Rattray Hal O' the Wynd

Anyway you slice it, HOTW is a masterpiece, probably the quintessential red Virginia. It's sweet, tangy, citrusy, and full bodied. I recommend you let this air for a while after you open the tin. The perfect blend to end the day completely satisfied. Highly recommended for Virginia tobacco lovers who want something full-bodied, but still sweet and tangy.

After reading all the **** reviews I just had to get me some of this. I'm glad I did. I've learned to smoke this in a small bowl (my preference for this particular weed). The descriptions by the other reviewers are right on. This is a remarkably mild tasting tabac compared to it's strength. It's easy to get caught off guard with this one. Smoke it slow and easy and don't stand up too fast! You just might catch a left-hook! WOW!

January 2006.

Hal and I,have begun what I'm sure will be a very long friendship.So far,I have loved all the Rattray virginia's on offer.

Upon opening the tin I removed enough tobacco to fill two pipe bowl's,then let it sit on a sheet of paper for ten to fifteen minate's before,packing and lighting my pipe.

As the flame from lighter touched this superb blend I knew immediately,that I was in for a real treat. It was a little stronger than I first expected,but not in anyway overwhelming at all.It is absolutely delicious and only required a second light,and a few tamp's to have a wonderful smoking journey right through to bowl's end.It leave's a very nice grey white ash,with no goop at all.

Just as well that I removed enough tobacco for that second bowl,honestly,I could hardly wait to re-pack,and light up again,and when I did I was in no-way let down at all.

Hal,definitely stand's up in it's own right amongst the very best of the red virginia's that I have tried so far,with Hal earning the #1 ranking so far!

I can't wait to order many more tin's of Hal,so I can not only enjoy it when it arrives,but also age a few tin's as well.

Hal,is a definite winner in my home.

More,than very highly recommended.

Something was lost when this was no longer 'blended by' the gifted Scott, but this still is a fine treatment of Virginia tobac and for me, the cornerstone of the Rattray line. Sweet and full, it taught me to smoke it on the verge of the pipe going out. In truth, I'm always with a tin of this open, with at least a couple in reserve. One can lasted ten years before being opened and made a memory of lasting gratitude to a man I've never met. I most likely would have let it age longer but it started to eat it's way out of the can. Pity that I did not put more aside to journey thru time. Still, the newer 'blended for' is worth the coin and the time. If you've not tried this one yet, then you're in for a wonderful example of how good Virginia's really can be...

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Canadian Smooth

My room is becoming increasingly populated by tan tins and this blend is yet another reason why. After I began smoking Old Gowrie with great regularity, I wanted to try some other Rattray blends. Upon opening the tin, I was greeted by the same fantastic aroma as Old Gowrie but the similarities pretty much end there. The "lemony-sweet" lilt that I enjoyed in Old Gowrie is all but hidden under the fragrant and floral flavor of the very pronounced red virginias in this blend. This prevalent floral note makes HOTW a bit more monochromatic in comparison to its lighter brother. However, similar to most of the Rattray line, HOTW is very well behaved in its burn and a pleasure to smoke. I tend to reach for this over the Old Gowrie later in the day, when I'm looking for something with a little more "pick me up". It isn't part of my regular rotation but it is nice to have around when I want something stronger than OG, but not as mischeivous as some of the flakes I have. Good stuff, a very robust virgina blend and a complement to any VA lover's arsenal.

Notes: The latest iteration is blended by the ubiquitous German firm Kohlhase, Kopp und Co., while a few decades ago this was of course made by Charles Rattray, the famed Scot. The German version is substantially less impressive, but it is still excellent in its own right. To me, this blend finds its own flavor best in a narrow-bowled Danish chimney briar.

Appearance: A standard Rattray's flake, I have seen it cut to fit the container and also as a partially rubbed out broken flake of light to medium nut brown fairly uniform thinnish ribbon.

Aroma: Lots of nutty goodness, spice cake, mild hint of vinegar, buttercream frosting, vanilla, a hint of wood shavings and sawdust.

Taste: Chock full o' nuts, certainly. Malt vinegar, Mozzarella di Bufalo (or perhaps Monterey Jack cheese, for a more familiar touchstone), creamy buttercream frosting, smooth and only very slightly sweet.

Comparisons: Stands among the best Virginia flakes unabashedly. Sharper than the mellow sovereign of Samuel Gawith's Best Brown Flake. Nutty in style as opposed to Rattray's own Marlin Flake, which is a sweet-style Virginia flake.

Bottom Line: One of the very best Virginia flakes. For those who love nutty-styled Virginia blends, but resist the urge to give into the extremity and torpor of Samuel Gawith's Best Brown Flake, preferring instead their smoke with a bit of sharpness and fervor, this is the ideal.

This blend is what awakened my love for Virginias. It is an excellent and beautiful example of what Virginia tobacco can and should do in a blend. It is smooth, full, slightly peppery and unspoiled. I would very highly recommend it.

After falling head over heels for Rattray's Marlin Flake and hearing all the good rap this blend I just had to try HOTW out.

And it is a nice one. It's pretty strong, nicotine-wise I'd say it's stronger than Marlin Flake, and in taste it is definitely a bit sharper. In a way, if you think whiskey, this is like a 10 yo compared to a 15 yo. Both Rattray blends are great for their occasions.

In the tin, as expected, this is straight Va. and the nose feel is good. It is a bit wet, though, maybe a bit of drying out is needed?

Packs okay, might do better, but it's down to technique. Lights up well, and burns nicely to around mid-bowl. (Tends to go out there, but that could be just me, or the weather).

A bit monochrome for most of the bowl, but approached the right way, this is no detraction from HOTW's value. This is great tobacco, and a lovely, potent one at that.

Need to try this one out more, though. Still a bit early to form a definite rating.

[Update 170706] After a break of a few weeks, I returned to this. Mmmm. a lot less astringent, a lot less "immature", and now this is approaching that "Wow". A very good and tasty Va. and a good compliment to Marlin Flake. This I will keep coming back to. (Good that I bought a 100g tin, too).

[2107055] Again, sweeter, tastier, more balanced. Seems to benefit from a larger bowl. Maturing steady in taste with the "throat tightening" only coming here & rhere. Definitely a keeper. Judging from the head-swimming effect it seems quite heavy on the nicotine this time around, certainly after the mid-bowl. As I often enjoy a bowl with a glass of a brew or another I do tend to fit drinks & weeds together, too. HOTW does seem to work very well with a full-bodied Red Wine. And at times the two distinct tastes veer on conflicting, but actually mingle brilliantly and most of the time they just compliment one another very, very well. (Here a light lager just wouldn't do).

One of the best virginia blends I've ever smoked. It smokes cool, slow and is full of tobacco flavor. 4 out of 4 solid stars.