Sutliff Tobacco Company Match Holiday Mixture

This is an American-English aromatic that deserves all the good reviews it has received. I don't remember the original, which I smoked over 30 years ago, but this seems to be close and even better. It's probably due to the quality tobaccos used. The latakia is applied sparingly and the perique is very softly in the background. I enjoyed my small sample immensely and will order more. It is probably the best of the former drugstore blends I have tried and Sutliff has done a masterful job in replicating it. Bravo!

When I read people reviews concerning this blend I can understand stand where they come from good, bad or unsure what they even think, you know what? I get it awhile back ago I purchased this blend for the first time and I really had to think about it when I smoked it because at first I didn't understand it. Very different and it was not gross by far but I did not know what to make of it, especially because I'm way to young to of even had any opportunity to try the original even if I found the stuff it would be dust in the O.G. canister. So the one thing I noticed first was the unusual cut and blend and the odor was very neutral really nothing to it. I got 4oz. of it and I was like "oh boy" and then I smoked it and I was like "huh" this is different. It was a definite burley based blend and then I tasted the Virginia I did not taste the Cavendish but that doesn't mean anything and I kinda tasted the latakia but you know its there and the perique I knew that was there to, the perique is what had me thinking while I smoked it because it gave it a spicy note to it and the topping was just as light. As I kept on smoking I realized the flavors all married together and I thought to myself this is unique and really isn't that bad. A few bowls later I was able to understand the blend and allowed me to appreciate it. Holiday mixture is smooth but is robust and has some weight to it while you smoke it down. It is earthy but slightly sweet and you can taste the latakia but not in a campfire way. The burley and Virginia's are most definitely in harmony and I realize the Cavendish must help balance this all out and keep it smooth but not made to promote a taste of any kind, thats respectable with a master blender because that's a work of art and a skill to do that. The perique is there and gives the blend its spicy zing to it, if the perique was not in there this blend would be very boring and super bland, the topping and perique go hand in hand. The more you smoke this the more things pop out at you and you learn to appreciate, not that its bad at first because its not, there's just alot going on but it takes time to catch it and single it out and then when combined in as a one you get it and the blend takes on its own life that actually really good. I am glad I bought it because it is unique and very enjoyable. This will bite you easy if you smoke it to fast so take it easy and enjoy it because you wanna ponder on it anyway. I think a non aromatic smoker would like this so much better because of its complexity. I disagree with those who say its boring and there's not alot going on because there way off, this is a tricky one to blend and to have a selective tasting as you smoke it down. It does change in its character as you move down the bowl so that's cool and the nicotine level is moderate. It's best with a cup of coffee in the morning because to me and I mean to me its a morning blend but you could smoke it any time of the day or all day if it suits you in that way. As far as trying to break it down and pin what it taste like that would be hard because its not really like its description. I will joke around and say it taste like a sweet tree sap with a hint of table pepper and placed in a smoker with sugar and wood lol!!! Thats how this blend is, trying to put tastes to it would be difficult. I would recommend it because it is very good but most of all a very interesting smoke that keeps me coming back for more as I continue to figure it out. Go for it I don't think you would not like it and good luck to you with this one. One thumbs up!!!

Of all the American English blends I've tried I like this one the best.The tobaccos all play very well together and there is just enough flavoring added to get your mouth watering. It is that good. Burns slowly due to the cube cut. Never had the original but Sutliff has a masterpiece here as far as I'm concerned.

I love everything about this blend. The cut takes some getting used to as it is quite large and awkward similar to a rough crushed plug. It can be a pest to get steaming at times but once lit the flavor is very unique and satisfying to me and it seems to last longer than most blends as far as pipefulls are concerned. Pouch aroma reminds me more of an english than an aromatic, if you go by the description on the tin "The Aromatic Crowd Pleaser" aromatic smokers may be fooled. The only added flavourings i detect is that of the condiment tobaccos(perique and latakia) Good consistent taste from top to bottom and can easily be an all day puff as it has not bite whatsoever. I bought this solely for tin art and the good price which does not always pay off. This time I got a winner.

Just like most of these Match tobaccos that contain Latakia, it isn't done for anything but a slight condimental addition. As a matter of fact, out of my 2oz pouch, I think I spotted maybe a dozen chunks of black Latakia.

Pouch aroma is that of nutty burley, and a nice cocoa aroma. I do not smell any smokiness from the Latakia nor any sour/mustiness from the Perique.

Large chunks are a majority here, but they rub out very easily and pack without struggle.

This blend speaks to me. If fills the voids between my usual heavy English/Balkans and my sweet tooth aromatics.

Although I couldn't detect the Latakia and Perique in the pouch note, it comes through just enough in the smoke. Sweet, nutty, slight smokiness and a touch of sour. This blend is perfectly balanced and offers enough complexity to never get boring. Can burn a bit uneven if the large chunks aren't rubbed out prior to packing. Perfect moisture on arrival, ready for immediate smoking. Burns down to a dark gray ash, and never hints at biting.

I used to dog on Sutliff quite a bit, especially their aromatics. While I still do not enjoy any of their goopy PG soaked aros like Molto Dolce, this is an amazing blend.

I was a fan of the original Holiday mixture so I had to try Sutliff Holiday. It's been probably twenty years since I last smoked any (Lane version I'm sure) so I was looking forward to firing some up. Lo and behold, it taste exactly as I remembered! I was thrilled! Toasty, somewhat nutty, yeast like flavor I so loved. I detected the very light dark fruit flavor found in the original mixture. I believe the Sutliff is actually a bit better than Lanes. All in all a very pleasant smoke and a trip down memory lane for me.

I normally shy away from Aros but have been visiting the old OTC's lately. Holiday match is mild and pleasantly aromatic. I don't get much Latakia as the black cav and the burley seems to take center stage. The perique is there for a bit of spice. My order came moist and a bit of dry time was needed. This can smoke wet if not dried, but it's never bitter and doesn't bite. If your looking for a lite aromatic smoke give it a try as this is nothing fancy but it's a nice blend at a good price.

Smoke in peace. Lager

This blend has been around a long time. It was considered the king of drug store blends and was very popular during the 1940's and 1950's.

I began smoking the original Larus blend in the late 1950's.It was my favorite.

When pipe smoking became less popular larus went out of business and the Pinkerton Tobacco Company produced the blend although with lower quality tobaccos. Pinkerton discontinued production and sold the rights to Lane who finally dropped the blend likely due to poor quality control.

I bought bag of the new Altadis Holiday Mixture Match hoping it would be close to the original larus blend. Altadis nailed this one. The blend is very good and a true match.

This tobacco is to be smoked slowly. The flavor is delicious and the room note is refreshingly pleasant.

If you remember this blend or even if you haven't give it a try. I think you will enjoy it.

I purchased a bunch of Sutliff matches in summer 0f 2020 for a change of pace. For two of them I had smoked the original (Revelation, Flying Dutchman). Revelation was true to what I remember, but Flying Dutchman was similar in name only. Having never smoked the original Holiday I can only go by other reviewers who say it is pretty true to the original. What prompted me to try it again was a recent review of Holiday on this very site. It stated that Edgeworth RR was the basis for Holiday (according to what has been written before), and having being a fan of both ERR and Edgeworth Flake of old, I revisited Holiday with that information in mind.

I've always sought out the perfect cross-over (English/American) mixture with just the right amount of Latakia (not too much for me) while maintaining an overall tobacco taste. Holiday seems to do that quite well. I've been smoking it all week and am not tired of it at all. It smokes evenly with only one or two re-lights throughout. The Latakia along with the topping (Sutliff says marshmallow) imparts a very nice chocolate-like taste which maintains itself throughout the smoke, a nice burley presence and is reminiscent to me of Sam Gawith's Chocolate Flake. It does not smoke hot and without gurgle. Only a minium of dottle at the conclusion of the smoke. Prince Albert (original), another OTC fav of mine, will now have the company of another OTC brother in my stash of tobaccos. Highly recommended with 5 stars.