Rattray’s Old Gowrie – Product Review

Old Gowrie by Rattray’s is a beautifully dark-sweet and slightly spicy pipe tobacco. When you first open the tin you are greeted with a lovely smell of dark molasses, hay and the scent of simply quality tobacco. Old Gowrie is a little moist with a new tin, but I never found this to be a problem. It does leave a bit of moisture behind so a little air drying may be useful and I have found that it seems to be a little sweeter as it dries out.

This is a Virginia/Perique blend although the perique in this case is a condiment and certainly does not overpower the Virginia and Kentucky tobacco. there is a slight peppery taste and sensation on the tongue with compliments the sweetness very well indeed.

The sweetness of the Virginia is darker than say the Mac Baren no. 1. Rattray’s old Gowrie is more like a molasses taste and even has a lovely sweet ‘bready’ flavour with that backdrop of perique spice. Filling and lighting this tobacco is no problem at all. I found it needed a few relights fresh from the tin due to the moisture content, but this was not a problem and this improves with a little drying time and burns beautifully down to a white ash

Rattray’s Old Gowrie does seem to have a higher nicotine content than something like Mac Baren’s Virginia, but it not too strong to have as an all day smoke. It makes for a great first pipe of the morning with coffee.

If you are a VaPer (Virginia/Perique) smoker then definitely try this wonderful tobacco. Even if you prefer straight Virginia’s, as I do, you will find Old Gowrie to be very satisfying and the perique to be a subtle background note.