Lane Limited HGL

(2.92)
Toasted cavendish is laced with mountain Latakia, then blended with white burley and golden Virginia to produce a sweet, fuller-bodied smoke, yet cool and slow burning. The Lat is used as a condiment, not to build a Lat-bomb.
Notes: This is Lane's RLP-6 with a touch of Latakia added.

Details

Brand Lane Limited
Blended By Lane Limited
Manufactured By Lane Limited
Blend Type American
Contents Burley, Cavendish, Latakia, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging Bulk
Country United States
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

2.92 / 4
21

31

21

3

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 76 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 14, 2014 Medium Very Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
A reading of the reviews for HGL falls into two camps, perhaps three. The first are a number of Latakia heads. Now mind you, Latakia tobaccos are indeed condiments, but not for these smokeheads. Those of you who have or are aware of blending whisky know that a smokey profile like the great single malts of Islay, eg Laphroig 10 year is indeed an acquired taste for those few that enjoy being powered over by this sensation. But the blendmasters of great blended whisky know that it doesn't take much more than a tiny bit to greatly affect the blend.

The same is true in blending tobacco. Some might advise that it takes little more than a touch - say 3 to 5% of a Latakia to achieve the goal of adding a pleasant smokey overtone or background, not the 30 to 50% that the Latakia smokeheads demand, or that they critique this HGL for lacking.

Let's add a third group - those who know what's really in HGL. They know because they were long time buyers with a close relationship with their Lane rep, and can say with some credibility that HGL is simply RLP-6 (great on it's own) with a nice touch of Latakia. They are exactly right.

Now the same can be said for the fervor which some like to attach to classifying this blend. Hey, it's not really an English they condescend, naw it's just a "crossover" or a light American transition blend. For noobs, you know. These attempts to impose classifications that are unclear in the first place is a losing and confusing battle.

Then there are those who found this well done Latakia blend just about right, and said so. Only slightly aromatic, and a well-balanced blend containing Latakia, Burley, Virgina and Cavendish.

In my opinion and experience, I'm going with a third group. These reviewers believe - with good reason - that this is RLP-6 with enough Latakia added to make itself known, but in lovely concert with the rest. It's not a Latakia bomb, and they are glad it isn't. The pouch tone is a smokey RLP, and the taste likewise. The Latakia addition means more attention to drying and re-lighting but within reason. It's just another step up in interest and compexity, a bit stronger, a bit tastier, and still retains that bit of flavoring/room aroma to remain pleasurable for all.

Lane became famous for their 1-Q, whose sales continue based more on momentum than actual taste. Their real stars - in order - are BCA, the HLP-6 and leading to HGL. This order is also a nice way to proceed, to find your own sweet spot. For those who don't like Latakia, the HLP-6 is a great place to call home, but for those who do - add the proper touch of Latakia and hang out with the HGL lovers.

**********

Addenda (years later): To my surprise, I found a couple ounces of HGL that had been stashed for a couple years. I would add only that it simply got better and to my mind, aged VERY well. Enjoy...

Pipe Used: MM Cob - Eaton
PurchasedFrom: Local tobacconist
Age When Smoked: 1 month
44 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 04, 2014 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
The Virginia offers plenty of grass, and some tart and tangy citrus, and is fairly nondescript. I barely get any nuttiness from the earthy, woody burleys, and its molasses flavor is light because the sugary black cavendish overtakes it. It's light on the smoky, woody, musty, floral, sweet Cyprian Latakia, which is fine for those wanting just a little in their crossover English aromatic. The toppings appear to be caramel and a little vanilla,. They moderately tone down the tobaccos. The strength is in the center of mild to medium. The taste level is a notch past that. The nic-hit a shade more than mild. Burns at a reasonable pace, cool, clean and smooth with a very consistent taste. Leaves some moisture in the bowl as it burns wet, bordering on goop. Requires some relights. Won't bite or get harsh. Has a pleasant after taste, and room note. It is an all day smoke. Two and a half stars.

-JimInks
28 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 04, 2011 Mild to Medium Mild Medium Pleasant
A little trivia HGL stands for Herman G Lane the President of Lane LTD at the time! His own personal blend he smoked at Lane Ltd back in the good old days. Where we would sneak it into our Tinder Box back in the 70's (smoking Lane tobacco's was frowned upon except 1Q and RLP-6 aka...Wilshire and Chartwell) which we carried in tubs, it was a great time back then. Maybe because we were breaking the tobacco rules at that time 🙂 HGL was always a favorite of mine as well as RLP-6, I could go on and on with the stories but I won't. This is a light Latakia blend(think Chartwell with Latakia) that I continued smoking for many years and I'm going to miss it. It always had a good flavor and smoked dry leaving a medium gray ash. I hope someone come's up with a good replacement! I find FMOTT seems to come close!

UPDATE:........It's back! Just received my order of tobacco's today and the first one I smoked was HGL! I huffed the bag and it took me back to 70's (see above) I lit it up and and had a bowl in 00 Savinelli Autograph. It was just as I remembered a very nice blend and one of the first mass crossover blends. It smoked dry and to the bottom and left a fine white ash. Are their better blends now? Yep sure are, but there is no price for nostalgia and a great crossover. The quality of the leaf seems to have changed slightly, but that could be my memory as well the taste and aroma were the same. It's a must try and one I will surely have on hand at all times. Also, not trying to upset you WillardFan but RLP-6 is the base for this blend. I know for a fact as I worked very close with the Lane Reps back in the day. At that time they were the suppliers for Charatan, Ben Wade, Parker, Dunhill and Preben Holm pipes as well as the Dunhill tobacco's both bulk and tinned. They also supplied us with Wilshire and Chartwell. The Lane rep was the one who supplied us with our personal stash of HGL which we bought out of the trunk of his car in 5 lb bags and split it with each other. As I said before (miss the good old days) and man I wish I had some rolls of Dunhill's Baby's Bottom now 🙁
27 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 23, 2017 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
The tobacco comes at a good level of hydration for me. It is a wide short ribbon, and is about half black with the rest a mix of tan and brown. The pouch note is almost like whiff a sweet BBQ sauce with no vinegar in the base. It is a whiff of brown sugar maybe and a little smokiness.

The smoking experience is good. It is easy to keep lit, and the flavor is a mild caramel with a hint of campfire from the condimental latakia. It did not leave me with a wet heel or require pipe cleaners midbowl. The flavor was fairly consistent. Puffed you get just a little more tart, and something that is almost salty. There might be a little hay from the Virginia when sipped. Black Cavendish often tastes musty to me, and I got none of the musty with HGL.

This tobacco is really a premium OTC from another era. It has a pleasant room note and got favorable comments at the office and at home as well. This is an easy one to repeat. I enjoyed it.

This is a solid 3 in the ratings. It would be easy to make this an all-day smoke.
18 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 10, 2006 Mild Medium Medium Very Pleasant
This tobacco is sold by my local tobacconist as Buckingham and I owe to it my love for latakia. Granted, the latakia is a bit weak in this blend compared to my other favored blends -- Penzance, 965, Nightcap-- but without this one, I would never have thought to move along.

The cavendish in HGL is not cloying and the burley just doesn't seem to be there, but I am not big on burleys to begin with-- it's my take it or leave it tobacco.

This one is as aromatic as I get, but unlike many others, it burns quite cool and leaves a neat little bit of dark grey ash.

The room note seems a bit vanilla-y and hence, my wife loves when i smoke this blend.
11 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 30, 2008 Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
I call HGL my friendly baccy. It is one of my greatest mainstays for times that I have nothing in particular in mind but would like just a nice friendly smoke. It never disappoints or lets me down.

IMHO, HGL has everything in the friendly category locked down. It keeps a nice moisture level without having to fuss over it, no sticks, packs easily and evenly, lights and stays lit well, has a pleasant slipstream, the flavor, while being rich, stays pleasant from start to finish, never a trace of a bite, smokes cool, never gurgles, and goes all the way to the bottom leaving a nice dark ash. Never leaves my pipe with a bad leftover odor. The flavor is what I would call a nice crossover; slightly sweet with traces of Latakia sneaking in occasionally but gives a constant presence of good rich Virginia.

Maybe if I had to take a choice of one blend for the rest of my life, HGL would be it. Can't find fault anywhere, in any way.

Would be a good intro for a newby.
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 08, 2016 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
Lane Limited - HGL.

I'm not sure as to why there's no added flavourings listed, just the nose from the pouch confirms a vanilla one.

On the negative side, even though it's supplied in loose form it's still too wet. The length of drying time's obviously dependant on how dry/moist you like your blend but I can't see many folks being happy to smoke it fresh. The blend's medium in build and a 50/50 split between black and brown, with no twigs or chunks.

The smoke, like the pouch note, has definitely been enhanced with vanilla. It works well as it's about the same weight as the Latakia's smokiness so it's not an acerbic, or harsh smoke. I find, after about a third, the vanilla becomes more of a creamy taste instead of an emphatic vanilla one; it's not so clear-cut but it's still there. The Virginia forms most of the smokes body, and the Burley gives just a 'touch' of flavour to the smoke. The actual texture of the smoke's a high point for me: it's very thick and silky.

This will make a nice afternoon smoke instead of my usual straight aromatic.

Four stars.
Pipe Used: Somali Lee Van Cleef Meer'
PurchasedFrom: 4noggins.com
Age When Smoked: Two weeks
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 29, 2007 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
This blend was no different from other Lane blends in that at first they are somewhat unremarkable, then, when you hit the zone, the become enjoyable for a while and finally, half way down your pouch they become sickening.

I enjoyed this blend at first but I couldn't finish smoking the few Oz. I bought. After some time all you can taste is PG, simply put the more you smoke it the less you like it.

Some people will probably call me crazy and to be honest they might be right, how can I expect a cheap blend to be good? at 18 bucks per pound it's a no brainer. However, there are other blends in the same price range that are actually quite enjoyable (as in Peter Stokkebye's).

The bottom line is: If you've tried one of Lane's blends you have tried them all; they are all rough, they all taste the same, and they all have the cheapest leaf with tons of PG.
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 01, 2019 Medium Mild Medium Very Pleasant
This a very nice middle of the road English blend that isn’t going to overwhelm you with Latakia. This blend has a harmonious balance between English and a aromatic. The Latakia does come through nicely but is balanced along side the sweetened cavendish. You’ll even get compliments from those around, but only you will know you’re smoking an English blend. This blend was made for Mr. Lane, the founder of the company many, many years ago, and was his favorite of all the Lane blends. The mountain Latakia is mellow and smoky but not overbearing. The cavendish is sweetened just a little. Sit back and think of the years long ago when this blend was made and men wore fedoras. A genuine good blend that I know you’ll enjoy.
Pipe Used: Dunhill Liverpool
PurchasedFrom: Pipes and cigars
Age When Smoked: 2 years old.
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 09, 2017 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
So we all have guilty pleasures. Gourmet chefs that sneak a fast food cheeseburger, audiophiles that sing Barry Manilow in the car at the top of their lungs, tobacco snobs that love a good aromatic.

I smoke English, primarily Dunhill, I like a Pease blend, McCelleland and Rattrays can do a Va like nobody's business. C&D can twist the same theme to make you think they reinvented it. I've got so many Mason jars of boutique blends Martha Stewart is going to call me for jelly jars.

Lane knows aromatics, they pretty much invented the modern genre and took us out of the licorice based Stone Age of flavored tobaccos and brought bulk gourmet blends into the high end shops 50 years ago. 1Q, weather you like it or not is a masterpiece, the ultimate gateway drug. HGL is the connoisseur's crack. It is the bridge from aromatic to true English. It's the balance of appealing to the snobs and appeasing the masses. It's just delicious. Go ahead and attend you local pipe club with your Poul Winslow and load up some Blackpoint while drinking Balvernie- but on your way home, stop at In & Out, grab a Double-double, wolf it down while singing Mandy at the top of your lungs and load a bowl of HGL in you Kaywoodie and huff away....yum.

Pipe Used: Peterson Baker Street, Charatan Executive pot
PurchasedFrom: Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked: 2 weeks old
7 people found this review helpful.
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