Lane Limited Black Cordial
(3.40)
Highly aromatic. A new generation of pipe tobacco. A blend of four new and unusual black fire cured grades with added highlights of sweet Virginia. Dramatically new and different in taste and appearance.
Details
| Brand | Lane Limited |
| Blended By | Lane Limited |
| Manufactured By | Lane Limited |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Alcohol / Liquor, Cherry, Vanilla |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Very Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.40 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 13 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 17, 2008 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I find this to be a lovely Altadis aromatic. I have smoked mostly English blends for over three decades. [For reference, I am fond of C&D's Pirate Kake late in the day.] My experience with most aromatic blends has been that the aromatic esters used to flavor the casing sting my tongue from start to finish. This does not happen with BC. In the pouch, it is mostly black string-cut with scattered, lighter bits. The moisture content is a smidge high, and it does feel slightly sticky to the fingertips--not too much.
I find the pouch aroma a pleasing, subtle prune-like scent, reminding me of a rich botrytis wine, like Black Noble.
The mild, sweet fruitiness is clearly present while smoking the first 2/3 of the bowl, but becomes much more subdued--though not gone altogether--for the bottom third. I have experienced no tongue bite despite the presence of Virginia--just an enjoyable, mild-to-medium smoke.
If allowed to dry in the bowl for 10 or 20 minutes after a gentle packing, it lights well, and usually burns cleanly to the bottom with maybe one relight, leaving a fine, light gray ash that dumps neatly from the bowl.
BC is friendly enough to smoke in the morning, with enough body to do for later in the day.
I have smoked this many, many times in only one pipe, that being a 3/4 bent one that I carved from the crotch of a well dried branch of a large apple tree that came down in a storm several years ago. It has a moderately tall 3/4 inch bowl. This applewood pipe has never been exposed to any other variety of tobacco beyond the initial few bowls of 1Q Honey Cavendish used to create the carbon cake during break-in. That brings me to the opinion that BC and applewood enjoy each other's company. I would definitely not smoke BC in a Latakia-exposed pipe--not because of BC's effect on the pipe, but because BC's subtle flavor would be lost completely.
I recommend Black Cordial as a relatively mild yet flavorful, non-biting aromatic for the early half of the day.
I find the pouch aroma a pleasing, subtle prune-like scent, reminding me of a rich botrytis wine, like Black Noble.
The mild, sweet fruitiness is clearly present while smoking the first 2/3 of the bowl, but becomes much more subdued--though not gone altogether--for the bottom third. I have experienced no tongue bite despite the presence of Virginia--just an enjoyable, mild-to-medium smoke.
If allowed to dry in the bowl for 10 or 20 minutes after a gentle packing, it lights well, and usually burns cleanly to the bottom with maybe one relight, leaving a fine, light gray ash that dumps neatly from the bowl.
BC is friendly enough to smoke in the morning, with enough body to do for later in the day.
I have smoked this many, many times in only one pipe, that being a 3/4 bent one that I carved from the crotch of a well dried branch of a large apple tree that came down in a storm several years ago. It has a moderately tall 3/4 inch bowl. This applewood pipe has never been exposed to any other variety of tobacco beyond the initial few bowls of 1Q Honey Cavendish used to create the carbon cake during break-in. That brings me to the opinion that BC and applewood enjoy each other's company. I would definitely not smoke BC in a Latakia-exposed pipe--not because of BC's effect on the pipe, but because BC's subtle flavor would be lost completely.
I recommend Black Cordial as a relatively mild yet flavorful, non-biting aromatic for the early half of the day.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 12, 2004 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I bought this under the name of Z-50 Black Cordial, at the time it was made by Altadis. I have been told that Lane has since aquired it.
This is a very unique blend. It looks like Black Cavendish, but the taste is very different. I listed the flavoring rating as "Very Mild", because I think there is something there - but I have no idea what it is.
Be careful with the tamper - pack too hard and you will have a glob that you'll have to pry out of the pipe. Smoke it slowly for best flavor - get it hot and it takes on an odd soap-like taste. Due to the nature of the tobacco, it is hard to keep lit - so don't try, just re-light as needed. Unless you like the taste of soap...
This isn't complex tobacco, the flavor stays pretty much the same from beginning to end. And that's not a bad thing - the flavor is good.
UPDATE: I recently found this blend again at a local store. As before, it was a bit on the wet side. But this time, the cut is much different. It's a medium ribbon cut, and it packs much better than the previous sample. I found a description of it that confirms a topping of "a rich cordial liquor". There is also a much higher presence of the Virginia in the new batch as well. Verdict: Improvements on an already good blend.
This is a very unique blend. It looks like Black Cavendish, but the taste is very different. I listed the flavoring rating as "Very Mild", because I think there is something there - but I have no idea what it is.
Be careful with the tamper - pack too hard and you will have a glob that you'll have to pry out of the pipe. Smoke it slowly for best flavor - get it hot and it takes on an odd soap-like taste. Due to the nature of the tobacco, it is hard to keep lit - so don't try, just re-light as needed. Unless you like the taste of soap...
This isn't complex tobacco, the flavor stays pretty much the same from beginning to end. And that's not a bad thing - the flavor is good.
UPDATE: I recently found this blend again at a local store. As before, it was a bit on the wet side. But this time, the cut is much different. It's a medium ribbon cut, and it packs much better than the previous sample. I found a description of it that confirms a topping of "a rich cordial liquor". There is also a much higher presence of the Virginia in the new batch as well. Verdict: Improvements on an already good blend.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2017 | Mild | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I haven't smoked many aromatics since I switched from Captain Black to higher grade pipe tobacco more than fifteen years ago but, perhaps because of my advancing age (sigh), I find myself of late craving sweeter mixtures. So, a bought some Lane Limited Black Cordial about a month ago. My plan was not to smoke it straight but instead to mix it with other tobacco and, in particular, English blends.
My first experiment was with Hearth & Home Ten to Midnight. I mixed it at a ratio of about 3 parts Ten to Midnight to 1 part Black Cordial. Let me tell you, it was delicious. The sweetness of the BC really complemented the smokiness and richness of the Ten to Midnight, turning a good English blend into a great one.
My next experiment was with Mac Baren Plum Cake, a blend that used to be one of my favorites but which, in recent years, seemed to lose some of its flavor (another effect of an aging palate, I suspect). The fruitiness of the Black Cordial brought the Plum Cake back to life and, once again, it tastes delicious.
I've yet to smoke Black Cordial straight and may never, but that's OK. If it enhances other tobaccos as well as it has Ten to Midnight and Plum Cake, I will be a very happy pipe smoker.
So, if some of your blends seem a little less interesting than they used to, try mixing in some aromatic tobacco like Black Cordial. You may be surprised how good they taste together.
My first experiment was with Hearth & Home Ten to Midnight. I mixed it at a ratio of about 3 parts Ten to Midnight to 1 part Black Cordial. Let me tell you, it was delicious. The sweetness of the BC really complemented the smokiness and richness of the Ten to Midnight, turning a good English blend into a great one.
My next experiment was with Mac Baren Plum Cake, a blend that used to be one of my favorites but which, in recent years, seemed to lose some of its flavor (another effect of an aging palate, I suspect). The fruitiness of the Black Cordial brought the Plum Cake back to life and, once again, it tastes delicious.
I've yet to smoke Black Cordial straight and may never, but that's OK. If it enhances other tobaccos as well as it has Ten to Midnight and Plum Cake, I will be a very happy pipe smoker.
So, if some of your blends seem a little less interesting than they used to, try mixing in some aromatic tobacco like Black Cordial. You may be surprised how good they taste together.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2012 | Mild | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Great bulk aromatic! Man this is one nice tobacco. It is mainly blackened cavendish with a little bit of blond stripes. It smokes a bit on the wetside, and is a bit goopy when handling, but once you get past the downsides, it is a nice smoke.
The tin-note is delicious, and it blends with alot of other stuff easily and adds a good bit of flavor to blander tobaccos. This was purchased in bulk, so the price is much nicer than any tinned tobacco. I purchased it under the name Dark Cordial, but reading the reviews, it was the same thing for sure.
It is a heavy tobacco, so it won't take up as much room per ounce as a lighter, fluffier blend. Buy plenty, because if you like aromatics, you will go through a lot of this stuff. Forms a softer cake and dedicate a few pipes to it, that will make it better.
The tin-note is delicious, and it blends with alot of other stuff easily and adds a good bit of flavor to blander tobaccos. This was purchased in bulk, so the price is much nicer than any tinned tobacco. I purchased it under the name Dark Cordial, but reading the reviews, it was the same thing for sure.
It is a heavy tobacco, so it won't take up as much room per ounce as a lighter, fluffier blend. Buy plenty, because if you like aromatics, you will go through a lot of this stuff. Forms a softer cake and dedicate a few pipes to it, that will make it better.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 11, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was fooled into thinking this was a house blend...it isn't I found "black cordial" in several places looking THE same and tasting the same. This can burn hot if you go too fast, this actually gets smoothed out well with a pinch of proper english and it shines. But as it is it usa rich aromatic, it will bite eight off so go easy. Nice room note by all accounts, it can be improved on by easing the bite but this is a solid aromatic for experienced pipe smokers..newbies will not get the best of this.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 26, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I didn't expect to like an Altadis blend when sent this as a freebie, but am pleasantly surprised. I wish they had sent me blends like this when that Altadis sampler went out. It's a cool smoking, non-gurgling aromatic and the first cherry flavored tobacco I honestly like. I think it's cherry, anyway. Unlike a couple other Altadis blends I got for free, I may actually finish this one, and it is not out of the question that I would buy it again. No bite, and lovely in (or out of) the nose.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 26, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
Surprisingly, I enjoyed this one despite the overwhelming yummy pouch aroma.
This pouch was given to me with an online order. Not a fan of heavily cased tobaccos, I hesitated a long time before smoking it (and letting it dry properly before).
I'm glad I tried it. I will not smoke regurlarly but I might re-order every once in a while.
This pouch was given to me with an online order. Not a fan of heavily cased tobaccos, I hesitated a long time before smoking it (and letting it dry properly before).
I'm glad I tried it. I will not smoke regurlarly but I might re-order every once in a while.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 12, 2009 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Very Full | Very Pleasant |
I bought a two ounce sample of this several months ago at Tobacco Trader in West L.A., thinking it was one of their house blends. Since it had been in the store container, it had nicely mellowed. I fired up a bowl in my Barling Sovereign pipe dedicated to aromatics and was immediately impressed with the balance of flavors not too sweet, a hint of berry flavoring (the container said it was flavored with plumb) could definitely taste the Virginias and had a balanced blend of Cavendish to give the smoke a creaminess. Both my wife and son loved the smell, giving this one an A + in the room note department. As I smoked more of this blend in the last couple of months, I found I enjoyed it more and more as the ghost flavors of the other aromatics dissipated in my Barling, tasting a pleasant tang. My neighbors even commented on the great smell of the tobacco. Ran out, went to Tobacco Trader the other day to pick up more and found out it is made by Altadis, which shocked me, because almost all of their blends leave me with tongue bite, have always thought they had bad to mediocre flavor and I avoid them. Not this one! It is actually one of my favorite aromatics, just a step behind Boswells Raspberry Cream. Tobacco, like wine can give you certain prejudice if you know the brand!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 11, 2008 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
This is another tobacco bought at my local tobacco shop. The jar aroma was very nice. The moisture content was a little high, but some drying took care of that. Anyway, on first lighting up the tobacco fills the room with an aroma that should please even the most ardent smoke Nazi. The taste is fruity and the tobacco flavor is sort of an after thought. Well, way after. About midway through the bowl the sweet aroma and flavor bow out quickly. What you're left with is a boring nondescript tobacco. The taste, now, is simply of weak smoke. The aroma is almost nonexistent. This tobacco makes a lot of promises that it can't keep to the end of the bowl. A little more virginia might have helped.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 04, 2007 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
This is a pleasant, easy and sweet smoke. Creamy taste, favourable room aroma, gentle on the tongue and palate, and all in all an experience to be recommended. No bite, no buzz, no bitterness.
If you enjoy a tasty aromatic smoke, then this is pretty good.
If you enjoy a tasty aromatic smoke, then this is pretty good.
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