Rattray Red Rapparee
(3.39)
Exhilarating and elusive, quaint and seductive. Prepared from choice red Virginias and heavily flavored with Orientals, giving it a red tinge. It burns in the pipe with the spontaneity of a fine cigar.
New description: A charming, perfectly balanced dark mixture of Virginia tobaccos, Orientals, black cavendish and a luxurious quantity of latakia. The ash is pale grey and similar to that of a good cigar. A wonderful, spicy mixture.
Details
| Brand | Rattray |
| Series | British Collection |
| Blended By | Kohlhase, Kopp und Co. KG |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Scottish |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Mixture |
| 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
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.39 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 181 - 190 of 206 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I have seen references comparing this blend to a light version of Old Gowrie, but I can't find much resemblance, if any. In the tin I received, I also can't find any reason to call it 'red', it is just a mixture of very dark oriental and what appears to be standard brown Virginia. To me, it is a good, solid representative of a medium English blend.
As received, RR was a little too moist and had to be dried out in the tin with the lid off for 4-5 days to pack and smoke properly.
The cut is easy to pack and light and after 1 false light, stays lit and burns all the way down without fuss leaving a nice dark, dry ash. Smokes cool and without bite. Leaves no bad after taste in the pipe or on the tongue. Taste, while unexciting, is a very pleasant, ongoing compromise between Virginia and Latakia without either one attempting to dominate. One thing I really like is that the Latakia is not overpowering.
While I can't call RR one of my favorites, I certainly will keep it around and order more when depleted. It is a very friendly smoke and I can't find anything to hold against it. A good, solid, pleasant smoke any time of the day or night.
As received, RR was a little too moist and had to be dried out in the tin with the lid off for 4-5 days to pack and smoke properly.
The cut is easy to pack and light and after 1 false light, stays lit and burns all the way down without fuss leaving a nice dark, dry ash. Smokes cool and without bite. Leaves no bad after taste in the pipe or on the tongue. Taste, while unexciting, is a very pleasant, ongoing compromise between Virginia and Latakia without either one attempting to dominate. One thing I really like is that the Latakia is not overpowering.
While I can't call RR one of my favorites, I certainly will keep it around and order more when depleted. It is a very friendly smoke and I can't find anything to hold against it. A good, solid, pleasant smoke any time of the day or night.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 15, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is a delight to smoke, even when you're not too focused on the actual smoking. I found that it accompanied a mushroom foray very well. The virginias and orientals/latakia (?) vie for dominance, piquing your tastebuds with sweet, spicy, and creamy notes. I didn't mind the occasional minor bite because it was never overwhelming and most likely it was caused by the smoker trying to keep his tastebuds dancing!
You know what to expect in terms of flavor, but you don't know when the shifts will occur. It lights up very sweet in a corn cob pipe. The light up flavors are not too harsh and are a joy in and of themselves. I never realized how good this tobacco actually was until I smoked it out of a fresh corn cob. It's not so heavy and some may consider it predictable, but it has a very nice interplay of flavors. Flavors intensify at the bottom of the bowl, but it burns consistently to the end.
It pleases me to know that this tobacco has kept well in its tin for about 3 years. It's a tad dry but in a lot of ways just perfect. A beautiful tobacco to look at (reds & blacks), and I have nearly a whole 100g tin left to enjoy.
You know what to expect in terms of flavor, but you don't know when the shifts will occur. It lights up very sweet in a corn cob pipe. The light up flavors are not too harsh and are a joy in and of themselves. I never realized how good this tobacco actually was until I smoked it out of a fresh corn cob. It's not so heavy and some may consider it predictable, but it has a very nice interplay of flavors. Flavors intensify at the bottom of the bowl, but it burns consistently to the end.
It pleases me to know that this tobacco has kept well in its tin for about 3 years. It's a tad dry but in a lot of ways just perfect. A beautiful tobacco to look at (reds & blacks), and I have nearly a whole 100g tin left to enjoy.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 03, 2009 | Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
If you are a fan of English blends here you go. If you are not, here is chance for a good try.
Packs and lits very easy. It surprised me with its balance. When I thought that I'm having a natural sweet smoke, the orientals took the main appearance offering a delightful spicy experience. I could swear that the blend has also a pinch of perique. But no, it doesn't. It offers a strong finish so that I prefered little bowls for this blend. Even with those little bowls, I've enjoyed this tobacco more than an hour smoking experiences.
I can't smoke the English blends every day, any time. Once a week maybe, after a good dinner, I enjoyed this blend a lot. I will surely buy more when I will have enough appetite to smoke some good English Mixture.
Packs and lits very easy. It surprised me with its balance. When I thought that I'm having a natural sweet smoke, the orientals took the main appearance offering a delightful spicy experience. I could swear that the blend has also a pinch of perique. But no, it doesn't. It offers a strong finish so that I prefered little bowls for this blend. Even with those little bowls, I've enjoyed this tobacco more than an hour smoking experiences.
I can't smoke the English blends every day, any time. Once a week maybe, after a good dinner, I enjoyed this blend a lot. I will surely buy more when I will have enough appetite to smoke some good English Mixture.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 24, 2009 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
I was given a sample of this by a fellow poster on the puff forums. This is good tobacco. I'm sort of a nut for the master blaster blends like Mississippi Mud or Old Ironsides. I need a break from that stuff however and Red Rap fills the bill quite well. Definately something to smoke in the morning with that first cup of coffee. The two go together hand in hand.
There is some Balkan like creamyness to it. The sweetness and spicyness is pleasant and natural. I can taste the cigar leaf which adds to the flavor. It's a full bodied tobacco with a good dose of nicotene. We ain't suckin air here.
There is some Balkan like creamyness to it. The sweetness and spicyness is pleasant and natural. I can taste the cigar leaf which adds to the flavor. It's a full bodied tobacco with a good dose of nicotene. We ain't suckin air here.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 22, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
Upon opening the tin one is hit with a spicy sweet fragrance that deceives the senses. It almost smells like an aromatic. Let it sit a bit! The fruity aroma dissapates a bit. Upon resting a bit one is left with a smooth cool medium English blend. More complex than other fine blends, a medium ribbon cut, well burning and very tasty!
Its a winner!
The sweetness on the Red Virginias combine so flawlwssly with the smoky orientals. This is an unsung hero of the Finest English blends!
Its a winner!
The sweetness on the Red Virginias combine so flawlwssly with the smoky orientals. This is an unsung hero of the Finest English blends!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 27, 2009 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
RRR a tasty oriental blend! A good change of pace for my usual med/hvy English smokes. Loads easy in the pipe. Lights easy and stays lit. Gray/White ash - smokes dry. A little sharpness at first light - quickly settles down to a great smoke. Fresh tin moisture was about right - dried it about 30 mins., this to me smokes/tastes better somewhat dry. I guess it would age well, but its great now! It does seem to get better once the tin is opened for a while - more O2. I see a number of reviews as a comparison to Black Mallory. I do not see a comparison they are totally different to me. I enjoy both at different times.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 12, 2009 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
RR a lot like Black Mallory, but I like BM more. Burns well (when dried out sufficiently) & is tasty. I will buy more to age. If you like your English with the Latakia toned down, try this. You'll like it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 22, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I enjoyed this Tobacco in a small Group3 Dunhill EK. When I was halfway through the bowl the luxurious taste of the extra fine Virginias and Latakia really hit me. I loved it the more I smoked it and it was great right down to the bottom of the bowl. The Group3 Dunhill EK usually smokes pretty hot but this blend did not burn hot in my pipe at all. If anything it burned evenly and as I indicated it was tasty right down to the bottom of the bowl. I ordered it because of the many recommendations of past reviewers and because of this I can't thank them enough.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 21, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Nice oriental blend. I think a tobacco like this should not be smoked in a latakia dedicated pipe, as the latakia amount is minimum here (if any, I'm still not sure, maybe just a pinch I guess)... this blend's complexity and subtilness demands for a specially dedicated pipe.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 19, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I have little to add to the paeans unfurling as you scroll down the screen. RRR is superb. Perhaps it doesn't develop so much as you go down the bowl, but it is to Orientals what Squadron Leader is to English: a benchmark. Plus I love the name (which, I suppose, only underscores the comparison with the English!):
RAPPAREE, n., An Irish pikeman or irregular soldier ? . Hence: an Irish bandit, robber, or freebooter. "We have been alarmed with a report that a great body of rapparees is up in the county of Kilkenny."
(The Red Rapparee himself is a character in a 19th. c. novel, Willy Reilly).
The reason I review it, however, is to give a word of warning. More than any other blend I've tried, RRR varies from pipe to pipe. In a biggish half-bent Dublin it's amazing (I guess it likes Ireland); in a smallish straight billiard (a nice one, too) it's terrible, hot and bland. In short, if you're trying it for the first time, you might give a it a shot in a big bowl.
RAPPAREE, n., An Irish pikeman or irregular soldier ? . Hence: an Irish bandit, robber, or freebooter. "We have been alarmed with a report that a great body of rapparees is up in the county of Kilkenny."
(The Red Rapparee himself is a character in a 19th. c. novel, Willy Reilly).
The reason I review it, however, is to give a word of warning. More than any other blend I've tried, RRR varies from pipe to pipe. In a biggish half-bent Dublin it's amazing (I guess it likes Ireland); in a smallish straight billiard (a nice one, too) it's terrible, hot and bland. In short, if you're trying it for the first time, you might give a it a shot in a big bowl.
target="_blank"
