Tinder Box Reserve 1928

If you have a sweet tooth and are a fan of chocolate then this would be right up your alley. I would consider this an aromatic blend but technically it is not, I could see this being good for a beginner or just someone who enjoys a sweeter blend from time to time. The different Virginia's add a good base with some earth and grass, and the burley adds some nuttiness which pairs will with the cocoa topping. The smell out of the tin is very pleasant and aromatic. It was a little on the moist side requiring a little drying time and it packs very nicely. I would suggest a light packing as this cut can promote a tight draw. While this is a good smoke there isn't a lot going on here, for me it's an every now and then smoke when a change of pace is needed or if I'm in the company of non-smokers. This stayed lit after the charring lite and required few relights. There was very little moisture left in the bowl. If you like a sweeter borderline aromatic tobacco and can find it, this is definitely worth a try.

A wonderful tobacco with pleasent sweet undertones that tantilize the palate and stimulate the senses. Upon opening the tin and giving it a wiff, it reminds me almost of a candy bar containing chocolate and coconut. The taste is pleasent and has a delightful aroma to it. Worthy of giving to a fellow friend.

For my first review, I thought I'd stick with a simple choice.

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

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.

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'

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.

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.

On vacation in Tucson, I picked up a tin of this as a salute to the Tinder Box chain and its history. The flavor and quality is very good, with a mild, creamy almond-like aroma and taste. Once well dried out, it does not bite and is quite pleasant. Room-note is great.

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.