Craven Craven Mixture
(3.18)
The famous mixture of cool and aromatic tobaccos, first specially blended for the third Earl of Craven in the 1860's. A very traditional latakia mixture.
Notes: Another Murrays brand has just come to mind - Yachtsman, which in the 70s was not an aromatic.
Also in case anyone wonders why Mick McQuaid ( a Carroll's brand) was on our price list, Rothmans International owned a large slice (or all?) of Carroll's, and we sold their products in the UK, including Sweet Afton cigarettes which took their name from the famous poem by Robbie Burns.
Details
| Brand | Craven |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Other / Misc |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.18 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
This is not a review, I'm just adding my two penn'orth to the J M Barrie/Arcadia narrative. If you go to the Wikipedia page for Carreras Tobacco Company you will find that the Arcadia brand mentioned in 'My Lady Nicotine' was indeed Craven Mixture. Barrie allowed his name to be used to advertise Craven Mixture, and the factory that Carreras opened in London in 1907 was named the Arcadia works, as was it's replacement in Mornington Crescent. My interest in this subject stems (pun not intended) from my time working at Carreras Rothman in the 70s. By then they also owned Murray and Sons, as well as Alfred Dunhill. The tobacco brands I remember from our price list in those days were Erinmore (by far the biggest seller), Yachtsman, Mick McQuaid (a Carrolls brand which we sold in the UK on their behalf), Craven Mixture (which was very much a minority taste by then) and three other brands containing Latakia that sold quite well - Parson's Pleasure, the mildest, then Barney's Ideal, and Punchbowle the strongest. There may have been others but these are the ones that stick in my mind.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Free to me as an employee
Age When Smoked:
2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 25, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Basic English, ribbon cut with tin nose of latakia in front and some oriental essence. I recall smoking this in the early 90's and not being too smitten with it. This revisitation confirmed my initial feelings. Review is based on half a tin from 1991.
Basic in the taste as well. The latakia was upfront but not overbearing, with the usual attendant smokiness and spice. It very well may have reduced in potency over the years but it's hard to say. The Virginias were second in command but didn't have the huge depth of character of a McClellands or Gawith. I would have preferred more sweetness as well. The orientals were present but subdued, lending just a bit of light spice and sourness. I have have preferred them more amped up. All in all, I found this inoffensive and reasonably well balanced more much less assertive than I wanted. Certainly nothing to set JM Barrie's heart aflutter. Nor my own. More of a 2.5 star blend. Just not a ton of presence, but a good set it and forget it. It should be noted, however, that I prefer my latakia blends to be light in latakia, heavy in orientals and with a huge Virginia presence. Standard "English" blends are not my forte. This stuff goes for reasonable prices on Ebay, so if you can find some and it appeals to you, go for it. Squadron Leader aficionados may find a lot to like here.
Basic in the taste as well. The latakia was upfront but not overbearing, with the usual attendant smokiness and spice. It very well may have reduced in potency over the years but it's hard to say. The Virginias were second in command but didn't have the huge depth of character of a McClellands or Gawith. I would have preferred more sweetness as well. The orientals were present but subdued, lending just a bit of light spice and sourness. I have have preferred them more amped up. All in all, I found this inoffensive and reasonably well balanced more much less assertive than I wanted. Certainly nothing to set JM Barrie's heart aflutter. Nor my own. More of a 2.5 star blend. Just not a ton of presence, but a good set it and forget it. It should be noted, however, that I prefer my latakia blends to be light in latakia, heavy in orientals and with a huge Virginia presence. Standard "English" blends are not my forte. This stuff goes for reasonable prices on Ebay, so if you can find some and it appeals to you, go for it. Squadron Leader aficionados may find a lot to like here.
Age When Smoked:
22 years
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