Tinder Box Reserve 1928

In the search for pipe tobacco nirvana, this one comes close. I wish they would not be so stingy with it. Reserve 1928 is a bulk tobacco loosely packed into little aluminum cans with pull-top lids. The can reminds me of those little cans they pack "Vienna Weiners" into. The diameter of the can is not wide enough to comfortably pack a pipe without making a mess. Keeping the same depth of the can, but increasing the diameter by about two inches would make a huge positive difference. Better yet, sell the stuff in bulk packaging and save us the cost of the tiny cans, which unnecessarily increase the cost.

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.

This one is just O.K. It's better than most Tinderbox blends, but it's still fairly flavoured. It has a nutty, sweet taste- it's about 75% Burley and 25% Virginia with a nice flavouring added to round it off. It tastes nice, but leaves your pipe wet and soggy. Also, the taste is very one dimensional. If you like aromatics, I'd try it, but it doesn't do a lot for me. I bought a 2 oz tin before Christmas and smoked a little and just put it away. Smells great if you want to impress bystanders.

I've been sitting on this tin for several years. I purchased this at the original Tinder Box in LA, CA (or so the sign outside the store said). Apparently, this blend was originally blended by McClelland for the Tinder Box.

Upon opening the pop top tin, none of the trademark McClelland bbq scent was present. The blend was slightly on the dry side, but it packed well. My first impressions after firing it up, were a bit humdrum, but as the bowl progressed some very nice nuances came through. A hint of vinegar at the back end, very subtle. There were some interesting flavors weaving in and out of the blend, some sweetness, some smokiness, some alchohol flavoring, too. Quite nice, really. Some of the flavor profiles reminded me of a combination of red VA's and burleys. I don't see this baccy as a pure aromatic, rather it's a crossover blend.

Overall, this was a pleasant smoke. Indeed, I wish I had purchased another tin back in the day. It's a pleasure to experience a hidden gem from your own tobacco cellar.

keep on pipin'

Another McClelland grand achievement. I can't describe the tin aroma...chocolate caramel like smell with added spices. It smelled good to me and it was the sweetest tobacco I've ever smoked. After sniffing the tin, I thought; I'm going to get bit... not so. It's very tasty, very sweet and easy on the palate.

It presents excellent burning qualities... not like an aromatic at all. It simply burns & smokes like any non-aromatic might. Easily qualifies as a four star blend!!! It is not overly abundant in the nicotine department, but a bowlful will supply enough to satisfy & even the gurgle tasted sweet. For aromatic as well as non-aromatic smokers. I wish it were still available.

Another McClelland grand achievement. Tin aroma... a chocolate caramel like smell with added spices. It smelled good to me and it was the sweetest tobacco I've ever smoked. After sniffing the tin, I thought; I'm going to get bit... not so. It's very tasty, very sweet and easy on the palate. It presents excellent burning qualities... not like an aromatic at all. I got a bit of condensation in my mouth while puffing & it even tasted nice & sweet... unbelievable for any tobacco. One of the finest aromatics ever produced.

It simply burns & smokes like any non-aromatic might. Easily qualifies as a four star blend! It is not overly abundant in the nicotine department, but a bowlful will supply enough to satisfy any aromatic as well as non-aromatic smokers. I bought four tins back in 2009 for less than $30.00. If you could find one tin today, it would cost more than that.

I like it. Fine base tobacco, mostly burley and some virginias. The topping/casing/whatever is fine and doesn't bite. I smoked my first bowl in a Bjarne brandy, and followed up with the Nerrup Selection pipe, another brandy shape. That bowl shape seems to work fine with this blend. I like it that it's a bit one-note, as the one note is good and grows on you, a sign of a potential all-day smoke. Subdued is good for this one. As a previous reviewer noted, this is an aromatic for non-aromatic smokers.

I am not a big aro fan, but this is just a good blend. If it were a wine it wouldn't be too sweet or too dry. Rather than being pleasing to a few it would please the crowd.

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

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

What a fantastic blend. The tin aroma is amazing, for me its of cocoa and mint. The room note is just as good. And a very tasty blend.

I tried this one simply because it received so may positive reviews on this site. I ordered it and waited with bated breath at its arrival. When it did show up (quite quickly too), I immediately opened the can. The aroma out of it was like coffee with french vanilla creamer in it. I love that smell. I grabbed a meer, filled and lit it. The taste was not what I expected. Perhaps I got my expectations up so high from the reviews, that I expected too much of it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the blend very much, but I didn't find it to be such a special tobacco. Also, I found that it was difficult to keep lit. I relit my bowl several times during the whole affair. All in all, it is a very solid aromatic that was pleasing to the palate and the nose. I would recommend this blend to aromatic smokers.