Lane Limited BCA

I had to completely change my review after using this for a while. I completely misjudged it. I will add detail later, but this has become the MOST essential tobacco in my collection. It is the #! MUST HAVE I keep on hand.

A premium Captain Black, is how I have heard this bulk blend by Lane called. If you have a favorit tobacconist, and he has a tobacco bar, chances are BCA is on it. You may not know it, but it will be there, just under a propriatary shop name. And I am willing to lay odds, that as long as you are not a a tobacco snob, who shuns aromatics, you have smoked this tobacco, and liked it. Very black in color, vanilla in flavor, and no matter how hard you try, you can not be bit by this tobacco. This must be the most cool smoke on the planet. My pipe almost feels fridged in my hand when I smoke this tobacco. Ok, that was an exaggeration, but even in my "hot" smoking pipes, all I get is a plesent warmth to my hand. When I am done with this tobacco, all that is left, is a nice gray/white ash, and a dry bowl. I know there are those who say this tobacco leaves the bottom of their bowl wet. All I can say to them, is work on how you smoke it, because it sure is not the tobacco.

This is my first review on tobaccoreviews.com and I am relatively new to the world of pipe smoking. When I purchased my first pipe a bit ago, I purchased a few bulk tobaccos (this being one of them) as well as a few blends from Cornell And Diehl. I did not think I would like this nearly as much as I did as I typically am a fan of something darker, smokier and generally spicer. However from the first bowl vanilla, whiskey, and marshmallow notes (all very mild) tantalized my tongue and led me to a happy spot. It wasn't long at all before the 3 ounces I purchased was completely gone and I found myself ordering more. I think for a mild, gentle smoke this one knocks it out of the park. Tasted even better while sipping an amaretto milkshake.

This is the mildest smoking tobacco that I have found. The room note is excellent. The flavor to me is not a whole lot. This is highly recommended for someone who is just being introduced to pipe smoking. My impression is if you can't smoke this, you just need to lay the pipe down. Absolutely no tongue bite and burns very cool in a cob pipe.

What is there to say about this tobacco that hasn't already been said previously? It's smooth, even burning, and smells great. I started with this blend when I picked up a pipe about 10 years ago. The local tobacconist called it "Midnight Magic". I liked it because it was so mild and smelled really good. I still keep 3 or 4 ounces around (actually in a leather pipe bag) and smoke some around this time of year. It brings back a lot of good memories.

All in all, it isn't a bad smoke. It will gunk up a pipe a little once in a while, and it can burn pretty damn hot if smoked too fast. It can also have that slight ammonia taste to it if smoked too hot like many PG-loaded tobaccos have. If proper technique is used, however, aromatic smokers will enjoy it. I would recommend this to anyone who is just starting out with pipe smoking, as well as to anyone looking for a very mild tobacco with a barely noticeable nic hit.

Usually I don't smoke this by itself. I like to use it sparingly added to blends I feel burn a little too hot or could benefit from some sweetness. It lights easy enough and seems to stay that way. 1st 3rd of the bowl is not all that pleasing to me. Not too much flavor mostly hot air with creamy smoke. 2nd 3rd of the bowl is much better. Still the creamy smoke but now accompanied by a nice enough flavor of chocolate and caramel. That flavor ends quickly and turns to the classic captain black burnt cardboard taste. Final 3rd of the bowl is pretty much all hot air and burnt paper/cardboard. Leaves a nice white ash. Leaves my pipes a little damper than other blends.

To sum up. Not really anything I would smoke alone. Used as a mixer with other blends you could do worse.

If you enjoy aromatics this is a must have for your rotation or as your all day smoke. Wonderful aroma, great room note, no bite, no gurgle, no dottle. A comforting smoke that will please both newbies and veterans alike. This is also a great blender. It makes all those also ran purchases you have cellared better. I am never without at least 8 oz of this wonderful yet simple tobacco.

Ordered 4 ounces of this and 1Q not too long ago from pipesandcigars.com. When I opened the box it was in, I thought they cheated me sense the 1Q was in a in a bigger bag. When I weighed the bags on a postage scale I was relieved that they didn't and saved myself what would have been a very embarrassing phone call. First thing I notice when I opened the bag and went for my first pinch was it was sticky, but it sure smelled good, so I took out a bowls worth spread it on a small plate and let it dry for about an hour. After the hour drying time, the stickiness was gone, and was in perfect smoking condition. The smoke was a bit on the hot side, but once I figured out if I smoked it a bit slower than I normally o, it was much better.The room note was real good, even the Mrs. liked it but still won't let me smoke it in the house. Another one added to my rotation.

Lane Limited Bulk No. BCA

Star Rating = 3

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst

Pouch Note = 8

Room Note = 8

Flavor = 8

Bite = 8

Burn = 8

After Taste = 6

Raw Score = 46

Rated Percentage = 77%

Comment = Very Mild, Smooth, Mellow, good Flavor but a little After Taste. McClelland's VBC is much better.