Murray Sons & Co, Ltd Parsons' Pleasure

50g round tin.

Tin aroma:Mildly earthy,almost no aromatic properties whatsoever other than natural tobacco,,,could be roll up tobacco almost.

Appearance:Medium tan brown overall(tan/brown/dark equal mix)thin short cut ribbons,perfect moisture level.

Pipe:An unknown brand nylon system pipe made in france(http://www.smokingmetal.co.uk/pipe.php?page=332),with a 3mm draught smoke tube(amplifies lighter virginias)and a stinger on the mouthpeice which tightens the draw again to concentrate taste and create a slower backdraught(keeps the burn slower and cooler).

Ignition:Using matches(gas lighters can melt nylon stem pipes if drawing too hard!)I basically got a basic no-nonsence,unsweetened,natural virginia,yet naturally sweet.

For nearest comparisons it tasted generally between a non-aged 'Peterson-Irish Oak'(although this tastes like a good aged mild virginia),'Samuel Gawith-Best Brown Flake','Players-Navy Cut'flake...Sweeter than the last.. It lights quite easy i might add and stays lit.

It had a slight woody tang factor ala red virginia,or like 'Peterson-Sherlock Holmes' minus the blueberry aromatic properties.

Initially i couldn't say i was blown away with a new undiscovered novelty here;-but this is the outcome of having tried quite a few archetypes now,that things start tasting between already discovered pillars of taste,tastes that are between other brands of simular construction that i am already familier.That said though,i can say that it makes an ok candidate for when i am in the mood for something like it.

Just revisiting the jar here 2 weeks later for a smoke as i type is proving a better impression because i havent smoked any other stronger pipes before hand to spoil my taste.

On the first light its slightly winey/apple cider-ish,then settles into a darker mid pencil wood-ish,yeasty,toasty white bread virginia.

Smooth as butter but not buttery - more of a sunflower spread factor or unsalted green olives - starchy like new sweet potato's /potato mash.

This might be too plain for some people,but i myself like these 'grey area' tobacco's actually..Like the current pouch 'Three Nuns' and certain old english blends - its a very mid 20th century smoke..I like their atmosphere,i get a simular feeling smoking these as when discoving an old newspaper under the floorboards from 1928 or something,its nice to have some black and white to get away from the technicolour sometimes.

A light easy cruise of a smoke,it swings (in my mouth),cool but a fastish burner(may suit a larger capacity bowl).

Gently breezy,no soap and no bite,slightly like old english brand cigarettes like 'Parkdrive','Woodbines','Capstan Full Strength' minus the typical cigarettish salt peter stale ammoniac piss factor.

Post pipe aftertaste is ok - like a feeling of having eaten some golden un-salted potato crisps,(or maybe peanuts).

Quality baccy and well behaved,smokes down to a fine white ash.Light-Medium nicotine strength.Mild buttery toasty ,woody room note.

This has grown on me in the fortnight i have had this beyond my first underwealmed impressions;it suits this dark rainy moonlight night as a quiet comfort(i like plain baccies on rainy dreary days),,this melts in the mouth like creamy mashed potato.

I'm going to give it 3 stars for cheering me up and feel i would purchase again.Its the lighter non-latakia brother of 'PunchBowle' as well i am sure,it tastes like a familier friend anyway;an english with no latakia or oriental,yet it tastes english in its way.

I was (believe it or not) introduced to this blend in 1966 by the then Bishop of Oxford, Dr Carpenter. The room note was absolutely wonderful, and it was that more than anything else that made me want to try it. It was one of those all- day-every-day smokes (like Capstan, Player's Medium Navy Cut, Gold Block, Broken Scotch Cake, etc., etc.) that is so mild and undemanding that you can smoke it all the time without noticing you're doing it. All right, but ... meh; pleasant, but unexciting. I bought one tin of it and didn't bother after that. Fribourg & Treyer's Golden Mixture is probably the closest you can come to it these days; or, in the UK, Peterson's Sherlock Holmes.

Worth a try, in the unlikely event that you come across a tin.

A nice cool Virginia blend in English fashion, a good all day smoke as it didnt blow my mind nor did it disappoint neither. I wouldnt consider this a tin to pop on Christmas eve, but certainly sufficient for any other occasion.

One of a trio, the lightest of the group which includes Barney's and Punchbowle. This is mostly light leaf with some reddish-orange flashes. The aroma is delicate, with just a bit of spiciness, no Latakia deectable. Lighs easily, burns well, but can get hot if not smoked s l o w l y. Mild, delicate taste, for me , needs more oomph.

This is a pleasant blend - very english in characteristics - sweetish but a natural sweetness - a very pleasant light smoke - not quite up there with the great english tobaccos but pretty close.