Escudo vs Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls

[peckinpahhombre]

I recently opened a tin of each of these and couldn't tell the difference. Does anyone know if these are really the same tobacco, sold under two different brands? If so, not sure why anyone would buy Dunhill since it seems to be pricier. Maybe there is a difference but my palate just can't discern it.

 

[jah76]

Kevin had an article on this... Article
I think Harris did a test awhile back between these too.

 

[cigrmaster]

I did do a test a while ago and at first I thought they were the same. After smoking a couple of tins of the Dunhill, I can now taste the difference. The Dunhill is a sweeter blend and not as peppery as the Escudo, it has a more creamy quality. It is a small difference but once I really got a feel for the Dunhill, I could discern it. Now is it worth the extra expense, only you can decide that one. The cheapest price on the the Navy Rolls is 11.92 a tin if you buy more than 5 at P&C. The cheapest Escudo price on Escudo is 8.82 if you buy 25 tins at smokingpipes. I bought about 40 tins of the Navy Rolls and will probably add more down the road. it you break it down to cost per bowl it is only a few cents difference. I will be interested to see how the navy Rolls age, the Escudo ages beautifully.

 

[mrenglish]

Back when I worked as a tobacconist, the Dunhill rep told us they were the one and the same. Made the same way and on the same machinery. Even the same batches, some go into Escudo tins and some goes into DNR tins. The name was simply DNR in Europe due to legalities. This was about a decade ago.
Having said that, I have no clue if they are the same as I have never tried the DNR. I keep meaning to change that, but never seem to get around to it. It would be a hell of a marketing win if they were both the same though.

 

[cigrmaster]

Mr English, why would the DNR not be made by Murray back then like all the other Dunhill products? I hung out in my buddies cigar shop for years and met so many reps, I even have friends that are reps and they all have one thing in common, they talk out of their asses. lol

 

[admin]

Here's my take on it from two years ago in a two part article -
1. http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-tobacco-reviews/dunhill-escudo-navy-de-luxe-the-same/
2. http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/kevins-blog/dunhill-escudo-navy-de-luxe-the-verdict/

 

[mrenglish]

No argument there, Harris. If reps could not talk of their asses, they probably would not have a job. :D
I don't remember all the details but I think it involved the acquisition of A&C Peterson and the new company took over production. Orlick, maybe? Can you still by Escudo in Europe?
Oy, I should get some tins of DNR and do a taste test. Dang, this hobby can be brutal at times.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

This is fascinating indeed. Kevin, one unrelated point jumped out at me from your article. You mention that the tin is vacuum sealed and that the tobacco only starts to age once opened. Does this mean that if I cellar unopened tins of either Escudo or DNR that they won't age while on the shelf?
I am new to the hobby and find all of this very tricky. I have 20 tins of Escudo cellared and 5 tins of DNR cellared, but does this mean I wont get the benefit of having them age if I leave them in the vacuum sealed tins? If so, should I ball jar them up?

 

[admin]

@peckinpahhombre
Your answer is 15 paragraphs down in the November Ask G.L. Pease, and it was a question submitted by me. Look for the paragraph that starts with; "Kevin queries:"
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/ask-g-l-pease/ask-g-l-pease-november-2012-volume-19/

 

[portascat]

I am only an occasional Escudo smoker, but I have an unopened tin stored away for some distant celebration.

 

[JimInks]

I, too, can tell a difference between DDNR and Escudo, and I agree with Cigrmaster's assesments. I'd also add that DDNR is slightly fuller in taste, too. While I have several tins of Escudo aging (a couple are 10 years old)and enjoy it, the price difference isn't enough to dump DDNR for Escudo. Luckily, I have several year 2000 DDNR to smoke every once in a while.

 

[cigrmaster]

peckinpahhombre, I can say unequivocally that all va and vaper flakes age extremely well in their tins. My 11 year old Escudo is totally black in color, no more hints of red and brown, just black. My Hamborger Veermaster that started out blonde is now jet black, same with my F&T Cut Virginia Plug. I love how my favorites age in their tins which is why most of my favorites are tinned blends.

 

[seacaptain]

I've smoked both of these now and immediately thought they tasted different. Escudo has a more "flat" taste to it and Dunhill is more "tangy" and a bit sweeter. More perique maybe? I dunno. I like the Dunhill much better though.