Peterson Standard Mixture

The Peterson Standard Mixture is nicely done; of course, it doesn't taste like the original Dunhill Standard. I was lucky enough to have smoked Standard before 1980, and have smoked all subsequent versions.

I agree with Pidepiper that the latakia is not the main player here. The orientals and virginas play the main role. The orientals are somewhat bitter,while the Virginia's add the sweetness. The latakia shows it's presence but melds in the back.The cut is a fine ribbon the way I like which leads to easy packing and lighting. The moisture level is good and few relights are needed. Good intro to an English for the novice and repeatable for the veteran. Highly recommended. STG has done a good job with this one.

I’m not sure what to think of this one other than that it is a favorite. The orientals are so smooth and I find it to be a very subtle smoke. Though not a very mild one.

For whatever reason, I had tried the Mellow version of Standard Mixture before smoking the regular version, and it stands to reason I ought to compare the two. Firstly it is a bit more intense than Mellow Mixture, though nowhere near the chimney burning standard of Nightcap or other Dunhill English mainstays. Within the tin and while burning, there was less Virginia detected and more of a Latakia/English thing afoot (that yummy charcoal taste).

The mix is a medley of every leaf in the brown spectrum, nicely cut, and with perfect out-of-the-tin moisture. The nicotine is bit above the middle rung, which I suppose is a good warning to those attempting to climb the English ladder. Still, this is a good English to try if you have never had one. It gives off a good impression. The Oriental is present, yet not enough to confuse the smoker into thinking this is what all English tobaccos are about.

Standard Mixture really is a great name for the stuff, as it falls within the check-boxes of so many categories, and since Dunhill delivers quality, this is a good thing! It has the feel of a blend untouched by any trendy additions and was the same weed your father's father smoked in the old country.

Standard English tobacco, this blend offers a standard line for english blend, the balance between the Virginia , Orientals and the Latakia is just perfect, although it has a bit of flavoring (to my taste..) , a sweet flavors like chocolate , cream and coffee... i mostly enjoys this blend in a Peterson pipe, a system standard 314. a mid size bowl.

I will confess my personal bias: I don't really like the virginias used in SM. It is the same robust virginia taste that is also at the base of Durbar (but with more orientals added), Nightcap (with perique added) and Royal Yacht (with plum flavouring). I don't like this robust taste because it is too dominant, too strong and constantly on the verge of turning harsch (unless you smoke gently). And it also has a kind of citrus (?) tone that does not appeal to me.

It is not evident what is supposed to be "standard" in SM. It is probably meant to be standard only by the measure of the various Dunhill blends, but it is not a standard english. In fact, if you are looking for a traditional english you should go for London Mixture instead, which is an excellent english (but a bit stout and strong).

In taste, SM is closer to Durbar than to London Mixture, but with a more balanced blend of the latakia and orientals and in comparative terms it is more mellow. But the virginias are nevertheless at the basis as the dominant player in this blend. If you like the robust and strong virgina used in these Dunhill blends, congratulations. But if not you will probably not appreciate this blend. So don't be tricked into taking SM to be a standard english, because in my opinion it is not. But if you enjoy a robust tasting tobacco, with a more "standard" balance of orientals and latakia you will probably be able to enjoy SM. It has a very rich smoke and the burning qualities are good. But I think it smokes better if packed loose (perhaps drying it out a bit so that it keeps lit).

I realize this is a good quality tobacco. But for my personal taste this is only a 2 star blend. I would say that in SM the virginia taste is full but the english taste is only medium or mild (in contrast to London Mixture where you get a more traditional full english taste).

This orlik version is very balanced,discrete Latakia,sweet turkish(I think some Izmir and Black Sea leave) and first class american Virginia.Really is good,but I prefer London Mixture to enjoy a almost perfect english and Early Morning for the toasted Va.It doesn´t lack of flavour but perhaps in my very humble opinion it lacks of personality.Absolutely nothing to do with the SMM 20 years ago.

Just opened a tin today. My first impression was the taste and aroma was a lot like squadron leader. So far so good. Has the right amount of sweetness and smokiness and the Turkish gives it that same buttery taste and mouth feel that I get from squadron leadwe. Burns cool. Actually burns cooler then any other dunhill blend I've ever had. I like it.

Update 12-6-15. I'm dropping this down to a 3 star. Still good but the similarities that I have between this and squadron leader are gone. I don't get the buttery oriental flavor I use to get. London mixture has this blend replaced as of now

As I'm writing I'm smoking the last bowl of Dunhill SM that I bought in 2009 in Madrid, completely ignoring what I was buying, because in Italy at the time there were only Early Morning and 965. I must admit that I really enjoyed this unique tin measuring it along the years and sinking in the sofa every time the creamy orientals came out in the second part of the bowl, overcoming the smokiness of a really nice latakia. The virginias were subtle but always there, sometimes sweet sometimes zesty and sometimes a bit pungent. If I have to take a flaw it's that this tobacco burns a little hotter than other EMs, leading to tongue bite if attention is not paid to the smoke. Sip it!