Just received my shipment from SmokingPipes.com via UPS - 8 oz Newminster400 flake, 8 oz Lane 1-Q;
4oz Arango Balkan Supreme. The bag smell of Lane 1-Q is vaguely familiar from my early days of pipe smoking - can't wait to try it --- I am wondering if this isn't the 30 yrs old Country Gentleman that I used to buy --- maybe they just repackaged Lane 1-Q ???! I transferred several flakes of Newminster 400 flake to my Capstan Blue tin for ease of use and loaded up a few scraps into the Vauen bent egg to try - Its stronger than Capstan Blue and Green Dragon but that is probably because its moist and I didn't dry it in my impatience ! But it has the same tea and honey flavor of both of those and barely/slightly distinguishable from them. Clearly a smooth less expensive alternative to those two. On re-light after char light I noticed a very slight minty flavor for a few seconds (???). I think I will be enjoying this blend and may dedicate the Savinelli Erica Fiamma 128 Billiard to it exclusively --- something I have never done before - dedicate a pipe to a blend. I think this one is worth it!
Side note: the bag of Arango Balkan Supreme was not completely sealed and was left open about 1/2 an inch under the tape so when I opened the box the entire kitchen smelled of Balkan Supreme - a noticeable smoky campfire smell which was absorbed by the box and the stuffing paper ! Not unpleasant but odiferous throughout the house now. Yay ! Tad !
4oz Arango Balkan Supreme. The bag smell of Lane 1-Q is vaguely familiar from my early days of pipe smoking - can't wait to try it --- I am wondering if this isn't the 30 yrs old Country Gentleman that I used to buy --- maybe they just repackaged Lane 1-Q ???! I transferred several flakes of Newminster 400 flake to my Capstan Blue tin for ease of use and loaded up a few scraps into the Vauen bent egg to try - Its stronger than Capstan Blue and Green Dragon but that is probably because its moist and I didn't dry it in my impatience ! But it has the same tea and honey flavor of both of those and barely/slightly distinguishable from them. Clearly a smooth less expensive alternative to those two. On re-light after char light I noticed a very slight minty flavor for a few seconds (???). I think I will be enjoying this blend and may dedicate the Savinelli Erica Fiamma 128 Billiard to it exclusively --- something I have never done before - dedicate a pipe to a blend. I think this one is worth it!
Side note: the bag of Arango Balkan Supreme was not completely sealed and was left open about 1/2 an inch under the tape so when I opened the box the entire kitchen smelled of Balkan Supreme - a noticeable smoky campfire smell which was absorbed by the box and the stuffing paper ! Not unpleasant but odiferous throughout the house now. Yay ! Tad ! 
![IMG_5001[5655].jpg](https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/data/attachments/170/170025-0ecada4d548ff3ca4e8c033f417cc022.jpg "IMG_5001[5655].jpg")
