Lane Limited Captain Black Original (Regular)

As this is one of the most reviewed and renowned pipe tobaccos on the market, the best review would be your own. IMHO, everything that can be said about this product has a ring of truth to it. It's the best at what it is and the worst at what it isn't. Fact: This is one of, if not the most, popular pipe tobaccos available. Fiction: If it's so popular, it must be good. If you are a discerning pipe smoker in search of a quality tobacco product, I wouldn't waste my time on this one. Conversely, if you want a tasty, ready to go, widely available, consistently reliabale, affordable smoke you can light up and enjoy this might be just the ticket. A burger at Mickey D's can't be compared to a backyard burger off the BBQ: and it was never meant to. On the go, a fast food burger can really hit the spot, but if you're willing to fetch the coal, load up the BBQ and take the time required to get the temperature just right and mix some groung steak with all your favorite spices you'll be well rewarded for your efforts. Captain Black Regular is what it is, love it or hate it. Yeah I'll put some in my pipe from time to time, but I certainly wouldn't compare it to the wonderful array of exotic blends on the market today. If you are in the mood for some no fuss, no muss American aromatic OTC, this will do the trick, otherwise look elsewhere.

Think supermarket cupcakes; sweet, vanilla, burnt marshmallow, yellow spongecake somewhat cloying aftertaste. And about the same lack of character with overly-dominant, aspertame-like chemical notes.

There are much better tasting and smoking vanilla family aromatics available out there. If aromatics are your bag, maybe Pipeworks and Wilke, or MacBarens.

I don't want to disrespect the Captain, he has led many a pipe smoker into the world of pipesmoking where many other delights await, he is available, he is economical, he is unoffensive to the nearby non-smoker.

When I started with the pipe I bought a pouch, and having few landmarks to compare did not have many complaints at first. As time went on, however, and I tried some higher quality (and, albiet, higher-priced) blends, I came to see this as a uni-dimensional, overly-sweet, with a slightly off-putting chemical hangover taste, aromatic blend. Now I would be appalled to see it burning in any of my prime briars.

The first half of the pouch was smoked, the sencond half has sat in a jar for a few years. Time has not helped this cheap and artificial factory concoction.

A poster child for the reason why you should drive past the drugstore and find your way to the nearest proper tobacconist. First, because the aromatic blends a tobacconist carries will have more clean tobacco flavour without harsh ersatz notes and heavy glycol syrup topping, and second, because your tobacconist, once he knows you have a sweet tooth, might steer you towards some milder sweet virginia blends with light casing that deliver so much more pleasure.

One star would be unecessarily harsh - but redeeming qualities are limited. One-and-a-half probably fair, but two because given the choice at the local gas station or Qwicky Mart, the Captain lets you off relatively easy compared to some OTC nightmares. If I could start over, or if you are new to pipe tobacco, I might steer clear of the cheap aromatics and pick the Carter Hall or Prince Albert from the mild burleys instead.

So, I was catching up on my PipesMagazine Radio show the other night. I intently listened to Brian Levine present his impressions of a recently dappling with Captain Black Original. What, wait a minute? First, I was very surprised that he actually smoked it. Two, the ensuing review was rather favorable to boot. Really? CBO was one of those aromatics that I started with way back out fresh out of high school and haven’t smoke in probably 30 odd years for specific reasons mind you. Today I happened to be in the CR Butt Tobacco dispensary picking up some of my favorite cheapos for next week’s travels. As you would have it, one of the Captain’s wild hairs took hold of me; what the heck you know. Dropping the pouch of CBO on the checkout counter along with my usual treasures, I had to ask the cashier to redouble on the price call-out thinking a mis-heard her. Yes, I heard correctly the first time … $8.49 for the pouch. Holy geez! This stuff used to cost me a couple of bucks at most.

So, here’s the bottom line, I bought it, took it home, and upon the opening stood astonished to see how cultured the tobacco looked and smelled. Not the goopy drenched fluff that I ran away from so many years ago. After three successive bowls of the old boy, much to my chagrin or perhaps personal prejudice I got to go with Brian on this one. Simply, it really was an enjoyable experience much to my amazement. The taste is much more mild, mellow, and properly balanced. Namely a nice fusion of Cavendish, Burley and Virginia aptly coated with vanilla and honey flavorings. It burns nicely producing a pleasantly light comforting aroma. Ahoy to the reunion!

Compelled by some strange siren to take up the craft of pipery, I have enlisted as a cabin boy in the service of Captain Black, that salty seaman. I packed only the corn cob pipe my late father had left behind that fateful morning, and set off to ply the angry seas.

I tell you, friends, that a week past I did not know the difference between a Dublin and a Diplomat, and thought Burley and Cavendish were some English lawyers. Having endured both the depredations and the tender ministrations of the Captain, I feel I am, at least, a little wiser.

When we were at sea, the Captain presented to me a plain white pouch, proffered with a knowing look. The leaf within looked and smelled enchanting to a young man raised on tales of swashbuckling and naval derring-do. Moist, with the aroma of vanilla and raisins, and perhaps old books. A comforting scent. The leaf was golden, it was dark brown, it was the color of high seas adventure. I greedily accepted.

When first I reached into the Captain's stash, I packed it but lightly, and burned it hot. Many's the seasoned sailor who laughed at my scorched tongue and bewildered look. Through trial and error, I discovered the virtues of packing tighter - but not too tight! - and the saving grace of the tamp. I learned of lights both false and true, and charred that leaf with the dexterity and precision of some Bavarian docktor.

In short, friends, I believed myself the captain's equal. A short week of working the cob and packing the leaf had filled me with a false confidence. I took shore leave at Carter Hall, and felt myself the master of all domains. But once more upon the seas, I learned that my confidence and my mastery had been left upon the shore.

I was ready for the billowing gales that blew through the Missouri Meerschaum. I slowed my rhythms, I managed the burning heat. But 'pon the wind came a sweet smell, and in my mouth I perceived the taste of some foul chemicals. Had some knave filled my pouch with that pinkish concoction they call "sweet and low?"

I confess I am but a greenhorn still, and no able captain nor even a bosun's mate. But this muddy mixture of Black's, while containing some pleasant aromas, still contains traps for unwary navigator. I found myself unable to reconcile its sweet aroma with a flavor that hid a bitter, chemickal taste within its breast, as a treacherous whore might hide a knife, the better to relieve some poor cabin boy of his loot.

When the waves subsided, I contented myself with a mild, pleasant taste of tobacko. But the memory of the gales, and that sweetness, shall forever mark me. I have endured the rough and sometimes unspeakable initiation of the dread Captain. I shall hoist my cob in my calloused hands having learned the hard lessons of the seas, and join that fraternity of men who earned their scars, and their smoke, honestly.

My fresh supply of BCA is still a few days away, and I was whiling away a bit of time in a local convenience store, and noticed that they had a few tobaccos on hand. Having never tried CBW, I succumed to the experimentation genie, and bought a pouch.

It was dry enough, and had a pleasant bag note, which came through as a mild vanilla upon lighting up. Contrary to some reviews, I got no bite, and it was cool enough in the bowl, with a nice room note. But, that's where it ends. There's just little taste to it, IMO. It wasn't objectionable, just bland, with almost zero tobacco taste. Mixing iwth a bit of Russ' Old Glory improved it somewhat, but took most of the punch out of ROG. Next was a 50/50 mix with Lane 1Q, which improved it a bit...enough for me to even keep around for some further mixing attempts. At least it won't go to waste. However, if CBW appeals to you, I'd say go for BCA, for a much richer vanilla taste, and at less cost, frankly. Even if you are new to piping, and like the reviews on CBW, you'll probably still find BCA preferable.

Just two stars. It's not bin-bound from the jump, but I wouldn't buy it again, for my tastes, which definitely do lean toward aromatics. I'm very glad that I landed on BCA and a BCA/1Q 50/50 mix as one of my regular choices. Guess I'll just have to go camp out near the mail box this week, and wait for the "BCA delivery gnome" to arrive.

Captain Black Regular (White) is the best selling packaged pipe tobacco in the United States. By far. Bud Lite is the best selling beer in the United States. By far. So is Captain Black Regular the best pipe tobacco available and Bud Lite the best beer available in this country? Not exactly. But the sales do reflect the fact that a lot of people like them. There is an unfortunate tendency for people who do not prefer very popular products to be condescending toward those who do. I am not overly fond of Captain Black White myself, but I find no reason to ridicule its many admirers.

What is Captain Black Regular? It is a combination of black cavendish cavendish, burley, and Virginia. The pouch mixture is mostly blackened leaf. It has one unquestioned strength. The room note is outstanding, like that of toasting marshmallows. Smoke this tobacco and you are almost guaranteed a comment of, "Oh, that smells good," from non smokers.

The taste is surprisingly restrained for a tobacco with such a pronounced room note aroma. You get the vanilla, and a touch of chocolate, but the taste is not at all strong. The nicotine level is low.

This is an exceedingly moist tobacco. Yet, surprisingly, it burns well and is not difficult to keep lit. With a restrained sipping technique a pipe full can last a long time, and many of those who smoke this tobacco exclusively can prolong the smoke for an extended time.

The Captain promises an "exceedingly mild" blend. It can be when smoked slowly with a careful puffing technique. Smoked rapidly, this is not an exceedingly mild tobacco.

Likewise the smoking technique affects the moisture problem. A carefully restrained puffing cadence does not eliminate the goo, but it does keep it within reasonable bounds. Puffed rapidly, Captain Black Regular will yield a gurgly pipe.

Given the necessity for careful smoking technique, Captain Black Regular is probably not the best pipe tobacco for a beginner, for novice pipe smokers tend to puff overly strong.

I smoke aromatics about one quarter of the time. I find Captain Black Regular to be a decent but not outstanding smoke. Personally I prefer both the Captain Black Royal and Gold to the White. I give the White high marks for the room note, but find it quite ordinary otherwise.

As with other aromatics, there is ghosting of flavor in succeeding smokes. I usually restrict smoking aromatics to my cobs, meerschaums, and Dr. Grabows.

Ahh, Captain Black white. Is there anything more iconic? This is the Marlboro reds of the pipe smoking world. Say what you want about this tobacco, but I must say that any product that has been around for as long as CBW has, and can still be found in damn near every grocery and drug store you come across has to have some redeeming quality. You can call this tobacco terrible all you want, but I am sure there are many tobacco companies and blenders out their who would be tickled to have half the success this blend has.

I am mainly a Vaper smoker. Occasionally I veer from that path, and honestly I will smoke just about anything. Over this holiday season I received two coupons in the mail. One for Captain Black pouches and one for Borkhum Riff. Neither tobaccos are anywhere near my good list, but the coupon allowed for a pouch for only $1 dollar. Living in Vermont our tobacco tax is 91% (yes you read that right). That puts a pouch of Captain black at about $12.99. For $1 I just could not pass it up, and I have to admit the whole thing was nostalgically fun.

The success of CBW is not from in the pipe it is from out of the pipe. The taste, eh, nothing really. The smells both in the pouch and in the room, oh my! Talk about a crowd pleaser!

The cut is ok, it packed well. It stayed lit well. It did not bite my tongue which I was a little surprised at, but I did approach it as a drug store aromatic so I smoke accordingly.

It did seem to leave some goo in the heel of the pipe but that is par for the course in this type of concoction.

Everybody has to try it. You are not a pipe smoker if you have not smoked CBW. If you have not, get off your high horse and check out this staple in tobacciana.

My first blend. If you search real hard you can taste some tobacco. Mostly just sweetness. I guess it’s vanilla but the taste is artificial. I also get some overripe fruit on the retrohale. Very wet and soppy, even from a pouch that’s been open for many months. Burns hot with great smoke output, but doesn’t bite in any meaningful way. No nic hit at all. It’s tolerable in a pinch.

One of my favorite drugstore blend, it has everything that aromatic lovers wish it has.
One step ahead of the royal blend in flavor.
I love both of them!

The smell after opened the pack is wonderful, the tobacco color is beauty, it's too wet so it need dry out a bit, low nicotine and good smoke quality, it can overheat your bowl and bite your tongue if you sip like crazy.
A blend that i always keep in my rotation.

Not complex, easy to find, good choice for an all day smoking.