Tinder Box Special

Tinder Box - Special.

This one was part of my 'bucket list' for tobaccos but living in the U.K Tinder Box blends are a little tricky to obtain, well more impossible so when my wife presented me with this on Christmas day was nearly cataplectic from excitement! The smell from the mix is a very deep and intense one, it smells similar to their Philosopher only a little less strong with Lat'. The mix is prominent with medium brown pieces and a small amount of lighter constituents all at a great moisture amount.

I find mine easy to ignite, it only takes a short go with the flame to begin a good burn. The smoke is good in temperature, I find it cool to medium and no matter how much vigour I use it doesn't bite me. I find the flavour of the smoke to be perfectly rounded, none of the tobaccos are too headstrong at all, the Virginia and the Orientals are of equal weight with a slight smoky touch from the Lat' giving the taste some extra zeal. The nicotine level isn't too strong, if you like your "N" then you will have to take quite a big puff of smoke but really the deep flavour is so satisfying any nicotine worries seem superfluous to me! I find this to be the quintessential 'no messing around' tobacco, it burns great, tastes classic, gives a simple room note and doesn't fluctuate in flavour.

I am so grateful to my wife for getting her American pal to send me some as it's made my Christmas!

Delivers exactly what it says - a light English blend, with a Virginia base and the other components added to a lesser, supplemental, degree. Flavors come through when sipped, particularly when then retrohaled. Never had the "old" version - but that doesn't matter - it is what it is - and delivers what it states. 4*.

Great all day smoke. Mild and tasty. A blend I will buy again.

I've smoked cigars for a long time, but the wife didn't care for the way the smelled. She bought me a pipe for Christmas a year ago and I've really taken to it. I know have 6 pipes and have my eye on several others...

Trying to learn what I like and don't, I've found that there are aromatics, non-aromatics, and English blends I like and don't like. I found this site a few weeks ago and have spent quite a bit of time reading reviews.

I was traveling in McAllen, Texas this week and saw there was a review for a couple of Tinder Box blends. "Special Blend" had lots of good reviews and the local TB not only had some, but also had a nice comfy place to have a beer and try it out.

I have a Neerup for travel for it's smallish size. I noticed the tobacco had a great aroma in the bag, and was a bit moist. I packed a bowl and let it air out for 10 minutes while I sipped on a Warsteiner Dunkel beer.

After lighting the top, I repacked w/my tamper and then went for the light. Even after the reviews I've read, I was surprised at the fullness of flavor, but no bite, and an awesome taste. I really like it and it was good to the bottom. A co-worker sat next to me, smoking an H Upman and said it smelled wonderful to him. I'd purchased 3 oz, and went ahead and bought 3 more to take home. Very nice smoke.

After reviewing Tinderbox's Philosopher and Sherlock's Choice with some rather tepid remarks, I must state Special is a different animal to me. This really does seem an American "English". In fact, shortly after lighting this up I was struck with how similar this is to my former favorite everyday blend from another source -a private label for them as well, until they changed blenders. At this point, after replacing this 'everyday' blend with a couple McClelland's (notably Bombay Extra and Frogmorton) and especially with Cornell & Diehl's blends Engine 99, Byzantium, and Yale Mixture, I can't see this becoming my super favorite again. However, I did enjoy it at one time. The Latakia, though understated, is present. I've moved on, but this gets 3 Stars for old time's sake and I would probably buy more if ever again in that Tinderbox's neighborhood.

I took a trip out to the Tinderbox in Rockford ,Illinois and was greeted by the knowledgeable Tim. We discussed my preferences in pipe tobacco and settled on Special. The best way to describe this is the following: Very similar to Nat Sherman's #536 just not quite as heavy.I taste a Burley/Turkish combo with a proportional amount of Latakia added.The result is a truly unique achievement amongst English blends.It has a bready/nutty quality to it. It is a satisfying and comforting blend in which the Latakia is a spice and not the main course. It might also remind you of Lane's HGL without the addition of the sweetened cavendish. A very restrained yet satisfying tobacco. Well worth a try fot the English smoker and perhaps a good vehicle for entry into the Non Aromatic world for the rest. A very solid 3 stars.

I found this to be a very pleasant tobacco. Having read the previous reviews, I went to our local Tinderbox and purchased a couploe of ounces. I wasn't disappointed and I could see this being a regular.

I bought a 2 ounce sample of this when I got my Sherlock's. This blend was exactly what I was looking for. It had a mysteriously nutty flavor with an aftertaste that was like licorice, no unpleasantries whatsoever. At just over $2/ounce, its rather well priced too. I will definitely be getting more of this in the future.

This blend is in my rotation and always will be. I have researched this tobacco. It was one of the original blends developed by the founder of Tinderbox. Ed was quoted as saying that he had smoked this blend everyday for over 50 years. When asked what was in it, he replied Virginia, Latakia, Turkish, and a bit of White Burley. It has a woodsy aroma, burns well,and definately has a complex taste to it as you work your way through the bowl.The tobaccos work very well together. This is the best bulk offering that Tinderbox has to offer. I've been smoking it myself for 33 years.