James Fox The Banker's Mixture
(2.80)
The incomparable aroma of this fine tobacco is due to the superfine pure Havana leaf which has been skilfully added to give the flavour of a fine Cuban cigar.
Details
| Brand | James Fox |
| Blended By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Cigar Leaf Based |
| Contents | Burley, Cigar Leaf, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| 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
|
2.80 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 13 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The Cyprian Latakia is smokey, woodsy, earthy, and mildly sweet. It's noticeable in every puff as it dominates some, but not all of the other components. It’s not a lat-bomb. The burley is toasted, woody, earthy and a little nutty in a supporting role. The same role is played by the Virginia, which is grassy with a little earth, and some citrus. There’s an occasional dry sour note that comes from the Oriental/Turkish, along with some wood, earth, floralness, and a pinch of spice. The herbal, vegetative, earthy, woody, tea-like lightly citrusy, spicy and floral, cigar leaf is a little sweet, and not always obvious, but it plays on your tongue from time to time during the proceedings. It may be a minor addition, but it adds an extra hit of flavor that I’d miss if it wasn’t there. The strength is a couple of steps shy of the medium mark, while the taste is medium. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium. Won't bite or get harsh, but it does sport a few rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a fairly consistent smooth, mildly sweet and savory flavor, though for some reason, lacks a little depth even though it has a little richness. Leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, short lived after taste. Two and a half stars only because the lack of depth, though it still makes a decent all day smoke. Though none of the components really stand up to grab your attention, the tobaccos are high quality. I wouldn’t argue against a three star rating.
-JimInks
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 2015 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
James Fox-The Banker's Mixture. Note: this was from a loose pouch not a sealed tin.
The smell coming from the blend isn't the best. It's slightly cedar/woodsy and also a little charcoal like. Bizarre.
The look of the blend isn't too spectacular; Browns, blacks, a few golden specks and a standard ribbon cut.
From the pouch the moisture's good. This makes for easy igniting.
Once lit I find it's the cigar leaf that takes the leading role. Bare in mind, I'm not a fan of cigar leaf so this is reflected in my rating but if you like your blends to have some I'm sure you'll like this.
After the cigar leaf the next in line is the Burley. I find after about ten minutes the cigar leaf tends to abate somewhat and allow the Burley to come through a little more.
Those are the only real flavours I get. I struggle highly to identify other tastes, it's mainly cigars and nuts!
I'd say the nicotine sits just above medium in this. Probably a little too much for a taste only piper.
The room note isn't suprising. Again it's like a cigar!
As I said, I'm not a fan of cigar leaf; If I want to taste a cigar I'll have a Montecristo or a Bolivar!
That said though I don't think it's worth only one star.
Somewhat recommended.
The smell coming from the blend isn't the best. It's slightly cedar/woodsy and also a little charcoal like. Bizarre.
The look of the blend isn't too spectacular; Browns, blacks, a few golden specks and a standard ribbon cut.
From the pouch the moisture's good. This makes for easy igniting.
Once lit I find it's the cigar leaf that takes the leading role. Bare in mind, I'm not a fan of cigar leaf so this is reflected in my rating but if you like your blends to have some I'm sure you'll like this.
After the cigar leaf the next in line is the Burley. I find after about ten minutes the cigar leaf tends to abate somewhat and allow the Burley to come through a little more.
Those are the only real flavours I get. I struggle highly to identify other tastes, it's mainly cigars and nuts!
I'd say the nicotine sits just above medium in this. Probably a little too much for a taste only piper.
The room note isn't suprising. Again it's like a cigar!
As I said, I'm not a fan of cigar leaf; If I want to taste a cigar I'll have a Montecristo or a Bolivar!
That said though I don't think it's worth only one star.
Somewhat recommended.
Pipe Used:
Rattray's Six Freinds Oom Paul
PurchasedFrom:
James Fox website
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 31, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The Robert Lewis offering '123 Mixture' is nearly identical to this offering--James Fox's 'The Bankers'. Both are cigar leaf products blended by Kohlhase & Kopp of Germany. 'The Bankers' is distinctly lighter in colour than '123', but beyond that I cannot see or taste much of a difference even if I like 'The Bankers' a bit more (I imagine that it was aged longer in the tin). With that said, I must point you to my review of '123 Mixture' as it is, for all good reasons, the same blend as 'The Bankers'.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Strong |
From what some reviewers here say, it looks like this mix had better days in the past. Although the Latakia is the main ingredient, the burley brings a fairly constant earthiness, while the cigar leaf is felt in a few puffs. In general, the interaction of all the ingredients produces a flavor that is not unpleasant to me but also does not excite me. Until I finished the tin I have been doubting about the qualification and finally, by comparison with other tobaccos, I am going to put two and a half rounded to two.
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 09, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
James Fox - The Bankers
A mulligan stew of leaves combine to create toasted carmel popcorn with campfire overtones. Hints and teases of cigar leaf. Neither bold nor spicy. An ok, run of the mill sort of blend. It's better if you can age the tin at least several months and then let it breathe some.
A mulligan stew of leaves combine to create toasted carmel popcorn with campfire overtones. Hints and teases of cigar leaf. Neither bold nor spicy. An ok, run of the mill sort of blend. It's better if you can age the tin at least several months and then let it breathe some.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2016 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
There is a certain complexity in this blend. Latakia is present but in very moderate quantity. Havana provides a full and satisfying taste but, to me, it remains a bit cigarette-like. 3,5/5 in my personal rating system.
PurchasedFrom:
Dubini, Chiasso (Switzerland)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2010 | Mild | Very Mild | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Pleasant |
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.
The cigar leaf isn't all that noticeable and overall it's just a little bit bland.
An easy smoke with a light flavour.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 2007 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 22, 2007 | Medium | None Detected | Mild | Very Strong |
I allowed my tin of The Bankers to age nine months before I opened it for the first time. It is a very pleasant tobacco to look at and sniff while in the tin. I wonder what the original J. J. Fox blend was like, as I was not overly thrilled with the Kohlhass & Kopp version once I packed my pipe(s) and lit up. Don't get me wrong, The Bankers is a decent smoke, but I believe there are better blends for the price. I picked up very subtle, very occasional hints of Cuban leaf, but for the most part the smoke was a one-dimensional very very mild English. It smokes smoothly, doesn't bite and was quite mild from first light to the light fluffly ash left in the bottom of my pipe. My wife does not/did not care for the room note and remarked that it was quite acrid. (This is really the only tobacco which she has criticized; she generally enjoys the room notes of most of which I smoke.) I have tried The Bankers in a number of different sized pipes (from Petersons 317 to an Ardor Ninfea of about group 5 to a big big Cavicchi). It behaved about the same in all pipes. My other complaint was that while I am a pretty slow puffer, The Bankers sure seemed to burn quickly... I've noticed others have had the exact opposite experience and wonder again whether the original blend by Fox burned slower. I enjoyed my tin, but not enough to buy another as it is rather expensive.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 03, 2006 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Considering this "cigar blend" is the most expensive blend in my current "pantry", I have to come down harsh on it just a little. It is a standard English at its core with just a hint of something more underneath. It lights well, burns moderately well once dried, and gives an ok room note. It has a pleasant complexity to it, nothing too suprising after the first few puffs. It smokes slow enough for a long and enjoyable session, only bites the tongue a little, and relaxes more than kicks.
The problem I have with it is the fact that the Havana blend-in is too subtle. Occasionally I would pick up a hint of it on the tongue throughout the longest portion of the smoke, but generally the flavor was dominated by what I would assume to be Perique but is possibly the Havana interacting with the Latakia. I could sort of pick it up in the room. Once, in the middle of the bowl, it intensified for a few puffs before dropping back down, and that was the best part of the experience.
Without a stronger presence, it is not worth the (slightly) steeper price tag. It will cost you a good three to five dollars more than the tin sitting next to it, and will not distinguish itself enough to justify it.
The problem I have with it is the fact that the Havana blend-in is too subtle. Occasionally I would pick up a hint of it on the tongue throughout the longest portion of the smoke, but generally the flavor was dominated by what I would assume to be Perique but is possibly the Havana interacting with the Latakia. I could sort of pick it up in the room. Once, in the middle of the bowl, it intensified for a few puffs before dropping back down, and that was the best part of the experience.
Without a stronger presence, it is not worth the (slightly) steeper price tag. It will cost you a good three to five dollars more than the tin sitting next to it, and will not distinguish itself enough to justify it.
target="_blank"
