Customer Reviews (20 Total)
My Number 1 !
April 27, 2018
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Quite strong, spicy, nutty, and an overall flavor like that of petersons 3p Plug only much stronger, and yes I smoked it rite out of the package dry :) I don't have a rotation, but its now pirate kake and this. Pack it verry firm, and watch to make s... Read More
ure the ash doesn't suffocate the "flame" beware the nic. The "tin" note is awsome and kinda stuffy (but in a good way!!) Read Less
Strangely Good
June 28, 2016
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Cannot recall how I heard of this tobac, but glad I tried it. This is definitely something different, and if you like trying new tobacco, this should be on your bucket list. My first impression was, Native American tobacco mixture (red willow bark?... Read More
). Like no tobac I’ve tried before, but something familiar here. ? Sweet, spicy, hints of wood smoke. Evokes autumn, like no other tobacco, to me. Hints of campfire toasted marshmallows. Dry, and yet condensation noted in pipe stem. No need for dry time. Would make a good blender to use like Perique, with a sweet Virginia, or an Oriental leaf. Pack tight, burns like a house on fire. Read Less
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
More robust in flavor than the Le Petite Robin, but nothing cigar-like about this. Floral sweetness, truly unique. This is not a blend yet tastes like a blend, earthy, nutty, sweetness, leather...burnt marshmallow...Cut in a more traditional way, thi... Read More
s had a nice burn rate, cool and rich.
Worth every penny. What a smoke. Read Less
Absolutely delicious!
February 05, 2019
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
The tin note is mostly dried fruit. There’s a floral sweetness running above smooth earth-and-cigar leaf undertones. Be careful, this stuff bites hard if you smoke too fast. Pack tight as hell as dry as sand. The strength is not to be underestimated,... Read More
even experienced smokers may feel the Vitamin N after a bowl or two. Read Less
The richer of the two cuts.
June 14, 2017
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
I've smoked all of the Tabac Manil varieties, and of the three the Reserve du Patron is my favorite. I would've never suspected that the cut of a tobacco could play such a part in affecting how a tobacco smokes, but here we are. To my tastes, this me... Read More
dium cut of semois gives a richer flavor than the regular cut. Maybe it's because you're putting more of the surface area of the tobacco in your pipe, I don't know. All that I do know, is that this cut of semois has a deeper, more full flavor, than the regular cut for my tastes. The hay, humus, mossy field, and mustiness of the regular cut are still there, but they are deeper, slightly exaggerated, and stronger without the higher notes of those flavors in the regular cut. Test it for yourself, but for my money, this is the superior cut. Read Less
Unique and essential smoke.
July 15, 2020
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Back in the mid 1990's when I was working as a DJ here in the USA, a fellow DJ from Amsterdam sent me a block of Joseph Martin No 3 Coupe Moyenne as his family lived in the Ardennes, and that was a local favorite tobacco. I do not think this tobacco ... Read More
was ever imported to the US, but it was something I kept an eye for, as it was such a unique and potent smoke. Fast forward a few years, and while trying to find the Martin tobacco online, I cam across a few importers of this Manil semois, and I was thrilled to be able to get the La Brume-use and the Reserve du Patron here in America. My memory of the Martin semois was bit more rustic than the Manil: however, I now have access to Manil semois on a regular basis, and I keep a nice Nording spigot reserved for semois. There is literally no other tobacco I have come across (and I would LOVE to hear of anything comparable) to these semois tobaccos. Burns perfectly, cool, and even attempting to "freight train" it, cannot get it to bite. Starts out with a rich, complex cigar-like taste, and the last half of the bowl ends up sweet and vegetal, pipe after pipe. At this time, I think I prefer the finer cut of the Reserve du Patron, but La Brumeuse is an equally fine smoke. The Nording I use for semois retains wonderful, fresh walnut aroma between smokes. If I was condemned to one tobacco for the rest of my life, I would be satisfied with either of Manil semois cuts. PLEASE keep these available! Read Less
MERCI BEAUCOUP & MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!
September 17, 2019
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Merci Beaucoup Ardennes Valley; Merci Beaucoup Terroir de la Semois; Merci Beaucoup Brouillard de la Semois; Merci Beaucoup Joseph Pierret; Merci Beaucoup Vincent et Gaetane; Grazie Signore Dario; Thanks to New York Times; Special Thanks to Mr. Will ... Read More
S. Hylton; Thanks to The Pipe Guys; Many Thanks to Smokingpipes! Read Less
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
There will come a time, you’ll see, when Smokingpipes customers will lament the scarcity of this tobacco.
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
As others have said, a tight pack is key. A very basic and nice smoke. Would not recommend to the beginning pipe smoker. A thicker wall briar is suggested as it can burn a bit hot if you get overzealous.
Dangerous, but fun
January 05, 2022
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Dry as a bone, but don't despair. Pack it very tightly and sip gently. It is lovely, but strong stuff. I get all Maigret whilst smoking it, but I do have to take care. The pipe I have dedicated to this blend is very small and that's more than enough.... Read More
Smoke it sitting down as it does pack a bit of a punch. Read Less
Straight From The Owner’s, Or Top Client’s, Reserve
February 14, 2021
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Reserve Du Patron, or Owner’s Reserve. Or Top Client’s Reserve. However you choose to translate this, you just might feel the superiority and uniqueness of this blend after that magical first char light. This was the second Vincent Manil blend I ever... Read More
had the pleasure of sampling, after La Brumeuse, and Lord am I glad I did. And I am grateful for not just Manil himself but also the New York Times writer who brought his popularity to American pipesters, for without that piece some years back, many on my shores wouldn’t know of Sammy Hagar’s doppelgänger and his often hard-to-find blends showcasing the Belgian varietal burley leaf, Semois.
Don’t let the box note deter you. And it does come packaged in the form of a paper brick, and it does smell like musty barnyard hay. Pack these long, dry ribbons (that more resemble medium-cut mahogany wood shavings than tobacco) on the tight side, or tamp frequently. They’ll burn swiftly. Probably faster than the long ribbons of La Brumeuse (essentially the same blend but in a thick cut) and not as fast as the shag cut of Le Petit Robin, which is a different blend entirely.
Scores of reviewers have attempted to describe this unique, earthy flavor, and the descriptions are widely varied. Here’s mine: that pure untopped Semois leaf comes out tasting like mixed nuts (not peanuts, however) with just the slightest trace of Camembert or Roquefort cheese. Intuition tells me most pipers will either really fancy or really dislike this blend. But I sense most pipe tobacco connoisseurs will love it and at least value the first smoking session with this blend. The experience is unmatched: puffing a hard-to-obtain blend from an uncommon burley leaf, farmed, harvested, dried and prepared all by one person.
If you’re a burley aficionado and if this passes your test, you might want to save this blend for a Friday or Saturday night, or a weekend, or when your spirits are feeling low. I break out my four Tabac Manil blends only when I want my smoking session to be a special one. I used to do the same with Cornell & Diehl’s short-lived knockout, Sun Bear, before it became unobtainable. 5.0 stars. Read Less
Fantastic burley
September 07, 2020
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Wow, this stuff is my new #2, fantastic flavor, savory, earthy, nutty, light sweetness, slightly floral and oodles of creamy smoke, also kind of reminds me of a very tasty cigar. I bought the Reserve du Patron and there is a lot of tobacco in this pa... Read More
ckage, very dry, wants to be packed firmly and smokes like a dream. Beware the nic-hit on this stuff is on the high side, but that's another plus in my opinion. This is different from everything else and I love it! Bravo Mr. Manil!
Update: I have found that I like to add this tobacco to other burley aromatic blends to give them a little more body and to add a little more vitamin N. Read Less
Best tobacco on the planet
August 23, 2020
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
This is by far my favorite pipe tobacco. I have two jars of it at home. It's an everyday smoke. It's hearty and otherworldly. Must have, must try, must buy!
Wonderful and unique
July 31, 2020
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Have all the Tabac Manil’s and this is as good as it gets, slightly cocoa essence and so unique! I really look forward to smoking these tobaccos! Does not disappoint!!
Cocoa hazlenutty goodness!!!!!!
July 21, 2020
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
This will now be one of my weekly smokes. Puffed lightly, and you are rewarded with the taste described in the title of this review. Puff too hard and a blast of Nicaragaun cigar will punch you in the face!!! Take it easy and let the smoke gently waf... Read More
t into your mouth and let it take you to the Chocolate factory. WARNING: This is a nicotine bomb. Smoke after a heavy meal. Perfect with any style of coffee or a nice port. Not an all day smoke!!! Read Less
A Fairly Strong Belgian Burley With A Unique Flavor
May 26, 2019
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Reserve du Patron, Pure Semois came very dry in the brick. It appears that this is standard practice for all Tabak Manil blends... at least that was the way with the Le Petite Robin I sampled. Le Petite Robin had a slight, floral, tea-like aroma & pr... Read More
ovided a semi-sweet floral flavor whereas Reserve du Patron's brick aroma was cigarish but doesn't burn so much with a cigar-like flavor in the bowl... It possesses a relatively strong, earthy, Burley flavor that is obviously different than a Kentucky/Burley grown in specific regions of the US. After about a third had burned down, the strength became akin to a medium to strong cigar with mainly a cool, earthy flavor/taste. This is not a blend but rather a solid brick of pure Belgian Burley with a unique flavor. Read Less
Almost a palate cleanser
January 20, 2019
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
A very different tobacco. The taste is such a treat after other burley bowls. I will be ordering this again.
awesome!
December 18, 2022
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Package note of mildly sweet, earthy, and mild licorice. Tobacco is brown medium ribbon cut, a little on the dry side but soft, no prep needed. Burns fast with few relights. The strength is Medium to Strong and nic is medium. No flavoring detected. T... Read More
aste is Medium to Full and very consistent, with complex notes of a spicy cigar, very earthy, mildly sweet nuts, very dry wood, very mild bitter cocoa, bready, herbal floral, musty hay, mildly tangy-sweet background note, and a peppery retro. Burley is leading with the "secrete leaf" (maybe a Virginia?) supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great. Read Less
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
I smoked this in a cob. Bad idea. I've never before smoked a bowl to complete
ash. And a mouthful of ash came right down thru the stem. This tobacco has a nic hit like a good cuban cigar. I didn't notice the nic sneak up on me. Not like a gawaith r... Read More
ope but subtle smooth. This is good for an adventurous spirit. It's different in bag smell. Smoking scent. everything is different from any other pipe tobacco. Read Less
Product: Tabac De La Semois Reserve du Patron 3.5oz
Dry as dust mess. I'm talking so dry it had turned to stone. It was hard as rock. I don't know what's going on with this stuff and I'm not smoking it.