Lane Limited 1-Q

This was my very first pipe tobacco. I bought it at The Tinder Box in 1990 and they call it Wilshire. I Like the taste and smell, but it just doesn't have enough kick in it for me anymore. Yet, somehow I keep going back to it.

Ok, I know everyone talks bad about 1Q. Here is the deal. I've had many aromatics and pretty much, they all seem about the same to me. I seem to return to this blend because it tastes a little better. I get better results smoking it out of smaller bowls. It seems like the taste lasts longer.

I've been smoking for about a year & I typically smoke full bodied Nicaraguan cigars, so no matter what I do, it seems to me that pipe smoke is always a little more mild. I've tried English blends and personally, they smell like campfire smoke & I can't smoke them indoors, which is why I moved to pipe (to smoke indoors). The 1Q blend I don't get a lot of positive comments on from spouse as far as aroma, but I like how it smells. It does not burn hot, at least it doesn't for me.

I get the sense that there is a group of people who want other people to think that there is "so much more" to pipe smoking outside of the typical aromatic blends you can get from your local shop. Personally, I think it's a lot of BS. There's no way pipe smoke has nearly the nicotine levels as cigar and cigarette smoke. I'm not sure it's supposed to.

I do get some wet dottle at the bottom of the bowl with 1Q, but I get those with other aromatics too. You dump it out and let your pipe dry for a few days. Run a pipe cleaner through it and let it sit. Viola!!

More than anything else, I wanted to comment on another reviewer's (HoopleHead) remarks, not only regarding 1Q, but also similar blends that are sold in bulk by Lane or Altadis.

1Q is a good blend, particularly for new pipe smokers and can stand quite well on it's own merits. But using such blends as 1Q, BCA, RP-6, Black Cavendish and the like, to mix with English or Balken blends has a lot of merit as well. I've been doing for several years and will be the first to admit if I find 1 blend in 5 that you might say is a "keeper", I'm doing well. But it only takes a small amount of tobacco to produce a "trial" blend and I can almost always tell from only one or two bowls if I've hit upon something I'll end up using.

So before you veterans write off such blends as 1Q, you might want to see what a 2/1 Gawith Balken Flake/1Q would taste like. That's probably not a very good example, but I'm sure you get the picture. And not only will you ocassionally come up with a better tasting blend by cutting it with some of the milder flavored bulk blends such as 1Q, you will also save a few bucks in the process. And besides, it's fun.:)

F. Prefect

I’ve tried this many times. Production seems consistent, but the storage and handling of end item distributors is not.

A mild, approachable tobacco. Obvious vanilla forward toppings. Easy to smoke, but may require drying time (depends on how fresh the stock you purchased is).

One of the top selling aromatics for a reason. Smells good, tastes good, and it is readily available. If you like aromatics, this is the baseline blend you need to try. Try to purchase this from a reputable source. There is a lot of old bulk stock floating around, age doesn’t improve this blend.

Let me start by saying I'm a rare aromatics smoker. That said, I am giving this three stars based on my comparison to other aromatics I have tried. Not my usual smoke, but pretty good for what it is. The smell is terrific. If you asked a non-pipe smoker what pipe tobacco smelled like, this would be it. If you walked in a tobacco shop and told them you wanted to try the hobby, you would probably walk out with a basket pipe and a baggie of 1Q. And you would probably decide this pipe thing was ok. This is not complicated, you don't have to think about it or look for nuances. It taste like what you would expect from the smell. Smokes mild, can go out if you don't pay attention. Good for the newbie and a decent change of pace for the experienced pipe smoker. Decent value for the price as well

I find 1-Q a brilliant smoke. It's quality is not so much in any one particular strength; its brilliance is in the way it subtly blends so many mild qualities together in a gentle way. I'll admit I am biased. It was the second tobacco I smoked and I immediately fell in love. Two years later, I am not any less entranced.

1-Q, for all its simplicity, is a gentle, calming smoke. Nothing overpowers, but everything blends together to be completely enjoyable. It's flavor is mild but comes through clearly, it is very mild in strength so you enjoy the smoke for what is it and not what it does to you; it's mild flavor and taste has hints of vanilla from the topping and roasted almond from the burley, The room note is pleasantly present, nice to have around but does not demand attention. Nothing about the smoke stands out, but like an old friend, you simply enjoy it for what it is, not what you want it to be.

The epitome of an all day smoke. You can smoke it without paying attention and simply enjoy the moment, or you can savor it to pick out all the delicacies and nuances, which are not deep or complex, but like an old romance, the deeper you look, the more you appreciate. So much good, it can be underrated, but it is so popular, that it is appreciated. I give it three stars because nothing stands out, but taken as a whole, it is an excellent smoke for those who enjoy aromatics. Pick up a tin or a bag and sit back and relax with a very mellow, enjoyable smoke.

The old farts love this stuff (I say this with respect and veneration- one day too I shall qualify as a Pipe-Smoking Old Fart and will be quite proud to be one) and it’s easy to tell why; bright Virginias give it a nice light and airy feel with lots of soft vanilla throughout embedded in the sweet Cavendish.

Sweet but not overly so the Tanginess of the Virginias keep it at an even keel.

This is a Tobacco-shop standby and the stuff usually moves by the pound-full.

Is it amazing? No, but if you’re driving or doing some chores—there’s’ nothing better.

I always wanted to try this, once I heard it was a sort of bulk Captain Black. I had to ask a tobaccanist (Fairhaven Smoke Shop in Bellingham, Washington -- excellent little hole-in-the-wall shop) which of his bulk blends was actually I-Q, and he provided me with a nice sample.

I like this. Tastes of vanilla and caramel, with a room note that should offend no one. I would recommend this to a new pipe smoker over Captain Black, because the flavor and casing are not as excessive. Once you've smoked you pipe a few years, this will probably no longer satisfy, but comes in handy when you need a blend such as this -- might even get you allowed indoors.

There's not much that I can say here that hasn't been addressed in the 50 reviews before mine. This really is the basic, everyday cavendish primarily flavored with vanilla. Its not the best, most flavorful, most complex vanilla cavendish out there, but its better than the drug store brands. Well worth the price one pays for it. Just a few quick notes:

Pouch Aroma--Vanilla. Sometimes a bit too sweet smelling, but sometimes it's just right.

Packing--Easy enough. Its less gooey that Capt Black and his drug store buddies, and generally packs fairly cleanly.

Burn--This is one of the spots where I've always found 1Q to outperform most of its otherwise similar counterparts. It burns slow, cool, and smooth and rarely (if ever) bites the tongue. The burn is fairly uniform and doesn't "goop up" the bottom of the bowl nearly as much as other similar blends.

Flavor--Basic. This is that standard smoky vanilla taste associated with many cavendishes. The taste can do any of three things (and which one happens often seems beyond the smoker's control): It can be very flat and bland (or occasionally bitter), It can be a bit too sweet, or it can be just right. Its a crap shoot. Keep in mind that "bad" for this blend isn't so much "bad" as it is "boring."

Room Note--Pretty standard. In my mind, people (including non-smokers) generally associate pipe smoke with 2 room notes...this basic vanilla or cherry topped tobaccos. Very non-offensive note.

Overall, this one gets 2 stars from me...its a GREAT recommendation for a new pipe smoker, but is pretty 'blah' once you've been around the block a few times.