Dunhill Aperitif

Similar to MM965 lights and packs well. Stays lit. Slightly spicy but mellow in now is Smoky sweet with a nutty/molasses undertones. Taste is very Latakia heavy with a very blended creamy/ mildly sweet woodyness. Wonderful blend. Definitely gets better with age. No bite and medium to strong on the “N”.

Currently my favourite EM, together with Balkan Sasieni. I'm not a heavy smoker, so I tend to prefer tobaccos with a low amount of nicotine. This is probably the exception in my rotation. I love every aspect of it. The tin label, classy and reminiscent of an ancient time, the tin aroma, which says "Latakia!" from the first moment, the fact it's easy to pack and to keep lighted. I agree with the reviewer who said all the various tobaccos are recognisable during the smoke. Plus, it never bites your tongue. Highly recommended!

Upon first light I must say it did remind me of a lighter 965 but many puffs later it has taken on a distinction all its own. I don't get a spiceness at all. I get a wonderfully light Latakia and slight sweetness.

It's really a nice burning, non biting, well balanced blend in my opinion. I can see smoking it after a hard days work when night cap may be a bit much. It does have a slight woodsy-ness to it but imho it is not overbearing. I'm glad I tried it. I will restock to have in my cellar.

Outstanding Danehill stuff.I must dissent with other reviewers that see this like a softer version of 965.I feel it really different,deeper,more spicy,mayhaps bolder,not so balanced as 965.The Virginia basis is really excellent as in the other Danehills,bright but no biting at all.Latakia is,of course,but not intrusive.And finally the Cavendish,obvious but not overpowering.Perhaps there is a slight toping or may be the Cav,I really can´t be sure.Perfect cut and burning.I like it a lot but so I think that it isn´t a blend for everybody.If you enjoy 965 or Early Morning maybe you like this too,or maybe not.Sorry for to be so elusive but Aperitif is a quite uncommon blend.

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.