Sutliff Tobacco Company Match Sunrise

I found this to be a rich rewarding blend that can be smoked at any time. I have 1 pound of bulk and 3 tins aging in my cellar.

A few months ago, I bought the big four match Dunhill’s. EMP, Elizabethan, 965, and Nightcap. I have reviewed 965 and Nightcap and now on to this one. This has a noticeable sweet tin note (jar) and is a course cut tobacco. It smokes sweet and pleasant and I enjoyed it throughout most of the day. A nice all-day smoke if you will. I then decided to bring out my coveted Dunhill EMP which I probably have maybe 8 ounces left and tried a bowl. The Match is definitely way sweeter and maybe it is my imagination but I think the Dunhill EMP actually produced more clouds of smoke while I was puffing. This one while good is to me so far, the least similar of the three that I have tried. So, if you are looking for an EMP replacement this probably will not be it but nonetheless it is a nice pleasant smoke. P.S. I can’t believe I am only the 5th person to review this one. Of course, if you have the real thing why settle for second best.

I joined this great hobby late 2019, post Dunhill EMP. Then I tried grabbing some Peterson EMP but was out-of-stock at the time I placed my order. Later I found this blend. I truly enjoy smoking Match Sunrise. I consider it every day blend. As I am writing I am still a rookie piper and cannot distinguish a tobacco from another. But I can sure tell you that I like this blend. At first I order a pound and finished, then reordered 2 lb.

Like EMP, this is a mild English blend. As described above, musty, earthy, hint of sweetness. Fall through spring this is my commute to work smoke. I think it’s close enough to EMP to let my tins cellar for a few years. Great value, worth a try- especially if you like EMP.

My first bowl of the day. Everyday. Soft, light and smooth. No harshness at all. I do taste either a topping that adds sweetness or sweetened Cavendish. It's hard for me to believe that the amount of sweetness comes by the tobaccos alone. But I'm not expert. Could be just the biology of my taster. However, Cavendish is not mentioned as an additive. An early morning danish without the goo along with a citrus juice. Definitely deviates from Dunhill's original. Much sweeter and smoother but not cloyingly sweet. I like this better than DEM for the first smoke of the day. The original tastes more like late morning or early afternoon for me. But good. There's a bit of toastiness here which I can't identify. Midway the Latakia characteristics are more forward but still sweet. Me being a little bit of a wetter smoker at times, I find no puddles at the bottom of the bowl. No screaming, biting or assault on the tongue. Just enjoyable to wake up to with my 2 cups of morning coffee. Breakfast of champions!

This is a good all day smoke that burns cool and clean and doesn’t add moisture to the bowl. I guess Early Morning Pipe is an appropriate name for this as it doesn’t overwhelm with the exotic mix of Latakia and Orientals , but has a significant nic hit to get ya going. I like English blends so long as they aren’t Latakia bombs so you can enjoy the red and gold Virginia that balance well with a pretty complex smoke.

You know Sutliff commands somewhat a niche market for duping “big name” classic blends in hopes of vetting new product segments and securing long-term customer allegiance. In actuality, the company has been quite successful in that endeavor when you look at the footprint these offerings currently hold within the industry. For myself I have sampled and absconded with several of these knock-off mixtures over the past years. Principally the reasons being that they are solid with respect to cost consciousness and most importantly enjoyable smoke-ability. My momma didn’t raise no dummies and besides how can one argue with that kind of sensibility.

So now I’m coming to another one of those offerings. My trial of an English blend designed and sold as a replica of Peterson’s Early Morning Pipe, a classic monolith to many. With this event I put Sutliff’s Match Sunrise to the test just to see how good it really is. What follows now is my quick and dirty assessment of the same for your consideration.

Match Sunrise is a lighter spirited English style venue encompassing base components of intriguing Turkish/Oriental, Bright and Red Virginia, and darker nuanced Cyprian Latakia. A model recipe befitting to what I would badge as a standard English mixture.

One minor exception to that last comment. As we all know casings are universal to processing raw tobaccos as a measure of standard blending practices. With Match Sunrise, however, I do believe there is a gentle bit more than necessary volume of a sugar-based casing (corn syrup/vanilla?) that has been applied. Ideally, I suspect that action was aimed at heightening the sweetness/softness of the blends encounter. Very noticeable on the finishing taste. Nothing gratuitous in nature but stepped up, yes.

This collection of tobaccos carries a fairly healthy visage. A colorful pillow of assorted ribbon configurations and coarse cut morsels show a spread of hues from yellow, golden, dark brown and pitched ebon. Textually the feel of the wadding is supple and optimally dry for the smoking. The contributed volume of the Virginia looks even Bright to Red respectively and seems to level itself with the apportioning of both the Latakia and Turkish. Well rounded and balanced overall for a standard English mixture.

The nose of Match Sunrise tends to be somewhat subdued and gentle. Key nuances embraced enfold a spot of bright sour vinegar, some underlying sweetness, tarty wood, and some active spicing combining with a very posh herby floridness. Easy going and unobtrusive in nature for sure.

Key points of the assessment: 2.65 measured scoring. In the pre-smoked state, Match Sunrise fared quite well on all the essential physical features while demonstrating rock steady performance on key mechanical properties affecting burn, consistency, fragrance, and ease of use. Relating to flavor, for what it is a milder-lighter bodied somewhat contained recipe, the blend achieved reasonably good marks against the full range of related standard attributes. Specific to the punch-listed expectations of the English genre, very well placed in its overall presentation @ 87% rating. Essentially although the flavor is savory it does show average performance in regards lively charisma, again more a function of a very balanced/focused mixing.

Finally, if I were awarding marks based upon a curve, Match Sunrise leaf earns a “low B” on maximum varietal colorization. Keep in mind every strain of leaf is different depending on many variable specific to growing climate/family genus Applying my subjective personal factors of likeability and cost, I assigned an overall scoring of 3.1 without reserve. A fine little English treat that foreseeable I would re-purchase and enjoy in the future. I don’t know about you, but I do favor variety. My work horse English blends poised in the stable show a range of intensity, if you will, from heady to gentle sorts. This one makes for a lighter excursion, you got to have those on occasion to be a well cultured and happy piper, ha ha.

Mild-Medium strength/intensity : Overall I judged the blending quality that Sutliff exercised on this one to be above average based upon textural feel and observed smoking experience; well done. Match Sunrise endows a smoother, relaxed smoking session. It’s delighting savor and roundness are unquestionably solid and are key features. Smokiness and natural sweetness are abiding themes. It shows average movement in character but more so consistently balanced within the total sphere of layered wholesome taste.

Baseline: The assorted Virginian strains counter decidedly with a tangy hay/grassy composure, offering some breadiness, caramel, and flattering spice. There is a fair catch of woodiness and native sweetness that fill the character quite nicely as well. The Virginia obliges the overall flavor by filling the bottom band with a contrasting sweeter compliment to the forward/middle heavier taste registration coming from the other two components.

Forward mid-band taste : I’m kind of mixed opinion here to be honest. The lead taste seems to be chameleon like. Through repeated sessions, I found the Turkish/Oriental was inclined to ride on the front edge of Sunrise’s profile. Latakia attempts to hold a firmer footing as the recipe is so finely balanced, but when it’s all said and done the win I feel goes to the Oriental. And what a splendid race it runs throughout the profile. Exotically tempered bringing a base notation of inherent sweetness, herby floral spicing and some modest earthy pungency. The accenting is best described as a greened-sweet relish, very distinctive and mighty flavorsome at that.

Accenting: As to the Latakia, slightly more contained as a tandem accent. One gets a general projection of smoky tartish wood with highlighting centered around mustiness, darker fruit, and a tad of incensed leather overall. Given its darker tone, the Cyprian presence adds considerably more body to the forward taste as it melds splendidly with the Oriental embellishing. With the confluence of the two the enticing attractiveness of this blend finds its true source.

• In practical summarization, arguably there is degree of complexity at work here within the actual physical recipe. Nonetheless, the registered stream of taste affords only a reasonable level of interesting magnetism. Match Sunrise is more centered, by design keep in mind, to present a basic character that is steadily consistent with a feeling of tasteful balance. • Experiential smoking is very relaxing and polished, making this one a great intro for non-English smoker or for folks like myself who just want an easy calming encounter. • Very nice side stream and room presence projecting some lovely, embellished spice and woody pungency. A delish smoky excursion that demonstrates its modest remarking with ideal permanency and intensity at that. Tolerable bottom-line. • The burn charted suitably comfortable, peacefully paced and mechanically apropos for a well-crafted blending. • No harshness, no bite and very minimum nicotine effect. • Cost is affordable, yeah said that already.