The tobacco is the finest the world can produce, lovingly processed and presented, the vanilla flavoring is all natural, subtle and of the highest quality, applied in a refined manner.

1Q was created to be appreciated by the critical taste of the connoisseur, the lover of fine tobacco. It succeded so well it became a favorite the world over.

1Q is a regal blend, whose qualities are best enjoyed in times of reflection. A clean pipe dedicated to the tobacco will yield the maximum enjoyment, and will become a treasure.

This near perfect blend is the alpha and the omega. You will like it as your first experience. But after your dreams have turned to dust and regrets, 1Q will be your fondest memory of the golden age of pipe tobacco, the blend you truly loved.

Don't believe me? After you have tried 800 blends, see if you agree. (Refering to Pipestud and his 4 star recommendation).

Update 8/2010: As with Captain Black White, my tastes changed and I cannot stand this blend anymore. The smoke is steamy and sticks to your hands with a distinct petroleum smell, almost like charcoal lighter fluid. I feel like I am smoking oil sprayed on cardboard and not tobacco. I guess exposure to blends like Anniversary changed my tastes forever (and it happened in an instant).

Now, let's get down to a serious review here of a good aromatic. For some reason I have neglected to write a review on this blend. That said, I am amending that as of right now. This is the number one selling blend in the country if not the world! There is a reason for this. It's good! Simple enough. It has a sweet vanilla flavor to it but not overwhelming. It is mild as a kitten with no claws. It will not burn the tongue, smells absolutely wonderful both in the pouch and in the room note. It packs well in the pipe in spite of being somewhat moist, it lights easily and stays lit burning in a nice slow and relaxing way. It is not cloying and it does not leave a pipe smelling like a fruit bowl. No wonder it's number one and then add it is easily available and for a great price. It is a mixed medium to dark brown ribbon cut. It burns down slowly to a fine grey ash with a touch of dottle and a little moisture so pipe cleaners are a must. I could not make this an all day blend like a lot of others but it is a great blend for the sweet tooth and for just relaxing. A crowd pleasure for sure. A great blend for a beginner and an experienced smoker that does not want a huge nicotne fix or has a sensitive mouth. I highly recommend this blend to be tried by all...that are open to aromatics. The others will just miss a good thing in this one!

The pouch aroma is very pleasant, but not tobacco. It tastes good. I did not get the gurgle that others have mentioned nor did it goop up my pipe, but it did require more coeaning than usual after smoking a bowl. Neither do I taste the cherry that others have mentioned. It never bit, evenwhen puffing hard to try to keep it lit. It did not ghost my pipe either; it's far too gentle to do that.

I bought a quarter pound of this because I'd read it is the most popular blend in the US. I don't understand why. It's good, but not that good. Nothing complex here but nothing offensive either.

If this were the only tobacco I could get I'd be glad to have it. But if I had awhole tobacco shop at my disposal I doubt if I'd smoke it very often. The quarter poundI go will probably last me quite a while, but I will smoke it all. I might even get another quarter when this is done.

Most B&M's sell 1Q, but you might have to ask a clerk to direct you to it as many re-name it and use it as a "house blend". There are 3 local tobacco shops I buy from, and each one of them carry 1Q under a different name.

For me, where 1Q really shines is a foundation for a do-it-yourself blend. My all-day smoke is a mixture I do using 5 ounces of 1Q, 4 ounces of Lane's "Burley Light Without-A-Bite", and 3 ounces of Lane BCA.

By following the instructions above, and lightly tamping as you work your way to the bottom of the bowl, it burns fine, leaving a grey ash at the bottom with a couple of pieces of carbon dottle. Unlike many aromatics, 1Q leaves no unpleasant "ghosts" in the pipe.

If you have a large bowl, you will probably end up knocking out the last fifth of the bowl and not smoking it all the way to the end. If you want to smoke all the way to the end of the bowl, I recommend just loading a half-bowl to smoke at a time. As with all aromatics, it can get a little harsh at the very end if you don't.

Anyone within smelling distance will compliment you. I never detected any hint of "cherry" note, as a reviewer below mentioned. No fruitiness at all. The taste? It is similar to Captain Black Royal, but not as gooey or syrupy sweet. Nice billows of dry, nutty-sweet smoke. Just a good, all-around aromatic that you will end up smoking more of than all your other more expensive blends.

The sweet golden and black cavendish play well together with, perhaps, a touch of red VA which adds a richer sweetness. The topping plays a notable role and remains present throughout the bowl.

Though cheerful and amiable, the final effect of 1-Q falls upon the sweet and bland side. It is obviously intended as an all-day blend, and to this end, my tastes found it to be progressively tedious.

Chamber Gauge: Medium to Wide

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Otherwise known as Lane's 1-Q, the Wilshire blend is my favorite of the Tinderbox bulk aromatics. I've kept coming back to it over the years, as it has a warm and sweet yet subtly spicy flavor and aroma with hints of perhaps vanilla, almond, apricot, and ginger. This is one of the classic aromatic tobacco blends which inspire such fond memories.

I feel that Wilshire is often unjustly written off by those who are looking for a bolder, more distinguished and prevalent flavor, and by those that don't care for a sweet smoke. That being said, Wilshire isn't for everyone, and shouldn't be smoked by those that are looking for something more than what it has to offer.

I would actually caution newcomers away from this blend because it can be more temperamental than others if you're not yet proficient with a pipe. It can be on the moist and sticky side, so I would recommend letting a fresh batch sit and dry for a time before being packed. Also, don't smoke this one too quickly because it can bite and muck up your pipe if you're impatient with it.

If you find yourself frequenting this blend, I would recommend having a briar pipe to use just for it. It doesn't smoke as true in pipes seasoned by most other aromatic blends (though some aren't a problem) nor does it compliment pipes seasoned with English blends. However, its subtle flavor wont ghost an aromatic pipe.

Wilshire is perfect for a relaxing and gently flavored pipe to linger on for an hour or so, filling the air with a hearty and sweet aroma that aims to please both the casual smoker and company alike.

Enjoy.

This is a thoroughly mild blend all the way through. There will be no complaints about the aroma or the pouch smell. This is one that non-smokers will ask to sniff. No complaints there. Nicotine is there, but only just. Even as my smoking methods have gotten better, I find this leaves a horrid goop in a pipe at the end. I only smoke this in my 'daily Grabow', and typically use a filter to try and cut back some of the impact of the sweeteners.

Hindsight being 20-20, I wish I had not started on this blend, as it is overly sweet beyond the natural flavors, and leaves the pipe a syrupy mess. I came to expect this as a default in pipe tobaccos, and almost dropped the hobby until I tried some better quality blends. I have an ounce or so left, and may smoke it occasionally in the future, but only on a reminiscent whim and only on a filter. I will not make a concentrated effort to keep this around.

I would recommend other Lane blends such as Cavendish Slices, or even BCA, for a bulk Cavendish-rich but not so sweet experience.