House of Windsor Briggs

Since im back on burleys I bought a pouch of this. Another trip back to the old days! Has that 1930's and 1940's flair about it. This is what was smoked back in those days! This blend is at the other end of the spectrum compared to Model or Prince Albert. This is full bodied, rich, and quite strong! You want nicotine, walla! If you never smoked a pipe and you pick this up because it says when a feller needs a friend, well you'll have a few after smoking this because the room will be spinning! By no means am I saying this is a bad tobacco, it's just not for beginners. This is one serious burley. It's so damn expensive though! What in the world is H.O.W. doing? 10oz cans for $23.00 is a bit steep for these blends. It's good, but not that good. If I want a strong burley I'll go with H&H or Granger for $16.00 a can plus 4 more oz. For now I'll just stick with the Prince.

From first introducing itself to me as an occasional 'treat' blend, this has become one of my favourites. You might even say, my signature blend/brand of choice, though expensive for my budget. I'm a burley smoker, mostly, though I'll smoke English, and very rarely an aromatic. Briggs is aromatic enough for me, although really a burley with a subtle topping. It does tend to smoke hot if you don't keep it firmly tamped, but you won't find yourself having to re-light it every few seconds, if ever. (Have you ever observed that pipe smoking is sometimes less smoking, and more playing with matches?). My wife, who is rather fussy about room odours, always speaks well of Briggs. There was once a cartoonist (Clare Briggs) who drew a cartoon series that was the same as the motto on the Briggs tin: 'When a Feller Needs a Friend', and his signature at the bottoms of his cartoons bears a striking resemblance to the Briggs label. I wonder what the relationship to the tobacco and the cartoonist may be?

Burley fans unite and celebrate Briggs! This is a very well made blend that is unique amongst other burleys for its flavor, aroma and taste. Be advised that this is a MILD smoke, but one which will stand out from others if given attention. This is amongst my favorite tobaccos and is a fine example of House of Windsor's excellent work with burley. If you are enjoying a good book, a drink on the deck or simply taking a leisurly walk this is the tobacco to indulge in. Brigg's will always have a special place in my heart as it eased me through a stressful time with the birth of my first son a year ago. Someday when my boy is old enough I will share it with him. "When a feller needs a friend" couldn't be a better or more apt slogan for such a relaxing and pleasant smoke. The only minor complaint I have is it that it is a little dry for my preference out of the pack/tin. This, however, can be easily fixed. Buy some and remember I told you so!

09/30/2004:This one has a Burley character with the Virginia along for the ride. The flavor I detect here is one of an apple. I like the big chunks of tobacco in this blend. If you put the big pieces on the bottom when loading your pipe, the smoke will last a good long time. Did not notice any soapy or floral notes on this one. This tobac is made for a cob or a Dr. Grabow pipe while you're working in the shop or weeding the flower bed. Very good for these pursuits. This blend is nice and dry and ready to smoke. I bought the 2 oz. tin.

11/16/2006 Update: No longer smoke as there are any number of classier Burley blends available. If you are curious as to what Grandpa's drugstore blend of the 1950's tasted like give it a try.

A very overlooked burley blend. Its such a good price for what you get. It is mild to me.

**Update**I admit to a fascination with the old blends. I recently scored a full tin of Briggs from back when Lorillard still made it. The original is admittedly similar to the HOW blend but the flavor is more definite and robust. More in line, regarding strength, with Union Leader. An easy uncomplicated smoke with no bite or drama. In contrast the HOW effort is very understated and one had to actually search for the flavor. The original blend's side stream and room note is closer to Crooner than anything I've found. Original review follows:

After smoking increasingly strong tobacco I had a need for something mild. I dug out my HOW can of Briggs, filled an old briar and gave it another whirl. It had dried out considerably and that made the difference: it smokes better when dry. This is the mildest tobacco I've smoked, it burns as cool as anything I've ever tried and there were no "burley bitters". The flavor is that of straight up burley and the smallest hint of a mild topping (which in the can reminds one of raisins). In my middle years I've become a minimalist and this fills the bill. Like one of the earlier reviewers I find this enjoyable as the first pipe of the day with coffee. Recommended for burley lovers who are looking for something simple and minimally flavored.

Don't believe the hype: Briggs is an excellent burley blend. It is also one of the HOW's best pipe tobaccos. A big seller between the 1930s and 1950s, Briggs was famous for both its slogan ("When a Feller Needs a Friend") and its boast of aging for four years in "oaken casks--extra long for extra flavor." If you like burley, you'll love Briggs.

One reviewer here compares it to Edgeworth Ready Rubbed. This is an apt comparison, but I find Briggs a more satisfying and flavorful smoke overall. Both share a largely burley composition, with a dash of Virginia white flake added. Briggs has a slightly sweeter taste, and the tobacco used herein is unassailable in its quality. I find it ideal as an all-day companion: cool-smoking, mild, and delicious.

If you are interested in exploring the pleasures of burley tobacco, and looking for something more than the bitter dreck of Prince Albert or Carter Hall, then Briggs is a superb place to start. Three stars for this oft-overlooked American classic.

Being light as air can have its own flair;

Possessing finesse, a grace, "there" but in no particular place.

Coming to flavor and taste, and Briggs is such a case,

Briggs might be too ethereal to fling far enough from your lair.

The cut makes packing, lighting and smoking Briggs as easy as riding a bike: no problems, nothing complicated, nothing spectacular, but rather nice. The tobacco in the tin has, to me, kind of a tutti-fruiti scent, but that did not translate into the taste of the tobacco. Its a nice smoke; I enjoyed it. I would smoke it again after this tin is gone. The moisture content was just right upon opening the tin; I had no trouble with gurgle or wet heal.