Anyone tried Lane Andullo yet?

[michaelmirza]

I'm really curious about the new Lane Andullo blend. The staff at Iwan Ries told me it has a "piney, almost gin-like" taste. Those are magic words for me, but I wouldn't have gotten that sense from the P&C description:

Lane Andullo brings a type of tobacco never sold commercially in the US to their huge following of fans. Dominican Republic cigar leaf is tightly bunched for two years to create a dark and flavorful tobacco that has been smoked as pipe tobacco in the Dominican for a long time. The folks at Lane Limited got their hands on some of this rich leaf and combined it with a good amount of silky black Cavendish to add smoothness to the blend, and finished it with a touch of Latakia to add depth and complexity. Andullo is a truly unique tobacco that we're sure will find a huge following among the P&C Faithful.

It's sold out so I know some of you folks are buying it. No reviews published on any of the main platforms yet but I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts if available!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Looks like Lane is trying to get into the pipe tobacco industry. ::

 

[michaelmirza]

I wonder if they'll make it big someday! :mrgreen:

 

[cynicismandsugar]

I picked up a couple of tins (under the advice of a local B&M) and I have yet to crack them open. As soon as I do, I'll let you know, sir.

 

[papipeguy]

Man, that sounds like a winner to me. Go for it.

 

[pagan]

There are several pipe blends that include a cigar leaf, cant remember all of them but the ones I tried in the past didn't impress me and I decided not to sample any more

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My suggestion, which should be taken with a grain of salt, is to approach cigar blends, not as an alternative to cigars, nor even close to a cigar, but as something new altogether. Key Largo, and Virginia Spice are two of my favorites, and I just think of them as unique pipe tobaccos. $0.02

This one actually sounds like something I'll try. Sounds good to me.

 

[michaelmirza]

Welp, I went into Iwan Ries today and they had Andullo in stock. I picked up a tin and will report what I find!

 

[leonardw]

Michael: I'm extremely curious to know what you - and anyone else who has smoked Lane Andullo - thought. I love this blend, but I'll be honest, when I first launched it I thought: I'm the only person in the world who is going to like this blend. It's just not quite like anything I've ever smelled or smoked.
A bit of background:

I stumbled on the Andullo tobacco while working on a cigar project in the Dominican. There was this 4 foot log in the corner of the factory, about 6" diameter and wrapped in palm leaf. Basically they take cigar leaf, bunch it tightly together, wrap it in palm leaf, and then let it ferment for months or years. In the end you get this jet black log of tobacco that's hard as a rock and has a Perique-type aroma. Turns out the Dominican's have used it as chewing and pipe tobacco for a couple hundred years. Today it's mostly used in cigars.
Anyway, I brought some home, chopped it up and tried smoking it straight. Just about knocked me down. After playing around with some different blends, it really seems to marry well with the Black Cavendish.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Come on, Michael, you've had two weeks. Where's that report? Chop chop...

 

[fitzy]

You're slacking Michael and leaving us all hanging in the process.
We expect a full length professional review!

 

[supdog]

Come on, Michael, you've had two weeks. Where's that report? Chop chop...

Two weeks? It's been a month. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[ltstone]

Oh Baby I have really been digging this stuff. Its a little hard to describe. It kinda starts out like an aromatic english or a very weak Bengal Slice/Frog Morton Celler with a weaker latakia component and an Anise/Chocolate/marshmellow topping. At about the half way point it totally changes to what I would describe as a semi-sweet very spicy cigar/perique with a very unusual flavor and aroma wafting in and out which i can only imagine is the Andullo leaf itself.
I image most people will hate this blend but I absolutely love it and just ordered some more. Funny too I puffed hard on this and got no tongue bite at all. Its like a strong Perique were it will make your tongue feel numb but it goes away soon after with no lingering after effect. Also I would say its mid-high in nic..
https://youtu.be/iTZ5PHCrqMA

 

[michaelmirza]

Haha, thanks for holding me accountable! For a full review you'll have to send JimInks a tin. But for me, I really love it! Aromatic + Latakia is my absolute favorite combination in the world of pipe tobacco. This one has a deep, dark, rich flavor, but with much more body than the average aromatic. I'll also verify what ltstone said about the tingle... there's a sort of cooling sensation when you smoke this that's quite unique. Tin came pretty moist but with some dry time this stuff is sublime. Highly recommended!

 

[jacks6]

I agree that most people will hate this blend. I was initially excited but I pretty much gave the rest of this tin away minus the two bowls I smoked. Latakia + Anise = an uneasy stomach the rest of the day for me. I included it in some samplers I sent out this week - I actually wish I could take it back so they won't have to witness the nauseousness I have. If I sent it to you .. I'm sorry, I didn't know yet. I will take returns and send you a better blend.

 

[jacks6]

Also - this should have a warning label, whoever thought it was as a good idea to combine licorice/anise with Latakia? I might have found the first blend I truly hate....which says a lot for me.

 

[cynicismandsugar]

[taking notes]
I still haven't opened my tin, but now I'm curious.

 

[ophiuchus]

Looks like I gotta stop by Iwan Ries this weekend.

 

[leonardw]

I image most people will hate this blend but I absolutely love it

Itstone, those were my thoughts exactly. Interesting to here the anise/licorice comments, as there is none in this blend. Also, the Latakia amount is relatively small here (

 

[ltstone]

So your responsible for this excellent blend, thank you! The topping tastes more like the RLP topping but maybe its just the black cavendish and Andullo that give it the slight anise taste. Also yes the latakia is almost undetectable to me but what is there gives this blend a bit of body and a slight smokiness that makes the other tobaccos stand out. I think the latakia is a great addition that keeps things till the andullo really kicks in later.