Rich's House of Craven

"Steve WHO?", you ask. Oh yeah...the guy from Rich's in Portland (of all places). I'll challenge you. Try ANY of his blends and tell me that you're not satisfied...in that they don't represent the best of the genre they represent. I don't think you can do it...fairly. I mean if you hate all English-American hybrids or hate any hint of aromatic or whatever...and then try one and say you don't like it...not fair. Stay within your preferences. The guy is a master on a par with anyone in the world. This blend is proof of the pudding. It is at once unique and universal. Singluar in vision yet approachable by darn near anyone. Amazing stuff.

Oh, and by the way...the state is pronounced "ORY-GUN". And if any, there's a slight emphasis on the "OR". Just sayin'. The U of O (in Eugene...the one that went to the Rose Bowl this past year) used to have back window stickers for your car that said ORY-GUN. I used to have one across the back of a '63 VW Bug. As the school is my alma mater, I'll take it as OK to school y'all in the proper way. That, and the fact that every other person I grew up around, as a 60-plus year native of the place, said and says it the same way. Nuff said.

Very,Very, Very good tobacco. This has an unusually clean taste to it. It is almost herbal in essence -not like "Grousemoor" though, more like tea. The Turkish is absolutely fantastic! The Burley and Virginia provide a wonderful base for this blend. I swear I can detect the ever so slight use of cigar leaf in this blend. Although cigar is not listed it does have that flavor to it. I respect Steve Books as one of the last true blenders in the United States. He consistently provides English blends of the highest quality sans Latakia. This one deserves a drive around the block. 3.5 of 4 stars.

From the land that brought us ?hey, dude? and probably one of the first states to stamp out smoking in all areas, including smoke shops, Rich?s produces some of the most enchanting pipe blends you will have the occasion to taste. A friend of mine recently visited this venerable old, laid-back shop in downtown Portland, Oregon (now, be sure you say that correctly: O-R-E? G-O-N ? two syllables - or ghun, dude) that has three locations, does not permit customers to step behind the velvet ropes to sniff any jars or touch any tins of tobacco, and requires the assistance of store personnel to assist with viewing pipes. Additionally, there is a 65% tax on these precious leaves that makes this stuff almost as expensive as illegal smoking alternatives, though in this case, it?s worth it. Unlike most stores that work with either Lane, Altadis or McClelland products, tweaking them to their own representative styles, Rich?s are hand blended by master piper, Steve Books, and apparently, his is one of the last such shops in the country to do authentic in house blending. House of Craven is indescribable in aroma and flavor and is a true original. The blend has no pouch aroma even though there is the subtle spice of latakia and the figgy sourness of perique. The burn is light as a feather, at the same time rich and creamy, requiring only the gentlest puffing. The room note is light and ethereal. Minutes later, it belongs to the angels. The flavors are teasing and delicious, easily a light, indoor all-day smoke that brings peace to a weary mind. Perfect as a complement to a golden Spey or lemony Lowland single malt as you watch the autumn sunset. No blender I?ve tried east of the Mississippi produces anything like this. Rich?s deserves wider distribution via tinning, though that might compromise his blending perfection. Craven is more herbal than reminiscent of any one or group of tobaccos. Though I can?t put my finger on what this stuff is, all I can say is: I?m cravin? Craven, dude and it?s like awesome, man!

Five of five stars