Iwan Ries Dr. Bradley

This is a wonderful and unique smoking mixture. I am writing this review looking at easily 50 or more different pipe tobaccos in my collection, and nothing is remotely like Dr. Bradley (unless you count the use of latakia, which we will get to).

The cut is a nice chunky ribbon cut with a base of burley with VA's. As the description notes, it has latakia, perique, and oriental's, and you can see, smell, and taste each one. The pouch aroma offers the odor of latakia and oriental, with something extra. The perique is present if you know what to look for, and then there is that casing/topping aroma. Some people call it berry, but if it is berry it is more of a plum or prune essence, and nothing like a berry aromatic ala Devils' Holiday or the like. IRC is very accurate in their description where they state that this does not smoke or taste like an aromatic. While the tobacco components come through in the smoking experience, the somewhat sweet, nondescript aroma does not translate to a particular flavor other than as acting as an adhesive that blends and rounds the individual component tobaccos into a cohesive whole.

The cut packs easily and lights and burns fantastically. As a matter of fact, its easy, cool burning characteristics are one of this mixture's highlights. The burley offers an easy, cool burning base and it is super easy to smoke with little fussing. Anyone who alleges that this is goopy or hard to light or keep lit is simply wrong. I always dry out my tobacco before I smoke it (although the pouch humidity was not high to begin with) but this is truly one of the easiest to tend mixtures that you will ever smoke, guaranteed. Most tobacco should be still springy but dry to the touch before smoking, so just let this sit for 5 minutes or so and it will be perfect, and you will have no problems.

In addition to the super easygoing burn characteristics, it tastes great and offers no unpleasant surprises. This is a very middle of the road blend in the sense that it is not overly strong or mild, and while it is not packed with flavor, the flavor that it offers is rich and delicious, just not overwhelming. The burley and latakia offer a wonderful base, and the perique and orientals are truly present as flavoring agents without being too forward. The whole flavor profile is very well rounded and cohesive, with rich medium flavor and mild(er) strength with no tongue bite. The flavor is consistent throughout the bowl but does deepen somewhat toward the end. It burns faster than average, must likely due to the burley base, and overall presents a very easy to work with all day smoke.

This is a very "american" tasting mixture, and in my estimation is essential as part of a tobacco collection. Many pipe smokers work hard, and in my opinion wrongly, to smoke and appreciate only one or two types of tobaccos. If you do so you are missing out on a lot of wonderful smoking experiences. Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I love most of what Sam Gawith offers. This is nothing like any of them. This is nothing like a Danish style aromatic, and even though it contains latakia and orientals it is really nothing like a true English or Balkan blend. It is its own, quintessentially American style from the first half of last century, and as such it is a blessing to still have it available and as such a quality product. I have tried a host of these old style blends, including an original tin of Holiday Mixture from the 60's or earlier, and this is the best overall in my opinion. It has the best flavor profile and burn characteristics, and is very affordable to boot! Give yourself a treat and get some, and share an experience with your grandfather and great grandfather.

update: I wanted to add a note that about keeping this tobacco fresh. It is great but loses a lot if you let it dry out. I had it stored in a very cool name-brand humidor which unfortunately did not hold the moisture as well as it should, and this has lost most of its charm. Totally my fault but keep it in airtight glass to avoid my experience.