Rattray Brown Clunee

This review is a work in progress. I acquired several Rattray’s blends in late March 2021, and I decided Brown Clunee would be the first I sampled, because several reviewers I trust mentioned that this blend is the lighter of the ones I have.

It only made sense to begin with the lighter one. I should probably add, before going any further, that this is to be my first ever encounter with Rattray’s blends.

Initial impressions were that this is a fairly non-descript blend. Some blends wow you from the get-go. Some of those fade down the stretch, while others continue to be a strong, positive experience every time.

Brown Clunee is none of those. The first bowl seemed fairly pedestrian. Each successive bowl gave me a little more insight into what I’m dealing with.

And what I’m dealing with here is a pleasant, nuanced blend. I think the reason it didn’t wow me initially is because it’s so well-blended, and because it really does develop over the course of the bowl. The bowl I finish is definitely different from the one I started. And, I admit, I haven’t really messed with a lot of nuance and complexity thus far as a pipe smoker.

What I end up with is a deep, rich, stewed fruit melange. There’s a little spice in there still.

The Virginia definitely holds everything together splendidly as the bowl evolves from the initial earthiness into the rich spectrum of flavors. As the sugars of the Virginia caramelize somewhere around the midway point, that’s also where the perique steps up a bit.

I really look forward to comparing this solid offering with Hal and Gowrie. They’re the two Rattray’s blends that, along with Marlin Flake, get all the glory. But all three have the same components.

It’s going to be interesting to see how I feel about them. Because, with maybe half a tin to go, Brown Clunee is proving to be a tough act to follow.

Work in progress... to be continued. Apologies to those who’ve stumbled on this work in progress. I’m mildly feverish, dealing with the after effects of my second Pfizer Covid vaccine. I promise to clean this review up once I’m back to 100%

This is a honest Virginia Perique. The Kentucky is not really visible. It is quite mild and could be smoked all the day. The nicotine is between mild and medium. It is a plain and evenly smoking tobacco. Not many taste nuances, but still pleasant. I would reccommend it to a bigenner. It is not overwelming, but I would buy and smoke it gladly again.

One of the more memorable blends, brown clunee is one of the few perique blends that doesn't taste like dirt to me. Has a very noxious room note, which drives people away in droves. So, smoke it outside only. The room note however does not detract from the taste, which is very pleasant. This has all the aromas and flavors of autumn, burning leaves, crisp smoke etc. Not quite a virginia taste, this is very earthy like a burley, but is neither bitter nor strong. This blend is phenominal in a cob.

Appearance is a medium brown broken flake. Tin smells akin to a quality fruited cake with slight grassy notes. Tastes lightly sweet with light bakery notes.

Brown Clunee is the all-day Hal O' the Wynd. Old Gowrie lacks the grassy and bakery flavours of HOTW, but Brown Clunee has them, albeit much more lightly. Very nice, and a favourite when I want something milder. Brown Clunee does not bite. I much prefer this to Old Gowrie. All Rattray's, like fine wine, benefit from some airing.

With Brown Clunee, I finally found a Rattray's that I love.

BC is in between Old Gowrie and Hal O' The wynd both in terms of strenght and richness/taste.

The tin aroma makes it a lot closer to HOTW, it is also similar in taste, but not as harsh as I found HOTW to be.

The perique was quite present starting at half bowl, perking things up, marking a nice combinaison with the sweetness of the matured Vas ans spiciness of the DFK.

An excellent offering from Rattray's, I will regularly stick to that one.

If you are a fan of VA/Per with some Kentcuky, you must try this wonderful partially rubbed - out flake. It is simply delicious!

Just popped open a new tin of BC. The tin has a faint scent of that McClelland's vinegar. I removed a bowl full from the tin and set aside to air. In about 5 minutes the vinegar was gone but the tobacco still felt damp, I allowed about 20 minutes before I loaded a pot. My initial light gave off a nice Virginia scent as I began to sloooow sip the BC. Even with this technique I felt all along that I was in for some tongue bite. The first 1/4 bowl was a nice sweet Virginia with the feeling of an increasing bite. Then the tobacco smoothed out , the bite was gone and the sweet Virginia was the main player. The Kentucky must be adding significant spice even while slow sipping. This tobacco required concentration although it remained lit trough the whole pipe. It was only near the last 1/4 of the bowl that could I distinguish any Perique and that was minimal. BC is very one dimensional, I hope that some additional cellaring will develop this tobacco because I think it has real potential. I like Marlin flake better, only because I don't remember it smoking as hot.

Updated 2/2/12- Well I've had this cellared for almost a year and it still bites bad. I tried it with and without moisture, in various pipes and sipped slow. I can only get to 4 puffs, it has got to be my chemistry. This is unsmokable to me

Updated 2/14/12 Well hating to throw out tobacco , I decided to home stove this . I placed this in a mason jar and stoved it in the convection oven at 175 degrees for 2 hours. Hey , I got to 10 puffs before it bit. I'll be giving this away! Got to be my chemistry

Updated 4/22/12 Did I mention how I hate to throw out tobacco ? I just Re-Stoved this at 195 degrees for an additional 2 hours. I think this has helped but not cured my bite problem. The first 1/4 bowl is fine, but the second quarter is hard on my tongue, and the last half is fine. The taste is good , sweet bread. I think I could smoke this once a day but I'll probably just give it away

I tried BC as an alternative to Hal of the Wynd which is one of my favorites but sometimes has too much nicotine for me. BC is a little bit spicier and less sweet than Hal. BC is very good but lacks the same sweet balanced complexity of Hal. It is an excellent example of a brown flake.

3.5 stars.

I´m used to take it with me when going to the pitch. I load a large bent bowl and off we go. There is no hurry and so I sit there for nearly two hours puffing my pipe and enjoying myself. What else should I ask for? I still have it with me when I´m travelling although I only have one pipe reserved for this tobacco.I smoked it more often before I got to know Gawiths brown flakes. Easy to use, good taste, unprecious simply good but not my top notch at the moment. Might change again. Good quality tobacco, good starter for virginia lovers, to get to know the secrets of slow smoking, because it is a bit sweeter than the other big Rattrays.

Rattray's Brown Clunee is a sweet and mild Virginia presented in a broken flake. If you are looking for a big nicotine hit, such as delivered by its stronger brother Hal O' The Wynd, look elsewhere. This may have some honey added but I wouldn't swear to it. I can't really taste anything artificial so it doesn't really matter.

Now manufactured in Germany, I find this little changed from when Rattray actually manufactured this in the late sixties. Some have remarked that this may be a "starter" Virginia and that may be true; but I have stayed with it all these years. If you have the luxury of an well aged tin of this flavorful treat then you will have truly found your reward. This is in my Golden Circle and remains a delight.