Compton's of Galashiels York Full Mixture

I guess there is a similarity between York Full and Dunhill's 965, but I find this one to be heavier and more naturally sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the Latakia dominated, but also appreciated the subtle spicy sweetness of the Orientals. The Cavendish added a lot of belly to this one. Truly a fine smoke.

Pipestud

Of the tobaccos I've tried, I find no flaw in Compton tobacco blends. The York Full Mixture is my personal favorite. No other tobacco brand need be tried, as I'm completely satisfied with this one. To keep sampling new possibilities (which seem endless these days) suggests that too much attention is being paid to a pleasant, though relatively inconsequential, aspect of life. I say - pick one or a few blends or brands , stick with them, and move on. Comptons of Galashiels, specifically York Full Mixture, is my pick. Even with sipping, as I do, the smoke is thick and luscious. The flavors are richly complex and dense - evidencing high quality tobaccos. Even with top shelf tobacco though, the blend must be balanced. Therein lies the art. Mr. Engel seems to be gifted in this regard. No bite to the tongue or offense to the sinuses. The smoke rolls out softly, and can be savored through the nose as lightly smoked oak and fine leather, with subtle sweet maple and spiced nuts - but yet no suggestion of topping. Lighting a bowl while reading gives me pause to close my eyes and fold myself deeper into my easy chair - the aroma and flavor carry me into the pages. Luxurious and meditative. This is as good as I should expect any pipe tobacco to be.

I don't normally gush. But I must. I really appreciate fine foods, wine, microbrewed beers, a great cigar and a great pipe. And if my pipe is loaded with York Full Mixture, then nothing in this world can harm me. Everything is right with the universe, my chi is lined up, and my dog loves me.

The first thing that hits me while smoking this blend is absolute astonishment that it's actually 45% Latakia. No way! This stuff is so smooth, so rich, so tasty, but without even a hint of the sharpness often present in many Lat bombs.

The Virginias provide a stellar base when balanced with the smoothness of the cavendish, and the proportion of Latakia to Orientals is perfect. I don't find this all that similar to 965. 965 hits you with that Oriental sour out of the tin, and the cavendish is more noticeable than in York. I'm not sure what to compare this to because I don't know of any other blend with so much Lat that is so smooth. It burns beautifully, stays cool, allows you to really huff and puff if you want to, and the smoothness and richness just keep on giving and giving.

Still can't believe it's 45% Latakia, but the proportions are so well balanced that it almost behaves like a medium English. But it's not. This is a full, rich, beautiful piping experience that can rival any full English on the market today IMHO. Better than Pease's best? Nope, just different - another glorious English mixture to add to my personal hall of fame. And perhaps yours too should you try this excellent blend.

Five stars out of four.

GL Pease's Odyssey has long been my favorite Balkan/English/whatever, which is to say it's one of my favorite flavors in the whole universe. Excellent smoky latakia, exotic orientals and a wonderful sweetness exuding from the VAS .... the stuff is perfection, with only one significant caveat: the stuff has the burning qualities of granite. Ok, Ok, so it's not really THAT bad, but Odyssey doesn't burn well, even with prolonged drying. This greatly hinders my enjoyment of what would otherwise be my hands-down favorite blend, especially as the alarming number of relights has frequently generated so much heat that it singed my tongue.

So what does that have to do with Compton's York Full Mixture?

Because the flavor of this stuff is nearly identical to Odyssey, but it burns like a dream. Hence, this is close to being the perfect pipe tobacco (to my tastes only, of course).

The only reason I don't cellar this by the ton is because of the price, and even so I am seriously thinking of importing a ridiculous amount come tax return time.

Highly, highly recommend to Balkan lovers.

P.S. I can find no resemblance whatsoever between York Full and Dunhill's 965, except of course that they both contain latakia. YMMV, of course.

I ordered this tobacco with a new pipe, combining the orders to save shipping costs. I highly recommend ordering the pipe online at pipes2smoke.com and then ordering the tobacco over the phone, just for the opportunity to chat with Maxim. You'll quickly learn that he's a great representative of the tobacco industry. I ordered the pipe/tobacco four days ago and the box arrived today (Toronto to Minneapolis).

The tobacco arrives sealed in a metalized pouch, similar to that used for premium coffee. When opened the initial scent is that of an extremely high quality tobacco, featuring dark Virginia and Latakia. It's a dark, alluring, fresh musky scent. Spice, campfire, and a slight hint of molasses (though this is not an aromatic). The scent is reminiscent of Dunhill My Mixture 965 but much deeper and far more complex.

The tobacco leaf itself appears thick and the Virginia, Latakia, oriental, and cavendish seem consistent in cut size and volume. I don't recognize this tobacco as that being from any of the major bulk blenders, and I think I've seen most if not all. This stuff just seems extremely well cut. The quality is obvious. I got a good look at it all as I transferred it into four-ounce quilted mason jars, as is my routine. The pouch is rated for 15 years so I don't know why I didn't just leave it in there...

The initial char light was a thoroughly pleasing experience in realizing that this was "it," that grand master tobacco I have been searching for. I've spent a significant amount of money on online tobacco orders from all the major online retailers, in tins and bulk. No other tobacco comes close to this magical tobacco.

The depth, complexity, fullness of flavor is unparalleled. Full flavored tobaccos invariably come with a cost of harshness. Such is not the case with this tobacco. In fact, this full-flavored stuff is as smooth as any tobacco I've tried. The taste is sublime and the aroma is luxurious.

Some have compared this to 965. I guess I can understand that. However, 965 doesn't come close to this stuff in terms of appearance, scent, burn quality, etc. 965, like most of the Dunhill tins, quickly develops an ashy cigarette taste and smell halfway into the bowl. That doesn't happen with this stuff. Virginias usually do have that cig quality. This stuff tasted and smelled like its luxurious, rich, fresh, and complex self all the way to the end.

I'm not sure if it's the Latakia or the oriental, but there's a unique mustiness, or musk, or something... It's intriguing and alluring. I can't explain it. You'll know what I mean.

Best ever. I'm so glad I found this stuff.

Another stellar blend from Canadian blending concern Compton's. Mr. Engels is conjuring up some of the best blends I've ever had, I tip my hat to you sir. If Pease is 7 on my Marshall head, Compton's is 11 . . . these go to 11 !

Very full and rich but never overwhelming. Great texture and mouth-feel, creamy and somewhat mouthwatering. Burns like like a dream, cool with a whispery grey almost white ash, virtually no dottle and nary a pipe cleaner needed between bowls.

Ever so slightly reminiscent of Dunhill 965 (early Murray's and Duke street) mostly in delivery and balance, not so much on the palate. This blend is excellent and most enjoyable; however, it does seem a bit fussy with the briar, for me a nice wide chamber works especially well, have fun and see.

Well worth the expense and often the wait too. Care and quality cannot be rushed, artisan pipe tobacco at its finest. I'd pack my pipe with this stuff any day of the week when compared to Pease, McClelland, Esoterica/JF Germain, Sam Gawith, and so forth. A real treat and luxury tobacco, at least to me.

Being a "yes man" is sometimes a good thing. This superior blend deserves four stars, and now that I have ordered some of Maxim's blends yet again all I want to add is that THEY ARE ALL WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY AS WELL AS THE WAIT.

This is my first review -- and I have chosen York Mixture Full because I think Maxim Engel has done a great service for people who, like me, are very fond of English and Balkan mixtures. I hope this site encourages others to try the Compton's of Galashiels range!

The cut, moisture content and burning properties of this mixture are all excellent -- as, indeed, they are for the other Compton's blends I have tried (Macedonian Mixture and Number 10). The tobaccos are clearly of first-rate quality. On lighting one is rewarded with clouds of deliciously spicy smoke; the taste is nutty, creamy, smokey and spicy by turns, with a little sweetness from the Virginia base, with the Cavendish very nicely, as hagen notes, offsetting the high notes of the Orientals.

Dunhill's 965 was the tobacco which introduced me to pipe smoking (and Dunhill blends more generally) several years ago -- and I was lucky enough to go to one tobacco tasting at Dunhill's London shop before they closed down their tobacco business here. While there are clear resemblances between York Mixture Full and the old 965 I remember, I don't think YMF is a copy of 965. Rather, it's another excellent blend in the same tradition. I enjoy it greatly, and recommend it highly.

first whiff out of the jar is latakia and the cavendish (mind you, not the modern caramel horrors, but old-fashioned english-style, with a slightly woodsy and sweetened taste, expertly used to balance the high notes of the oriental tobaccos). in the background you sense the sun cured orientals. the virginias don't make themselves much noticed. perfect humidity and texture. no need to dry this one out.

the taste and flavour: as the tin description says, it's smooth. i don't know how this can be, as most other full englishes/balkans seem to be quite bitter/acrid, nightcap being a noteworthy exception. may be the quite powerfull virginias and cavendish, or it may be that the latakia is superb quality. whatever the reason, this is full taste, but with no attack on your throat. the orientals are obvious, too (and as with all compton's blends, with a wonderfull fragrancy), and beautifully balanced with the other ingredients. there's sweetness here, too, not only from the cavendish but certainly also from the virginias. bass as well as treble. to enjoy the full spectrum, sip it slowly and lovingly. puffing will make it smoke wet, and you'll lose all the subtleties. take your time. relax.

for me, this is absolutely not a morning smoke, or one for a short break during work, but it's great in the evening. not every evening, though: there are other compton's blends that beg to be smoked late in the day! and though it's not my absolute favourite among the splendid compton's blend, it's very very fine quality, and perfect when i want a powerfull and refined dose of oriental tobaccos.

it's really not an "english mixture" in the modern sense - "full scottish" would be less misleading as category - but very much recommended indeed.