Dunhill MM 965

[settersbrace]

I'm a Dunhill tobacco fan and have been since I started with the pipe In the Murray's days. I have also smoked probably close to 100 of other English and Balkan blends over the years (can't tell the difference sometimes) and have always fell back to my 3 staples, EMP, Nightcap and MM 965. I list the NC and 965 in the order I did because the EMP has always been at the very least one of the tobaccos I smoke everyday and the others, not so much. NC has found its way back into my rotation mainly as, well, a day ending or night capping smoke. I usually smoke it in a small bowl and I've been enjoying it more and more over the last several weeks. Today for the first time in a looong time, I popped a tin of 965 and loaded up a big bowl in a BBB estate that I got off of Flintlockjohn here on the forums and man, was it ever good! It was so good that not long after bowl #1 was gone, I loaded another in a MM egg while I was out driving around this evening. What prompted me to post here is the fact that for the life of me I can't remember why in the heck I ever interrupted our relationship? I can't imagine what could cause me to turn my back on such a great tasting tobacco, it has one of the most desirable characteristics that I love in a good pipe tobacco, it tastes magnificent from first light to the last burning ribbon and the flavors get deeper and more interesting as the bowl burns on. Have you ever eaten a delicious rib eye that was as big as your plate and because it was so good you think Hey! I could eat another one of those! Well, that's how I'm feeling about this great mixture right now. I know a good number of you here smoke this blend and I'm curious if any have had similar experiences with this or another favorite mixture? If I ever get to own a nice Dunhill Tanshell blast, I might go ahead and get the tattoo! ;-)

 

[bulletsnbriars]

I've had part one of the "Dunhill Trifecta", Early Morning Pipe, and reslly enioyed it. I've only had a couple little bowls. It is quite exquisite, the only reason I Haven't tried more is I'm really into flakes and burley right now. I think I'll try Night Cap next, I hear it's strong and complex. The way I like my women, coffee and baccy :rofl:

 

[tuold]

I bought a pound of MM 965 when it was on sale at P&C and I'm still trying to learn to like it. Maybe one of these days I'll put it in the right pipe at the right time and enjoy it. The taste is too sharp, almost acrid, and the room note is sort of sour like ammonia. I'll keep trying.

 

[Strike Anywhere]

My Dunhill trifecta is EMP, London Mixture, and 965.

 

[settersbrace]

One thing I do know with the Dunhill blends that I've smoked is that if you huff on them too hard, the result will be punishment. Tongue bite and that burnt acrid taste Tuold describes. It is mandatory that one sips slowly and cooly to enjoy what's there in the offering. I would think that's what Mr. Alfred Dunhill would have advised as well. Even EMP can get you if you allow yourself to get careless and that mixture is always being touted as being "mild" and "delicate".

 

[tuold]

I have smoked other Dunhill tobacco without unpleasant results, but they were from tins.

 

[settersbrace]

I've been doing a little of both, I have the tinned and bulk varieties and I can say with a fair amount of certainty that Orlik has done a good job on their end in this regard. I can find no difference in either offering and in the past I've had issues with tobacco bought this way. SG's Squadron Leader for example is a different animal, for me, in bulk form vs. tins and I only prefer the tinned rendition. I don't know the why and how behind this anomoly but it exists none the less. Thinking on my OP has me believing that what may have put me off on the 965 so long ago was that during the conversion from Murray's to Orlik, I had been buying in bulk. It could have been some tranferance of flavoring with machinery and processing that tainted my enjoyment. Then again, I could be dead wrong about all of it.

 

[lostandfound]

@Settersbrace: I sincerely hope you get that Dunhill Tanshell blast. What shape would go for?
@Tuold, I know exactly where you're coming from in regards to your assessment of 965. I'm positive I used the word "acrid" to describe 965 on the forums a year or two ago.
Let it age for six months or so, then try it in a pipe with a wider bowl and a good draw.
To be honest, I only clicked on this thread because I'm smoking 965 right now. It's from a pound I jarred up about three months ago, and already, the sharpness is significantly muted. As far as English blends go, I do usually find them to be either to "soft", or yeah... acrid; but then again, I rarely have the pleasure of smoking anything with any decent amount of age on it. 965 while acrid at times, is one of the few English's I've found that can really satisfy. That's why I took to ordering pounds.

 

[tuold]

@lostandfound, I'm glad you "piped up". I've got it in mason jars now so I will let it sit for awhile longer.
It's possible I've just become so acclimated to Balkan Supreme so much that everything else tastes a bit strange. I've even been put off of my formerly beloved Squadron Leader recently, so maybe it's just me.

 

[ssjones]

MM965 is a staple and almost daily blend for me. I'm not sure I'll ever get another tattoo, but if I did MM965 would be it! One member here (hobojoe) made me a leather coaster with the logo, that will have to do for now.
I find very little difference between the current tin and their bulk offering. A tin aged a year or so is even better. But, I think there is a point of diminishing returns on aging this blend. Somewhere between 5 and 10 years, it becomes too soft. Perhaps the Brown Cavendish looses its punch?

 

[settersbrace]

L&F. It would be a billiard and a large one. Do any if you know how to date code the tins produced by Orlik? I'm just curious on the age of this tin I'm smoking since I bought it in a local B&M that is roughly 99.9% cigars and what's left is pioes and tobaccos so it's possible this tin sat for some time before I liberated it.

 

[mso489]

965 is among the best. My other major favorite is Nat Sherman 536, with a little more refinement. And I like

Altadis Fox and Hound when I want a milder English. All good.

 

[brdavidson]

Funny I read this thread this morning. I love 965 and haven't smoked it much lately as I've been trying a few other blends. Last night I pulled out my trusty Brigham Chinook 426 and filled it with 965 and said exactly what you did, Why on earth did I wait so long to smoke this again? We have a member of our pipe club who has been smoking a pipe for 40 years and tried 965 for the first time about 3 months ago, he says hands down it is the finest pipe tobacco he has ever tasted in all his years.

 

[latbomber]

I find that all Dunhill blends really transform a few days after opening the tin. London Mixture and 965 especially. Time to load up a bowl haha.

 

[trucha]

I brought this along with Presbyterian mix on a trip to canada recently I love going on a trip with only one or two tobaccos to really get a taste of them. I liked it but it is a bit sweet. I think I like emp and the Presbyterian better.

 

[trucha]

What is brown cavendish anyway?

 

[settersbrace]

I find that all Dunhill blends really transform a few days after opening the tin. London Mixture and 965 especially. Time to load up a bowl haha.
So true!!

 

[settersbrace]

Mso489, I have a half pound of F&H jarred and smoked some over the weekend. This used to be another staple of mine when there was still a Tinderbox around here. What I don't like about it is that there seems to be some of kind of topping that lingers on the tongue for the first third of the bowl then it's fine.

 

[ravenwolf]

I'm having a blast with the trifecta of EMP, 965, and Nightcap. Each are very good in their own ways! Very glad I took advantage of the P&C sale with a pound each of them.
I recently got a Boswell Jumbo in the mail, and it's become my go to English pipe. The chamber bore is 1 1/16th across and like 2 1/2" deep. I can fill it up and smoke for a lonnng time. The Dunhills are great in it. The only thing that has persuaded me to change from them, once in a while, is a McClelland English blend... just because I really enjoy the virginia tobacco in it.
Initially, 965 was the favorite of the three for me. I have to be careful to not heat up EMP too much, or the Orientals go a bit acrid on me. Nightcap was a bit intense. 965 is just easy going stuff :wink:
Though, I think Nightcap is becoming my favorite of the three... and a gigantic bowl of it utterly quells any last cravings for a cigarette. Been cigarette free for about 3 months now, thanks in part to the pipe.

 

[drcarlo]

EMP is a priceless mixture. I only smoke it in the Early Morning, but the routine cannot be changed.
I like MM965, but SWMBO wont let me somoke Latakia heavy tobaccos indoor and I don't like smoking outdoor at home.