Dunhill Standard Mixture Mellow

Of all the Dunhill offerings, this is probably my least favorite, which isn't to say I don't like it. "Mild" is the key word here; it's an apt description of the flavor and strength of Standard Mixture Mild. The flavor is dominated by the Virginias, with the Orientals in the background and the Latakia only adding some light seasoning. The sweet-and- sour tin aroma is inviting, and the ribbon-cut tobacco packs well, lights easily and burns smoothly. Standard Mild is a mixture that won't demand a lot of your attention; it's just not that complex. It's a decent choice for smoking when you're busy doing other things and can't devote your time to concentrating on, and savoring, the tobacco. I like it occasionally as a change of pace from my customary full English or Balkan mixtures. For a Virgina-based blend with more character, the Dunhill line offers Royal Yacht and Elizabethan Mixture, the latter with a dash of Perique to give it a little added zing. Several of McClelland's Virginas offer fuller flavor and greater strength too; Standard Mild is noticeably less strong than most of the other Dunhill tobaccos. For an uncomplicated, mild smoke, Standard Mixture Mild isn't a bad choice, but it's not one I smoke often.

I'm an aromatics smoker who likes a change every now and then. I picked up a tin of this looking for a light English and didn't find it here! This had no flavor at all. If I hadn't seen the smoke coming out of my pipe I would have thought it had gone out.

As a new pipe smoker (long time cigar smoker) I?ve had difficulty with some of the sweeter tobaccos (Virginia blends) I?ve tried. As I?ve also had some difficulty with the stronger English blends as they tend to be more complex than even the strongest or darkest cigars (VSG, ISOM, etc...). This tobacco is the first to become a regular smoke. A light English without an overpowering Latakia and none of the Virginia sweetness. Who knows as my pallet adjusts to the complexities of pipe tobacco i may just find this a little soft, but for now it's almost perfect.

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

A dissapointment for me. This blend had no flavor whatsoever and a severe bite if smoked too fast. In fact, this one bit my entire mouth - not just me tongue. I could not taste the latakia. Overall, it was simply bland and unchanging throughout the bowl. The room note was on he low end of tolerable. This is the only blend so far that my wife objects to the smell. Unlike Early Morning Pipe and other tasty Dunhill blends, I do not recommend this one. I do not plan on trying it again.

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.

A friend & I smoked this blend as I assisted him in gaining an understanding of how a VERY GOOD, mild, ENGLISH mixture should be presented. We sampled other "High Quality", "Mild", ENGLISH mixtures in comparison to illustrate the method of how to select one. Most experienced connoisseurs might automatically disqualify this blend because it is so mild and vacant of the more standard flavor profile presented in a medium ENGLISH, but Dunhill's Std. Mixture Mellow/Mild is the quintessential model in experiencing a mild ENGLISH. This mixture should be in everyone's stable of tobaccos, particularly for the novice enthusiast.

I've been smoking a pipe seriously (paying attention to what I'm doing)and frequently for only 2 months but casually and infrequently for several years.

Pipe: smooth un-decorated Meerschaum ("Warrior" artist Tekin) Brand new pipe, first bowl.

Tin was 2 weeks old having been opened several times.

Bites a little but not paralyzingly when getting the char going on the way to the initial tamping. And again when re-lighting in the middle of the bowl.

Had to relight 4 times through out.

Mild is, as mild does.

Nutty, bit of fruit(like dried apple), not sweet. A very pleasant, dry and uneventful smoke.

Doesn't demand allot of attention other than keeping it lit so Id probably enjoy this mid day while reading or focused on some distracting activity.

Keeping it in stock.