James Fox The Banker's Mixture

I have been smoking The Bankers Mixture on and off over the past 6 or 7 years. The tin scent is musty and reminds me of an old book store for some reason. It burns dry and smooth, with the cigar leaf making itself known from the beginning, although it isn’t too much. I don’t get the sweetness from Bankers like I do with other cigar blends like Lewis’ 123 Mixture or my favorite, Compton’s Cuban Style Cigar Blend. TBM is earthier in flavor with a moderate amount of smokiness too. Considering the number of component tobaccos in TBM, I don’t find it very complex. Bankers is a solid edition to lovers of cigar leaf blends, although it would be mid-way down my list.

Bought in a classic round tin in Switzerland in 2013, at average price for a selected tobacco, surely not too expensive (half price respect a McLelland, I mean...). Medium ribbon cut, correct humidity, very typical scent of (good) latakia and (good) cigar leaves.

Taste: full bodied, rich, maybe not delicate but really satisfying, no biting at all... in one only word, wonderful!

Room note: the only, little problem... quite strong and persistent, but I don't take care of this, maybe sometimes a good reason to take a walk and happily smoke outdoor.

Burning: perfect at first, not too slow or too fast, after some days it gets more dry and goes only a bit too fast. Easy lightning.

Best Briars: I prefer top-end thick-wall pipes, for this.

Wow, this is really good! Probably the best tobacco I tryed in the last years, medium strenght (my ideal) but not a fly-killer, strong latakia and cigarish aroma with a little orientals note, if you sometimes appreciate a good light havana cigar too, you'll love it. Highly recommended.

P.S.: reading some other reviews, I feel there are two different The Banker's Tobacco, one very good (dark label: http://www.google.it/imgres?sa=X&hl=it&rlz=1T4ADRA_itIT484IT484&biw=1229&bih=567&tbm=isch&tbnid=eb1-_kb79ei1UM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fluxurytobaccoreviews.com%2Fgo-%2Flatakia--english-tobacco&docid=B-LlvanUtX7_9M&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fluxurytobaccoreviews.com%2Fuploads%2F1292423903-James-J-Fox-Bankers.jpg&w=250&h=242&ei=xfXRUuXoD5CN4gTByIEQ&zoom=1&ved=0CFcQhBwwAQ&iact=rc&dur=840&page=1&start=0&ndsp=16) and another not so good (white label)... is it real?

I'm not sure I can distinguish the Havana in this medium-English mixture. I do have some McConnell's Havana in my collection, and have found that when I add it to blends, it simply blends in rather than creating a strong cigar taste. I am no expert in cigars, as I do not smoke them. That said, I myself rate this as a good middle-of-the-road English blend. This style is not my favorite: I like my Latakia either strong or just a touch, and the average English is something I can smoke and enjoy, but not buy a lot of. I have to rate this as recommended, though, as it is quality tobacco well-blended. My tin is definitely the new version.

I am a sucker for tobaccos. I simply love all the different kinds. Browsing through my local tobacconist, I saw that this was on sale. Huzzah! I bought two 50g tins, for only a little over $16 together. Took them home, opened one, and smoked over a Jane Austin and my robe. Great stuff, great stuff. Smokes well, tastes like old-timey tobacco, and has a room note that smells like the cigars the old horse-handlers used to smoke back in Zimbabwe. I really enjoyed this English blend, and it has actually become my normal higher-end variety, me smoking a pipe or two full every few days. Once again, this one comes highly recommended.

I was afraid at first to try it in my favourite Latakia pipe, as I was afraid it will catch the Havana leaf smell, so I smoked it first from my test pipe and liked it (now I smoke it from my latakia pipe with greater pleasure and no "fear"). It is a very interesting blend and I will keep it in weekly rotation definetlly.

I found this a very middle of the road blend. Definitely an English blend, not as obviously so as 965 or perhaps Provost.

The cigar leaf isn't all that noticeable and overall it's just a little bit bland.

An easy smoke with a light flavour.

This blend surprized me with its elegant and smooth smoke. Besides the Latakia touch it has also a fine cigar taste.

Packs and lights well. It doesn't change its taste, gets a bit stronger after the first half of the bowl. It has a rich and ferm smoke with nice cigar flavor enriched with a hint of Latakia, offering a delightful English Mixture smoking experience.

It can't beat my favorite Virginia, Perique, Burley and Oriental blends but for sure it is a good English blend and would satisfy the fans of these blends.

My "version" of the tin is different from those pictured above - it is plain white label with black inscriptions and green Fox... and it is from Germany (blended by certain R. L. Will from Buende).

However, the blend itself is quite pleasant. Cigar leaf note is not dominant, so one may smoke it without fear that others will fall down because of heavy smoke. It burns easy and during smoking it does not change taste. Recommended even for Summer (evenings).

My rate: 4.0.

The cigar aroma is noticeable from the outset, though not as strongly as with an actual cigar.

At first I thought that this mixture doesn't really work, because, as noted by others, cigar leaf is better experienced in a cigar, but its depth and richness does grow on you.

The mix doesn't seem to be burning quickly, but it finishes sooner than expected, and leaves a fine ash.

I'm glad to have tried this one, but it's a one-off experience for me, and I will be even more glad to return to what I now regard as my 'staple' mixture, from the same stable, the marvellous Provost.