Peterson Sherlock Holmes

The jar note is reminiscent of opening up the tobacco barn doors on a foggy autumn morning but with a little something extra; is that grapefruit I detect? The aroma of Earl Grey tea comes to mind briefly.The moisture of the blend is a little high for my liking but I suspect it’s nothing a little more aging couldn’t remedy. The cut of the blend seems varied, not quite a ribbon but larger than a flake. It packs quite well and after the initial char light, burns very evenly, requiring minimal re-lighting. Surprising given the moisture content. The fruity grapefruit note from the jar is present on the palate in the first draw but is quickly replaced by an earthy, organic flavor on the back of the tongue. There’s nothing too sweet in this bowl, that much is quickly evident. Fifteen minutes into the bowl it’s clear that this blend is best enjoyed in small sips. (As is often the case in pipe smoking) I find if I’m not careful to pace myself I get a slight bite from the blend, as it seems to burn a little hotter than the aromatics I’m accustomed to. This fact brings me to the room note of the bowl. It isn’t altogether unpleasant, yet my non-smoking friends are quick to notice I’ve changed blends. The aroma is tolerable and even nice, yet not as inviting as other blends I favor. Nearly an hour into my smoke the bowl has burned down to the dregs but I have experienced none of the gurgling or swampy residue that is common in most aromatic blends. I have had to re-light my bowl only twice and the tobacco has burned evenly to a fine, nearly completely dry ash. The grapefruit note is noticeable on my palate as well as a hint of something sweeter mingled with the pleasant earthy tone mentioned before. While far from my favorite blend, I would have to rate this smoke an overall enjoyable experience. I don’t think I would rate it suitable for all day smoking, but it is certainly a nice change for a once in a while smoke. In my humble opinion it is a much better blend than it is given credit for.

Now, as is well known, Sherlock Holmes himself favoured a well-used clay churchwarden in which, according to Watson, he smoked an "evil dark shag" that he kept in an old Persian slipper. As you do.

Peterson's "Sherlock Holmes" is about as far as you can get from an evil dark shag. As the blend description says, it's a blend that's mostly light Virginia with some Burley added in then topped with something clearly related to fruit.

On opening the tin the smell of the topping wafts out, the smell of the tobacco itself being pretty much overwhelmed. I'm not sure what the topping is, sometimes I think there's cherry in it, or maybe blackberries, or perhaps plum.. The tobacco itself is a pretty standard ribbon cut with a few bigger bits of leaf every so often. The moisture level is pretty much smokable straight from the tin, and if you want to dry it to a crisp that doesn't take very long.

Me, I prefer it with a little moisture still present.

Smoking it, the initial taste is a mix of a good quality mild to medium VaBur with the topping clearly there but no longer overwhelming the tobacco. As the bowl progresses the topping recedes pretty quickly, then is present in just enough quantity to add something to the leaf rather than dominate. Similar to how the plum in University Flake adds something without being too forward.

It's a pleasant enough tobacco, though I can see it could bite if puffed vigorously or drawn on too hard. Slow and gentle is the way to treat this blend.

It would make a good, uncomplicated all-day tobacco I think, in fact that's how I've been treating it. The nicotine level is enough to let you know it's there, but quite mild by British/Irish pipe tobacco standards.

Overall, a gently pleasant blend without much in the way of complexity, just good quality leaf and a topping that adds a little interest and works very well without taking things into the realm of "American-style" aromatics.

This was the 2d tobacco that I bought and - I'll admit it - it's because I'm a huge Sherlock Holmes (the Doyle canon, the Jeremy Brett Grenada series as well as Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch & Martin Freeman) fan. The taste is "gentlemanly": mild, civilised, an all-around pleasant smoke that would tip it's top hat (no NOT a deerstalker!) & apologise if it caused any bite. A lovely golden colour that's packed tight in the tin which also makes it easier to pack in your bowl. I found that having a little loose bit on top as tinder helps a lot to get it and keep it lit.

A pleasant floral bouquet of oranges, burnt digestive biscuits (in a nice sense) and a hint of english tea. A quality, steady mild aromatic.

More of a Dr Watson than a Mr Holmes IMO...

Still, as I say, smoke what 'YOU' enjoy.. Not what others say you should.



**i was talking utter shite. This abortion of a blend is worth fuck all. Burns hot, tastes like a cup of English tea. What's the point? If Holmes smoked this in fantasy land, then well, he obviously loved it up the wrong un***

Nice blend with some good qualities.

Tin Note: Interesting and/or Complex - The Virginia is there, but the added fruit flavoring really pulled me in. It was a nice balance and quite interesting to me.

Pack/Light: Standard - It could just be the tin I picked up, but it came out quite moist and almost sticky. Surprisingly, it packs and lights okay and I haven't had much trouble.

Taste: Compliments to the Chef - The added fruit flavoring is a really nice choice and the result is a great tasting Virginia. It's noticeable but not overpowering. Pleasant to say the least.

Mouth Feel: Smooth - No bite and easy smoke. I enjoyed it without any worries.

Room Note: No Complaints - I found it slightly better than a straight Virginia, but not enough to really stand out. It's not bad, but not good either.

Overall: Good, but not Great - I enjoy it enough to keep it in the rotation for now. I like the flavor they added and it makes it interesting enough to really savor the smoke and pick through it. I think the moisture content can become an issue over time as it starts to gum up the bowl, but it's manageable.

I tried this tobacco years ago when my pipe smoking was in its infancy. I recall it burned like a camp fire! Now I am an experienced pipe smoker I came back to this tobacco and I was pleasantly surprised. Firstly, if you smoke like a steam locomotive at speed this will whip your tongue. I smoked this much more slowly, sipping and easing off deep bouts on the inward draw. Secondly, this tobacco is mainly fine virginian, which is a forward taste on initial light. I was surprised by the mild delicacy of the taste . A citrus type taste, but sweet, which must be down to the virginian mixture. There is definitely burley, sitting at the back, providing that typical nutty cocoa taste from time to time. There is something else too - a sort of mild rose like taste, and I cannot pin it down in terms of whether or not something else has been added to the blend. Taking this slow it was, to my surprise, quite enjoyable. However, I ponder on the marketing of this tobacco as "Sherlock Holmes". Whilst it is an old school blend of that time, I would imagine the first Consulting Detective, fictional that he is, would probably smoke more of a London darker leaf, perhaps with s oriental / Turkish variety of leaf perhaps? But that is just my imaginative conjecture of course. The tobacco is ribbon cut, sort of fine flake, the tin aroma is stronger - fruity, than the actual taste, which is distinctly milder. IMHO the tobacco is a fine one, but it is not a complex taste. Due to it's mildness I think many would expect something quite different due to its name, with high expectations thwarted. If you eliminate the naming of the tobacco I think it would help the mindset when smoking this.

In conclusion then, it's a pleasent enough blend, but nothing really stands out as remarkable, just amiable really, an all day smoke. Room note is not offensive due to the mildness. I have this in my rotation and smoke it occasionally. I do not think though I will be going out of my way to seek it out, as it is for me, somewhat two dimensional tobacco. I suggest this tobacco would be enjoyed by more experienced pipe smoker. I would not recommend this as a tobacco for those trying pipe smoking for the first time.

I shied away from this because of some of the negative reviews, but I kept noticing it next to some of the more prestigious blends at City Tobacco and I said the heck with it and bought some. I’m glad I did. Most of the pipe tobacco that I smoke is what I would call “big tobacco” with big tobacco flavor, complexity and nicotine strength that would overwhelm a new smoker. The description says there’s burley in it, but it’s very mild as the Virginias are forward and the citrus flavoring is mild as well. Not much nicotine to get the head spinning on an empty stomach either. This is a good first thing in the morning pipe tobacco and an all day smoke as I didn’t get any palate fatigue after several bowls. This isn’t Peterson’s best or their worst either. Be wary of the negative reviews as I’ve smoked a lot over many years and have tried some of the “premier” blends out there and this is a good quality, mild smoke that doesn’t bite or get hot and would be, in my humble opinion, a good smoke for a beginner to put on their regular rotation.

Love the tin note on thos one. Fruity in a general sense w a bit of floral wafts coming out. It is def lightly cased, but done very respectful of the tobacco.

The color of the weed is fantastic. A light mahogany and tan, long ribbon cut.

Comes a tad moist for my liking and not the easiest to pack. But a small amount of tearing a pinch or 2 help with that.

Takes a flame well and relatively easy to keep lit.

The tin note is almost exactly the same as the flavor. Behind the floral/citrus smell there is some quality Va and so.e burley. The VA is light w grassy hay like qualitys ends the jury's counter this nicely w their earthyness. It's almost an all day smoke but I never buy it often even though I rate it a solid 3 possibly 3.5 life is short why settle for 3 star smome when there are always 4 star options that are easily acquired.

Buy some and I bet you will not regret it.

Cosa dire di questo storico tabacco? E’ un tesoro per chi ama il Virginia aromatizzato. Chi ha vissuto anche solo come fumatore passivo la pipa negli anni 70, 80 non può non farsi venire alla mente questi profumi che lo Sherlock Holmes rimanda.

Alla apertura della latta appare un tabacco ben pressato con un omogeneo e ottimamente tagliato ribbon, i colori sono stupendi dal rame a fili cremisi che punteggiano il sottofondo usuale del biondo Virginia.

Il tabacco ha una umidità ciò perfetta per essere subito fumato, comunque preferisco aprire un po’ il ribbon e farlo ossigenare una mezz’oretta prima di caricare la pipa. L’accessione è immediata. I primi puff sono sapidi ed al contempo dolci con aromi erbacei, di spezie. La persistenza è prolungata e rimane fresca. Lo spettro di sapori e aromi è affascinante. Ogni puff è una rivelazione delicata, che lascia dietro di sé un retrogusto persistente che è sia soddisfacente che rinfrescante. Il Burley, ottimamente integrato, dona corpo e profondità alla fumata.

Proseguendo la fumata, questa si fa cremosa per la combustione degli zuccheri naturali del Virginia. Il tabacco è ottimamente lavorato tanto che la pipa, lasciata lì, fa fatica a spegnersi. Questa miscela, dai molti tratti positivi ha un incommensurabile difetto strutturale va fumata più che lentamente, se si forza ecco che la lingua urlerà diventando come quella di un bue muschiato.

Per poi essere veramente apprezzata consiglio radice molto stagionate, anzi fumata in morta. Lo sherlock Holmes non è un tabacco per neofiti, è un tabacco da chi conosce bene il fumo della pipa, sa cadenzare lil ritmo di fumata. qui ci vuole il termine: meditazione. Un davvero buon tabacco sempre che si apprezzino gli aromatizzati.

EDIT - Se fatto ossigenare il tabacco perde l'aromatizzazione segnalata; diventa un ottimo Virginia con un dolce sottofondo, un poco più dolce del virginia classico, temperato dal Burley

Concludendo 4 stelle su 5

Pipe utilizzate