Hearth & Home Victorian Stroll

Quirky medium English blend with a very fitting name---flavors coming and going like new terrain appearing over the horizon on a brisk walk. A little rough around the edges at times, but this comes and goes; definitely something new and unique here and well worth a try.

This is a pleasant blend that has a great interplay between VAs and Latakia. It's not too overbearing nor does it trash the palatte. I dig it.

Hearth & Home - Victorian Stroll (Signature Series).

I've smoked a fair few Hearth & Home blends, and there seems to be a common issue: moisture. Quite a high proportion have arrived too dry, which is a shame as they're clearly well crafted blends. I think the tins are far too roomy, making plenty of room for air to decrease the moisture of the weed.

The flavour from V.S. meets perfectly with my expectations from the description on the tin: smooth, and milder than most blends of this genre. What separates this from the overly piquant English's is the Latakia, as it isn't too formidable, but is fairly mild in flavour. The Turkish gives a touch of sourness, with a very slight floral note, and the Virginia forms the foundations of the smoke, with a sweet/bready flavour. A personal objection is the aftertaste, I think it just doesn't suit my body chemistry, so I won't hold that against it!

I quite like the room-note, and find the nicotine about medium.

It's a shame about the moisture, otherwise this would get a very good rating. As it is though, I think it still deserves three stars.

Recommended.

Sitting outside tonight with some liquid in a glass and on old Peterson Second. It is packed with H&H Victorian Stroll. I just grabbed into my mystery bin and this tin came out. Very light English blend. The key to this is in the packing. Small flakes for the most part leave to overpaying and young bite. Take your time here a roll it into the pipe from the palm. You will get a much better fill, no gurgle and if smoked slowly no tounge bite. Main complaint of this is the moisture and young bite. If you do get a gurgling put a cleaner in the stem to draw it out. It lites very quick, a short tamp and you are off and running. Smell is very light and as an English it is undefined. No kick or punch. Just a very mild smoke. At 2.49 an ounce it is a cheap gem. My tin is about 2 years old from my markings. Currently still smoking it for a little over an hour. Ash is dark black. Not grey. Taste is very mild more Va than anything. In all a good taste.

I'm new to TOBACCOREVIEWS.COM and this is my first review. After many "fallow" years, I've been enjoying an almost-daily return to pipe smoking. (I'm a singer- songwriter by trade, so I have to abstain sometimes to protect the gig!) I'm having almost as much fun climbing the learning-curve about pipes-and-tobaccos as I am the actual smoking! A very pleasant part of this early reacquaintance with all this is few very cordial email exchanges with Victorian Stroll's blender: Russ Ouellette. He recommended VS for a friend who seemed to be having some allergy problems that would only crop up with latakia ... no problems with cigars at all. With Russ's kind assistance, we sorted it all out and my friend is, again, enjoying his pipe. I was enough of a newbie that I didn't quite know about Syrian/Cyprian, etc. (The tin notes two types of latakia within.) Anyway, Victorian Stroll has grown on me a great deal ... my most enjoyable time with it has been the occasional coffee-and-pipe for breakfast. As others have noted, this would be a stellar choice for the aromatic smoker looking to dip a toe into the "English"/latakia pool. In future reviews I'll try to stick to the actual reviewing and I expect I'll get better at this as time goes on. But I wanted my inaugural review to note that this fine tobacco seems to be blended by a fine fellow. And I think that sort of thing still counts and enhances the whole experience. A little like a tableside chat with the chef who prepared your great meal.

I've smoked about 4oz of this blend in several different shaped pipes and found it to be excellent in all. The initial light gives a strong hint of latikia, but as the bowl progresses the other tobaccos blend in. The VA and the turkish is noticed most from about mid bowl to the end. From this point on, the Latikia is truly a good condiment to the flavor. The only problem I have had with this blend is an inability to finish the last part of the bowl. No matter what pipe brand or shape, I always have a small amount of unburned dottle left. It is not overly moist, I just can't seem to get it to burn. Other than that, this is an excellent all day smoke IMHO. I will definitely keep this on hand

Appearance: Mostly reddish color ribbon cut, with some traces of not quite rubbed out flake. Some darker and lighter colors evident. Ribbons are varied length, neither too long nor too short.

Aroma: Definitely an English blend. Mostly Virginia with small amounts of Oriental and Latakia (Cyprian)

Packing: Packs easily into any size bowl.

Lighting: When aired out a bit, lights easily for me. Otherwise, just a little slow to get going. Since I like my tobacco drier than some, it may be just right for others.

Initial flavor: Just as promised by the aroma, this is a classic ?lighter? English blend. Not a ?mild? blend by any means, there is considerable depth of flavor contributed by the Virginias. A medium bodied smoke with moderate condimental leaf.

Mid-bowl: Nice interplay between the Virginia sweetness and the slightly smoky and spicy additions.

Finish: Like many bulk tobaccos, there seems to be some PG present. As a result, I have to relight several times at the bottom. Otherwise, the flavor holds well all the way down.

Summary: A very pleasant English blend, possibly an all-day smoker for many. For me, not enough Oriental leaf to become my favorite.

Reminds me of S.G.'s Squadron Leader which is one of my all-round favorite blends that use Latakia. A quality product that smokes nicely once lit. No bitterness detected. Good for those who prefer a complex blend that goes a little easier on the Latakia.