Rattray Brown Clunee
(3.14)
"Brown Clunee" has a strong, delicious English character. The phenomenal taste is due to Charles Rattray's unique talent, who knew how to match the best tobaccos. In this case, the master opted for dark, ground flake from Virginia, Kentucky and Perique. All in all: a pipe tobacco that allows no comparison.
Details
| Brand | Rattray |
| Series | British Collection |
| Blended By | Kohlhase, Kopp und Co. KG |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 100 grams can |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.14 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 85 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Not having tried any Rattray's before, I bought this one just to try something completely out of my comfort zone. The size of the tin too was something of a change, so I gave it a try.
The aroma on opening was nothing special, a little leafy and oaky. The packing and lighting, despite it being broken flake as observed by previous reviews, is easy enough, much like a good ready rubbed. The smoke, though, doesn't thrill. I find it a little reminiscent of Condor Ready Rubbed, not in a bad way, but not as good as the original. It's a little like the girl next door who looks a little like Natalie Portman, a bonny enough lass, but won't be replacing the aforementioned starlet in Black Swan 2. The last third, however, does strangely, but pleasantly, add a hint of cream and become mellower. The room note at point of smoking is okay, nothing to write home about, though does have a habit of popping up hours later in far pleasanter fashion, pleasantly reminiscent of that left by Gold Block. The tongue bite does kick in early but fades quickly, and after a few smokes, doesn't rear it's ugly head again. The major downside to this is the hacky, awful taste left in the mouth, not sure I can pin it down exactly, but it's like leaves, happy to smell them, wouldn't want to taste them though.
On the whole, not a bad smoke actually, just not too thrilling really. There is a certain blandness to this that is quickly overawed by that hacky mouth taste. That creamyness in the last third though, is a plus. Also, a 100 gram tin is just way too much, I now find myself smoking it just to get my moneys worth. Would I buy it again? Not in a 100g packet, but maybe in 25g or 50g rounds instead. On the whole I think two and a half stars would be fair.
Update 20/05/2014
Had a couple of more 100g tins of this stuff, the first bought out of nostalgia and the second out of desire, and I have to say I've changed my opinion entirely of this. Gone is the bland roughness I found first time around and arrived is a slightly sweet, slightly watery spice with all the hints of the earth a tobacco can provide. It serves me very well as an early evening, after dinner smoke but can be enjoyed throughout the day. I'm so glad I tried it again, so much so that I'm close to dedicating a pipe to it and keeping some in for good measure.
The aroma on opening was nothing special, a little leafy and oaky. The packing and lighting, despite it being broken flake as observed by previous reviews, is easy enough, much like a good ready rubbed. The smoke, though, doesn't thrill. I find it a little reminiscent of Condor Ready Rubbed, not in a bad way, but not as good as the original. It's a little like the girl next door who looks a little like Natalie Portman, a bonny enough lass, but won't be replacing the aforementioned starlet in Black Swan 2. The last third, however, does strangely, but pleasantly, add a hint of cream and become mellower. The room note at point of smoking is okay, nothing to write home about, though does have a habit of popping up hours later in far pleasanter fashion, pleasantly reminiscent of that left by Gold Block. The tongue bite does kick in early but fades quickly, and after a few smokes, doesn't rear it's ugly head again. The major downside to this is the hacky, awful taste left in the mouth, not sure I can pin it down exactly, but it's like leaves, happy to smell them, wouldn't want to taste them though.
On the whole, not a bad smoke actually, just not too thrilling really. There is a certain blandness to this that is quickly overawed by that hacky mouth taste. That creamyness in the last third though, is a plus. Also, a 100 gram tin is just way too much, I now find myself smoking it just to get my moneys worth. Would I buy it again? Not in a 100g packet, but maybe in 25g or 50g rounds instead. On the whole I think two and a half stars would be fair.
Update 20/05/2014
Had a couple of more 100g tins of this stuff, the first bought out of nostalgia and the second out of desire, and I have to say I've changed my opinion entirely of this. Gone is the bland roughness I found first time around and arrived is a slightly sweet, slightly watery spice with all the hints of the earth a tobacco can provide. It serves me very well as an early evening, after dinner smoke but can be enjoyed throughout the day. I'm so glad I tried it again, so much so that I'm close to dedicating a pipe to it and keeping some in for good measure.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 12, 2004 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Appearance: Fairly uniform dark brown broken flake. Very little variation in color. Slightly too moist right from the can.
Aroma: Great aroma of stoved Virginia, hints of chocolate and raisins.
Packing: Can be packed as is into medium or large bowls, or rubbed out for smaller pipes. Lighting:
Initial flavor: Starts very mild, slowly increases in flavor to a medium level of intensity. Good sweetness from the Va. leaf, and some depth added by the stoving process.
Mid-bowl: Straightforward simple Virginia flavor. Lighter than its cousins Hal O' the Wynde and Marlin Flake, with nice layering of tastes. Not as complex as other members of the family, but this one could be the "all-day smoke". Can be enjoyed with morning coffee, and continued through the day. Maybe too light for the evening, when I enjoy a more full bodied blend. Burns cool and dry at any reasonable smoking pace.
Finish: Well behaved right down to the end. Leaves a clean gray ash.
Summary: An excellent mild to medium Virginia, strongly recommended for the novice or the veteran.
Aroma: Great aroma of stoved Virginia, hints of chocolate and raisins.
Packing: Can be packed as is into medium or large bowls, or rubbed out for smaller pipes. Lighting:
Initial flavor: Starts very mild, slowly increases in flavor to a medium level of intensity. Good sweetness from the Va. leaf, and some depth added by the stoving process.
Mid-bowl: Straightforward simple Virginia flavor. Lighter than its cousins Hal O' the Wynde and Marlin Flake, with nice layering of tastes. Not as complex as other members of the family, but this one could be the "all-day smoke". Can be enjoyed with morning coffee, and continued through the day. Maybe too light for the evening, when I enjoy a more full bodied blend. Burns cool and dry at any reasonable smoking pace.
Finish: Well behaved right down to the end. Leaves a clean gray ash.
Summary: An excellent mild to medium Virginia, strongly recommended for the novice or the veteran.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
My major issue with this tobacco is that it lacks depth that I am seeking. The Kentucky doesn't add the body that I'm looking for. The quality of the tobacco is good and it ages well and there is a small amount of sweetness that I do enjoy. I just don't know if its worth the cost of cellaring tins when there are so many other brands in this niche. This blend is worth a taste if you are a fan of similar blends, but for me, I'm on to new ventures.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 04, 2014 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This, for me, seems to be right in between Old Gowree and Hal O' The Wynd as far as strength goes. The components come together nicely to form a good solid smoking experience. I had no issue with tongue bite at any time throughout the bowl. This blend might need to be dried out somewhat before smoking, but for me, it was quite fine right out of the tin. YMMV on this point. This lights easily and stays lit with no further thought necessary. It burns down to a nice ash and has just enough nicotine to satisfy. Recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 2016 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
First half of the bowl is very earthy with a very mild sweetness and just a touch of smoke and spice. As the bowl progresses the sweetness builds to mild and a mild note of oat bread creeps in adding a little complexity. Gets a little spicier toward the end. Not a blend that I'll be seeking out, but if you love earthiness you may really like this one. It's very down to earth, so to speak.
Mild to medium in body and taste. No added flavorings detected. Burns very well.
Mild to medium in body and taste. No added flavorings detected. Burns very well.
Pipe Used:
MM Little Devil Cutty, Little Devil Acorn, Marcus
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
As others have noted, quality tobacco but not as flavorful as its great aroma would suggest. Wonderful dark aromas (raisins, burnt caramel). Mostly earth tone flavors (hay, leather, peat, etc.). Not very sweet for a Virginia, but that is probably explained by the predominance of Kentucky (burley?) tobacco. Needs a bit of drying out but, once accomplished, lights easily and burns clean.
It's not a bad "Virginia" by any means, it's just that there are a lot of better ones out there for the money.
It's not a bad "Virginia" by any means, it's just that there are a lot of better ones out there for the money.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
~ 2 years old
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 22, 2015 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
The sweetest and easy tobacco Rattary's family. BROWN CLUNEE is my tobacco every day over again for its easy taste predominance brown and dark stoved red Virginia. ( just little bit Kentucky perique) exceptionally easy and gentle to the mouth and tongue and nose time after time. Brown Clunee,lights easily and burns well. Cake clean dry (pipe bowl)...Confort,stability,and simplicity of Brown Clunee never disappoint year after year.For taste old Gowrie is a little better or clearer but the smoked is too strong for my mouth to smoke all day, old Gowrie always be my second choice.
Pipe Used:
4 savinelli bing's favorite (rotation)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 08, 2013 | Mild | Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Recommended if you're into the Kentucky Periquie Virginia combo and you don't want too much flavour. For me, a nice go to blend when you've head 'nuff Northwoods or Countryside. Not crazy about the tin note and the room note is vague but pleasant.
For some reason, this one gets better and better the deeper into the bowl it gets. A little moist upon opening (which blend is perfectly ready for deployment upon opening?).
It'll be in the regular rotation and the dryer it gets the more I find myself reaching for it. Not quite Cellar or Bayou and thats ok because I don't think its meant to be. Took some coaxing to get lit and required a couple of extra burns and thats ok with me. Again, less fuss after drying out some.
I did catch a wisp of that citrus flavour the first few bowls but I agree with reviews below, the flavour is certainly flatter than most.
I still like a lot though. The War Department says she has other favourites.
For some reason, this one gets better and better the deeper into the bowl it gets. A little moist upon opening (which blend is perfectly ready for deployment upon opening?).
It'll be in the regular rotation and the dryer it gets the more I find myself reaching for it. Not quite Cellar or Bayou and thats ok because I don't think its meant to be. Took some coaxing to get lit and required a couple of extra burns and thats ok with me. Again, less fuss after drying out some.
I did catch a wisp of that citrus flavour the first few bowls but I agree with reviews below, the flavour is certainly flatter than most.
I still like a lot though. The War Department says she has other favourites.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 19, 2020 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
It is always funny reading other reviews that guess at the percentages of any given blend.. I think we all perceive things so differently... I see this as the most Kentucky forward of the 'holy trinity '.. it reminds me of a slightly more refined version of g l pease cumberland.. and it is pretty darn tasty.. there is a fullness to the smoke but it never goes over the edge.. it feels like a strong medium in the nic range I also attribute that to the Kentucky.. you can feel it but it is polite.. nice little bit of perique in the flavor and retrohale.. the Virginia is there but not nearly as sweet as OG or HOTW..it is just a nice quality smoke.. I do pick up on a 'soapiness' that other people mentioned.. it is really odd.. cause I cant tell if it is coming from the leaf itself or some kind of additive.. whatever it is it tastes oddly 'natural'.. I dont mind it..
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Nice sweet fresh hay note from the jar. Even cut and good humidity. As others have noted, this one is on the mild side. I enjoy it well after supper. It burns well and inhales smoothly. Perique is way off in the background but it is there. Not as much vitamin "N" as I like but a fine smoke nonetheless.
Pipe Used:
Several cobs and Pete's
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
2 years jarred
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