Lane's BCA Gone South!

sunriseboy · Dec 10, 2017

Back in Feb. I bought some Lane's BCA. Well, what a wonderful revelation that was. Smooth, just the right amount of topping/casing. Brilliant. Absolutely my favourite aromatic!
Imagine my crestfallen disappointment, when I bought another lot to keep me going, that was just an ugly tasting leaf. Holy crap. It was awful. Accordingly, I returned it to the retailer complaining bitterly about that item.
So I bought another lot (from a different retailer, hoping it might be better quality) which arrived today. Had a crack at it. It was barely better than the last unsavoury example. Am I imaging things or what?! The original lot in one jar is just heavenly, (sorry no violins here) and the last two lots are practically unsmokable.
Has anyone else had this experience.

anthonyrosenthal74 · Dec 10, 2017

This is the first I've heard of any bad BCA. I wonder if somehow they sent a shipment out mislabeled to various retailers. Could it be some unflavored black cavendish that was mislabeled?

warren · Dec 10, 2017

Your sense of taste and smell change. A violent and abrupt change such as your are describing would send me to a specialist. And, as anthony surmises, a problem at the blenders could also explain. I would expect other posts with the same problem though.

ray47 · Dec 10, 2017

Sounds like your pallet has changed. Give it time and you may come around again.

woodsroad · Dec 10, 2017

I'll ask the obvious question: did the second iteration of the blend look different?

mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast · Dec 11, 2017

BCA needs to be very moist to taste like it should. I received some once that was drier than normal and it tasted off. This may be part of things? I bought it from a number of retailers when I used to smoke it, and found that smokingpipes.com always seemed to be able to supply me with BCA that met my expectations. All the others were hit or miss. Although, it may have nothing to do with any of this and your tastes may be changing.

mso489 · Dec 11, 2017

How do other blends in your rotation taste? If all other blends perform dependably and taste as you would expect (and perhaps other foods and beverages you regularly eat and drink) then the problem is likely the blend. Tobacco being organic, and the blending process being a human activity, many things can change and vary. Different crops of tobacco, different years and different sources may taste quite different. However, if many blends and foods have altered their taste lately, you might explore a medical explanation. Have you changed any medications lately or had any other medically related changes in your life? Good luck, and I hope its just bum examples of BCA.

5star · Dec 11, 2017

I hope things work out for you. BCA was one of the first aromatics I tried & I really haven’t found another aromatic that I like much better than it.

( I have smoked quite a few that I liked less.)

That said, every bowl doesn’t taste the same. What I’ve eaten or drank makes a big difference. Perhaps something has changed your palate ?

Good luck !

mso489 · Dec 12, 2017

Maybe our resident blenders could comment, but it seems to me that aromatics are more variable than non-aromatics because they accentuate variations in the tobacco, and also, the flavoring ingredients themselves vary in their contents and application. I'm just guessing, but aromatics seem more variable to me.

fitzy · Dec 13, 2017

Hmm that's pretty interesting. I personally haven't had that problem. Keep us posted as to what you find out.
On a different note I would like to say I found their vanilla black cavendish to be great. After reading Jim's 4 star review on it I picked up a couple ounces and I was not disappointed.

sunriseboy · Dec 15, 2017

Thanks for all the comments, gents.

I might clarify the point, the first (Feb.) purchase is still brilliant. The latest one, in Sept. is the one that tastes like crapola. And my palette is not so poor that I'm unable to discern good from bad. Nearly all of my other leaf supply tastes as good as it always has. As I said to Kathleen at COJ's and Patty at STG, this is not just a whim about which I've decided to get all left handed and full of perspiration; there is a serious anomaly with that particular leaf and sample.

Further, I bought another four ounces from SP's, that arrived early in the week, and that was reasonable, but still nowhere near the quality of the said Feb. purchase.

I'm going to wait, say another month, and I'll order another lot from both stores and see what transpires then.
Anyway, I returned the Sept. sample (three ounces) from here in Oz, to COJ's, and wouldn't you know, they said, at least words to the effect, that I'm imagining things. So I'm really on the back foot now!
I'll keep you posted.

deathmetal · Dec 15, 2017

I might clarify the point, the first (Feb.) purchase is still brilliant.

Is it possible that this was aged or had some of the topping evaporate, or that the converse is true?

cupojoes · Dec 27, 2017

Hello All, I just want to clarify some things. We did give a full credit for the tobacco, and I have been corresponding both with STG and yourself to rectify this for you. It was not said or implied that you are imagining things. If it is not right to you, we will do what we can to make this situation better. As a retailer for 23 years we want our customers to have a good experience and we work hard to do that.

pipebuddy · Dec 29, 2017

@sunriseboy: Have you considered that sometimes, there is nothing wrong with the tobacco? That the problem could be at the pipe level or the smoking technique/packing method?

bonanzadriver · Dec 29, 2017

Cupojoes wrote...

Hello All, I just want to clarify some things. We did give a full credit for the tobacco, and I have been corresponding both with STG and yourself to rectify this for you. It was not said or implied that you are imagining things. If it is not right to you, we will do what we can to make this situation better. As a retailer for 23 years we want our customers to have a good experience and we work hard to do that.

Classy and professional response.
I have purchased several pounds of tobacco from them this year. Always prompt delivery and courteous responses.
Dino

derekflint · Jan 5, 2018

The tin that tasted good might have been the oddity.........

pipebuddy · Jan 5, 2018

The tin that tasted good might have been the oddity.........

:P

joeman · Jan 5, 2018

You could send a pinch of the good and the bad to a fellow piper who has enjoyed BCA longer than yourself; let him tel you which one is true.

amisk · Jan 5, 2018

I just ordered 4oz of BCA from 4noggins, first time trying it. I’m excited now! ha

Lane's BCA Gone South!

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