Russ' Monthly Blend - Spring Training, and that means baseball, and baseball means snacks while watching the game. One of the favorites is caramel-covered popcorn with glazed peanuts. So, my blend has a caramel top note, with a nutty undertone. Load up a bowl and watch the pre-season games, but don't be mislead by the name - Spring Training is a treat any time of year.
This one is one of my hubby's favorite tobaccos and favorite in the Russ's line. It is a full flavor yet smooth and mellow. It has a distinctive taste that given to hubby without telling him what he has can name it just by a few puffs. It burns well, even and is a slow burner that lasts a good amount of time. Will always have this one on hand.
5 out of 5
Russ’ spring training
Feb 16, 2018
The description is very accurate. Smokes rich and cool . I really like the snow drift as well.
5 out of 5
Batter Up!
Jan 10, 2018
A nice mild smoke with no bite. Overtones of vanilla & caramel make the pouch note very pleasing, but, as of most aromatics, it just didn't quite translate as well in the pipe. But still a nice smoke and will buy again.
3 out of 5
Missing The Carmel
Aug 05, 2017
From the previous reviews, I was expecting this to knock my pipe tamp off the table. While it's OK, it's JUST OK. There's not a lot of tobacco taste that comes through, although I expected it to be mild. But, the "carmel popcorn/fiddle-faddle/nut clusters/poppycock was just barely discernible. Don't get me wrong. It's a pleasant aroma, and, I'll definitely keep and smoke my small sample. But, I was looking for that "wow" factor, and just didn't find it. In fact, I can tell little difference between it and "Warm Up", another Russ blend, and only found a bit more flavor than the less expensive 1-Q. After all these years, I'm still jaded by the memory of Edgeworth Cavendish Gold. That was the last real carmel flavor I ever found in a tobacco. Everything else since has just been nice, pleasant, but mostly a vanilla, with some nutty overtones. You won't make any room enemies with this. However, if you're looking for that Ball Game, or State Fair mix of aromas on the midway, then I certainly couldn't find it here. Some weeks ago, I also got a sample of "Old Glory", with another larger supply arriving today. It's my "Russ Blend of Choice". Mixed with the Spring Training, it amps up the nutty vanilla flavor of Spring Training, but softens and mutes the Old Glory's choc/vanilla/nut/cherry notes. I'll keep them separate, going forward. 4 stars for flavor, but 3 stars for tobacco taste, resolving to 3.5 stars overall. Was worth trying, and might be excellent for the new pipe smoker. However, it wouldn't be my "keeper", where I'll buy more Old Glory, before Russ' blends are forced off the stage to FDA exile.
2 out of 5
2nd bad patch.
Apr 09, 2017
caramel-covered popcorn with glazed peanuts...
Nope.
5 out of 5
Another Home Run from Russ
Oct 20, 2016
In the later part of 1968 I found myself employed at the Ovaltine Plant in Villa Park, Illinois where not only the chocolate drink Ovaltine was produced but also the caramel covered popcorn treats Fiddle Faddle and Poppycock. I held the distinguished title of popcorn popper - essentially tossing a shovel full of popcorn from a giant trough into a series of revolving ovens to be air popped. Now let me be clear, the scent of air popped corn is nothing like intoxicating aroma of freshly oil-popped corn in the lobby of a movie theater. Air popped corn is downright bland. Even worse after eight hours.
But as the popcorn traveled down the conveyor belt to be merged with roasted peanuts (or in the case of Poppycock … almonds and pecans) then smothered in a sweet confection of rich buttery caramel coating … well that's where the real olfactory magic happens. There was nothing like the mouth watering aroma of that caramel covered delight as it permeated the factory floor.
“Spring Training” brought back the memories of that delightful aroma which I detected in both the pouch as well as the room note while smoking. And the sweet taste of Poppycock, Fiddle Faddle and Crackerjacks is
5 out of 5
Play Ball!
Jul 13, 2016
Absolutely LOVE this blend. Not only does it smell like Crackerjack to me, it smokes like it smells. Just bought 7 ounces to cellar.
5 out of 5
Play Ball!
Jul 09, 2016
I absolutely love this blend. The nuts and caramel remind me of Cracker Jack and there is absolutely no bite to this from start to finish. I just bought a boat load to cellar because I really like this blend.
5 out of 5
Play ball!
Jul 09, 2016
The absolute best nut and caramel blend for the price on the market! I don't know what Russ does in his laboratory but I absolutely love this stuff.
5 out of 5
This is quite good!
May 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this tobacco. It's nutty and flavorful. The moisture content is just right and it packs easily. I hardly ever have to relight and it burns evenly. I enjoy it any time of day. Highly recommended!
3 out of 5
Very mild, little flavor...
Apr 26, 2016
Unfortunately this blend didn't impress me much. It was extremely mild with very little flavor. It reminded me of the subtleness of something along the lines of Carter Hall. This one could be used to break in a pipe without the worry of ghosting for sure... Nothing here that tastes bad, just really not much of a taste at all. Bag note is amazing, if it only smoked similar to the bag note...
5 out of 5
By far the best blend
Jan 29, 2016
I have tried most of the monthly blends. This is absolutely my favorite. I will definitely be ordering much more. It is very smooth and has a wonderful taste and aroma. You won't go wrong with this!!
5 out of 5
Wow!
Nov 06, 2015
Holy cow this is good! Smoking a bowl right now. Definitely one of the best aromatics I've smoked (and I smoked A LOT since 1987). Saw this several times, and almost added to my cart previously, but didn't because of the name / baseball connotations. Wish I did sooner. Extraordinary. The best of the (5) Russ' blends that I've tried (by a long shot).
5 out of 5
Batter up!
Aug 16, 2015
This is my absolute favorite aero. Perfect in all the right places for me. I just ordered some more.
4 out of 5
Excellent blend
Aug 12, 2015
An amazing tobacco that harkens back to a time when you could smoke in the ballpark while watching America's game. Now I sit in front of the television, smoke Spring Training and watch baseball. A homerun!
Customer Testimonials
Enjoyed this fully! Great smell and taste. The folks around me even enjoyed it and asked what it was and where to get some, which I was all to happy to tell. thank you P&C and Russ' blends for a great smoke!
SO of Quincy, IL
This was a nice warm smooth caramel popcorn taste if you love cream brulee as I do you will really like this one.
RK of South Bend, IN
Great blend, burned slow and cool-mild to medium taste, the pouch note is unbelievably good, and the smoke itself is tasty without any overpowering sweetness. Great all day smoke, will be in my permanent rotation for sure.
MM of Whittier, CA
This my favorite blend. Doesn't burn hot and has a nice aroma. Thanks Russ.
SD of Hutchinson, KS
I am smoking the last of my order of this tobacco now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I am going to try the 1Q this time out and I will be pleased if I enjoy it nearly as much.
AS of Texarkana, TX
I really enjoyed this blend. When I opened the box it was shipped in, my apartment was filled with the smell of warm caramel; like a candy shop of our youths. The smoke smells the same as the tobacco and is quite nice in the room, but doesn't linger long. It doesn't have a strong taste, but rather has a pleasant hint of stadium nuts, like a hint of sugared almonds. This is a damned good blend. It goes very well with the free corn cob pipe I got with the order. The pipe adds a little fullness to the flavor that is missing in the other pipe, a cheap grabow, I have smoked it in. Not a baseball fan, but this makes me miss the days when the Brewers played at County Stadium and you could puff a pipe or cigar in the bleachers.
JM of Racine, WI
I received a sample of this blend in the pipe tobacco of the month club. This has been my favorite Russ blend so far. Very pleasant pouch aroma. It doesn't burn too hot. The taste is excellent. This is a blend you could smoke in a crowd and hear nothing but compliments about the aroma. Give this blend a try!
JH of Saint Charles, MO
First off, I am primarily an auro smoker. My favorites, in this order, are Capt Black original, CB Dark, and Sutliff Sunset Rum. All of these deliver across the board. These 3 smell, burn, and taste exactly the same as the "pouch" note and that's what I like in auros. When I light up any of these, the taste is exactly what the pouch note is and so is the room note. These 3 are what I use as my standard and what all others are compared to, not the exact taste but what I expect. Having said all that, let's get to this months blend. First off, the pouch note is incredible! To me, it smells like a combination of toasted marshmallows and butterscotch. I could leave this on my counter and be happy, it is that good. It appears to be, largely, a ribbon cut. It is nicely moist without being wet. For my first bowl I packed it in a nice little meerschaum. It packs well and burns well. I only had one relight due to my smoking. This blend had no bite to me at all, smoked fast or slow. Since I only smoke outside, or in my garage, I cannot speak to room note. Now for the bad part. This blend, to me, had almost no taste at all. I would only occasionally get a bit of a sweet taste. I will reserve final verdict until I try one or two more bowls. I also noted a slight "sour" after taste. That may be due to the burley, not really sure. If this only tasted as good, and strong, as the pouch note I would say that this is definitely on my list as favorites. Will follow up after a couple of more bowls.
WW of Crowley, TX
Russ hit a home run with this. Just opening the box that my order came is was wonderful. Awesome in a cob, haven't tried the briar yet. Keep up the great work!
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