Rattray Highland Targe

Highland Targe is described as a “robust” Latakia blend…..it isn’t. So my first reaction was to dismiss it outright. I had been hoping for something more in the Black Mallory or Black Mallory “lite” camp. During the first several bowls, I felt it was just above the “boring line.” But over time, I grew to appreciate some of the subtle nuances of HT. I have smoked this new and aged about five years and my thoughts of HT have improved somewhat. I do suspect that the original version made by Rattray’s of Perth was bolder and I wish I had had the opportunity to try it. If you are looking for a fuller Scottish blend like Comptons, than take a pass on this one. If you are interested in taking the time to find the subtleties of this blend, you may find this to your liking. I just think that there are too many other blends that are more interesting. As a side note, I tried adding three parts Highland Targe to one part of Dark Fragrant and found that to be more in my wheelhouse.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this one. I wanted to like it more than I did. At first, the taste struck me as a bit flat, bland even, but eventually, after only smoking this exclusively for several weeks, the blend grew on me, but only a bit. Overall, I was expecting more from this tobacco. How can all these different tobaccos fall so flat? Perplexing. I tried this because several pipe smokers I know have crowed about the quality of Rattray's blends. I was less impressed. I'm glad I tried it, but would never purchase it again. Oh, and, I never did smoke the entire tin, I gave up on it. I guess I'll have to use the remainder as a blender. I'll give Rattray's one more shot, Black Mallory's up next, whenever next is.

Cheers!

This is the other Oriental I find very palatable amongst the Rattray?s range. A rather moist and pungent mixture, it is however very mild and watery when smoked. The strong Latakia accent imparts a nutty essence, almost mushy, and very penetrating. Non the less it is a very soft and smooth smoke, quite enjoyable outdoors, for example when walking in the woods just after it rains. If 7 Reserve is dry (to the point of almost being harsh), HT is grassy and steamy, with a bitter sweetness that doesn?t tire out the palate.

I did find it difficult to light and to keep lit (maybe I didn?t aired it enough). It initially smoked cool, but by the second half of the bowl it got just a bit goopy, producing some dottle. Set on the lower register flavours, I find it a nice after lunch/mid afternoon smoke. Nothing really extraordinary, but nice and soft.

Short broken ribbons in black, brown and tan with a few olive strands here and there. The tin nose is toasty and sweet, with hints of caramel, brown sugar, and allspice. The mixture most certainly contains a light aromatic topping, but it is anything if not carefully integrated into the flavor profile of the base tobaccos.

According to its current blender, Kohlhase and Kopp, Highland Targe is: “eine Mischung aus hellen Virginiatabaken, Black Cavendish, Orient und würzigem Latakia” (‘a mixture of bright Virginia tobaccos, black Cavendish, Oriental and spicy Latakia'). Thus a Scottish mixture in the full sense of the term – a genre both perfected and popularized by Charles Rattray in any case – Highland Targe is not shy about its identity. Comprised of tobaccos familiar to other mixtures in the line as to many other blends born in the British Isles now produced by the prolific German blender, it offers a pleasant, middle-of-the-road example of the genre.

Mild to medium body with a soft and rounded mouthfeel, Highland Targe offers a core of unsweetened black Cavendish and sweet Virginias augmented by a measured dose of flavorful Orientals and a hint of smoky Latakia. Possessing a tendency to bite if not treated with care, it offers flavors reminiscent of a sugared café au lait topped with a dash of nutmeg. The topping, while lightly applied, is prevalent throughout the bowl. Neither overly sweet nor particularly rich, it possesses a charming brightness which makes it an ideal morning smoke, just bracing enough to clear the head yet light enough to not overwhelm the palate.

While neither the boldest nor most flavorful among the other Scottish mixtures represented in the current incarnation of the famed Rattray's line, Highland Targe is nevertheless a nice diversion for those who enjoy a bit of Cavendished tobaccos along with their Orientals and Latakia. Be warned, however, that as with everything produced by K&K this one is quite heavy on the humectants and, presumably, the cocktail of preservatives normally found in the offerings of the major continental blending houses.

A good Va spoilt by substandard Latakia and non-existant orientals. This was a weird mis-match and just didn't work for me. I wish i could like it as others here do but each to their own.

It's really an OK Scottish this, slightly sweet, light on the orientals, dare I say it a touch insipid, vapid, vacuous? Not bad at all, good packing/burning qualities, but doesn't do it for me I'm afraid.

2008 tin; smoked 2011.

I'm a fan of Rattray's Scottish blends - Jocks, Black Mallory, 7 Reserve, Accountants - but I found this one to be a wee bit harsh for my palate. And while I can appreciate the harshness that comes with, say, Red Rapparee, I just didn't enjoy this one that much. After breezing through tins of 3 Noggins and Jocks, especially, I've found that I have to gear up to tackle this one. And that's not exactly what I prefer in a pipe tobacco.

Others love it, apparently. So I'm not saying it's a bad blend. It's just not quite suited to my tastes.

It is difficult to tell what this blend attempts to be. As others have noted, "bland" is an adjective that comes to mind.

The tin aroma is promising, with a variety of fruity tones, slight latakia smokiness, and the hints of virginias and orientals. Visually, there appears to be a good variety of leaf types. My tin has about 4 months of age on it. The blend packs well, has a good moisture level, lights easily and burns well.

In the pipe, though, I find this blend frustratingly mild. The latakia makes itself known sparingly, but there is darn little else. Occasionally, a slight virginia sweetnesss, or perhaps a timid whiff of oriental peeks up, but overall there is exceedingly little in the way of *flavor* - either good or bad - which leads me to a "why bother?" conclusion. Its not unpleasant...it just lacks any kind of personality.

I will put this back on the shelf, and let it age some more, but I am doubtful that it will improve much. It is only my deep admiration for Rattray's OG and MF which prompts me to be patient with HT.

Should be called “Grey Mallory.” Not as full bodied and punchy as Black Mallory, though it is similar in components. Not a bad smoke, but not something I’d choose given the other stellar Rattray blends still available.