Peterson Sherlock Holmes

Smells of apricot, but tastes of Earl Grey (tea and dark citrus) and a wooden desk. I agree with others who point out that it's a good “breakfast” smoke: feels like having a cup of tea while reading the morning papers, on the lookout for clues... or just solving the crossword. Then again, could also work great in an early afternoon, after a short work day.

The Earl Grey aftertaste is quite strong and nice, leaves a pleasant dryness on the tongue. The room note will make friends. As others has noted, does have a bite at first, but quickly disappears after a few minutes as the rest of the bowl dries from the heat.

Such an interesting blend! Easy to smoke without having to pay too much attention to it, in which case you get a constant, comforting mild Virginia sweetness. But when you have contemplative moments here and there, it rewards you with subtlety. Nothing too sophisticated, but enough to fit the popular fictional connotation of Sherlock Holmes. I think it's a great name for it.

Was looking for a lighter variation on my usual fare (spicy English), but nothing too shallow, and this was just perfect. If only it were cheaper! It's worth pointing out that the tin contains a condensed cake, so you actually get a bit more than you might think for the price.

Surprised by so much negativity in the reviews. Perhaps quality is inconsistent, or perhaps it's too “interesting” for folk with well-honed expectations. I guess it's not everybody's cup of tea (see what I did here?).

Firstly and nothing to do with the actual tobacco - the new tin design is terrible. There's not even a pic of Holmes on the purple label. The new design can be seen here - http://fujipub.com/elfumador/petersonsherlock.jpg.

It's somewhat moist when it comes out of the tin but I found that leaving a clump to dry for awhile before putting it in the bowl is the best thing to do. Straight from the tin it produced some bite but after drying it was a lovely smooth smoke.

The tin states that it is a virginia and burley blend but I didn't find the burley that noticeable. It does, as some have stated, have an apricot tinge to the flavour and on times it is rather creamy. It is an enjoyable smoke but I plan to leave my tin for a week or two and then try it again and come back to this review. My first impression is that it is pleasing and mild with a considerable nicotine hit but rather lacking in the flavor department. I will say though, that once dried a little, it does smoke very well and produces a nice crisp ash and left my pipe clean and fresh.

I've tried this again now that it's stood in the tin a few months and I still feel the same way about it but I do think that the creamy flavor favors oatmeal. In fact the only complaint I've got is that the new tin design is bland and boring but the smoke is anything but.

QUITE EXCELLENT.

My first review, and SH is a good one to start with, I am a fan of peterson tobaccos, being a Dublin man, is just coincidential. This is my main tobacco at the moment, it has grown to be my favourite over the past few months. I like aromatics and this is a good one, yes it is a mild aromatic, but stronger than many packet aro's. The apricot/ citrus and natural sweetness of virginia tobacco go very, very well together. Yes it is a bit damp in the tin, but i find this means it lasts well in a pouch or small sample tin I carry it about town in. Strong nicotine flavour, but still fruity and not too sweet. I little bit cigar in there too. I smoke it in a large Neerup straight (9mm filter), billard and a Big Ben straight silverline (9mm filter). It is usually my first smoke of the day. PS. I have found that filters can actually often help the taste of my aromatic tobaccos, ie reduces bite, moisture and harshness or bitterness of flavours. Most of the above has been mentioned in better more experienced reviews, to conclude a top quality, fruity, sweet virginia.

Tin note is grass citrus slightly sweet. Beautiful ribbon cut bright Virginia's. I think my tin was much older than when I purchased it last year. lots of brown staining on the inner holder. I was pleasantly surprised with this blend I usually am not a fan of aromatic blends. This one has extremely light toppings and I mostly taste tobacco with some peppery notes and a super light citrus flavor. Light nic hit. An all day smoke but burns a bit hot if puffed hard If gently puffed the burley keeps the Virginia's in check. Recommended for a light smoke.

After many bowls of this blend I am upgrading it to 4 stars Its a nice all day light smoke that is quite satisfying not overly complex but enough to be a regular smoke.

A delightful ribbon cut with a tangy fruit topping that's not over-powering, but the key, like most tobaccos, is to not puff too much. You want the tobacco and fire to do the work.

Opening the tin, the smoker is greeted with the Elizabethan collar that covers the uniformly ribbon cut that ranges in hues of orange to red. It's definitely a Virginia blend but the topping is hard to put my finger on.

Burns clean and smooth through the bowl with little trouble. Because of the fine nature of the ribbons, I have to pack a hair lighter as it was easy for me to pack too tightly; I prefer a ready rubbed tobacco.

Anyone who likes Virginia should put this on the list to try. My palate is not refined enough to notice the different nuisances in the tobaccos, but there is quality flavor the whole way down the bowl.

I believe this blend has burley in it because of the way my body reacts to it. Burley effects my system by making it think the tobacco is a lot stronger than it really is. I'm putting a strength of medium in the room because I think that more accurately describes its strength, but it's a powerhouse on my system.

I admit going in that I am a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle, Basil Rathbone, and Benedict Cumberbatch, and it was simply morbid curiosity that compelled me to try this tobacco. Tin popped, Peterson’s Sherlock Holmes rather reminds me of a cross between the long-gone John Player’s cigarettes and Orlik Golden Sliced, or maybe F&T’s Golden Mixture. In either case it’s in good company. The flue cured tobaccos seem to be mature and toasted rather than stoved or “fired”, then they are left to ferment. It looks like wet RYO in the tin, all yellow and gold, with a little mid-red/brown, and the initial tin note is almost wine-like, maybe berries over Seville oranges, over fermenting meadow grasses. It works fine for me straight from a fresh tin, if I don’t pack it too tight. It lights easily enough, and it burns fast, going quickly from fragrant meadow flowers and grasses to a mild, codger-ish version of fragrant meadow grasses over the course of a bowl, including some nuttiness, some citrus, also some bitterness and astringency, and more of this if it’s pushed. Though I’ve never gotten tongue bite from SH, I can tell it would do it if I rushed. Strength runs more mild than medium. Tastes run toward medium with long, slow pulls. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste is a quick fade out of the smoke.

While it can be reasonably argued that Holmes himself would have preferred something considerably stronger to tussle with, my own inner Sybarite simply enjoys this blend on its own merits, and I suspect I will blow through this tin in short order. Eponym aside, 4 stars.

This is severely underrated. I mean, ok, >2,5 stars still means technically "recommended", but this is easily a 3,5, if not 4 star tobacco! Why? I will tell you ;-): First: packs, lights and keeps lit easily. Can be smoked straight from the tin. Second: the taste is gentle and fulfilling at the same time and wonderfully balanced. The casing only enhances and sliiiightly sweetens the natural tobacco tastes and adds only the tiniest amount of (very pleasant) citrus notes. Third: the tobaccos are top notch quality leaves! (As with most Petersons). Fourth: this one really only bites if you're a fast puffer. If it bites you you may practice your puffing pace excellently with this tobacco. I had no tongue bite whatsoever.

Edit: Apart from my differing tongue-bite experience I couldn't agree more with - and therefore recommend you to read - the review of PC Plod from 2014-07-13.

I think the negative reviews are a result of Peterson's (typically) odd marketing choices. Why would you tag a famous British sleuth with a decidedly non-English blend? Anyhow, get past the odd marketing, and this is a hidden gem. Rewarding and relaxing with a girlfriend-approved room note. Can burn hot if not tended properly. As others have stated, not for the beginner: SH is a crucible for experienced palates. It's a lot harder to zero in on SH's subtle flavors than it is to smoke yet another obvious Latakia bomb (but nothing against Englishes!). Give SH a good, attentive sitdown, put on some relaxing tunes, and forget Peterson's odd marketing. I hope you are rewarded as I have been.

This tobacco, indeed, needs further thinking: the first tin was awful, and then I decided not to buy any more of this mixture…

But, months later, my tobacconist offered me little choice, and I decided to buy this one once again…

The next try was completely different: this tobacco, or so it seems to me, is of a premium quality: I do smoke it all day long, and it is a perfect companion to a breakfast… I have then stopped from buying Dunhill "Standard Mixture", which has been my breakfast tobacco for long.

Sherlock Holmes will then remain at the top of my rotation: this tobacco (not aromatic, in the sense we intend it today) is a great pleasure, anytime.