Peterson Nightcap

This was a "legend" blend that I had heard and read about for years before I finally decided to give it a try a while back. I regret not trying this sooner, what a great blend this is! It is suited for evening and later night smoking in my opinion, I don't think I would enjoy this during the day as it is heavy smoke and has a nice nicotine hit (though the statements of dizziness and naeseua seem over the top, I don't think the hit is any heavier than a cigarette) the Latakia is pleasant, not too potent and about the perfect ratio for my palate. I don't have a problem with tongue bite regardless of what type of pipe I use. I highly recommend nightcap, this is one amazing pipe tobacco

Now I know what all the fuss is about! This is a top quality tobacco no other way to put it. It is bold and in your face but also, from the first puff, a delicious smoke. The first puff I took, I could tell right away that this was a great tobacco. Maybe I'm being a bit over dramatic but just try this blend and add it to your rotation.

It took me a while to finally get around to trying this classic and it did not disappoint. I had already knew to expect a stronger smoke and this is pretty much always to be expected from Dunhill in my experience, but it is amplified with Nightcap as it is known as one of Dunhill's bigger nic hitters.

Part of the reason it took me so long to try is that I bought a bag of bulk nightcap from a shop called Jovan's in Cleveland and it turns out it was not Dunhill Nightcap. I needed to compare it to the real deal, so my buddy invited me over as he had some new and old (murray) NC to compare this bulk offering to. It turned out I was hosed. Shame on this shop who's owner assured me it was Dunhill. The experience of that coupled with wanting to finish off the impostor nightcap kept putting it off for me. I did smoke a bowl of each the old and new at my buddy's, but having smoked other tobaccos there and drank several beers would not have made for a very good review.

On to the actual Nightcap. The blend is pretty unique in tastes due to the addition of a goodly amount of Perique that both bolsters the strength and gives it a nice spicy punch as well. Otherwise this is a medium to full lat blend with that one major twist. I don't think I would put this in my top tobaccos, but I did enjoy it. Just not as much as many others do. This doesn't really surprise me too much as I have yet to be really taken with a blend that contains both Lat and Perique.

Maybe it is something about the way those two flavors combine that, I do enjoy, yet never feel the compulsion to buy more. That is what Nightcap was to me. Something that is good, but I just probably won't buy more. Of course, I say that until the next time Dunhill tins go on sale and I just end up buying more anyway.

I am the only person that I know who can smoke this tobacco in the morning on a semi-empty stomach-that is, after a cup of tea and a few biscuits. Some 20 years ago, when I first tried this blend I thought "why call it Night Cap? Why not the Devil's Leaf? Or, perhaps, the Sailor's Cut?" Yes, I thought it was all that strong and overpowering. Back in those days I was a regular with The Balkan Sobranie, so I thought I'd give it go. Not only I did not succeed in enjoying it, but that it made me sick too. How dreadful is that?

This tobacco does not bite at all, but I'd not call it "an easy smoke." This is, perhaps, my favourite Dunhill's in this range (Latakia based blends and mixtures), but the strong nicotine kick might put many off. It is even stronger than Royal Yacht, which is one of my staples and a mixture that I gladly enjoy in the morning as well. In my personal opinion, this tobacco smokes best outdoors in a rainy day as you stroll down the road. Just go down your favourite pond and feed the ducks on a full charge of it, and you'll know what I am talking about. Its earthy and nutty flavours will mix with that of the fallen leaves and compost to create an atmosphere you'll never forget. This tobacco builds up in strength as you go past every quarter of the bowl, going from medium to strong. Something I quite like about it is the fact I can smell it when I'm smoking, which is something you don't usually achieve with other blends and mixtures. In terms of its taste, the words that come up to your mind are "earthy, nutty, smoked, leathery, etc." It has a fair combination of black and gold leaf, but this is perhaps one of Dunhill's with more Latakia content.

If you are a Latakia lover, this tobacco will probably tick all the boxes for you. Common sense will tell you to start the day with Dunhill's Standard Mixture, then move on to Durbar and, finally, end the day with this when you are ready for your sleep. No, really, just take it with you into the woods and get a fire going before you go to sleep in your tent. Its high nicotine content will put you into this sleepiness and drowsy state that very few blends will achieve. The only problem I find with this rule is that I usually rotate my staples depending on how I feel, or what activity I am planning on doing, and not what time of the day it is. Just try it any time and see how you get on with it.

I have to say I have never had the pleasure of trying the old Murray version of this and I do wish I could. That said, this is my new benchmark for lat/per blends. Absolutely wonderful. At the match I get lat. Smokey, earthy, a little leather. Depending on the pipe at some point the orientals take over a little. I really like it in a group 3 Dublin I have that has a very wide chamber despite its size. The orientals really sing after the first 1/3 of the bowl. They are musty, flowery and a little sweet. The VA adds depth and a little more sweetness. Most blends like this I find myself saying this is a very good blend but I wish I was just a little sweeter. Not so here! Perfect for me. The perique adds a little raisin and dried fruit note that is always trailing the lat and orientals but I can pick it out. Often perique is used to tame a big lat blend and it is more felt than tasted but here I can really pick it out on the retro-hale. I wish I had not waited so long to open this tin. I will be ordering lbs. in bulk for long term storage.

This is almost the perfect tobacco. Usually when a blend had latakia, virginia and perique there is too much going on and the blender can't pull it off. Well it works here. The flavors play against each other like a symphony of smoke. Possibly my favorite of all time.

So to be completely honest, I was afraid to try this. I had a bad experience with royal yacht and hearing the nic hit was equal to it I was pretty reluctant for a long time but finally decided to take the plunge. I had a big dinner and settled into my lazy boy and lit up. I smoked a modest bowl in my Peterson System 303 puffing softly and slowly. the flavor was amazing. the smoke was absolutely perfect! it was nothing short of sublime. the nic hit was there but it was not room spinning it was very nice! it made me feel sleepy and cozy. this is definitely a rich full English and has rightfully earned a place in my rotation. I am hooked! if you are a fan of English blends this is an absolute MUST!

Try it but do be careful. puff it gently and you will be rewarded greatly!

Very first Latakia blend! It seems that many of my "firsts" in regards to tobacco are Dunhill blends. I've wanted to try it for a while now, so I ordered it and I have to say, I wish I started out with a Latakia blend. I really love strong and sweet Virginias found in Early Morning Pipe, but Latakia has a completely different texture and this blend really opened my eyes. The tin...is so cool, it just fucking is. The smell in the tin is hardy and kinda bitter, like really dark chocolate. I have created a routine while smoking this blend. Since I received it I only smoke it in my Falcon straight stem, at night, after school as it gets cold outside. Maybe it's the name, or the tin, I don't know but that's my ritual. When smoking, I notice the smokey flavor right away. It's not entirely overpowering, but it seems to be the dominate flavor initially. Then it mellows and gets somewhat mild and smoother mid-bowl. Towards the end it is consistently intricate. The "spicy" comes into play with the smokey flavor, and a touch of tangy completes it. I was expecting a little more vitamin N. I really found this blend to be quite smooth. When I started pipe smoking I kept looking and looking for that "something stronger" and I had found it in Dunhill's EMP, but only temporarily. I think Latakia is that something stronger and Nightcap really just expands on flavor. Very happy, highly recommend!!!!

Well into my first tin of this, and I can see what the shouting is about. No smoke without fire, so to speak. I thought MM965 was good, but this, for me, is even better. Strong, too, and this is how I like it. I've found quite a few English blends fail to satisfy in the nic department, such as Squadron Leader, which is otherwise fine. Nightcap needs a bit of drying to be at it's best, I think, & it's nice to smoke in the late evening, so as far as I'm concerned it does exactly what it says on the tin. Four stars.