Rattray's Marlin Flake Pipe Tobacco

Rattray's VA blends are quickly becoming some of my favorites. The three I've had the pleasure to smoke, HoTW, OG, and now this MF is smooth as a baby's butt. They are all similar but different enough to keep it interesting. Upon opening the tin I'm greeted with a familiar scent of figs, raisins, some slight fruitiness mixed with hay, grass, and some earth. Delightful. I love the flakes sliced up with dark brown, black, light brown, and a bit of yellow ribbons all pressed together. Easy to rub out or just stuff in your pipe. I prefer to have this one rubbed out and allow for just a bit of dry time (30m-1h). Lights easy and will take a few relights to keep it going with some light tamping. The smoke is soft and flavorful. To me, this is somewhere between HoTW (my favorite VA tobacco of all time) and OG. There aren't as many bread, toast, and tangy flavors as HoTW, but those flavors are present with the dark fruit sweetness. It's not as spicy and strong as OG, in my opinion, but there is some spice with hints of grass and earth. It's an enjoyable smoke that is better sipped than puffed on hard. It can get some acrid flavors if pushed too hard, but I didn't notice any biting. An enjoyable flavorful journey. I do enjoy it more than OG and just a notch below HoTW. Great stuff!! Pipe Used: Cob & Billard Age When Smoked: 6 months aged

Similar/same blend as Davidoff Flake Medallions, but much higher quality. Great take on the classic VaPer.

A sweeter version with less nicotine than Hal O the Wynd. A good tobacco that burns nicely.

Nice belts of tasty, all-day-smokeable tobacco!

I was contacted as soon as it arrived, and was sent the really wonderful tobacco with speed. What else can I say, all good.

Rattray's VA blends are quickly becoming some of my favorites. The three I've had the pleasure to smoke, HoTW, OG, and now this MF is smooth as a baby's butt. They are all similar but different enough to keep it interesting. Upon opening the tin I'm greeted with a familiar scent of figs, raisins, some slight fruitiness mixed with hay, grass, and some earth. Delightful. I love the flakes sliced up with dark brown, black, light brown, and a few yellow ribbons all pressed together. Easy to rub out or just stuff in your pipe. I prefer to have this one rubbed out and allow for just a bit of dry time (30m-1h). Lights easy and will take a few relights to keep it going with some light tamping. The smoke is soft and flavorful. To me, this is somewhere between HoTW (my favorite VA tobacco of all time) and OG. There aren't as many bread, toast, and tangy flavors as HoTW, but those flavors are present with the dark fruit sweetness. It's not as spicy and strong as OG, in my opinion, but there is some spice with hints of grass and earth. It's an enjoyable smoke that is better sipped than puffed on hard. It can get some acrid flavors if pushed too hard, but I didn't notice any biting. An enjoyable flavorful journey. I do enjoy it more than OG and just a notch below HoTW. Great stuff!!

Needs a few minutes dry time..then a rich smooth smoke.

The last Rattray's tobacco I smoked before this was made in Scotland. I've always been upset about all the fine English tobaccos being blended in Denmark and Germany but I like this new Marlin Flake, nice tobacco.

Different for sure and hard to keep lit but smoke ok when left standing for later smoke...not certain as a long term use.