Lane Limited 10 Downing St.

It's got a smoky, woody sweet Cyprian latakia flavor, and grass and sweetness from the Virginia, which work well together, though the latakia is the main component. I believe there's a little cavendish in here, too. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns cool and reasonably well with a very consistent taste to the finish. It has a little nic-hit, and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Requires few relights. Has a pleasant after taste. If you're into heavy Balkan blends, you may find this a lighter change of pace. A decent starter for the newbie. Two and a half stars.

-JimInks

This, to me, is a very middle of the road smoke -- not bad, but i tend to forget I'm smoking it: nothing wrong per se, but nothing that makes me notice it either. I'm partial to more Latakia in an English, but it'd make a good bridge smoke for a new smoker or someone switching to English blends. It's readily available to me, so I might buy it again in a pinch.

When the pouch arrived, the smell was great: deep, spicy, old fashioned. Sorely, the taste proved to be a little flat, nothing to share with those full flavoured English mixtures I happen to favour. It burns well, cool and dry, but it delivers a so subtle taste you really have to stay focused to detect it, while the main course is an indistinct toasted-nutty flavour: nothing bad with that, especially if you like delicate and mild blends, but I'm looking for a bigger impact type of tobacco; nevertheless it could be a fine starting point for those of us who want to explore the world of latakia-oriented mixtures. Not a winner though not a loser.

An excellent choce for a "budget" English. I actually preferred this to P.S.'s "Proper English" which is also a decent blend. No it is not comparable to G.L. Pease or Esotericas' blends but at about half the cost and more readily available than the premium tobacs, this one is a winner. A good blend to try an English style without some of the higher potency issues that large quantities of Latakia or Perique raise. (10/22/2004)

Update: About two and one-half stars.

Too bland, too simple, too mild. It could use a little Oriental. This tobacco is the next place to go when one graduates from Walnut or Barking Dog. I recommend LL A-100. It has stayed consistent over the years. Crown Achievement has its ups & downs in recent years. When it's on, it's on; but when it's not - smoke some firewood, you'll get a nice headrush at least.

I recieved 2 oz. of this from my neighbor. I have used about an ounce in the year I have had it.

Looking at the reviews above, I have to think there may be some inconsistency in Lane's blending practices for this one.

This is a medium modern english/aromatic blend. The sample I have has a definite casing of some sort - IMO a combination of clove and anise or licorice. It behaves a little better than the typical Lane blend. It will definitely flavor a bowl, so don't try it in your favorite briar.

I tried this stuff while going through my local tobacconist's wide ranging assortment of goopy Lane blends. I have to admit it was a real surprise.

Being a Lane blend I'm pretty sure that we're talking basicly cavendish, a little Virginia and latakia. And we are talking a quantity of latakia. This stuff's not your bland fruity basic Lane blend. It's a full bodied English mixture, as a matter of fact since I'm primarily a Va smoker this was almost too much English for me. However, if your tastes run that way and you find yourself stranded with only a smallish shop you might want to give this one a try

This no longer produced blend is worth buying *if* you can find it. It's basically a very mild English blend along the lines of Dunhill EMP except it's milder. Packs well and doesn't bite.

I think this blend has received a bad rap. I smoke both aromatics and English blends and find it a nice intermediary change. Not too strong and maybe a nice first pipe of the day smoke. It's never bit me, sent my heart racing, or made my throat raw as some of the stronger English blends do. That may be mild to the hard-core English smokers, I admit to being a lightweight and can't handle some of the strong rope and flake English blends.

Mine has never come too wet or in need of drying. If you don't like any of the components then perhaps you should stay away. There is Latakia in it and some folks can't handle that. It's a toasted cavendish to which latakia, burley and Virginia's are added.

It may be a cheaper Lane blend, but I believe it's a value and worth trying, if not keeping a stash on hand...

I love high quality english blends, this is not one. First I had 2 ounces of this and could not get a good burn out of it. It wanted to bite even with restraint. The flavors seemed subdued to me. There was also a mild casing of some sort that I did not like, maybe marshmellows? With all of the high quality english blends on the market, I would avoid this.