty and it burns well.

Indistinguishable from 7 Reserve for me, looks, smells and tastes pretty much the same, which was disappointing as I was hoping for a bit more flavour/strength from this one. Strangely salty in the mouth, a bit like oysterized seawater, maybe it's just me. Comes in a 100g pot so I guess I might learn to love it, or at least appreciate it.

I ordered a tin of this since it was described to me as a good English from Rattray, and similar to 965. I find it to be overdone with black Cavendish and some kind on light topping. Not what I think of as an English tobacco. Harsh and stringent at times, leaving it's mark on my tongue. This stuff does smell outstanding in the tin. Might be a good tobacco for someone moving from aromatics.

Half way through the tin and I love the stuff, top quality english, plenty of taste and sweetness, it's a classic. I'm reviewing it because I'm amazed more people haven't given it four stars. It should have five.

Surprised I haven't reviewed this one yet.....Black Mallory and Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture were my first two Latakia smokes, and I've smoked copious amounts of both. I shared a 100 gram tin of this with my Father recently and wondered why I don't smoke it more often. Well, it's hard to get in Austria, maybe that's why.

Anyway, on with the review. There isn't as much latakia as some blend I smoke nowadays, like, say, Margate or Balkan Flake, and certainly not as much as Pirate Kake or Commonwealth mixture. This is fairly sweet, owing, I think to the black cavendish and virginia, and pretty smoky, despite it's lack of massive Latakia content. I really enjoy the (I don't like this word) interplay between the turkish and cavendish, though I normally don't care much for black cav. (even unsweetened)

Having never smoked Red Rapparee, I can't compare the two. But, it's other companion, 7 reserve, is certainly several notches lower on the smoke-enjoyment scale. 7 reserve, while passable, is nothing to write home about. Black Mallory is something to keep on hand at all times. Another fine smoke from Rattray.

What a pipeful of pleasure this one was! Very different from the other Latakia blends I have tried. More spicey, smoother, and less smokey. The aroma from this blend has an incense like quality to me.

The cavendish is apparently toasted, and is scrumptious, without being cloyingly sweet. Although this is a fairly potent blend, I find it to be very relaxing and completely satisfying. It is a little heavy for the warm weather months, but it is pure heaven when the weather turns cool.

This is the third blend from Rattray I have tried, and the quality is impeccable. A fine tobacco.

Ahhh...the Black Mallory. First smoked this in 1971. Love it then, love it now. The descriptions preceeding me are accurate as to the tobaccos present, but this is a must try for everyone. To me, its one of the great blends. Dont smoke it all day, but in the evening with a pint, or a dram ..ahhh, true enjoyment.

I find this to be a very pleasant English smoke. As others have stated I find it to be a much more refined version of RR. I like the proportion of latakia that is used in this blend and its' slow steady burning qualities. The flavor runs consisitent the length of the smoke with a slight noticable increase in strength in the latter half. What I do miss that RR seems to satisfy for me is an "edginess" in taste. It is not so smooth as to be boring, rather, for myself it is almost a zoning out effect. Sort of, "Well isn't that nice," type of experience. Overall a nice smoke that I will turn to once in a while.

Rattray Black Mallory- I would say it is a full bodied blend but the Latakia is definitely not overpowering. but is the lead component . It is fairly sweet from the bright Virginias. I like a lot of Oriental - Turkish flavor in my Latakia blends and this has just enough for me and they are fragrant and buttery and a little spicy and savory and not real sour .The cavendish is very noticeable with a nutty quality and it seems to smooth out the usual earthiness of the Virginias and Orientals . BM is full flavored but very smooth with hardly any rough edges. Good to enjoy on a summer night after the sun goes down .A fine mixture indeed and and expertly blended . 4

A notable tobacco indeed. I came to this looking for a substitute for my favorite McClelland blends (Legends, English Woods, Balkan Blue, etc.), and it did not disappoint.

Dry it out, and it smokes very well, with a perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and sweet. Ages well too, as I am coming back to this after a break, smoking from a three year old tin, and it is very, very nice.