Holland House Holland House Aromatic

I had wanted to try this tobacco for years and just never got round to it. In fact I am sure I remember this stuff OTC in England in the 70's and 80's, alongside Clan, St Bruno and Erinmore.

Indeed another reviewer said something similar, although they could have been from the US, where as we all know going to a supermarket store must be like going into a sweet shop for us poor British, who have to order from the internet, or find that rarity ; a tobacconist when in a big city.

This is a pretty ordinary blend, has no real taste as such, and certainly isn't like the old crap we get in British supermarkets (all hidden behind metal shutters) like mellow Virginia or the godawful Condor.

Yes, this is friendly enough, reasonably easy to pack, doesn't need drying out and stays lit mostly. It just doesn't taste of anything. Reminds me of some of Peterson's tasteless offerings.

Inoffensive pouch aroma, inoffensive room note. All inoffensive really.

If you could still buy this at the supermarket I'd buy it, sure I would. But if they had Cravens I'd think twice.

Holland House is a sort of cousin to Clan (qv), with the same Dutch pedigree: both are (or were) made by the same company, Theodorus Niemeyer. If memory serves, they both came onto the UK market at about the same time - in the mid-1960s. I imagine that they were both aimed at the same sort of customer: the young pipe-smoker who wanted something a little new and trendy and different from what the old timers were smoking.

HH is a much classier tobacco than the lamentable Clan. It's an aromatic, but a civilised and restrained one. The flavour is full and natural: one doesn't get the kind of chemical, artificial impression that so many aromatics give. I think the previous reviewer captures its qualities nicely: leather, scotch, honey, liquorice. I'm not completely sure about the liquorice; but there's nothing bizarre or overstated here, and the flavour of the tobacco is not swamped or distorted by the casing. HH is a fine-cut and dryish tobacco that can be loaded into the pipe without any preparation or fuss. As such, it lights and burns easily, though the down side of this (in my experience) is that it burns away quickly and tends to be rather a hot smoke. It's not ferociously hot, but 'slow-burning' is rather an optimistic description of it. It will dry out quickly, also. It's fairly strong in terms of nicotine content – surprisingly so, actually - and has a pleasant and natural-seeming room note.

Not being a lover of aromatics, I can't say that I positively like Holland House, but I can see its virtues – especially as a tobacco for the newcomer to the pipe. It needs to be smoked carefully and with restraint, though, or it'll bite your tongue. Recommended, then – with a few reservations, but recommended nonetheless. To say the least of it, Holland House is a country mile ahead of Clan. I think it's fair to say that it succeeds in being what Clan tries to be. If you like Clan, you'll like Holland House more.

Reminds me of Troost Special Cavendsh. Depending on who is reading, that could be a good or a bad thing. Im not a huge fan of Dutch Cavendishes with the exception of Sail Yellow (which this is nothing like) To me this was just another aromatic blend that was neither overwhelming nor underwhelming, i doubt id buy it again.

I've just found some notes I made when I smoked this 15 years ago. I've not had it again since so can't have been that impressed. Still, these have reminded me of it a bit so I'll share my thoughts.

The tobacco was provided as a rubbed out thick sliced pressed tobacco, in fairly large pieces like broken flake. It smelt similar to Clan, and had a smoother character, although slightly less sweet. The chunky cut made for slower burning, although a little more effort to light.

I am in no way disappointed with this blend, just somewhat underwhelmed.

This tobacco has nearly no prevalent pouch note. I personally get a distinct rum taste from it. Nothing else at all. The room note is pure and not offensive at all. Tastes very much like burley.

A real surprise, this tobacco burns perfectly. Not hot at all and would for the life of it not go out. It packs conveniently lights just as well.

If I weren't such an aromatic fan, I would definitely make this an all day, light 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.

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.