Peterson Nightcap

Hi folks, just purchased this blend from The Pipe Shop in Edinburgh. I’ve been smoking a pipe on and off for around 20yrs now and I have to admit my baccy choice has usually been an aromatic blend of one sort or another. I’m getting a wee bit miffed at having to dry out my stash and a coping with hot pipe bowls and some of the other idiosyncrasies that comes with aromatics. So I’ve been trying to find a blend not to high in nicotine to slip in to my rotation. I liked the sound and reviews of Dunhill Nightcap so I bought a 50gm tin and gave it a shot. Disappointed, smells a bit like condor. Tastes of not very much. Smokes very easily to a white ash, a bowl taking best part of an hour. Unfortunately it left a coating on my tounge and a very dry mouth. It packs and lights very easily requiring only one or two lights per bowl. Smokes great fresh from the tin being just right in moisture. I won’t be buying it again though. What I am after is a dark heavy lingering smoke that satisfies without needing two or three bowls. I like black cavindish in my blends but I don’t have enough knowledge to mix one of my own. Does any of the community know of any such heady blends, I would be eternally greatfull. My experience with Nightcap is a personal one and I don’t wish to sway anyone’s opinion. Gonna stick my pipe in my gub now before I’m telt tae (hud ma wheesht) Old Scots for shut up!

Gosh I feel bad being negative for such a well thought of blend. I simply don't like it......Period! If they would have just left out a few things it may have been better. I did not find it relaxing at all. I tasted slight sweet straw but overwhelming taste of pepper. Not what I want at anytime particularly before bedtime. As the blend burned down the bowl I found only a strong taste of pepper and a bad bitter taste being left in my mouth. It amazes me that so many folks like this blend but "whatever floats your boat" I guess. Burns pretty cool and room note is not very pleasant. I wonder sometimes if the venerable name of Dunhill intimidated folks to rate there reviews higher than they normally would. Frankly there are tons of blends out there they claim to be "relaxing evening smokes" that are far better than this less than average blend. Open your horizons a bit and delve out from the herd. I guarantee you will be happy with your search. I will say the "old" blend actually made by Dunhill was far superior and much better than this blend.

Thousands swear by this blend, but I'm not one of them. Maybe it's the orientals that throw me off but there's something that rubs me the wrong way. Won't be buying again 🙁

Stunning tin art though!

Thick smoke, slightly sweet in the first half of the bowl, its actually okay nevertheless its not extraordinary. I suppose English blends are not my cup of tea

A stronger blend but one that does so elegantly. Soft, leathery latakia, with a hint of perique and orientals. The virginias are too pungent for me. I can see how some really enjoy this blend, that is a bit of a negative for me. Although the name suggests you take it after a meal, it can be smoked at any point of the day - but not all day long. Note to self: do not smoke this in a large bowl, it will leave you a bit dizzy.

Upon opening the tin, the aroma is overtaken by the Latakia with its usual features of leather and smoke. You also get some sweetness from the Virginias and a bit of that floral notes from the Balkan leaves. I can't distinct the Perique in there.

All those notes translate well into the smoke. What you get is rich sweet and musty smoke with that extra floral, sweet, and spicy Balkan leaves condiments.

I've prepared myself for a strong blend. I'll admit that this is full flavored and rich in body, but when it comes to strength, I'm actually not getting that much, unless I smoke it in specific pipes.

This tin is a year and a half old. And I've smoked this blend new and every few months since. While the flavors have rounded up a bit, especially the Latakia, the body and strength character generally haven't. I've smoked this in different pipe sizes (medium or large was better), different times of the day, sometimes all day and still, body and strength have remained more-or-less the same. I'm going to be the odd goose here and give it a medium in strength, although different smokes also yielded mild-medium strength. Smoked best in my Savinelli 122 pot shape, which is also the only times I'd get more than medium strength. Did not get any of the flavors or nuances in a small pot shape.

There's no doubt about a certain complexity, although it's not overwhelming. But the way that the Balkan leaves sneak in to provide the floral notes, alongside the smoky Latakia and sweet Virginias is really well balanced. With a bit of age it tastes even more uniformed. The Perique does come in about halfway through to replace the Balkan leaves. I like that part of the smoke much better than the beginning.

In terms of mechanics, the cut and moisture are the typical nice uniformed and ready-to-smoke STG style. Didn't need to relight. Easy to pack and smoke, flavor remains fairly balanced through the bowl. Since strength hasn't impacted me, I'd say that this can be an all-day smoke for the real Latakia lovers.

I can see why many Latakia smokers would love this. For me, however, there's nothing special. I've never reached out to smoke this except for the curiosity of seeing if it's gotten any better than the last smoke. It hasn't really. While I love several Latakia blends, this one is just not for me.

In the late sixties, after the short usual journey through the stimulating drugstore aromatics offerings, I came across the satisfying and captivating Latakia cosmos. At that time, most international airport duty free shops kept an ample offering of English, Balkan and Scottish blends, and, as a frequent traveller, I avidly look after all off them. Mainly those produced by the legendary Dunhill house. Well, all except Night Cap. After only one and disappointing experience with that blend I decided not to buy it again. Apart from its certainly enjoyable fragrance, the taste of this tobacco did not compare with its other elegant and most satisfying siblings. It shocked me with its strong monotone and unfriendly taste. Sixty years later. Encouraged by the positive comments published in this site, several months ago I ordered one tin, with the hope to change my original negative impression. Mistake! After several frustrating bowls, I resigned. Fragrance remains appealing to me. But the past heavy-duty monotone taste experience has not changed. I wonder how some reviewers managed to distinguish so many delectable nuances flowing along with this overpowering rush of latakia fury. I also faced difficulties to keep continued average ignition times, and the long long lasting aftertaste left my dried tongue with uncomfortable and strange smoke reminiscences of gunpowder or fireworks. Certainly not for me.

Smoked wet, but the pipe shape was at fault. Medium to full strength. Medium to full taste. Woody with spice from Latakia. Lit well and stayed lit after a second char.

After the bowl, didn’t like the aftertaste.

after having tried dunhill's emp, mixture 965 and london mixture, nightcap gave me the strongest taste comparatively. indeed, it's the most bitter to me. again, i haven't tried nearly enough other brands or blends to make an objective comparison, but nightcap does have a bitter tone that most of the time dominates the latakia or virginia sweetness. the smokeyness is also significant, reminds me of cigar taste every once in a while between puff. the overall taste from start to end is consistent. nicely burns to ashes like any other dunhill, but i don't get the nicotine hit that others have warned about at all, i was sorta anticipating that tho. room note as i was told is repulsively strong when smoked indoor, but that lingering note i brought in the room after smoking it outdoor is said to be pleasantly vanilla. if you like the oaky nutty bitterness in the english blend then this is right for you, personally i'd prefer the more balanced 965. another thing i'd like to mention is that i bought this tin earlier from a duty-free shop and according to the dating code provided online(https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/how-date-dunhill-tobacco), i can only assume this was produced in february 2017, and from the older tins of other dunhill i tried, by older i mean like produced a couple of years ago, i find it odd to see my 2017 nightcap with a plain circular papercard inside, instead of one with the logo printed on, and the paper wrap that used to be neatly folded and center-positioned was not as neat and positioned off-centered. i might be overconcerning about the tiny unrelated things, but i wonder if that means the manufacturer might have changed factory or changed manufacturing style with the tobacco? whether they have or not, i can only assume quality control is weakening because for me, the anticipation of opening up a dunhill tin (the tin note and look of it) went right out of the window when i saw the new packaging. it feels cheap and from where i am pipe baccy especially dunhills are definitely not cheap, so i would have much anticipation. btw, it look exactly the same to my erinmore mixture tin, which was also a disappointment to me with an amazing tin note but nothing but cigarettey taste (talk about raising your expectation up high and dropping you down off a cliff). i sure hope dunhill is not sacrificing its quality even if it is over the packaging method, since i had bought a few more emp and 965 for aging also with the same dating code.