Dunhill Durbar
(3.12)
A high portion of mature dark as well as yellow Virginias combined with latakia and Oriental leaf. Wonderful balance, mild in flavour with floral and subtly smoky notes.
Details
| Brand | Dunhill |
| Blended By | Dunhill |
| Manufactured By | Scandinavian Tobacco Group |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Mixture |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | No longer in production |
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
|
3.12 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 26 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I have to admit that I never smoked the previous incarnations of this blend before. I was always satisfied with Standard Mixture Medium and 965 with the occasional tin of London Mixture. I had tried all of the Dunhill blends in production and this was not one of them. Even Elizabethan was good.
I was in my local B&M here in Germany the other day and noticed that they had re-released Durbar. I did not hesitate in buying a tin to try. I am always on the lookout for Oriental/Turkish forward blends. I like Latakia, but prefer it to play second fiddle in a Balkan/English blend. And in the reviews of this blend, I was assured that this would be the case.
The tin presentation is pure Dunhill. High quality leaf in a somewhat fine to medium ribbon cut. The tin aroma was spectacular! The Turkish and Orientals sang to me. The moisture content is fine out of the tin, although I always decant the tobacco into a glass bail top jar and let it sit for a couple of days absorbing a little oxygen in the sealed jar. The aerobic organisms in the tobacco start to work their magic after being tin dumb on the shelf after production.
The packing is easy as with any Dunhill product. The light was one match after char. One relight due to my own negligence about halfway through the bowl. The flavor was as promised. Oriental/Turkish up front with the Virginia and Latakia playing a supporting role. The balance for me is almost perfect. Very nice dark coffee, bitter chocolate, fresh baked toasted bread, light floral, warm spices and smoked flavors. Not sweet in the true sense of the word, but gives the impression of sweetness in the nose. The bowl never burned hot and no bite was registered. The bowl burned to the bottom with no dampness noted. Nicotine was a solid medium, nothing dramatic. But I must say that I like heavier blends in that department. Lady N and I get along well!
This is a perfect last pipe of the evening before turning in. And my experience is that it pairs well with any good peat heavy Scotch Whisky or a good Cognac. The flavor profile of this blend will stand up to a beverage of strong character.
You can rest assured that I will be putting up many tins to enjoy later. I think this one will age well. The Virginia content is more than adequate to believe that to be the case. I hope that this review will encourage my experienced pipe brothers and sisters to give it a try if this kind of blend falls in your wheelhouse. I'm not sure if a novice would get much out of it.
Cheers!
I was in my local B&M here in Germany the other day and noticed that they had re-released Durbar. I did not hesitate in buying a tin to try. I am always on the lookout for Oriental/Turkish forward blends. I like Latakia, but prefer it to play second fiddle in a Balkan/English blend. And in the reviews of this blend, I was assured that this would be the case.
The tin presentation is pure Dunhill. High quality leaf in a somewhat fine to medium ribbon cut. The tin aroma was spectacular! The Turkish and Orientals sang to me. The moisture content is fine out of the tin, although I always decant the tobacco into a glass bail top jar and let it sit for a couple of days absorbing a little oxygen in the sealed jar. The aerobic organisms in the tobacco start to work their magic after being tin dumb on the shelf after production.
The packing is easy as with any Dunhill product. The light was one match after char. One relight due to my own negligence about halfway through the bowl. The flavor was as promised. Oriental/Turkish up front with the Virginia and Latakia playing a supporting role. The balance for me is almost perfect. Very nice dark coffee, bitter chocolate, fresh baked toasted bread, light floral, warm spices and smoked flavors. Not sweet in the true sense of the word, but gives the impression of sweetness in the nose. The bowl never burned hot and no bite was registered. The bowl burned to the bottom with no dampness noted. Nicotine was a solid medium, nothing dramatic. But I must say that I like heavier blends in that department. Lady N and I get along well!
This is a perfect last pipe of the evening before turning in. And my experience is that it pairs well with any good peat heavy Scotch Whisky or a good Cognac. The flavor profile of this blend will stand up to a beverage of strong character.
You can rest assured that I will be putting up many tins to enjoy later. I think this one will age well. The Virginia content is more than adequate to believe that to be the case. I hope that this review will encourage my experienced pipe brothers and sisters to give it a try if this kind of blend falls in your wheelhouse. I'm not sure if a novice would get much out of it.
Cheers!
Pipe Used:
GBD Billiard and Aylesbury Canadian
Age When Smoked:
One week after purchase
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 05, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I purchased this largely bc of the advertising campaign that accompanied the recent re-release of this blend after some years it has been unavailable. Also, I have come to enjoy dunhill English/ Scottish mixtures a great deal. I read some of the reviews written on the previously available mixture I never tried, which were largely raving. I read some of the reviews on the new release, which were raving of a different sort. I think in that way this site can be helpful. So, here goes a first timers try on this mixture.
The tin presentation is as always for dunhill, perfect. The tin aroma is very welcoming to my nose. Woody, smokey and with a good whiff of leather. The packing is easy, as the ribbons are fairly uniform. On the charring light it forms a nice white ash fairly quickly, with all the pieces burning together. The flavor is very much like the tin aroma. This flavor carries on steadfastly over the duration of the smoke. It picks up a bit toward the end, and rallies in strength a bit. Also, I notice that slight sourness I would normally describe as green olives. It burns very well and has no unpleasant changes in its draw throughout the course of the bowl.
It is not overly strong insofar as nicotine. It is perhaps a bit less than the 965 mixture, and definitely far less than the nightcap in overall power. However, what it lacks in nic hit it makes up in flavor. It is a very tasty mixture. I would say that this may become one of my favorites and have a place with the night cap and the 965 that are staples of my daily rotation. It may not be what it was in the past but, I wouldn't know that without trying a vintage tin that would most likely be well past its prime in age.
The tin presentation is as always for dunhill, perfect. The tin aroma is very welcoming to my nose. Woody, smokey and with a good whiff of leather. The packing is easy, as the ribbons are fairly uniform. On the charring light it forms a nice white ash fairly quickly, with all the pieces burning together. The flavor is very much like the tin aroma. This flavor carries on steadfastly over the duration of the smoke. It picks up a bit toward the end, and rallies in strength a bit. Also, I notice that slight sourness I would normally describe as green olives. It burns very well and has no unpleasant changes in its draw throughout the course of the bowl.
It is not overly strong insofar as nicotine. It is perhaps a bit less than the 965 mixture, and definitely far less than the nightcap in overall power. However, what it lacks in nic hit it makes up in flavor. It is a very tasty mixture. I would say that this may become one of my favorites and have a place with the night cap and the 965 that are staples of my daily rotation. It may not be what it was in the past but, I wouldn't know that without trying a vintage tin that would most likely be well past its prime in age.
Pipe Used:
Peterson 606
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 02, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The new Durbar is very nice, I raced through a tin of it, and have stockpiled a good supply. It is my new, go to all day Oriental. In fact, I found myself reaching for Durbar to the exclusion of all my other blends. Durbar starts out piquant and creamy, with the Orientals and darker Virginia flavors dominating, taste changing from sweet and sour to spicy. The Latakia, peeks in now and again, but stays reserved. Through the bowl, the Orientals stay in the main, and the flavor warms with some almost ginger/clove tastes. It seems to have a little more nicotine than other blends of this type, but it is by no means a heavy hitter. The comparisons to Sobranie White are close, this is a good Balkan, much better than the Balkan Sobranie rerelease.
Pipe Used:
GBD Rhodesian, Dunhill Dublin
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Another masterpiece from Dunhill!when you crack the tin you smell the fruity and citrusy virginias combining with the woodsy,spicy orientals and latakias.the moisture level is perfect,lights easy and some relights are needed.while burning the flavours are great.sourness,dark fruits,citruses from the virginias are combined with spices ,woods and deep flavours from the orientals.the latakias also offer some flavours in the backround.the flavours are mostly from the orientals and the virginias.burns cool,never bit me even if i went hard on that.the nicotine level is medium.leaves no moisture at the end of the bowl.not an all day smoke though it is perfect to end your day after a nice dinner.definitelly a must try blend!
Age When Smoked:
Straight from the tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2015 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Overwhelmingly well balanced, honest English-Oriental mixture! A very pleasant buttery sweetness from the Virginias underlines the incredibly well chosen Orientals. After the first third of the bowl a nice oak note comes along. The added Latakia does not cover up this blend at all. No flavour peaks, just marvellously balanced. DURBAR’S sibling, the LONDON MIXTURE, emphasises on spicy Orientals. Since I bought this tin a fortnight ago, it must be the new release of Dunhill by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. I am not familiar with the former one by Murray.
Pipe Used:
Pot by Erik Nording, Denmark.
PurchasedFrom:
Local tobacconist.
Age When Smoked:
New, out of the tin.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 08, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
A long time fan of the re-released Dunhill blends I am thoroughly enjoying the latest offerings from our Scandinavian friends. I must admit that I was not sure where Durbar would fit in to the Dunhill range having done my research into the blend, particularly given London mixture's more oriental forward's offering. I must admit that this is absolutely stunning. Distinctly more oriental/Turkish forward, this is a typically sophisticated nuanced blend from Dunhill, with perfect moisture content out of the tin. Brilliant from fresh; decanted into a sealed jar for a few weeks it is absolutely sublime. Highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
Mario Grandi giant egg.
PurchasedFrom:
GQ Tobaccos
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 27, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Fields of flowers, essential oils of etherealness... Durbar is an unique and delicious Oriental blend. I get virtually no Latakia aroma out of it at all, but a lot, a lot(!) of fine Oriental aroma. To me this is an Oriental-Blend!
In the classy tin there are mostly ribbons of yellow and brown colors, few black spots and some dark brown flake pieces. The tin-note is very flowery, slightly sweet and somewhat woodsy and nutty.
Having Durbar in the pipe is magical. It's like a journey through exotic fields of trees, flowers and herbs, whilst absorbing all the bewitching, natural aromas surrounding you. The very exotic, rich and spicy Oriental is very dry, somewhat woodsy (cedarwood comes to my mind f.e.) and ethereal-flowery, whilst the Virginias sport some mild sweetness. The spicy, tangy aroma dominates though! Very rarely I pick up a hint of Latakia. The Orientals are clearly prevailing in this blend and this is what I love about it.
One of the very few with such a high amount of Oriental/Turkish, and I admire its simply unique an exotic aroma! The only other blends thats so rich in Orientals I know of is Motzeks Highland Balls, yet Highlad Balls have more sweetness and a distinctive fruitiness to them, which sets them apart from the very spicy and dry Oriental varietals use in here. They are like soul mates though!
A must-try for Oriental-Lovers. Gonna stock up on this as long as Dunhill is still around, 4/4 stars! Wicked blend!
In the classy tin there are mostly ribbons of yellow and brown colors, few black spots and some dark brown flake pieces. The tin-note is very flowery, slightly sweet and somewhat woodsy and nutty.
Having Durbar in the pipe is magical. It's like a journey through exotic fields of trees, flowers and herbs, whilst absorbing all the bewitching, natural aromas surrounding you. The very exotic, rich and spicy Oriental is very dry, somewhat woodsy (cedarwood comes to my mind f.e.) and ethereal-flowery, whilst the Virginias sport some mild sweetness. The spicy, tangy aroma dominates though! Very rarely I pick up a hint of Latakia. The Orientals are clearly prevailing in this blend and this is what I love about it.
One of the very few with such a high amount of Oriental/Turkish, and I admire its simply unique an exotic aroma! The only other blends thats so rich in Orientals I know of is Motzeks Highland Balls, yet Highlad Balls have more sweetness and a distinctive fruitiness to them, which sets them apart from the very spicy and dry Oriental varietals use in here. They are like soul mates though!
A must-try for Oriental-Lovers. Gonna stock up on this as long as Dunhill is still around, 4/4 stars! Wicked blend!
Pipe Used:
Clays, Cobs, Briars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 12, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I've been on a Orlick made Durbar binge (2016) lately, smoking up a tin in nearly record time.
This is not the first time I've encountered this blend, but it's the first time it's really clicked with me and it's my go to English now. Possibly before I did not give it a fair shake (letting the tin breathe for a while, and being patient for the smoke to develop).
I find it the smoothest of all the Dunhill Englishes, while still retaining the flavor depth and pungency that Dunhill does so well. And it has a good enough N kick for me.
It is so well balanced and smooth that I can see...how it could fly under the radar for some. Latakia does not dominate but is definitely present and the Orientals are rich and less "zingy" than in LM, but still slightly to the fore.
I would say it is overall as rich a blend as 965 (not in Latakia but in overall body) but of course without the Cavendish, and without ANY harshness.
The lack of harshness, balance, and rich Orientals push it to the top of the heap for me.
It is, overall, better than earlier iterations (Murray's and early Orlick) imo, which were both "too much".
This is not the first time I've encountered this blend, but it's the first time it's really clicked with me and it's my go to English now. Possibly before I did not give it a fair shake (letting the tin breathe for a while, and being patient for the smoke to develop).
I find it the smoothest of all the Dunhill Englishes, while still retaining the flavor depth and pungency that Dunhill does so well. And it has a good enough N kick for me.
It is so well balanced and smooth that I can see...how it could fly under the radar for some. Latakia does not dominate but is definitely present and the Orientals are rich and less "zingy" than in LM, but still slightly to the fore.
I would say it is overall as rich a blend as 965 (not in Latakia but in overall body) but of course without the Cavendish, and without ANY harshness.
The lack of harshness, balance, and rich Orientals push it to the top of the heap for me.
It is, overall, better than earlier iterations (Murray's and early Orlick) imo, which were both "too much".
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2016 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Very Full | Tolerable |
Summary: sublime 🙂 Balanced English mixture with no specific front-end. Tin smell: dry plum. When smoked cycles through: cream/butter (casing?), herby (virginia), sweety (oriental), nutty/burnt malt (burley? latakia?), a bit of bitter think dark ale. No dominant note, but all come and go through smoke. Nicotine: medium to strong (builds up). Toungue bite: zero. Burn: cool, even, slow. Room note - good pipe tobacco, but not a crowd pleaser. Aftertaste - herby, buttery, light sugar. Ash - white-grey. Need to relight - 2-3 times if your pipe is on the large side and you're not focusing on it. Goop zero. Leaves the pipe pretty clean. Repurchase value - 100%.
Pipe Used:
neerup briar, sahin briar
PurchasedFrom:
some tobacco shop in Russia
Age When Smoked:
new, a month later
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2016 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
Dunhill - Durbar.
I think it's pretty hard to get something anymore satisfying than a good English and that is exactly what this is; a rich tasting, satisfying smoke.
Just the aroma from the un-lit blend fills me with alacrity. It's English (obviously), smoky, and slightly tangy. Although it's listed as a mixture it's more like a straight ribbon; there aren't any pieces of flake or plug in there, it's prominently medium ribbons.
This was from a loose pouch so any reduction in moisture that's occurred (if any) has benefited the lighting. Once it's lit it takes me straight back onto my first point: satisfying. It just ticks every box that's required for contentment (to me). It's smoky enough to identify the Latakia but nowhere near enough to take over. The Virginia and Oriental's are well balanced with one another; the both of them are much stronger than the Latakia giving the blend a lighter taste instead of the MASSIVE amount of smokiness that can often come from an English. On the 'not so good' side it does burn a bit fast. Very even, very steady, but quick if pressured; take this easy! The nicotine's a little below medium, not leagues below but mild to medium nonetheless. Room note; English and great!
Four stars for this great blend.
I think it's pretty hard to get something anymore satisfying than a good English and that is exactly what this is; a rich tasting, satisfying smoke.
Just the aroma from the un-lit blend fills me with alacrity. It's English (obviously), smoky, and slightly tangy. Although it's listed as a mixture it's more like a straight ribbon; there aren't any pieces of flake or plug in there, it's prominently medium ribbons.
This was from a loose pouch so any reduction in moisture that's occurred (if any) has benefited the lighting. Once it's lit it takes me straight back onto my first point: satisfying. It just ticks every box that's required for contentment (to me). It's smoky enough to identify the Latakia but nowhere near enough to take over. The Virginia and Oriental's are well balanced with one another; the both of them are much stronger than the Latakia giving the blend a lighter taste instead of the MASSIVE amount of smokiness that can often come from an English. On the 'not so good' side it does burn a bit fast. Very even, very steady, but quick if pressured; take this easy! The nicotine's a little below medium, not leagues below but mild to medium nonetheless. Room note; English and great!
Four stars for this great blend.
Pipe Used:
Barling Meer'
PurchasedFrom:
GQ Tobacco's
Age When Smoked:
New
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