I haven't had 1-Q in my rotation for years, more than a decade, but I do have a small jelly size jar of 1-Q about a third full, so I took it down and packed it, out of curiosity. The first surprise was how moist it was after all these years, preservatives I guess, and how redolent of the flavorings vanilla and caramel. Whew. It doesn't stay lit very long until it has burned down and dried out in the process. It tamps very hard because of the moisture I suppose. About a third into the bowl, a MM cob spool with a Forever stem (orange swirl!), it settles down flavor-wise and is somewhat enjoyable, but it still requires some relights. I can see how it might be a good blend for newcomers, non-threatening, no nicotine dizzy spells, no tongue bite or gum burn, and a little dessert flavoring to coax a newcomer along. It's true, I'd never order this stuff, but I'd being fibbing if I said it was an awful experience. Pretty good compared to what I expected. I do remember it is perhaps the best selling blend in the U.S., maybe the world. I don't know how long it will take me to finish my bit left in the jar. It's not calling to me.
