Old Gowrie Old Gowrie is Virginian tobacco, prepared in an old-time manner either as a broken flake, or rubbed out for those who favour a finer cut. In the latter form, the various shades of the rich leaf are shown to particular advantage. Its essential charm is its coolness and tranquillizing properties. It has found it way all over the world wherever Englishmen go. It is their vade mecum.