Rattray Highland Targe

Unfortunately, what might be one of the best names for any blend on the market is largely unsupported by this somewhat lost for identity blend by K and K. It's in the same genre as 965 by Dunhill, or Old Dublin by Peterson, but falls so far from the mark of either that it lands somewhere in nomansland. Bright Va, latakia and unsweetened black cavendish are the most notable leaves in the blend. The va is a little thin and bite-prone. The latakia really could've saved it all, but turned coward and got left stranded on the high-dive like a shivering tween, not quite ready to take the plunge. In no way is this a blend for lat lovers. There just isn't enough of the stuff.

The cavendish is inoffensive and neither helps nor hinders what is ultimately a rather unimpressive collection of stuff.

The tin aroma is nice -- a little smoky and oriental.

We all have our unexplained favorites. A blend that really isn't that great, but for some reason we just love it. I'm sure that Highland Targe could be that for someone, but if it's on your short list, I'd maybe knock it down a few rungs. Really, old dublin succeeds where the targe breaks, leaving a bloody, kilted Scotsman.

Not a dissapointment but could it be better somehow?

Fruity-spicy, sweet and cool. Altough I am not a big fan, but just a lover of latakia blends, I expected it to be richer in latakia. It left a nice taste after each bowl, which invited for further bowls.

Not a 4 star for me but worths keeping a tin on the shelf.

Not Rattray's finest offering. Quality weeds that don't seem to play well together. There's Latakia in the tin aroma that doesn't deliver in the smoke. Not a Scottish Blend IMO, more like My Mixture 965's other brother Daryl. I do get hints of black cavendish here and there, some latakia pops up, the Virginia is too bright for the blend and the orientals taste scorched. I'll finish the tin, because I'm too cheap to toss it and don't know anyone that likes it.

I confess to being something of a Latakia nut but sometimes look for a blend that is a little less overpowering. This is a terrific mixture and a very subtle blend which explores a variety of flavours throughout the bowl and always delights. As with Accountant's Mixture (its big brother) this mixture begins to take shape halfway through the bowl, where a distinct Oriental tang (not too stringent) gives gentle heat to the sweet Virginias and Cavendish. The latakia is (to my mind) always there but in the background. Towards the end there is an additional sweet piquancy allied with a paradoxical seaweed saltiness (the same tones that creep through with Black Mallory). Despite being a "greedy" smoker this blend does not bite and burns evenly right down to the finish. Always leaves me wanting more.

UPDATE Jan 08. I don't know if it is just this batch (from Germany) or what but the last tin has been a bitter (pun intended) disappointment. The orientals (?) are so overpowering my mouth lit up immediately as if blow-torched. This iniitial stinging heat was so intense the subtler flavours failed to materialise at all. I'll stay with it, as I say it may just be a bad batch.

I am rewriting this review based on this most recent tin.

The German version of Rattray's blends are really quite good and I don't compare them much to the UK produced blends that I smoked 20 years ago. We are fortunate that someone is still producing these blends, and I enjoy them.

This most recent seemed far different than the last one I purchased. The tin aroma is indeed intoxicating and declicious smelling. Apparent was that fermented smell that virginia/latakia blends have when the tin is first opened.

I dried this for about an hour and tobacco was still springy when I loaded the pipe.

Sweet virginia, oriental and a noticeable amount of latakia. It reminded me slightly of Dunhill London Mixture but with a different, sweeter virginia base. The Rattray virginias are unique indeed.

It can bite a little, so slow puffing is recommended. I rarely smoke the last 1/4 of a pipe but did so with this and it retained much of it's Scottish blend character, although I did notice the slight sourness that was mentioned in the other reviews.

I will stock up on this blend.

I bought this one in the bulk version, the only format available in Canada.

A very long cut, mostly golden and brown bakkies, with a minority of black leaves. Still, you could fairly smell the Latakia, and also the oriental, of course. Apparently, some Yakka has been added to give this blend its unique taste and distinctive aroma.

Smoking was interesting - more oriental tasting then the smoky Latakia- but, after a while, I find that the fact that it's a thin, long cut bakkie, sort of takes out some of the substance in it, and eventually, leaves it a bit tasteless. If there was some broken flake into it, it would increase its character. Or maybe it's just the fact that it was bulk.

If I buy the tin form, I will gladly share my impressions and update.

This is one of my favorite blends. NapaWineLover and Pipeline have pretty much nailed this blend, so see their excellent reviews, below, for more details.

Call me a heretic...but I must say, that if it weren't for the small amount of unflavored black cavendish in this...I'd pretty much call this a medium Balkan. Highland Targe wonderfully balances several flavor components that I love in a good Balkan: a slight sharpness with some sourness (as found in Balkan Sasieni and Smokers Haven - Our Best Blend) all melded with a sensible and moderate amount of smokey, top-grade Latakia.

The Oriental and Virginia elements in Highland Targe are superb and there's just enough Latakia in the background to keep these fascinating flavors swirling throughout the smoke. I try to smoke this blend as slowly as possible to maximize the pleasure - just beyond a smolder seems perfect to extract all the flavor sensations. (The slight sweetness of the cavendish is just that - pretty slight and subtle so it's a very small piece of the Highland Targe puzzel.)

To me, Highland Targe is in the same league as Exotique and Caravan, and at it's price, it's the clear winner on the value side of things.

Highland Targe is a top quality blend and genuine pipe smoking classic that can hold its own against the best out there because, well, it IS one of the best.

Highland Targe.02/03/07. This is a pretty good smoke in its own right,though it doe's lack the strenth and finesse of G.L.Pease's,Oddyssey.But to be fair,maybe I have been spoilt in trying some of the other blends on offer first. I let it dry out for approximately five to ten min's first on paper,then loaded my pipe bowl and enjoyed a hassle free smoke to the bottom of the bowl.It left a pretty dry bowl with a darkish medium grey ash. There wasn't anything negative to complain about.Easy to light and definitely no sign of tongue bite. In its class I recommend it and its well worth a try.

Highland Targe is the type of blend that makes a good stepping stone between English/ Balkan blends and straight VA blends. The Latakia seems more prominent in the room note than in the flavor, but is there, subtle, tasty. Maybe not an everyday smoke for me, but I will keep a tin or two around. The tin aroma was more like the oats and molasses smell of Old Gowrie or Hal O' The Wind. A cool smoke, even burning and leaving a pale gray ash. 8 of 10 stars for this Rattray offering.