The Road to Westminster

5th January, 2007: Posted by glpease in Tobacco, Stories

The passage of time can be a strange thing. The engagement we experience with the things of life can dilate time in ways that almost seem drug induced, confounding our sense of rhythmic transit in ways that are inexplicable, producing a sort of temporal dissonance. So it is for me with the history of Westminster’s development, and while it feels like well over a year since I first found myself submerged in this project, it was really only in March of 2006 that I was going at it it full tilt. The background to the project, however, extends much farther in history, in some sense, back to my earliest days of pipe smoking, when a particular tobacco caught my fancy, and hasn’t really let it go.

In about 1980, while I was in the throes of exploring many of the then readily available, but still classic blends, mostly from such venerable house names as Sobranie, Dunhill, McConnell, Rattray, Sullivan Powell and so on - you know the list - a few rooted themselves in my brain as truly exemplary. Many, perhaps most of the blends I tried then were superb examples of what they were, but only a few truly resonated with my own tastes in blissful harmony. One of those blends was Dunhill’s marvelous London Mixture. This blend was first offered in 1928. The original catalogue description read, “A delightfully harmonious blend of matured Virginia and Oriental tobaccos, soft and mellow, cool and fragrant.” I won’t argue. Of all the blends bearing the standard of Duhhill, this was The One for me. It had a richness, a sophisticated elegance, and a complex nature that kept it from being tiring. It was full enough to satisfy, but never overbearing. It wasn’t as exotic as some of my other faves, but neither was it as pretentious. It was comfort food for the pipe, and was destined to be a constant resident of my tobacco shelf for many years.

Circa 1981, when the new shipments of Murrays produced Dunhill blends began to find their way to the shelves (all the prior tins I’d smoked were earlier ones of Dunhill manufacture), I noticed changes in my beloved London Mixture. It was still an excellent blend, but to my tastes, it seemed to have lost a little something. Perhaps it wasn’t as rich, or as well balanced. Memory tells me that the Latakia content was slightly lower, that the virginias were somewhat stronger, that the balance was different. Still, an exceptional blend, and one I gladly smoked, while acquiring older tins when I could find them to satisfy the deeper cravings, but just not the same. Of course, the older tins did have the advantage of time on their side, but there it took more than that to explain the changes.

London Mixture has always been there for me, even as I’ve added many other blends to my list of regulars over the years, and removed some, and now that I’ve had the opportunity to experience the Murrays version at many different ages, I can say that though somewhat different from the original, it has remained an excellent tobacco, and kept the spirit of the old blend alive.

When I learned last year that Orlik had taken over production of the Dunhill blends from Murrays, concern was raised, so I picked up a few tins of the last available Murrays production, and a few of the newer Orlik ones to try over the coming years. The Murrays version retained the character I loved about London Mixture right to the end. I can’t be quite as positive in my assessment of the new version. While it’s certainly a good tobacco in its own right, and a lot of the flavors are still present, though in a different balance, it’s more shallow, less refined, and certainly, less full. It’s one more step removed from the original, at least to my tastes, and not nearly as appealing to either my palate, or to my memories. It had become something different. And so, into the lab.

In March, I took samples from several vintages of London Mixture, some kindly sent to me by friends knowing about the journey I was about to embark upon. I smoked each, taking careful notes. Then began the laborious task of dissecting, with magnifying glass and forceps, the blends into their component parts. This is an inexact science, at best, as after years of melding and aging, it can be quite difficult to discern the different tobaccos, but it would provide me some starting points for my own experiments aimed toward recreating a classic, or at least capturing something of its essence. The dissection done, I weighed each little mound of tobacco carefully, and began to examine and analyze each. Countless hours were spent on this part of the project, but the insight gained was invaluable.

Once I had a good idea of both components and proportions, I began the real work of creating a new blend. Several prototypes were mixed, each carefully assessed, and adjustments were made. This is one of those incremental processes that can consume all available hours, and one that never really reveals the end point until you come quite close to it. By the middle of May, I’d narrowed it down to two different rough recipes, consisting of percentages of component classes - like Latakia, oriental, virginia. From here, I started working on the balance of the components in each group, and what sort of processing would be necessary to accomplish the final goal. More prototypes, more experiments, more little glass jars full of 20-50g of blended tobaccos.

Finally, by the early part of July, I had the one final version pretty much in hand. Small changes would still be required, but all indications were that I was getting quite close. My lab notes from 10 July begin, “Westminster ROCKS!” and a list of people I would send samples to. Then, it was something of a waiting game. I blended up a batch of this prototype version, and put it aside to see how it would integrate over time, though previous samples had already given me a pretty good clue. Fast-forward a bit: I sent Craig the manufacturing details, and he put some together for sampling at the CORPS show in Richmond.  The response was very positive.

In the interim, I’d made some very small adjustments, and finalized everything. I set to work on doing the label, and getting everything ready for production. Finally, in December, 2006, everything was ready to go, and the blend was officially released on 2nd January, 2007.

I carried this baby for nine months, and it’s as much a part of me as it would be if it were human. I’m still thrilled with the results. Though not exactly the same as my beloved old pre-Murrays London Mixture, it carries that spirit with it, and delivers a great deal more than I’d thought possible at the outset. It evokes memories of those days in the early 1980s when I’d wander into Drucquer’s, grab a tin from the shelf, pull a coin from my pocket to open it, and revel in the richness of that first aroma. It does this in a way that my ancient tins do not. The wondrous changes they have undergone through the grace of age make them something different altogether - no less meaningful or important, but not evocative in the same manner.

In addition to being a delightful smoke, Westminster has allowed me to revisit, and in a way relive the past in a way that no other of my blends have. My old tins of London Mixture are magnificent, and are part of my little treasure box. One day, if all goes well, a few ancient tins of Westminster will take their place.

–glp

12 Responses

  1. Frank G. Smith Says:
    June 19th, 2007 at 14:43

    Wonderful. I feel the same way about Ardath’s State Express London Mixture. Same name, different blend. So, for me, it’s Kensington w/a year+ in the tin. It ROCKS! I fondly remember Dunhill’s LM as well but, different strokes…
    Greg, be well and blend on. Geniuses of any stripe are hard to come by, and you are surely one.

  2. Brent Adams Says:
    July 23rd, 2007 at 21:25

    Over 25 years ago I visited the Alfred Dunhill tobacco shop in London–beautiful blends in brass bins lovingly tended by gentlemen tobacconists. Not since then have I encountered pipe tobacco of such quality and character. Until today. I got a tin of Westminister and raced back to my local store for his entire stock. It is the finest, most balanced and yet smoothest English ever. Somewhere in heaven Lord Dunhill is toasting Mr. Pease.

  3. glpease Says:
    July 24th, 2007 at 9:36

    Thank you both for the lovely comments. It’s such a joy to know that the fruits of my labours bring happiness to others.

  4. Alex Weiss Says:
    September 21st, 2007 at 1:07

    I am now on my n-th tin of Westmister. Thank you for this excellent mixture! Few notes are * I use a small pipe, as ex. a very very old BBB canadian and rub it a little.*do not pack tightly,adjust during the smoke **I also light the pipe and then leave it for a while unlite,then restart IMO this tobacco needs to dry out a little.
    I really wish I could buy this and other tobaccos in Germany, importing them is a real hassle.
    Best
    Alex

  5. Robert Rowe (AKA Kilted1) Says:
    October 21st, 2007 at 7:18

    Gentlemen and Ladies of Briar and Leaf:

    Greg has masterfully re-created a Classic Standard English mixture of old, yet more, he’s actually made it “better” than remembered! Of all the many many bowls of Dunhill tobaccos I’ve consumed over roughly 30 years of pipe smoking, I always liked London Mixture and Nightcap the best. 965, Standard Mixture making the ‘must have on hand’ department.

    London Mixture for me was aways a “definitive smoke” when searching for a “full English”. For the “lighter English” variety I aways gravitate to SG Squadron Leader.

    London Mixture of at least 10-15 years ago always delivered what Westminster delivers now, a complex, peaty full English of slowly building and then gradually fading (that’s not really the right expression) complexity. Eventually for me, Westminster becomes “one” in a way that only older batches of London Mixture could.

    Unlike anything Greg has ever done before Westminster truly stands on it’s own, and should become a true definitive Full English. I invite you to read my full review here: http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=W&TID=2778

  6. Larry Says:
    January 5th, 2008 at 10:14

    There’s not much I can add to the previous comments. Westminster has become my #1 blend. It’s a real marvel - if you haven’t tried it, race down to the shop now and get a tin!

  7. Tony Austin Says:
    January 12th, 2008 at 9:29

    As a pipe smoker of 42 years, I well remember the original LM. I then remember the moaning over the lessening of character that went round my contempories when production shifted to Murrays. It was ’still ok’ but not a patch on the original. How time mellows us! Now Mueeays tins are treasured and people sigh at Orliks attempt. Does make you wonder if anyone ever bothered to actually talk to the original blenders doesn’t it. Anyway…I had my first pipeful of Westminster today and I just felt that I should offer you my congratulations. To my aged palate it lies between Murrays and the original and it is delicious. Masterfully blended it lies softly and smokily in the mouth and it’s an utter joy to smoke. I shall have to get my American friends to send me enough to store some for a year or two. Very well done Sir:-)

  8. Jacques Says:
    January 21st, 2008 at 14:53

    Well I’m a 25 year old living in South Africa. Unfortunately there is not much tobacco shops nor mentors here. I was ex tactic once i found out I can order online ! I tried a few of the blends, of Peterson and the normal routes and quite a few of yours and has recently discovered Westminister !! WOW what a tobacco, now granted given my age and experience I might not really justify a “review” but there are a lot(in my small life time, ok ok i have tried about 19 now :) ) of tobaccos i tried and Westminister is really such a treat and one of the very few I like
    I really just wish there were more of pipe smoking scene in south Africa, I long for a mentor in this pastime/ discipline

    Keep Up the excellent work !

  9. Maxwell Says:
    March 8th, 2008 at 6:39

    I, like the previous poster, am not much on in years. I have, however, come to thoroughly enjoy this practice of pipe and tobacco enjoyment as much as I can imagine anything else. I envision myself in a time long ago, in history past. Atop the mountain on our property as it were West Va. With my not so proper US Cob pipe, and a lovely bowl of Westminster just started. I know full well that Virginians of lore had no access to such fine tobacconists or development. But the workings of a satisfied mind lead me to forget myself and revel in the plesant fiction, at least so long as I imagine myself him, on that mountain so long ago. This is wonderful product here, and somthing you should very well be proud of. The descript of it’s composition or flavors need no comentary from the likes of me, but to say that it’s found a place with me, and is greatly appreciated and enjoyed very often.

  10. Matt (221b Baker St.) Says:
    May 2nd, 2008 at 0:52

    Greg all I can say is this is the greatest English blend ever made. If I was only allowed 1 blend for the rest of my life it would be Westminster. Every time I load my pipe with this blend and put flame to it I envision London in the 1800s. Men in top hats and tails. Carriages and foggy grey streets. Absolute perfection my friend.

  11. Bob Landry Says:
    May 27th, 2008 at 21:04

    Just wanted to add my endorsement to all those above. I’ve tried a lot of English blends, but Westminster is the first one that I plan to stock in quantity. Carry on, Mr. Pease, this is another great one!

  12. Felipe Lopez Veneroni Says:
    August 1st, 2008 at 16:25

    Dear Greg

    I’ve been a pipe smoker since the late 70’s. Indeed, London Mixture (probably Murray’s version) was among my favourites.

    Alas, marketing strategies, production costs and the shifting of consumer preferences have all conspired to displace the old established brands. I agree with those who perceive the Orlik version of Dunhill blends as, to put it mildly, less meaningful.
    In fact, with the gradual disappearance of Balkan Sobranie, Sullivan Powell, and the adulterated Dunhill versions, my choice of English smokes was dramatically reduce to Squadron Leader (not bad, but a bit rough and predictable), Old Dublin (again, not bad but perhaps too polite), and Royalty (nice, but too mild and way too expensive). For a moment Renaissance seemed to be THE option but that, too, due to the warehouse fire you mention, went off the market.

    Suddenly along comes Westminster! I don’t think I’ve been as excited, thrilled, and anxious about an English blend in many years, as I am with this one. My, oh my! Talk about turning back the clock! It’s like I’m that youngster thirty something years ago, rediscovering for the very first time the true meaning of an English blend! Perhaps more than recreating London Mixture, what you’ve achieved with Westminster—more so than with any other of your excellent Balkan and English style blends—is to recapture and rekindle the entire spirit of English style blends! Because in Westminster not only do I perceive certain similarities with LM, but also with Standard Mixture, with SP’s Gentleman’s Mixture, Four Squares, and so on. Truly a great achievement in tobacco blending, one that brings back the poise, the fragrance, the balance and the elegance of a particular type of culture. Thanks indeed!

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