Dunhill Aperitif
(3.28)
A complex blend of Virginias, cavendish, Latakia and Oriental Leaf. The name 'Aperitif' suggests this well balanced medium mixture should be enjoyed prior to dinner.
Details
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.28 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 145 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Surprisingly dry in the tin, even for a Dunhill, which usually aren't too moist to begin with. Good to go from the moment I first opened the tin (but do keep in mind that a week or so of "decanting" opens it up further). Short and thin ribbons in a melange of bright, brown, olive tinted orientals and a little thicker black latakia ensures packing the pipe is the least of your problems. The tin aroma is pleasantly delightful and dominated by sweet fermented fruit and earthy notes. There may be a topping of some sort present, but my nose may be deceiving me, or it's ever so lightly applied.
In the pipe it is equally delightful. Mild, and smooth with a lot of flavour. The main player to my palate is smoky and faintly leathery latakia on a herbal bed of turkish. The cavendish and virginia are noticeably present as well, but of the two the cavendish comes through the most clearly (tastes identical to the one used in 965). The virginia shows itself mainly in the side stream, but unfortunately remains largely anonymous for the most part, or perhaps I should say it melds well with the larger composition and doesn't come through fully until the final third of the bowl. I suppose I wouldn't have minded a little sweeter edge to it either on the whole, but on the other hand, the VA "nip" is nowhere to be found here, something I'm sure will appeal to a lot of smokers prone to bite.
True, it is an obvious variation on the 965 theme, but with enough differences in balance to set it apart. I guess it ultimately comes down to personal preference. As for me, I reach more often for 965 than I do for Aperitif, but it's entirely possible that's because 965 happened to become a staple in my rotation long before Aperitif found its way into my pipes many years later.
Both blends scratch much of the same itch for me, but 965 has the edge when it comes to overall satisfaction after a smoke. As far as recommendations go, I would say try them both and see which one you like the best, or, if you liked a lot of what 965 has to offer, but not everything, you may find what you were looking for in Aperitif, which to me is a little more mellow and perhaps a bit more subdued in contrast to the former. Oh, and the room note is definitely more agreeable as well. Not at all obtrusive or overstaying its welcome. Compared to many english-type blends it's downright pleasant. Overall I give this a solid recommendation.
In the pipe it is equally delightful. Mild, and smooth with a lot of flavour. The main player to my palate is smoky and faintly leathery latakia on a herbal bed of turkish. The cavendish and virginia are noticeably present as well, but of the two the cavendish comes through the most clearly (tastes identical to the one used in 965). The virginia shows itself mainly in the side stream, but unfortunately remains largely anonymous for the most part, or perhaps I should say it melds well with the larger composition and doesn't come through fully until the final third of the bowl. I suppose I wouldn't have minded a little sweeter edge to it either on the whole, but on the other hand, the VA "nip" is nowhere to be found here, something I'm sure will appeal to a lot of smokers prone to bite.
True, it is an obvious variation on the 965 theme, but with enough differences in balance to set it apart. I guess it ultimately comes down to personal preference. As for me, I reach more often for 965 than I do for Aperitif, but it's entirely possible that's because 965 happened to become a staple in my rotation long before Aperitif found its way into my pipes many years later.
Both blends scratch much of the same itch for me, but 965 has the edge when it comes to overall satisfaction after a smoke. As far as recommendations go, I would say try them both and see which one you like the best, or, if you liked a lot of what 965 has to offer, but not everything, you may find what you were looking for in Aperitif, which to me is a little more mellow and perhaps a bit more subdued in contrast to the former. Oh, and the room note is definitely more agreeable as well. Not at all obtrusive or overstaying its welcome. Compared to many english-type blends it's downright pleasant. Overall I give this a solid recommendation.
Pipe Used:
Davidoff 109, Parker Super Bruyere
Age When Smoked:
> 3 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 06, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This is like an adventurous youth who has matured in middle age. It has the characteristics of a full English blend, woodsy smoke and honey sweetness upfront. However everything is softened and refined by the cavendish. It has no rough edges, meaning no components overpower the others. The blend is not intense but it is delicious and full flavored. I sometimes find myself missing the strong herbal and spicy oriental notes one finds in Dunhill’s other English blends, but this is not that kind of tobacco. Those have been done and this softness is unique in a blend so full flavored. That’s not to say the blend lacks complexity. Oriental is in there, just without the punch. Another reviewer used the word “velvety”, and that is spot on. Aperitif does bitter a bit halfway through the bowl but never becomes unpleasant. It burns clean and consistently. If it sounds like something that appeals to you it is definitely worth checking out. I really enjoy it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I had this pegged at three stars the first couple of times I smoked it. It has grown on me and now I find myself reaching for it regularly. It hasn't become a favorite, but it might eventually. The Latakia is somewhat light, but always discernible. The Orientals are of the woody variety and compliment the Latakia very well. The Virginias and the Cavendish provide a wonderful smooth sweetness with just a hint of fruit. This really has great flavors. Not overly complex, but complex enough to keep my interest. Like all Dunhill ribbons it burns perfectly. Medium in body and flavor.
Pipe Used:
MM Country Gentleman, Diplomat Apple, Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 07, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
no! no! no! I can not remain silent before a tobacco like that!
if the tone of an English mixture is latakia, forget it because this is not the case! here he is just one of the stars of this exelente mix! and you have to share the stage with other celebrities!
The aroma cold this more bittersweet, although the initial impact is the latakia. cut into thin ribbon makes it burn well! two rekindled a lot; no, there is no bite, and a rich, creamy smoke.
the flavor is sophisticated (I suspect that Eastern has something to do with it), it has a slight sweetness that goes throughout the smoked (certainly pruduzida by this English cavendish) this sweetness that acts as a base, as the stage where the other stars shine in a very well orchestrated relay.
It is not a nicotine pump as nigthcap has just the right amount to make us happy and waiting for the next smoked.
in short, it is a great tobacco!.........
if the tone of an English mixture is latakia, forget it because this is not the case! here he is just one of the stars of this exelente mix! and you have to share the stage with other celebrities!
The aroma cold this more bittersweet, although the initial impact is the latakia. cut into thin ribbon makes it burn well! two rekindled a lot; no, there is no bite, and a rich, creamy smoke.
the flavor is sophisticated (I suspect that Eastern has something to do with it), it has a slight sweetness that goes throughout the smoked (certainly pruduzida by this English cavendish) this sweetness that acts as a base, as the stage where the other stars shine in a very well orchestrated relay.
It is not a nicotine pump as nigthcap has just the right amount to make us happy and waiting for the next smoked.
in short, it is a great tobacco!.........
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 19, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
My tins have been bought from a fellow member on pipesmagazine.com and are dated 2007; they are thus an Orlik production. Considering The Apéritif have not been produced since, probably, early to mid 2005, it's probably 9 rather than 7 years old. The thing that stroke me the most when I opened the tin was how much the tobacco stinked. Very smoky, almost too much; and almost sickening. But that quickly vanished. The Apéritif stands apart from the other offerings from Dunhill as it's a Scottish blend. I like to think of it as in between EMP and 965 when it comes to nicotine input; creamier and less sweet than EMP despite the Cavendish; and less spicy than 965. There seems to be more Cavendish than Latakia in The Apéritif and that's ok, as it's a Scottish blend. My educated guess for the Latakia is Syrian as the tin note was not characteristic of the Cyprien. Definitively not a Latakia dominant tobacco, it stands out with its own merits. The cavendish is definitively unsweetened and brings that creamy foundation that characterizes The Apéritif. Then the Turkish unveils slightly spicy notes and the virginia, some sweetness. The latakia will manifest itself occasionnally by adding some smokiness. A very good blend, that is not high in nicotine but remains tasteful and rich from beginning to end. I would certainly recommend it for anyone seeking an introduction to Latakia blends or for anyone seeking a mild Scottish blend. I wonder if STG have Syrian Latakia in reserve if Apéritif contains it; if not, I certainly wonder how it will do with Cyprian instead? I will rebuy when it's available in the USA, as it's been released in the UK a few months ago. To summarize, The Apéritif is a Scottish Blend like none other. Highly recommended. I am very happy to see that Orlik resurrected this one as well as Durbar!
Pipe Used:
Stanwell; Rattray; Dunhill
PurchasedFrom:
Private sale
Age When Smoked:
Between 7 and 9 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 02, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Aperitif is to My Mixture 965 what Frog Morton original is to Frog Morton's Cellar.
Smokey with only a touch of sweetness. It's another of what I tend to call the "meat and potatoes" type of blends, though this one is better than most I put in that category.
I wouldn't say it is the kind of blend that is going to "wow" you, nor is it one that you're liable to sit and necessarily savour for its own sake (though I could imagine there could be circumstances where you might), but probably more the sort that you will sip away at while you work on something else or have your focus otherwise on other things.
It's not a bad little blend, though My Mixture 965 or Frog Morton's Cellar are far more interesting to me, probably because I like a bit more sweetness to sit alongside the smokey characteristics. This has sweetness, just not as much as I'd personally prefer, or which tends to capture my attention.
To be honest, the most alluring thing about this particular blend is the name and the tin art, but here again if I'm going to smoke a blend like this I'd prefer to just stick with Frog Morton's Cellar or My Mixture 965.
But if you find those two a bit sweeter than you'd like, this might be one for you.
UPDATE 07/2017:
I'm not sure if its the age of the tin or my age now, but this blend has completely changed for me, becoming far more interesting and with that interesting incense like quality to it.
It's become a favourite and I'm cellaring it up.
Smokey with only a touch of sweetness. It's another of what I tend to call the "meat and potatoes" type of blends, though this one is better than most I put in that category.
I wouldn't say it is the kind of blend that is going to "wow" you, nor is it one that you're liable to sit and necessarily savour for its own sake (though I could imagine there could be circumstances where you might), but probably more the sort that you will sip away at while you work on something else or have your focus otherwise on other things.
It's not a bad little blend, though My Mixture 965 or Frog Morton's Cellar are far more interesting to me, probably because I like a bit more sweetness to sit alongside the smokey characteristics. This has sweetness, just not as much as I'd personally prefer, or which tends to capture my attention.
To be honest, the most alluring thing about this particular blend is the name and the tin art, but here again if I'm going to smoke a blend like this I'd prefer to just stick with Frog Morton's Cellar or My Mixture 965.
But if you find those two a bit sweeter than you'd like, this might be one for you.
UPDATE 07/2017:
I'm not sure if its the age of the tin or my age now, but this blend has completely changed for me, becoming far more interesting and with that interesting incense like quality to it.
It's become a favourite and I'm cellaring it up.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 16, 2016 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
Bought this because I enjoy Dunhill tobacco, N.Cap, R.Yacht, and other English blends especially Artisan's Blend, and I enjoy S.Leader from my Meerschaum. I have tried it in a few different pipes and the result is the same. It is a bit like an overly peppery version on S.Leader. I did not enjoy this at all, it burns well, and smells ok'ish but that's about it. Constant same flavour all the way through, like smoking the remains of an old ash tray.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli, Clay, MM Corn Cob, Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Turmeaus Liverpool.
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from tin.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2015 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
Apéritif presents a similar premise to its sibling My Mixture 965: a spicy sweet Scottish blend. It distinguishes itself by over-pronouncing the spice at the expense of the Latakia, which yields and conforms by simply reminding you it is there.
Well presented and easy to pack and smoke. True to its name, it left me hungry, albeit not for a second bowl - this blend gets close to overwhelming if one enjoys more than a group 3 bowl.
Well presented and easy to pack and smoke. True to its name, it left me hungry, albeit not for a second bowl - this blend gets close to overwhelming if one enjoys more than a group 3 bowl.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 23, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
I found this recipe on the web. My Own Blend recipe for Aperitif: 55% Latakia G019 20% Light virginia shortcut G003 10% Oriental G001 10% Black cavendish G010 5% Kentucky G028
The "G000" codes refer to the numbers MOB use for the different tobaccos
The "G000" codes refer to the numbers MOB use for the different tobaccos
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 30, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Aperitif????? I could smoke this all day!!!!
This is very subtle and nice. An unmistakable Dunhill taste. I'm loving this blend more and more each day.
Got my favorite Winslow full bent out and sorry to cut this review short, but I'm going out for another bowl.......
This is very subtle and nice. An unmistakable Dunhill taste. I'm loving this blend more and more each day.
Got my favorite Winslow full bent out and sorry to cut this review short, but I'm going out for another bowl.......
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