Rattray Dark Fragrant

I've had this tin of dark Fragrant sitting on my shelf for about 3 years. I decided I needed to open it and give it a go.

Dark, moist (for VAs) tobaccos and a dried fruit aroma greeted me from the opening. The fruit wasn't specific to me, but it recalled plum more than raisin, and was muted. Stoved, fermented and aged is what my nose really seemed to sense.

The tobacco packed, lit and burned well, but it was a very damp smoke for me. The flavor was fine in my opinion - nice virginias and solid notes from the dark tobacco. I've always loved stoved VA, and this was no disappointment.The fruit aroma didn't really carry over onto my palate or the room smoke. The ladies and gents at the bar I frequent also found the smoke unobjectionable.

I'll gladly keep a tin of this about. I may let it set open a bit to lessen the moisture and see if I can attain a drier smoke than the ones I got from taste-testing. I'll need to grab a tin of Dark Star and some other stoved VA-based blends before updating this review.

Dark Fragrant now moves my Rattray?s experience to 5 blends that I truly enjoy. While distinctly different they include ? Accountant?s, Professional, Jocks and Highland Targe. I?m still not able to enjoy the aromatic offerings but I?m not an aromatic smoker.

There seems to be at least 2 different versions of this tobacco being enjoyed (as it were) by pipers on these pages. One, I?ve read, without any Orientals, and one I smoke with a light condimental application of Orientals. Moreover, one that from what I?ve read, has a topping, and, one that I smoke that has NO topping whatsoever.

Here?s my take on this mysterious and perhaps deceptive blend. Predominantly, dark-stoved VA?s, very much in the style of MC?s 5105, however, much softer to the touch and less biting which suggests that there is Red VA as part of the VA compliment. This mixture is devoid of any Bright VA. I?m also betting that this blend has a very modest amount of Oriental (read that - but not any Cyprian Latakia) I wouldn?t be surprised if there is a mélange of Orientals such as Dubec, Samsun and Drama all pressed and stoved together with the VA?s. However, I can offer no authoritative evidence for my hunch, yet. I taste no perique. Whether it is there or not, I cannot validate since I have seen no such labeling on my supply which is all relatively new from 2005.

My experience has been a bit different than many others here have noted. I find it no problem with packing, lighting or keeping it lit. It smokes very mild but tasty just above a smolder and while aggressive puffing will not bite ? it becomes rather tasteless. But, when I keep it just easy going, it is very tasty and kind to the mouth. No question about it, it?s a fine all day smoke. I have become accustomed to milder blends of late and this would qualify as the lightest of them all in my rotation, but it does satisfy me and that is why I smoke a pipe.

It burns more quickly and that has a lot to do with the form of the tobacco, which is short pieces of ribbon of varying density. It can be rubbed out further to permit one to load more tobacco in the bowl, however, my choice has been to smoke it in a large bowl without packing it in too tightly and am happy to tamp a bit more often to enjoy this mild but flavorful smoke. The room-note is light, pleasant and it does not hang or permeate clothing or surroundings. The ash is light grey and fluffy. No dottle whatsoever. I typically let it air for 15 to 30 minutes in a wooden bowl I use for precisely that purpose. All in all, I find this a delicious, mild blend with mild-medium taste that is complex in a very refined understated way. It takes relights very well. I can?t comment on DGT because I am about the immediate gratification technique and 30 minutes prep time is all I?ll invest. This would be a good tobacco for a new piper looking to experience VA?s that taste good, are mild, yet a good representation of the darker VA flavor scale. I enjoy this much the same way as used to enjoy MC Dark Star and 221B series Black Shag - however, I find this to be much more refined and flavorful. As I said earlier on, I believe there to be condimental Orientals in the blend which do not detract from the VA flavor. If anything they round out the taste in such a way that it delightfully hums a wonderful taste from start to fluffy grey end. I enjoy this tobacco in any pipe. However, when I smoke it in pipes that are devoted to VAs the taste is simply remarkable.

Cheers, VC

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

For the smoker who enjoys Virginia tobaccos above all others, and has gravitated away from latakia blends, I recommend this highly. A blend of Virginias, stoved and ... well ... unstoved ... it is dark and slightly moist upon opening. It may take a minute to have this lighted fully, though opening the tin and drying briefly will cure this defect, but once lighted it burns well and evenly. The taste is complex - naturally sweet with the stoved component easily detected - yet is clearly an "all Virginia" blend unadulterated by flavorings or additives.

Unlike some of my colleagues, I find this truly enjoyable ... and a superior smoke to Dark Star and 2035, both of which I enjoy greatly. In part Dark Fragrant has the advantage of being a ribbon cut tobacco, obviating the need to rub it out, a distinct advantage for one as indolent as I. Moreover, it has a full and satisfying flavor, yet is mild enough in body that it can be smoked first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with no worries. For the smoker who enjoys Virginia tobaccos above all others, and has gravitated away from latakia blends, I recommend this highly.

Rattray's Dark Fragrant is a nice VA, however somewhat mild and monochromatic. It is mostly dark stoved VA's, almost cavendished, with some Oriental hiding in the background. The topping is subdued, but tastey. I've been enjoying this more than McC 5100, which has been a stand-by VA for me. This could easily be an all-day smoke if one were so inclined. I will likely buy another tin or two for the cellar. As another reviewer mentioned, I find it better when smoked in a large bowled pipe.

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.