Only by typing the name makes me mouth watering. Such a nice oriental blend. Too bad STG/Peterson is not producing it anymore. I’m down to 5 tins of it which makes me panicking. Can someone please recommend a alternative blend?
I Miss Dunhill Durbar
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McConnell issued it in their Heritage line as Oriental Square. I have not tried it, nor talked to anyone who has, so I can't tell you how close it is, though JimInks gave it good marks in his review. C&D's Rajaha's Court was blended to be "reminiscent of Dunhill's Durbar"....it's tasty but it's no Durbar. You might try Rattray's Red Rapparee. It is loaded with sharp, aromatic Orientals and they are the main note throughout the bowl.
They may yet manufacture it. Didn't they recently recommence producing Standard Mixture .... or London? There was a sort of a "back by popular demand" announcement a fee weeks ago. Being, I think, one of the more popular blends they produced, I can't help but think it's on the docket for reintroduction.
Durbar is unique, I know of no blend exactly like it - big fan of orientals and I'm happy to smoke Red Rap, Presby, Kensington, King Charles.... but none of them have the heady perfumey magic of Durbar. I haven't had the McConnell match, no idea how close it is. But perhaps difficulty in procuring the right leaf or essences or whatever is in it makes it not worth the manufacture - pipe smokers constantly lose this battle of bean-counting vs demand.
My sister sent me a tin of Durbar she found in a cigar and gift shop (that's what it was called, now closed by the virus). It was excellent, but I enjoyed it supposing I wasn't going to see it again. I'd try around with blends with similar constituent tobaccos. You won't find a match, I don't think, but if you keep an open mind, you might find something you like.
Can you find a link for that announcement? I cannot find it on Google. It has to be London as Standard Mixture was part of the initial relaunch.
I've found that Rajah's Court and McConnell's Oriental and Oriental Square aren't adequate replacements. There's a richness in Durbar that those blends are missing.
I had 4 cans of red rapparee stock up. it is a great blend but still not as smooth as Durbar.
With age, Red Rap becomes sublimely smooth - still vastly different than Durbar, but all the prickly edges go away over about 10 years. So just sit on those, they only get better.
From what I read the content/blends of Dunhill Durbar and Dunhill London Mixture are the same.
Latakia - Oriental/Turkish - Virginia
I have a Murray Era Tin of Durbar, I've yet to crack it open, I've never smoked Durbar before, since they are similar contents, maybe Dunhill London Mixture is a good alternative.
London Mixture is great!
Latakia - Oriental/Turkish - Virginia
I have a Murray Era Tin of Durbar, I've yet to crack it open, I've never smoked Durbar before, since they are similar contents, maybe Dunhill London Mixture is a good alternative.
London Mixture is great!
Hmm interesting, I watched a video of someone comparing the two, saying the London had more spice and the Durbar more Floral. ?
Also, my tin of London is STG Era, and I smoked a bowl last week, and let me tell you, it was very Oriental Spice and Perfume. I felt like I was in a 1960s Tie Dye Turkish Bar smoking from my Hookah pipe... LOL
I have some jarred London Mixture and also Durbar, both Murray era. I would not trade one for the other. I think STG Durbar is just as good as Murray's.
I hate to hear that Oriental Square isn't quite the same. I agree McConnell Original Oriental isn't even in the same ballpark, it and Presbyterian being more floral and funky, with none of Durbar's sharpness and incense qualities.
Nice to hear that STG Durbar is just as good as Murray's.
Before cracking open my Murray's tin, I hope I can find some STG Durbar around for sale.
Thanks for that input.
Incense is right, it's like, what am I even tasting here? Patchouli? It's freaky.
From what I read the content/blends of Dunhill Durbar and Dunhill London Mixture are the same.
Latakia - Oriental/Turkish - Virginia
I have a Murray Era Tin of Durbar, I've yet to crack it open, I've never smoked Durbar before, since they are similar contents, maybe Dunhill London Mixture is a good alternative.
London Mixture is great!
I just tried the London mixture that I cellar 2years. It is quite closed but not as creamy as Durbar. A good replacement though! Thanks
This is one I never got to try before it went away, and it sounds like it may have been underappreciated compared to, say, Nightcap or 965. I love Red Rap. I'll try to set aside a tin or two for long-term aging.
I doubt it's very similar to Durbar, but if you like Oriental-heavy, full Latakia blends, I love GLP Sparkplug. Worth a try and it's readily available.
I doubt it's very similar to Durbar, but if you like Oriental-heavy, full Latakia blends, I love GLP Sparkplug. Worth a try and it's readily available.
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