Lane Limited BCA

Years ago I really enjoyed BCA but I just can't enjoy the last batch I purchased. I expected it to be mild but not bland. It was like smoking hot air. Maybe my tastes have changed but it was hard to find anything good about this tobacco. It was fresh and seemed to be of relatively high quality but not much else. I will try and use it for blending but by itself it is a waste of time.

This tobacco surprised me. As I've stated before, I'm not a big fan of aromatics, I've found so few with any taste over the years, but this one is special. BCA has such a broad range of smells and tastes—berries, nuts, marshmellos, rum (whiskey is claimed, but it tastes more like rum to me), really sweet tastes, and remarkably complex. Of course, I can't think of a blend with more additives than this one, and it will goop up your pipe; but, even so, for me, it's the perfect smoke for when I want to switch gears. I find this blend particularly delightful on a warm summer night. The room note is actually noticeable for once, even outside, and it's a great scent. I've given this blend its own pipe, an old Leonessa Capri, a "beater," and, since I only smoke it every once in awhile, the pipe stays relatively clean. So, in summation, BCA is a great smoke, for what it is—a sweet Black Cavendish. I'll be searching for other Black Cavs in the future, but I will always keep some BCA on hand. Recommended.

My B&M sells two types of the Lane Offering. One is the BCA and the other is simply labeled Black Cavendish. I looked at the actual multi-pound bags, and they do indeed have two different names. I've tried them both, and there is a difference. The BCA has the milder flavor of the two. The Black Cavendish blend is well over the top though. I actually like the stronger blend more. The BCA is too mild for my taste buds. I do like them both, but IMHO the stronger one has more to offer in both flavor and room note.

As a side note, I mixed this with some Prince Albert and imho, it's a pretty good poor man's version of Captain Black Royal, and a whole lot cheaper too...

This is a good blend from Lane. Although it smells and looks as though it would be a goopy aromatic. For me that is not the case. It burns very slow and clean. has a great room note. I rarely smoke it straight. I mostly use it for a mixer. I add 1/3 to a good English with a good amount of Latakia. Something like Proper English. I really enjoy the combo. It has been my all day for some time now. The BCA adds to the room note. In a positive way. My wife likes it. She hates the smell of straight English or Balkan blends,which I love smoking. This is an easy compromise. BCA smokes just fine by itself. First class black cav. Surprisingly clean burning.

One of this smokers all time favorite aromatics. Smokes, cool never any bite, an all day smoke. Sweet but not cloying so, vanilla yes, but in some moderation, a complex of flavors really seem to come together in this blend to produce a near nirvana smoking experience. Wonderful aroma for those around the smoker, but more importantly a truly rich and flavorful experience for the smoker. Herman Lane really left pipe smokes a wonderful legacy and BCA is no small part it. It is tragic to see how the current entity controlling Lane seems to be squandering this rich history, I pray that BCA survives Lanes current (mis)management!

As an English/Balkan hound, I'm not into aromatics at all, so there are only two on the planet that I smoke. This is one of them, even though it's only once a month or so. BCA is just dependable. Easy to smoke, tasty, relaxing, contemplative, this is the one I choose on those rare occasions when a big in-your-face Balkan just won't cut it. Makes me feel good and the room note pleases.

Only Americans would take something as naturally lovely as tobacco and coat it in sweet sticky sh*! (by the way I am American). This is one of the most wretched concoctions to be concieved. It smells like burnt sugar, tastes like burnt sugar, and scorches my mouth. Tobacco is beautiful and I doubt this is tobacco. If you want to smoke sugar, boil paper bags in sugar bake it and voila a cheaper form of BCA.

I had high hopes for this tobacco after reading these positive reviews. Unfortunately, this blend let me down.

The tobacco has a truly wonderful room note and pouch aroma that is vanilla and chocolate. Yum! This stuff is very, very mild, and it is just about impossible to get it to bite. Also, this stuff smokes very cool.

Now the bad stuff...

What did I find after a pleasant bowl? Lots of goop! It looked like the bottom 1/3 of my bowl was coated with roofing tar. I can live with a little moisture from aromatics, but this was excessive. I don't care how good this tobacco is--sludge coated bowls are unacceptable. Everything about this tobacco was great except for the goop. I guess I'll have to find another (drier!) cavendish blend to enjoy. 🙁

Jar note of chocolate, brown sugar, and vanilla. Tobacco is a black course cut and a tad moist, drying may be needed. Burns normal with a few extra relights. The strength is mild and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild to medium, with notes of chocolate, sugar, liquor, and vanilla. Liquor and chocolate are the first to disappear, sugar hangs out a little longer, and vanilla is the last to go at 3/4's the way. Taste is mild to medium and consistent, with notes of toasted bread, wood, mild grass, spices, a caramelized brown sugar background note, and a smooth retro. Flavoring is leading with Cavendish supporting. Room note is very pleasant, and aftertaste is good.