Rattray Red Rapparee

After smoking many cans of this in the last coupe of years it needs to be downgraded to two stars. I really wanted to love this weed again, but sadly, it's a ghost of its former incarnation. Inconsistent blending and it lacks the oomph and variety it used to have. 2 stars As mentioned in another review (Dunhill's Standard Mixture Medium) I'm smoking pipes again after many years of neglecting them. In those old days, one of the favorites was Rattray's Red Rapparee, so then: In his "...Booklet on Tobacco Blending", Charles Rattray wrote about Red Rapparee, "It is of no use whatever to those who merely puff." Maybe what he meant by that, in my very subjective experience, is that Red Raparree is a good strong smoke when puffed, but when slowly sipped it reveals an entire universe of flavor; the tangy virginias are always at play in the background as the blend starts out with a deeply exotic incense-like taste, at mid-bowl developing a wonderful smoky fullness, late in the game becoming subtly sweet and finishing in a melange of all the flavors with a dash of salt. It's definitely different than it was in the days of old, with a less tart taste, but it is still absolutely one of the greatest tobaccos ever blended by the hand of man. There is nothing shy about this stuff, it comes right up to you with a great strong shake. Right now I'm looking at my 45 briars lined up in their racks and thinking about dedicating 43 of them exclusively to the Red Rapparee.

I recently bought a tin of "Red Rapparee" at my usual tobacconist's, just in order to try somthing new. It is a mild mixture (seems like I'm in the minority here) and pleasant, but nothing more. I miss the kick from the Latakia and the Perique, but the Virginia is smooth, gentle, and fine. And there is a touch of Oriental, which I love. As a pipesmoker definetely preferring the stronger mixtures (My Mix. 965, Paul Olsen's Blue Queen and King George VI) I will probaly smoke "Red Rapparee" in the morning - it is too "flat" and mild for me in the afternoon and in the evening. Bumbum.

For me, thing about Rattray's is that you tend to like their blends or you don't because of the distintive flavor and sharpness of taste. Personally, I found it good for a while, tasting sharp like a burgandy, but lacking that certain fullness. If you are into virginia blends, this will certainly be a must stopover, at least once, as it's a distinctive flavor in a rather packed field. For the jaded, the sharp sweetness could be a nice change of pace. The oriental tobaccos a times seem overwhelmed by the virginia here, but in my opinion, the kind of virgina this company uses has always been what set it apart. Also, you tend to have to buy it in 4 oz. tins, so if you've got a lot of tobacco to smoke if you find that it's not to your taste. Many tobacconists keep open tins for samples, see if your's has one so you can try it.

The name has always intrigued me, and I have always wanted to try it. Well I did, a mixture as they say, Latakia, Va.'s, cavendish, orientals. The usual fare. Came moist, as most Rattrys do, so it aired out some. Packed fairly easy, and charring produced a taste melange of a typical english. Not bad mind you, but, oh well I guess I was dissapointed. The tobacco smoked well enough, and did not bite, burned to a fine grey ash to the bottom. I would put this tobacco in a catagory of 5, nothing outstanding, I guess I have become jaded, or maybe my palate is more refined? A reccomended tobacco for someone trying new blends, or perhaps a constant for it's admirers. Maybe later?

I smoked the tobby right out of the tin and it wasnt a pleasant experience, Even the smell out of the tin was bad. Well, it was really harshy and the taste was just awful. I’ll give it a try next year. Tobby will be maturing for that year and we will see. The other opinions are really good so you can expect an edit. But smoking right out of the tin is not a good idea.

After trying the "trinity" from Rattray (HOTW-OG-MF) I decided to go off of the Va. reservation. While this is a high quality blend, it has not tempted me to give up my love affair with OG HOTW etc. I guess my taste at this time do not appriciate the wonderful world of Orientals as much as in the past. Not a "throw away" so I will revisit this one from time to time, but for now it will be an occasional treat. Rate * *

Rattray is really a great company for offering a good amount of tobacco for a great price. I got this 100gr tin from Jr's for 9 bucks. Unfortunately it wasn't that much of a winner for me. This blend is very mildly seasoned with latakia and the VAs didn't really announce themselves...so I was left with an Oriental blend that had a nice gentle floral flavor and really not much more...for me, not what I prefer. It had good burning properties though there were a few stems. This is advertised as a medium English, but I think not. This would be a good blender with more full English mixtures or for those who like a very mild English/Oriental.