Rattray Marlin Flake

This is a luxurious smoke, gentlemen. I received a tin of this from a friend of mine who works for JR Cigars, and I must say that it hits the spot if you're in the mood for something sweet. The tin note smells of sweet dark fruits: prunes, raisins, dates, and figs come to mind. There is a light grassy aroma as well, which will carry through ever-so-lightly to the smoke.

This broken flake was dry enough to light upon opening a fresh tin. It took flame readily, and burned evenly throughout the bowl. I usually don't have to relight this one at all. The smoke is creamy and plentiful. As for flavor, it is absolutely delicious! The dark VA's come into play here providing sweetness and body to the smoke, while the Perique adds a darker, spicier touch. It had a moderate nicotine hit, which I was not really expecting (but enjoyed). This blend keeps my attention from the beginning of the bowl to the end, and I find myself craving the flavor, especially in the mornings. If you want a great VaPer, go for this blend. It is well worth the price.

Appearance: A mostly dark brown and red flake, each flake being over 6 inches in length and folded in a stack to fit into a cylindrical can. There is a considerable moisture content, typical of Rattray blends both new and historical.

Aroma: Oh, boy. The first impression is dark chocolate with raisins and figs (not too dry). I haven?t smelled anything like it since Sobranie Flake went off the market. I was unable to detect any difference between this and Hal O? the Wynd.

Packing: Owing to the size of the flakes, it was easier to pack into medium and larger bowls. Smaller bowls need a bit more care in rubbing out.

Lighting: Best left to dry a bit before smoking, or lighting may be difficult. Once it?s aired out, it lights and burns well.

Initial flavor: Just a rich, sweet, full Va. Flavor with many nuances. The smoke is dense, and there is a decided strength of flavor to it, although I don?t feel a high nicotine content.

Mid-bowl: There is a good range of medium and low notes to the blend, very little in the way of higher range. The blend continues to delight the palate, and remains cool to the tongue. Even a few strong puffs occasionally doesn?t result in any bite. One of the best tasting Virginias I?ve tried in years, very similar to Hal O? the Wynd.

Finish: Smokes dry, cool and gentle right to the end. If I remember to rub out the first pinch a bit, it will burn down to clean ash.

Summary: Maybe too strong for a first experience with Va, especially for a new pipe smoker. Having made that disclaimer, I will recommend to any smoker who loves Virginias, particularly the darker matured varieties.

A member of Rattrays 'virginia trinity'. I found marlin flake to be a great smoke and a fine presentation of Rattray's. A very nice virginia with a much more noticeable perique character than i was expecting. A blend of rich quality, with a nice perique hint. Overall a nice smoke.

A dark brown tobacco with prominent golden flecks. Very long flakes rolled and stuffed into the tin. Ideal for cutting just the right amount for a particular pipe. The flakes themselves are loose and stringy and quite dry. Ideal moisture level imo.

The tin note is of dried fruits and chocolate and brown sugar.

This tobacco burns a treat from the first light right down to fine white ash. Lasts an age in the bowl. It has a straight tobacco flavour and is of a neutral Virginia character. I can't pick the Perique, if it is there at all. Old fashioned no nonsense tobacco. An all day, every day smoke for me.

Rattray - Marlin Flake.

Note: I first smoked this years ago, reviewed it, and decided to re-write it as I didn't think much to the review.

A tin contains neat looking, wide, quite dark, nicely hydrated flakes. The aroma from the unlit blend is slightly sharp, and a little musty. I never had to dry this blend any to smoke it.

Lighting Marlin is as easy a task as I'd want, and it gives a medium temperature smoke. The flavour's a game of two halves: on one side you have the Virginia/Perique. These two work well together: grassy, and very fruity. And then we have the black Cavendish: this smooth's the smoke and stops any sharpness from becoming too much. I get a splendid burn, and no tongue bite.

The room-note's pleasant, and the nicotine's medium.

A good smoke.

Highly recommended.

Rattray Marlin Flake is a unique tobacco which will prove pleasing to most pipe smokers. Probably more will deem it good than those who will elevate it to the must have category.

The flakes are six inches long, very thin (16th of an inch), and can be crammed in a pipe with no difficulty. Those who may have found other flakes difficult to deal with will be pleasantly surprised with this one. Just stuff it in; it works without trying to figure if you should rub it out. The flakes are medium brown with a few lighter streaks. The tin smell is citrus Virginia, the rancid note of perique being just apparent. A little cavendish joins the bright and stoved Virginias in the blend.

As with many tinned tobaccos, this one is a bit too moist upon first opening. Break the seal and wait for three days before smoking. Do this and you will find the mixture lights easily and stays lit without difficulty. The taste has the slightly sweet citrus note of Virginia, a bit of peppery tang, and a hint of brown sugar. Although this is not a burley blend, I detect a hint of the chocolate note which is more usual for the air cured varieties. There seems to be just a whiff of alcohol casing or top note (rum? whiskey?) which subtly influences the taste without calling attention to itself.

The room note is a pleasant, natural tobacco smell which does not have the sweetness which causes others to praise the aroma, nor does it have the dark overtones which often elicit complaint. Both the taste and room note of Marlin Flake register as medium. The flakes burn slowly (a big bowl can easily render an hour smoke) to a dry ash of an unusual tan hue.

For my own smoking satisfaction, Marlin Flake earns four stars. I have given it only the three star rating, however, as I think a number of smoker categories will find it an OK plus smoke, but not a really outstanding one. The medium but not vivid smoking flavor may prove too subtle for neophyte pipe smokers. Those who dote of latakia will find this a bit insipid. Those who prefer Virginia/perique blends may deem the perique in this offering as a bit meager, Those who prefer aromatics will miss the sweetness in taste and aroma that those tobaccos offer. I suspect that very, very few will find Marlin Flake an unpleasant experience, but those who (like me) find it wonderful stuff may well constitute a minority. On my last can, I had just bought a cheap no name rusticated billiard basket pipe ($32, name buffed off, some defects apparent where stem hit bottom of bowl). I had puffed several bowls of Carter Hall for break-in and then used this pipe exclusively for the whole can. It worked wonderfully! I'll use it for my next can of Marlin Flake, and in the meantime reserve this good smoking cheapie for Va/pers.

It's been said all before by more knowledgeable people than me. So I'll just add this...if you like a full on tobacco experience then get some of this stuff.

You won't regret it....it's excellent!!

I usually wait to reach half of the tin or so before expressing any judgement on a tobacco, but in this case I will make an exception. I just bought a tin of this blend and I think it's quite close to perfection. Upon opening the tin, the smell is quite grassy and close to figs, like many virginias, with a vinegary tinge to it. The taste is that of a straight virginia, quite close to Hal O' the Wynd but not so edgy and less vinegary, made more gentle by the detectable aroma of Cavendish. At half of the bowl the sweetness of the VA plus the sweetness of the CA becomes stronger, and the result is that of a wonderfully rounded and pleasant virginia. It resembles a little the Black Parrot, which I love, but less nutty and less rich in depth. I think that the Black Parrott is one of the best Vas I ever smoked, but it is more "meditative" and I enjoy its taste at full only by puffing really slow and indoor, while the Marlin Flake can be enjoyed also outdoor, having a fuller body. No tongue bite at all, it smokes dry and leaves a clean palate. I must confess that I liked this bowl so much that at a certain point I was puffing too fast, but even at that point the taste was only a little bit spoiled. It is not, as I once read, one of those tobaccos that will change your view of life. It is an honest straight Virginia, still a gentle one. Very enjoyable, not so complex but not even boring, at all, and it's an all-day smoke.

Hello there guys todays offering is marlin flake.
Well i had hopes for this tobacco but for me it is ok but nothing to shout to the rooftops about.
Out of the tin is one big flake rolled up.
Its almost american aromatic style sticky but rubs out fairly simply.
Aromas from the tin a pungent yeasty sourish smell with a hint of sweetness.
Packing is easy enough but i would recommend some drying.
It is a decent tobacco but i just dont seem to get along well with it the tins aronas transfer nicely through to smoking but every now and then i get this sour taste and a tingly tongue sensation that isnt very nice which means quite a bit of resting.
I suppose this could be down to my body chemistry as the tobacco it is made from is good qaulity.
When i dont get that overly sour tingly taste and sensation there is some nice raw tobacco flavours that i could see others enjoying.
If i didnt get that taste and sensation i would really enjoy this blend its said sensation and taste that take the edge off it for me and its a shame.
I will finish the tin as i dont bin tobacco unless it is truely attrocious but once the tin is finished i wont be pining for more.
All in all an ok tobacco but me personally nothing to write home about.
But try it for yourself as your oppinion may differ.
Thank you for reading