I bought a tin of Sherlock Holmes in, maybe October- November, last year. Didn't care for it at all. Thought there was no taste, couldn't get it to light properly and it bit me like crazy. Put it in a jar and left it there. One evening during the summer I thought I'd give it a try again. Totally loved it! I'm not a huge fan of aromatics, but this blend has a nice subtle sweetnes with some citrus. Just like you say Bradley, you need to sip it or it will bite you. Maybe my palette has changed or I have just learned more how to smoke a pipe properly?
Glad it turned out to be better! Would you recommend this for a beginner pipe smoker, do you think? I've been wanting to pick up a non overpowering or too strong of a tobacco but I see 50/50 negative + positive reviews on blends like early morning pipe, so I was thinking for going for this perhaps?
@@sash1226 Thank you for the question! Being a fairly new pipe smoker myself, I'm not sure if I am the correct person to ask. I would say it's definitely an aromatic smoke, and not strong, but still stronger than most other aromatics I've tried. I can't compare it with an English blend. It's not as overpowering as some aromatics tend to be. I would say that anyone who doesn't have a previous experience with pipesmoking could enjoy this and not find it to strong, but at the same time experience some taste. I should give it a try.
8 лет назад
Sherlock has been my first tobacco and still is my favourite.. U have to try it, when is rainy outside with strong, sweet black tea, milk and lil bit rum in it .. i guarantee amazing smoke ;)
My first tobacco too, really smooth, fantastic smoke. Apart from the rum (will add next time I get to the set of circumstances you just described) this was my weekend! cheers, happy piping!
Great review! I bought 2 tins of this at a clearout sale based on this review. The tins were 4-5 years old. The tin note was the smell of fresh orange along with a yeasty bready aroma and it was at the perfect moisture. You're right about the nuanced flavour. The first few bowls were so mild I wasn't sure I was "getting" this tobacco. Then I started to appreciate it for what it is, a well-crafted, simple, cool, "refreshing" smoke on a blistering hot day. It has a nic-kick to it but not overpowering. The room note is pleasant. But it does need to be smoked slow. Perhaps the age also mellowed this out. There's a bit of burley but otherwise the aftertaste is relatively mild. I can't believe this is a recipe from the 1880's because I imagine old school tobaccos would be harsher.
Excellent, great review Bradley. Congrats. I liked it very much. I love to see you tobacco reviews. You´re a great reviewer and a great commuinicator too. Thanks a lot.
Thank you for a magnificent review! I recently opened a tin of SH I had stored away 14 years ago and I have to say I genuinely enjoy it. I agree with your flavour assessment for the most part, except while the fruit smell is detectable in my tin, it barely translates to the taste. Also I would evaluate the taste and strength as medium. The tobacco needed drying even after all this time. Taste-wise for some reason it acted rather fussy and would not develop its charming degree of sweetness and complexity when not packed perfectly. Since I have never had a "fresh" tin of this stuff, these differences may be due to my perception, the age of the tobacco or both. While I still am unsure as to what it is, I can't help but feel like this blend is missing something in order for me to think of it as anything more than a lovely all-day smoke, and considering a new tin now is about 33% more expensive than it was back in the day, this just isn't a must-have tobacco for me.
blackbox this reply is a bit late , but if you haven't already done so ,why not try another tin , I smoked a tin of this about 12 years ago while experimenting with different blends , decided to retry , just finished another tin and enjoyed , it's still the same great taste .
Bradly, I just ordered 4 tins. I like straight VA's, and generally don't like aromatics, BUT, based on your recommendation, I thought I'd take the plunge. It sure is hot and muggy here in NE PA. Anyway, keep the reviews going. Leo
I also have a Tin of "Sherlock Holmes" and it reminds me a lot of "Capstan" Gold Navy Cut that has been rubbed out . The Capstan Flake cut does help to cool down the smoke and reduces potential tongue bite, which is the only complaint i would have about the Sherlock Holmes "cut". The blend tends to burn hotter than a Virginia Flake, which can be easily solved by pressing and drying it properly. The Burley in Sherlock Holmes is barely noticeable and compliments the added light flavouring. PS: I have to say, you are producing the highest quality Pipe tobacco reviews on RU-vid.com and i enjoy all your other content as well. Fuck the haters, plz dont stop making videos about all the different topics you are comfortable with. Gretings from Germany
Good review of a good blend. Im running out of Sherlock Holmes, but decided to buy Irish Oak as the next can, and I`ll keep switching between the two as i run out. Because I like them both a lot, but not enough to keep stock of each. To keep them interesting. If that makes sense. If I may, I recommend that you try Irish Oak also, if you already had`t , for a review, or just for enjoyment. It`s a interesting VaPer. Cheers!
Very nice... sounds like something I'd enjoy. I really like blends that toe the line (if there is such a thing) between aro and non-aro. If you want to explore more of this blend-space, I recommend Hearth & Home's Viprati blend. The tin and the website say it's a non-aro VaPer/Burley blend, but I definitely get some cocoa/hazelnut out of it. One of my favorites.
Hi Bradley, Excellent review as always. Would love to learn what you might think about Peterson's Irish oak blend, if I'm not the only one perhaps there will be a review in the future...? Take care and keep up the good work.
John Hall wrote: "Holmes remained faithful to his early love, the strongest possible tobacco, frequently asking Watson to arrange for vast quantities of 'shag' to be sent round. 'Shag' is a generic term for any rough-cut tobacco, but Holmes usually insists on the strongest available."
When I have a bowl I usually drink water, tea, coffee or a coke cola. I just shaved your review on one of FB pipe sites and one of our members informed me that Sherlock Holmes can stored nicely for few years before smoking.
I agree, this is one blend where the topping is paired well with the VAs. It really compliments the leaf flavor. I try and have a tin of it every year.
Excellent review. I always wondered why Peterson called this "Sherlock Holmes" when it's nothing like what he smoked in the stories. But I guess the fact that it is dating back to that time makes a bit more sense. I'm like you, not a big fan of heavily aromatic tobaccos, but based upon your review I'm going to have to try this sometime.
Great review I really like the aromatics, I'll have to try the Sherlock next I really like Peterson's connoisseurs choice but my local shop stopped selling it but they still have a few different Peterson's!
Have you tried it already? Just want to warn you, it's not as aromatic as you might think... Compared to Connoisseur's Choice it's actually bland :D Very, very subtle orange zest note. Of the Petersons I find Sunset Breeze and Gold Blend much more aromatic (just in case you can't make a decision - if you like Amaretto liquor pick Sunset Breeze, if you like Honey Vanilla Cookies pic Gold Blend)
Grillmeister Baconator Thank you, Yeah I got some Sherlock Holmes it tastes like mild university flake! I have tried sunset breeze it is nice but I don't like the almond note, the Irish cream is nice! Now for some reason I need to have an Oscar Mayor's bacon sandwich lol!
Good review. I never had this but I did try Peterson Hyde Park and I was pleasantly surprised. Another nice crossover blend that doesn't stray too far away from good tobacco flavor. I wonder if Peterson had that in mind with some of their blends like these and a few others.
Another good review, Bradley! I've had this in rotation for two years now and I'm stil having issues about whether I enjoy it or not. I'd love to know your take on University Flake, if possible.
Nice review, Bradley ! How about making a review on Bell's "Three nuns" ? It was quite a legendary Va/Per blend of it's time, but later manufacturers have decided to replace Perique with Kentucky :) regardless, this blend seems to have quite a solid fan camp around the world.
I think I mentioned in another comment that I had branched out and tried a couple of aromatics. Intentionally selecting pretty mildly flavored ones that had flavors that complement natural flavors. One is a burley with added vanilla flavor that was strong at first but also ver wet. When air dried for a day it gave up a lot of the excess vanilla. Another is a bulk blend from my local tobacconist with some kind of mild fruit flavor, burley based also, and with a spicy component; maybe perique.
Great review again! Keep up the good work (I've also been watching your Dark Souls series). If you're thinking of reviewing burley blends in the near future I suggest you try Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired.
All Right, Dear Mister Bradley, again a very informative and well done expert video, Thank you, I had thought of purchasing this very stuff, but was afraid it being too blad but obviously I was wrong,at least I must try this blend once again, perhaps I could find it has something in common with that famous Orlik Golden sliced tobacco-which I do like as well, despite of it tendency to bite sometimes,Have a Nice coming weekend and cheers from across the ocean to you,paul
Hey Bradley really enjoying your content, thank you for taking the time and effort in making these videos. My progress in this hobby has been helped out a lot from your videos. Anyway, thinking of trying some Davidoff tins.. if you get any would appreciate your opinion on them.
Greetings again from the UK! As per usual love the video, unsure if you've mentioned it before but could I ask what that pipe is you're smoking? Looks lovely! Again, keep up the good work and I look forward to your next videos!
Interesting review. If I can add to your list of tobaccos to try/review, please consider Sam Gawith's Kendal Cream. It's a VA-Bur that may be listed in some circles as an aromatic, but I don't find it so at all. Just purchased some in bulk and am enjoying it so far. Keep up the great work!
Just finished my tin of Sherlock which is an ok smoke but not at all what I was expecting. I always thought the master detective smoked strong black shag...? This seems more like the stuff Dr Watson might have used. But then it is something of a slow starter... by the time I was on the last bowl I was seriously thinking of reordering a tin... but didn't. Maybe it will appear in my next order... maybe.
Hi mate, your reviews are straight on point which is good.. I am new to the pipe smoking can you please name some tobaccos for beginners like me to try? Thanks..
Hi Bradley love your reviews great job m8...i m John or Giannis from Greece and i have a question for you i m a virginia lover straight not with perique....until now my favorite tobacco is capstan blue i like more the bready-tosty taste at a virginia and capstan blue is in this category do you have something similar or even better at this taste profile to suggest??????
I would be curious to hear your thoughts on Samuel Gawith's Grousemoor. It's a Lakeland aro that I feel works well with the Virginia, and it also has that refreshing feel to it on a hot summer day. I believe lemongrass is the topping on Grousemoor.
I'm with you, I'm not an Aro smoker at all. But I think that some of the Lakeland blends seem to do a better job of enhancing the tobacco flavor instead of trying to cover it up. I'm not a fan of the tin note of Grousemoor, but the taste is pretty nice.
Grousemoor, the No. #1 Love-or-Hate tobacco on the market :D Funny enough that the smoke is much more tonquin driven than the jasminey-lemongrassy tin note.
If it doesn't pack well in your pipe or if it tastes bitter while smoking, then it might be a bit dry... You can refresh it quite easily, look it up here on youtube Correction: dry not try
I have asked you this before, but isn't there some way I can get a full copy of your awesome intro song? I constantly re-watch your pipe reviews just so I can hear it but am always upset when it ends! if it's not for sale surely you could maybe email me a copy of the mp3 or something, I am a fan of that song and I'm subscribed to your awesome channel and have been for a long time, surely we could figure something out??
hi! is it normal that i cant get through the whole bowl with this tobacco? i bought it as my first tobacco and im kinda getting a little disapointed with the experience, because the first half of the bowl is amazing, but the second half is really agressive on my mouth, and when i swallow the saliva after puffing in it, i feel that strongness going down my esophagus, and it feels really bad... I am really sure i dont smoke it too hot, because the bowl is so cool i dont even have to do the "hold it against your face" test, and about the moisture content, i think it is a little wet, but not that much i think. As you made me get into pipe smoking, and i really trust your opinion on that same subject, i would like to have some help from you before i get totally frustrated and completly quit pipes
It's hard to say what's normal, as everyone is different. Smoke the bowl for as long as it's pleasurable for you to do so. Don't force it. With more experience, you may find different methods and different tobaccos that work better for you.
thanks :D i still am going to let the tobacco dry for a while in the tin, since i feel its a little too moist, and only then will i give it a try. im pretty sure it is that because um doing everything else right. thanks anyways and keep up the good content!!
lightningstudio100 tobacco is too wet, or your bowl is too small. Or your tamping too hard. Your definitely smoking too fast or hard in the second half if your having that experience
As Bradley notes in the review, it can be somewhat wet in the tin , so dry it before you pack it in your pipe. Take some out let it sit and air dry for 15 minutes and you should be fine.
Take out the amount that you'll be smoking and leave it out on a piece of paper or a paper towel. Check back every 15 minutes or so to see if it's at the moisture level you want.
Always hilarious to listen to pipe smokers who poopoo on aromatics claim that the one they actually like is a "crossover", an hybrid or not a REAL aromatic! Just like the huge gap there is between a light English and a Latakia bomb, there are light aromatics and heavy aros and this one is a light aromatic.
I just bought this and I like sweet things (and sweetness in my pipeblends), but this blend is just awful in so many ways! Burns horrible and the taste is just lacking...if you dont count hot tongue bite a flavor that is. (FYI, Im not an experienced pipesmoker but this is my humble opinion.)
Jarrod Wood TY for the advise.I have other virginias and they are nothing like this one, but I will try drying it out more before smoking it again, finding out ´the sweet spot :)
I've been aging a tin of this for 7 years, and it's terrible. There's a sickening fruit topping that tastes like dollarstore soapy fruitloops, made from budget ingredients. The bite is intense, unpleasant and unwelcome, it's a hot mess that makes me want to dump this bowl. F-, 1/10, just a fail
