| On my first bowl of this, and I'm compelled to review.
First thing to note is that the pipe its being smoked in is a recently-acquired (new, not estate) Dunhill Cumberland Group 4, usually reserved for VA / VaPer blends. I felt drawn to it this pipe for this tobacco although it goes against its emerging character.
Second thing to note is that it felt just a little too damp - I dried this out for about an hour, indirectly under a lamp. Perhaps the lamplight breaks some orthodoxy or other, but it works for me. Anyway, I'm discovering that everybody who swears by a little drying-out time swears right.
The word that first occurs to me here is 'balance' This is probably one of the smoothest, coolest smokes I've had in a while and I had been thinking I'd been on a good run (mainly Jacknife Plug, Fillmore and Rich Dark Flake). This is certainly a change of pace, and a great re-introduction to mixtures. Is this an authentic English mixture? Couldn't care less.
I probably would not have purchased this of it hadn't had a hint of Black Twist or something on the stronger end of the scale. It lends a certain depth, enriching an already tasty mix of Virginia and Turkish. The Latakia is, too, is subtle. Just about right for my palate at the moment.
Probably a half-hour smoke, and I am coming to the bottom of the bowl, mid-colour grey ash and no trouble at all.
I would recommend this to anyone, and on first impressions think it superior to Dunhill 'Standard', 'London', or 'My' Mixtures. Dunhill's mixtures have never really appealed. There is something - in my opinion - rather dull about their recent incarnations (save for Nightcap!)
This is good tobacco, carefully blended, but more than that, something pretty special.
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