Dunhill Nightcap. Back when I was a n00b pipe smoker hanging out on alt.smokers.pipes, I heard a lot about this stuff. Mostly, remarks on how strong it is. For some, the strength is a complaint, for others, a compliment.
I don't remember where I first bought some Dunhill tins to try, but back in ye olden days I bought one tin each of Early Morning Pipe, My Mixture 965, and Nightcap. Back then, the light latakia of EMP was my favorite and I bought and smoked a few more tins before I lost my interest in latakia as a primary flavor. I enjoyed smoking the 965 but it didn't impress me a lot and I never bought it again.
I must admit that the first few times I had Nightcap, I got a little dizzy. It seemed quite powerful for some reason.
I kept going back for more.
Some time ago I was given a $25 Visa gift card from my employer for some reason (maybe a safety bonus or something--I forget), and today I ran by The Humidor on San Pedro and picked up a tin of Nightcap, which I haven't had in years. Yes, literally years.
I still really like this stuff. But after so many pipes full of C&D's Bayou Night, as well as numerous other blends that I spiced up with formidable amounts of Perique, it doesn't make my head swim anymore.
I must admit that if I had some straight Perique on hand right now, I'd mix up a sample of Nightcap with some extra Perique in it, just for fun.
By the way, the last time I was there, a couple of months ago, I bought a tin of Perique, which I have since used up. When the guy handed it to me, he asked sharply, "You don't smoke it straight, do you?" "Well, I have..." I admitted. "But mostly I just mix it with other stuff."
I carried it over to the cash register and the other guy rang me up. Then suddenly he asked sharply, "You don't smoke that stuff straight, do you?" It cracked me up. Is there some kind of taboo against it? Anyway, I wouldn't recommend smoking it straight because it doesn't burn very well on its own. Mix it with a little something that burns easier, like some plain old burley or Virginia--or both--and you can still mix it pretty strong if you really want to blow the top of your head off.
Or if you can find some maduro that's been cut up for pipe smoking, mix it with that and give it a try. You may not like it, but it will keep the mosquitoes away.
