Tinder Box Wilshire

I have tried this several times. The Tinderbox employees who don't seem to smoke themselves insist this is what you really want when you get a tin of ODF or Plumcake. I have had an ounce thrown in with a pipe purchase, etc.

This presents as a mild golden cavendish in a narrow ribbon. The pouch note is vanilla and caramel with maybe a little coconut. Smoked, it tastes to me like a toasted marshmallow, and I don't get much tobacco flavor. It is better than not smoking but not by much for me.

This tobacco seems to have its fans, but I am not one of them. I can believe it is a smoke other people like.

I'm not going to lie, I enjoyed this blend. That said, it is pretty generic (Yes, I know, it's Lane's 1-Q.) in taste and quality. To me, it had a robust, yet very subtly sweet taste, that at times hinted at a cigar-like flavor. By and large, this is a forgettable blend, but while it's being smoked it's a pleasurable experience.

This is a great blend for someone just getting started with pipes: Not too harsh, but just enough spirit to keep you interested until you find something you like better, as you most certainly will.

I received a 2oz sample from a friend, and decided to try it today on my lunch break. While I'm not a big fan of aromatics, this pouch from Tinderbox, seemed a bit sticky and took a few lights to get burning.

The taste was OK, but not something that I would have in a regular rotation of tobaks. I do enjoy cavendish at times, but this smoke was almost too sweet for me. This might be a good starter for someone who wants to try a sweetish aromatic.

The biggest turnoff for me, was the amount of deposits it left in the bowl and the stem of my pipe. I don't enjoy having to use pipe cleaner after pipe cleaner, just to get all of the residue out of the stem and pipe.

Perhaps I'll try this one again in about 6 months, and see if it has gotten any better. Otherwise, I'll go back to my VA's and VA-Per blends.

I too tried this early in my pipe smoking career. The Tinderbox chain had several shops in Florida in the late 1980s.

This is indeed Lane's 1Q, and it is a mild, mellow, somewhat fruity and sweet blend. If you like mild Cavendish blends like this, it is decent.

It didn't take me long to realize I prefer more natural blends, so my dalliance with this was short.

That this is Lane's best seller tells us where the pipesmoking community was back in the 1970s and 1980s. Even today when the average person thinks of pipe tobacco, they think of some vanilla laced concoction such as Captain Black, 1Q, RLP-6, or BCA.

So while I never became a huge fan of this, being able to walk into a store that primarily sold pipes and tobacco was worth the trip all by itself.

Running across this from 2005 (18 years old), I compared it to my 7-year-old Lane 1-Q... it's exactly the same...

Package note of tart fruit, mild vanilla, and a caramel background. The brown and black ribbon cut is moist and refuses to dry out. Burns moderately with few relights. The strength is mild and nic is very mild. Flavoring is medium, with notes of Vanilla and caramel. Taste is mild to medium and consistent, with notes of lemon grass, tart stewed fruit, and a little smoky. Virginia is leading with cavendish supporting. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is good.

A nice aromatic. Prefer other similar mixtures that have less of a taste of chemicals. This one will do in a pinch.

I have found this to be wet candy! I will give this two stars simply because it can be obtained at the local drug store, aka Tinderbox.