Dunhill Ye Olde Signe (Re-release)
(2.79)
Notes: Ye Olde Signe is a richly fermented, straight Virginia in a fine ribbon cut. The process used to produce the tobacco creates a natural tea-like tin aroma and results in a natural-tasting tobacco that has a mellow sweetness and subtle aroma. In spite of the gentle flavor, this is a very robust blend best enjoyed after a meal. See for yourself why so many longtime Dunhill fans consider this one of their very finest.
Details
| Brand | Dunhill |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | No longer in production |
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
|
2.79 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2016 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Although I have yet to be enamoured of any of the Dunhill remakes to date, that changed this week! I haven’t found a comparable Virginia blend to this new version of ‘Ye Olde Signe’ in years and can’t name a similar one on the market today. (If I’ve missed one, please, let me know!) Although I remember my shock and disappointment very well when this went out of production, I’m not too sure if my memory will serve to make any comparisons between the original and the remake. It’s been probably thirty years since I finished my last tin, but I’ll give it a brief shot.
I remember this to have been a very fine, long ribbon or shag cut of darker virginias. The new tin of the current batch touts the contents to be a dark Virginia blend, however it seems lighter to me. I’d guess it’s a mixture of red and mahogany Virginias with a good smattering of what appears to be lighter, maybe even lemon, Virginias. There is also a small portion of ribbon cut flake, which I do not recall in the earlier blend. The cut of the new version is, I think, not as long and maybe a bit wider, but that’s about all that memory allows. Did I like it then? Yes! Do I like it now? Yes! Is it the same? Unlikely.
The tobacco arrives with a humidity level of about 18%. It can be smoked immediately, but drying it a wee bit is worthwhile. Seems at its best to me at around 14-15%.
This tin was made in August of this year. The tin aroma is very subdued, slightly sweet with a hint of hay or bread. There’s bound to be some kind of casing, but I can’t pick it up in the tin or on the pallet. It takes well to the match and burns steadily. The flavour development seems to go as follows… At first light, toasty almost coffee-like tannins, a bit of (pleasant) tar, and cigar-like earthiness appear and begin developing immediately. The earthiness and depth increase as new elements appear which include both zest and nuttiness (burley?). Mid-bowl a cereal, slightly malty sweetness emerges as it becomes even deeper, richer, and hits its stride which it maintains until the last fleeting puff. This is a wonderful, very satisfying smoke, ‘old-timey,’ whatever that means, and, to this smoker, very much in an English tradition that has long been missing from the market. The aftertaste is delicious and leaves the mouth feeling clean and refreshed. It does pack a punch, but it’s not over the top.
Will definitely be putting this one back to see what it does with time.
Highly, highly recommended!
I remember this to have been a very fine, long ribbon or shag cut of darker virginias. The new tin of the current batch touts the contents to be a dark Virginia blend, however it seems lighter to me. I’d guess it’s a mixture of red and mahogany Virginias with a good smattering of what appears to be lighter, maybe even lemon, Virginias. There is also a small portion of ribbon cut flake, which I do not recall in the earlier blend. The cut of the new version is, I think, not as long and maybe a bit wider, but that’s about all that memory allows. Did I like it then? Yes! Do I like it now? Yes! Is it the same? Unlikely.
The tobacco arrives with a humidity level of about 18%. It can be smoked immediately, but drying it a wee bit is worthwhile. Seems at its best to me at around 14-15%.
This tin was made in August of this year. The tin aroma is very subdued, slightly sweet with a hint of hay or bread. There’s bound to be some kind of casing, but I can’t pick it up in the tin or on the pallet. It takes well to the match and burns steadily. The flavour development seems to go as follows… At first light, toasty almost coffee-like tannins, a bit of (pleasant) tar, and cigar-like earthiness appear and begin developing immediately. The earthiness and depth increase as new elements appear which include both zest and nuttiness (burley?). Mid-bowl a cereal, slightly malty sweetness emerges as it becomes even deeper, richer, and hits its stride which it maintains until the last fleeting puff. This is a wonderful, very satisfying smoke, ‘old-timey,’ whatever that means, and, to this smoker, very much in an English tradition that has long been missing from the market. The aftertaste is delicious and leaves the mouth feeling clean and refreshed. It does pack a punch, but it’s not over the top.
Will definitely be putting this one back to see what it does with time.
Highly, highly recommended!
Pipe Used:
Several, all reserved for Virginias
Age When Smoked:
about three months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2017 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
That the Dunhill blends are going away within 12-18 months is sad enough, but after the re-release of this delicious Virginia mixture, it is doubly lugubrious. You might describe this as "Elizabethan Mixture" all grown up with a heavy press turning those bright Virginias into dark, rich ones. The dominant taste here is the hybrid of molasses and late season grain that gives the pressed Virginias, like "Full Virginia Flake," their beauty. But this mixture is a hybrid between the classic Virginia flakes and the smoked tobaccos that have become popular since then. While it does not appear on the Official Description, "Ye Olde Signe" seems to contain some Dark Fired leaf and some Burley, possibly one and the same, and only as condimental. The rest is what "Elizabethan Mixture" and "Royal Yacht" do best, which is high quality Virginias matured to potency and maximum flavor. You can draw gently -- puffing is NOT encouraged -- on this blend for hours, getting that honey-molasses-oatmeal flavor in full intensity, with just a tinge of the richness of the smoked flavor. It satisfies throughout the bowl, and makes me think that radical insurgent action to save the Dunhill blends might be a moderate rather than extremist position!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2016 | Very Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
The tin note has something citrusy about it, but nothing remarkable. Perhaps the tobacco it contains is just too fresh. The moist content is about right. I only let my tin breath for 8 hours and then packed my pipe with it. This is a straight Virginia, but it is very easy to smoke despite the fact it wants to be smoked at a very low pace. The flavour is citrusy and grassy. I really cannot detect any casing. No tongue bite either. As you progress with your smoke, it evolves into this nutty/toasty dimension as the red/brown Virginias come into the foreground. This is quite remarkable. I am impressed. This is gonna get 4 solid stars.
Edit1 (09/12/2016) I just want to drop a few lines to say this is a very strong blend in terms of nicotine. It really makes me sweat and will turn my stomach, so I decided to smoke it in small bowls for an hour or so and move on. This blend is so tasty and full of flavour, but it is as strong as it can get, so be advised.
Edit1 (09/12/2016) I just want to drop a few lines to say this is a very strong blend in terms of nicotine. It really makes me sweat and will turn my stomach, so I decided to smoke it in small bowls for an hour or so and move on. This blend is so tasty and full of flavour, but it is as strong as it can get, so be advised.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 2016 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
This tastes to me like Elizabethan without the spicy Perique. Durbar without the heavier Orientals. Royal Yacht with a lighter, different touch.
This seems to be lighter Virginias compared to some of the above examples, but nevertheless still has some body that moves it to the medium range. Instead of citrus it has more of a floral sweetness to me. Or perhaps some sugar water in the casing? Never tried the original, but this does not have a true string cut as originally described.
A ribbon cut that smokes pretty cool with no real bite unless pushed.
An excellent, milder Virginia smoke for one who wants their leaf straight.
This seems to be lighter Virginias compared to some of the above examples, but nevertheless still has some body that moves it to the medium range. Instead of citrus it has more of a floral sweetness to me. Or perhaps some sugar water in the casing? Never tried the original, but this does not have a true string cut as originally described.
A ribbon cut that smokes pretty cool with no real bite unless pushed.
An excellent, milder Virginia smoke for one who wants their leaf straight.
Pipe Used:
Upshall, Ferndown
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
new tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 07, 2021 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Let it age people...there are a ton of smokers who give a quick review on a fresh tin and who quite frankly have no idea what they're talking about. Let it age. When I opened this tin this morning, it was sparkling...a pipe smoker will know what I mean. I haven't smoked a fresh tin in a decade...there is a reason for that. Fortunately I have 10 tins of this stuff. HIGHLY recommend at least 6 years on it.
Pipe Used:
Ashton
Age When Smoked:
6 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 31, 2019 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This is a perfect example of a straight no nonsense Virginia. It's clearly an unappreciated blend as I've seen it in plenty of tobacconists in the UK as the only Dunhill left.
Smells like your average Virginia in the tin, no mature sour smell just fresh cut grass and a hint of citrus.
Nicotine is medium leaning towards strong. If you puff it hard it will not bite but the strength will hit you like you're chewing nicotine gum!
If you like your straight Virginias you can't go wrong with this. If you whack some Latakia in it it's heavenly too.
Anyone who slates this blend clearly doesn't know a good Virginia when its right under their nose!
Smells like your average Virginia in the tin, no mature sour smell just fresh cut grass and a hint of citrus.
Nicotine is medium leaning towards strong. If you puff it hard it will not bite but the strength will hit you like you're chewing nicotine gum!
If you like your straight Virginias you can't go wrong with this. If you whack some Latakia in it it's heavenly too.
Anyone who slates this blend clearly doesn't know a good Virginia when its right under their nose!
Pipe Used:
Ellison (Norwich) and Dunhill Bark Briar, Zulu
Age When Smoked:
3 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 27, 2019 | Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Nothing wrong with Ye Olde Signe! It's just a simple, straight-up, no frills VA blend with some Vitamin N punch. This blend like all pure VAs is best served up in a deeper bowl to achieve maximum flavor & a tastier smoke. Was there a great deal of flavor? Not initially but like a VA blend, it gets a little sweeter & tastier after some has burned off.
Was it like the Ye Olde Signe of old? I wouldn't have a clue but have read it was one of the finest VAs on the market. Was this re-release VA blend sweet on the palate?... not much initially but the VA sweetness increased after about 1/3 had burned off. This subtle sweetness remained and I thought it had an appealing flavor. It satisfied my taste buds & left a light sweetness on my palate for a little while after finishing off the mix in a large Cavicchi Dublin. This is a pretty darn good, straight Virginia.
Was it like the Ye Olde Signe of old? I wouldn't have a clue but have read it was one of the finest VAs on the market. Was this re-release VA blend sweet on the palate?... not much initially but the VA sweetness increased after about 1/3 had burned off. This subtle sweetness remained and I thought it had an appealing flavor. It satisfied my taste buds & left a light sweetness on my palate for a little while after finishing off the mix in a large Cavicchi Dublin. This is a pretty darn good, straight Virginia.
Pipe Used:
Cavicchi Dublin & D. S. Huber Bent Dublin
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 31, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
I only bought this one as I was in my local b&m for a recent top of baccy and didn't have a clue what to buy and this just happened to be new in. I was hoping for something on the lines of a good earthy virginia with a possible hint of kentucky but didn't want to stray over old ground. Thus my purchase of this.
The tin note is very mild, to be honest I struggled to pick anything but I was warmed by the nice mix of dark and medium browns. It packs and lights very easily. It took me over half a tin to discern anything proper in terms of flavour but I think I got there. Since then the smoke itself begins with something ever so slightly fruity and slowly begins to deepen into something earthy and oaky. It seems to develop a certain sweetness occasionally too, perhaps licquorice. It almost reminds of a milder, more consistent St Bruno RR.
On the whole, I've grown to thoroughly enjoy this baccy, it's flavour isn't a full assault on the sense, it begins mild and slowly grows into something medium. It is a fond reminder of St. Bruno RR but is less fuller flavoured, though, unlike SBRR, it is more consistent. SBRR, IMHO, is good with moments of greatness, this is consistently great. It's so good I bought another tin the moment the funds became available.
The tin note is very mild, to be honest I struggled to pick anything but I was warmed by the nice mix of dark and medium browns. It packs and lights very easily. It took me over half a tin to discern anything proper in terms of flavour but I think I got there. Since then the smoke itself begins with something ever so slightly fruity and slowly begins to deepen into something earthy and oaky. It seems to develop a certain sweetness occasionally too, perhaps licquorice. It almost reminds of a milder, more consistent St Bruno RR.
On the whole, I've grown to thoroughly enjoy this baccy, it's flavour isn't a full assault on the sense, it begins mild and slowly grows into something medium. It is a fond reminder of St. Bruno RR but is less fuller flavoured, though, unlike SBRR, it is more consistent. SBRR, IMHO, is good with moments of greatness, this is consistently great. It's so good I bought another tin the moment the funds became available.
Pipe Used:
My Smoking Shop billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Cuban Cigar Club
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Marvelous classic Virginia flavor. If this somehow pales to the original I would give my right arm to have some of that "backy"!! This is a very tasteful blend with succulent sweetness and a nice tart characteristic which appeals to my nose upon exhaling. This is what tobacco should taste like. No frills or flavorings, just consistent smoking pleasure. Easy to light, burns evenly with few relights. Virginia's, Vapers and Latakia blends are my smorgasbord of tobaccos and this blend has found it's permanent place in the Virginia category of my pallette. Try some, if you like Virginia's you will not be disappointed. Very much recommended.
Pipe Used:
Carey's
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and Cigars
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2017 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
To me this is the most interesting of the latest Dunhill re-releases. Described as " A Dark Virginia Blend" on the lid, this is supposed to be a classic English pipe tobacco.
It's a loose ribbon cut of medium to dark brown color. Suprising for a straight Virginia blend, the delicious, sweetish tin note has hints of nuts, chocolate, aniseed, cloves and dried fruits, which makes me wonder if there's a light casing involved. However, the scent doesn't seem synthetic to me.
I prefer the Frank method for filling the bowl. Even though the tobacco seems a little moist in a fresh tin, so you might want to let it dry a little, a god charring and true light will usually do the job.
Right from the start, it's clear that this is rather a full-boddied smoke as far as taste and niccotine content are concerned. There's a complex, deep nutty, chocolaty, malty sweetness combined with dark, flowery, earthy notes that become more pronounced towards the end. Tamped down occasionally, it'll burn down evenly leaving some grayish ash.
The room note is not a crowd pleaser, but tolerable.
It's a loose ribbon cut of medium to dark brown color. Suprising for a straight Virginia blend, the delicious, sweetish tin note has hints of nuts, chocolate, aniseed, cloves and dried fruits, which makes me wonder if there's a light casing involved. However, the scent doesn't seem synthetic to me.
I prefer the Frank method for filling the bowl. Even though the tobacco seems a little moist in a fresh tin, so you might want to let it dry a little, a god charring and true light will usually do the job.
Right from the start, it's clear that this is rather a full-boddied smoke as far as taste and niccotine content are concerned. There's a complex, deep nutty, chocolaty, malty sweetness combined with dark, flowery, earthy notes that become more pronounced towards the end. Tamped down occasionally, it'll burn down evenly leaving some grayish ash.
The room note is not a crowd pleaser, but tolerable.
Pipe Used:
Parker Prince
PurchasedFrom:
Local Tobacconist
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
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