Sutliff Tobacco Company Mixture No. 79

When I was a lad my mother overheard me saying a foul word. She made me smoke a bowl of Mixture 79. I have not used that word since. It's amazing how anyone could smoke this and give it 4 stars, and then say they wouldn't purchase it again.

...I smoked this tobacco in the early 1960's...along with other OTC tobaccos from Europe as well as stateside... From the flavoring standpoint it was quite different than PA, CH SWR, etc. I rather enjoyed the distinct difference and found it quite good.

While I prefer strong Virginia plug/flake tobaccos, I have been re-acquainting myself with the old OTC's...In the last several weeks I have smoked close to a tub of this and frankly, I like it better today than I did 48 years ago.

I don't get a "vanilla" or "anise" flavoring, though perhaps a soapy flavor to begin with...not too different from some of the lakeland tobaccos which I smoke regularly. There are some mild floral notes weaving in and out of the smoke, and a fairly strong burley taste, like hickory nuts, but other than that, I find it a pleasure to smoke.

While this will not make my top 10 tobaccos, it, along with several other OTC's will make it into my rotation of regular tobaccos. I'm glad I re-acquainted myself with this mixture, and recommend it to anyone seeking a change or simply wishing to experiment a bit.

If you subscribe to the rather negative reviews on this mixture, you really owe it to yourself to try it as unbiased as possible...just my take on things...

Enjoyed in a group 4 or larger pipe...

...a pipe is to be savored...

Normally I'm a sucker for standing up for the underdog. Which in this case represents Mixture No.79. But this junkyard dog needs to be impounded. It wasn't so much the taste that was awful, but the smell. It was utterly vile. Exactly like the perfume mentioned by many below. It isn't fitting for such a smell to come from one of my pipes. I'm grateful that I used a cheap cob to try it.

I have been told by old timers that this crimp cut burley mixture was often used (in small doses) to "pep-up" cheap Virginias. Well, all I can say is that I'd sure hate to load up a bowl of any kind of tobacco that needed Mixture #79 to save it!

Yes, this blend has been around for eons, but old is not always better. I can see where some may enjoy the Anise flavoring though, so I will offer a hesitant "Somewhat Recommended" rating.

I finally got around to trying Mixture No.79. If it was good enough for Hugh Hefner then it must be good enough for me. It had a nice licorice smell when I opened the bag. I looked up anise and found that it grows naturally in Egypt where the seeds are used and smells similar to licorice root. I find this to be an average pleasant blend for what some call Over the Counter (OTC). Apparently, Hugh had better taste in women than pipe tobacco but in all fairness, I do not think they had the designer selection we have today. 3 stars due to its unjust bad rap.

I have been a pipe smoker for over 56 years. If you look at the more than 160 reviews I have posted to this site, you will see every genre represented. This blend is the most controversial of them all. Statistically, 25% love it and 75% hate it. I'm with the former. I think that this is one of the most delicious aromatics available. And it's been available for over 100 years. Other than needing a lot of dry time before smoking, it is perfect. The anise and vanilla and whisky make for a very tasty smoke. I don't taste any of the lakeland soapiness that other reviewers have eluded to. The chunky burley, with the added rubbed out virginia flakes, burns cool and dry from start to finish and there is no black cavendish. The anisette is upfront, with the vanilla and whiskey in the background, but adding the delicate sweetness that I love. It is a very satisfying experience. It smolders beautifully without large plumes of smoke. A real delight. Sutliffe has improved this blend tremendously from what I remember from 50 years ago. I think it's the quality of the tobaccos that has made the difference. This blend puts a smile on my face and makes me happy to be a pipe smoker. Update: I recently ordered a half-pound of bulk Mixture 79 from Smokingpipes. In bulk, this blend is #600. It is much chunkier than the pouch version. Besides the lower cost, I prefer the bulk. Update: I have been enjoying Mixture 79 mixed 6 to 1 (about 14%) with Sir Walter Raleigh Regular. It provides a cooler smoke . A lovely blend for aromatic smokers. Update: If you age Mixture 79 for at least six months, the anisette becomes less pronounced and the vanilla and rum become more inclusive.

I do not understand the hatred towards this blend. As drug store blends go, this is well above average. The licorice casing is the star with some undertones of vanilla and a sweetness I cannot put my thumb on. If you are looking for a licorice blend, then this is worth a try. The burley adds a little nuttiness to the taste also. I bought this in bulk and Burns well with few relights as log as you keep it tamped down. Room note was pleasant, not so much the after taste.

In the 60s during my university days Mixture 79 was at the absolute top of the line of drug store brands and a prominent feature at tobac emporiums. You could always maintain your "cool" and not be afraid to flash the aluminium lined 79 pouch at a frat party or night spot and risk appearing declasse. In fact, it was the "It Blend" at my Big 10 Conference school.

So I was rather shocked, very shocked to read many fellow reviewers dissing what was then one of the premium popular mass offerings. Perplexed me so much I immediately ordered a 14 oz. tub of old 79 to check on the veracity of these accounts. Got a good priced mail order deal from Black Cat Cigar Co, East Norriton, PA 19401 for $24.95 - a great deal for New Yorkers who now have to pay over six bucks for 1.5 Oz. of Mixture 79 at the tabacconist - if you can find it.

My old sweet and mild aromatic blend was as solid as ever and I'm glad I ordered it. H. Sutlife still sings! I give it an unqualified **** star rating: sweet bouquet as I opened the tub, healthy brown and golden broken flake appearance, a succulent, gentle, mild and overall pleasant smoke all the way. Going to take a few ounces of this and mix 3-to-1 with Paladin, Middleton Cherry or Admiral's Choice Cherry Cavendish because Mixture 79 Cherry (another old pleaser) is either out of production or nearly impossible to find.

Many of my reviewer colleagues trashing 79 - well, I think they were really just piling on. This is and always was a thrill of a pipe smoke and I can certainly understand why Mr. Cool Sophistication himself, Hugh Hefner, smoked it arduously until 1985 when he had a mild stroke and the Doc ordered him to quit smoking everything. Happy Hunting!

i got this blend for free at a cruddy little discount smoke shop in my area, and after reading the awful reviews here, i had to try it. I have to say that i did not hate my first bowl of the stuff, and found it unremarkable. a few days later and i decided to load up new cob that i have reserved for the testing of awful blends. I couldn't even finish it, in fact i took two puffs and tossed the bowl and pouch right into the trash. just awful, like smoking a senior center or your grandma's perfume cabinet. not worth the 2 bucks they charge. Stay away unless you make a hobby of trying bad blends like i do.