Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls

Very disappointed in this tobacco. Very mild in flavour, to the point of being cigarette-ish, and no real nicotine kick to speak of, despite the perique.

For a light, mild VaPer Orlik's 'Golden Sliced' is far more appealing and much cheaper alternative.

WOW!!!!!This stuff is great. I have been taking a liking and a foray into Va/perique blends. This is one of the best I have tried. Tasty and spicy and smooth. Unfortunately it is not sold in the USA and so I am only smoking this on an irregular basis, but will definitely order more. If you are a fan of Va/perique blends give this one a try. I ordered this from Synjeco(switzezrland) they have a web site and are easy to deal with. I ordered a tin of Three Nuns original at the same time and I have to say after trying a few bowls worth I much prefer the Navy rolls. Some have said this is closse to the original Escudo. I have tried Escudo but only the recent version. This is much better smoother and tastier. 4.5 stars

Revised 7/3/23: I still consider this an excellent tobacco, but prefer the ribbon cut Elizabethan. I have switched to Elizabethan and have phased out the Navy Rolls.

Original review:

I like Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls because they are very pleasant in a small bowl pipe, and are very easy to pack well. One folded and stuffed coin per bowl in a small bowl like a Peterson 406 prince or Peterson Belgique is good, but one to one and a half coins in a more standard sized bowl is good too. I do not sense much perique and it is not nearly as spicy as Peterson Elizabethan.

Although I usually prefer Elizabethan, the coins of this tobacco are charming and I like having them. De Luxe Navy Rolls are a good choice on days when I want something with a milder flavor than Peterson's Elizabethan, but with the same essential character.

The small bowled Peterson Belgique is my favorite pipe for this tobacco, though I do smoke and enjoy it in larger bowls, as in the Savinelli Porto Cervo 122 pot.

Technique notes: My smoking technique is to focus only on smoking. No reading or work or other distractions. Just enjoying the smoke. Outdoors only. A few bowls per week of pipe smoking. Lightly charring the tobacco initially and with relights. Sipping. Occasional retrohale. Peterson pipe lighter with smallest practical flame. Sometimes a BIC EZ Reach lighter.

Doing a legend review is a very difficult and thankless task. Especially when you consider the fact that over the years this blend has changed four masters and three factories. Most people who have tasted all versions agree that with each transition the blend has changed slightly in taste and flavor for the worse. Unfortunately, the tobacco produced directly by Dunhill I will probably never get to try again, and even the DLNR version by Murray & Sons is becoming a rarity these days, costing a considerable amount of money. Now Scandinavian Tobacco Group owns the recipe for this tobacco, and the Dunhill brand was replaced by Peterson by the previous owner, who, after a very short time, was forced to sell his entire blend collection to the manufacturer. For several years the tobacco was not produced at all, which caused sincere distress to a large number of pipe smokers, and also gave some manufacturers a chance to try to repeat the recipe. In particular, this is how two blends of Robert McConnell Heritage brand appeared - Highgate and River Thamse. Highgate, by overall impression, was unlike the original, and River Thamse has not yet reached me, so I can not compare them. The tin of Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls I ordered is also still gathering dust somewhere in the U.S. warehouses, due to customs complications. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist the temptation and when the opportunity presented itself, I bought 4 tins under the old name, one of which was released in February 2015 (the others were released in November 2016). Of course, that was the one I opened.

Appearance: coins measuring 4 centimeters and about a millimeter thick in color of medium roasted coffee with occasional flecks of straw hue. The moisture content of the coins is perfect.

The flavor of the tobacco reminded me of the crust of sweet spicy rye bread, which has raisins and figs, although there are also subtle herbal and woody notes. No flavorings I noticed. Two well mashed pennies fit in a large bulldog, and I ventured to light the tobacco.

The initial taste is beautiful and complex: a slight bitterness of rye bread is immediately seasoned by the natural sweetness of overripe figs and a very pleasant spicy, slightly peppery bouquet. There is a subtle woody note and a little licorice. But all the splendor of tobacco reveals itself as you smoke it, the taste and aroma become richer, turning into a dense, complex and interesting taste. The spicy notes and sweetness increase, while the slight spiciness almost disappears. By the end of the pipe, a slight plum tinge to the flavor emerges. I would not be deceiving myself if I said that this is a luxurious, very well balanced blend. It doesn't bite at all, smokes slowly and coolly enough. The strength and flavor are average, but I don't recommend smoking it on an empty stomach from a very large pipe. In all my smoking there was not a drop of moisture from the mouthpiece, there was not a drop left in the pipe. The aftertaste is very pleasant, a little tart dried fruit. The tobacco burns into a dusty light gray ash, which remains very little.

The smoke from the tobacco has the flavor of the same fruit, mixed with a woody note. It is light and very pleasant.

What's the result? Now I understand why this tobacco is so beloved by devotees of virginia-perique blends. I have three more cans, and I intend to smoke them on holidays and stretch them out as long as I can. I can only regret that I couldn't get to know it sooner. If (or when - I hope) my shipment will be relesaed from customs, I'll be sure to compare the new tin to the old one, although I realize that it's wrong to compare a fresh VaPer blend to a mature one - it will only get better over the years. Last words: if you get a chance to try it, by all means don't miss it.

Probably the smoothest, coolest, sweetest, and tastiest Virginia pipe tobacco I've tried.

I feel the Perique is applied very lightly. So the flavor profile is mostly grass, spice, and hay. More like dry wine and not sweet wine. I get more high notes and trebles on this one, and no base notes at all.

It's fragrant and doesn't bite.

It's better than the tin of aged Escudo I last smoked (in my humble opinion of course).

I wouldn't know if it's Escudo rebranded as a Dunhill, all I know is that it's smoother, cooler, and tastes better in every way.

My introduction to VaPers and I would recommend it as such. The uniform coins are thin and can rub out without breaking the individual leaves giving you lots of choice over the burn rate. The signature pouch notes are hay and fruit as you would expect and this becomes stronger when rubbed out and drying. There is a zest from the charring light which remains consistant with the pepperiness working along the sweetness of the Virginias. Best sipped slowly when fully rubbed out and on the dryer end of the spectrum for me.

I was told that the Perique is at the center of the roll so you can push out that to make the smoke more mild to taste. This is worth trying for anyone however as I find the nuance of the virginias really come through when doing this though it could be a placebo.

I decided to re-visit what is now "Peterson" Deluxe Navy Rolls. My first and subsequent impressions were a little underwhelming. (original review below). Our palates can change over time and mine certainly has. This time I used the Frank method of packing the pipe and all I can say is, what a difference ! Lighting easily, staying lit and burning down to nothing but white ash. Tin note sublime, as before, with fruit and bready notes in abundance and rich hay and an almost boozy aroma. I used my best Va/per pipe, a Blakemar Briars Moffat. (Imagine an Author and a Rhodesian had a baby). Anyone looking for a reliable and repeatable way of pipe packing really should try the Frank Method. It smokes incrementally cooler and the flavour is so much better because of that. As I mentioned lighting was a breeze, and initial flavour was like a lighter straight Virginia, but with zero tongue bite. That quickly morphed into a much richer smoking experience with bready and citrusy notes and the Perique making for a tingle in the nose on retrohaling. Finally some stone fruit flavours appeared, like peach or apricot and the ubiquitous plum. I smoked for a little over an hour with minimal tamping needed and every shred of tobacco was consumed. The room note is one of the very best and for a non aromatic is very pleasant. This is truely a quality tobacco that I have grown to appreciate and that is why I felt the need for a full re-appraisal. Final verdict a very well deserved 4 stars from me and a firm place in my regular rotation.

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Transcript of my original review:-

This is a tobacco that I really want to like as the presentation and tin aroma are fabulous, however I find it pleasant enough but not a good fit flavour wise for me. It lights very well and burns very cool with no tongue bite and is easy to keep ticking over. I tried it folded and stuffed and rubbed out and had a reasonable smoke either way but just nothing to get over excited about. It seems a bit hot on the charring light but settles back down to a cool smoke as things progress. I don't however get the fruit notes that some mention or the tartness of the perique. The virginias are lacking in any citrus or hay notes for my taste and it all seems a bit bland and just blah ! Nicotine is there and it has a decent nic hit towards the end of the bowl, but I want more in the flavor departmant. There are a huge number of positive reviews for this premium priced offering from Dunhill but it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things. I had thought that perhaps VaPer blends were not my thing, but it seems after trying Marlin Flake and Solani 633 that I was wrong. Marlin is perfect for me and Solani 633 is close on its heels and both are bursting with all sorts of delicious flavours that I just don't get with DNR. I keep trying to like it as I say, but I guess that in my case, DNR means it ain't gonna happen. Do Not Resuscitate.....

UPDATE.....

I am a stubborn person by nature and have given this blend another try. This time in one of my coolest smoking pipes, a Falcon with a rustic Genoa bowl. Much improvement in the flavour profile and finally a decent smoke from it ! Far sweeter and with a decent hit of Perique. I am therefore raising its score to a respectable 3 stars. My taste buds may be getting more used to the VaPer genre as well. Just as Dunhill are leaving the tobacco market ironically. Oh well, perhaps Escudo will be relaunched in the UK ?

Once in a while you smoke a blend that you smoked many times before and in just that one instance you get a special insight into the blend that you haven't before. I recently had that with De Luxe Navy Rolls, just before closing my eyes at night.

This is a delightful simple blend of Virginias and Perique, cut into coins. Both the tin note and the smoke brings out tang and dry fruit notes. The red Virginia is in the lead. The Perique shows itself after a few minutes with raisin and smoky notes.

Moisture is good, although it could use some drying time. Easy to rub out, pack, and smoke, with minimum relights, if any at all. Mild-medium in both body and strength. Not a complex blend, but not boring or one-dimensional either. That's what makes it great - it's just a very tasty and simple blend to smoke. The balance between the Virginias and Perique is great for me, although I wouldn't have mind just a tiny bit more of Perique.

Can easily be an all-day if you don't mind rubbing out the coins every time. One thing that I sometimes do with coins and flakes is rub out the whole content of the tin when I get it, so it's then easier to pack the pipe. Otherwise, one coin fits perfectly into my Stanwell 242.

Only real problem - the price! As much as I love this blend, I can't buy it regularly because of that. I'd buy a tin once in a long while. Until then, I'll go with more-or-less similar blends.

When judged on the blend qualities alone, though, easy four stars.

Somebody reviewed this as " everyone's darling " and quite rightly so! I know tobacco is down to personal taste but in this case what is not to like? Up on opening the tin you are greeted with a lovely arrangement of multi coloured coins and the wonderful if slightly faint aroma of " proper good old fashioned tobacco " I have read with interest that this product is cased or dressed in some way, I have to say that if this is so it has been done in such a way that it really does not detract or interfere with the final product in any way, shape or form! I find this tobacco one to be savoured and as such i prefer to use a small bowl pipe to enjoy it. I treat it as I would a single malt whiskey or fine brandy, to be siped not chugged, this is not the tobbaco equivalent of Budweiser!!

I find the moisture spot on straight out of the tin and tease the coin apart rather then rubbing too vigorously. Upon first lighting I am treated to one of the most balanced tasting tobaccos I have come across. Strong, flavourful yet gentle and approachable. I could wax lyrical about the individual flavour profiles to be found but I never see the point. To me it always feels like going to see an orchestra and spending your time trying to listen to individual violins. As a complete arrangement this tobacco is perfect and the wonderful flavour is constant from beginning to end.

If you have not tried this tobacco yet, then why the hell not??? Get yourself to the shops right now! If you have then you already know what all the fuss is about. I cannot imagine not having a tin of this somewhere in the house.