Holland House Holland House Aromatic

My boss is a huge fan of this tobacco and its his everyday smoke, after some cajoling he got me to try a pack. I was very pleasantly surprised.

The tin-note is of nuts, leather, and creamy caramel giving a sugestion of heavy topping. The cut is a shred or broad ribbon and only sligtly moist giving the impression of a fast burning blend. Both Impressions were false.

The pipe fills well but is a devil to light and keep lit. Once lit it is a cool, smooth, fairly slow burning smoke with just the right amount of sweetness and a clean tobacco taste coming through afterward. it scarcely bites even when drawn on hard and is a full smoke to the end of the bowl.

The room note is of light tobacco and slight cream.

The irritation of lighting and the frequent tamping needed for a long smoke can be removed by filling the top of the pipe with something bland and inoffensive (I use Clan); which kindles well and gets the pipe burning fiercely. It then smokes evenly with little re-lighting needed.

A very fine blend with just a hint of topping on a quality tobacco tasting cavandish base. It is also very good value for money at about £5.25 for 25g. A must for those looking for a wife-friendly smoke.

2* (Black Cavendish version, Highly Recommended 4*)

This is another pipe tobacco that I have tried in the later 90's. A dutch version of heavily cased cavendish types. I would compare it with Captain Black Royal. Good but not worth a regular puff. Try it only if u are into heavy aromatix.

Thirty years ago this was OTC alongside Clan and Zephyr, and similarly packaged. I didn't like Clan, so never tried the other two, assuming they would be similar. Well, Holland House is nothing like Clan. And in its modern form it's no longer a ribbon cut (was it ever?) but has the appearance of a well-broken flake. It's a light aromatic, with every suggestion there's decent tobacco underlying.

I had a 25g pouch jarred for over a year: it was fairly dry, and for me it burned warm (not hot) at a medium rate, no bite, no pepperiness, and with just enough nicotine to notice it's there. One curious thing - the after smell from only a single bowl lingers much longer than normal, and may not be entirely agreeable to all.

I used to really enjoy this blend when I first started smoking a pipe but over the years my tastes have matured and I dont really think it is anything special now. Pleasant packaging - looks very continental european. Pretty mild pouch aroma with no discernable unique flavour- simple ribbon cut . Straight forward packing . I find this does better in a large bowl - the extra air allows for smooth burning although it can sometimes burn hot . Pleasant room note . Taste is best around the mid point- I get a nice caramel flavour. Little complexity but not an unpleasant smoke . Probably a good tobacco to start smoking pipes with but this wont make my regular rotation . A definate 2 star blend.

This was my first time smoking a pipe and so I think a lot of this is to do with how I smoked it ect.

The tobacco itself just in the pouch has a very nice aroma to it, very sweet. I found that it was quite dry in the pouch, although a lot of people have said it has a much better taste if you leave it to dry for a month or so I was smoking straight out of the pouch. It was quite strong smelling and there wasn't too much flavour (In my opinion). I smoked two bowls and they both smelt very strongly of just general cigarette tobacco. The smoke itself was very smooth, it was easy to get lit and stayed lit which was very good. Some people have said about issues with tongue bite, when I was smoking the blend I could feel a tingling on my tongue, but I had no issues with tongue bite, some people may be more inclined to get tongue bite from this so be warned. Although I wasn't a huge fan of this blend, I think I will buy it again for when I go walking or camping.

i first tried this blend over 20 years ago.......on visiting my local tobacconist (one of the few remaining in scotland) i saw this tobacco an though i would give it another try. on opening the pouch the tobacco smelt much as i remember it, very little "artificial" flavouring, just a wonderful aromatic sweet and nutty smell. Easy to pack into the pipe and very easy to keep alight. The first bowlful however was a bit of a letdown.....the first few puffs and i tasted that wonderful, almost nutty flavour, but after that the tobacco burned very hot and bitter. On subsequent bowls, and i have now finished the pouch,i employed a less hurried rate of smoking, the taste of the tobacco was there right through the smoke, nutty and full of flavour. i must admit that like other reviewers of this tobacco, i have to agree it packs a fairly high punch in the nicotine stakes..! Overall a very enjoyable smoke with a wonderful natural aromatic room note, worth trying if you can find some......good Dutch style tobacco.....now made in Denmark...!!