Can people not turn this space into another review bombing, sour grapes, petulant, pouty whiney kiddie parade? If you're familiar with these releases, you should know the drill by now and be aware that this stuff sells out fast, so maybe make plans to get it at release time if you want it. There appeared to be a window of three hours after release where it was in stock here (they even had a 1 per person limit). No one cares if you couldn't get it because you were asleep or can't tell time or live at the south pole and had a penguin yeet your alarm clock. Cheers to people that get it and enjoy it- looking forward to constructive reviews. I also look forward to the day when people like Gustavo, White Spot, and Robert grow up and realize that the world doesn't revolve around them and that SP sends emails days in advance with the time and date of these releases-- and that they're not going to change a process that moves their merchandise in record time just so you babies don't dampen your pillows with the tears of what could have been <3. Read Less

This is what a tobacco blend should be. Every component is present in proper proportion and in perfect harmony. Silky, creamy and smooth. I can smell the citrus and wildflower infusion on my clothes after the fact. There are not a lot of reviews out there on this one, but with a single exception, all are 4/4 or 5/5 star reviews, and rightly so. Read Less

I love the imagery of tall ships and a sailor's life. That's what I think of when I hear “Capstan” (with a Stan Rogers song playing in my head). But most people think of Middle Earth. Nearly everyone has heard that J.R.R. Tolkien smoked Capstan and possibly created the high fantasy genre in the process. It would be a stretch to think the tobacco alone made that possible and a discredit to his intellect. Having said that, it's not hard to see what he found so appealing about Capstan. What you may not know is that tobaccos age and mature and then peak. We all like to get a tin and eagerly crack it open and dive right in, but this leads to a lot of differing opinions of taste and experience. Not every batch is the same readiness and it takes careful consideration with a flake like Capstan to know if it's time to smoke or time to wait. I've had some that were wonderfully sweet and bready right away, but I've also had some that were bitter and sort of pungent from a freshly opened tin that benefited greatly from the passage of time. I believe that Capstan is good quality and that it's blenders keep in mind an end result that given various crops of tobacco require adjustments to be made if that end goal is to be consistent. If you find you have a negative experience with this flake, please don't throw it out in haste, be patient and return to it after a week, a month, 6 months...eventually you'll discover why this tobacco is revered. It is a survivor for a reason, don't be misled by rash decisions. Good things come to those that wait. Read Less

Ugh, I hate saying it... It's easily in my top 5 favorite tobacco of all time. If I only had this to smoke for the rest of my life, I would die a happy man. Bit, don't buy any of it because YOU will probably hate it. I'll bear the burden of trying to buy and smoke it all so you guys dont have to. No need to thank me. Just move right along. I heard 10 Russians is a close match! Cheers!!! Read Less

I don't write reviews often, but this one seemed to be a given. As is my usual practice, I opened a tin of Peterson EMP, the day after I got it, and the day before I smoked it. The introduction of air to a vacuum sealed tin always tends to excite the poor tobacco that has been deprived, and it gets it pretty excited. Well I must say I was incredibly happy to have EMP back. From the moment I opened the tin I could remember the wonderful scent of Dunhill EMP. From the moment of the 1st burn, everything was right in the world again. Thank you Peterson for picking this back up, and keeping it exactly the same!! Read Less

Ive smoke about a quarter pound of regular and special reserve plum pudding now and they share a common thread... they are absolutely delicious. I do prefer the special reserve for it's added smoothness and depth of flavor. Normally i just prefer to slice off a slab and loosely crumble it into medium to large sized chunks for a solid 1.5 hour smoke. A word of caution: only prepare what u intend to smoke for the next pipe or day at most. I made the mistake of preparing half the brownie since i was smoking so much of it and then i ended up putting it aside for a couple months. The plum flavor will dissipate during that time. Smoked fresh the plum flavor is absolutely fantastic and is a companion from first light to last puff. Rich, smokey, mesquite, spicy, smooth, and truly a melange of fine smoky and plum flavors that is intoxicating in the best way. I dont deliberate on the flavors im tasting here, i just lounge in my chair and drink it all in and relax. A little mesquite here, a lot of campfire and leather there, and some spicy perique and cavendish throughout. Make no mistake though, this is more enjoyable with the plum flavor present and accounted for. If you like a rich english smoke its hard to go wrong here. Medium in body and mild in nicotine from my experience. Even after several relights it maintains its flavor and body without getting harsh. Special reserve ages magnificently, and gets even smoother and more rich/complex in flavor. In my opinion this is the best that SPC has to offer hands down, being a true stand out blend. If I may be so bold... both this blend and the original are easily in the top 10 best blends currently in production and for my preference top 3( even over penzance). As a lover of pretty much all tobaccos, and a guy whose rotation and preferences are forever shifting and exploring new blends, PPSR always finds ito way back to the top of my rotation. If you like English tobaccos I highly recommend trying this one. It may be a little pricey but it's worth every penny. ADDENDUM: In the time since I first smoked these blends, I've learned that I largely dislike the processing done on most* Sutliff and McClelland blends. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoy PP Special Reserve and other blends from these companies. Generally speaking I do not, however, so I figured it might be a good idea to add this info in case there are people with similar likes and dislikes. My opinion of PP Special Reserve remains unchanged for now (I'm about.to pop a fresh tin and begin the journey side by side with aged regular PP), and that is to say that it is pretty awesome stuff and extremely smooth. It might be impossible to make this one bite, once dried correctly. Seriously. Read Less

This is a very solid smoking aromatic. The flavors are more subtle than I expected, which was great because you don't end up with an artificial taste in your mouth. The cherry seemed very natural -even to the point of pleasantly tart, blending very well with the black cavendish. The amaretto is definitely there as well, and blends very well with the Virginias. All in all what got me most about this one was the balance of flavors. It's distinct, almost subtle, and noteworthy. In no way overpowering. Well worth the limited release and worth any fan of aromatics trying. Read Less

This is one of C&amp;D's core blends for a reason. Throw a rock and chances are you'll hit 1 or 2 pipe smokers who've tried it. And at the end of the day, it seems to elicit a love it or hate it response. I love it for many reasons. Firstly, I'm a burley man through and through, and BF delivers. Secondly, it brings the nic and the strength without blowing out my palate for the day. And last but not least, this is a very simple blend that takes very little thought. It's best sipped, especially in a Missouri Meerschaum cob of absolutely any size. I can smoke bowl after bowl of this while drawing up spec sheets and doing paperwork. Awesome blend again C&amp;D! Read Less

I don't understand why this cost more than other VA/Per. It smokes well, good body, but has next to no flavor, and I ended up smoking it all just to get rid of it. Good enough not to throw away, but not good enough for me to buy again. Read Less

<p>Now I'm the first to admit that this review may be quite subjective - but this tobacco has made it to the top of my list and has become my all-day smoke; to the extent that I'm hesitant filling my pipe with any of the other great tobaccos in my collection.</p> <p>I love everything about Presbyterian, starting with opening the tin, feasting my eyes on the coarsely cut mixture of bright and dark leaves. This is accompanied by the delicious musty, earthy, and spicy aroma. The cut is ideal for the way I fill my pipe (similar, but not identical, to the 'air pocket' method).</p> <p>The tobacco lights easily, even when slightly moist from a freshly opened tin. When it has dried out just a little, it can be smoked all the way down from the first light, although I would rarely smoke a bowl in one sitting; that is no problem though, as it maintains its delicious taste and aroma, even after cooling down and sitting for some time before a relight.</p> <p>As a lover of Orientals, I find these tobaccos to be the star of the show, perfectly complemented by the Latakia and Virginia. I have always loved Latakia, and still do, but these days I prefer its use as a condiment rather than a major ingredient (as found in many English and Balkan blends); and in this regard, Presbyterian really shines. The components combine to give the tobacco a somewhat sweet, almost aromatic note, but one can sense that it is all natural, without any casing or flavoring.</p> <p>I love retro-haling, and this brings out even more flavors, adding a delightfully pungent note to the smoke; and to me that must be Presbytarian's greatest achievement - providing so many delicious flavors without resorting to anything artificial.</p> <p>As a previous reviewer has mentioned, my main regret is the fact that it is not available in bulk.</p> Read Less

This has been my go to blend since ever I opened up my first tin. The sweet smell of the “dressing” or topping initially entranced me to light up bowl after bowl. The complexity of Virginias and that sweet taste. It doesn’t disappoint! For me it does best in a smaller pipe. If you pick up a tin, get ready to set sail on the Royal Yacht. Read Less

This is the greatest barrel aged blend I've smoked since Frog Morton's Cellar. And, I say that with a great deal of certainty, because I still have some FMC, tucked away within my own cellar, that I do return to from time to time. In fact, I find this blend comes very close to FMC's quality and characteristics. They're both rich and smoky, while having a very smooth and savory finish, thanks to their masterful barrel aging processes. They both pack well, stay lit well (given proper drying time), smoke cool, and hold a good flavor profile to the bottom of the bowl. If you liked Frog Morton's Cellar or are just looking for a great English with a bit of a smooth edge to it, this is definitely one you should try. Read Less