Sutliff Tobacco Company Match Victorian
(3.21)
A Sutliff match of the legendary Murray's (after it was branded for some time by Dunhill) now discontinued Elizabethan Mixture. It is a well combined blend of Virginias with perique.
Notes: This blend was made as a match for the Murray's production, and not the later Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s re-release of Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture.
This blend was formerly known as Match Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture.
Details
| Brand | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
| Blended By | Carl McCallister |
| Manufactured By | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.21 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 13 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I’ve compared this to the original Dunhill Elizabethan Murray’s version (which once was a regular smoke for me) and I'd say this blend is fairly close, but not an exact match. It’s certainly closer than the current DE production by Dunhill, which I consider to be inferior to both the original and the Sutliff Match. The Murray’s version was a little more complex in taste, and had just a little more bright lemon Virginia. The raisiny, earthy, woody perique is very peppery in both, slightly more plumy here. The brown Virginia is virtually identical: a little grass, some wood, earth, tart and tangy citrus, bread, tangy dark fruit, and light sugar. As much as I liked the Murray’s product, I would say this is as close as you can get. A little more sprinkling of citrusy, spicy, floral lemon Va., and it’d virtually be the same. Because the new version is different from the Murray’s, which is what the Match attempted to copy, I would not consider them to be similar. The proportion of ingredients in the new Dunhill version is different, and is a shag cut, which the original never was. Nor is this Match, which is ribbon cut.
The nic-hit here is just shy of medium, which is a tad less than the Murray’s version. The strength level is medium, while the Murray’s was a couple steps stronger. The taste level is a little past medium, and almost the same as the original. No chance of bite or harshness is present. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent flavor. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, slightly lingering after taste, and stronger room note. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran and repeatable for the less experienced.
The Murray’s version of DE was one of the very few blends m'lady openly complained about. When they quit making it, she was very happy. A couple of years back, I tried the Match for the first time. Five minutes after I started smoking it, she came back to the studio and said, "Are you smoking that crap again? I thought they quit making it." Telling me that she recognized the smell after several years just struck me kinda funny. That, besides the taste, amplified my assessment that the Match is close indeed. I gave the Murray's version four stars. Couldn't do that for the new release, which is a two star blend. This gets four stars.
-JimInks
The nic-hit here is just shy of medium, which is a tad less than the Murray’s version. The strength level is medium, while the Murray’s was a couple steps stronger. The taste level is a little past medium, and almost the same as the original. No chance of bite or harshness is present. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent flavor. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, slightly lingering after taste, and stronger room note. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran and repeatable for the less experienced.
The Murray’s version of DE was one of the very few blends m'lady openly complained about. When they quit making it, she was very happy. A couple of years back, I tried the Match for the first time. Five minutes after I started smoking it, she came back to the studio and said, "Are you smoking that crap again? I thought they quit making it." Telling me that she recognized the smell after several years just struck me kinda funny. That, besides the taste, amplified my assessment that the Match is close indeed. I gave the Murray's version four stars. Couldn't do that for the new release, which is a two star blend. This gets four stars.
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2017 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture.
The mixture's quite coarsely cut, there's a few sizeable leaf like pieces. The majority of the blend looks medium brown, but there are one or two jet black specks mixed in. The smell from the loose pouch is pure and uncased.
The smoke tastes FABULOUS. I get lots more Perique than Virginia; it may be a bit too much for some. There's lots of 'dark' Perique subtleties: it's plummy, figgy, and rich, with an equal measure of spice. I don't get much of the Virginia, I can't really identify much grass/citrus from it; I often struggle picking up on Va traits in heavier tasting blends, though. The temperature of the smoke's relatively low, and it burns superbly.
I get a decent hit of nicotine from this, and unlike my fellow reviewers to date I don't find the room-note too bad!
An easy one to rate:
Highly recommended.
The mixture's quite coarsely cut, there's a few sizeable leaf like pieces. The majority of the blend looks medium brown, but there are one or two jet black specks mixed in. The smell from the loose pouch is pure and uncased.
The smoke tastes FABULOUS. I get lots more Perique than Virginia; it may be a bit too much for some. There's lots of 'dark' Perique subtleties: it's plummy, figgy, and rich, with an equal measure of spice. I don't get much of the Virginia, I can't really identify much grass/citrus from it; I often struggle picking up on Va traits in heavier tasting blends, though. The temperature of the smoke's relatively low, and it burns superbly.
I get a decent hit of nicotine from this, and unlike my fellow reviewers to date I don't find the room-note too bad!
An easy one to rate:
Highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
Altinok Lee Van Cleef Meer' (friday pipe)
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
One month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 09, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Very tangy and citrusy; the bright virginias play a big part in it. The perique isn't peppery, or not enough to be noticeable, but gives a sweet plum flavour. It is a very sweet tobacco. I would probably suggest it to someone who smokes aros and wants to try out virginias and Va/Per. Not an overly complex smoke, but an enjoyable all-day smoke for certain.
Pipe Used:
MM legend
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
Less than one week
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I’ve never smoked Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture so I’m reviewing Sutliff Match Elizabethan Mixture for what it is rather than for whether it tastes like the original or not. In a nutshell, I like it a lot.
I’m a VaPer lover and, IMO, SMEM is a great VaPer. Both the Virginias and the Perique are top notch. While the Virginias and the Perique are nicely balanced, the Perique is the star of the show. In my experience, Perique can be either mostly spicy or mostly raisenee (to coin an adjective). The Perique in SMEM falls into the second category and is absolutely delicious — sweet and fruity. The Virginias in SMEM are rich and toasty.
As delivered, the tobacco is a bit on the moist side, and so benfits from a short airing out. It lights easily and burns to a dark ash. The Perique is the first thing one tastes, with the Virginias becoming more flavorful by mid-bowl. Given that the Perique is not especially spicy, the tobacco is easy to retro-hale, which is the best way to experience the full flavor of the blend. Another nice thing about SMEM is that is doesn’t bite even if smoked fast, something that isn't true about a lot of VaPers.
If you like VaPers, I strongly suggest you try it.
I’m a VaPer lover and, IMO, SMEM is a great VaPer. Both the Virginias and the Perique are top notch. While the Virginias and the Perique are nicely balanced, the Perique is the star of the show. In my experience, Perique can be either mostly spicy or mostly raisenee (to coin an adjective). The Perique in SMEM falls into the second category and is absolutely delicious — sweet and fruity. The Virginias in SMEM are rich and toasty.
As delivered, the tobacco is a bit on the moist side, and so benfits from a short airing out. It lights easily and burns to a dark ash. The Perique is the first thing one tastes, with the Virginias becoming more flavorful by mid-bowl. Given that the Perique is not especially spicy, the tobacco is easy to retro-hale, which is the best way to experience the full flavor of the blend. Another nice thing about SMEM is that is doesn’t bite even if smoked fast, something that isn't true about a lot of VaPers.
If you like VaPers, I strongly suggest you try it.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Recently purchased
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is the first VaPer I've purchased in bulk. First, out of the pound that I purchased, I left enough for about a dozen or so bowls out, and put the rest into canning jars. I'm going to stove half and the other half I will just get warm enough to seal the jars. I've seen people covering the jars with foil to allow for air expansion when stoving, but as somebody who uses them for pressure canning, I can assure you that you don't need to. Just leave the band loose enough to let air escape, but even that's not strictly necessary. But I digress.
In the briar, it was very good, but it seemed a bit more bitey than the English blends I normally smoke. It was slightly lemony with a little bit of spice. Very good. I was happy. If I wasn't planning on updating this review when stoving and aging has occurred, I'd give it a solid three stars. But I've read enough about this one to believe it will get much better with age.
In the cob, it was sublime. Even without age, this tobacco is matched very well with a cob. I don't know how to describe it. Out of a MM cob, it is a solid four stars.
The bowl I smoked out of the meerschaum was packed hamfisted by me, so it burned hot for about the first quarter of the bowl or so. Once that calmed down, the lemony-spice flavor came through like a champ. It's not as good as the cob, but it is excellent. I'd be torn between three and four stars.
Given those three bowl, I am torn between recommended and highly recommended as a rating. Given that it was ~$35 for a pound once shipping was added in, I'll say that at that price, it's highly recommended. I'd give it three stars at $60/lb. But I will update in a couple of weeks with results from stoving, and probably later with aging.
UPDATE: I stoved some and let it sit long enough for moisture, oils, etc... to reabsorb, and cracked open a jar. 195f/90.5C for 5 hours. Results: Magnificent! I think that the other reviews saying it's better after aging are probably spot on. Keep in mind that being at a higher heat not only speeds up chemical reactions, but it also causes other ones to happen that wouldn't otherwise, so stoving will likely produce a different result than aging.
The next pound of pipe tobacco I order will be this. I want to test stoving and aging for months, aging for months, etc... This stuff is hard to NOT smoke!
In the briar, it was very good, but it seemed a bit more bitey than the English blends I normally smoke. It was slightly lemony with a little bit of spice. Very good. I was happy. If I wasn't planning on updating this review when stoving and aging has occurred, I'd give it a solid three stars. But I've read enough about this one to believe it will get much better with age.
In the cob, it was sublime. Even without age, this tobacco is matched very well with a cob. I don't know how to describe it. Out of a MM cob, it is a solid four stars.
The bowl I smoked out of the meerschaum was packed hamfisted by me, so it burned hot for about the first quarter of the bowl or so. Once that calmed down, the lemony-spice flavor came through like a champ. It's not as good as the cob, but it is excellent. I'd be torn between three and four stars.
Given those three bowl, I am torn between recommended and highly recommended as a rating. Given that it was ~$35 for a pound once shipping was added in, I'll say that at that price, it's highly recommended. I'd give it three stars at $60/lb. But I will update in a couple of weeks with results from stoving, and probably later with aging.
UPDATE: I stoved some and let it sit long enough for moisture, oils, etc... to reabsorb, and cracked open a jar. 195f/90.5C for 5 hours. Results: Magnificent! I think that the other reviews saying it's better after aging are probably spot on. Keep in mind that being at a higher heat not only speeds up chemical reactions, but it also causes other ones to happen that wouldn't otherwise, so stoving will likely produce a different result than aging.
The next pound of pipe tobacco I order will be this. I want to test stoving and aging for months, aging for months, etc... This stuff is hard to NOT smoke!
Pipe Used:
Cob, Meerschaum, Chacom Briar
PurchasedFrom:
https://www.smokingpipes.com/
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 16, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
A bulk, dark brown, ribbon cut tobacco that smells chocolaty. The Virginia flavors are on the hay and earthy side, the Perique is more peppery than pruny.
It's a fuller and more interesting version than the Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture by Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Burns nicely, doesn't bite and is even mellow and creamy. It also leaves a cigar like aftertaste. I like to have it as an evening smoke since the nicotine level hits the spot for me. A classy smoke available in bulk, what's not to like?
Virginia lover
It's a fuller and more interesting version than the Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture by Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Burns nicely, doesn't bite and is even mellow and creamy. It also leaves a cigar like aftertaste. I like to have it as an evening smoke since the nicotine level hits the spot for me. A classy smoke available in bulk, what's not to like?
Virginia lover
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I totally agree with JimInks' review.
I think this is not a match to current Scandinavian Tobacco Group shag version but a match to older ones which received high reputation.
Tin note: a little bit plum; mostly are woody and sour.
When smoke: smooth citrus, earthy, woody and peppery.
Three an a half stars.
I think this is not a match to current Scandinavian Tobacco Group shag version but a match to older ones which received high reputation.
Tin note: a little bit plum; mostly are woody and sour.
When smoke: smooth citrus, earthy, woody and peppery.
Three an a half stars.
Pipe Used:
churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
1 oz bulk from pipesandcigars
Age When Smoked:
nearly one year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 25, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
05/16/2020 Update: this blend ages well. I packed it as tight as I can in a jar and let it sit. From the start it's good but give it several months and it better. Better still at a year. Going to up it to 4 stars because it's that good.
This is no match to STG Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture. The cut is wrong, the tobacco and taste is below what STG standards are.
Now on to just reviewing it for a VaPer. Very good blend. Ribbon cut. Nice Virginias, seems to be a blend of Virginia, not sure which ones. Perique is balance nicely with the Virginia. I've never had the Murray's blend but if this is what it was it was a great blend. I feel that this will age nicely. Oh! And a good plus is inexpensive. Will be getting more to cellar.
This is no match to STG Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture. The cut is wrong, the tobacco and taste is below what STG standards are.
Now on to just reviewing it for a VaPer. Very good blend. Ribbon cut. Nice Virginias, seems to be a blend of Virginia, not sure which ones. Perique is balance nicely with the Virginia. I've never had the Murray's blend but if this is what it was it was a great blend. I feel that this will age nicely. Oh! And a good plus is inexpensive. Will be getting more to cellar.
Pipe Used:
Buckeye/Scott's pipe
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
New to 18 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2022 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I bought this tobacco without any expectations. I was positively surprised. Upon coming to this page, I discovered that this tobacco is a version of an old Dunhil blend - which I have never tasted. Therefore, I will limit myself to reviewing some points about this tobacco without relating it to the Dunhil version.
Pure and natural tobacco, does not appear to have any casing. It has no flavoring. The flavor comes all from the tobacco leaves. I feel certain notes of lemon, sometimes a sweet orange, but it's very discreet. Sometimes I even think that there is some oriental in this mix. Virgos are sweet and smooth, most likely they are stoved virginia. The Room note is more discreet than other VaPers, being very pleasant for those who smoke. Slow, perfect burn (no tobacco left at the bottom of the bowl), requiring very few relights. The smoke flavor evolves from spicy to sweet. very pleasant. Highly recommended for VaPer and Virginia fans. Great entry-level VaPer for those who want to know this type of blend.
- Germano @pipesnuffscience
Pure and natural tobacco, does not appear to have any casing. It has no flavoring. The flavor comes all from the tobacco leaves. I feel certain notes of lemon, sometimes a sweet orange, but it's very discreet. Sometimes I even think that there is some oriental in this mix. Virgos are sweet and smooth, most likely they are stoved virginia. The Room note is more discreet than other VaPers, being very pleasant for those who smoke. Slow, perfect burn (no tobacco left at the bottom of the bowl), requiring very few relights. The smoke flavor evolves from spicy to sweet. very pleasant. Highly recommended for VaPer and Virginia fans. Great entry-level VaPer for those who want to know this type of blend.
- Germano @pipesnuffscience
Pipe Used:
Corn Cobs
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 19, 2021 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I’ll be brief here as much has already been said about this now labeled as Sutliff Victoria blend. I mostly smoke Burley blends but I do enjoy VaPers and tend to binge a bit once I get started. This is a good mellow well rounded blend. Actually I love it. What I’m smoking at the moment has been cellared for ten months now and the tobaccos are well married. It aged quite well, however, I enjoyed it new but ran out of what I kept to smoke at the beginning. I believe I bought two pounds after first tried a sample and it has turned out to be a good decision. I also bought two pounds of the Sutliff Mature Red Virginia which I believe to be an excellent VA, at least for my taste. These are great relief pitchers for when my Codger blends begin to leave me a bit flat. Give it a try; you just might love it
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
10 months
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