Dunhill - Aperitif pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
The Gentle Smoker	11/30/2009	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
Aperitif????? I could smoke this all day!!!! This is very subtle and nice. An unmistakable Dunhill taste. I'm loving this blend more and more each day. Got my favorite Winslow full bent out and sorry to cut this review short, but I'm going out for another bowl.......
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colt25314	11/22/2009	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant
Contact British American Tobaco (BAT) and demand that they either manufacyure all of Dunhill Pipe Tobaccos or sell the rights to someone who will. It is insanity to let this and other Dunhill pipe tobacco blends die out. Shame on BAT!!!!
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Thorre	08/22/2009	Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
When I first tried Aperitif, I was smoking 965 and Nightcap almost exclusively. This blend blew me away. It seemed to be a sweeter version of 965. That sounds very simplistic, and I am sure there was more going on than that, but I was a new smoker. I have smoked some Balkans that have a similar taste. It was as close to dessert blend as I enjoyed then. Toward the bottom of the bowl it almost had a very mild maple flavor. It was delicious. I hope to smoke it again one day. It made a great rotation blend. Of course the quality of the weed, was something Dunhill was famous for.
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Skando	02/01/2009	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Alongwith opened tins to be cleared out from cellar, here is a case of something to be religiously kept well protected... This tin is marked "dunhill" (not "Dunhill" in italic font, know what I mean ?) and shows the Mark "by appointment of Her Majesty... as purveyors..." upon it; the rim is also showing "Manufactured and blended in the United Kingdom" and "Alfred Dunhill Ltd. Duke Street St. James's London". I bought it in Munich (DE) circa 1990, I well remember how many good tobacconists with products we never had in Italy! The tobacco was taken out from the tin time and time ago, well before it went ruined by the rust, and put on a glass vacuum jar. I'm still keeping the tin, just to remember the good times... and regarding the tobacco, I know where to go when I want celebrate the true english mixtures of old. It was supposed that the "appetizing" qualities of Apertif were due to some cigar leaf added, maybe there is a small quantity, I could't swear. The smoking experience is heavenly. I would name dozens of nice conjugations to this superb mixture, whose colour the time has melted into a deep brown and black colours. The smoke is extremely balanced, spiced, biscuity, naturally sweet. No way to have the bowl hot, indeed! Lucky I am that enough is remaining, I keep me enjoyed as one does with vintage liquors. A heaven of stars to Aperitif.
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BBlevins	01/16/2009	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
One of the best Dunhill labeled tobaccos I've smoked. Smooth and delicious, the orientals in this blend are second to none. Unfortunately, Aperitif is a thing of the past like so many good blends nowadays. It will be missed.
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Than	12/10/2008	Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
This is the first time I've cracked a Dunhill tin and sampled the wares. This is nice stuff! A full blend that had all of its components working in complete accord, nothing was more overpowering than anything else. "Aperitif" is a term used for something that is a palatte cleanser/ appetizer. This blend did get my appetite up, for more Aperitif.
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SirLoirn	09/14/2008	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable to Strong
Tin: Dull brown to black, 50:50, slight mold, no bright blonde at all, though still a familiar Dunhill complexion and aroma. This is a Murray tin, pre-2004, based on the shape of the bottom of the tin, being almost flat. Orlik uses a bubbled edge around the bottom perimeter, allowing the tins to be stacked more readily. Orlik took over production in 2004. Dunhill migrated completed out of tobacco merchanting a few years ago. The Dunhill exit started in 1995 when Murray became the licensed blender for the Dunhill name brand. Lighting: Burns all the way to the bottom with one match. Taste & Aroma: Smooth, cool, dry, biteless, not as flavorful as some corresponding GL Pease blends. Supposedly the purpose of the Cavendish is to buffer and smooth out any harshness or rough edges of the other components. It must, because the Latakia is the main, smoky element, though moderate in effect, or is it the Turkish; it's too bland to discern. Apertif is not sweet. I just finished a tin of McClelland's Christmas Cheer 2001. Now that's a sweet tobacco. Nicotine: medium to moderately strong, and definite. Room Note: moderate English, not long-lasting. Overall: A standard moderate English, with Latakia, or is it Turkish, the feature? 3.5 stars for this Murray vintage.
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BriarChef	09/10/2008	Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This used to be a great mixture that lived up to its billing as a before dinner treat. This last version is more like before dinner peat...as in peat moss, and gives Turkish tobacco a bad name. Tin aroma over promises and under delivers what should, and used to be a nice light smoke for late afternoon. Better as a memory.
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Schwetty	09/07/2008	Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
This is the only Dunhill blend that I really liked with the possible exception of Early Morning Pipe. Aperitif is the only Dunhill selection that I have purchased in quantity. This would be a nice choice for those who are moving from aromatics to english blends. The strength is in the medium range, when if smoked too fast will give a bit of a nicotine kick. This is obviously a high quality leaf. The taste is wonderful, with hints of spices such as clove, cinnamon, and allspice. The room note is very pleasing, and has drawn positive comments from my wife. It lights easily, and burns relatively cool. The moisture from the tin is perfect, and requires no drying. It is a shame that this blend has been discontinued shortly after I have discovered it. Probably because it is in between the aromatic and english spectrum that few of us enjoy. I have several tins that I bought to cellar for future enjoyment. This is not a blend that I smoke daily, but save for an occasional treat. Buy some if you can find it! You wont be dissapointed.
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tennessee texan	07/23/2008	Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
A tasty English blend. Reminds me somewhat of MM965, which I also like. Burns a bit hot if not smoked properly, but an all round good smoke.
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Laudante	07/21/2008	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
What a bloody elegant piece of junk! Tin: Beautiful. Marketing: Great. Brand: Famous, classical, overrated nowadays. Tin aroma: Fraudulent promise that this is good weed. Real contents: Nasty ribbons from the vegetable kingdom. Flavour: Harsh, boring, bitter, harsh, boring, bitter (at least it is consistent as you can see) Note: this review applies only to the Orlik version. The Murray one must have been better, not to say the original Dunhill´s. What would have become of old Alfred´s liver nowadays?
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Big bad Jon	11/08/2007	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
THe mildest of the true English Dunhill tobaccos (EMP is in my mind not an English tobacco). This cool smoking tobacco has all the typical attributes of an Dunhill English with the added twist of Cavendish. This provides the unusually cool mild flavors that make this an alternative to most full bodied English tobaccos. The Cavendish does not water down the flavor but adds its own soft silky earthiness that balances an already well balanced tobacco. THe latakia is woody but not salty, and has the tin note of smoke. The orientals are very mild and slightly spicy but not as pronounced as I would like. Other mentionables are the exceptionally sweet VA's that could use a bit more aging to add consistently, and the room note which for the mildness of the tobacco seems to be a bit more forward than I expected. Very good tobacco I plan on buying more to add to my ever growing collection.
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Philo Beddoe	02/18/2007	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
Odd, I was unsure of what to expect when I opened the tin, but not the sweet aroma Apertif produced. The Dunhill blends I have tried have usually been quite proper, as far as English tobaccos are concerned, this is a definate sweet change of pace. Upon lighting, I tasted baking spices, perhaps allspice, cinnamon or clover. Such a strange taste, I was put off at once. I continued through half a bowl and that was all I could stand, so I put the tin away for several days, thinking that my taste buds were being affected by outside influences. When I tried another bowl the taste was the same, baking spices, I will not return to Apertif, but it was an interesting blend. Not awful, but not what I would expect from Dunhill.
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Camus	02/14/2007	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
I have never had the Murray's version but the current Orlik one is a real let down. If it were a loudspeaker it would be all mid-range - no treble or bass. Added to which it has a sickly sweetness that I find nauseous. I find that is a Danish tobacco character that I cannot stand; it's not a sharp sweetness like you have in a Virginia, which I quite like. Luckily I rescued it by mixing it 50/50 with Nat Sherman's 536 where it serves to "fill in" the "mid-range hole" that 536 has. The excellent latakia in 536 tones the sweetness down a bit and makes a reasonable smoke in the end.
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Zone Smoke	01/24/2007	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Undoubtedly the best of the Dunhill line of tobaccos in my opinion. Mild enough for an all day smoke, yet full of smokey, delicious flavor that is so satisfying. I am referring to the version tinned by Murray's. The Orlik version may or may not differ in quality. Four stars for this magnificent smoking tobacco. UPDATE Dunhill has ceased production of this blend along with Elizabethan Mixture and Three Year Matured Virginia. I highly recommend stocking up on this blend as it will be sorely missed.
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JazzSmoke	01/16/2007	Medium	None detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong
I have three tins of the Murray's version and just finished the first one. I LOVE this tobacco. It's dark, smoky, a little sweet and burns very cool. It hasn't scorched my tongue like so many blend do, and it must be all the dark tobaccos which cool the smoke down. I have not tried the Orlick version (but will open one soon) yet and I hope that it's not been ruined, because this is a great English/Balkan blend. Update: 2007 Oh...I've tried the Orlick blend and it's lighter and sweeter. Good tobacco, very Danish. Not English, though. It's far away from the UK version, it looks different and smells different in the tin. Well. I'll never buy this one again. We have enough fake classic old English blends and I don't buy them any more.
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Maimonides	10/26/2006	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
CITRUS,SOUR,SWEET A mild English. Dry, cool- sweet and sour if you are attentive. Weak leathery/citrus..Dunhill is quality. Early Morning Pipe I suggest over this to the new to 'English' folk.
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Mitland	09/21/2006	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable
This companion to Dunhill's EMP only deepens the flavors of what is a rather ordinary smoke. Darker colors, fuller flavors of burnt marshmello, campfire and now a fully cigarish overtone from top to bottom. No more or less heavy a nicotine hit than EMP. I find this bitter, acrid and filled with leather flavors. Not at all my cup o coffee.
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peakbagger	08/22/2006	Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
This is a fine, dry and cool smoke. The tin aroma is pungent, it smells of fermented fruit. This is a visually attractive mix of mostly dark, short cut leaf. Packing and lighting is a simple, one match affair in my IMP Meer bent pickaxe; puffing gently allows all the components to be savored individually. This starts out mild in flavor but builds nicely towards the middle of the bowl, neither sweet nor bitter; smooth is a good description of what I taste. Latakia, VAs (conditioned) and Orientals; I am happy to have this in my cellar for an occasional change of pace. 7 out of 10 stars.
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tonyg	07/20/2006	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
Forty-seven years ago, as a college freshman, I was introduced to Dunhill blends. I smoked them on those rare occassions when I could afford the dollar to buy a two ounce tin. I continued to smoke Aperitif and virtually every other Dunhill tobacco more and more as my budget would allow. Of all the blenders in those days, Dunhill was peerless. Whenever I was in New York City, I would make it a point to stop at the Dunhill store at Rockefeller Center and pick up a few tins of the exclusive tobaccos blended there. There wasn't one blend that I didn't like although I did have my favorites. Well, those days are long gone. Even the store is long gone. The quality of the Dunhill blends have deminished over the years. Just a few years ago, one could pick up a decent tin but now their (they're really not Dunhill's) tobaccos bear only the slightest resemblance to what once was. The resemblance is superficial at best. The current blend does not live up to the standards found in today's finer tobaccos. Do yourself a favor and skip this one, unless of course, you can find and afford a vintage tin.
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D'Jullius	05/27/2006	Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant
strong, leathery. like almost every other dunhill.
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afi6to8	02/10/2006	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
The aroma of this weed was pleasant, though not really notable among other english blends I have smoked. It lit easily, and required no relights. The first half of the bowl was rather sharp, but it toned down to a very nice mellow flavor in the end stretch. It burned cool throughout its entire duration, and gave no tongue bite. Overall I thought it was an enjoyable smoke, but nothing to write home about. For a smoke right before or after a good rich meal, I think Dunhill's Nightcap actually provides a more robust, and better suited flavor. Two stars.
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RCUSElder	09/16/2005	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
My 200th Review!!!! Appearance and Tin Aroma: a good mixture of dark, mahogany, brown, and ocassional light leaf. Smells deliciously pungent. Almost a sweet and sour aroma. Makes my mouth water... Packing and Lighting: I usually leave the tin open in a nice dark place for about 2 hours upon initial opening of the tin. The medium ribbon cut packs fairly easily. 2-3 Lights max. Initial Flavor: Mana! This is a delicious Scottish/English/Oriental Mixture. Mid-Bowl: Delicious round flavor, gets into the zone easily. Does not need much puffing to get flavor. I love the room note. Bottom of the Bowl: Ends too quickly! Leaves a fine, dry grey ash when done. Does not build too much strength or a nicotine blast. Overall: This is by far my favorite blend from the Dunhill line. Not as rich as LM, not bloated and cloying like 965, no blast like Nightcap. IMO this is one of the best all-day blends you can get. Not as soft as Exotique by Smokers Haven, not as rough as Red Raparee. I can smoke bowls of this back to back with nary a tongue-bite or nicotine headaches like some blends can give. Since this will not be blended in the U.K. anymore, I have since stashed a lot of this blend. No telling what the Orlick version will be like. Go and get some now! A truly refined blend worthy of the staunchest Calvinist! Enjoy...
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Spike	09/16/2005	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong
More interesting than Durbar, tasty Latakia. Three and one-half stars.
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Wolfpaw	06/07/2005	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Tolerable
I've admitted elsewhere that I'm partial to the Dunhill mixtures in general. I recently tried The Aperitif for the first time, and it was pretty much "love at first pipe." Its tin aroma is the typically English full, smoky scent (which I like). The tobacco is of the customary Dunhill quality and not excessively moist. It burns smoothly and requires few relights, and the room aroma is not unpleasant. The Aperitif's flavor reminds me a bit of Early Morning Pipe, but it's stronger and the flavor is fuller and more complex, and a bit spicier too. The Aperitif has become a particular favorite, though contrarian that I am, I prefer it after dinner or for my last pipe of the day. I recently heard a rumor that The Aperitif won't be available in the U.S. much longer; I sincerely hope that's not true. If you enjoy a good complex English blend, this one's definitely worth a try. Laying in a supply of a few extra tins might not be a bad idea too.
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emmbee	12/09/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant
like most dunhill blends, this is a well-crafted, dependable blend that should be in the collection of every british blend afficionado. though a bit strong, the latakia lover will find that this can be smoked throughout the day without suffering tongue bite or boredom. i love the spicy notes and the pretty blend of dark and yellow tobaccos in the tin. the room note is actually more pleasant than the tin note, which is not always the case with some blends. after smoking, the aroma dissipates quickly, leaving non-smokers unoffended. i even enjoy the art deco tin art, replete with suave lettering and ubiquitous waiter standing nearby with drinks in hand; a bit of haughty fun. aperitif has more kick than standard medium and royal yacht. this is probably my favorite daytime tobacco, and the happy medium between durbar and nightcap. i frequently mix this with a little elizabethan to give the virginias and perique of that blend more finish and spice. those who enjoy liz but find her a bit on the bland side might want to consider adding some aperitif to the mix. it's sort of like a splash of dry vermouth to gin. overall, this is a staple among tinned tobaccos that i hope will always be around for us smokers to enjoy.
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Le2	11/14/2004	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
A very nice mixture
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Esoxhunter	09/27/2004	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
September 2004 I like really this blend, although anyone doing a blind taste test could tell you right out of the box that this is a Dunhill English mixture. It has a very pleasant pure tobacco sweetness, undetectable in Nightcap or Durbar, that works really well with the latakias and orientals. I couldn't quite identify the sweet flavor, and I knew that I couldn't detect any burley in the blend, so I assumed it wasn't from the cavendish. Then I read Eulenburg's review, and things became clear: this blend uses English Cavendish, which Eulenburg teaches is manufactured with Virginia leaf and not Burley (thank God, from my perspective). This may be my favorite Dunhill English blend, at least on a par with 965 and Durbar. It get three stars from me, and not four, only because I prefer the more multi-dimensional Pease blends.
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CaptnDan	09/02/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
Aperitif is a nicely balanced blend, though is you are of a mind that Latakia and Cavendish should never meet, you won?t like it. In fact, I would say that if you don?t like 965, you aren?t going to like this one either. As you would expect from Dunhill, the quality of the leaf is very good, and the cut and flavor is consistent throughout the tin. It can become harsh if you get a bit overanxious, especially at the ?tinned? moisture level. Some drying is a fine idea. I could, and I have, smoked this throughout the day. I tend not to address nicotine content, as I rarely find anything that I actually consider strong in that way. It has a moderately full flavor, predominantly Turkish with Cavendish and Latakia undertones as a rule, though the Latakia does assert from time to time. It?s a dry smoke, in respect to both the pipe and the taste. If you like your smoke a bit on the Oriental/Turkish side, this could be for you. If you?re looking for a Latakia powerhouse, such as GLP Raven?s Wing, you?ll find this one a bit too light.
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Beer	08/31/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
This Dunhill blend is not available in Italy, and it's a shame. It's a lighter cousin to My Mixture 965 and London Mixture, but sufficiently different to justify its existance. It also bears some similarities to Durbar (the oriental tones are rather pronounced), but I find it much more pleasant, as Durbar can be exceedingly spicy and with a cigar-like tone that I don't like very much. Aperitif has a delicious bitterness/spicyness/sweetness that is a bit dominant over the Latakia, but not too much: it is a very dry (and with dry I mean like in wine) tasting smoke, rather tickling to the tongue, with an almost metallic note. The Virginias sweetness is more subdued than in other Dunhill english mixtures, and the result is a smoke that is perfect before dinner (as the name suggests), but also after. I still prefer London Mixture, which is fuller, rounder and more complex, but I love this one too enormously, particularly when smoked in the right pipe (in my case, a large bent group 6 shell Dunhill). I'd almost say that this mixture has some Balkan overtones, which is great. A different english mixture than, let's say, GLPease offerings: less subdued, thicker, more in-your-face (not overwhelming, mind) and very satisfying. Packing and burning qualities are similar to Dunhill's other EMs: great. Only shame of this tobacco is that I finished my first tin in a matter of days! It is also one of the Dunhill blends that has suffered very little from their recent decline!
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Joe Patterson	07/01/2004	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable to Strong
This is my third venture into Dunhill tobacco land. I must say, all I've tasted so far, this included strikes me with the same characteristics: refined leaves, subtle flavor, lightly sweet, latakia laden, and needs to be dried a bit before smoking. This is a "nice" blend. It won't bite, unless puffed to excess. I found that the flavor right out of the tin is a bit harsh and it does need a bit of drying time. The sweetness is at the lower levels, in that one can taste the Va/Oriental sweetness, but the smoky latakia is the dominant player. I have smoked this in several pipes, I will buy more to cellar, but I've really gotta be in the mood for something light and doing something that allows me to enjoy this slowly. If you want to read a book, sip some coffee (or strong tea) and sit on the porch relaxing in the morning, then this is for you. Else, you may go for something with a bit more flavor and/or a bit more strength.
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DeltaSnake	05/21/2004	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I've found this to be one of Dunhill's more average blends, although mainly due to my preference for the stronger stuff. When smoked carefully (not to avoid bite, this stuff burns pretty well), it does have a character of it's own, a bit of spice does come out and one could envision it as a good prelude to a fine meal. Better yet, something that saves the experience of a mediocre meal perhaps. It has a different enough flavor, and a mild-medium character that will appeal to more than a few, and I could hardly say it would be a bad choice. Personally, Balkan Sobranie would have been my choice in this range, but you can't do too wrong here.
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Eulenburg	05/09/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Like 965, and unlike DURBAR or NIGHTCAP, this has some Cavendish leaf in it. English Cavendish is not like American Cavendish. American cavendish is made out of Burley, cased. English cavendish is made out of Virginia, pressed, steamed, uncased. It lends a mixture a buffering, velvety element which marries smoothly with the Orientals. Smootheness is of the essence. 965 being a "lotsa latakia" blend, I find the cavendish there a little diconcerting, like putting a bit of sugar into oolong tea. On the other hand, it certainly buffers the possible astringency of some Oriental leaf. This blend has considerably less latakia than 965, and so the cavendish is less surprising. For me, smoothness is not of the essence. Since I love the natural astringency of NIGHTCAP and DURBAR, I have always tended to leave 965 and APERITIF alone. But they form a very significant flowerbed in the Dunhill garden, and people who like a cushiony, lush latakia~oriental experience will enjoy Apéritif.
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	04/15/2004	Very Strong	Extra Strong	Extra Full	Extra Strong
If Durbar is an alternative to 965, this would be something the London Mix smoker might enjoy. It's very polite in its manner and very smooth, with hints of spicyness and character appearing here and there... kind of like the ideal waiter, really. This would make a good all-day smoke, and I'd also recommend it to anyone curious to try English blends, especially to a new pipe smoker.
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preppypipe	02/24/2004	Medium to Strong	Medium	Full	Very Strong
Let me first say that I've smoked two tins of this in my ten years of pipe smoking.I'm 3/4 way through the second as I write this.That said It's quite hard to describe.The taste is mild while the room aroma is as pungent as you can imagine.I would hazard to say that smomeone wishing to change from aromatics to english's would appreciate this blend.I find that it's most enjoyed in the evening as is Nightcap and anything else with latakia.This is a nice blend to smoke when everything else starts to taste the same.And for that I recommend it to you.....prppypipe
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WxGuy	11/14/2003	Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Full	Tolerable
I would agree with above reviewers that this kind of sits between EMP and Nightcap, even though it has the cavendish in common with 695. However, to me it has more oriental influence than these other two. I broke out some Aperitif for the first time in a while last night, for consumption while clearing the snow off my deck. The last time I had smoked Aperitif was about 6 months ago (also while clearing snow, for some weird reason) and I found the orientals to be overdone in this blend, to the point of being harsh and one-dimensional. I do not know whether it was the additional aging or what (12 months vs. 18 months), but this bowl seemed more "in tune". The orientals are still in first chair, but the blend as a whole smoked a lot sweeter, with a better flavor spectrum. I the interests of objective science, I tried another bowl of Aperitif in a different pipe (a meerschaum) this morning when I could devote full attention to the blend. Still nice and sweet. (Is the the cavendish coming through? I missed it before...). Builds in strength to a nice latakia crescendo towards the end. Bummer, end of bowl. This has moved up a notch or two in my Dunhill's ladder and I will visit the tin a bit more often. There are just so many good Balkan/Scottish blends out there though...
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JohnnyFlake	10/17/2003	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
(October, 2003) The aroma of this when first opening a tin is a real tease. I pick up a distinct semi-sweetness but there is also pungent, musty & smokey odors in the mix. This is a thin ribbon cut tobacco with equal amount of brown, tan and black in the mixture. Moisture content is near perfect but I still allow a fresh tin to air out and dry for a few hours before smoking. This tobaccy packs easily and fires up easily as well. Upon firing up this stuff, you are immediately rewarded with a burst of complexity. The flavor profile is that of Orientals, Latakia and Cavandish. I do not pick up on the Virginias but most certainly they are playing a supportive role. This is really hard to define and as a result, I find this blend very interesting! My thinking is that the Cavandish and Latakia tend to dominate the first 2/3 of the bowl, with the Turkish/Orientals and Virginias laying back. However, in the final third, the Turkish/Orientals come forward and take the leading role, with the Cavandish & Latakia second and the Virginas somewhere in the back. The flavor profile in the final third becomes very pungent, musty, spicy and semi-sweet, all at the same time, and there is a more than average amount of nicotine present as well. This is a delicious, complex tobacco and I really love it. In my opinon this blend needs to smoked at a slightly faster pace than normal to bring out it flavors. If smoked too slowly, the Cavandish seems to dominate. 5 out of 5 Flakes - Highly Recommended!!!
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Gae	10/16/2003	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
16th-Sep-2003. Aperitif,I can enjoy anytime of day.Not overpowering! To me,it's abit like Dunhill's 965-without the spice.All the flavour's come out to play,& is a an enjoyable smoke.I also love Dunhill's 965 & Night Cap.I'm not that keen,at all about Early Morning Pipe.I find Aperitif far more interesting.It smoke's nice & dry,& doesn't bite. I'll go along with all the positive's that have been said,before me.81/2 out of 10.
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BrittPark	08/22/2003	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
Being a great fan of Early Morning Pipe and Nightcap my next foray into Dunhill English blends has been Aperitif. I find it a beautiful midway point between EMP and Nightcap. Medium in strength with a pleasing tin aroma and a gorgeously smooth mildy smoky taste. The Cavendish and Virginias add a pleasing sweetness that enhances the Latakia rather than getting in the way. Some people believe there's a flavoring apparently and perhaps there is from the Cavendish but it blends right in wonderfully. I get the impression more of sweet Virginias than of cased Cavendish. The smoke is very cool down to the bottom of the bowl. I love Frog Morton, but Aperitif is a whole different class. First class all around.
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RhubarbXIV	07/23/2003	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong
As a beginning pipe smoker and college student, I purchased a tin of this on a whim as a break from my regular tobacconist-mixed blends, and I must say I was impressed. Opening the tin, a rich aroma emanated from the tobacco with hints of smoke, peat and a certain transient sweetnes. As somewhat of a novice to many kinds of tobacco, it seems more fit to compare this to Laphroaig scotch in heady strength. This particular blend packs extremely well, burns surprisingly evenly, and leaves a marvellous white fluffy ash as if to say "job well done". The taste is full and rich with an uncommon smoothness very well complemented by the pipe's burning aroma making for a most pleasurable experience from start to finish.
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Danno	06/26/2003	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Aperitif is one of those tobaccos whose characteristics give rise to a strong and vocal divide amongst those who partake of it. I began smoking Aperitif when aromatics lost their lustre. Being that it was the first Dunhill product I'd ever smoked, I was struck by the richness of the tobacco, the pungency of the orientals when the tin was first opened. Having a bit more experience with piping now I find the blend to be decent, not stellar, but workable. The latakia is too muted, the orientals too bright and tongue bite lurks for the heavy puffer. And yet, the nicotine level runs high and when given some respect, Aperitif can satisfy. As well, I find the room note interesting.
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Pounder 5000	02/20/2003	Medium	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Strong
This is one tricky smoke! When I first opened up the tin I was greeted with a low key odor that was easily identifiable as latakia. More apparent as I continued to sniff, was the sweet smell of slightly cased cavendish. Very Interesting! Unlike other cavedish/latakia hybrids that I have sampled this one was definitely subtle and imbued with a wonderful complexity. Upon first lighting I was immediately aware of the sweetness of the cavendish. This is where it gets hard to describe. The first thing most people think of when they hear "the sweet smell of cavendish" is an overwhelming dose of casing. This is not the case at all(pun intended). This cavendish has a very natural sweetness to it not unlike the taste you get sometimes from a straight virginia, only magnified a bit. As the bowl progressed there were other surprises in store. Although the latakia was very subtle throughout- it remained a positive presence and made a very welcome contrast to the sweetness mentioned earlier. About 2/3rds of the bowl in, a taste emerged that sent this blend right into the amazing category- turkish tobacco! The addition of this has somehow turned this sweet, smoky experience into something truly unique and added the essence of a fine havanna to the mix! Again-keep in mind that none of these flavors were ever anything but subtle! Although this tobbaco provided a wonderful experience I would not want to smoke it everyday for fear of becoming to familiar with it. For the same reason I would not recommend it to a new smoker as the complexities will probably be lost on them. Truly a unique smoke- everyone should try this once! P.S.- I made no friends with the room aroma!
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Daniel Morlan	01/18/2003	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
This is good stuff. I love the Balkan Sobranie, and this had a hint of the Latakia in it that I love so much, but I did want a little bit more. I think I'm going to go for the durbar next. I was surprised to learn that this actually had some cavendish in it. I probably packed it a bit too tight, as I had to relight the hell out of it, but it's satisfying, doesn't have quite the kick that most of the GL Peases have, but it has that nice, smoky, oriental and latakia taste that I've come to enjoy immensely. I couldn't shut the tin once I opened it, so she's resting in a ziplock bag right now, but it's long lasting, perhaps a tiny bit wet, but a good, mild Latakia/english blend. For me, it left me wanting a bit more, and that's probably where Durbar will fit the bill. That will be my next purchase. This was high-quality stuff, though. Smokey, a little sweet, full-bodied, and smooth all the way. I did have to re-light it quite a bit, and it smoked REALLY wet towards the end. An hour and a half in a small meerschaum should show that I demonstrated SOME patience with it. Overall, a VERY good tobacco, and one that I will have again, to be sure.
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howie	05/14/2002	Very Strong	None detected	Full	Strong
This was quite tasty when first opened, but that has not been the recent experience. The taste, while very full, lacks character and feels more like something to chew on than something to enjoy. The nicotine content is surprisingly high and is not pleasant. Early flavor was fairly nutty, but this has been replaced by ash. I?m just not pleased with this right now. 4/02
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Pipestud	04/22/2002	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
Not a bell ringer for this cowboy. I found this blend to be lacking in a lot of areas. It contained a subdued amount of latakia, and an overwhelming amount of oriental leaf. I found the combination to be rather gummy, but fans of huge Orientals should like this one. If you are an oriental fan, and like little else in the blend, then quick, buy up all this stuff you can get your hands on. If, on the other hand, you prefer your oriental leaf to be a bit more subtle, train your eyes elsewhere.
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lustra	04/02/2002	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong
Aperitif is a quality Dunhill smoke--well-cut, good-quality tobaccos that are well-blended and consistent. It packs, lights, and burns well. Like most Dunhill English blends, it smokes nice and cool even when you aren't paying any attention to your technique. It has a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. It produces a good volume of smoke, always a plus in my book, if not my wife's, and burns to a fine white ash. This is a fairly strong tobacco, and not one to smoke on an empty stomach. If you push it, it can turn bitter, and so for me is not quite the top-tier smoke that, say, Dunhill London Mixture is.
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father_brian	04/01/2002	Very Strong	Very Mild	Very Full	Tolerable
I really did not like this particular blend too much. I did not find it very appealing. It has a lot of kick, but comparably little taste. Compared to the other Dunhill blends, Aperitif strikes me as a "Mercury": a Ford that tries too hard to be a Lincoln. Buy Durbar instead.
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Albion 1956	01/21/2002	Very Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
THe before dinner smoke? Yes, I have tried it then, and before. This blend was recently released to the states with several others. My participation in the hobby doesn't go back far enough to remember the early blend, but this current production makes itself known. The Virginias, Cavendish, and Latakia ( Cyprian I think) are a well balanced attack to senses. Virginian's play a well defined support system, to the mixing's of the Latakia / Cavendish duo overpowering the senses when the first charring light is struck, with a predominant Turkish essence.It is the pair from the middle east who bring with them the spices from land afar. These smells permiate the air, along with their Virginian native friend to create a smell that is tolerable, but robust. No complaints from SWMBO, not even about the Turkish menance, who mixes well with the other parties, while contemplating the eventual dominance. Yes, Turkish is well pronounced but not terribly overpowering, and it keeps the lead over the Latakia. Dark tobacco, interwoven Virginia ribbon with strands of dark Latakia and the golden hue of Turkish, melded into the mix. The room is filled with a strange aroma, not bad, but undiscernable, a natural smell, would best descibe it. Second light and the tobacco burns slow and cool, just the periodic tamp, and away you go. Burns to a dark ash, with little or no dottle.This is a tobacco to start up the palate, or to keep the palate invigorated, your choice. A great blend!
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Paul Tatum	01/17/2002	Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant
A tasty tobacco for sure . I've never had the "old" version of this , but I can say that I like the current version very much . It is a nice unique addition to my current latakia tobacco stock . It stands out as being a blend that satisfies my latakia urges while also offering something different .
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Colonel Panic	03/07/2001	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
This is a nice English mixture that sits squarely between Early Morning Pipe and Nightcap in strength and 'flavor density'. It's a great introduction to English blends for someone who wants to learn what a good subtle Latakia blend can be like. It's cut finely enough to pack well but still burn cooly and is very well-behaved, not being too much or too little of anything - a perfect middle-of-the-road English. The Orientals show their stuff well, giving a great nutty-sweet overtone to balance the smokiness and light sweetness of the Latakias and Virginia base. I often smoke this on my back porch while barbecueing dinner when weather permits, and I also prefer it to EMP when I want a Latakia hit in the morning as it's a little more interesting without being overwhelming.