Murray Sons & Co, Ltd Punchbowle

I see that this venerable old English blend hasn't been reviewed on here for quite a while, so I thought I would remedy that!

Much about this tobacco is old-fashioned, from the tin through the classic Virginia and Latakia blend and on to the fine shag cut. Credit must go to Scandinavian Tobacco, the current makers, for respecting these traditions.

The presentation makes packing and burning easy, something else that the more edgy modern styles could learn from.

And oh, what a pleasure to smoke. A perfect marriage between the separate elements, ostensibly simple ingredients brought so skilfully together. It works its charm consistently throughout the bowl, with a wondrous exchange whereby both the Va and Lat seem to take turns in popping up to say "hello," never in competition, but always in co-operation.

Smooth and relaxing, totally delightful, transporting me to a calmer place. Honestly, it's that good.

Highly recommended.

This was one of my favourite tobaccos during my first incarnation as a piper, back in the 70s and 80s. Trying it again on my return to the pipe this year, I found it as I remembered. This is what I wrote about it in my notebook: "Latakia mixture. Dry, smoky, slightly salty, reminiscent of Islay single malt whisky. Excellent." (Actually, to be strictly truthful, that's what I wrote about Peterson's 'Old Dublin'. What I wrote about 'Punchbowle' was "Pretty much identical to Old Dublin". There you are - two reviews for the price of one!)

I've just up-graded it from "Recommended" to "Highly recommended". I'm smoking it as I type, and it really is a wonderful tobacco. It doesn't taste salty any more, and neither did the earlier tinful after the first two or three smokes, but it is well-rounded, dry, dark, and with liquorice and dried-fruit hints. A wonderful tobacco - my firm favourite in the 80s, and again now, though it isn't made by Murrays any more, having moved to Denmark. I've just read some of the other reviews, and note that other reviewers have also compared it to 'Old Dublin'. Thanks to DK for reminding me what the middle member of the trilogy was. I'd been racking my brains - I knew there was another one, in between PP and Pb!

I think those who enjoy Latakia/Virginia in full measure will appreciate Punchbowle. It is sweeter than sour and does carry a heavy load of taste. The leaf, typical of Murray's, was well aged and smooth. Rich, creamy and smooth, Punchebowle is a crowd pleaser.

I can see where this was a classic.

Reminded me a lot of those classic English blends that have long since vanished and that's a good thing....that's a very good thing indeed. There'sa heavy nicotine content to this tobacco and if smoked too quickly it the big N makes itself known with a head rusd, but when savoured there are some pretty intense flavours within this tobacco. It smokes easily and leaves a wipsy ash in the bottom of the bowl - I detected hints of caramel and oatmeal and am immediately going to have another pipe full of this beauty.

One of my favourite blends. Stronger than presbyterian mixture, more interesting than Nightcap, lat heavy that drives the blend and stays with it from beginning to end. Easy to smoke, with the classic latakia smell and taste that affirms it's presence. Couldn't taste the virginia terribly strongly, but it's certainly there.

Low maintenance, easy to smoke and keep lit. As others have commented, this is not a delicate or refined blend in the slightest, but in my opinion, this only works to it's betterment. Living by the sea, the salt rich air is a perfect companion. I'd like to store this, but I just go through it so fast...

I was in Exeter, UK, in 2010 on vacation and visited "McGahey The Tobacconist" in search of a replacement for Dunhill My Mixture 965 (wasn't back on the market at that time). Martin McGahey was kind enough to advise me to try Peterson's Old Dublin and Punchbowle. Punchbowle (as well as Old Dublin) was great. Dark, heavy Latakia with a touch of fruitiness, the perfect (to me) mixture between smoky and sweet (more on the smoky side, though). Highly recommended, especially when smoked outside.

I saw a tin in my local newsagent and it looked so lonely sitting there on its own so I thought I would take it home. This was an impulse buy rather than a 'must try that one' purchase and to be honest I wasnt expecting much.

It surprised me. Nothing much in the smell when opening the tin just a mild tobacco smell. Easily lit and very easily smoked. I found it to be very smooth and creamy with a lovely aftertaste of mild sweetness that kept you wanting more.The Latakia reminded me of Presbetaryian Mixture although not as strong.

I will have to speak with my local shop to make sure they get some more of it in stock because for me this is definately a regular purchase.