Dunhill London Mixture

The following comments are based on a 20+-year-old tin, from Dunhill's "Murray's" years. I realize my assessment may not be all that helpful -- especially if you're comparing it to the current Orlik version. But, maybe, if you come across an aged tin (or are wondering how things are progressing in your own cellar). . .

At the first light, the Orientals make their presence known. I don't know if London Mixture, as a youngster, was so Oriental-forward or not. But it is now, with 20+ years on it. If it weren't for the background presence of latakia, those initial first puffs could make you think you're smoking Presbyterian.

After a quarter of a bowl, though, the sharpness of the Orientals -- and I love Orientals -- eases off, and then the smooth, rounded Virginias come in. For most of the bowl, it's a conversation between the Orientals and the Virginias, with the latakia only occasionally speaking up from the back row. The result is an ever-evolving smoke that is rich throughout, creamy in spots, and worthy of the smoker's attention.

I only wish I'd had the foresight to stockpile this back in the 1980s.

Bob

I received the tin of Dunhill London Mixture last night from pipesandcigars.com and I opened it up this morning to put it in one of my cellaring jars. Upon opening I was greeted with the familiar smells of latakia smokiness (but not too much) and the tanginess of the Oriental tobacco. The tanginess can be described as a kind of olive aroma. It also has some sweetness in the aroma similar to dried figs. The Virginias lend a grassy/hay like smell as well.

This tobacco was perfect for a early morning smoke. I got my morning coffee, went out on the back patio and sat down with my rosary and liturgy of the hours to begin my morning prayer time. After settling myself in and blessing myself with the sign of the cross, I packed my pipe, lit it and savored the slightly sweet and spiciness of the first few puffs. I could also taste the slight sour/tanginess of the Orientals and the balanced smoky bitter flavor of the Latakia. There was also a slight nuttiness present. It produced a nice creamy smoke and only had to relight it toward the end of the bowl. I smoked it in my Stanwell Churchwarden with the short stem instead of the long stem. I found the bowl lasted for the entire time I prayed the rosary. What a great way to slow down my prayer, contemplate the presence of the blessing of God in my life and enjoy this product of His creation. It was very relaxing, yet helped me to focus on the mysteries of the rosary and really meditate on the Passion of Christ in the sorrowful mysteries. As I smoked I pondered the smoke as a symbol of my prayers rising up to God, similar to the picture of the prayers from the incense of the saints in Revelation rising to Heaven.

The room note of many English blends that are Oriental forward like this can have varying degrees of a floral, almost incense aroma that can remind one of incense during a Mass at Easter or Christmas or other special times.

I really enjoyed this tobacco and will include it in my regular rotation. I can see smoking this with a pint of porter or stout as well as with a fine dram of fine Scottish Whisky.

London Mixture is one of those blends where after years and 200+ reviews, yet another review is hardly necessary. So consider the more detailed notes below to be just for my own personal collection of reviews to refer back to as taste buds and memory fade. The short version is that this is similar to Standard Mixture but drier smoking, with more heft and depth, heavier on the Orientals and blended with more Latakia. My favorite among the Dunhill English blends. Delicious.

London Mixture presents as a ribbon of dark and light browns, visually indistinguishable from Standard Mixture, and with a similarly delicious tin note of herb, exotic spice and Oriental fragrance. Good moisture level, ready to smoke. Smokes richer and deeper than Standard, with a more robust flavor profile of less Virginia, more Oriental, and noticeably more Latakia. Flavors of wood and salted nut grounded in a deeper leather and earth, with fine Oriental spice always in the background and only a whisper of Virginia - just as I like it. London Mixture is a richly flavorful blend and about as perfect a blend of its constituent tobaccos as one is likely to find. My favorite English.

Smokes dry and cool, no bite. Even near the end of bowl as the (muted, here) Virginia tends to add some damp, and the Latakia some mustiness, the finish is Oriental crisp, and the bowl is left dry. While I much prefer Balkans and Orientals to traditional English blends, this is one I could smoke any time with great pleasure and anticipation.

Update 2020: Peterson didn’t pick up this blend? Tragedy. Thank God I bought a few tins to cellar when I first heard Dunhill was going to virtue signal itself into irrelevance. This is one I would pay top dollar for if anyone were liquidating his stash.

Dunhill's London Mixture is an outstanding Oriental forward English mixture, a classic, and a personal favorite. This tobacco is just delicious. Slightly sour, woody, buttery orientals; grassy, earthy sweet virginia; and a touch of cyprian latakia add smoky, creamy goodness to this rich, medium bodied blend. There's just the slightest hint of a topping that gives this blend a little extra, and it's so well done one could almost think that it's from the tobacco itself. Medium bodied yet full flavored, and medium nic. This is not an all day blend, but it's so good you might like to repeat it, and you'll definitely like to have more than one tin on hand at all times. Best smoked in a medium sized briar. 4 stars.

Dunhill London Mixture - for me , a 'benchmark blend' as far as English Mixtures go. Others have come close - but LM is a tough act to follow. A beautiful blend , moisture is perfect straight from the tin. LM packs & lights easily , and is always well behaved. Mild VA's , pulled along by spicy Orientals , dancing and weaving as the bowl progresses. Of course , Latakia is present , but in a shy , supporting role - masterful blending. LM is never tiring - always willing , reliable , and eager to please.

Dunhill - London Mixture.

A very pleasing blend. Upon opening it you are greeted by an aroma which is very enticing and the moistness cant be faulted. Also, another perfect point is the lighting, possibly one of the easiest to ignite for me as of yet! The burn is incredibly even giving a truly sublime smoke where you can detect the different tobaccos without any outweighing the others. Nicotine level is about Squadron Leader level, and can be inhaled with such ease you don't feel it go down! Zero tongue bite from this for me, no matter what. A slow burn so you get the time to enjoy it and can relax and enjoy. I cant find a single fault with this!

Highly recommended.

I was given a tin of this tobacco from my normal supplier of tobacco for testing purposes. As expected with most Dunhills, upon opening the tin, the tobacco was firmly packed in very neat and nice packaging. There were no strands that were clinging to the underside of the lid nor were there any above the round paper the covers the inside of the tin. Perfect packaging.

The tin note was the typical English blend that I was so accustomed to. There's plenty of oriental leaf notes as well as a good amount of latakia. The myriad of different colored strands of tobacco packed together into this tin was quite beautiful to be gazed upon. On the subject of humidity level, as usual Dunhill has managed to get it spot on and there was no issues with packing and lighting the tobacco.

Taste wise, i found this to be a little heavier on the oriental side in comparison to the very meaty MyMixture 965. It is very enjoyable puff after puff. I will definitely include this as part of my rotation. No flaws to be found with this tobacco and for me it embodies the perfect English blend.

The re-issue of this stuff is even better than I remember it in 2005 when I first blissfully burned through a couple of early-2000 vintage tins in October of that year in a Savinelli Signature gifted to me by a client and an Ascorti New Dear discounted by the Ardmore, PA, Tinder Box tobacconist who pitied my Katrina-exiled behind. This blend smokes magnificently right out of the tin – easy to light, cool and utterly biteless. Sweet Virginias exquisitely counterbalanced by the pleasantly acrid orientals. The latakia announces its wonderful smoky self on opening the tin, but when lit stays unobtrusively in the background as a condiment. This is not a “balkan”. For anyone desiring to know what an “English” blend should be, this is cricket. My ‘70s era Charatans take to this like a Jaguar to the open road – “for this I was meant.” I am going back to the tobacconist tomorrow to buy out his stock, but I hope age does not improve this blend. It is simply one of the best things to which I have ever put a match.

This is a light Balkan, if that. You can taste and smell the Latakia, but this is no Squadron Leader. Very mild, very rich. Great earthy aftertaste on the palate. 5/5.

I bought this on a whim, as I'm trying to get a sense of the Dunhill range. As with the previous blend I tried (Royal Yacht), I'm very pleased. It's a very gentle smoke, with a beautiful bouquet of Virginia and Oriental leaves. The aroma is simply pleasant light nuttiness and tobacco.

In a previous review I dubbed Royal Yacht my desert island blend, but I keep finding myself going to this tin. Hope my fellow pipe smokers enjoy this one as much as I do! (Pairs very well with Bourbon or single malt Scotch.)