Dunhill Standard Mixture Mellow

As a comparatively new pipe smoker and one who is trying to venture out from the aromatics and aromatic/English blends, I find this one a nice move toward real English tobaccos. The tin note is a bit weak and just a wee bit sour. The thin ribbon cut packed well in my narrow bowl (11/16”), and burned without more than two relights to the bottom. Mild mannered all the way, starting out thin…spicier in the middle and a bit peppery toward the end where I heard a gurgle or two and the bowl got a little hotter than I like it, but that's probably due the fact that I was trying to draw enough to get some real flavor out of it. I think it's a great introduction to English blends and is now one of my favorites.

Appearance: Typical Dunhill cut, similar to EMP and 965: a nice ribbon cut that is not overly thin. Fairly light in appearance in comparison to the heavier Dunhill blends with respect to latakia.

Tin Aroma: Upon opening, this has an aroma that I associate with all Dunhill blends when first opened. It is pungent, and slightly sour smelling. This retreats fairly quickly. I have obtained this same aroma in my own blending experiments by steaming in a sealed container..I have always wondered if Dunhill steams in the can, or transfers recently steamed tobacco to the tin before it has a chance to air.

Flavor: This is a flavorful blend to my taste. I would see how this would seem tasteless to someone attempting it immediately upon opening, or if they preferred blends with a higher proportion of Latakia. The flavor is primarily Turkish to me, with enough Virginia sweetness to play a nice contrast, akin to the solo instrument in a Baroque concerto (borrowing some of GLP?s musical figurative language here).

Smoking characteristics are very good, without excessive moisture and comfortable on the mouth.

This is not a full flavored smoke, but is more delicate. Anyone approaching this with an eye toward evaluating it on it?s own merits, rather than in comparison to a full flavored latakia, will be well rewarded for the effort.

September 2004

This was my first smoke and I went through the tin in three months. I really enjoyed it even though I didn't really know what I was doing. I smoked it predominantly with a Butz-Choquin Smart which has been my go-to briar for all English blends since then. The "Mellow" name made me feel like I should graduate to something stronger and moved on to the 965 mixture.

I need to go back to this in a year or so.

I was primarily an aro and/or american blend smoker. I finally decided to give an English type tobacco and try and went with SMM. The smell of a wet campfire wafted up from the tin as I opened it. I wasn't sure I would like it based on the tin smell but decided to give it a go anyway. I let a few pinches sit out for 10-15 minutes since the tobacco seemed a bit moist for my liking. Packing was easy as was lighting. Taste was light and airy with a touch of sweetness. The smell was intoxicating for me. It smelled like....incense almost. I wasn't expecting that. I was pleasantly surprised with how well the baccy stayed lit and burned cool. Taste changed a little as well. Started to get a bit tangy as the ember worked its way down the bowl. Afterwards I had a pleasant taste left over in my mouth.

If you are looking at trying an English type blend this is a good gentle introduction into that genre. Enjoyable easy smoke that won't overpower you.

Even after 7 years in the tin, it still looks and smells new and fresh upon opening. The Oriental leaf is prominent, the Latakia present but not dominant, and the sweet Virginia provides an excellent foundation. It is an excellent English.

As others have noted, it bites if smoked vigorously. Nicotine dose is moderate.

Overall, an excellent smoke, an all-day English, but not a Nirvana experience.

Update, January 2013: I purchased a tin of the new stuff and thought it would be fun to compare and contrast Murray's versus Orlik's.

To begin, the tin note of the Murray's is classic English: Orientals with a touch of Latakia. Orlik's in the tin is much stronger smelling, sour/acidic and fruity. And the new Mellow blend has more bright orange color to the blend.

I suspect that Orlik has added a little sugar-water topping that makes their version a little more moist and causes a little more tongue-bite. But by mid- bowl the bite has disappeared from both versions.

I smoked both in identical small acorn briars, alternating between the two. They both paired well with my glass of Laphroiag. It was a wonderful experience, a great indulgence.

I could nit-pick and say that the Murray's is more 'mild' and the Orlik's less 'mellow.' Perhaps the older stuff has a broader flavor range. But really, the main difference was that the Murray's tin was 7 years older. I suspect that with age, I would not be able to tell them apart. Smoking them separately, I felt a tad more nicotine with Orlik's, earning the name 'Mellow.' But they are both still in the moderate range of Vitamin N.

Overall, I think Orlik nailed it and has faithfully reproduced this blend.

Having assigned the likes of TBS and it's imposter B.Sasieni to the ash heap, and having found little to love about My Mix.' 965, Standard Mixture Mellow fits quite nicely into the middle of my day. I don't think that this Latakia light blend will ever replace London Mixture, but there are times when even my revered DLM can spoil things for my night of reverie with my beloved Nightcap. Good stuff not a world beater by any means, but good. Next order, I'll try what is now marketed as plain-old Standard Mixture which I'm told is really SM Medium. While we're at it Mr. editor; how about getting rid of the "Mild" assignation, the EU killed the use of that word long ago, it's Mellow!

I note that the tin description has changed to: "A Mellow Blend of Virginia and Turkish Tobaccos - Soft Delicate Flavor"

Not having smoked any Dunhill Standard Mixture before I can't say that this is the old "Mild" or another blend entirely. However, after my dismal experience with the current MM965, I held little hope for this when I cracked the tin (only a week ago); it looked too similar to that impostor. However, one whiff of the tobacco contained therein piqued my interest. This smelled like a Dunnie - and for more like the classic 965 than the new 965 does (even if it doesn't purport to be like it.)

Lighting up I noted the similar flavor to the current 965, but here rather than being overwhelming to the point of rudeness the experience was very pleasurable. If this had been in my 965 tin I might complain it had changed but I would still like it. The Latakia here, while still the same as in 965, is in greater quantity and that I do appreciate. This is tasty, almost addictive. The Orientals are noticeable to the eye and on the tongue.

I bought the only tin I could find and it is dwindling quickly.

I almost hesitated to give this four stars as I have yet to crack my tin of Standard Mixture, but it does deserve it. I will buy more, if any shows up.

UPDATE: 10/10/12 My second tin of this was disappointingly different and NOT in a good way. This one was horribly astringent and very bitey - something I rarely encounter. I would lower the rating to two stars but an average would really be three.

I guess this would be a good start for someone wanting to try an English mixture.

Definitively an excellent tobacco. But I prefer its brother the medium mixture which is tastier.

*Updated April 2, 2008* After letting the can sit a little while, I can smell some creosote in it. I guess I am an impatient person sometimes...

---

There is latakia in this? I'm pretty sure I have the new stuff. Never tried the old. I bought a tin, cracked it open and decided I like it well enough not to bother with aging it too much. Nice and mellow, packs and burns nice. I could puff on this stuff all day. I won't commit to saying it's my favorite, though.