Rattray Black Virginia

Thinking it had been a while since I reviewed a tobacco that a lot of Gents had been smoking in this group, I picked up a couple of tins of Rattray's Dark Virginia. I've had 5 bowls since it arrived yesterday, and seem to get a pretty good idea of what it's about. Product: Rattray's Black Virginia, purchased at JR's site for $8.50. Appearance: 95% jet black ribbon, with just a smidge of lighter colored weed poking out. Pre-smoke: Pleasant scent of raisins upon opening. Good moisture content, basically the way I like it right out of the can. Packs well. Let's take it for a drive... Flame hits weed, releasing a nice, soft smoke. Smooth with full Va flavor. The top end of the scent is clipped and some of the piquancy that I usually seek in a Va isn't there. But the low end is delightful. The bouquet is slightly sweet, with elements of fresh mown grass and curing barn lingering in the air. Nutty midrange with hints of warm toast and coffee on a winter's morning. I've seen a lot of reviews refer to RBV as "Tangy". "Tangy *might* describe the tin fragrance, but the smoke? Unh uh. The word is smooooth! Mid bowl, the taste becomes fuller with nuance of cashew becoming more into play. Over puffing is especially to be avoided with this one, as pepper starts to edge it's way in if you try to treat it at one might a Burley. Good nicotine. Not quite the lightweight that some might have ya think. End range. I tend to find most Va's a little tough at end bowl, and while this one isn't a complete exception, it is smoother down at the heel than most. Pepper elements present from about 2/5th of the bowl lingered to the dottle. Summary: Well made smooth tobacco, that I would say is a must for any Va Lover. 8 out of 10 Bearclaws.

-- Bear Graves

Has a tin aroma distinctly of dried currants. Sweet and spicy. I have no reason to think this is anything but natural stoved tobacco.

Burns cool and slow and is sweet and fresh throughout. Burns beautifully in an unfinished cob at a slow smoulder, yet still produces pleasant pillows of creamy smoke. Has an interesting smokiness as the bowl progresses and is better than linear.

More Fred Astaire than Mike Tyson, this one is for mature smokers tuned into the subtleties of stoved Virginias.

Edit Sept 18. After a few years of smoking this, subject to its on and off availability, I should add that while never less than good, this is a baccy that seems to have a lot of variation from batch to batch. Sometimes I catch a whiff of something perique like. Sometimes a fruit additive will pop up out of the blue. Sometimes the Va seems to derive from coarser stock. It remains one of my favourites and I wish it were available in bulk. Still, the variation is I think worth mentioning.

Upon first examining this blend, I was a bit hesitant. The color reminded me of 1792 and other ultra-powerful Virginia blends, and I wasn't sure I was up for another such adventure, but I forged ahead anyway. The tin aroma is deep and fruity, with a rasiny smell I have come to associate with stoved Virginias. The cut desreves mention, as it is truly unique. Not quite a cube cut, too short ot be a ribbon, it is almost as if someone had made a ribbon cut, and then chopped it up with a cleaver. It took a couple of tries to get it lit, but once I had it going, it stayed lit with little fuss, and burned evenly throughout the bowl. The virginias in this blend are very sugary, without as much 'oomph' as some might like, but just about perfect for a Latakia-Lover like me that quite hasn't got the palate to enjoy most virginias. For all of it's imposing appearance, I found the blend to be pleasant and fun to smoke, a perfect companion to puttering arounf the house or answering email. I will probably keep some around for those times when I need a break from heavier 'english' type blends, or just really want a straight english taste. This was great with port wine, as well as iced tea.

This is interesting....Ive never considered myself a Virginia smoker. Of course, its present in the blends I generally reach for (Highland Targe, Black Mallory, all the Frog Mortons), but not just a Virginia. Granted this is stoved, but it is still new territory for me. I've had a dozen bowls now and like this. Its dark as charcoal, incredibly mild, smooth, rather monochromatic, but enjoyable. Everyone else has described its appearance, but I found mine only need one night spread on a serving tray to dry a-bit. I'll grab this tobacco again. It probably will be part of my usual rotation. Try it....

I have always enjoyed McClelland's 2035 Dark Navy Flake and still have about 2oz. Wanting to find something similar, I decided to revisit Rattray's Black Virginia. My original review (see below) was not too favorable, but today...a different animal. Opening the tin reveals a very black, medium length/width ribbon cut with an occasional brown piece of tobacco. The tin note was just like opening a box of fresh raisins and very delicious. Loading and lighting were very easy as was keeping it lit. There was a very nice burnt sugar taste (not off-putting at all) with a mild molasses-like flavor. This smoked clean to the heal without moisture or bite. Compared to my first experience of 40 or so years ago, as stated, a different animal and very enjoyable at that. Now I have found a suitable replacement for McClelland's 2035. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a nicely stoved Virginia.

ORIGINAL REVIEW from 4-19-20: I first tried this in the 1980s thinking it would be similar to the Tinderbox's Captain Spice. Boy, was I wrong! First off, there was little if any tin aroma. Second, it wasn't jet black like the Spice. Third, it was a bugger to keep lit. Finally, little to no taste. Not sweet at all, occasionally a whiff of that hay-like barn smell, but not much. I was quite disappointed to say the least. If Tobaccoreviews existed then - a 1 star rating.

Over the years as my experience in pipe smoking grew, I would from time to time try Black Virginia. I came to appreciate it for what it was - a mild, stoved or steamed Virginia, nothing more, nothing less. I would dry this out in the tin for days at a time and this helped to reduce the frequency of re-lights. With slow smoking I sometimes experienced the subtle hay-like taste in an otherwise bland tasting blend. All in all, if you want something very mild with an at times very subtle flavor, and if you are willing to dry this stuff out sufficiently for smoking, this may suit you. As such, only somewhat recommended. For this piper after nearly 34 years of pipe smoking, not a re-visit for me.

I will go against the party line and make the absurd claim that this smoke is in fact complex. And that it's not very sweet. The fact that noone agrees basically must mean I'm wrong, but this review is my honest perception. Earthy-fermented & plain good ol' tobacco flavour would be my best description off the flavour. But notes - and I really mean notes, as in subtle, barely perceptible - off plum, fruits, nuttiness and above all licorice makes themselves known throighout the smoke. The licorice isn't nearly strong enough to dominate the flavour, but I am clearly reminded off salty licorice in a way I find most pleasant & delightful. Licorice notes are most present mid-bowl, with the beginning being a bit more fermented-fruit sour (in a good way). The fact that isn't very powerful in flavour is what allows for the complexity I perceive. No flavours are strong enough to overpower any other. It's mild without being flat. Perfect!

Please do yourself the favour off eating licorice when smoking this.

This is also the coolest smoking blend I have ever come across. I could probably light this with a blowtorch lighter and puff as aggressively as someone trying to burn their tongue off and still get cool smoke.

Easy to pack, slightly moist out off the tin but not too bad.

Highly recommended!

This is an excellent english cavandish that the virginia lover with savor and enjoy. People have commented on the one dimentional smoke produced but it is wonderful for the smoker who looks for natural dark virginia taste.

The smoke is rich and sweet. Black virginia is an extremely relaxing smoke.

I was fortunate enough to find some tins of this being sold at a local pipe shop for 5 dollars each and bought two.

I am about 3/4 done with a 4oz tin and I have to say this is a terrific tobacco. Sweet, tangy without a hint of bite. I am a big Dark Star fan and cannot decide if I like this better or not. This is one of those naturaly sweet blends that will leave that sweet tang on the back of your tounge long after you are finished.

Man I should have bought more tins! What was I thinking????

Tin note of cooked sugar, sharp hay, and spices. Tobacco is black and dark brown ribbon cut. Moisture content is ok, but drying may be needed for most. Burns slow with a few extra relights. The strength is mild and nic is mild. Flavoring is listed as "Licorice, Nuts / Beans, Plum, Sweet / Sugar", but I didn't detect any of them in the realm of "unnatural" flavoring, further I could not find any "flavoring" listed on the sites that sells this tobacco. Taste is mild to medium and consistent, with notes of floral, toasted bread, wood, spice, sweet hay, fermented vegetation, tart and tangy citrus, rich savory, dried fruit, acidic, sugared Rasin, orange peel/zest, mildly bitter, mild sour vinegary, a semi-sweet stewed dark plum background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is great.