Rattray Marlin Flake
(3.31)
Marlin Flake combines dark Virginias, black cavendish as well as a pinch of perique.
Notes: A companion to Old Gowrie. A shade darker, different aroma, but otherwise a tobacco in the same tradition.
Details
| Brand | Rattray |
| Series | British Collection |
| Blended By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.31 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 51 - 60 of 153 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The Virginia is sweet and strong when you pop the top. Bran muffins, prunes, fruitcake, cured hay, oatmeal, molasses, a background note of tart, freshly cut rye. I've tried but can't smell anything but perfectly blended, pressed and aged Virginia. There may be some difference between the tin photo and description at the top of these pages and what is being sold now. The tin I have says it‘s “Made in Germany“. Not Denmark as the description here says. Also my tin doesn‘t mention Perique or Cavendish, the description simply says, “Full Dark Virginia Flake“. If these other tobaccos are in there, then the blenders have wisely kept the ratio way down. The German version smells delicious, even caught whiffs of chocolate. I love aged Virginia, and Rattray hasn't disappointed me yet.
I like the long flakes, just reach in and pinch off perfect pack-able pieces, I don't need to pull out a whole flake - stop playing with it and shove it in.
Lighting up brings warm cookies, pancakes, sweet grains, delicious chewy Virginia. Like Hal O' The Wynd this one is complex, but the flavors are more married, quieter, more subtle. The tobacco blend is older here and the Virginia is oilier and juicier. More nicotine, a little more tartness, cool comparatively - but it will still bite if hurried.
I like the long flakes, just reach in and pinch off perfect pack-able pieces, I don't need to pull out a whole flake - stop playing with it and shove it in.
Lighting up brings warm cookies, pancakes, sweet grains, delicious chewy Virginia. Like Hal O' The Wynd this one is complex, but the flavors are more married, quieter, more subtle. The tobacco blend is older here and the Virginia is oilier and juicier. More nicotine, a little more tartness, cool comparatively - but it will still bite if hurried.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 02, 2010 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Gorgeous....absolutely gorgeous!
Tin aroma reminds me of a dark rich Christmas pudding with a very faint hint of liquorice. Some of this translates into the smoke as well. Lovely crumbly dark brown leathery flakes ooze quality.
Smokes very well, though needs drying time as it's quite moist from the tin. Very flavourful blend that is now possibly vying for most favourite VA of mine alongside FVF..
Only HOTW has disappointed me out of the 'Cream Tin Three' (HOTW,OG,MF)..
That said I do like HOTW, just not as much as MF and OG..
Wonderful stuff...
Tin aroma reminds me of a dark rich Christmas pudding with a very faint hint of liquorice. Some of this translates into the smoke as well. Lovely crumbly dark brown leathery flakes ooze quality.
Smokes very well, though needs drying time as it's quite moist from the tin. Very flavourful blend that is now possibly vying for most favourite VA of mine alongside FVF..
Only HOTW has disappointed me out of the 'Cream Tin Three' (HOTW,OG,MF)..
That said I do like HOTW, just not as much as MF and OG..
Wonderful stuff...
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 03, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I have decided to re-write my reviews.
Marlin Flake is underrated and its a shame. I do not know why because like Old Gowrie and my beloved HOTW this is right up there and i ALWAYS have a tin open.
Like all Rattray blends, this comes with lots of moisture in the tin. It needs to be aired out to get the best of this delicious blend. Drying it out will also eliminate the tongue bite.
A few months ago, i ordered around half a kilo of bulk HOTW and they sent me the wrong blend. Instead i got that amount of Marlin Flake, i did not complain because this stuff is just as good.
This has a particular musty taste that HOTW and Old Gowire does not and that sets it apart from the other two. Some reviewers compare it to Sweet Potatoe Pie and i can see what they mean. What ever it is, this blend is delicious and it has the same VitN content as HOTW does.
Like HOTW and Old Gowrie, once dried out, you get that mouth filling Virginia sweetness and great aftertaste that is just plain fantastic.
Mo, South Africa
Marlin Flake is underrated and its a shame. I do not know why because like Old Gowrie and my beloved HOTW this is right up there and i ALWAYS have a tin open.
Like all Rattray blends, this comes with lots of moisture in the tin. It needs to be aired out to get the best of this delicious blend. Drying it out will also eliminate the tongue bite.
A few months ago, i ordered around half a kilo of bulk HOTW and they sent me the wrong blend. Instead i got that amount of Marlin Flake, i did not complain because this stuff is just as good.
This has a particular musty taste that HOTW and Old Gowire does not and that sets it apart from the other two. Some reviewers compare it to Sweet Potatoe Pie and i can see what they mean. What ever it is, this blend is delicious and it has the same VitN content as HOTW does.
Like HOTW and Old Gowrie, once dried out, you get that mouth filling Virginia sweetness and great aftertaste that is just plain fantastic.
Mo, South Africa
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 13, 2006 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Rattray has never let me down, at least not their original offerings. Just as Black Mallory is the pinnacle of their English/Scottish line, Marlin flake is the Everest of their Virginia line. I opened and finished my first tin of this last weekend on a trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway, and wished I had brought more by the end of the trip. It is a full, rich, and grand tobacco. The flavor is wonderfull and unique to Rattray. McClelland (though I love them) taste like a Heinz product, and those insipid Gawith offerings taste like watery floral soaps. These are fresh, vibrant flavors. Fresh hay, honeysuckle, chestnut and toffee come through on my palate. It is a full tobacco as Virginias go, but not so full you couldnt enjoy a couple of bowls in a row. To me the flavor and style of the Rattray Virginia line has a cranky Victorian elegance to it, and is not found in other save maybe in Astley's or Fribourg & Treyer. Huzzah!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 25, 2003 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Rattray's series of VA flakes (broken or whole) all strike me as variations on a theme, from Old Gowrie at the mild end of the spectrum to Hal O' the Wynd at the strong end. I find Old Gowrie and Brown Clunee pleasant, but so mild as to be unsatisfying, while Hal O' the Wynd is undeniably robust, but so strong it actually stings my mouth. Marlin combines the best qualities of all these smokes and exceeds them all -- it has OG's smoothness, BC's warmth, and Hal's rich flavor. Like the Momma Bear's porridge, it's just right.
Marlin Flake has an almost legendary reputation among pipesters, and it's easy to see why. Robust yet refined, loaded with flavor yet never overwhelming, this is simply one of the great Virginia Flakes, a classic that can hold its own (and in the opinion of many, surpass) such standard-bearers as McClelland Blackwoods, Gawith Full Virginia, and Dunhill Light VA.
Marlin in bulk has a somewhat different form than the canned variety. In the can Marlin is composed of longish 6-inch flakes, but the bulk bags contain folded-over stacked flakes measuring over 20 (!) inches, requiring some serious chopping, unless you like rubbed-out ribbons nearly two feet long! Tastes the same as the canned stuff, though.
Marlin Flake has an almost legendary reputation among pipesters, and it's easy to see why. Robust yet refined, loaded with flavor yet never overwhelming, this is simply one of the great Virginia Flakes, a classic that can hold its own (and in the opinion of many, surpass) such standard-bearers as McClelland Blackwoods, Gawith Full Virginia, and Dunhill Light VA.
Marlin in bulk has a somewhat different form than the canned variety. In the can Marlin is composed of longish 6-inch flakes, but the bulk bags contain folded-over stacked flakes measuring over 20 (!) inches, requiring some serious chopping, unless you like rubbed-out ribbons nearly two feet long! Tastes the same as the canned stuff, though.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 25, 2002 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
From the old-fashioned tin label, to the professionally prepared flakes thru the last puff, a fantastic smoke and example of why great tobaccos endure. The medium to darker brown flakes are ~ 1/16" thick but so long that they are folded over and inserted into the tin. The moisture content is high and typical of Rattray, but does not result in a wet smoke. This blend also seems to maintain its moisture after the tin is opened better than many other ~ VA flakes. I don't rub out the flakes but they are pliable and pack easily. Since the room aroma is OK'd by my family, this blend gives me true enjoyment indoors in a smooth, rich VA flake with a great taste and aftertaste. Burns evenly, coolly, without any bite and is one of my top choices for a long, relaxing smoke after dinner. A must try for any straight VA flake lover.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 25, 2002 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I could smoke Marlin Flake all day but would worry about having enough for tomorrow. A fanastic Virginia. It's one of my top 5. Everything is right with this blend. Stands bold and full but is consistantly smooth in flavor. It seems more tangy then sweet to me with a spicey tone to it. The flavor or flavors stays stationary 95% thru the smoke but at the same time seems to want to breakout into different tributaries. One gets hints of different stages but it never leaves it's original introduction. Marlin Flake teases you all the way down and then upon completion, one reloads to savour it all over again.
The tin aroma starts pretty much the same way. Tangy at first but after several weeks I can smell a straight tobacco (old tobacco barn in the fall). A wonderful pure and true tobacco smell. One inwhich draws and seduces that tobacco lover in me.
A Real Winner.
The tin aroma starts pretty much the same way. Tangy at first but after several weeks I can smell a straight tobacco (old tobacco barn in the fall). A wonderful pure and true tobacco smell. One inwhich draws and seduces that tobacco lover in me.
A Real Winner.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 13, 2024 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
Rattray
Marlin Flake
Blend notes: “Marlin Flake combines dark Virginias, black cavendish as well as a pinch of perique. A companion to Old Gowrie. A shade darker, different aroma, but otherwise a tobacco in the same tradition.”
The comparison to Old Gowrie is apt. Marlin Flake is equally delicious. Old Gowrie has such a small amount of Perique it can’t be called a VaPer — it is at best a condiment. Here with Marlin Flake they have the same delicious Virginias with more Perique … but the Perique is in the background.
The Virginias and the unsweetened Black Cavendish create an enjoyable, bready baked-goods kind of sweet aroma. This is the VaPer for lovers of straight Virginia blends.
4 out of 4 stars.
Marlin Flake
Blend notes: “Marlin Flake combines dark Virginias, black cavendish as well as a pinch of perique. A companion to Old Gowrie. A shade darker, different aroma, but otherwise a tobacco in the same tradition.”
The comparison to Old Gowrie is apt. Marlin Flake is equally delicious. Old Gowrie has such a small amount of Perique it can’t be called a VaPer — it is at best a condiment. Here with Marlin Flake they have the same delicious Virginias with more Perique … but the Perique is in the background.
The Virginias and the unsweetened Black Cavendish create an enjoyable, bready baked-goods kind of sweet aroma. This is the VaPer for lovers of straight Virginia blends.
4 out of 4 stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 11, 2023 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
Este tabaco es muy especial para mi. Es mi tabaco de cabecera, lo fumo todos los dias. Me atrajo mucho que tiene una dulzura natural no excesiva. Sabor amaderado y frutal. No deja en la boca un sabor amargo. Lo uso apenas lo saco de la lata, fuma parejo del principio al fin. Te eleva, te relaja pero no aburre. Que nunca se termine. Cuatro estrellas.
Pipe Used:
Chacom coffrest
PurchasedFrom:
muchos lados
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 04, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Tin note of sugared Rasins and dark fruit. Tobacco is a reddish dark brown and black marbled Flake with specks of tan. Moisture content is good, some want to dry it out a bit. rubs out and cubes nicely. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and very consistent, with notes of mildly sweet tart plums, Rasin/fig, toasted bread, woody, spice, floral, sweet grass/hay, rich earth, mild lemon, mildly acidic, mild orange peel/zest, a tangy savory dark fruit background note, and a peppery retro. Virginia is leading with Black Cavendish and Perique supporting. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is great.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Bard Rusticated 221 Fishtail
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
2 years
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