A few days ago I decided that I finally was going to smoke and review the dreaded, infamous, and controversial Mixture 79.
Despite the fact that M79 has traditionally been a huge seller, it seems to be the most hated blend on all the pipe forums I frequent. If you want to insult a blend, compare it to M79. Heck, there are dozens of threads scattered about the Internet devoted solely to trashing the stuff. I vaguely remember trying it way, way back in the day, and it was smoked by some guys I knew while growing up, but I really don't remember it well at all. The bottom line is that someone somewhere likes it or they wouldn't keep making it. Also, regardless of our modern preferences, it was at one time considered a great smoke by many regular pipe smokers (famously including Hugh Hefner). It's described as tasting like urinal cakes, dryer sheets, scented candles, and a dozen other disgusting things; it reputedly bites like Jaws and even causes some smokers to turn green, keel over and become the Living Dead. Or something...
But occasionally you will find those who like the stuff, or at least don't consider it to be the worst blend in history. The more positive opinions compare it to traditional scented British blends (Lakelands), and others point out that it may be something of a time capsule, reflecting what past generations enjoyed.
In any case, I want to make up my own mind. Several generous forum dwellers gifted me with samples, and the first arrived yesterday afternoon. Since then, I have been trying to screw up the courage to try it....
My first impressions are based solely on the "tin" or "pouch" note. This is the most intensely flavored tobacco I have encountered with the possible exception of Dark Flake Scented. Holy moley is this stuff flavored. Whatever else I can say right now, I feel comfortable in predicting that there will be NO tobacco flavor to this stuff. Which, for an aromatic, might be acceptable if the flavorings are good enough (I am trying HARD to give this stuff the benefit if the doubt and put myself in the mindset of some guy in the 1960s, who is looking for a sweet break from OTC burlies and whose palate is not accustomed to the infinite variety of high quality sweets we enjoy today or the nearly universal application of vanilla on aromatics).
Anyhow, I am not sure how I feel about the smell. One minute I think it's very pleasant, but the next it seems vaguely nauseating. Very, very weird.... I am usually not indecisive when it comes to this kind of thing, but there it is. I detect strong aromas of wintergreen, anise, possible mint and possibly some type of floral scenting. I definitely understand why this is compared to Lakeland scented flakes, and I imagine the guys who developed it were shooting for an American OTC version of that genre. It doesn't smell like Ennerdale, Kendal, Bosun Cut, or any other Lakeland, but those are the only analogues that come to mind....
Anyhow, I will report back when I finally screw up the courage to actually smoke this stuff....
Despite the fact that M79 has traditionally been a huge seller, it seems to be the most hated blend on all the pipe forums I frequent. If you want to insult a blend, compare it to M79. Heck, there are dozens of threads scattered about the Internet devoted solely to trashing the stuff. I vaguely remember trying it way, way back in the day, and it was smoked by some guys I knew while growing up, but I really don't remember it well at all. The bottom line is that someone somewhere likes it or they wouldn't keep making it. Also, regardless of our modern preferences, it was at one time considered a great smoke by many regular pipe smokers (famously including Hugh Hefner). It's described as tasting like urinal cakes, dryer sheets, scented candles, and a dozen other disgusting things; it reputedly bites like Jaws and even causes some smokers to turn green, keel over and become the Living Dead. Or something...
But occasionally you will find those who like the stuff, or at least don't consider it to be the worst blend in history. The more positive opinions compare it to traditional scented British blends (Lakelands), and others point out that it may be something of a time capsule, reflecting what past generations enjoyed.
In any case, I want to make up my own mind. Several generous forum dwellers gifted me with samples, and the first arrived yesterday afternoon. Since then, I have been trying to screw up the courage to try it....
My first impressions are based solely on the "tin" or "pouch" note. This is the most intensely flavored tobacco I have encountered with the possible exception of Dark Flake Scented. Holy moley is this stuff flavored. Whatever else I can say right now, I feel comfortable in predicting that there will be NO tobacco flavor to this stuff. Which, for an aromatic, might be acceptable if the flavorings are good enough (I am trying HARD to give this stuff the benefit if the doubt and put myself in the mindset of some guy in the 1960s, who is looking for a sweet break from OTC burlies and whose palate is not accustomed to the infinite variety of high quality sweets we enjoy today or the nearly universal application of vanilla on aromatics).
Anyhow, I am not sure how I feel about the smell. One minute I think it's very pleasant, but the next it seems vaguely nauseating. Very, very weird.... I am usually not indecisive when it comes to this kind of thing, but there it is. I detect strong aromas of wintergreen, anise, possible mint and possibly some type of floral scenting. I definitely understand why this is compared to Lakeland scented flakes, and I imagine the guys who developed it were shooting for an American OTC version of that genre. It doesn't smell like Ennerdale, Kendal, Bosun Cut, or any other Lakeland, but those are the only analogues that come to mind....
Anyhow, I will report back when I finally screw up the courage to actually smoke this stuff....
