Rattray Dark Fragrant

Dark rather than fragrant.... in the can it smells of sloes jam and vinegar, once lit it smokes smooth and cool with a mild sweet-sour taste. I don't mind for mildness, at least when there are fine subtelties to caught with patience, but this one is too wispy: just an homeopathic dosage of Perique over a flavourless stoved Virginia, neverless it leaves a fusty sillage in the air and a sour ghost in the pipe. Not really bad, simply yawner.

Appearance is a dark brown ribbon. Tin smells of old coffee and fruitcake. Tastes very lightly sweet.

A rather weak smoke that, while quality, hasn't anything for me to recommend. Lovers of mild fare might enjoy Dark Fragrant.

The stoved Virginias of this tin have an unexpected lightness and sweetness. I think there is an extremely mild addition of casing in this tobacco which makes it tasty.

It needs to be dried a bit. I've tried to smoke it slow and gently, but I couldn't reach to keep the bottom of the bowl dry.

If you are looking for a different, sweet and effortless smoke here you go!

Second 100grms can of DF, the first was five or more years ago.

I will save You all from my "technical" report, and cut this review my shortest.

DF is surely a twin of Mc Connel's Maduro, I dare say it's the same blend minus the rhum topping.

I like quite much the sweet tongue this quasi black mild unsweetened Black Cavendish plus tiny Perique leaves, and learned how to manage the puffin' rythm in order to avoid hot & steamy smoke and the palate scorched.

Everything is mild in DG, so I do simply consider it as a pleasant morning smoke, or a change of pace from my more robust blends.

Mellow mix, Not really sweet- a little fruity in the raisin/ fig paste way. Doesnt develope, its nice enough to try.

The stoving here is not excessive but is still heavy enough to interfere with keeping it lit. This is a blend of rich and smooth character that is enhanced with coffee on the side. The Oriental leaf is subordinate to the Virginia character and flavor. The tin fragrance is almost coffee like in nature. It is best, smoked slowly and indoors, since much of it's mild presentation would be lost in open spaces. If I were a zealous advocate of stoved blends, I would give this my highest marks. I smoke these blends only on occasion when I'm not engrossed in English or Balkan blends. I'm not appreciative of the residue left nor it's tendency to leave undue dottle. Still, it is not a repulsive mixture, just not one of Rattray's better blends.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a noname Meer

According to the manufacturer, this is a mixture of stoved VA and stoved cavendish. The two work well together. In the tin, the aroma is must/sweet and while smoking the aroma is not unlike a combo of raisins and chianti. Not a bad smoke at all, just nothing exceptional either. It might be just the ticket for someone looking to move away from aromatics and into the world of more natural tobaccos. My wife even approved of the aroma.

An interesting tobacco... Dark with some lighter specks, with a sweet caramelized plum smell. A bit moist, but nothing to worry about. When you light it up correctly, it goes on for a long time.

It is quite delicate, yet rather tasty: a sweet, and at times slightly sour, taste, and no tonguebite. It can be a bit watery and light at times, but it's OK.

Not the most complex of tobaccos, and it can grow a bit boring after a while, but I find it definitely better than Rattray's own Black Virginia (compared to which, Dark Fragrant seems more "cavendishized"). Tastier, and better behaving.

I don't know if I will buy more of it (it takes me long to finish 100g of it, since I usually prefer other kinds of tobacco), but I can't say it was an unpleasant experience... and my wife loves the room note!

Dark Fragrant greets you with a burst of spicy Oriental flavor at first light. The dark Va?s quickly catch up and even things out at a mild level. The flavor progression is linear from there giving a slow increase in taste. It never becomes very strong, no straying off into anything different that what it starts with. If you like the first third of the bowl, you?ll love the second and last third.

I found this blend to be bordering on unpleasant in a narrow bowl, but when smoked in a wider bowl it became fairly enjoyable. A cool smoke that burns dry and clean. The lack of dimension makes it something I would not smoke all the time. Two out of four stars.