Dunhill Reviews

[Tobias Lutz]

1. Dunhill Early Morning Pipe
EMP will always hold a special place in my heart because the first time I walked into a real tobacconist, back in 2001, I bought a tin of it and another of Nightcap. These were my introduction to English blends and I have never looked back. Some of my favorite memories associated with this blend come from smoking a bowl full every morning on the porch of the Victorian bed and breakfast that my wife and I stayed at in Charleston, SC on our honeymoon about 5 years later. The Latakia is this blend is gentle on the nose and even more so on the palate. IMO it is the perfect introduction to the smoky leaf because it is balanced with fragrant and bright Virginias and mellow Turkish tobacco that cut the spice for the new English smoker. As with all Dunhill mixtures, it seems to burn effortlessly and the moisture consistency is good right out of the tin. For this review I smoked my custom Bamboo Semi-Churchwarden. EMP is a reliable burn- one light after the char and it’s good to go. The Latakia lends a touch of spice more than any smokiness and there are grassy note that peek out occasionally. The smoke is lighter in body and in turn is well suited for hot, sticky Southern afternoons. Quintessential and always enjoyable, I give it a resounding A+


2. Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture
I was excited to finally be able to try this blend. The tin I smoked had 10 months age on it when cracked open and the first impression was pleasant. The blend had a very light aroma that smelled slightly of hay, lemon, and yeast. The cut was the typical Dunhill ribbon- moderately fine. The sweetness of the blend was appealing, as was the slight “tang” that seemed to float behind it. I smoked out of Stanwell Day and Night. I never had the chance to try the original blend so I have no way of comparing and contrasting this incarnation with it. This blend was interesting with notes of clover and lemon zest early on that were visited by a bit of peppery spice in the latter part of the bowl. It burn well and stayed cool but the smoke was very light bodied. The predominant impression I got was similar to very strongly brewed green tea. I’m not sure what to think of this one; it wasn’t bad but it certainly wasn’t anything exceptional. C+


3. Dunhill London Mixture
I somewhat consider this blend to be the slightly hardier big brother to EMP. Upon initial inspection you find it is also a blend that maintains a balance between Virginias, Orientals, and Latakia so that the latter does not overwhelm or take center stage. The balance of Orientals seems to be more like one would find in a robust hand rolled cigarette blend, and the smoking condiment leaf just adds a bit of depth. The Latakia is more predominate in the tin note however, and there is a unique sweetness poking around behind it. The sample I used for this review had a year and a half of age on it and was burned in a Big Ben Classic 702. The London Mixture is more robust than EMP and while it seemed to be overly moist out of the jar, the burn was spot on. The Latakia still isn’t as pronounced as in Nightcap, but the Orientals step in to add a faint floral note in the retrohale that contributes a special nuance to this blend. The balance of sweetness and spice really resonated with me and the Virginias emerged in the latter part of the bowl with notes of dry hay. I smoked this on my back, a top our picnic table while staring at the stars. Very pleasant smoke, B+

4. My Mixture 965

Air cured- Cavendish, Latakia, and Oriental. Ribbon cut.

While I have a tin of this cellared, I actually got this sample as part of the Blind Taste Test the other month. It is a medium colored blend with some light notes, but generally darker than say, EMP. The scent in the bag is very campfirish. The Latakia has an almost hickory odor to it that teeters on beef jerky if only it were slightly more savory. It reminded me of the smell that is on your clothes when you wake up in your tent on a camping trip. I found two stems just in my sample but the ribbon cut was decent and the consistency was perfect- no drying out time needed here. I smoked out of a Storient Meerschaum and filled using the three tamp method. The draw on the pipe was nice and relaxed.

I enjoyed the complexity of this tobacco. The Latakia, while prominent in the mixture’s scent really seemed to take a backseat to the Cavendish in the blend. The sweetness and nougat flavor was accented well by the Latakia’s smokiness. I thought it to be a more dynamic smoke than many Dunhill blends. At certain points I was also able to find an almost floral flavor in the retrohale.

This tobacco burned fairly cool and I had no issues keeping it lit after the first tamp. This is a medium-bodied, all day smoke that I think would go particularly well with a nice cup of black tea. The multiple facets of the 965 Mixture gives you plenty to enjoy and while I had trouble picking out the Orientals for the whole, I can only imagine that they are a key part of this variety.

Overall I give it an 8.5/10 because it is a well rounded English smoke without any tongue bite.