Peterson My Mixture 965

My favorite Latakia forward oriental mixture. Can't Tell you I smell a Pete fire in the moors on a Sunday eve. Or taste the coffee, tea, red wine, cheese. Chocolate, honey, or date. Or my grandmothers oatmeal cookies, but what I do smell is the best Latakia I am sure money can buy. I can taste the orientals in perfect harmony with the Virginias. Mixed together in the correct percentage they all combine to make one of the best English/ balkan mixtures ever made. Cause I say so lol. Peace.

Being a Nightcap lover, and having overdosed on NIghtcap (3 to 5 bowls in a day), I decided to take it a bit slower on my palate.

My MIxture 965 offered an amazing alternative to the Nightcap. You can feel the Latakia aroma from the moment you open the tin, to the moment you ash down your bowl! After half of the bowl is down, the smoke turns exquisitely sweeter compared to when you start smoking it, giving a gently mellow taste to the "kick" delivered by the Latakia. The Latakia is very present, yet gentler in its kick and concentration than that of the Nightcap, and the closer you get to finishing the bowl, the more you can feel some pepper-ish taste like that of the Perique, which adds to the amazing intrigue of this tobacco!

The nicotine content seems quite well, especially after a meal. Early in the morning, it does provide a decent dose to rush into the head while not feeling nauseated for a first smoke.

I would not recommend this blend to a new smoker or an aromatics-fanatic smoker for many reasons. First reason, the room note is not as pleasant than other tobaccos. Second reason, this is a very complex smoke to be enjoyed by a beginner, since it changes character as long as the bowl is getting burnt down, it starts with a strong Latakia note in the palate and in the nose, then as it goes, subtleties start arising, some sweetness, some pepper-ish, and some wooden-earthy taste, making it voluptuously complex, but not as a straightforward-one flavor-blend! This said, for all English tobacco lovers, and for those who would like to make their intro in the world of English mixture, it is one to be highly recommended both to be enjoyed and to get on the right track of English tobacco smoking.

An amazing afternoon, after lunch smoke. Smokes cool, taste full, burns great!

A must I must say in every English Tobacco smoker's locker!

At first I gave this two stars because I thought there would be some redeeming quality's if I jarred it for a while, but now I have had enough of this rubbish.

I do not know how people can enjoy this, it's harsh on the back of your throat, the flavour is wishy washy and thin and all in all it's a blemish on the good Dunhill name compared to the masterpieces like Nightcap, London mix and Navy Rolls.

This is going to be a mixed review of 965. First the Murray's 965: Arguably the best English mixture ever made, period. Slightly sweet, strong and smoooth! There isn't much more to add to the other Murray's reviews. I should point out that I don't worship at the altar of Murray's. I find that some of the Orlik Dunhill's are very close to the Murray's versions or better. With that said, I was able to get a few of the current tins in Denmark and the new 965 lacks the depth and some of the sweetness of the Murray's. It maintains some of the trademark flavors but leaves me wanting more. I do find that as the bowl progresses it does improve somewhat. I wouldn't turn down a tin. Four stars for Murray's and 2.5 to 3 stars for the Orliks. For those looking for a good match blend, I would suggest B&B's "Beck's Ol Limey Bastard" sold at 4 Noggins. Hopefully, the insanity will come to an end and we will see the return of Dunhill to America.

Not a patch on what it was years ago, but 965 is an outstanding English mixture nonetheless,full-bodied and flavoursome; perhaps the best current English mixture of all.The varietals are very well balanced, with the Latakia a definite but not overwhelming presence. To my mind, the sweetening presence of Cavendish is what gives this mixture the edge over many other English mixtures (the purist - or pedant- might like to call it a Scottish mixture). The ribbon cut is easy to handle and keep alight; it burns quite quickly, but it won't scorch your tongue if you don't rush it, and it leaves behind only a clean white ash and no sludge. It comes a little moist in the tin, and benefits from an airing - perhaps overnight - before firing it up. It's not as strong as Nightcap, and is more suited to all-day smoking. It's a bit like Peterson's Old Dublin, but sweeter.The room note won't commend itself to non-smokers or Latakia haters, but that's English mixtures for you. Highly recommended to lovers of English mixtures.

Tin note is wonderful sweet nuttiness. Smokes similar. Latakia comes out a bit more but is very balanced with the mildly sweet and citrus Virginias. Half way through a bit of spice develops.

Easily packed and smoked, average amount of relights, if any. Won't bite, just a simple enjoyment. Works in a medium or bigger bowl for me.

Due to its mildness this would be a great all-day smoke for Latakia lovers. However, if you enjoy Latakia or Balkan blends as a more rich and full bodied once in a while blends, I'd say that there are many other better options.

It is a great blend and I do recommend trying it but it just not one of the first Latakia blends that attract me. I don't think that I'll buy it again in the coming future. Maybe some day.

When comparing the Peterson 965 to the (previous) Dunhill 965, I found the latest version to be just as balanced, flavorful, with very good burning qualities, but sweeter. I like the profile it became with the added Cavendish, as the naturally sweet flavor is a bit more pronounced. There was a little too much mouth residue after smoking this blend, which I would have preferred to be without. Hence, an easy 3 stars for sure.

Summary: although a Scots-style blend that adds Cavendish, this English balances spice and sweet like a gingerbread cookie.

English blends come together like a sweet-and-sour dish: some spice, some herb, some sweet, and some sour. You taste a constantly-shifting melange that nonetheless provides a flavor of its own, constantly hovering between synthesis and separation. With "My Mixture 965," Dunhill goes Scots-style and throws in some Cavendish with blends with the Virginias to form a molasses-like flavor, and this is then given an exotic herbal flavor by the Orientals (like oregano, parsley, and thyme in a vinegar sauce) which then gets layered in thick, black sooty spice by the tangy Latakia. As with most Dunhill blends, their fine ribbon cut distinguishes this blend by allowing it to mix finely and burn together, producing a flavor like gingerbread, both spicy and sweet with a dark oven-roasted flavor. When drawing in smoke, one first tastes the sweetness, then the smoke seems to separate into its spicy, herb, sweet, and tangy flavors, then reintegrates into a sweet taste all of its own. I have smoked a lot of English blends, but come back to this one, especially in fall when the scent of leaves on cooling earth seems to complement and enhance its flavor.

Foreword: I’m really not a Latakia kind of guy, wasn’t impressed with the Frog Morton series and didn’t care for Early Morning Pipe, so I am not sure how I will like this. I honestly never cared for the Latakia taste or the smell in the past, but I am looking change that and give the alluring Ms. Latakia a second chance.

Presentation: Standard Dunhill presentation. Tobacco is neatly packaged in an attractive tin, wrapped in a decorative white tobacco paper. Upon opening, the Latakia smell was the first thing I noticed. Aside from the Latakia, it has a freshly-cut grass aroma with sweet citrus overtones. I also sensed a perfumery, woodish aroma as well.

Taste: First thing that hit me was a sour vinegar taste of the Latakia. Thankfully, it is not overwhelming and complements the Cavendish, Oriental, and Virginias. However, the Latakia is the most noticeable, but is rather mild and just right for someone that isn’t a Latakia smoker. The taste is not very sweet at all, but rather salty, like if some seawater splashed into the blend when the tobacconist wasn’t looking.

Secondly, I noticed the spiciness of the Orientals, followed by the grassy sweet Virginias. My palate isn’t refined enough yet to notice the mild Cavendish, but the tin says “A Balanced Pipe Tobacco Blend”, so I’m assuming the blend is so balanced that I can’t even notice it. Well done, Dunhill. Well done. I’m assuming the Cavendish contributes to the coolness of this smoke, since there was no tongue bite at all.

After-thoughts: It certainly isn’t a “Latakia Bomb”, which is great for an inexperienced Latakia smoker or someone that just prefers other tobaccos. I wouldn’t call it balanced, since the Latakia is by far the most noticeable for me, but the veteran latakia smokers would probably think differently and consider it a very balanced blend. It goes well with a dark craft beer, especially after work or on a lazy weekend afternoon. It goes even better on a Napoleonic-era wooden boat, barraged by enemy cannon fire, singing Sea Shanties and drinking rum all day and night. “Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack.”

***Update 10/16/17***

I'm giving this 4 stars, my favorite blend to date. And this is coming from someone that didn't like Latakia to begin with! This will be my go-to blend, unless I like Presbyterian, Gawith's Squadron Leader or Skiff Mixture better (will be reviewing and trying them shortly). Excellent stuff!