The Great Detective and His Pipes
-
Kevin Godbee - Oct 1, 2011
- 6 min read
By Russ Ouellette
The time is the mid-1880s and the location is London, England, specifically a second-floor room at 221B Baker Street. The room is rather dark, and there is only one figure in residence at the moment. He’s a tall, slender man with a receding hairline wearing a well-worn dressing gown. He sits quietly in intense rumination, obviously concentrating on something which puzzles him. A thick wreath of blue-white smoke surrounds his head and blankets the rest of the room. Of course, the object of this observation is none other than the world’s only professional consulting detective, the redoubtable Sherlock Holmes.
Certainly Holmes is one of the most iconic characters in crime fiction, as is evidenced by his amazing popularity after more than 100 years since his creation. No literary creation has been featured in films, television programs, radio serials, spoofs and pastiches more than Holmes. His creator was a not-very-successful physician named Arthur Conan Doyle, who aspired to be a writer, and submitted his manuscript for "A Study in Scarlet", which wound up being published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual. The story evoked a groundswell of interest, so much so that Holmes wound up as a regular feature in the Strand magazine.
Doyle, while not being the greatest serial writer when it came to continuity, had a remarkable ability to flesh out his characters and to make them feel like real people. He gave his creatures human flaws, quirky habits and proclivities, and backstories that intrigued and involved the reader. One of the ways he did so was through the characters’ use of tobacco. This was a sensible thing to do as the use of tobacco in its many forms was quite popular at the time, along with the fact that peoples’ choices regarding their favorite pipes, tobaccos, cigars, etc. are very personal and reveal much about the individual.
Holmes was an enthusiastic tobacco user. In the various stories and novels, the readers would read about his pipes and tobaccos, cigars, cigarettes and even snuff. In particular, Holmes pipe tobacco preference seems to be an odd one; he was known to smoke a black shag, which generally indicates a lower quality tobacco, as that’s what most shag tobaccos of his time were. But, in a way, it makes sense, too. Since he always smoked while contemplating a problem, it would seem that a stimulating smoke would be the way to go, and a common thread among cheaper pipe blends at the time was that they usually had a fairly decent nicotine content.
He routinely would smoke cigars in a more social setting, like after a dinner at a restaurant with Watson. Cigarettes were reserved for those times when he was full of nervous energy, or, in one special situation when he chain-smoked them so he could drop ash on the floor in front of a wall which covered a hidden passageway so he would know if someone had entered or left, as they would disturb the ashes.
Although I can’t recall any snuff use, it’s known that Holmes was given a bejeweled snuff box by a well-heeled client upon the successful completion of a case.
Speaking of Watson (Dr. John H. Watson, Holmes friend, fellow adventurer and biographer), he enjoyed his pipe often, and would join Holmes for the occasional cigar. Watson’s tastes ran to the less powerful Arcadia Mixture (with its fluffy, white ash), or, at times, what is referred to as "ship’s tobacco. I couldn’t find any direct information on it, it may be similar to Schipper’s Speciaal, a ribbon-cut mixture of Virginia, Burley and dark-fired Kentucky, made in the Dutch style. It would have been stronger than Arcadia, but not as heavy as the black shag.
Holmes not only partook of the noble weed, but he was an expert of sorts about tobacco. He wasn’t into the blending or making of tobaccos, but he wrote a monograph in which he described how to identify 140 different tobaccos by examining the ash. In one story, he was able to get closer to the solution of a case by being able to identify an Indian trichinopoly cigar from a butt and its ash. Holmes also noted that a pipe was one of a person’s most intimate possessions and that one might infer a great deal about the individual by careful examination of his/her pipe.
Holmes would have been what I call a "habitual" pipe smoker, rather than a "hobbyist". Most of you who are reading this would fall into my definition of a hobbyist; that is- someone who usually has a number of pipes, might even be a collector, and rarely smokes the same tobacco for an extended period of time. The hobbyist also likes to be well-informed about his/her pipes and tobaccos. The habitual smoker will have a relatively small number of pipes, rarely does maintenance on them, and smokes the same one or two blends all the time. In a nod to our politically correct times, the modernized BBC version of Holmes, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, partaking of … nicotine patches.
In the stories and novels, Holmes had three pipes- a clay, a briar and a cherrywood. His clay, a typical churchwarden style, was smoked often enough that it had colored until black. Watson referred to it as his "disreputable" clay, which he smoked when he was in a "disputatious" or argumentative mood. Little was said about his briar other than to be described as "oily", and next to no information was given about his cherrywood. This collection would seem to make sense considering that Holmes kept his tobacco in the toe of a Persian slipper.
So the obvious question that one might ask would be "What about the calabash?" Nowhere in any of the 60 Holmes pieces that Doyle wrote was there a mention of a calabash. How did Holmes become associated with the large gourd and meerschaum pipe? Because of William Gillette, an American actor who portrayed Holmes on the stage in the early 1900s. Gillette (who built the famous Gillette Castle in Connecticut) wanted a pipe that was easily visible to the audience, but with a deep, pronounced bend that wouldn’t block the audience’s view of his face, and would keep the smoke out of his eyes. With a proverbial wink and nod, if you got a view of the mantel at 221B in any of the 1980s Granada TV series Holmes stories, you would notice a calabash lying on it, but Jeremy Brett (as Holmes) never smoked it.
When thinking of famous pipe smokers, a number of people come to mind- MacArthur, Bing Crosby, Mark Twain- but who would have thought that the most renowned would be someone who never existed?
Related Article by Fred Brown: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Physician, Sherlock Holmes Author – Pipe Smoker
|
Russ Ouellette is the blender/creator of the Hearth & Home series of tobaccos for Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe and www.pipesandcigars.com in Albany, NY. He has been a pipe smoker and blender for over 30 years, and enjoys feedback from the pipe smoking public. You can reach Russ at russo@pipesandcigars.com or by calling 1-800-494-9144 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm and Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm. |
Written by Kevin Godbee
35 Responses
Recent Posts
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 488! Our featured interview tonight is with John Brandt. John is the owner of the Wilke Pipe Tobacco, which has been in existence since 1872. Wilke has a great history of pipe making and tobacco blending. John is the second owner, since 2017, after the founding family, and he continues to make some of the original tobacco blends from over a century ago. In the “Pipe Parts” segment we will have “Ask the Pipemaker” with pipe artisan Jeff Gracik. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 487! Our featured interview tonight is with Phil Morgan, the General Manager of the Missouri Meerschaum Co. Missouri Meerschaum has been making the original American-made Corn Cob Pipes for over 150-years. Phil is joined on the show by his daughter, Shannon Hock. She has been working at the company for several years and will be increasing her role there. We will also talk about Missouri Meerschaum’s take over of sales and marketing for Old Dominion corn cob and clay pipes, and the differences between the brands. In the “Pipe Parts” segment Brian will have a review of one our listener’s pipe collections. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!
Something somewhat out of character has been afoot in the House of Pease. For more than a week, I have been smoking the same pipe every day, sometimes twice. Whatās the big deal? Lots of people do that. Iāve always been a rather outspoken advocate for the āWell Rested Pipe,ā and I donāt mean just setting it aside for a day or two between smokes. Typically, after Iāve finished a bowl, Iāll give the pipe a solid fortnight, often longer, before picking it up again. This may strike some as little more than a convenient justification for maintaining a large collection, and I wouldnāt deny this benevolent side-effect of a well worn habit. But more importantly, at least to me, Iāve always found that pipes just taste much better when theyāve had a little R-and-R. Smoked too frequently, they tend to deliver a harsher, more astringent smoke than I prefer. Iāve known many pipe smokers who feel similarly, but over the years Iāve also talked to those who are equally dedicated to the notion that the whole ārestingā thing is a load of rubbish, and are content to smoke their pipes as frequently as they like without experiencing any ill-effects. I once talked about this with Larry Roush, who insisted that a good pipe should be able to be smoked bowl after bowl, and it will still taste just fine as long as itās kept clean. (Honestly, Iāve always thought this a bit nuts, but de gustibus non disputandum est.) How can there be such a difference in perception? And, which side is right? So, here I find myself doing the opposite of what has been my custom for nearly as long as Iāve been a pipe smoker, and doing so in a couple of ways. First, for much of the past year, Iāve found myself rummaging through the ācellar,ā and smoking a lot of the aged and vintage VA blends Iāve accumulated, which is a bit out of character for me. I really like Virginias, but Iām primarily a pretty devout latakiaphile, and always have been so itās been something of an interesting change of direction to spend so much time deeply exploring outside the comfort zone of the smoky stuff, and in doing so Iāve gained an even greater appreciation, especially for well-aged Virginias, with or without perique. Itās been great to expand the horizons in such a concentrated way. But back on topic. For over a week, Iāve smoked the same pipe day after day, sometimes more than once. I didnāt set out to do this; I was just continuously drawn back to this particular pipe, and figured that as long as it continued treating my tongue well, I might as well stay calm and carry on. To my surprise, neither pipe, nor smoker suffered at all from repeated encounters. In fact, bowl after bowl, I enjoyed it immensely. Finally, after many smokes, the flavors the pipe delivered were a bit less than ideal, but still far better than I expected. A quick swab with a pipe cleaner dipped in alcohol, and everything was again right as rain. Wondering, then, if my old habit might perhaps be more superstition than reality, I grabbed a tin of one of my most beloved full latakia mixtures, and carried out the same experiment with another well seasoned and long-favored pipe. Off to a great start, the first smoke was ambrosial. But within a few bowls, that same harshness Iād experienced in the past grabbed my tongue in its caustic tentacles like an ill-tempered Cthulhu rising from the murky depths of Rāyleh. Fending off the demon, I gave the pipe a good scrub, and tried again. No joy. At least with those fuller-bodied latakia mixtures, resting the pipe seems essential for the optimal smoking experience. How many who claim not to like latakia mixtures might feel differently if they changed the way they treated them? This old dog may have been taught a couple new tricks. While I am reluctant to over-generalize, there seems to be some evidence that what we fill our pipes with may have a significant role to play in both how we smoke and how we treat our pipes, and in turn, how our pipes treat us. Virginias have shown themselves to be more forgiving both of the pipe in which they are smoked, and of what I once would have considered pipe-abuse. Latakia mixtures, not so much. Retrospectively, this seems to make some sense. Those fellows who insisted pipes donāt need rest were mostly Virginia devotees. So is Larry Roush. The ones who were on my side of the discussion? They love their latakias. I realize this is anecdotal; of course not all pipes, nor all pipe smokers, are guaranteed to behave the same way, so your mileage may vary, and thereās often a sort of mystical synergy between briar and leaf that we might never fully understand. But maybe this experience can pull up the covers and let the rest debate rest, at least in my own head. Which side is right? It seems both are. We all have our traditions, our rituals, our unique taste, but maybe itās a good thing to relax our grasp on them once in a while and explore the alternatives. There are many ways to enjoy the pipe, and none of them is right or wrong. Seems like this might be some generally good advice for life, too. Photos by G.L. Pease
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 486! Tonight we have Rich Esserman back with us. Rich was on last week, and we want to thank him for jumping in at the last minute as our scheduled guest had a last minute conflict. Rich is quite well known in the hobby. He has been smoking, collecting, and writing about pipes for over 40-years, and he is best known for collecting large-size Dunhill pipes. He also never runs out of interesting things to talk about with pipes and tobaccos. At the top of the show we have “Ask the Tobacco Blender” with Jeremy Reeves, the head blender at Cornell & Diehl. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!
The holiday season has crept upon us again, and with it the urge, in me at least, to indulge in some unabashed aromatic smoking. In normal times, the holidays are a reason to enjoy feasting and the company of family and friends; aromatics of course make for a pleasant atmosphere for smokers and non-smokers alike, while the pipe itself hearkens to a sense of tradition and hearth concomitant with the season. In these uncertain days, while we may not be able to enjoy all of those things in the traditional manner, I do hope that our readers are able to find a reasonable facsimile thereof in some small measure. Looking back on this past year, I find something missing: Peterson special editions. It used to be I looked forward to them annuallyāsummer, limited, and especially the holiday blend. Sadly, they are no longer, but some cellar diving did unearth a curiosity: a jar of Sunset Breeze dated 2014, my favored blend from their standard lineup, which it seemed only fitting to compare to a new production tin. With the K&P portfolio of blends being acquired by Scandinavian Tobacco Group in 2018, would it be the same old blend? Would it even still be palatable? My worries proved unfounded, as upon opening it, it smelled every bit as sweet and almondy as it should, identical in nature to a fresh tin, if only the slightest bit muted. Preferring the ideology of a tropical sunset to a winterās chill, it all seems to come together perfectly for this smoke. Peterson tobaccos have never let me down, at least not in terms of smoking enjoyment. I am, however, more than a little heartbroken that their holiday blend series is a thing of the past. From my first tin in 2009 to the last, extremely difficult to obtain tin from 2019, the special editions were a sort of side adventure that I anticipated embarking on, both for the aromatic creationsāsome of which were remarkable, some wacky, some forgettableābut also for the tin art; tins that I now keep various trinkets, sewing kits, pens, and other odds and ends in, but which also encapsulate memories of those years withināthe year I went to the Chicago show, the year I started writing for PipesMagazine, the year old Romeo passed on, the year I broke off an engagement. I daresay we pipe smokers tend toward being a sentimental lot, if anything. Just looking at the blood-orange red tin of Sunset Breeze evokes for me the sense-memory of its delicious amaretto aroma. The bouquet of the fresh tin as well as its color is, as expected, a bit more vibrant and bright as compared to the jarred sample, though the latter has retained the larger part of its aroma, if a bit more tempered and a smidge darker of leaf. Inhaling deeply nets a full bouquet of almond, orangey citrus, light cherry hints, and the faint nuttiness of the burley threading it all together. Pomander balls, those clove-studded oranges my aunt was famous for making, come to mindārecommending this blend suitably in the range of the traditional scents of the season. Speaking of the leaf, comparing the two vintages reassures me that STG has taken great care in its stewardship of the Peterson marqueāaside from the darkening of the color, the cut and texture of the leaf from the samples are remarkably similar, and the aroma of the casing is spot-on the same. I see the same melange of lots of dark Cavendish with burley and Virginia crosscut, artfully arranged in the Peterson manner. From charring light to about mid-bowl, itās all about the room note. The nose aroma for the smoker is enticing and spicy with a promise of sweetness, and is certainly a crowd-pleaser for bystandersāas prescribed, always an excellent choice to recommend for lighting up at any gatherings. Care and patience are rewarded with Cavendish-forward blends like these, for they can be a dangerous temptress, urging the smoker to puff a little too fast while chasing the translation of aroma to flavor, only to be rewarded with a sharply bitten tongue. To that end, I find that a double espresso, or at the very least a strong black coffee, makes a perfect accompaniment for tending the start of the bowl to balance out the alkalinity of the blend as well as a counterpoint to the flavorsāperfect for the after-dinner cup. The second half of the bowl is the real reward for the patient smoker. The components of the blend by now have fully orchestrated and mingled into an earthy, slightly floral melange, redolent with the amaretto sweetness, and it is here the smoker will find those tastes theyāve been chasing while sharing them with the room. The nuttiness of the burley is perfectly suited to the almond casing, and is just slightly sour and sweet enough to satisfy the post-prandial craving. Smoked sparingly, it leaves a light and pleasantly soapy and nutty aftertaste on the palate, not unlike an almond in the shell. Itās always good enough to beg another bowl, so Iāll often find myself packing several in succession; usually smaller sized pipes, and thereās always a cob handy, which suits the blend well. I also find it does best prepared bone-dry for smoking. Enjoying the pipe after a holiday feast also makes a perfect time for contemplation. For my part, Iāll be spending what is likely the last holiday with an old friend, a companion for the past couple decades whoās been around the world and back with me, my cat Le Stryge. Weāll reminisce about the tastes of yesteryear, and not give too much thought to the year ahead, at least for now. Weāll give some thoughts to those who have left us, blessed us by their passing, and though it will be a quiet Christmas with just the two of us, weāll be contented, him purring in my lap and fur smelling faintly of amaretto smoke.
Here we are on the cusp of a new year. Like Satchel Paige, I am just a bit fearful these days to look over my shoulder. Something might be gaining on me. With apologies to the great baseball pitcher and Hall of Famer. Actually, the new year is getting off to a decent start. Now, to all you New Yearās Eve party hounds who whooped it up, I long ago left that part of the New Year to the amateurs, as an old colleague of mine once opined. We did very well amongst ourselves in various bars and wherever, however. The Punditās idea of a wild and wooly evening these days is trying out a new tobacco blend and watching a movie from the 1940s. At least, I can understand the plot and whatās being said. People seemed to speak a little clearer and slower then. Or itās just that my hearing has moved to a granny slow gear. But it is refreshing to wipe the yearly slate clean and start anew, isnāt it? Especially when it comes to pipes and tobacco blends, eh? Now, letās just say the Pundit has become very persnickety when it comes to adding to the pipe herd or ordering more tobacco. It has to be something special and a missing link in the herd for it to attract special attention. Not saying that a beautiful, must-have pipe or blend, wonāt make it to the shopping cart, but Iāve decided this is the year that the Pundit will be very precise indeed. No more wild flourishes of just adding a basketful of pipes and tobacco and then later thinking, āWhat was that all about?ā The reason? After 45-plus years of collecting pipes and tobacco and smoking my beloved pipes, it has come time to reflect on the future of the herd. Not to worry. Pundit will never give up his pipes voluntarily. And the Pundit tobacco cellar is well-positioned to manage things should the regulatory tobacco apocalypse hit tomorrow, perhaps collapsing the industry as we know it today in one huge wallop! At last count, the herd was well north of 200 pipes. The cellar is prepared for the worst possible outcomes, barring meteor strikes. So, it would seem the Pundit is primed for whatever curves the new year might toss out on the tobacco and pipes front. But who knows what might bubble up in other confusing situations Sapiens insist upon as the world turns. On a more important note, this month marks the 142nd anniversary of the birth of one of Americaās greatest World War II heroes, who also happened to be an iconic pipe smoker. Gen. Douglas MacArthur was born on Jan. 26, 1880, in Little Rock, Ark. Most of the world recognizes the famous American general as the one who guided the South Pacific war in WWII. He left the island of Corregidor with his family under orders from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but then returned, as he said he would in his famous island farewell āI shall returnā promise. He waded ashore in Oct. 1944, in the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The general with the iconic long-stemmed corncob pipe had made good on his vow. Others will recall the general as the military leader who oversaw the Japanese surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Sept. 2, 1945. Probably one of the most famous photos of MacArthur is with his 5 Star General corncob pipe. He was rarely photographed without either holding or clenching that iconic large pipe. You can find the MacArthur 5-Star Corncob Pipe at Missouri Meerschaum, the legendary company that continues to produce the corncob pipe based upon a design the general sent to the renowned manufacture in Washington, Mo. That company has been making corn cob pipes since 1869. And if you havenāt fired up a cob, you are missing one of the sweetest smokes youāll have. The Pundit, of course, owns several, including The 5-Star MacArthur General. To the Punditās way of thinking, that MacArthur is a 5-star smoke! Now for a couple of Pundit musings: As we contemplate a new season of possibilities, I am hopeful. Walking with my pipe in winter is a special moment. It seems to connect synergistically: nature to nature. Now, the Pundit isnāt the best at pontificating, but just being able to smoke my beloved pipes and tobaccos on a frosty winter morning on a brisk walk, seems to be a kind of connection that we all need. Letās take a break from all the sad news and reflect on the good. For example, did you add to your pipe collection this past year, but long to see what talented pipe artisans have in store this coming year? The Pundit is chomping at the bit to see whatās on the horizon not only from pipe makers but also from the wizards of tobacco blending. Their pestle and mortar mixing various leaves of Nicotiana tabacum is such magic. Itās like having a tobacco apothecary in our midst to take care of our everyday needs in blends and information. In this time of discontent, the winter of our discontentāapologies to The Bard William Shakespeare and John Steinbeck for popularizing this famous quoteāitās time to look forward to all the goodness that is before us. Just think of all the new pipes and blends that hover on the horizons. Christmas and the New Year have come and gone. Presents unwrapped and parties are vague memories. But what is before us is more than what is behind us pipe smokers. Hereās looking toward a new year, new pipes, and tobacco blends. Hereās to new pipe smoking friends, and to you who keep our hobby so alive and interesting. Like you, the Pundit is aiming for brighter days and more pipes and tobacco. And now in parting, a quote from the general that may set the stage for our new seasons of 2022: “Life is a lively process […]
Thanks for the interesting and entertaining read Russ. I was easily visualizing everything you talked about. I’m in the mood for some Sherlock Holmes and pipe smoking now.
Great article. One point, however… Brett IS seen smoking that calabash in one of the Alps scenes in “The Final Problem.” That is the only time though.
Excellent article Russ. Glad to know you are a Sherlockian as well. One correction…Holmes smoked his Cherrywood when he was in a disputatious mood. I belive it is mentioned in “The Adventure of The Copper Beeches.” Hope to see you next week in Richmond!!!!
Funn
Great, Great! Sherlock Holmes has intrigued me since youth. I think I’ve read all of Doyle’s detective stories.
Oh and I visited Gillette Castle this summer. A truely amazing house!
A pleasant read, thanks. Sometimes you see Brett smoking a short clay pipe when out impersonating people, what did the original do in those situations? Bringing the churchwarden seems difficult due to its fragility.
Oh, and Brett actually did smoke the Calabash, in the episode where he and Watson runs from Moriarty. š I recently watched all 7 series š
Nice
Ships Tobacco was a very strong tobacco for sailors.
Similar to the Gawith Hoggarth Twist.
Great article!
Good read thanks
Great article! It’s amazing how Holmes is as poplular as he was 100 years ago! If not even more popular.
Nice article.
Excellent article
Great article.
Very enjoyable read.
Great article. Easy read and rather inspiring. I had to pull out my Sherlock Holmes collection and read them and smoke a bowl (or two) š
Can we please put the ‘Jeremy Brett never smoked a calabash’ falacy to rest? As others have said, he most certainly did, in the Final Problem, in which he embraced all the Holmes cliches (deerstalker, etc.). He even gives the pipe a pomo glance and grin. See this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIO0vrwhJ8s around the 35:30 minute mark.
Fun Read. I never knew that the Calabash came from a stage actor. I just thought it was a pipe Basil Rathbone used during his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.
Thanks, Mr. Ouellette, for a stimulating and wonderfully written article on one of the most celebrated pipe smoking characters in all of English literature. I took it as a wake up call to re-establish my familiarity with the entire Sherlock Holmes canon. It’s been a good many years since I ranged the dismal, fog-choked wynds of London following my erstwhile hero’s triumphs. The season is right, and the pipes and tobacco are at the ready; now, if only I had a deerstalker! š
love this article
Great article, Russ. Now I want to go and sample McClelland’s 221B Arcadia (http://luxurytobaccoreviews.com/t/mcclelland-221b-series-arcadia). I wonder if it has fluffy white ash?
Simon
It could turn out that the Holmes character could end up being the signature role of three different actors (Rathbone, Brett, and Cumberbatch).
Nice article, Russ.
Now that was an entertaining read. I read the entire canon every five years or so. Now I’m inspired to read it again. Winter is coming and the rainy relatively dark streets of Vancouver create the perfect atmosphere for a person with Holmes fantasies. My 1792 flake will have to play the role of his black shag.
I wasn’t a pipe smoker when I read it last. I’m looking forward to this reading season.
Also, I learned that I’m a “habitual” pipe smoker. Three pipes and a tendency to smoke the same two blends most of the time. Several times a day, keeps the cigarettes away. š
Russ, thanks for a great read. Always insightful and entertaining. Cheers, Kashmir.
Another great article, Russ!
Thanks.
There were/ are truly many great persons, men and women, who enjoyed the pleasures of the pipe.
Great Russ!
Holmes did however have the most appalling pipe smoking habits: his baccy was stored in the toe of a Persian slipper fastened to the mantlepiece above the fire – probably the dryest place on the planet (perhaps he also smoked SG baccy’s for which I need to borrow his fireplace) and to keep dottles drying on the same mantlepiece for a next morning smoke is gross! – makes you wonder about Doyle’s personal smoking habits!
Nice Russ, one interesting thing which correspond with your comment about calabash is that I have one briar pipe in the shape of calabash and this one is dedicated to PetersonĀ“s Sherlock Holmes blend š
I enjoyed the article very much! Now it’s time to light a pipe & dig out my Sherlock Holmes volumes! Thanks, Russ
Russ,wonderful article. So what if there crops up some small innacuracy in your article on the great detective.
Holmes and Watson were not perfect either! Saw you in Richmond and thank you for a free fill up of one of your wonderful tobacco samples.
Nicely written and informative. I have read some of the Holmes stories and they’re quite entertaining. Reading Simenon’s Maigret novels now. So nice to smoke your pipe and read stories where pipe smoking is the norm. Too bad about the “nicotine patch” version of Holmes. How awful! That’s like a Santa with a clean-shaven face. Who wants to see that?!
Quite an ejoyable article.
It appears that Basil Rathbone smoked Peterson’s, mostly bents in the movies he portrayed Sherlock Holmes.
Really enjoyed your article. I am a big Jeremy Brett fan and thought he made the quintessential Sherlock.
Enjoyed the article. Funny how mental images from movies, makes us believe it is accurate 100% of the time to actual events and history, AND the author!
Sorry to say it but im going to have to agree with funn, it was in the copper beeches stiry, its the cherry wood is for his bad moods, his clay is his great comforter as watson says
Great read, thank you! The famous deerstalker cap of stage and screen was also never mentioned by name in the original short stories/novels. Classic stories! Thanks again.
Thanks Russ for a wonderfully written article! I just got “The Complete Sherlock Holmes” for the holidays and am thoroughly enjoying the reads, and inspired me to order some Peterson’s Sherlock Holmes! Now where’s my Persian slipper??