Again, I did not try the new Orlik - now Scandinavian Tobacco Group owned- version.

My wife has told me it smells rather pungent, but not overly offensive.

Soft with a silky mouthfeel, Elizabethan Mixture is comprised of a core of delicate Virginias married with Perique. Quite mild, it offers subtle citric and woody notes along with a light peppery spice. Not of a sweet sort, the Virginias are anything but rich and it can take a bit of work to coax an appreciable amount of flavor from the blend. A Perique high note is appreciable throughout the bowl, although a fishy note emerges now and again. On the light side of medium bodied, the finish is short and airy.

The sample on which this review is based came in the form of a 50g. tin produced by the now defunct Murray’s around 2002 or thereabouts, and this reviewer sees little reason to seek out more elusive tins of this rather bland and boring mixture. Perhaps this was a bad tin, but there seems very little reason to risk it again given the relative abundance of proven winners in the same genre, of which there are many produced on both sides of the pond.

It packs and burns fine, leaving a clean white ash. You get sorry when you finish each bowl, so smoke it as slow as possible.

EM is sure to appeal to VA smokers and VA smokers interested in trying some Perique. The blend of VAs is quite satisfying while somewhat delicate. To me this means it is perfect for any time of day, or all day. None of the flavors are strong but rather more subtle. That's not to say it is weak, it just isn't "in your face." The Perique can be appreciated in the blend, but in keeping with the rest of the blend, it is a delicate touch. While I enjoy Perique, it doesn't take a heavy hand to be enjoyed. In fact, condiment tobaccos should complement a blend, rather than take the foreground.

For me, it is also nice in that most of the VA and VAPers I smoke are in pressed or flake form and this lovely ribbon cut tobacco is a nice change of pace. As a result, I think it is also much less finicky about getting and staying lit. Perfect moisture level right out of the tin, too.

What I cannot tell, only because of my limited knowledge on the subject, is which Dunhill permutation I have sampled. There was a Lane Ltd. sticker on the bottom of the tin, if that means anything to aficionados. Around the outer circumerence of the lid it says, "MADE IN THE U.K. IN ASSOCIATION WITH DUNHILL TOBACCO OF LONDON" It sounds like it predates the farming out to the EU, anyway.

Anyway, a very pleasant smoke and I'll keep my eyes opened for more. Highly recommend.

Elizabethan is a blend that is well balanced... mild but very flavorful, not overdone on perique but enough there to notice, sweet but not cloying. This is one of what I call "genius blends". It's not my favorite because of its subdued and balanced nature - it doesn't scream "excitement". But its one of those blends I find myself going back to time after time when the hype of this or that new blend is overwhelming. Light and dark virginias play off one another with a whisper of perique in the background of the taste buds that becomes a wonderful room filling aroma of quality leaf. Balance is what this one is all about, and the balance smacks of absolute genius.

If you can find some, buy it. Hopefully some U.S distributor will pick this up soon!

This is from a tin of Orlik production.

This is an interesting mix of very light tan ribbons down to black. There is a hint of perique spiciness in the tin aroma. Mild, delicate, and well-behaved at the match, one can detect the perique in the room note. At mid-bowl, the perique seems dominant, but only because the virginias are lackluster. A rather thin and plain smoke, though not unpleasant, there is little to make me want more. I need heartier fare.

Compares poorly to McClelland's 2015 and even more poorly to Reiner's spectacular Long Golden Flake.

I won't be keeping this one on hand, even if I could find some.

Rated only 3 out of 9 leaves.

At first match, the VA is all I taste, mild and pleasant and builds slowly in strength as the bowl progresses. About mid-bowl the perique starts to sound in and quickly lends a warm, peppery balance to the mix. This stuff works well for me since none of the players try to hog the scene.

However, there is definitely some bitterness toward the end, which doesn't bother me (I like it better than cloying sweetness) but if that is an experience that ruins a smoke for you, you may want to pass on this one.

Try it if you can find it.

**Update**

As I've smoked this through more pipes (and found one to give it sanctuary) I've become very fond of this tobacco. Enough to upgrade it to 3 1/2 stars... which is probably about as far as I'll go.

To note: This was a Murrays tin, so it had a few years on it before I popped it. Subsequently I've grabbed a few more tins, but they are different... for those that follow the Dunhill saga, my new (and cellared) tins still say "UK" but are in the EU style tins, so who knows. Seriously, if you can find a Murrays tin (it won't have a paper sticker on the bottom) it will definitely be worth the roll.

**********************review**************************** This is a good blend. I am puffing away as I write this and am enjoying the warm pepper of the perique dancing with the toasty sweetness of the Virginias.

This lights well...burns well...has a nice nicotine creep, without hitting me too hard. There is some bitterness to this smoke....but not too much. It smokes a little hot for me but I plan on slowing my puffing somewhat. I like this but am still mostly enamored of Nightcap...this lacks some depth.

Packing & Lighting: Packs easy. Lights with one match easily. The tobacco is a little damp, as evidenced by dottle left in the bowl; no gurgle, though.

Taste: Mostly light VA, not sweet at all. The perique is there, not in a dominant overture, but in a minor undertone. The taste is mild, vague, compared to the strong effects of the nicotine. The strength is not balanced by taste. It has too much tasteless strength.

Aroma: Light VA. There is more quality in the aroma, compared to the taste, but the nicotine strength again way outmatches the aroma.

Nicotine: strong nicotine kick, maybe even in the realm of a nicotine blast.

Room Note: Medium. The VA imparts a hay quality. The perique leaves a dank, humid odor.

Overall: It seems that many quality tobaccos economize in the use of condiment tobaccos. They supposedly have a high content of these tobaccos but don't deliver too much. In the case of Elizabethan, it retains high nicotine strength, but the important qualities of taste and aroma just aren't delivered in much quantity, giving a washed out or diluted effect. Elizabethan has little perique taste, with an overabundance of VA, with even the VA lacking distinct aroma and taste. It is predominantly VA, overstrong, and not sweet. 2.2 stars.