Barrister and Mann

I am always confused when people like the old formula or even Glissant better than Reserve. For sure Glissant is a quicker and easier lather and it’s no slouch but when you dial in Reserve properly it’s no doubt slicker both during and residual with a better post shave. I think some people don’t lather Reserve properly because it doesn’t load or lather the same as Glissant, then they chalk it off as not as good.

I’d be curious to see if people opinions change after following the directions of the how to video.

And I'm always confused when people claim Reserve to be better than glissant or classic.  It just goes to show you that there is a ton of variability in wet shaving - it all comes down to personal preference.  Imagine being a soap maker and having to try to figure this all out.  I know if Will ever dropped Glissant or Reserve there would be an out cry in either case.  Like when Coke switched to new coke.  What the heck was up with that?  

I've looked at the directions video and seen Will lathering it himself and I just don't find that all that helpful - I've been happily wet shaving for years and to be told that the reason I don't appreciate Reserve's obvious superiority is because I'm doing it wrong just doesn't fly with me.  I'll probably give it another go sometime although it might just be like brussel sprouts for me - I try them every few years because people tell me I'm just not cooking/preparing them properly and every time all I can say is, still yuk

I felt the same way about brussel sprouts. That is until I tried them wrapped in bacon and deep fried

I am always confused when people like the old formula or even Glissant better than Reserve. For sure Glissant is a quicker and easier lather and it’s no slouch but when you dial in Reserve properly it’s no doubt slicker both during and residual with a better post shave. I think some people don’t lather Reserve properly because it doesn’t load or lather the same as Glissant, then they chalk it off as not as good.

I’d be curious to see if people opinions change after following the directions of the how to video.

And I'm always confused when people claim Reserve to be better than glissant or classic.  It just goes to show you that there is a ton of variability in wet shaving - it all comes down to personal preference.  Imagine being a soap maker and having to try to figure this all out.  I know if Will ever dropped Glissant or Reserve there would be an out cry in either case.  Like when Coke switched to new coke.  What the heck was up with that?  

I've looked at the directions video and seen Will lathering it himself and I just don't find that all that helpful - I've been happily wet shaving for years and to be told that the reason I don't appreciate Reserve's obvious superiority is because I'm doing it wrong just doesn't fly with me.  I'll probably give it another go sometime although it might just be like brussel sprouts for me - I try them every few years because people tell me I'm just not cooking/preparing them properly and every time all I can say is, still yuk

Everything you say is spot on, Mark, except about Brussels sprouts.  One of my favorite vegetables is roasted Brussels sprouts.  (There's just a wee bit of a tease there, though I do love them roasted. )

I am always confused when people like the old formula or even Glissant better than Reserve. For sure Glissant is a quicker and easier lather and it’s no slouch but when you dial in Reserve properly it’s no doubt slicker both during and residual with a better post shave. I think some people don’t lather Reserve properly because it doesn’t load or lather the same as Glissant, then they chalk it off as not as good.

I’d be curious to see if people opinions change after following the directions of the how to video.

And I'm always confused when people claim Reserve to be better than glissant or classic.  It just goes to show you that there is a ton of variability in wet shaving - it all comes down to personal preference.  Imagine being a soap maker and having to try to figure this all out.  I know if Will ever dropped Glissant or Reserve there would be an out cry in either case.  Like when Coke switched to new coke.  What the heck was up with that?  

I've looked at the directions video and seen Will lathering it himself and I just don't find that all that helpful - I've been happily wet shaving for years and to be told that the reason I don't appreciate Reserve's obvious superiority is because I'm doing it wrong just doesn't fly with me.  I'll probably give it another go sometime although it might just be like brussel sprouts for me - I try them every few years because people tell me I'm just not cooking/preparing them properly and every time all I can say is, still yuk

I have to agree with everything you say 100%! your simply 100% correct. Also I still shake my head and cant understand the insane choice Coke made to change the original (extremely popular & super successful) recipe.

I felt the same way about brussel sprouts. That is until I tried them wrapped in bacon and deep fried  

So what you're suggesting is to create special addition Reserve using saponified bacon fat?

I felt the same way about brussel sprouts. That is until I tried them wrapped in bacon and deep fried  

So what you're suggesting is to create special addition Reserve using saponified bacon fat?  

That would be amazing!

I know this is a little off-topic for the thread, but are there bacon-scented soaps?

I felt the same way about brussel sprouts. That is until I tried them wrapped in bacon and deep fried  

So what you're suggesting is to create special addition Reserve using saponified bacon fat?  

That would be amazing!

I know this is a little off-topic for the thread, but are there bacon-scented soaps?

I've seen a couple before. I know Wholly Kaw made one.

...I’d be curious to see if people opinions change after following the directions of the how to video.

I'm a big fan of both Glissant and Reserve, but for me the edge goes to Reserve. I have extremely hard water.  My method for lathering Reserve is quite different from Will's instructions, and although the 2 bases are vastly different from each other, I treat Reserve exactly the same way I treat Declaration's Bison tallow base:

1. Start with a barely damp knot.
   
2. Load until the knot forms a sticky, gooey, stringy substance at the distal 1/4 - 1/3 end of the knot. If you get bubbles with loading, the knot is too wet, so you will have to swirl longer until you achieve this sticky phase. This does not, in any way, resemble a traditional usable lather or even proto-lather. Imagine that your goal is to glue the tips together, effectively forming a cap at the distal end of your knot.
   
3. Dunk the entire knot in your water reservoir. Completely submerge the whole knot, right up to the brush handle. The goal here is to trap this water inside the knot behind the cap you created with the goo.
   
4. As you pull the knot from the reserve water, try to keep the brush somewhat vertical (knot facing downward).
   
5. Face or bowl-lather as usual. The retained water will reconstitute and "dissolve" the gooey cap as it works through it. This will initially result in a Spanish stucco-like foundation, then a sticky marshmallow cream consistency, but as you continue to work it, it will explode into luxury lather. The usual slurry bubbly phase is skipped.
   
6. Employing this method, I rarely have to revisit the reserve water, but at this point, it's personal preference as to how thin you like your lather. I cannot drown this lather even with my extremely hard water.
   

The aforementioned procedure, although meticulously defined by me, is a very fast no-brainer process (load with barely damp knot until stringy phase, dunk and go). It works for me with badger and synthetic. Boar requires revisiting the water a few times because the thicker bristles don't trap the water as effectively.  I understand this method deviates quite a bit from Will's instructions, but it works consistently for me.  Again, I discovered this method with Declaration's bison tallow-base, but soon discovered it works very well for Reserve as well.

thanks for this. I have a few tubs of L&L grooming soap and have a tub of reserve cool on the way. I never really did perfect the lather on soaps where the lather starts out stringy on the brush tips from the tub.

I'll give this a try tonight!

I am always confused when people like the old formula or even Glissant better than Reserve. For sure Glissant is a quicker and easier lather and it’s no slouch but when you dial in Reserve properly it’s no doubt slicker both during and residual with a better post shave. I think some people don’t lather Reserve properly because it doesn’t load or lather the same as Glissant, then they chalk it off as not as good.

I’d be curious to see if people opinions change after following the directions of the how to video.

And I'm always confused when people claim Reserve to be better than glissant or classic.  It just goes to show you that there is a ton of variability in wet shaving - it all comes down to personal preference.  Imagine being a soap maker and having to try to figure this all out.  I know if Will ever dropped Glissant or Reserve there would be an out cry in either case.  Like when Coke switched to new coke.  What the heck was up with that?  

I've looked at the directions video and seen Will lathering it himself and I just don't find that all that helpful - I've been happily wet shaving for years and to be told that the reason I don't appreciate Reserve's obvious superiority is because I'm doing it wrong just doesn't fly with me.  I'll probably give it another go sometime although it might just be like brussel sprouts for me - I try them every few years because people tell me I'm just not cooking/preparing them properly and every time all I can say is, still yuk

I felt the same way about brussel sprouts. That is until I tried them wrapped in bacon and deep fried  

Hmm that just might be the answer, I mean seriously, bacon AND deep fried? How could you go wrong?

I felt the same way about brussel sprouts. That is until I tried them wrapped in bacon and deep fried  

So what you're suggesting is to create special addition Reserve using saponified bacon fat?  

That would be amazing!  

I know this is a little off-topic for the thread, but are there bacon-scented soaps?

Isn't that Cuero Oscuro by WK?

So what you're suggesting is to create special addition Reserve using saponified bacon fat?  

That would be amazing!  

I know this is a little off-topic for the thread, but are there bacon-scented soaps?

I've seen a couple before. I know Wholly Kaw made one.

A slight departure but if you get the chance to try Rogue Brewery's Maple Bacon Ale you should, its great and at 7 or 8 % alcohol it'll warm you up, just don't try to shave afterwards. Its funny, all roads lead to bacon