Dunhill Durbar

I never met a Dunhill I didn't like, so with that said, I profess with stern conviction that Durbar is the undeniable king of the heap.

I recall opening my first tin of this stuff some time back and was absolutely mesmerized with the tin aroma. One pipeful later, and I was hooked for life.

Listen up folks....Turkish blends just don't get any better than this. There's a whole lotta flavor packed in every tin of this stuff. It totally amazes me that Dunhill took this off the market for a period of time. What the heck were they thinking ???

A medium fine ribbon cut blend that has a fair amount of nicotine. Definitely not and all day smoke...but one that can be savored at least once or twice a day. Like a fine expensive wine, this is a classic smoke that deserves only our highest praise and recognition.

I really enjoy this blend. It is robust in taste and packs a good kick, but not harsh. It smokes evenly and has a pleasant, lingering taste.

This is always my second choice in regards to Dunhill blends.

Durbar is a nicely-cut thin ribbon that seems to contain every possible shade of brown. It comes from the tin at a perfect moisture for me and so lights and burns well. Upon first lighting this blend, I taste a muted, almost subtle Latakia, then some Virginia sharpness, and afterwards an exceptionally cool, slightly acrid smoke with just a bare undertone of nuttiness and sweetness. Despite other taster's impressions, I find this to be a subtler blend than many full-bore Englishes and like the interplay of the Virginias, Orientals, and Latakia as the bowl progresses. Like the perfect butler, this is an exceptionally well-behaved smoke, never strident or bothersome, but always elegant, subtle, and cool. I like it much more than 965. Burns to a fine dry grey ash. Recommended.

A wonderful light english blend. This flavor is slightly sweet and spicy, and the latakia comes across more in the aroma than the taste. The aroma, btw, is extremely pungent -- you're not going to make friends with this one. Smoking it slowly and coolly brings out the latakia, smoking it quicker enhances the orientals.



For some reason, this blend falls into the same personal category as I place Pelican, in that it is a blend that is widely hailed a stout english blend, that I nonetheless find to be extremely mild with a strange sweetness. OTOH, many "medium" blends like Bombay Court and Balkan Sobranie absolutely knock my socks off with their richness and flavor. Somehow my taste buds just aren't wired to taste orientals, I guess. But while I find Pelican nearly tasteless, this blend has just enough in it that while I find it somewhat mild, it nonetheless possesses a delightful flavor that brings me back again and again.



Highly recommended.

Tin note of stewed fruit, spices, and very mild smoke. Tobacco is color brown, tan ribbon cut with a little black mixed in. Moisture content is great. Burns moderate with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and mostly consistent, with notes of floral, very dry, herbal peaty vegetation, musty earth, wood, spicy, hay, bready, very mild incense, spices, sour citrus, mildly acidic, zesty orange peel, a savory sweet background note, and a mostly smooth/mild peppery retro. Oriental/Turkish is leading with strong support from the Virginias and minimal support from the Latakia. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

Some tobacco are easy to forget about, but when you revisit them they kind of blow your mind. For me this is one of those. I find this tobacco to be very gentle on your tongue. It smokes cool, and is as smooth as butter. But it's flavor is magical. If you enjoy the delegate interplay of orientals and Latakia, this is your bag baby. I don't smoke English blends indoors. And I hate sitting outside during the winter. So for the most part the spring summer and early fall are my English smoking seasons. This was my first of the season. What a reward for a long winter. This is wonderful stuff. You can't help but imagine the Glory Days of the British empire. Dusty market places in far off lands, where they sell beautiful handmade rugs. Tobacco smoking is about Discovery and personal growth. And this tobacco is one of the best I've discovered. I've heard people talk about its strength in the nicotine department, but I don't really notice it. I don't really notice much nicotine in any pipe tobacco.

Some reviewers on here say that it is a little too strong for them or insinuate that it is pretty hardcore. I say give it another chance. You've got to learn to love English to love this tobacco. English tobacco is not a love it or hate it proposition. It isn't for anybody. Literally everyone has to learn how to smoke it and enjoy it. It requires a learned pallet, and you only get that through practice. Smoke more, smoke more, and smoke even more. You will begin to understand complexity and love for English blends. Doing that is one of the biggest achievements any pipe smoker will ever have.

On poppin the tin and lettin the bouquet waft from the baccy givin it plenty o time to settle in, a pleasant aroma comes forth from the latakia and virginia's. The charrin light is cool and tasty. After a "let's get acquainted relight" it 'as a nice warm room note. Burns down to a fine ash. Vitamin "N" is stronger in this than some o Mr Dunhill's other offerings. All in all it might be best after eve victuals along the lines o Aperitif. Should partner nicely wit a fine dram o the Capt's rum, or other adult libation...

Another mixture that deserves its place in todays market. Rich, smokey, with a little spiciness to it. Certainly get the cigar undertones and nice little dance from lady 'N'. Not sure why Orlik would not make this available but my guess is that they are clearly missing a rich nitch of sales in our world.

I've only smoked the Murray's edition in the early 2000's. It had what I liked about 965 (rich, creamy Virginias, tangy Orientals and a drop dead killer aroma burning), but not 965's detractions (tongue-battering heat, added sweetness). While I consider 965 a Scottish-style Latakia blend, no so with Durbar, which is more a Balkan.

Durbar was tied with London Mixture as my favorite Dunhill tinned blend. I have but one tin left. Hopefully, one day, I'll see an Orlik version to try once Dunhill tobacco starts shipping to the US again.