Rattray Professional Mixture

Yep, there just aren't many blends like this one left anymore. I, for one, bemoan that fact. Rattray's Professional Mixture attempts and succeeds at making an English blend that is simple, cool, comforting, and can be smoked throughout the day. In fact, for we old hard-heads who actually keep our pipes in our mouths as opposed to waving them around in our hands like some sort of professorial prosthesis, a pipe of Professional Mixture can simply be left to sit in the corner of your mouth as you go about your day. Take an occasional bracing puff and you can expect to be satisfied with a medium-full combination of good Virginia, a modest and respectable amount of Latakia(I know that's hard for some of you to grasp), and all topped off with a combination of some of the best tasting Orientals I have yet encountered. The mixture never bites, burns well, and after a time of simple bliss in smoking, one is left with fine, white ash into which no effort had to go. Somehow, I think this is more what an English blend was meant to be. Only later did bounders and juveniles decree that an English blend is a dump for Latakia, serving only to taint and turn the smoker as well as everyone around.

It is abundantly clear that most of the reviews for this blend were done by people who had no idea what this blend is about.

It is meant to be a mild Virginia blend, with the "suggestion" of orientals. It is indeed just that. It is cut in short ribbons, and packs very easily. It is fairly dry, so it burns well. The flavor profile is subtly toasty, tangy, with an almost imperceptible dose of Turkish and Latakia.

I suspect this blend was made for people who spent time around others while working in their profession, leaving the stronger scented mixtures for private enjoyment. (This of course back in the days when professionals were allowed to smoke their pipes while working...)

It makes for a fine first smoke in the morning, or perhaps a good choice for the aromatic smoker looking to try more natural style blends. The tobacco is top quality. It smoked quite cool and dry for me. I find it to be delicate and discreet, a good choice for hot weather, or when I don't want to end up smelling like I've been toiling over a barbecue pit!

If you seek a mild English blend, with a light, natural aroma, this will serve you well. If you want a rich, full, contemplative smoke, you will most certainly be disappointed.

This was something of a surprise to me. Normally a latakiaphile, and never having enjoyed either Marlin or Hal o' the Wynd, I wondered how I would get on with a blend that is purported to be Virginia-heavy. For me, the proportions of virginias against cavendish and orientals (including latakia) combine to make a sweet and sufficiently complex mixture that is really satisfying. Similar to Accountant's Mixture, this could easily be an all day smoke.

I am starting to think that Rattray can do nothing wrong as long as they remember to add latakia. Slow and easy, tasty and something of a revelation. Highly recommended to those who want a gentle oriental blend with sweet virginias.

This blend is if anything, even milder than 7 Reserve. If you are looking for a big, flavorful outdoor sort of smoke this will probably not impress. However I like to puff slowly in the evening while reading or watching TV and I find this to be an extremely smooth, cool and yet satisfying blend. Easy to pack in different size bowls and stays lit while generating good smoke volume.

A great blend of Latikia, Orientals and Virginia tobacco. When I want a mild taste of Latikia but do not want to go all the way down that smoky path, this blend is perfect. Packs well and leaves a beautiful grey, light ash. No tongue bite and a smooth smoke. Room note is wonderful...not totally Virignian, not totally Latakia. Like to break in my pipes that will be used with a combination of different tobaccos with Professional Mixture. Haven't had any of the other Rattray's but because of the skillful blending of this mixture, can tell they know what they are doing. Not sure how it will age but soon to find out by buying a tim and stashing it away for awhile. Very relaxing and description above is very appropriate. Very non-pipe smoker friendly and think it will be appreciated by others around my pipe. Will be a regular in my stock.

It is my pleasure to join the reviewers of this fine tobacco that found the subtle complexity, delightful taste and fine aroma to be very enjoyable. I am one of those that truly enjoy a fine blend with Orientals, including Latakia. The blend of moderate strength delivers much more than the maker?s modest promise.

The cut easily packs in any sized pipe and burns to a mottled fluffy ash. In fact, smoking this tobacco just above a smolder is the way I get maximum satisfaction. It burns cool, smokes dry and leaves a very pleasant room note. While it?s not mentioned in the blending notes, I believe it to have a modest amount of unsweetened black Cavendish that rounds out the aroma and smoothes out the Orientals.

I believe this to be a milder blending of Accountants mixture which I equally enjoy, but usually after a meal, where this blend is fine anytime. My other Rattray?s selection is Jock?s Blend. If there is an additional topping in Professional Mixture, it eludes me. I have smoked tins of different age, and I have never been disappointed in any of my trilogy of Rattray?s, regardless of the country of origin of the blender. This blend is composed of fine tobaccos, blended superbly and the tins are great storage as well, with a plastic cover that makes a good seal. I'm in complete agreement with the other reviewer's comments about the perfect balance in this blend. Highly recommended.

Cheers, VC

I have just finished a 4 oz. tin of this blend and recommend it highly for those looking for a mixture to smoke all day. I have smoked Rattray's Professional Mixture in a variety of my Stanwell pipes, all bents, and have not enjoyed a mixture in a long, long time as much as I have this offering. I have found that the tobacco packs very well in which ever pipe I have choosen. The mixture lights with ease and burns very well leaving a whitish-gray ash. This tobacco seems to smoke clean to the bottom of the bowl with a minimum of re-lights. I have been complimented on the room note of Professional Mixture. Other non smokers have found it to be very pleasant and not the least bit offensive. It has been my experience that there is no "after-taste" with this blend. While smoking, there is a hint of Orientals but they certainly are not overpowering. Rattray's Professional Mixture will be re-ordered and will become one of my regular mixtures that I keep on hand.

I picked up a couple of cans of Professional Mixture recently at the Chicago Pipe Show. IMO this is an excellent viginia & oriential mixture, with a touch of latakia & turkish. The sweetness of the viginias comes through nicely with the spicy flavor of the orientals. The roomnote is very pleasant and I get compliments on how good it smells. It smokes cool & dry, and makes an excellent all day smoke.

This is a quality mixture that's not overwhenlming and is an excellent mixture for starting to enjoy English tobaccos. Don't be put off by some of the negative reviews of this tobacco. It seems that if a tobacco donsen't have 90% latakia in it, some of the reviewers knock it. Try it and see for yourself.