This is the aromatic go to for a non-aro smoker.

You can taste quality of the tobaccos, and others can enjoy the smell.

This is a very nice, smooth smoke. It smells a bit nutty and rich in the tin, and smokes the same way. The Burley comes thru gently during the smoke, with almost no bite whatsoever. My tin was at a great moisture level, just a bit on the dry side, but still springy; it packed and smoked well from the first bowl.

I was merely OK with this after the first bowl, but in the last two weeks I've found myself hankerin' for a bowl, so I guess it's grown on me. It is a tad pricey, but is certainly worth the cost.

Tony

And that's all I need to say.

As for the tobacco, when you pop open the can, the aroma is very pleasant. I cannot describe the fragrance exactly, but it has that old-fashioned "grampa's pipe tobacco" smell to it. It looks wonderful - a mixture of various shades of golden and dark brown, in a thick ribbon cut. The moisture level seems perfect, though after my first bowl, I recommend letting it dry out a little for a trouble-free smoke.

Reserve 1928 packs and lights perfectly - but take care not to pack it too tightly. And, this is a case in which the fragrance of the tobacco in the tin is a clue to what it will smell & taste like burning - "unique to the nose and pleasing to the palate." Remarkably, the smell and taste of the fresh tobacco in the tin came through in the smoke and lingered all the way through to the end of the bowl.

It did not burn clean to the end, however, like most good English blends do. I had to mix it up at the end, as the last fifth of the bowl or so became soggy. But after mixing it up, it burned to the bottom of the bowl, leaving clean grey ash and some larger pieces of carbon dottle. Again, if you let the stuff dry out just a little, I am certain it will burn clean to the bottom of the bowl without having to mix it up.

Reserve 1928 is a great mixture for those who regularly smoke English blends but would like something with an 'aromatic' room note for a change of pace. It is also a great smoke for those who prefer aromatics but are put off by the gloppy mess left at the end, the overheated bowl, and the tongue bite. 1928 just does not bite, and burns cool. And, it does not leave a "ghost" perfumey or syrupy smell in your pipe, like so many aromatics do. In fact, the smell left in the pipe reminds me of the scent after smoking an English blend without latakia.

So, although technically I would classify Reserve 1928 as an aromatic blend, it does not have the negatives typically associated with aromatic blends, which makes it almost the perfect blend. Almost.

The search continues.

I won't go out of my way to buy any more, but if you come across at tin of this and enjoy good aromatic tobaccos, then certainly try it! Just don't listen to the pretentious label description unless you go for that sort of thing.

Accompaniment: Ravel's Tombeau de Couperin.

If you are only into the heavy aromatics like Cpt Black or blue note (Both exellent tobacos, but I like ADVENTURES in pipe smoking), then you may not really like it. This is something different.

Don't smoke it out of your pipes dedicated to aromatics either, since it will mask and ruin the the flavor.

If you want to have an "ADVENTURE in pipe smoking", other than Cpt. Black and try something wiht less artificial sweeteners and casing, but don't want to "Go full English", This is a good one. Come Pay Day, I am going to get me a can.

I would definately say give it a test puff.

The taste upon lighting is of a smooth sweet virginia with a little bit of nuttiness from the burley. I struggled to find/figure out what the topping is, as it is so light and compliments the natural tobacco. Very well done.

It remains smooth and toasty and begins to pick up creaminess towards mid bowl. I tend to puff on the fast side and this tobacco stayed cool, fairly dry and didnt bite me even when I hit it hard. The room note is typical quality sweet virgina smell.

The suprise came in the bottom third,.. several quick succesion puffs a couple times a minute rewarded me with a sweet carmel pastry flavor! Not an artificial topping kind of flavor, but a sweet natural tobacco explosion. Truly delicious. A gem of a smoke. I'll be keeping this stuff around.