Robert McConnell Notting Hill
(3.00)
A Virginia and Turkish blend mixture.
Notes: Many internet sources wrongly claim (due to blind cut&paste and an original wrong supposition) that it's a Dunhill Standard Mixture (Mild/Mellow) clone, and was originally called Golden Standard. Actually it's viceversa: Oxford Street is the Dunhill Standard Mixture (previously Mild/Mellow) clone, while Notting Hill is the Standard Mixture Medium clone (with a higher Latakia content). Source: conversation with K&K.
Details
| Brand | Robert McConnell |
| Series | Heritage |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Very Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2021 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
As I stated in the introduction above, and as confirmed by K&K, this (contrarily to popular belief) is the "replacement" of Dunhill Standard Mixture (formerly called Medium), and NOT of Dunhill Stadard Mixture Mild/Mellow. The replacement of the Mild/Mellow is called Oxford Street.
That said, I have tasted them both, and yes: Notting Hill is definitely richer, fuller and more laced with Latakia than Oxford Street.
I think it's a decent clone of the original Dunhill: lots of Virginia sweetness, it's almost creamy and buttery in its sweetness (while Oxford Street is oriented towards a grassy style). I am tempted to say that the sugar content has been artificially increased by traditional casing methods, not only by toasting and steaming, because it's so evident. And of course there is a nice medium smokiness from the Latakia, and good quality Latakia at that: not a Latakia bomb, just the right amount. But really... I think that this is one of the sweetest, most sugary tasting EMs I have ever tried (and I have tried most of the ones made in the last 30 years), which is a bit puzzling and might not be to someone's taste. It definitely is unique, and I don't remember Standard Mixture to be this sugary (although of course it WAS on a sweet side due to the high Virginia content).
Some may say that compared to others, it's a slightly unremarkable blend. And that's exactly the point: the original Dunhill was meant as a "standard medium", as exactly how a middle of the road English blend for all day consumption should be. Rich and flavorful, but balanced and not too heavy. And it has that elusive smell, that very weird English note, that particular funkiness, that is not common in all Latakia mixtures... On the contrary, it was present only in those old Dunhills and in some of these modern McConnell clones.
Personally I prefer the smokier, drier, more leathery and more complex Piccadilly Circus (which is, in my opinion, nothing short of a miracle in these times) or the fuller Covent Garden, but this is a very good blend too, a staple that deserves returning periodically in one's rotation.
That said, I have tasted them both, and yes: Notting Hill is definitely richer, fuller and more laced with Latakia than Oxford Street.
I think it's a decent clone of the original Dunhill: lots of Virginia sweetness, it's almost creamy and buttery in its sweetness (while Oxford Street is oriented towards a grassy style). I am tempted to say that the sugar content has been artificially increased by traditional casing methods, not only by toasting and steaming, because it's so evident. And of course there is a nice medium smokiness from the Latakia, and good quality Latakia at that: not a Latakia bomb, just the right amount. But really... I think that this is one of the sweetest, most sugary tasting EMs I have ever tried (and I have tried most of the ones made in the last 30 years), which is a bit puzzling and might not be to someone's taste. It definitely is unique, and I don't remember Standard Mixture to be this sugary (although of course it WAS on a sweet side due to the high Virginia content).
Some may say that compared to others, it's a slightly unremarkable blend. And that's exactly the point: the original Dunhill was meant as a "standard medium", as exactly how a middle of the road English blend for all day consumption should be. Rich and flavorful, but balanced and not too heavy. And it has that elusive smell, that very weird English note, that particular funkiness, that is not common in all Latakia mixtures... On the contrary, it was present only in those old Dunhills and in some of these modern McConnell clones.
Personally I prefer the smokier, drier, more leathery and more complex Piccadilly Circus (which is, in my opinion, nothing short of a miracle in these times) or the fuller Covent Garden, but this is a very good blend too, a staple that deserves returning periodically in one's rotation.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2022 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
A balanced tobacco. An English mix where the latakia stands out, but allows you to enjoy the virginias and the orientals in the background. It is a bit stronger and more latakia present than the Boutique blend, but quite similar. An enjoyable tobacco that I buy often
Pipe Used:
Dunhill Castello
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