Opened an Orlik tin late last week and it’s gone. London Mixture is/was a great English tobacco. Its balance of leaf, flavors and consistent strength are wonderful. Like a lifelong friend, I was always comfortable with it. I know how to handle it, how to light it, how it will finish. I never tired of it. Concentrate or not, smoking it is second nature to me, say familiar. Virginian, Turkish and Latakia, what’s not to like in the benchmark? I’ve begun to look for a replacement and what a chore. Also, the Latakia, too me seems so unique from other blenders, could it be a casing or topping or some proprietary process that I so love? I don’t know, but I’ll miss it when it’s gone.

The good news is that we may have Dunhill in the states again as soon as Nov. 2009.

I like full English blends but they tend to be too one-dimensional once you get to a certain Latakia content. London Mixture I love because because you get the interplay of the sweet Virginias with the spicy Orientals and then just a tiny bit of Latakia in the background. I am very enamored with this blend and hope to be able to get more of it in the future although I find it gets a little cloying when I smoke it too much.

If full English is your thing, this isn't for you.

Burns a little strange, doesn't tend to go to a fine ash, rather it stays as a black clump that needs to be banged out. Heats bowl but smoke is very cool. One light is usually sufficient.

1-2-10 Update: becoming more my thing! I tried going back to the little tobacco shop in Tappahannock where I bought this and my tin of Durbar a year ago, and all the Dunhill was gone. The proprietor spoke of availiability issues-tell me something I don't know. A year ago, he had Durbar, London, Elizabethan, Royal Yacht, and Three Year Matured, but now only a large selection of drug store blends along with a lonely tin or two of MacBaren aromatics. Had some good cigarettes, so I got a pack of Dunhills and a pack of American Spirits which I still indulge in occasionally and headed for home. The day was not lost, however, as I enjoyed back to back 45 minute bowls of London Mixture on the journey and the return, and found it to be a lovely smoke. I like Durbar better, but the London is pretty close. Nice long smoke with no bite. Upon returning, I found an aged tin of C&D Bowlegged Bear in my mailbox. I will sample and review it as soon as my blood nicotine levels get back down to a safe level.

An excellent and complex English mixture, nutty, spicy with just the right amount of Latakia. You can compare LM to Presbyterian Mixture, but more spicy, a little bit more nicotine and Latakia. No tongue bite!

Thanks to Murray's for a few most enjoyable hours!

London Mixture: R.I.P.

I received this in a large trade some months ago and I was not all that excited to try it. My long-ago memory of it was that it was a decent, if uninspiring blend. This was the newer Orlik manufacture. Overcoming biases is not easy but I really enjoyed this tin. It has a nice, lightly smoky flavor, with the orientals taking center stage during the first 1/3 bowl. The lightly sweet virginias then add a different angle on sweet from the orientals... kind of a light fruit sweetness to the orientals nut sweetness. The latakia wisely stays to the rear until the final 1/3 bowl, where it takes on a more prominent role, although still decently muted and used as a spice. This blend was almost like three different ones throughout the smoke, and it was most enjoyable when I was in the right mood.

I rate this one just behind 965, and well ahead of Standard Medium, Nightcap and Early Morning. Skillful blending and a light but steady hand on the latakia make this a winner!

The Virginia leaves a mild sweetness with the Oriental and Latakia tobaccos blending well together. Although My Mixture 965 and Nightcap are my favorite Dunhill blends, London Mixture follows very closely behind.

The flavor is good and the tobaccos produce as good quantity of smoke. The nicotine level is not high, but does make its presence known. To me it smells good in the tin and while smoked. The aroma in the room after smoking a bowl is agreeable to me as well. It smokes cool and if puffed at a reasonable pace does not produce heat or tongue bite. Three stars for Dunhill London Mixture.

I was on the hunt for Dorisco Mixture, as that is the only pipe tobacco that i have found that is truly my cup of tea. Had i known these two were so similar I would have opened the tin immediately.

so this weekend, i was vising a friend who lives some 700kms from my house, who is the only pipe smoker that i know. The strange thing is that he also loves dorisco and has been guzzling it ever since i sent him a tin from my cellar. I say strange as Dorisco isnt everyones favorite as it has so much perique in it.

This London mixture that i am smoking, could just as well be Dorisco. They are so sililar in taste, that i honestly dont know if i could tell them apart in a blind test.

Smooth, rich, spicy and delicious are all words that i would use to descrive this mixture. It is absolutely masterful in its blending and exicution. Its pretty broad cut and the virginias are matured to perfection.

Pretty strange considering that Dorisco says it doesnt have latakia, neither does london mixture. I am assuming that london mixture also has perique, however the label doesnt say anything about it.

I reckon a group 4 is about perfect for mixtures like this.

My cavicchi is perfoming like a pro with this delicious leaf. 10/10- highly recommended!

At the first light, the Orientals make their presence known. I don't know if London Mixture, as a youngster, was so Oriental-forward or not. But it is now, with 20+ years on it. If it weren't for the background presence of latakia, those initial first puffs could make you think you're smoking Presbyterian.

After a quarter of a bowl, though, the sharpness of the Orientals -- and I love Orientals -- eases off, and then the smooth, rounded Virginias come in. For most of the bowl, it's a conversation between the Orientals and the Virginias, with the latakia only occasionally speaking up from the back row. The result is an ever-evolving smoke that is rich throughout, creamy in spots, and worthy of the smoker's attention.

I only wish I'd had the foresight to stockpile this back in the 1980s.

Bob

Fake version (after 2004): Not as bad as other devastated Dunhills, but still a lot far away from the previous version.

Why don´t we unite and make a one-year-without-Dunhill protest to make them know we don´t like their manners?

(If you see I stop making reviews from this date on, call the police, please... I make BAT And other obscure forces against good tobacco responsible for whatever happens to me)

The Wally Cox of pipe tobacco.

I still smoke it when I don't want to be offended or impressed.

I hear that this was good back in the day. That's nice to know, but it doesn't do much to help this current offering other than explain why some of the reviewers rate it highly.

Smoking this is kinda' like going out with that boring girl you don't really like - not much fun, but at least you're getting laid. Let's just finish the tin and move on.

2 stars because it's not as bad as the tobaccos I rate at 1; but I really can't recommend it.

I wish I'd bought two tins...

The tin aroma is enticing and it looks like beautiful tobacco.

The virginia has an herbal sweetness and the latakia and orientals have a "musky" smell and taste. Yes, it's different from the Murray's but I think the blend is still well worth smoking. The latakia is there but in the background, and so this is blend is very smooth and easy smoking for me. It has the same character as the Murray's version but has a lighter mouth feel. Those musky oriental tobaccos can be found in GLP Pease Westminster, a tobacco based on the original London. Although, I like this better than Westminster and the price is so low that I've stocked up on London Mixture. I'm happy this is still produced.

The classic blends have changed but some of them still offer a great smoking experience, and this is one them.

Once opened, the tin-aroma is definitely Turkish, with a solid Virginia undercurrent. But if you seldom smoke blends with much Latakia, that is probably one of the first things you will notice. It is a profoundly old-fashioned tobacco.

Less Virginia than Early Morning Pipe, more Oriental, and not at all as brash as 965. London Mixture is a rich and well-balanced blend, both elegant and full. A tobacco that lights easily and a satisfying all-day smoke, especially in cooler weather. The Latakia is not overpowering, and sometimes fades into the background. Burns clean and leaves a soft grey ash. A tweedy smoke. Both the steak and the caramel custard of English blends.

Sherry, oolong tea. Not brandy, not Assam.

This is in my regular rotation, along with Durbar, Westminster, and a few other fine wife-repellants.

Keep in mind I am a beginner smoker, so it is entirely possible others could enjoy this blend more than I did. Personally, I found it extremely disappointing.

The reasons? Well, it is a perfect mix. Very full, rather strong, but never aggressive: I like strong tastes, but while I love Nightcap, I think that the London Mixture is much more suited for all-day smoking. It never tickles the throat or bites the tongue, regardless of how you smoke it. Just a bit in the nose, maybe, but it's an otherwise well-rounded mixture.

What shocks me is that this doesn't come at the expense of taste: this is one of the tastiest tobaccos I have ever tried. Every mouthful of smoke gives you an almost culinary sense of fullness, as if you were eating some delightful "lasagne". It really makes you crave for more and more, never tiring: I find it perfect as appetizer, or after dinner, or in every other moment of the day. This is a tobacco that simply makes you love the taste of... tobacco! That burnt-wood, exotic taste that I have always been looking for in a tobacco...

I am a guy who loves to try different tobaccos to change tastes, but I feel that London Mixture is a blend that MUST always be present in my collection, because it never grows tiresome. And it should serve as a warning to all "aromatic fans": don't try and go looking for taste in those boring and syrupy cherry-vanilla-fruit tobaccos... There's twice the taste in London Mixture than in ANY aromatic, and it is a TRUE taste, the taste of real tobacco...

I also tend to recommend it to beginners: in my opinion, it is a much better choice than the usual drugstore tobaccos, or than the ultra-classic Early Morning Pipe. I began smoking a pipe with EMP, and I was a bit disappointed. And don't fear that it might me TOO tasty: it never goes over the top, and it is much more straightforward (which doesn't mean it lacks in subtlety) than my other beloved: Nightcap. Nightcap is even fuller and tastier, but it might be TOO spicy and "grand" for someone.

Packs easily, burns well (leaving a dry light grey ash), doesn't require a great smoking technique, tastes great. What else could you want?

A recommendation if you like this tobacco: it is very similar to Dunhill My Mixture 965, but in my opinion it is a bit sweeter and "licorice" tasting. You may want to try both.

Curious note: Many say that this kind of English blend (heavy on Latakia) can be unplesant to wives around you. To my surprise, this is a tobacco that my wife LOVES to smell when I smoke it! She hates aromatics, or "sweet" tobaccos: she prefers the room note of english blends, especially London Mixture! Her sister, too, once asked me if she could try to take a puff out of my pipe when I was smoking this tobacco! She, too, loved the smell of it (and she isn't even a cigarette smoker)! So it seems to be only a matter of taste... It has a strong room note, but someone may like it very much (and my cigarette smoking friends LOVE it).

UPDATES 2004-2007: Like the other Dunhills, also London Mixture has suffered from a noticeable decline in quality... Among all of their blends, it still has remained the only one which is barely smokeable (well, maybe also Standard Mixture Medium is tolerable), though. While recent tins are very disappointing, with some aging they can at least be smoked with some satisfaction. So, the old version deserves a "Highly recommended" rating, while the new one only a "Somewhat recommended". The rating I chose is an average of the two... which is already better than Nightcap, a blend which has fallen into real disgrace: it used to be great, now it definitely sucks.

I used this to break in a Butz Choquin and it was simply wonderful. I tried it in a couple of other pipes, including a clean Meerschaum, with the same results.

I like the balance of this tobacco. I find it most enjoyable with a pint of Guiness and a shot of Jameson Irish whiskey late in the evening before retiring.

I only have five tins left, so I am hoping that the G.L. Pease Westminster offering is comprable since I sense that this tobacco will be unavailable in the future.

It was not bad, but nothing very special about this blend.

Despite what is said by many about it, London Mixture,to me,is pretty mild. It tastes like an infinitely more interesting version of Early Morning Pipe. There's not neary as much latakia as I'd expected, which I may have complained about at one time, but through LM & Presbyterian Mixture, as well as a number of Greg Pease's blends, I have learned to appreciate non-latakia oriental tobaccos.

This is slowly becoming--along with Nightcap--a big favorite of the Dunhill blends. If/When it is discontinued, and you see a blue Hyundai hatchback barreling down the road, it's me rushing to the tobacconist to purchase the final tins.

Hoping I develop at least enough of a taste for it to finish the tin, but I don't see another tin in my future. I think a slower smoker than I would find it less intractable.

I haven't had the version produced by murrays, so I cannot compare with how it used to be made.

I don't smoke this regularly but when I want an english blend this is the only one I'll reach for. It takes quite a while to get the taste out of my mouth, but it is worth it.

There is a hint of rosemary, frankincense, and perhaps myrrh from the smoking of the latakia in the taste (as well as smoke and that unexplainable oriental flavor, sort of like sharp cheddar and cigarette smoke combined). The virginias are high quality and poke their head through here and there, though the other two components take the lead through the bowl.

I rated the nicotine as being medium to strong, but it's not really strong unless it's in a bigger pipe, size 6 or larger. The bottom third of the bowl develops a bit of strength. Early in the morning it might be too much unless you had a big breakfast and an hour or two to shake its effects.

Smoke this one on the back porch or balcony, the room note can be a bit potent if it builds up. Smoke this one inside, you'll get your wife, children, pets, neighbors and company into an uproar.

There seems to be a lot of variation from tin to tin. I have even purchased "multi-packs" where one tin was shades lighter than another. Like most tobacco, London Mix is a bit too moist when opened. A few hours open on a desk remedies this nicely.

Most importantly this blend seems to have not changed one bit with the transfer from Murry to Orlik.

Many other reviews for London Mixture mention that this is a "well balanced" English, and that's a reliable description--almost the epitome of the very blend. It is beautiful in the tin, easy to pack and light, burns consistently, while tasty as can be with a strong component flavor and strength. London Mixture offers nearly something for everyone who enjoys a robust English. Those offended by Nightcap's strength to others, weary with the inclusion of Black Cavendish in 965 might find themselves well at home smoking London Mixture.

I find it amazing that Dunhill can manage to cover so much different ground in an English. At some point, you come to a suspicion that there remains little left to be said. I know it may be odd, but I compare it almost to music. When I was younger, I'd always wonder how these musicians managed to keep coming up with new songs. I suppose that says something of my feeling here.

The strength doesn't seem to kick in for me until two thirds into the bowl. At that magical mark, the flavors meld flawlessly, with the sweetness of a Virginia and the dryness of the Turkish leaf, balanced with a considerable portion of rich Latakia. I tend to find myself anxiously awaiting that latter portion of the bowl, simply to take in that extra dose of nicotine. Nearing an end to the experience, I feel a definite urge to smoke another, which is something I rarely crave.

I've tried London Mixture in a variety of pipes, but a mid sized bowl seems to work best for me. A larger bowl feels overwhelmingly taxing, and a smaller bowl fails to deliver the surge of flavor I've come to expect near the end. I'll definitely be picking up some more London Mixture. High quality stuff, all the way.

Four of Four, no hesitation.

In a nutshell, a strong, nicotine heavy smoke. I'll smoke it once in a while. I think smoking too much of LM could be injurious to one's health.

Out of 965 and Early Morning I like this the best. There's no bite at all, but the flavor is strong enough to be noticed.

I really want to get a tin of Nightcap for myself, however, as that one really stood out, the few bowls I had. Until whatever that may bring, this is my favorite Dunhill. I don't know how much of a difference this made, but I did have this sitting around in the unopened tin for a couple months.

Dunhill English blends are different from most others that I've managed to find. More pungent, more astringent, edgier, more kick. Especially London Mixture, a bracing, middle of the road English, not a Balkan or a Scottish. I prefer to think of it as EMP Full .

So this is what I reach for in an English, when I'm not into some heady burley, and it makes a perfect contrast.

LM seems to capture the entire range, in a very formal way. From the top zingy VAs down to the darkest Latakia, and a pervading nuttiness.

LM can be fickle, however, depending on the pipe, moisture content, perhaps the phase of the moon. So it is sometimes a little harsh or bitter, for reasons I've yet to pin down. Std Mixture Medium doesn't have the same intensity , 965 is fuller but more muted and darker. Nightcap is another animal entirely, extremely dark, Apertiff and Durbar are pure Balkans, EMP is too light, etc., etc., etc. Obviously, there's something for everyone in the Dunhill range.

01/31/05 I am updating my review of this wonderful tobacco owing to the fact that I have had the opportunity to age a few tins. While the tobacco is a great choice at any time, aging brings forth a deeper sweetness and greater prominence of the interplay between the Turkish and Latakia elements. The effect overall is a richer, earthier flavor with what I can only describe as a more sophisticated pungency. Turkish/Oriental tobaccos are an acquired taste, due to the astringency they can add to a blend. Once the taste is acquired, "London Mixture" fits it admirably. Smoking this blend slowly brings great rewards.

If you're a seasoned English smoker and haven't tried this blend, you'll do yourself a great favor by trying this one. If you've never had this blend with at least a year of age on it, buy some to put away.

10/05/05 I'm updating once again because I have now received my first tin of Orlik-blended London Mixture. It has the ridge around the bottom and the "made in EU" sticker.

What will these new people have done to my darling? I opened the tin with some trepidation. At the same time, I opened a tin of Murray-blended LM that I got two months ago. (I wanted the Murray-blended stuff to be as fresh as possible to ensure a side-by-side review.)

The tin smell of LM is one of my favorite aromas in the world, not just a favorite tobacco smell. The Murray tin smells delicious and familiar. The Orlik tin smells...the SAME! As per usual, my mouth begins to water. (No other tobac has this affect on me.)

The pasteboard round covering the tobacco doesn't have a finger notch cut out like the Murrays blend does.

The Orlik tin's contents appears to contain more lighter-colored leaf than the Murrays tin. The mosture content appears to be the same in both tins.

I load my LM-dedicated Aldo Velani Oom-paul with the standard child/woman/man packing. And the flame hits the weed.

The first taste is a little lighter than I expect, and I tamp and re-light. The gentle introduction continues.

First third: As I suspected, the lighter-colored leaf in the Orlik tin shows itself in the smoking to be Turkish rather than Virginia, astringent and pungent while remaining fairly quiet. (This is one of the things that I find so pleasant about this blend.) The Latakia weaves its way through the smoke, complementing the Turkish and never overtaking it. The Virgina stays in the background, hitting a tangy high note here and there.

Second third: The Virginia becomes more prominent at the half-way mark, and the Latakia receds to provide a leathery undertone. The Turkish leaf remains the star of the show, now providing a subtle sweetness that plays well with the more tangy sweetness of the Virginia. The overall effect continues to be quiet and refined.

Final third: The final third brings the same interplay of the three players that mid-bowl brought, with the sweetness becoming more pronounced and the tanginess attenuating. The Latakia remains in the background, providing an even, smoky foundation.

All in all, I think that Orlik has done a splendid job of maintaining the character of this time-honored blend. It may still be called the standard of English tobaccos. Long-time smokeres of this blend will not be disappointed. As ever, then, highly reccommended.

Update: A good choice for those who smoke fewer pipes per day. Way too much Latakia for an all-day blend for me. It is an excellent tobacco for those who prefer a bold mixture. I haven't sampled the E.U. version yet.

LM is pungent with a small amount of heavy-smoked Latakia. Red and light VA together with the oriental compliment the Latakia well. Very balanced, but not as smooth as Black Mallory - probably because this one does not contain Cavendish.

Compared to other Dunhill Mixtures, this is much more refined than Nightcap and 956. Some say that this blend is the one all other English blends should be compared to (read Eulenburg's fantastic review). I say he/they are absolutely right. I just cannot seem to get enough of this masterpiece Thoroughly recommended.

Jakob Kiilerch, Denmark

Appearance: The lion's share is black leaf, with the remainder being dark to lighter brown leaf comprising a medium cut ribbon, fully rubbed out.

Aroma: Licorice Drop, Fig, Cow Manure, Allspice, Nutmeg, Corriander, Smoke, Charcoal, Dark chocolate, Oil, Vinegar-vanilla emulsion.

Taste: The sweet-sour taste of perique is like a ghost in the background of flavor. Very soft, smooth, silky, oily, mellow. The mouth-feel is redolent of the famed Sobranie blends, even if the flavor profile is not. Smoke, vinegar, char-cooked pork chops, rosemary, damp earth, allspice, clove, dried fig. Rich and complex, voluptuous on the palate. Dunhill's strength is the intergration of complex flavors, rather that the dominance of flavor, and this is no exception to this rule.

Comparisons: More oriental leaf than Duhnill's Standard Mixture Medium. Less perique than Dunhill's Nightcap, Similar to Dunhill's My Mixture No. 965 sans the cavendished leaf.

Bottom Line: For a rich, full English blend -- the very essence of refined dignity -- with more oriental complexity than latakia-perique overdrive, this blend will be hard to best.

LM is probably better described as a balkan, owing to the prominance of the wonderful turkish leaf in it. It is a sturdy, full no-nonsense smoke that offers no particularly memorable "hook", but makes for a relatively inexpensive all day companion. This blend, like 965, is the Sears and Roebuck of its type. It's a reliable (so far) point of reference.

I like the room note, although many find it off-putting. The level of nicotine is typically Dunhill: quite there. Little wonder English pipe bowls tend to be smaller. British folks are frugal like that, to their credit. A group 2 or 3 size pipe supplies a satisfying smoke when filled with this, and a tin lasts longer.

EM is midway between the latakia-richer Penzance and the Turkish-richer Campanile. Usually I crave either one or the other, so those are what I tend to grab (and it's usually Penzance). If a nicely balanced combination between the two is what you seek, London Mixture is what I'd recommend.

Update 3-10-04. I regret to say that more recently I have found this blend to be quite harsh, nearly like a bad burley on the throat. Way too bad... Rating downgraded accordingly.

At the outset let me state that this is an absolutely delightful mixture, the quintessential English Tobacco. Not 965, not Renaissance, no -- god forbid -- any McClleland mixture, compare to London Mixture if you are looking for the traditional version of English TObacco.

Please note that the blend has become slightly lighter and less pungent over the years (read less Latakia in the tin).

Still, this is a delight. Despite the relatively high Virginia content the tobacco does NOT burn hot. Keep in mind that when I say it doesn't burn hot, I mean what I write! Some reviewrs will state with a smile that Cumberland or some other similarly volcanic tobacco doesn't burn...well I guess some people walk on red hot coals too...But this one is really cool smoking. The flavours are sweet at first (sweeter than a few years ago as stated) but then the Latakia takes over and adds a delicate touch to the mix.

In London Mixture the Latakia adds smokiness to the substance of the virginia while the Turkish adds a restrained spice to the whole. Every tobacco compliments each other perfectly and that is extremely rare in pipe tobacco belnds and this is why this blend ranks as the single best English blend commercialy available today. London Mixture is the epitome of blending excellence.

Three Cheers for London Mixture!

This is the usual ribbon cut, well pressed, soaked in its juices packing of Dunhill. The strands pull nicely from the tin and pack easily into the bowl. The speckled blacks, browns and yellows are witness to the manufacturer?s usual attention to detail. Though not as bright as Aperitif or Elizabethan, all of Dunhill?s mixtures are appealing to the eye.

I enjoy this more than Nightcap, at least when newly opened and moist. Nightcap requires at least a week to dry before getting the slightest enjoyment from it. London is soft, mellow and lightly flavored. It never sears the tongue. It?s easy to smoke, and has a subtle aroma of pepper and wood, accented by piquant notes of Oriental and Latakia humming softly in the background. It?s not as full of tar and nicotine as some of their other blends. There?s no Perique to make me whoozy.

This tobacco behaves well over all, and is more of a go to blend than the overrated 965 or the Nightcap. I don?t believe I would make this my desert island smoke, but perhaps like so many other things, the recipe has changed over the years. Also, the unpleasant thought of troops of east Indian soldiers forced to march in the Queen?s military doesn?t exactly come to mind when smoking LM. Then again, I guess some reviewers find it necessary to regale us with literary and historical trivia to make something as simple and enjoyable as pipe smoking more than it is, in addition to puffing up their own already over-inflated egos. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Three and a half of five stars

London Mixture seems more spicy and less muddy than Std Mix Med and leaves a pleasant aftertaste in my mouth. Having the tobacco at the proper humidity is very important with this one, as other reviewers have noted. Out of the tin, I normally dry some in the open air for a couple of hours before smoking it. I then find it to burn cool and dry for the entire pipeful.

This is a treat, with a clean spicy taste on a smoky latakia background. It has become a regular in my rotation and I recommend it to anyone who likes English latakia blends. Could have a little too much punch for beginners, though.

Tiger

With these things in mind, I?ve returned to several old favorites for purposes of review. Having explored the world of tobacco and smoking many of the current English/Balkan offerings by many a blender, I thought it was time to see what I thought of some former ?standards?

Dunhill tobacco mixtures have suffered from what we might call ?outsourcing?. Other blenders have suffered similar fates, while others have ?been there, done that? and found satisfactory ?outsourcing blenders? to carry on a fine tradition.

To my pallet of the Dunhill mixtures that have suffered the greatest casualties; London Mixture and My Mixture 965 are the most gravely wounded.

London Mixture

Appearance: A beautiful mixture of light and reddish./brownish Virginias, Latakia and Turkish leaf presented in ribbon cut form of nearly uniform cut. This is very appealing to the eye of one looking for a ?typically English? tobacco mixture.

Tin aroma: Exactly what one would expect upon cracking open a tin of English tobacco, a nice blast of smoky Latakia, followed by the raisin/fig sweetness of Virginias and a musty leathery Turkish undertone. The mouth-watering scents of an adult pleasure with anticipation of roughly an hour?s escape from ?modern life?.

For purposes of review, I?ve loaded a bowl (using the ?once like a baby, once like a lady, finally like a man? method of packing) into a Cassano rusticated Canadian of roughly Dunhill group 4/5 capacity. This pipe has been exclusively an English/Balkan smoker for several years, and should introduce no prejudice to the smoke.

Upon lighting, I greeted with a blast of Latakia/Turkish smokiness with leathery/musty undertones, with the mild sweetness of Virginias just under the surface. Good so far, there seem to be no faults in proportions of the individual components thus far, everything seems where it should be, with a complexity and ?competition? for attention by each tobacco.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the complexity and intensity as building nicely, the Virginias are a little more pronounced and assertive, while the Latakia and Turkish have settled into a nice middle pallet place. When exhaled nasally the Turkish has a familiar ?drying effect? on the throat and dominates the soft pallet areas of the mouth. This mixture (thankfully) has seeming little/none of the Cavendish confusion of My Mixture 965, just a very cool and dry smoking one associates with a truly great English mixture of rather full body. If only these conditions would persist. The fine balance of leather/smoke/must/nuttiness and raisins begin to fade, or rather become less distinct.

Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the ?fading? continues, as each component tries to re-assert dominance this mixture becomes less than a friendly ?competition?. This is the point where flavors should be at their peak and cooperating with each other, instead we are where most smokers would expect the first third of the bowl to be. The volume of smoke from each puff is phenomenal, and the pallet is intense and broad indeed, yet it is too much. Were the flavors in cooperation at this point it would be marvelous, superlative even, however, the complexity has degraded into cacophony. There are so many other blenders out there who do a much better job with the ?final third? of the bowl with blends this full. This once majestic blend has not held it?s own in recent years, a pale shadow of its former self. To think that I used to DGT this blend regularly, saving the final third for several hours later!

Supplemental Notes: I really wish that Dunhill would employ some ?old school? pipe smokers with ?reference tins? at least 5 years old or older to do some ?quality control? of their current offerings. Many of their old classic line have faded, some drastically. Rating for those interested in numbers **1/2 - ***

Humbly, therefore, I must chime in with only three stars. London Mixture to me is a quintessential Dunhill blend--quality, quality, quality in every category from blend, to smoking characteristics, to flavor. But, also like all of the Dunhill blends I have tried, it simply is not quite so multifaceted and interesting to me as some of the Pease and Esoterica English blends.

There's no accounting for taste, I guess . . .

Very musky and cigar like at points - with the spice tobaccos providing smokey, leathery and nutty undertones. There are hints of citrus, but not quite as tangy as an oriental based balkan. All cast members take the stage with equal form and function.

This is nearly as good as Margate and very similar in taste. It is not quite as complex and deep as that blend, but also can be found for literally half the price. It builds to a slightly stronger and more "punchy" note.

As others have noted - the taste does develop with only a few days worth of airing. Pop the tin and put a bit aside for a day or two later. Patience will be rewarded.

Pedigree, strength, delicacy. Perfect for cool and rainy days in England or abroad.

I think were I to smoke an English blend all day - this one would be it.

First, if there is any latakia in this blend then it's just a wee smidgen.

Pull a load out of the tin, lay it on a tray/plate and let it dry. Then rub or pull the tobacco into small pieces and load up the pipe.

The Oriental components of this tobacco and the fine virginias are what makes this blend different. I'll not argue that there is NO latakia in this blend but to my taste buds, there's none.

The smoke here is smooth, round, a bit on the medium side (it's not strong at all) and quite tasty. In the Dunhill line, there is nothing quite like this blend.

In the realm of Virginia/Oriental blends I much prefer Presbyterian Mixture as a satisfying and full blend. To my taste buds, this is a very nice blend and while better than most Dunhill mixtures (especially 965 - waaaaay over-rated) it is surpassed in it's genre by Presbyterian Mixture.

A very fine virginia/oriental blend, just not great. On a one to ten scale I'd give London Mixture an 8 and Presbyterian Mixture a 10. This is a very, very good blend but it ain't excellent.

Not much to add to the above reviews but that's my 2 cents.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 points, a blend ole' Chatles Spurgeon would have enjoyed...

The tin aroma is strong and dusky, owing to the dark Virginias and moderate loading of Latakia. There is no trace of Cavendish, and its attendant sweetness, in this blend. Cut is a narrow ribbon, mixed short and long pieces, which packs well. I found that a little airing helped before packing, as moisture in the tin is a little high.

The first match brings on the Latakia, spicy and strong. The flavor starts off strong and stays that way all the way through, although about mid-way, the Virginia becomes predominant over the Latakia. All the while, the various components of the blend intermingle in a most satisfactory way, resulting in a robust flavor that does not diminish at any time. This is a strong, peppery, spicy flavor, not harsh, but definitely noticeable in the nostrils and at the back of your throat. It is very pleasant, but for me, not something I want constantly or in large doses.

Room note is pretty heavy. I like to smoke this one outdoors.

An occasional relight is necessary, although this may be due to the moisture content of this tobacco. At the end, you get a fine gray ash. Pipes used to smoke London Mixture retain the taste and aroma for some time. I let them rest thoroughly (4 to 5 days) between smokes.

This is a tobacco of excellent quality and savory flavor. I recommend it to all experienced smokers.

Update 7/22/04:

After some more experimentation with this tobacco, I have raised my rating to five stars, a regular favorite. The key for me was letting the tobacco dry out before smoking. Not only did the bowl burn cooler and smoother, but no relights were necessary. The flavor became more complex and deeper as well. Reducing the moisture content of the weed necessitates a slower, more liesurely smoke. This is the secret which unlocks all the mellow, nutty, creamy notes. Due to the slower pace of smoking, the nicotine rush was also greatly reduced. I still would not smoke this all day, but I now enjoy a bowl regularly. How wonderful to reacquiaint myself with this exemplary weed. Just sniffing the bowl of a pipe dedicated to this mixture is enough to make me want to light up. Five Stars!

London Mixture is infinitely superior to the base and unrefined My Mixture 965, the sledgehammer subtlety of which leaves my thus-abused taste buds reeling.

The latakia in this blend is prominent at the beginning of the bowl. However, as the bowl progresses, the latakia drifts into the background. The resulting flavour is an odd meld of tastes of different leaf.

Rather enjoyable, this tobacco, but in an altogether odd sort of way. I'll keep some on hand.

If you want a natural tobacco taste that's smooth but hearty without being dull, and has a light latakia kick, get a tin and check it out.

But it came across as a bit too thick or heavy. Normally I would expect this to translate as a richness or body, but found myself put off but the general texture of the smoke.

All in all, I enjoyed it but will have to put it aside and come back again.

It not a sweet as 965, yet packs a stronger oriental hit than EMP and it of course very tasty. I could best sum it up as a very reliable ad tasty Latakia blend. Its a perfect relaxation blend, one for filling a big pipe with and relaxing for an hour or two.

As with most Dunhill tobaccos, it is well packaged, well mixed, nicely cut for ease in packing and lighting, and consists of high quality leaf. It is a nice blend of Turkish and Virginia with a bit of Latakia. No one tobacco overpowers the others, although I think the Turkish is most pronounced. It burns to a clean ash and has a nice natural English tobacco flavor.

I just think this tobacco is too "basic" for me. It is certainly a good example of an English/Latakia blend, but there are quite a few of those out there. I want something special in my tobacco before I can give it an "A" grade. 965 gets an "A" due to the addition of Brown Cavendish. Penzance gets an "A" due to its rich smokey qualities. London Mix. gets a solid "B".

There are many fine English blends out there for you to spend your money on. In my humble opinion, this is not one of them. But, of course, taste is a subjective thing as some of the other reviews of this blend indicate quite clearly. Hope my review of this particular blend is helpful to you.

But enough of minor technicalities - probably caused as much by my inexperience as the humidity of the tobacco - most importantly, IT TASTED GREAT!!

There is a fullness of flavour, richness, slowly-revealing-complexity and overall quality that quite simply brings a smile to your face, as you realise just how good tobacco can taste. There is none of the head-spin I found with Early Morning Pipe and despite its fullness I reckon, as many previous reviewers have confirmed, this could be a good all-dayer or session smoke. Pure unalloyed pleasure guaranteed with this most perfect of English blends.

Finally it passed the ultimate test. As I was leaving a pub with my future wife-to-be, who incidentally enjoyed the aroma of LM and is also a non-smoker, the young lady behind the bar said 'How nice it was to see someone smoking a pipe and what a great aroma it had'!! Enough said, full marks to London Mixture.

I love the manly strength of this Latakia blend, the utter pedigree of its finish, the sound balance of its æsthetic makeup (the Orientals, like well-ordered sepoy troops, adding colour without crowding out the real stars of the affair) as well as the fact that it has been smoked, for untold decades, by the best. Is the word breeding still in the dictionary?

This is not the blend for bumpkins.

Aroma: Lots of Virginia base, with Latakia, Turkish and a perhaps a bit of Perique in the background. The aroma leads you to believe that the Va is the star.

Packing: Packs easily in most pipes, group 3 and up.

Lighting: Typical lighting procedure, not too quick or too slow.

Initial flavor: The Va comes across first, with authority and some strength. The Turkish and Latakia add their flavors soon after, and the Perique stays discreetly in the background.

Mid-bowl: A classic English/Oriental blend. I would classify it as slightly milder than medium (4.5 on a scale of 10, not 5 or 5.5), but a gentle beguiling flavor. No gurgles noted. The Va, Turkish and Latakia continue to be the key players.

Finish: Well behaved right to the end

Summary: Not as complex as some of the newer blends, but not as challenging to get into the zone with. A real classic with unique charm, probably as old as some of the S. Gawith blends.