Rattray Highland Targe

The targe is a unique light english blend, well-crafted and suitable for all-day consumption.

Pleasant, understated, refined, almost delicate, and difficult to categorize. Light, yes, bland, no---it is subtle, but rewarding.

And though it looks a likely latakia feast, there's somehow just more latakia to the eye than to the tongue or nose here. The Targe's nicotine content is mild to medium, cut is somewhat fine, and texture while not sticky still requires careful loading of the bowl to prevent the odd blockage though some drying time prior to smoking partially alleviates this.

This is the first Rattray blend I have tried and I find Highland Targe to be a light English blend of quality leaf. It?s a smooth introduction to blends including Latakia. It?s a great tasting blend without overloading the taste buds. I enjoyed the slight Virginia sweetness with the mild taste of Latakia and I detected only a slight hint of Orientals.

Room note? Latakia. Latakia stinks. That's what you pay for what you get - which is a perfect (ie somewhat light) dose of latakia. I really don't smoke heavy latakia blends much. Too much of a good thing is ,well, too much. So a nice perfectly satisfying portion of latakia in what? Well, in a base of fairly decent Virginia. I have had what I thought was better Virginia, sure .. but this is pretty good. I will smoke this some more, possibly less than Red Rap if I'm inclined towards latakia and probably a bit more than Red Rap because I'm usually not.Either way - it will get some play. If you kind of like latakia you just may well like this too.

Rattray's Highland Targe is a paradoxical 'Scottish mixture' blended in _Germany_. In the tin, this stuff smells fantastic. If I did not know better, I would have thought Highland Targe was blended by McClelland. It is a wonderful looking blend as well. Indeed, it looks great and smells great. It is such a shame that it does not taste great. Offensive to a Scotsman, because it should be blended on homeland, this German-made weed is not what it claims to be. Rattray is based in Perth where there happens to be the Perth Armoury Museum. It is there where one can see a real targe--a Scottish shield of real beauty (there are many there actually). The comparable German shield is a stechtarsche. Nevertheless, even if titled correctly, Rattray's Highland Targe would not garner any higher rating. This is a decent tobacco, unquestionably better than a lot of German blends out there, but I certainly will not purchase more and will probably not get through the 100g tin that I have.

Used to be one of my all day...every day.... smokes. Something I can count on to be there consistently....light latakia..mild taste..burns easily in all my pipes (well at least in my Dunhills and thats all I smoke anymore)...I've enjoyed the Rattray's blends for years...35 years to be exact...yeah, they've changed abit but haven't we all ?

This is the first Rattray blend I have tried. I agree with Colonel Panic and Boston Pipe. This blend is a very good quality tobacco for what it is. Dont be mislead by tin descriptions etc. this is a milder blend. As Boston Pipe stated quite accurately, this is a "Hello, how ya doin blend." It seems to be fairly consistent in different pipes and when a lighter blend is in order, this seems to fit the bill quite nicely. The only problem I have had with this one is no matter what I smoke this in, It seems to smoke slightly on the wet side and I cant figure out why. The tin moisture seems to be ok, but maybe it is a little on the wet side. I will try to dry it out for a little while before smoking it and see what happens. I just have to use a pipe cleaner or two to rid the pipe of extra moisture as it is now. This is a fine blend and I would certianly reccomend it and I will probably always try to keep some on hand!

It is an abomination that THIS version of Rattray's Highland Targe is even remembered in the same context as the original blend. This is NOTHING like the original Highland Targe, and what a shame that is. There is nothing wrong with the new HT, but it has become essentially a blending tobacco. It is bland and has virtually no character. The original HT was a rich, boisterous blend that produced a room smell of a wonderful burning fireplace in a ski lodge. I was warned by some friends not to get my hopes up with the new stuff. Let's just say that the new blenders not only aren't using the old recipe, but they obviously aren't using the same tobacco either. Why not let the old name and label rest in piece and call this something else? Aren't there enough bland rip-off blends already?

Update 1/17/04: I consider this smoke my "old reliable". Just enough VA to satisfy that if I want it. Enough Latakia and Oriental to fulfill that role. I don't smoke it every day, but when I want to *enjoy* a smoke for sure - I reach for Highland Targe.
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This was my first taste not only of English blends, but of non-drugstore variety tobacco. That was going on several months ago now. I've waited this long to review it so that my experience could be broadened, and therefore, my references to other tobacco a bit more complete. Without being too melodromatic, I wanted to give this blend a proper and respectful review. After just finishing half a bowl, I decided it was time.

At first I found this stuff very strong - I'm talking chills and a bit of sweat. Considering what I had been smoking previously may or may not even contain tobacco, no surprise there. After having some exposure to other full English blends, this is practically ice-cream... though still gives a decent Highland kick.

My initial reactions were: sweet, smokey and pungent all at the same time. In the best possible way. The orientals remain predominant, interacting nicely with the latakia - never becoming overly "zingy". All the while the VA hangs there in the background: solidly holding up the smoke with a nutty-ripe flavor. Speaking of which, the smoke of this stuff is light, white-grey, and very attractive all around. It is not at all aromatic but also not the WMD that is Durbar (see my review). I find that most near the smoker don't seem bothered by it. For the smoker - it is a savory sweet and lightly grilled aroma.

Opening the can even 6 weeks later brings a delightful latakia sweet-sourness into the air. The humidity of the mix is still nearly perfect even in the pop-top can that H.T. comes in.

Even right out of the freshly opened can this burned well, cleanly down to a grey ash. The nicely textured and colored ribbons are great to look at and pack. The initial charring light is a bit bitter and seems to threaten something extremely unpleasant. Have no fear, that settles in quickly with a hanging bitterness almost like baker's chocolate and a tinge of fruit through out the entire bowl. There is increased strength towards the end with the latakia and VA taking over the oriental spice, but not in a way that is at all unpleasant. In fact, it is downright tasty...like the final remants of a fine barbecue. I've got a pipe that is almost exclusively for this and Margate. I haven't found anything else I like quite enough to make it into this antique briar that is so nicely seasoned.

The recent humidity of the past two days (7/10/03) in my region has made all of my smoking a bit wetter and harsher than usual. But even in this climate the Highlander smoked cleanly with only two relights. Like most VA mixes, too little patience will tag your tongue a bit. But this has overall been a very easy to smoke tobacco.

I still find this a bit strong to smoke more than a couple of times a week (trying to avoid too many dealings with old split-hoof Nic), but I can safely say it will likely remain a standby smoke and one of my continued favorites.

I am one who does not like heavy latakia blends, so I thought I was being rather daring when I decided to try Highland Targe. As the label indicates, when opening the can there is a strong aroma from the latakia.

However, when smoking this blend, there are only hints of latakia, like a well made martini with only a whisper of vermouth. The principle flavor is good, honest, unadulterated VA.

I thoroughly enjoyed Highland Targe, and will buy more.