Rattray's: Old Gowrie (4) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

Rattray's "4" design is a low-slung bent Brandy, featuring a firm base and muscular proportions throughout. Shape-wise, it's reminiscent of the classic Diplomat, but opts for a round shank rather than one with an oval cross section. The "4" does well to retain the classic form of the Brandy shape, displaying a beautiful taper from the bowl's broad base up toward the gently beveled rim. The plump proportions are pleasing in hand while the saddle stem further accentuates the bowl's heartiness and terminates in a gentle downturn to allow for a comfortable, hands-free smoking posture.

Named after one of the Scottish marque's most popular tobaccos, Rattray's Old Gowrie series consists of 12 classic shapes finished in a dark-stained, light-depth sandblast. The designs are the same ones found in the Marlin line, offering six shapes that are more slender and filterless, while the other six are slightly stouter and designed to accommodate 9mm filters. Old Gowrie was one of Charles Rattray's favorite blends, the company's founder having named the mixture after an ancient province in Scotland just a few kilometers north of Perth. Designs within this series are modeled after old Rattray's shapes that were produced for Charles by renowned British pipe makers which he would sell in his shop and to international customers via his catalog. The finish and texture of the Old Gowrie line readily evokes comparisons to the dark, peaty soil of the Scottish Highlands and is a fitting homage to the historic company's early days.