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
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 75 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Nuttiness and woodiness from the Orientals are this blend's dominant character. Red Rapparee isn't strong on the Latakia but it's there in every puff. There's a saltiness detectable especially on the smooth retrohale. The sweetness is not as dominant as in most Scottish blends but it's always present. There's a slight but not lingering sensation of tongue bite for me which comes from the Latakia and not from the blend smoking to hot. The blend is multidimensional but consistent, with medium complexity and a decent amount of depth. The nicotine is noticeable on a full stomach although not strong.
There's a similarity to Esoterica's And So To Bed, which however features a most remarkable "brighter nuttiness" I haven't found in any other blend (Red Rapparee leans on the darker side) so far and is altogether of higher quality and sophistication.
I find it even more similar to Newminster 306 English Oriental which however is more complex and features an even higher amount of Orientals.
I prefer both of them to Red Rapparee, but it's nevertheless an outstanding Scottish blend that to me beats many others and is high up on the list whenever I'm in the mood for some Latakia and a good dose of Orientals.
Lastly, there's some distant resemblance to 965 (as others have mentioned) which however is stronger on the Latakia and has less Orientals and the nuttiness isn't even close to being so prominent.
Funnily enough, I have to agree with some here that I wasn't too impressed with my first bowl of this blend, but coming back to it later, it began to really open up to me.
There's a similarity to Esoterica's And So To Bed, which however features a most remarkable "brighter nuttiness" I haven't found in any other blend (Red Rapparee leans on the darker side) so far and is altogether of higher quality and sophistication.
I find it even more similar to Newminster 306 English Oriental which however is more complex and features an even higher amount of Orientals.
I prefer both of them to Red Rapparee, but it's nevertheless an outstanding Scottish blend that to me beats many others and is high up on the list whenever I'm in the mood for some Latakia and a good dose of Orientals.
Lastly, there's some distant resemblance to 965 (as others have mentioned) which however is stronger on the Latakia and has less Orientals and the nuttiness isn't even close to being so prominent.
Funnily enough, I have to agree with some here that I wasn't too impressed with my first bowl of this blend, but coming back to it later, it began to really open up to me.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 02, 2022 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Tabacco di ottima qualità ... Più un Balkan che una English Mixture. Predominanza degli Orientali sul Latakia. Dolce ed equilibrato somiglia vagamente al Dunhill Aperitif. Il Cavendish non si sente ( per fortuna) ... Sospetto che sia Cavendish di tipo inglese (Virginia pressati e trattati con vapore piuttosto che Burley sottoposto a casing). Sia per novizi che per esperti. Tabacco di qualità .
Pipe Used:
Ganci, Amorelli, Ser Jacopo, Foundation
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 27, 2019 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a very mellow one. Mellow at smell, at touch when you pick it, mellow smoke and a mellow roomnote. I am sure the Cavendish/Oriental play is essential here, and RR is absolutely the first tobacco I suggest when somebody wants to drive the Latakia road (other is Red Lion by Rattray’s).
It is a comfortable smoke, even for those less accustomed to EMs.
It is a comfortable smoke, even for those less accustomed to EMs.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 02, 2017 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
The name Red Rapparee suggests something adventurous and wild. However, in my case, a monocle-wearing baton carrying Englishman with a handlebar mustache in his late twenties popped out of the tin, and I offered him some bergamot tea. He has been talking about his uncle's ivory business overseas ever since.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 19, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Sweet with a little tang. Cannot puff heavily without a little discomfort, but very tasty all the way through. This and Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe are a favourite morning or mid-day oriental smoke.
Pipe Used:
Standard
PurchasedFrom:
Cupojoes
Age When Smoked:
3 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 14, 2014 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Strong |
Unfortunally the cavendish used caused me a great throat irritation. I would say is not reccomend for "sensible" throat. Nevertheless I would reccomend you to try it if you want to star an English Modern Mixture Journey.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 19, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I picked up a fairly aged tin of this at my local tobacconist. It was the only one in the store, it was bulging, and the sales guy said it had an inventory tag from the previous ownership. All good signs. 🙂 So, keep in mind this is an aged tin review, and I've never had it non-aged.
Wine-like, as others have said, is a good description. Some say latakia, I say no latakia. I understand why people would say that, though. The orientals in here are fairly smoky flavored, and, as a friend pointed out, latakia IS oriental/turkish, just prepared differently over smoke. I'd say the VAs dominate, but the Ors and the Cavendish definitely add a very smooth, sweet, and delicate finish to it all. This one is a winner in my book. Tin smell is a bit more smoky than the actual flavor is, but overall pretty accurate to the taste.
I'm also not sure what people are talking about with Perique. This blend has none, nor can I pick up anything close -- no stewed fruit or black pepperiness of Perique.
Also, if you're like me and don't like Cavendish, don't let that turn you off. I barely pick up on it, and it's used to smooth this blend, not give it a Cavendish taste.
Wine-like, as others have said, is a good description. Some say latakia, I say no latakia. I understand why people would say that, though. The orientals in here are fairly smoky flavored, and, as a friend pointed out, latakia IS oriental/turkish, just prepared differently over smoke. I'd say the VAs dominate, but the Ors and the Cavendish definitely add a very smooth, sweet, and delicate finish to it all. This one is a winner in my book. Tin smell is a bit more smoky than the actual flavor is, but overall pretty accurate to the taste.
I'm also not sure what people are talking about with Perique. This blend has none, nor can I pick up anything close -- no stewed fruit or black pepperiness of Perique.
Also, if you're like me and don't like Cavendish, don't let that turn you off. I barely pick up on it, and it's used to smooth this blend, not give it a Cavendish taste.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 22, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
This is one of the Rattray offerings that I do tend to like. It's a bit on the light side for my tastes and is not a regular in my rotation, but a worthy tobacco nonetheless.
The virginia and oriental interplay here is really well done and the result is true harmony. Nothing is overdone. If you concentrate, you can pick out the different leaves as the bowl progresses. But nothing hits you in the head and screams at you. I tend to like that in this blend.
For me, a little drying time has always been necessary to avoid a hot steamy smoke. My tins have always had a good seal and the factory moisture has always been intact. A good all day smoke if you are into the lighter side of tobacco. A nice occasional smoke for me.
The virginia and oriental interplay here is really well done and the result is true harmony. Nothing is overdone. If you concentrate, you can pick out the different leaves as the bowl progresses. But nothing hits you in the head and screams at you. I tend to like that in this blend.
For me, a little drying time has always been necessary to avoid a hot steamy smoke. My tins have always had a good seal and the factory moisture has always been intact. A good all day smoke if you are into the lighter side of tobacco. A nice occasional smoke for me.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 16, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is my first "English blend". One of the best burning tobaccos i've had so far.
...tastes a little soapy, moldy, oily, smoky. Almost like an old sweaty sock.
I guess i had to get used to the latakia in this blend. (on the backside of the tin, it says that it has a good amount of zypriotic latakia in it) is the latakia causing this soapy taste? But to my surprise i find myself smoking this blend all the time. There's something to it. It's very smooth, burns excellent, and once in a while a hint of cigar-flavour comes through, backed up with a subtle sweetness. Still, i don't know what to think about this soapy, smoky, oily taste, which comes through once in a while. I guess this is why some pipe-smokers do not like blends with latakia in it. Nonetheless a great blend. This tobacco tastes like a fancy oriental bazar. Meaning, that it's very flavourful...your taste buds wont be bored, that's for sure.
...tastes a little soapy, moldy, oily, smoky. Almost like an old sweaty sock.
I guess i had to get used to the latakia in this blend. (on the backside of the tin, it says that it has a good amount of zypriotic latakia in it) is the latakia causing this soapy taste? But to my surprise i find myself smoking this blend all the time. There's something to it. It's very smooth, burns excellent, and once in a while a hint of cigar-flavour comes through, backed up with a subtle sweetness. Still, i don't know what to think about this soapy, smoky, oily taste, which comes through once in a while. I guess this is why some pipe-smokers do not like blends with latakia in it. Nonetheless a great blend. This tobacco tastes like a fancy oriental bazar. Meaning, that it's very flavourful...your taste buds wont be bored, that's for sure.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 14, 2007 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A full-strength oriental/Virginia blend that, due to the red Virginias, can edge toward harshness but which nevertheless offers a satisfying smoking experience for the lover of oriental tobaccos. That's me: I do love orientals. And while I might be inclined to smoke a smoother blend (like Presbyterian Mixture, for example) more regularly, I am always going to keep a tin of Red Rapparee on hand.
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