Lane Limited MV-1000

Favorite Lane aromatic to date. Used to be RLP-6, but something has really gone downhill on that one and it was pulled from my rotation. Early retirement. Anyhow, I received this in a sampler, and gods this stuff smells amazing in the bag! Just like a good, warm sugar cookie coming out of the oven. Already I am sensing an RLP-6 replacement. This description says ribbon cut, but this is most definitely a coarser shag cut with some pretty long strands in there. I can't really place at the moment what taste this reminds me of upon lighting. But I personally love it...it's warm, sweet, and bread-like. Maybe sweet rolls? Surprisingly you can still make out a moderate amount of the VA tobacco flavors despite the topping, which distinguishes well-balanced aromatics in my book. Moisture content is just right, burn is just right, substance of smoke is just right. Kudos to Lane for exercising restraint on PG and topping! MV can bite, so watch the cadence. I'm giving this 3 stars because it is pretty impressive as far as aromatics go. I plan to keep it in rotation for when I crave the sweet but not overly sweet stuff.

I generally love vanilla flavored pipe tobacco, but this one is a bust for me. The vanilla flavor just isn't there. Secondly, it burns slightly hot for me. if you're looking for a couple of good vanilla pipe tobaccos, my 4 star recommendations are McClelland's CORPS Vanilla Ice, and Lane's BCA.

This is a decent aromatic. However, I just think there are better lane products out there. I prefer LL-7 and 1Q over this. I mixed this with some granulated 5 brothers to give it strength. It is pretty decent.

Vanilla tasting/smelling aromatic. Gets a little goopy and bitey. With age the vanilla casing disappears and the low quality virginias are left for and unenjoyable smoke.

The ribbon cut make for easy packing and lighting.

There are better aromatics out there but MV-1000 gets points for availability (Lane Limited tobaccos are typically found jared up and renamed in tobacco shops), room note, and beginner friendliness.

Not being much of a fan of aromatic blends, I have to say that this stuff ain't too bad. Like most of us, I tried the traditional drug store blends, and didn't care too much for them.

This is a mild aromatic, not too hard to keep lit, and after going through a few pounds of this stuff, I'd have to say that it's pretty consistant in flavor and quality. Not too goopy, if you clean your pipe out every few bowls. I'm not fanatical in the pipe cleaning department, but it only takes a few pipe cleaners to keep things tidy. $2.00 an ounce from my local tobacconist ain't a bad price for this stuff either. Now if I can find a decent English Blend in this price range, I wouldn't have anything to complain about for now...

8/5/12 I wanted to revisit my original review of this blend. I got bored with this blend after smoking a few lbs of it, and switched to RLP-6, and I have to say that I prefer the RLP-6 over this blend. I had about 4 oz. of this stuff I'd forgotten about for about a year. 1 year later it was still quite moist - took 2 lights to get going - and really singed my tongue throughout the entire bowl. Flavor was really dull too. It's cheap, burns clean, but not my cup of tea anymore...

As a newer pipe smoker, I am mainly exploring the different blends (I favor aromatic blends, although I am dipping my toes into the non-aromatic blends now) to find what I like.

Opening the bag, what I smelled was light Virginia tobacco, with some vanilla and something else I just can't put my finger on but it was pleasant!

The flavor I tasted was mostly again the light Virginia flavors, with a bit of sweetness (no, I didn't really get the vanilla). It was a very nice and clean smoke!

The first time I tried this I had accidently put this in a cob I had previously smoked a Scottish blend in... this has lead me to next look for a Scottish blend with vanilla added.

It needed no drying time, and even smoking it fast I got no tounge-bite at all.

Interesting aromatic. I am not a big aro smoker but I do enjoy them once in awhile. When I get the craving it is usually in the morning with coffee. The other time is afternoons around Christmas when I am home with nothing to do but sit by the fire with the family and fire up McClelland's Holiday Spirit, but that is another story... and another review. As an infrequent smoker of aro's, I am not sure how unique a Virginia only aromatic is but this is very unique to me. Maybe Cavendish is too sweet or absorb flavors differently, same may be said for Burley, I am not sure but this is a light aromatic compared to most and maybe it is the VA only that keeps this more firmly grounded in the tobacco world instead of the candy world. The pouch note is great like most aro's, Vanilla is the main aroma I get but there is a hint of caramel and a hint of fruit. I get a generic tobacco aroma "built in" but it is not something I would call a typical VA aroma.

The flavor is also quite nice. You can get the grassy VA flavor and that does become more pronounced at the end of the smoke. There also some earthy notes. The primary flavor is Vanilla and it is ever present. I have read that some say it flashes off but I do not experience that. It does fade and the Virginia flavor becomes more noticeable: grassy and even some toasted bread, but the Vanilla and other flavors stay until the end. This burns real well with some dry time. I have had it in a jar for over a year and it has dried out some but still needs 10 plus minutes. After drying it will burn with one light another miracle for an aromatic. Not an everyday smoke for me but this is a go to aro for me and I attribute this to the fact that it is a straight VA aro, and even a bad VA is still pretty good, in my opinion, this one is a stand out aromatic.

Very well flavored, very easy to smoke. Highly recommended as an introduction for new pipe smokers. The room note is nice and not overpowering. This is recommended for someone who enjoys Virginia tobacco.

Sweet..mild...not offensive to those who don't smoke..vanilla is most noticeable something I cant quite put my taste buds on. Overall it is a decent smoke but really lacks something...I just cant figure out what it is...A good all day smoke or great for being outdoors fishing because there is nothing really complex about it that requires thoughtful contemplation in your favorite recliner. Since this a better blend compared to Capt Black Gold and other OTC vanillas but really didn't make it into my tobacco rotation it ended up in my "all things vanilla" jar. I will say that it was a great addition to the jar and did add another layer to my "ATV" jar which is always in my rotation! 2 stars for me...maybe 3 stars for a new pipe smoker who wants a gentle introduction to a blend not available at a gas station. 3 stars if planning to use in a home blend!