Lane Crown Achievement

[docpierce]

While rummaging around in back of the cellar, I spied a pint jar of Lane's Crown Achievement. I didn't even know it was there. I suppose I ended up with it, in my early cellaring days. I purchased it along with a number of other blend ideas- copy/pasted from SmokingPipes' Ten Best Bulk Seller List. There it sat gathering dust, among others such as C&D Bayou Morning and Epiphany, Big & Burley and Kramer's Danny Kaye. Somehow I just never got around to it. I had ordered four oz of each and jarred them up. Stacked and over the course of time, pushed to the back. Fortunately, this blend likes time to mature.

I've never been a huge fan of the Lane. I guess I ranked their blends somewhere below PS, MacBaren and C&D, In the same general ballpark as Sutliff and Newminster. Good, everyday smoking but nothing to rave about. Mistaken snobbery in the case of Crown Achievement. It's good- very good.

It appears to be a standard English blend with various tobaccos ranging from Latakia to lighter and leather colored bits. Medium, uniform sized particles. When I opened the bell jar the smoky lat aroma wafted out and dominated any other. I am reminded of one LP Peretti's English blends. Time and the jar have been kind to it -for it packs well in my Sav 320xl Author. The pipe has a very open draw. Easy charring and lighting. Copious, creamy cool smoke. Comforting in a Goldilocks oatmeal kind of way- just right for a cool foggy morning, like this morning. Warming and satisfying for a 1st smoke of the day. Easy with zero relights. Not one of those slogging blends that fatigues half way through. Medium nic hit.

I guess I'd have to say that it's a big thumbs up for Lane' Crown Achievement in my book.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

According to a friend who called Smoking Pipes a few weeks ago and is a regular smoker of this blend, bulk is no longer available from Lane and such tins as are available now will be all there is.

BS 005, with maybe a year or more on it, is very good. Not the same, but good.

 

[danimalia]

I like Crown Achievement quite a bit! I think it does the full Lat+Perique style very well, and I prefer it to Nightcap. Disappointing to hear it will be going away, but I can understand why if it's not a huge seller. Blends with specific-varietal Orientals and Perique are likely more expensive to produce.

 

[hauntedmyst]

It's one of those blends I used to smoke, forgot about and am sad it's gone in bulk. Hopefully they will bring it back.

 

[mso489]

Oh boy! That's one unopened tin that was shuffled under long ago that I will now especially look forward to. Sounds mighty good, all properly aged too.

 

[mingc]

I bought these in bulk back when I started with the pipes, but it fell by the wayside, as there are just too many other blends to explore. Sad to see it go.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Not a fan. But an aged tin find can be manna from heaven.

 

[ofafeather]

I remember really like CA but haven't had it in some time. Like you, I have a jar stashed in the back of the cellar. Coming on 20 years or so. I may actually have a tin, as well. Great, find!

 

[mso489]

Despite my propensity for burley, I like many English blends -- mild, medium, and strong, with or without burley. I think it helps to smoke other genres so you don't get tired of the inevitable Latakia, which is so good, but can get boring. I'll find my tin of Crown' one of these days, and it should be getting quite good.

 

[ofafeather]

like

"liking"

 

[agnosticpipe]

I've been a fan of Crown Achievement for years. One of my favorite English blends!
Best enjoyed in a Lane Crown Achievement pipe! But a Lane era Charatan will do in a pinch!

 

[JSPiper71]

Good day all. I’m in Montana with my daughter hiking and enjoying the beauty. I stopped at a B&M and they had a few of these tins. Having never seen it before, I bought a tin along with a tin of Balkan Sasieni. Really enjoyed it! Way more than the Sasieni which was blah. Think I may go back and get the rest. When was this discontinued? Good find.

 

[FurCoat]

I picked up a tin at an obscure B&M in Tennessee last year.

 

[gastro]

I tried a bowl of this in Chicago and loved it, definitely adding to my next order when my TAD starts acting up

 

[JSPiper71]

I tried a bowl of this in Chicago and loved it, definitely adding to my next order when my TAD starts acting up

It’s been discontinued for some reason so unless you can find some somewhere you’re out of luck. Has had a sordid past it would seem. Does anyone know when and why they discontinued this fine smoke?

 

[mso489]

I have no idea, but would guess that Lane appeals to the Everyman smoker and the new pipe smoker so might not have the best following for what sounds like a fairly refined English blend in such a broad and competitive market.

 

[zitotczito]

I have 8oz in a jar with 8 years age on it. Maybe time to open it and see if I will miss it.

 

[zitotczito]

I've been a fan of Crown Achievement for years. One of my favorite English blends!
Best enjoyed in a Lane Crown Achievement pipe! But a Lane era Charatan will do in a pinch!

I have the same pipe, I will keep it in mind when I open up the jar I have. Thanks

 

[JSPiper71]

I have 8oz in a jar with 8 years age on it. Maybe time to open it and see if I will miss it.

Where do you live? I’ll be right over.

 

[matchstickman]

I have stashed away a not insignificant amount of Crown Achievement stashed away. It's crazy flavorful without being overbearing and is a very reliable, clean smoke. Also, it goes really well with a cold root beer.