At first i felt some tong bite, it surely is stronger than Clan, the one i was smoking before.

After a few bowls, i guess its taste came at last, having i got into the correct timing of puffing. The taste is somewhat sweet, and liquorish. I got myself a new pipe, a cheap one, to try out some of the many tricks around pipe smoking: I cleaned my new cheap pipe with a portuguese liquor called "Licor Beirão". I pulled a nice and sweet flavor out of it. I've enjoyed it in several contexts, either by the riverside, or at home with some coffee, reading a book, it truly is a pleasant tobacco. It leaves a pleasant room note, quite woman friendly indeed, as mentioned before by others.

I'll buy some more packs in the future for sure.

The tin-note is of nuts, leather, and creamy caramel giving a sugestion of heavy topping. The cut is a shred or broad ribbon and only sligtly moist giving the impression of a fast burning blend. Both Impressions were false.

The pipe fills well but is a devil to light and keep lit. Once lit it is a cool, smooth, fairly slow burning smoke with just the right amount of sweetness and a clean tobacco taste coming through afterward. it scarcely bites even when drawn on hard and is a full smoke to the end of the bowl.

The room note is of light tobacco and slight cream.

The irritation of lighting and the frequent tamping needed for a long smoke can be removed by filling the top of the pipe with something bland and inoffensive (I use Clan); which kindles well and gets the pipe burning fiercely. It then smokes evenly with little re-lighting needed.

A very fine blend with just a hint of topping on a quality tobacco tasting cavandish base. It is also very good value for money at about £5.25 for 25g. A must for those looking for a wife-friendly smoke.

The tobacco itself just in the pouch has a very nice aroma to it, very sweet. I found that it was quite dry in the pouch, although a lot of people have said it has a much better taste if you leave it to dry for a month or so I was smoking straight out of the pouch. It was quite strong smelling and there wasn't too much flavour (In my opinion). I smoked two bowls and they both smelt very strongly of just general cigarette tobacco. The smoke itself was very smooth, it was easy to get lit and stayed lit which was very good. Some people have said about issues with tongue bite, when I was smoking the blend I could feel a tingling on my tongue, but I had no issues with tongue bite, some people may be more inclined to get tongue bite from this so be warned. Although I wasn't a huge fan of this blend, I think I will buy it again for when I go walking or camping.

(Incidentally I used to like Zephyr, which, along with Clan and Holland House were the main three Dutch blends on tobacconists' shelves in times past. If anyone knows how I can get hold of some Zephyr without leaving the UK, please get in touch! Have tried in vain.)

HH is a much classier tobacco than the lamentable Clan. It’s an aromatic, but a civilised and restrained one. The flavour is full and natural: one doesn’t get the kind of chemical, artificial impression that so many aromatics give. I think the previous reviewer captures its qualities nicely: leather, scotch, honey, liquorice. I'm not completely sure about the liquorice; but there’s nothing bizarre or overstated here, and the flavour of the tobacco is not swamped or distorted by the casing. HH is a fine-cut and dryish tobacco that can be loaded into the pipe without any preparation or fuss. As such, it lights and burns easily, though the down side of this (in my experience) is that it burns away quickly and tends to be rather a hot smoke. It's not ferociously hot, but 'slow-burning' is rather an optimistic description of it. It will dry out quickly, also. It’s fairly strong in terms of nicotine content – surprisingly so, actually - and has a pleasant and natural-seeming room note.

Not being a lover of aromatics, I can’t say that I positively like Holland House, but I can see its virtues – especially as a tobacco for the newcomer to the pipe. It needs to be smoked carefully and with restraint, though, or it’ll bite your tongue. Recommended, then – with a few reservations, but recommended nonetheless. To say the least of it, Holland House is a country mile ahead of Clan. I think it’s fair to say that it succeeds in being what Clan tries to be. If you like Clan, you’ll like Holland House more.

The blend is dominated by Virginia. It also contains dark Burley, dark fired Kentucky and a touch of Oriental. The tobacco is medium to dark brown in appearance. It is a fine ribbon cut, almost tending towards shag cut. It lights and burns very easily.

The pouch smell is divine. Leather, leather and more leather! Add a fine single malt scotch, a touch of honey and a hint of liquorice and you are done. This is not a sweet, confectionary type of aromatic. One doesn't think of food when smelling this. It has a delicious, masculine aroma!

In the beginning I experienced quite a tang after lighting up. At first I thought it was tongue bite in the making but then realized that it was simply the Virginia's zest  like that of a good salsa. The leather, scotch, honey and liquorice prevent this zest from ever becoming too sharp. This tobacco is flavourful and provides a lovely full mouthfeel. It is no lightweight in the strength department either. Simply a wonderful smoke! It has never hurt my mouth any more than, say, the aforementioned salsa, although I suspect it will bite when overpuffed.

The room note is lovely but not in the same way as, say, a vanilla or cherry aromatic. I recently asked a lady friend, just after I had lit up, what she smelled. She closed her eyes and let her head drop back as a gesture of enjoyment and said, "Wood. Exotic wood." I still smell leather and scotch and honey and liquorice, but I guess exotic wood is good too!