James Fox Dorisco Mixture

(3.38)
Pure Perique, derived from tobaccos smoked by American Indians in their pipes of peace, has been added to a base of coarse cut Virginian mixture to give a distinctive flavor to this hand blended mixture.

Details

Brand James Fox
Blended By Kohlhase & Kopp
Manufactured By  
Blend Type English
Contents Latakia, Perique, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 50 grams tin
Country Germany
Production Currently available

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

3.38 / 4
30

15

6

2

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 53 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 29, 2007 Mild Extremely Mild Full Pleasant to Tolerable
This is the best tobacco I have had so far. It is spicy and tastes simply delicious. I found that my first batch, bought loose in a shop, was too dry burned the roof of my mouth. I then bought a 50g tin and hey presto it was perfect, still full of flavour and did not burn my mouth or even my tongue, despite greedy puffing. If you like spicy foods this is perfect. There is no nicotine rush from this tobacco which makes me suspect it is very low on nicotine. The longer I smoke this the more I like it. I presently have two pipes, one a Peterson system pipe with quite a large bowl and another cheap Peterson with a medium bowl. For some reason it smokes better in the smaller bowl.

Update - this is still the best tobacco I have ever had. Simply delicious and smokes well in all of my pipes (now up to 6). I am tempted to buy a pipe with a really large bowl to see how the flavours fare. As long as this stuff is made I will buy it. Superb.

Update - I have now bought a pipe with a large bowl -the Petersons 140 Anniversary pipe - the large bowl really brings out the flavour and allows a nice long mellow smoke - heaven. I have to admit for reasons for marital harmony I mix this tobacco with a mild arromatic, also from Fox's called Celtic, which does not detract much from this wonderful tobacco - indeed the odd bit of vanilla creeping through is most pleasant.

update - after not smoking this for a while I have come back to it and it tastes better than ever - have decided it is best in its pure form

Update -06/10 Dorisco was unavailable for over a year. Now a new batch has been made. From having smoked one and half tins of it it appears to be a tad milder than the Dorisco I remember and has less perique in it, in any case it is not as spicy as it was. That said it still is a very pleasant smoke and is still my favourite. I suspect that it needs aging, as the previous Dorisco I bought was well aged in the tin.

I can settle one ongoing discussion about Dorisco Mixture. It does indeed have a small amount of Latakia in it. It also has several different varieties of Virginian tobacco in in as well as Perique.I have this from one of the former blenders for Fox tobacco in Dublin. He spent years blending the stuff so knows what goes into it.
12 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 03, 2014 Medium Extremely Mild Medium Tolerable to Strong
An odd fish, this one. I really wanted to give it a higher rating, as I suspect there's some excellent quality tobacco in here, and it has the feel of a serious blend. I came close to giving three stars - but not close enough. The problem for me is that Dorisco has an identity crisis. As other reviewers have noted, there's definitely some latakia in here, which I find particularly evident in the tin note. But there's probably not enough to call it an English blend, and certainly not enough to satisfy lovers of the dark leaf. I detect what I suspect is a pretty decent VaPer too. But it's overlaid by the latakia, so can't really be appreciated. As a result, this blend doesn't really know what it is. Is it an English mixture? Not really. Is it a VaPer? Well no, not really. It's got the makings of both, but ends up being neither. I also find it has a surprising tongue bite, even if taken really very slowly; and I say this as a seasoned smoker of straight virginia flakes, so know all about bite. On the plus side, it takes a light readily, and burns very well indeed. In all it's an intriguing blend, but also frustrating in the way it promises so much but eventually fails to deliver in any recognisable way. I'd say it's worth a try for novelty value, but it's not a blend I'd particularly go back to.
Pipe Used: Peterson straight billiard
PurchasedFrom: Fox, St James Street, London
Age When Smoked: Smoked from date of purchase
11 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 19, 2014 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
I cannot tell F&T's Wingate and Fox's Dorisco apart by smell, appearance or taste, so I am giving them the same review. This is not to say they are the same tobacco because this might just reflect the limitations of my abilities. What differences, if any, there are between these tobaccos, apart from price (Wingate is about 20% less expensive at time of writing), I will leave to better noses.

Both Wingate and Dorisco seem to be variations on Presbyterian. That is they are a light English mixture of Orientals, Latakia leaf tip and fine Viriginias, to which has been added a generous hit of Perique.

Visually, the tobacco is a short ribbon cut of many colours, from grey green to black. The tin note is predominantly pine needles and a gentle caramel with some spiciness.

This tobacco packs and burns easily. Altho the presence of Perique here has the effect of amplifying everything else in the blend, it is still a well behaved, moderate tobacco.

Latakia predominates from the first light, but unlike Presbyterian, shares the show with the peppery Perique. As the bowl progresses the Perique overtakes the Latakia. Between them some lovely Virginias add sweetness and Orientals add lightness and aroma.

This tobacco won't be for everyone but is a first rate blend in my opinion.
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 03, 2002 Mild None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant
This natural, Virginia-with-Périque English mixture is one of the glorious old classics from James Fox of Dublin. Not in the least sugary, DORISCO has a stoic simplicity that is at the very opposite of the condimental promiscuity favoured by some of today's sub-tropical blenders.

The Périque is very discreetly ladled in: the memorable element is the scrumptious mélange of bright red and mahoganny Virginias, as mellow and pithy a combination as any I know. It is not unlike Peterson's Sherlock Holmes, but with more body and character, and an ineffable aroma, both in the tin and going up in smoke.

For this review, I tried it in a variety of Irish and Dutch billiards, and it played cool, dry and true every time. Highest recommendation.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o



PS~11/'02:

I have been smoking this for several months, now, and it has become my favourite non-sweet, post-prandial choice. Both in-the-tin, and sidestream aromas are deelish, and as a medium-strength, "smokes itself" blend it just about beats it all. Try it!
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 31, 2012 Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Perique, well it's in here but not overwhelming, just a condiment. This tobacco is well blended and my tasting is derived from a tin dated 2006. A good mixtue of Perique, Latakia, and Virginia's. After some air to dry, this tobacco loaded up easily and lit right up with one match. Burns well and does not bite. A medium Va/Lat/Per blend that I had forgotten about. You will not be dissapointed.
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 04, 2013 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
The perique is more pepper than plum as a support player, while the Cyprian Latakia is smokey, woody, and lightly dry, and is more obvious most of the time, though it is never forceful. The grassy, citrusy Virginia has a moderate presence with a tad less sweetness than usual, and it forms the base of the blend. The strength is in the center of mild to medium. The nic-hit is mild. Burns at a moderate pace, cool, clean and mostly smooth with a fairly consistent taste from start to finish. Has no harsh or dull spots, and won't bite. Needs very few relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. The after taste is pleasant. Not a complex blend, but it'll do nicely for an all day smoke.

-JimInks
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 05, 2006 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Tin aroma is very typical English, with deep latakia, sweet musty virginias and a little pinch of Perique fruitiness (but none of the sourness). Somewhat similar to some Esoterica or Dunhill blends.

After opening, the tobacco is a bit wet, so some airing might be due. Personally I think this tobacco smokes very regular in combustion and taste from the charring light to the bottom of the bowl: it's very smooth (no bite, no harshness), quite sweet and darkly rich. It's a bit uneventful, though: its regularity is an asset but it also implies a lack of distinction.

I did not expect so much Latakia in this blend: nothing in the description prepared me to it... Actually the description spoke of Perique, which on the contrary did not seem very evident in the taste.

Overall, a good tobacco but I'm often left with the desire for something more "exciting". If you like it traditional and smooth, give it a try anyway: you will certainly like it.
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 05, 2003 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
The first thing you notice when opening the tin is the smell of latakia. This will surprise you because there is no mention of it in the tobacco description. It is a medium brown to black, short ribbon cut, not overly moist and in perfect condition for smoking. It packs and lights easily in a medium sized Peterson Sherlock Holmes Professor. My first taste sensation is of a mild latakia which almost immediately recedes into the background. Next a lightly sweetened Virginia moves to the foreground, takes a bow and makes way for the Perique. Almost immediately I am aware that this is quite possibly the best latakia, Virginia, Perique mixture I have ever smoked. The latakia stays in the background wrapping the entire smoking experience in a subtle, almost imperceptible smokiness. Half way down the bowl, the Perique asserts a modest dominance, riding on the lightly sweetened Virginia. A smooth, complex smoke. I am now conscious of the need to take this smoke in very slow sips in order to appreciate the subtle nuances of flavor playing about. There may be orientals here, but they wink in and out of the overall flavor like fireflies. All the elements are in perfect harmony. The Perique is prancing. The creator of this blend is a true genius. This is a unique tobacco, and by the end of the bowl I am certain that this is the best latakia, Virginia, Perique blend I have ever smoked. My usual smoke is Virginia flake and Va./Perique flakes. I am not a lover of heavy latakia blends, and so I find the restrained treatment of the latakia to be an artful touch. You owe it to yourself to try this one. It is destined to become as legendary over time as Three Nuns, Escudo, Balkan Sobranie, and 965. One of the great ones. Very highly recommended. Paddy.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 21, 2002 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
This is a wonderful tobacco, very well balanced, full of character and easy to smoke. Though the presence of Perique is strong enough to perk up the mixture by taking the Virginias to a different taste region, it is not at all overwhelming or offensive (all things considered, I believe there is more Perique in Solani's 633 than in Dorsico). Quite moist in the tin, the tobacco is ribbon cut and contrasting in appearance. I love the smell in the tin: elegant and refined; lively and inviting. Packing is very easy and it needs no relights once it gets going.

Unlike other Va/Perique mixtures, in which the latter remains hidden and suddenly takes over the whole blend, in Dorsico you get a perfect entente between the Virginias and the Perique from the very start. The flavour, with a slight toasted undertone, remains constant throughout the bowl. In this respect I find a certain similarity with Stokkebye's Navy Cut, but Dorsico is definitely stronger, with both the Perique and the Virginias being of a bolder nature. Strength wise, you could say it has some affinity with Dunhill's Elizabethan Mixture, but IMO EM is not as perky and lively.

I would not recommend this as a first tobacco to get acquainted with Perique or straight Virginias. It is more of an option for the established smoker. If you already enjoy medium strength natural tobaccos, Dorisco can easily become a favourite or at least a very exciting change of pace.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 13, 2012 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium Pleasant
This is described as a Va/per, but is no more so than say, Nightcap. It has quite a lot of perique, but is otherwise a rich balkan that reminds me very much of Tree Mixture. The first light is deep and rich, with the latakia sweetened by the orientals. As it progresses, the perique becomes more prominent and the smoke turns into a smooth rich spice.

The James Fox blends are of exceptional quality, and this luxurious tobacco would be a great way to turn any day into a special occasion.
3 people found this review helpful.
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