What’s Your Fave Dunhill Blend?

[filmguerilla]

Yes, I know Peterson makes SOME of these blends now. That said…what Dunhill blend stands the test of time to you?

My experience with these blends dates back to the late 80’s, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. But for me, two blends have stood the test of time: Nightcap and Royal Yacht. RY being my current fave Dunhill blend. At one time, I would have added London Mixture and Elizabethan, but LM is gone (and GLP Westminster fills that gap perfectly) and I prefer Sutliff’s Match Victorian to current day EM (I have five pounds cellared), though the current version is fine.

I smoked quite a bit of Early Morning Pipe over the years, but now I prefer Chelsea Morning. I also love GLP Quiet Nights, but Nightcap still rocks IMO. But Royal Yacht is just unmatched for me. Over the years it has ping pong’d between ribbon and broken flake, but the current version is just as rich and great as the first bowl I smoked in the 80’s.

What Dunhill blend still holds up for you?

 

[ofafeather]

I think in the basic line up of English blends - The Aperitif, London Blend and Durbar were all great. I was never a 965 fan but I have this 25 year old Lane era bulk that is really incredible. Didn’t appreciate it years ago. I’m with you on Royal Yacht. Wish I had tried it sooner but I was always put off by the Royal Yuck crowd It is definitely in my top 10 blends. Lesson learned.

 

[huntertrw]

Vintage 965 and Early Morning Pipe!

 

[Waning Embers]

Murray's Three Year Matured Virginia

 

[ofafeather]

Murray's Three Year Matured Virginia

I have a few tins but have yet to try them. Can’t remember if they’re Orlik or Murray’s.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Dunhill Dark Flake. ️

 

[filmguerilla]

Murray's Three Year Matured Virginia

This one of the few blends I never tried. I'll have to take your word for it.

 

[mingc]

I used to live in a steady diet of bulk 965 and Nightcap but Durbar was my favourite. I'm disappointed that STG seems Durbar superfluous. In my memory, Durbar gets better with each passing year. I've yet to try STG Royal Yatch but the Murray's version used to make my head spin tasty though it might have been.

 

[filmguerilla]

I used to live in a steady diet of bulk 965 and Nightcap but Durbar was my favourite. I'm disappointed that STG seems Durbar superfluous. In my memory, Durbar gets better with each passing year. I've yet to try STG Royal Yatch but the Murray's version used to make my head spin tasty though it might have been.

Yeah, I think they should consider bringing back Aperitif and Durbar. I believe I have one tin left of the latter. The current RY is still quite a nic hit, but quite tasty.

 

[daveinlax]

The bulk version on EMP was my all day/every day go to for years.

 

[Terry Lennox]

Dunhill Durbar. It was an Oriental forward Balkan. It was the only Dunhill english blend I liked. It was discontinued in 2018 and not picked up under the Peterson re-branding. I have 20 tins in the cellar. This photo is a little misleading--the tobacco wasn't that dark in reality. More brown and olive in color.

 

[Terry Lennox]

I should add that I mostly smoke Virginias and of the current Peterson branded blends in production my favorite is Deluxe Navy Rolls, with Flake coming in second.

 

[username]

Murrays era Nightcap is what got me into pipe smoking I liked the tin art so it was the first blend I ever smoked. Going with that one.

 

[LOREN]

Nightcap - I think I might have had around 5% of Murray's and 95% of Orlik's. Haven't had Peterson's yet.

 

[JoburgB2]

If I were ever stranded on a deserted island, I could quite happily exist with London Mixture, Early Morning Pipe, and Deluxe Navy Rolls. If forced to choose only one, today it is probably EMP.

 

[PaulRVA]

Dunhill Label
Aperitif
Nightcap
Flake
Royal Yacht

Peterson Production
Deluxe Navy Rolls
Nightcap
EMP
Flake

 

[judcole]

Of the ones that are gone:
Ye Olde Signe. MyMixture 1938BB/Baby's Bottom. Dark Flake.

Of the ones that are still around: Flake and EM.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Murrays era Nightcap is what got me into pipe smoking I liked the tin art so it was the first blend I ever smoked. Going with that one.

Same, coming from cigarettes Nightcap was my first step into pipe tobacco. It'll always hold a special place in my heart.

 

[Thepipehunter]

Dunhill Flake and Elizabethan are my favorites, but I have t had one I didn’t like. I really enjoyed Ye Olde Signe back in the day when it was still produced.

 

[Pipeandapencil]

All I know are Peterson blends.
EPM - First tobacco I've ever loved. Sutliff match EMP was first then I tried real EMP and it just has a taste that I cant get anywhere else. When I want EMP, nothing else compares. I'm working with Chelsea morning, but they are very different. EMP has this sour funk that I love, CM progresses more on the sweet side, but also good.
Nightcap - I have had some magic smokes on this one, but it doesn't always work for me. Also working with quiet nights, but again... very different. I've got a big jar of "english leftovers" that is made of up anything english and honestly sometimes it reminds me of nightcap.
Elizabethian - very disappointed. I wanted to like this one but it just fell flat on me. going to try it again in a year. Bayou morning fits this niche for me better and cheaper.
Royal Yacht - I tried this way too early in my pipe career. I didn't understand the flavors and it was too strong. I cant wait to try this again now that I've had time to develop.
University Flake - This was just bad. I dumped the first bowl and haven't been able to bring my self to try it again. This and C&D Pennington Gap are the only two I've ever been able to not finish. One day I'll try again...
Peterson Flake: First ever tongue bite, I had no idea what I was doing but it tasted good. I jarred it up and will try again with age.
My965: it's good but I only smoke it to pretend I'm Faulkner...
DNR: I cant bring myself to pop the tin of this one... it's so expensive... I know I'll love it though Escudo is my #1 all time.
Long post, I enjoyed writing it more than anyone would by reading it. I like the brand but I wonder how much of its survival is really just nostalgia and connection to the past. But honestly, for me that's a big piece of this hobby. As I wrote this post out I realized that I really only like EMP... but if you were to ask me I would have said I love the Peterson blends. I think I just like the idea of them and seeing them on my shelf, but I usually grab for something else.