A classic that needs to be tried, although I prefer other VaPers.

Quality is there, the taste is nice, it burns well...But...where is the Perique, I ask you?

Now I have to smoke three tins of this.

Escudo is a better, and less expensive, option, lads.

If the price were in line with these blends, I might give this 2 or 2.5 s stars. Why not a higher rating? Because I just cannot get this blend to give me anything but a super mild flavor which just does not justify the premium price. Other than a little perique spiciness (and I do mean a little) there is just nothing here. The virginias are very muted, and the perique is only an afterthought. I expect a lot more flavor from such a super premium. Also, no nicotine. It is like putting 18 very smooth dollars into your pipe and smoking it.

On the positive side, it is well behaved for a VA flake if allowed to dry out some before rubbing out and smoking. It burns well, and smokes cool with measured puffing. For about the same money though I can buy double the amount of any number of McClelland VA's, including Christmas Cheer, which at least offer some VA flavor. For less money I can buy the aforementioned blends, either of which offer the same burning characteristics with much more tobacco flavor.

Interestingly, one of my favorite blends of this ilk, Davidoff's Flake Medallions, is also made presently by Orlick. It is cheaper than the Dunhill (though not cheap, at 14 bucks a tin) but worth it I would say. Flake Medallions has everything good that this Dunhill blend has, with tons more flavor and complexity. Try it, and then tell me if you think I am crazy for bagging on this overpriced creampuff.

I've always been a little hesitant to smoke anything with the word "navy" in it, for some reason. I picture a bunch of rough looking guys running around the deck trimming sails, belching some foul smelling smoke out of their pipes and singing "Heave Away and Up She Rises."

I was, however, able to face my apprehension and step up to buy a tin of Deluxe Navy Rolls by telling myself that this is probably a blend reserved for the officers in the ward room, not the common deck hands; the "deluxe" adjective makes it seem so. If it's good enough for the Admiral, it's good enough for me, was my reasoning.

This is a no-nonsense but very gentle blend which leaves a wonderful tobacco taste in the mouth, burns to a fine white ash, and is even more interesting to pack in your pipe than other tobaccos, what with the little coins of tobacco that you rub out and all. The room note is a warm, gentle roasty-toasty aroma.

I loved this blend. If I was really in the Navy, I'd probably be written up for spending too much time in the ward room smoking my pipe instead of attending to my duties on the bridge.

My palatte usually tires of VaPer flavours pretty quickly...I get a craving for 'em, but after a few bowls I'm all done and still have the rest of the tin to finish.

Not so with DLNR. For me, it just seems like an exceptionally well balanced blend, and that makes it one I really look forward to at any time of day. I shall definitely buy this one again.

Edit Aug 2012: I am revisting some of my reviews and regrading, reserving 4 stars only for a select few that have become mainstays in my extended rotation. DLNR, whilst still excellent, is going to lose a star.

Not as peppery as I was expecting from a genuine competitor to the other well established VAPER Escudo. Also you don't get vast plumes of smoke with this. It's a simple feet up, relax and sip away kind of deal here.

This stuff IS a dry smoke, and I usually roll out the coins to thickish ribbon rather than twist and stuff them. Would have preferred a little more sweetness but the perique is vaguely there, though not enough for me.

Orliks Bulls eye and Orliks Dark Kentucky are a cheaper (in cost not quality) and a better preference for me. IMO they are spicier and let it known more so than DNR. Two VERY underestimated tobacco's.

That said though, I do like these Navy rolls by Dunhill, hence the 3 stars.

Have about 5 tins of them left, so I'll see what's going on with them in about 2 years.

Regularly I have about 20 opened tins lying about, so I normally don’t smoke a particular tobacco more often than twice a day. DNR however keeps claiming my attention and since I opened my first ever tin of this – the new production which arrived three days ago in the mail- I have not smoked anything else. Now I like variety so eventually and certainly, I will return to other tobaccoes, but DNR made a significant start on it’s way to becoming one of my all time favourites.

Beautifullly simpel, mottled brown coins are neatly stacked in the well known Dunhill round tin. The elegantly designed label pleases me enormously, the tinnote is fruity and uplifting.

Easy to load, folding and stuffing or lightly rubbed out, DNR is easy to light and produces a heavenly, naturally sweet, dry taste with sour overtones and a tingling in the nose. Roomnote is neutral, nice!

Hurray for Dunhill, welcome back!

Interesting packaging: the fact is that the contents of two tins fitted comfortably into one and so you might feel a 'bit hard done by' when it comes to price - it's not cheap compared to other UK offerings, but it is definetly worth it - this is seriously quality tobacco in just the right proportions, especially, if you can't smoke your virginias without that little added spice!

UPDATE!

I got the 4 stars right first time - bought another 5 tins of this yesterday. This stuff just gets better and I find I cannot be without it in the house. I'm not a great perique fan and generally stick to straight virginias, but the proportions of V to P are just so perfectly balanced here that you can't help but appreciate that these two tobaccos really do belong together. I've updated this because I now feel its strength is positively medium (not mild to medium), and very pleasant (not pleasant to tolerable). The subsequent reviewer has, in my view, pointed out two more observations: it is an effortless smoke and doesn't create plumes of dense smoke.

First class.