House of Windsor Country Doctor

I'm with Pipestud on this one. The tim aroma is absolutly wonderful. This is one that I have been smoking all day for the last 3 days. I belive this is one blend that I will always keep on hand.

**Update**. Still a very nice smoke, but it tends to run a little harsh at times and so is a little unpredictable. I'll keep some around, but for me, in the HOW line, Revelation gets the nod.

I can only echo what most of the previous reviewers have said and perhaps add a comment or two. I am smoking a pipe full of this tobacco as I write and all I can say is: it almost didn't happen.

After reading the reviews here I just had to try some of the HOW blends and CD was one of the first I tried. The first four bowls, tried in a couple of different briar pipes, just didn't work. I found it rough, smokey and minimally flavorful. Then I reread the reviews and noted that the first reviewer, in passing, commented on not overpacking the pipe. I've been smoking a cube cut simple burley tobac for years (Tinderbox Blend #2) and when I'm done it my pipe looks like it's been loaded with an industrial press. My idea of lighting said mixture is to not "touch the match", but to set it on fire. Ok, Ok, I know, some really bad habits there......

So I sat and carefully underpacked the fifth bowl, and lit it by just barely touching the match to it. WHOA!!!! As one reviewer said, "this is definitely your fathers tobacco". It has that wonderful old time pipe smell that comes from a burley blend that has a bit of mild topping and just the right amount of other leaves mixed to give it balanced and mild flavor. For me it smokes dry and cool. I take care with relights and make an effort to smoke it very slowly. Any regular burley smoker should try this. It's now in my regular rotation.

As a fan of Barking Dog and Union Leader, I felt I should locate some Country Doctor and have a go. I must say that HOW blends are not easy to come by in Canada, so I turned to an American agent for my purchases. Firstly, I love the packaging. I am not old enough to have experienced much of the tobacciana of yesteryear but when blends arrive wrapped in a foil pouch and campy box you can call me sold. Pouch aroma is lightly fruity with a hint of pungency, likely eminating from the odd strand of Perique contained within. There is a goodly amount of color present in the blend and the cut is rough and tumble. This is assuredly your father's tobacco. At lightup, initial flavor is somewhat muted but quickly morphs into a solid burley ride, with traces of virginia and perique. If there is latakia in this mix, I never tasted it. Nothing overtly wild occurs during the smoke, but the flavor is fine and spicy. I like to smoke this when fly fishing as it burns well and makes me nostalgic(did I mention the foil pouch?). Worth the search.

Obviously based on a rehydrated older tin; the Perique and VAs are pretty much faded away and the Burley nearly as much so, leaving the mild Latakia as the main note. Still well-balanced and easy to smoke, with the mildest of berry topping left. Unsurprising like a slightly faded version of the replacement CD blend (reviewed on that thread).

I got a generous sample of this from a friend - about 2 oz. I have been smoking through it.

This is a very pleasant burley forward blend with traces of latakia and perique in "salt and pepper" mode. They enhance the experience but you don't notice them if you are not looking for them. There are occasional bright Virginia notes and a mild fruit topping that I think is a berry of some sort. This could be a plum contribution of the perique, but I think it is a topping.

As the bowl progresses, the burley is more dominant, and I could believe there is a little DFK in there. There is a slight bitter toward the end of the bowl.

I like it, and I find it a very good smoke. It is not exciting or a flavor powerhouse, and it is not the sort of thing people rave about in one forum or another. In my rating system, a 3 is something that could be my regular smoke if options were limited. This is a solid 3, and it is one of those "all-day" smokes from a different era.

A nice blend, some latakia but not too much. I have about two more pipefuls left of this and will miss it (and Briggs) after it is gone, definitely one of the best HOW blends.

Mild, a good all day smoke. A lot of flavor without becoming harsh with constant smoking. Interesting notes as it lingers in the mouth. A bit pricey for me. Really good looking tin.

First bowl, smoked in a Stanwell Saturn

Pouch aroma: light fragrance, sweet, smelling vaguely of brown sugar and figs

Consistency: light and springy – do not overpack

1st puffs: very mild, no bite, sweet and rich

Smoke character: medium thickness, easy to keep lit, just a few tamps

2nd half: the nic kick is there, especially toward the bottom, but nowhere near as intense as Big n' Burley. The flavor strengthens, sweet burley, with some emerging muted spiciness and vague fruitiness. Very pleasant.

Aftertaste: Sweet, figgy and not at all unpleasant

Overall: A good, satisfying smoke. I have not tried Revelation or Union Leader yet, but this one is a keeper. Not regular rotation material, but nice to have on hand.

*Note: I smoked the Altadis match I got from pipesandcigars.com. I do not know how it really compares to the HoW version. Also, thank you to akaiser77 for the notes on Jean Hersholt.

Are you an aromatic smoker that's looking to get started with an English blend? This may be the tobacco for you. It's kinda a cross between the two. Has a nice friendly aroma but a little of the English taste too. Give it a try. Pretty darned good. You'll have to hunt pretty hard for the Latakia flavor but it's in there. If you can't find it, try blowing the smoke through your nose. Very Mild. I could smoke this all day long.