So, I just finished smoking a nice bowl of Nightcap in my Savinelli Roma, which I have resurrected after it got a horribly choked up airway from a day shooting skeet and smoking 10 Russians without cleaning it more than once. Poor pipe, I can't believe I did that to her. But that is kind of a manly sentence, isn't it? Smoking 10 Russians and shooting shotguns, that's pretty testosterone-ish. Anyway, I digress. Nightcap. Ah, yes, Nightcap. It's truly the tobacco that started me off on my pipe smoking journeys, because it is the first tobacco I tried after smoking aromatics at first based on recommendations from the B&M owner. I don't know why they always recommend aromatics, but hey, whatever. I still remember the first time I popped the tin open... I was a bit intimidated really. It was strong smelling, strong looking, and all packed into that circular tin like; I had never seen or smelled anything like it. I just knew that Dunhill was a highly respected name in tobacco and that Nightcap was one of their most prized mixtures, so I went with it. I couldn't even believe it when I first lit it up. Couldn't believe it. The taste just... exploded on my taste buds and set me off like nothing I'd ever experienced. I didn't realize until then that your palate had so much to do with smoking and that you could get that much taste out of tobacco smoke. The different components: VA, Latakia, Perique, maybe something else sort of mystical in there, it really enchanted me, if I'm to use rather frivolous language here. The taste of it was, and still is, a real revelation for me, and like I said, it opened the door to a whole wide world of enjoyment. And one other thing: the nicotine hit from it was noticeable and appreciated, and here's why. I got a really strong relaxation feeling from it, absolutely nothing like the feeling you get from the nicotine in a cigar or a cigarette. It made me just sit back and melt into my chair, whereas a cigar makes me feel a bit dizzy and uncomfortable if I overdo it. Great stuff. Really and truly, Nightcap is a wonder. The Great House of Dunhill is truly one of god's (if you believe in that sort of thing) gift to man. Their pipes, their tobaccos, and even their luxury goods, all are fantastic if you can afford them (I cannot, except for the tobaccos and the pipes if they're from an estate), and truly an example of "you get what you pay for". But on that subject, I appreciate the fact that Dunhill's tobaccos are not overpriced, and in fact are cheaper than the likes of SG, which is great because I can enjoy their products without breaking the proverbial bank. So I hope you'll excuse the terribly long and rambling write-up here, but Nightcap is very special to me. I always offer it to people who haven't tried it, because I think everyone should have the opportunity to experience such wonderful pipeweed.
1) They're a good beginning for someone who has never smoked much in the past. If they are a cigarette or cigar smoker, a good tobacconist should never recommend an aromatic. A nice burley would be better. 2) They are good to get a non-smoker used to having smoke in their mouth. It's a bit of a shock the first time and something soft and sweet takes the edge off. 3) They are the best bet to keep a brand new smoker interested enough to get to where you are now. See? It worked! Now to your main point... glad to hear you enjoy Nightcap. It doesn't do much for me but it's a good blend. And funny thing... I don't ever recall Dunhill tobaccos being priced in the same manner as Dunhill pipes. Dunhill tobaccos were always pretty reasonably priced - sort of mid priced as far as imported tobaccos were concerned.
Oh I believe. In fact G.K. Chesterton said, "I became a Christian because the found no contridiction between a pipe a pint and a cross" By the was, Guinness is also God's way of telling me He loves me!!!
The "tinned" tobacco I ever tried was a tin of Dunhill Nightcap, that a buddy of mine tried and said he couldn't stand the taste or smell of.. I killed that tin like there was no tomorrow... woke up to a bowl of it, and it was the last bowl I smoked before I crawled into bed... Really flavorful tasty stuff that always gave me a good session. I was definitely sad when I burned up the last bowl of it.. Also, got a sample of 965 and really digging that one too..
Heheh, I guess you're right, and yeah, it did work on me! Funny thing though, I was a cigarette smoker before but the aromatics did get me into smoking pipes. And I definitely agree about the pricing of Dunhill, which is why I said I appreciate the fact that they price their tobaccos to be more accessible than their pipes, and they're more affordable than the likes of Gawith as well. So yeah, I've always appreciated that.
Haha, thanks! Glad it had that effect, that's sort of what I was going for. By the way, what part of Alaska are you in, if you don't mind my asking? Obviously you don't have to respond, but I'm planning a move to Alaska, and I'm probably going to the interior, specifically Fairbanks, so it's cool to see some Alaskans around here. Oh yeah, and do you know if there's a good tobacconist in Fairbanks? I've been wondering about that.
I have a tin of Nightcap sitting in my cellar waiting for the right night to try it. Might be sooner after reading your review.
Excellent to hear that my review is causing people to want to smoke Nightcap. I'm an enabler of the first order here, eh?
I smoke at least one bowl of Nightcap every evening. So far it's the only tobacco I smoke in my only Dunhill pipe, so I have to smoke a bowl in order to smoke that particular pipe every day!
Would the nightcap be similar to their early morning blend? I may have to order that one also. Does the Nightcap leave a big aftertaste like Old Dublin?
I haven't had Early Morning yet, but was told it was milder, but can't confirm that. As far as an aftertaste, I haven't got a bad aftertaste from smoking it. If you like English blends, it's a wonderful smoke.
Nightcap is one of my top 3 blends, and whenever I place an order from an e-tailer, I always add a tin or two, 'cause I never want to run out of it!
They recommend what experience tells them will bring the customer back. Simple as that. They do not need to know why, only if. If the newbie is a cigarette smoker, they will not be able to taste or smell a pipe tobacco unless it hits them over the head. A couple of months after I quit the cancer sticks and switched to the pipe, I walked into the produce section of a supermarket and was almost overwhelmed by the aromas. At first, Carter Hall tasted like pure steam. I could not tell the difference between Carter Hall and Prince Albert. Much better now thank you.
I live in Fairbanks, Alaska. And there is no local tobacconist to speak of. One or two small B&Ms in Anchorage, so I try to stop in when I am down that way. Otherwise, the internet is how I get my toby.
