Rattray Old Gowrie

I am loving the broken flake appearance of this tobacco and the tin note (sort of vinegary and sweet at the same time if that makes any sense), but it is failing to impress. You cannot smoke this tobacco straight out of the tin (it is rather moist) and it sort of sticks to your fingers. Because of this, I thought it was probably cased or topped with something, but I cannot detect any other flavours apart from the Virginia and the Kentucky. It has some flowery scent or sweetness to it. I don't think this is due to any added cavendish but because of the Virginia itself. After rubbing, it seems to pack quite nicely in your bowl and does not seem to smoke hot at any rate. Also, I can detect some tongue bite if you puff hard. The experience you might have with this tobacco might differ to mine though if you don't let it dry properly, so be advised. In the nicotine department I'd say it is rather mild whereas the room note is not very pronounced or noticeable. There is something which is setting this VaPer apart from other VaPers, but I am finding it quite hard to put my finger on it. I guess the Kentuky content in it gives it a somewhat cigaretteish quality to it, but this is not bothering me anyway. The Virginia in this blend has a mild piquant characteristic, but not in a bad way. Now and again, I get a hint of some Gawith Hoggarth's ropes or pigtails, but this is not very pronounced. I think it is worth to mention I only had to relight a few times despite smoking it at a very low pace. I'd not engage in any other activity while smoking this blend as it really requires your full attention to get the most out of it. The problem with this tobacco is that it is not an easy smoke, so I'd not recommend it to anyone who is still learning the ropes, but if you like VaPers, this is a must you need to try. This tobacco evolves very little in complexity and strength as you go past every quarter of your bowl, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. By not giving it 4 stars I am not trying to imply this is not a good smoke, but just that it is not ringing all the bells.

Edit1: it is incredible how good this tobacco can get after one or two weeks in your jar. As a matter of fact, I've learnt this is true with most tobaccos. The problem with this blend is that it is dominated by the Virginia, which I find gorgeous in my personal opinion. It is somewhat reminiscent of Dunhill's De Luxe Navy Rolls and the tobacco is so complex and delicate I can't even put it into words. I am changing this to 4 stars: I am impressed.

one of my favorite tobaccos. A stunning Virginia, complex, relatively strong with a hint of perique. Wonderful smell, divine taste...citrusy, earthy. Absolute must try for fans of Virginias. I have tried Marlin Flake and I enjoy Marlin Flake as well but this is just a bitt better for me.

***UPDATE 10/12/17*** I am giving this tobacco 4/4, a terrific smoke. Incredibly smooth, perfectly balanced Kentucky, Perique and Virginia’s working together for in wonderful harmony. I will be getting this again, unless I can find a better VaPer, which might be difficult to find. Better than the Dunhill's: Elizabethan, Royal Yacht, Navy Rolls, which were my current favorites.

Presentation: “For Gentlemen Only”: An attractive, clean tin design. After opening the tin, has the aroma of a sweet Almond-Fig cake, with a very distinct fig and raisin scent. Has an earthly, sweet aroma. Might be a tad sweet for my taste, but let’s find out.

Taste: A bit of moisture, rubbed it and gave it 20 minutes to dry out. I first noticed the pepper-spice of the Perique, which complements a mild fig aroma from the Virginia’s, and earthly taste with a very mild sweetness. It has somewhat of a subtle, white chocolate flavored aftertaste. A very slow-burner, won’t overheat your pipe or give you tongue bite. The Perique is not overwhelming, but the blend is not as robust as I would have liked in a VaPer. It has a very pleasant room note and overall aroma as well.

Afterthoughts: Perhaps I will give Old Gowrie some time, might update my review after I finish this tin. However, it is bit too light in flavor and strength for my taste, I mostly noticed the peppery taste of the Perique, rather than the mild taste of the Virginia’s and Kentucky’s. Still a very high quality tobacco, an all-day smoke, might just need a couple tins to discover it's true, 4 star worth.

Balanced, flavorful, elegant tobacco! Easy to load, easy to light, easy to smoke. If you want can be a "set and forget", and if you want you can dive searching for nuances and flavors. Well done Rattray!

Everyone who has seen the old Rattray's blending manual can see that this is not the OG OG (sorry, couldn't help it), but that's just fine - there's no shortage of good straight Virginia to be had anyway.

The Kentucky gives it a fantastic depth underneath excellent Virginias. Personally I have to smoke it a little hot to really notice the Perique, otherwise it contributes without standing out.

It all comes together into a good smoke with decent complexity that can be smoked on autopilot or carefully savored.

The Rattray's 3 wonderful vapers: Marlin flake, Hal O' The Wynd and this Old Gowrie are truly deserve their polarity and attentions. I find HOTW to be the fuller brother and OG the mellower young one. Sweet with some depth provided by Kentucky, it smokes smoothly without any possibility of bite. Normally I prefer HTOW for it's fuller flavor, but OG is great for some relaxing, mindless moments.

Old Glaurung, my favorite Virginia of all, and probably one of the most unique on the market. You have your sweet VA's like McClelland, Astley and Butera, and then you have the floral soap from GAwith and the like. Old Gowrie seems like fresh tobacco to me. All I can think of when opening the tin or smoking it is of fresh mown hay in the sun. As soon as I open a tin I think of bright days in October, with my Dad mowing and baling hay. The smoke itself is satisfying and sturdy, keeping a hay-y, oaty, earthy, sweetness all the bowl through, never cloying or bitter. I find this one far superior to its brothers Marlin Flake and Hal o' the Wynd, and it positively pummels Brown Clunee. Nicotine overload is never a problem. I keep a fair number of tins on hand and it takes well to aging, mellowing and sofenting around the edges (note: for aging the 4oz tall tins are better than the flat metal tin shown above).

When the tin pops open you a delicious smell comes to your nose. The tin note reminds me a lot of McConnells Scottish Cake - but a bit less fruity and more woodsy and earthy.

Deep, fermented fruits, reminding me of sugary-sweet Oranges, fine raisins, plums and figs - a colourful melange of stoved fruits. Some tanginess, a slightly sour note. Inviting, with depth and deliciously mouth-watering.

Once smoldering you will wish the bowl will never end! Tastewise it reminds a bit of Scottish Cake too, yet it has its own, darker, spicier and earthier personality and taste. Old Gowrie is much more smokey and woodsy, less fruity and a bit stronger than McConnell's Scottish Cake and Rattray's Brown Clunee. Very earthy smoke, with some woodsy smokiness, tagy and piquant. The Perique lurks with some pepper and underscores the fruity, hay-ish and earthy Virginias. The dark fired Kentucky holds a lot of spice and earth, a decent amount of smokiness and delicate piquancy. A spicier companion to Brown Clunee.

In the german registry of pipe tobacco additives you'll find that this blend - just as Gowrie and Clunee - has around 6mgs of flavouring added on 1000mgs of tobacco...really just a whiff, but it's there, though I don't taste it as such!

GENIUS in one word! A truly top-notch blend in the fashion of old English blends as I'd imagine them to have been back then. Love it, it's far superior to Scottish Cake and a true brother to Brown Clunee.

List of additives: https://service.bmel.de/tabakerzeugnisse/index2.php?detail_id=104657&site_key=153&stichw_suche=Old+Gowrie&zeilenzahl_zaehler=2

Old Gowrie as a VA-PER is a quality and extremely good choice. I find it complex, sweet, and with just the right amount of perique to cool off this wonderful blend. There is not much else that I can say that has not already been said. All of the reviews that place this blend at the top of the smoker's list are correct. If you enjoy Escudo or Elizabethan definitely pick up 3 or 4 tins of this.