Latakia / English Tobacco » Dunhill Nightcap Tobacco Reviews

A campfire in your pipe

I smoked this when a lucky bout of insomnia made the perfect conditions for finding out whether Nightcap would indeed prove to be the sleepy-time tea of the tobacco world. The tin was new, not aged. Opening it, the colors were fairly dark, with amber, chocolate, and black predominating. Stare a minute into the tin: it's like looking through a seeing glass at a snug fire in an autumn wood. The ribbons were springy rather than clumpy or dusty to the touch, and burned with perfect ease through the smoke.

The tin aroma was dominated by a charred log campfire smell combined with farmyards scents like damp straw or new mowed hay, and the odd breath of chocolate and even rum. On first light, the woody and smoky features of Nightcap were musty or husky. The aroma wasn't that of a newly-lit fire with young or green wood in it, or perfumed woods like cedar, apple, or even pine. It was that of old, damp oak logs burned black. So strong was this musty smokiness that my ordinarily tough J & B Scotch tasted like a light fruit wine in comparison. I think only an Islay single malt could keep up with Nightcap, and not, in effect, get out-Scotched by the tobacco.

There was a very dry mouth-feel but a moist, earthy vaporousness to the smoke itself. The surprise wasn't that during the first half-bowl the flavors were musty almost ' but never quite -to the point of being boggy or peaty. The real surprise was the pin-prick of spiciness which, along with spaced out hints of chocolate, rum, and damp hay made sure that Nightcap's smoky and bosky side evened out into a perfect balance. It never threatened to just become a swampy campfire in your pipe.

Towards the end the rum notes didn't just act as a counter-point to the husky smokiness; the two actually seemed to fuse perfectly, so that at end-bowl, there was a distinct flavor of smoky, earthy rum. It was like the two sides of the blend had stopped alternating solos and agreed upon a duet.

Nightcap is a strong blend. The nicotine buzz is pleasantly groggy; of the sort that makes the insomniac want to crawl back into bed ' or smoke another bowl. The blend thus passes the test of its own title, being perfect as a Nightcap. Smoke it, and the next campfire you pass may make you think: 'No, that's not quite right; Nightcap does that better.'

Not just a bed-time smoke!

Review based on Orlik offering - 2010/2011.

The tobacco is presented in the familiar Dunhill ribbon cut, with a mix of chocolate and golden browns, blacks, and just a hint of red and orange leaf. The consistency is fairly uniform, and the tobacco is slightly damp out of the tin - requires 15min - 30min breathing time.
Packs and takes a flame easily, with minimal fussing.
The tin aroma is overwhelmingly peaty, with hints of burnt cedar, leather, musk, and an underlying dank earthlyness which brings to my mind fresh mushrooms.

The initial light reveals this blend to be a true Latakia bomb - peat, camphor and burning rubber all dominate. However, this tobacco can not be called one dimensional. Hiding just under the rich Latakia flavours, one can find hints of honey, coffee grounds and cocoa nibs, with an underlying mustyness that I can only describe as "root cellar"...a mixture of mushrooms, mildew, wet earth and wet wood. The perique in the blend doesn't seem to impart any sweetness, but rather leaves a gentle peppery tingle on the tongue...definitely applied with a light hand.
As the bowl progresses, the strong flavours of the Latakia leaf continue to dominate, but the "supporting cast" of flavours matures, with the honey-like notes becoming more forward. As you continue to progress through the bottom of the bowl, the sweet notes finally become something of a copacetic magic with the heavy Latakia smoke, providing a truely unique flavour...something that I think many so-called "English Blends" try to capture or recreate, but oft fall short of. The Perique, while certainly there providing it's unique hint of peppery-sweetness, never really comes to the forefront of this blend; but rather stays hidden in the wings.

The nicotine level in this blend is on the high-side of the spectrum, and although it won't floor you like dark-fired burley flake, this blend deserves respect, and should not be smoked on an empty stomach.

The room note on this blend is pleasant to my olfactory senses, but it is a true Latakia bomb, and as such, won't please most.

All in all, a wonderful blend; perfect for the evening, morning, or afternoon.

Dunhill Nightcap

I simply love this smoke. It can't be considered simple, it has a delightful complexity that tips and turns as you smoke. The tangy spice flavor dominates throughout the smoke. The Latakia is there, but it is not overwhelming, with several other flavors, which I sense a bit of rum, and Perique. 

"are the stars out tonight".........

  There are scores of good pipe tobaccos out there and some  are even as good as advertised [for a particular time of day], but few are stars. Nightcap's star burns brightest. The competition's not even close. Of all the blends in my day this is the one I'd never do without! Yes Virginia; it's THAT good.