Dunhill Aperitif

Upon opening the tin I was greeted with the wonderful aromas of Latakia and Black Cavendish dominating the tobacco and also a sweet, Maple, perhaps even Treacle-like scent. The tin note conjured up images of bonfire night and dark ale, very autumnal indeed.

The tobacco in the tin was good to smoke from the get-go, it packs easily and lights easily, retaining the flame superbly. Quite a complex blend but not overly so; it doesn't confuse the mind or the senses. For me the Cavendish seemed to be the major player in this mixture with the Virginia being more of a supporting act and the Latakia jumping in here and there to announce it's presence and tease the senses.

From smoking it I can certainly appreciate that it's best enjoyed in the early evening, I'd even go as far as to say that it is best enjoyed on an Autumn evening.

Quite enjoyable, although not tremendously exciting. I found after about 30g of the tin I was getting a bit bored of it. I also found that it dries out quite quickly - and this in turn makes the mixture quite bitey - so I would suggest decanting the tobacco into a jar with a good seal after opening.

A full English Oriental. Smooth but heavy.

Nice ribbons, easy to load, quick burning for a large pipe. Not hot or bitey.

Heavier than Durbar in both Turkish and Latakia but by no means a Latakia bomb. Smoother to me than Crown Achievement. The Turkish dominates the first half of a bowl before the Latakia kicks in to add some spice. I like the dominion the Turkish has over the blend in a new tin. Seldom seen.

This seems to me more loyal to the old Murray formulation (it may have had more Latakia though) than some of the other Orlik products but most are still good to very good.

Very good indeed for an experienced English puffer.

Im a little late reviewing this...like ...well, a number of years. But this blend was one of my all time favorites. Smooth...even...nuanced....really everything I wanted in a Scottish Mixture ( of course, when I was smoking it, I though of it as English or a latakia blend)

I cant speak as to the new Peterson version, but Im going to go get it a spin. I'll let you know the verdict

If I were to design a blend, this could be it: The Dunhill signature perfect ribbon; Solid, rich, quality Virginias; A gentle, consistent Latakia throughout every bowl; Distinctive Orientals peaking occasionally to keep your interest.

This makes for an excellent, well balanced English blend (Scottish, if you prefer) in most pipes but in a smallish, narrow bowl (a Peterson for choice) The Aperitif expresses subtly enhanced Cavendish sweetness which is just barely perceptible in a larger bowl. This makes it distinct from and a class above most English/Scottish blends I have tried.

Add to that just the right Nicotine level and a great smoky, tobacco room-note. Just about perfect, and quite delicious.

The Aperitif is a Dunhill tobacco that fits into their planned schedule for the serious mixture smoker. I think the idea was to start with EMP, smoke 965 or Standard Mixture through the day, Aperitif before dinner and the mighty Nightcap after. As such, Aperitif is on the richer side, but like 965 it's smoothed out with Cavendish.

The appearance in the tin is a mix of browns and blacks, in a ribbon cut that is slightly less even than the usual Dunhill pattern, tending to a little narrower. The tin note does not scream Latakia, although it's very much present, but gives a rich, brooding aroma that is more than the sum of its parts. Rich, sweet, with loam, leaf mould, the sweetness of fresh yeast, smoke, a hint of pine and spice.

It packs with ease, lights with a single match and may need one relight. The flavour is smooth with rounded sweetness, plenty of Oriental spice, and some latakia smoke. Initially the sweetness is prominent, giving a flavour like toasted, buttered malt loaf. As it progresses the sweetness diminishes and smokiness asserts itself, the flavour deepens and it ends on a drier, nutty and charcoal smoke taste: very nice indeed!

Comparison with 965 is obvious: both rest on a bed of rich, sweet, creamy Cavendish, but I think Aperitif has a tad less Latakia and a smidgen more Turkish. Having opened a tin of My Mixture 965, I'll say that the Aperitif has more of both Latakia and Orientals, and is overall a richer more complex and flavoursome blend: given the depth of flavour in 965 that should give you some appreciation for what the Aperitif is about!

In summary, a delicious rich English mixture with real depth of flavour and progression, the sort of thing that really captures my attention, while requiring very little input to smoke. Very relaxing. I've been enjoying it as an aperitif but find it's equally good as a digestif! I can fill a large pipe with this and settle down after dinner for a serious smoke. Highly recommended.

Aperitif is another masterpiece from dunhill. Less latakia than 965, more cavendish, a tad more oriental. Has an almost aromatic quality (not sweet) of fermented fruit. The blend makes me wonder if they added cavendish to london blend to see what would happen, in an attempt to cross 965 with that venerable old blend. Well, it sure created a tasty smoke. I stockpiled a very large amount of it right before it was discontinued, and will enjoy every last pipeful.

A smoke for any time of the day, it is the only english blend with a balance of 25% (in taste) of each tobacco, latakia, virginia, oriental, cavendish, each weaving back and forth.

I will never understand why the best blends cease production over and over. It is maddening. Dunhill needs to sell or give the rights to these blends to a blender which will keep them alive and available.

The comparison to My Mixture 965 is very aptly done. It's a smoke in the same vein, with its own merits. Whilst 965 is very creamy, almost buttery to me, Aperitif is a tad more spicy, yet less intense in aroma.

Typical, perfect Dunhill Ribbon-Cut and the tin note is slightly creamy, decently smoky and a bit ethereal. Condition - as usual with Dunhill - is on spot and can be smoked right away.

In the pipe Aperitif comes along with a smooth, mild creaminess, decent, yet gentle smokiness, mild sweetness and a whiff of etherealness. It's rather mild in strenght and flavorwise on the medium side. By times I get hints of sweet and tart nuts, that harmonizes very well with the earthy, woodsy and smoky-sweet tenor of this blend.

Didn't overwhelm me, but a solid smoke. Yet I find 965 to be better, so this is 3-stars for me. Not outstandingly good imho, but a tasty blend, that can be enjoyed all-day.

Very nice flavour. I'd recommend this one. Burns very nicely and packs super good in the bowl. Smokey undertones and a really relaxing experience. All around goodness.

The tobacco came in a baggie from a friend labeled "2013?" It was a medium ribbon of mixed tan, brown and black. The hydration was slightly on the dry end of what I would term the good smoking range. I smoked it as delivered.

I have been smoking this mostly in pots. I find it to have a nice flavor. It has the smoky latakia and a little spice from the Orientals. There is perhaps some hay from the Virginia, but I don't get any citrus. The Virginia is not much of a note in the signature for me. There is a slight sweet that I claim is a mild topping of some sort. Maybe this is the cavendish or the Virginia.

The smoking experience is pleasant, and it is easily repeatable. It burned cool for me and it was easy to keep lit.

I have one more tin of this waiting for the fullness of time, but I am unlikely to keep this in inventory just as a rule. The price point per ounce for tinned tobacco is a little high, and while this is good, it is not THAT good for me.

This is a solid 3. The tin description is a good one. It is a well-balanced medium mixture. I can easily imagine this being a favorite of someone out there.

This is properly a Scottish mixture. Virginia, Latakia (not too much), Oriental and toasted unflavored Black Cavendish. As a Scottish this tobacco could be a four stars but in my opinion there are two little lacks. First I prefer a little more sweetness, that is more Virginia and less Latakia. Second in this blend there is not much strength (a mild to medium strength) which for some might be a merit, but for me it is not. For these reasons, in my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 7 and two and a half stars.

I bought this tin when they first rereleased it and the Durbar and just recently finished the tin. I did decide I liked it enough to add a few more tins to the cellar, which is more than I can say for the Durbar which was mostly given away.

This is a good Scottish type blend that has a nice smoky sweetness taste to accompany a nice creamy smooth feel. I really enjoyed it, but my enthusiasm did tend to wane as the tin stretched on. This will provide a nice contemplative smoke with shifting flavors, maybe moreso than any other Dunhill Latakia blend I have tried to date. I find with blends like this a lot depends on my mood at the time of smoking. Without distractions it is amazing, but introduce something that upsets my peace and quiet it is less enjoyable.

I am leaving this one at three stars because it is good and at times, It was definitely knocking on four stars.

Wow how did i miss this one? I was perusing my local B&M and noticed he had an unopened sleeve of Dunhill's Apertitif with its snazzy tin artwork. I imagine this is what first class was smoking in the Mauritania and Queen Mary, elegance at its finest! The contents are gorgeous, fallen leaf colors in a mix of browns, yellows and some darker black bits. The slight sweetness is what instantly made this my favorite Dunhill blend, smoky and rich with no bite even when pushed a little too hard. A lot like My Mixture 965 but a little milder and lighter and defiantly a tad sweeter. I can't see anyone smoking this blend and not enjoying it if they like a little European Cavendish added to their English blend. Oh and wow did i not mention that this is super smooth!!!!

Reminds me of nightcap light without the Perique. The blend is good, it just wasn't what I was expecting with the addition of the Cavendish, and I tend to like more Latakia in my English blends. Overall quality of the tobacco was excellent, and the burn characteristics were perfect, leaving a fine white ash at the bottom of the pipe. I have to say that this is a quality smoke and should be enjoyed by any Dunhill fan that likes nightcap, but want to tone it down a bit.

After reading my review of Dunhill Aperitif, I decided that it was only fitting that I rewrite my original review, as it was not very descriptive, and therefore was not very helpful to those that have not tried this blend before. Let’s begin with the tin note of the tobacco. Upon opening the tin of Aperitif, one is greeted with several different aromas. There is a natural sweetness somewhat similar to that of honey that I get from the Virginias, there is a very delicate, slightly floral aroma that I detect that I believe to be the Orientals, and lastly there is the smoky, earthy scent of the rich Latakia. The Latakia in this blend is much milder than Dunhill’s Nightcap, but it is fuller in body or richer than that of Early Morning Pipe. As for the Cavendish, I am really unable to detect any aroma that I can or would associate as belonging to it. The quality of the tobacco is impressive, and one will not likely find any hard, twig like, or woody bits mixed in with the blend. As for cut, the tobacco is composed primarily of a thin, fine ribbon that makes for easy packing of the pipe, which takes and maintains a flame well. Moisture content of the tin that I am reviewing was spot on perfect when I received it, and thus, the tobacco required no drying time whatsoever before being smoked. After packing a bowl into one of my favorite Dunhill pipes, which was only fitting, I put flame to the tobacco. Again, due to the cut and moisture content of the tobacco, lighting took minimal effort. Once lit, the first flavor that I am able to detect comes from the smoky Latakia, however it is mild, smooth, and creamy. The Latakia is followed shortly by the slight sweetness of the Virginia, although I find it hard to describe or compare what this sweetness resembles in flavor. There is a slightly tangy or sour note that I am able to detect, although it does not remain in the flavor profile all of the time, and I suspect that this comes from the Oriental. Lastly, I am able to detect a slightly nutty flavor in the blend, although like the sour note, it is not always present in the flavor profile, and I can only assume that this may be coming from the unsweetened Cavendish which has been mixed in with the blend. As for the burn characteristics of the tobacco, I would have to say that this blend required little to no tending of the pipe, with only the need to tamp and relight somewhere around mid-bowl which may have been more my fault than the tobaccos. The tobacco burned down to a fine white ash that made for easy cleaning of the pipe, only requiring that I run a pipe cleaner through the stem to remove any moisture. I would have to describe the room note of the tobacco as pleasant to tolerable, as my wife made mention that the smoke was rather mild, but smelled like a hardwood fire in the fireplace. Overall, I was very satisfied with Aperitif, as it was a mild and creamy smoke, full of flavor, and very balanced. I would recommend this blend to any fan of English blends that enjoys a more mild mannered tobacco for the first pipe of the morning.

I was really blown away by Aperitif. It was pleasing to see more old Dunhill blends released and this is really great and perfect for its intended purpose. Kind of like 965 on steriods. Not that it stronger, rather its a flavour explosion. The tanginess and tart taste really stand out. Highly recommended and i'll buy more.

Definitely one of my favorite blends! The tin note is great and the buttery taste I get in my mouth after each smoke keeps me coming back. I'm pretty new to pipe smoking and I would say that this is a great one to get started on.

Being the third and final addition to Dunhill's Vintange Blends, the Apéritif is a Latakia based ribbon cut mixture of golden Virginias, floral Orientals and some Black Cavendish. Therefore the tin note is intensely spicy and peaty.

Even though the tobacco tends to be a little on the moist side, filling and lighting your pipe is easy.

Smoking Apéritif doesn't require much attention, exept tamping down the ashes frome time to time. It can be a perfect all day smoke, but it would be a shame not to fully appreciate it. While the Virginias and Orientals offer grassy and floral notes, there's always the spicy and smoky taste of the Latakia, topped off by the smooth and creamy sweet Cavendish. Nicotine content is quite high, so despite its name I wouldn't enjoy it on an empty stomach. It burns down coolly to some powdery, almost white ash.

The room note is also dominated by the Latakia and therefore spicy, but tolerable.

First off all, tin is epic. The leaf is mixed in colors. The tin note is Latakia dominant. I have placed this tabac as a bridge between MM965 and Nightcap or any other full bodied English in the Dunhill line. The smokiness of the Latakia is dominant feature of this blend. The Virginias take a backseat but the citrus and grassy notes pop in every once in a while. The sweetness of the cavendish only mellow this blend. The aroma is semi-sweet, woodsy and not completely offensive to others. This is a bold flavored characteristics make this a nice full English, but the mild and mellow features make this an all day blend. The name aptly applies, it works very well with a dry aperitif. All in all, this is a nice middle of the road tabac, I highly recommend.

I really, really enjoy this blend. Smooth/creamy, spicy and sweet without being overbearing in strength. It is a perfect marriage of flavors…The sweetness is always subtle, but lasts the entirety of the pipe, almost as a base, with the other flavors playing on top. It is mellow enough to be smoked all day. The cut is perfect for packing and lighting and keeping lit. I am happy that Dunhill brought this blend back out and while I guess they call this a "Scottish" blend, I find I am favoring it more than the other English type blends that I smoke.

I have heard of previous incarnations of this and other blends throughout the years. I cannot attest to the differences between this and any other previous blenders. I can only go with what is available now. I find this blend to be a very high quality blend with good quality tobaccos used. It lights up with no problems right out of the tin and stays lit with little effort. For me there was no need to dry before putting flame to it. YMMV. The tin note and room note are both amazing to me. It produces a nice amount of smokiness and has a decent amount of nicotine in it, but nowhere near overpowering in any way. This can easily become a favorite in my rotation. Highly recommended.