Hearth & Home Country Lane

After a bad bout with Olde Tyme Swirl, I was very hesitant to try any other blends in this series. Country Lane was a welcome surprise indeed. This is straightforward Virginia Burley fare. Upon light up there's a soft, slightly sour character followed by a rich but subtle nuttiness. Got sweeter midway down and ended with a gentle peppery note. No topping whatsoever, just a relaxing plain jane smoke that I found to be very rewarding. If you like Briggs or BRG Mixture without the top note, you will really enjoy this. Just needs a little air time. Never bit, got harsh or overheated the pipe. As Russ says when it comes to Country Lane sometimes simple is better.

Soft, sweet Virginia, backed-up by a nutty, slightly woody Burley. No bite; no Burley bitters; no packing, lighting or burning issues. Produces a good volume of luxurious creamy smoke with good body and good mouth feel.

This tobacco is exactly as advertised. No frills, simple and smokes a bit astringent -- most likely from the burley. It's probably not what the great majority of pipe smokers would ever turn to for flavor or even variety, but I picked up a tin during the amazing Pipes and Cigars sale (still going on right now as of May 11, 2019) to try it out and found what it might be its greatest purpose.

Country Lane is the perfect tobacco to break in a new pipe. Nothing fancy, no flavors added at all and burns exceptionally clean. It's going to be my go-to when breaking any new pipe from here on out.

Hearth & Home - Country Lane (Signature Series).

In the tin it's presented as mostly a mixture of medium and light browns, with just a sprinkling of darker ones. All the pieces are smokable, the blend's redundant of any twiggy pieces. I get little in the way of an aroma to shout about; it has a simple VaBur note.

My first bowl lit easily, straight from the tin; the moisture was great! Then, the smoke? I think it would be a good choice for a newer smoker to transcend from aromatics into the world of natural blends; without jumping in at the Deep End with a heavy Balkan! The Burley Cavendish outweighs the Virginia, but the flavour isn't too coarse or rustic. The Cavendish process has reduced the commonly found roughness from the Burley and replaced it with a sweet edge. The Virginia isn't unnoticeable, it adds to the sweetness but lacks much Virginia 'freshness'. As afore mentioned, the moisture was great; this makes it burn well. I'm yet to have a bite from it.

Nicotine: only a speck above mild. Room-note: harmless!

Country Lane? Although well put together it bores me. But, based on quality, it deserves a recommendation. Three stars:

Recommended.

Tin note of sugar, tangy fruit and spices. Tobacco is a brown with a little dark brown and light brown ribbon cut. Moisture content is a little high, drying may be preferred. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is mild to medium and mostly consistent, with notes of wood, sweet grass, earth, spice, bread, spicy, brown sugar, nuts, floral, mild cocoa, molasses, citrus, dry hay/vegetation, orange peel/bitter, mildly sour, a very tangy savory background note, and a mildly peppery almost smooth retro. Burley is leading with Virginia supporting. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is great.