House of Windsor Field & Stream

I've been looking to try this tobacco for a long time, given that it is no longer available. Alas, House of Windsor is no more. I remember my father and grandfather smoking this when I was a child. I finally happened upon a lone 12 oz. tub of F&S in a tobacco store in Salem, MA and bought it immediately! Upon opening, I caught the distinct aroma of woods and flowers and noted that the tobacco itself was in rectangular chunks. Unusual. So I rubbed it out well and put it in my Bjarne pipe.

WOW! I was instantly transported back to riding with my family to New Hampshire with my dad smoking this in his bowl! There is a preliminary blast of floral sweetness that some have interpreted as "perfumy" but that soon settles down to a most unusual and original smoke. The secret to enjoying this mostly burley blend is rubbing it out well and smoking slowly. I do have a "match" from Altadis but its really no match. The room note gets compliments every time.

Try this if you can find it. And if you find it, please let me know if they have another tub/pouch/tin. I'll be looking for more!

My first two-ounce tin of F&S was bequeathed to me as a holiday gift from a professional acquaintence a few years back when I had first started pipe-smoking. I was so excited to open the tin up (having never had a tin before, only cheap mall tobacconist pouches full of shredded tinder). Immediately, the aroma wafted from the tin and enchanted me. I can't catagorize the aroma definitively, but I certainly would not characterize it as "old lady perfume" or "soap". I think "floral" is more accurate. However one chooses to describe it, I found it heavenly. I'm sure that smoking F&S, back when my only concern was not enduring the embarassment of having the pipe go out, I burned my mouth, esophagus, and had the kind of tongue bite that only a bear trap can deliver. Despite the pain, that delicious aroma kept me wanting more. But a years-long haitus from smoking ensued, and those memories are lost.

I am now a far more experienced and patient man. And this is key. About the time I chose to re-enter the life of bowl and stem, I was on my way to my father's boat for a canyon fishing trip (60 miles off the NJ shore). I passed Greentree Tobacco in Washington Township (a wonderful place for pipe-smokers in South Jersey) and eagerly picked up another two-ounce tin of F&S, and a Corncob pipe (I wasn't about to lose one of my two briars overboard). That was a about 6 weeks ago, and I am just about finished the tin. Here are my thoughts:

I love this blend. My enjoyment of pipe smoking comes less from nuanced tastes than from the overall sensory experience of smoking, and it is this holistic view that lends itself to really enjoying F&S. As noted throughout the reviews, the tin art is wonderful. Just fall into the scene and everything will be okay in this world. Every time I open the tin, from the first opening to just this evening when only a couple pipes-full of tobacco are left, I am greeted by an aroma I wish I could bottle. Closing my eyes and inhaling the heavenly vapors, I am transported to a wild-flower laden field next to a gurgling stream. I'm in heaven. I look into the tin and find hearty chunks of tobacco, colored as if I just splashed my warm mug of coffee with a touch of cream, and the carmel and darker brown colors are mingling together. I reach in and feel the satisfying texture betwixt my fingers, and watch it fill my bowl. The light releases the aroma, and I sit, relax, and just enjoy the sight of the curling smoke licking at the currents of air on my back deck, the smell of the smoke, and the feel of a comfortable pipe in my hand and my mouth. The complete sensory experience. Is there anything better?

Some notes on smoking F&S:

Experiment! After packing light and heavy and everywhere in between, I find filling to the top, tamping down lightly to 3/4 full, then overfilling and tamping down to full is best. Using a heavy hand on the tamper never gave me good results. After lighting, I make judicial use of the tamper, making sure that the tobacco doesn't expand too much as it burns down the bowl.

Experiment with pipes as well. I've had the best smokes of my life with F&S in my Missouri Meerschaum. Something about the briars that keeps F&S from burning well for me.

While I do get bitten now and again, everything about the smoking experience with F&S keeps me wanting to learn how to smoke it better.

One week ago, I would have rated the strength as Mild, but three days ago, after puffing away in a particularly determined manner, my head swam for an hour.

I'm a poor judge of room note, since I always smoke outside. I base my 'pleasant' response on the fact that I love catching whiffs of the smoke in my nose, and that my wife, who hates that I smoke at all, said, in reponse to the 'room note query', "I don't want to encourage you, so I'm not going to say anything." Certainly sounds like she likes it, but doesn't want to admit it, for fear that mouth cancer is sure to follow.

In sum, I highly recommend this blend to anyone who hasn't tried it. I don't recommend it because you are guaranteed to like it, but you certainly owe it to yourself to experience this unique blend. Some hate it, some love it. Try it, and work with it, and see where you fall. As for me, I'll be looking out for a ten-ounce tin next.

I decided to give a free sample of F&S a try, after reading that President Gerald Ford was a fan of this. The aroma is pleasant, the strength is nearly overwhelming after a full bowl, and it?s best smoked in the car or wherever else pipes are tolerated. F&S doesn?t have a luxurious flavor but it?s entertaining.

Ok, so this review may be a bit biased. I have to admit to loving this tobacco since childhood...No I didn't smoke it..I remember seeing the ads in Field and Stream, Sports Afield, and Outdoor life, and thinking wow....that looks cool, a man's smoke. I have wanted to try Field and stream since then. And after taking up the pipe again after a 15 year hiatus, was pleased to see that HOW brought this old time classic back. (When I smoked before in the late eighties, F&S was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND), Well got my 2oz sampler on Monday and since then have smoked three bowls. WOW, it is so nice in life when our expectations and hopes match reality....I love this baccy, the licorice flavor is right up my alley, I love the fact that this burns so dry and cool and the flavor lasts through the bowl. I can see where this would not be for everyone, but for me...its my new favorite.

I'm surprised that I seem to be in the minority here, I really enjoy this blend. I'm an full english lover and was wonderfully surprised by this blend. It has wonderful licorice/marshmallo tin aroma and room note. It is a very even and consistant blend,burns nicely and evenly, never harsh, no bite. Very enjoyable and a great price as a bonus. I made another call to House of Windsor (those guys are great to speak with and enjoy talking about their lines) and found out some trivia about this blend. President Gerald Ford and Attorney General John Mitchell smoked this blend. I also get lots of compliments from family members who enjoy the room note. Last but not least, I also enjoy the art work on the tin. I suggest giving it a try, I don't think you will be let down

Field & Stream may be my second favorite HOW blend, with Mapleton being no. 1. This is a powerful aromatic that makes no apologies. It has that room-filling old fashioned pipe smoke aroma which convinced many of us to take up the hobby in the first place. The aroma and taste are, I believe, dominated by licorice and perhaps maple and/or other natural flavorings. I find the flavor and aroma ro be absolutely delectable. The cut is a typical and traditional small burley cube cut that cannot be packed too tight and is easy to fill your pipe with. I keep a tub of this blend around at all times. The charring light releases a slight Gawith & Hoggarth soapy note, but this disappears completely upon the second lighting of your pipe. The one floral note released here is nothing compared to those blends produced in the Lake District of England. What I find most attractive about this blend (and Bourbon Street, for that matter) is that it has substantial strength and body; it is not one of those light aromatics that are all flavorings and aromatic agents that burn off quickly so that one if left with nothing but hot steam after a short while. I find this blend quite satisfying. I give Field & Stream a grade of "A-".

This is a plesent tobacco. I have smoked many House of Windsor blends, but for me, this one I could turn to again and again without getting bored. On first light, it has a pronounced aromatic flavor. Not sweet, but cool, and fresh. Soon after you begin, the blend settles into a full rich tobacco flavor that continually supprises you with a hint of the aromatic. President Ford found this to be his favorite blend. Not the most accomplished president, but he knew his tobacco!