Penzance is better than the other Esoterica blends I've tried - including Stonehaven, Dorchester, Margate and Dunbar - but not by much. Add to Wish List. I can't imagine why it's not, given that it's made in Jersey by J.F. The sticker with the price had a date from 2002 on it. Simply the best. stage of smoking. At the same time, I was to use my smartphone to hand over the cash via paypal to his online account, as he checked for updates. I'm normally averse to blends heavily laden with latakia and based on the aroma was even more reluctant to smoke it. Ah the legend that is Penzance A blend more mysterious than a black hole. Several factors have caused this change. Packed the bowl and lit up BAMMMM! A subtle taste of burning tires, and that delicious Germain Virginia trying to make itself known thru a cloud of less than perfume laden Oriental and Latakia smoke. Smoking Penzance is not an advocation, but for contemplative moods when it can be given due attention and appreciation. It seemed to have lost its flavor & became rather bland after about 1/3 of the bowl is smoked down. Its not a regular flake, so dont treat it as one. Penzance I can easily imagine as all-day. The tin aroma is not strongit is foul.
I have now consumed 6oz of it and just received a bulk order of 8oz. This is the king of all latakia blends! Just superb. Just one of many, many good tobaccos. This tobacco tastes of incense with a slight Indian soap flavor. Maybe I just didn't understand how to prepare it correctly. The main thing I took from this late night rendezvous was that I was surprised to learn that Penzance is not a latakia bomb, which for some reason I always thought it was. I found Penzance a slow-smoking tobacco, it lasted two hours while my other favorite blends generally last only about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Free Shipping
Still, I could not help but notice a sweet, refreshing, menthol like flavor that was very present especially by mid bowl. How about the flavor profile? Components: Virginia Family: Virginia Cut: Ribbon. But not the best English Blend made. That being said, before dropping $50 on an ebay tin, or spending hours hunting it down on line, try Quiet Nights. It took a few re-lights to get this bowl going, mostly due to my packing method. Perhaps that's why this isn't produced at large batches any longer. Strong and stout, yet smooth and creamy. My wife told me to either throw out the "science experiment " or she would! Penzance is free of bitterness and it is easy on my tongue. The first one I tried was Frog Morton and I recall tasting nothing but soap on light up. This is slightly fuller in body than 965, and on par with Odyssey. Even though I love to play with crumble cake, I'm usually to busy working to worry about the tobacco density in my bowl- enjoy, When I first tried this a few months ago I thought it was OK. My wife hates the smell, but the dog doesn't seem to mind. Germain and Son exclusively for Butera Pipe Company using only the finest quality whole leaf and traditional production techniques to produce their amazing pipe tobacco blends. It is a wonderful complex secret recipe of the finest Virginia, choice Turkish, Orientals and Cyprian Latakia. Oh my lord, where in the blazes have I been??? This blend is heavy on the Latakia, so much so that I use Penzance as a condiment tobacco in its own right and blend it with straight VA's to create milder and medium-bodied English mixtures. Penzance brings back a lot of memories for me. 2 talking about this. The Orientals provide an experience that is sure not to disappoint. Let's see. Burns quite cool and stays lit, no bite at all. - Charles Lamb. I am in the camp that Esoterica has a special and proprietary topping. I would say it is worth acquiring some, I enjoyed the search for this as much as smoking it. Because of the tricky nature of the leaf and the fact that you have to keep it fluffy, I don't consider this a great trail baccy. Size: 2 Oz. Oriental and Virginia flavors take up supporting parts, but it's the Cyprian leaf that demands your attention. Very nice Penzance handled and packed well. It began to rain, and I fell to my knees and cried. I do, however, have a tin of Penzance and a wonderful Parker billiard. I think it best enjoyed outdoors and dedicate at least an hour to smoke a bowl to savor all the goodness. Still, this is a solid (be it uniform) mild tobacco with a good Latakia influence. I would not call it an all day smoke, at least not unless you're a very serious pipe smoker. Industry. Burns perfectly. You can say that other tobaccos are coffee but this is espresso. I roll it out fairly fine, and pack it so there is just the slightest resistance to the draw. It made my other long time favorite English tobacco taste like used socks. But I do like this stuff. Pipe Used: Peterson 11S Deluxe, Peterson 9S Deluxe. With Penzance I was always left waiting. The other reviewers have stated the case for this blend beautifully and succinctly. That's not why I like this stuff, really! I find it to be awfully monotone. I am mostly an aromatic smoker but had to try this to see what all the chirping was about. ----Update 4/9/2008: Upgrade to 3 stars as I've found this blend to have increased much after a bit of aging and drying. It seems to have a bit more flowery character, perhaps the orientals coming through moreso during the nasal exhale. Better than I remembered. One flake for me barely filled half in my Philip Trypis Freehand pipe, and it is medium size. I think I may know what it is: as a former cigarette consumer I commonly made my own cigarettes, experimenting with dozens and dozens of tobaccos. The best behaved and easiest English tobacco Ive ever smoked.
Review: Tobaccostock.com : r/cigars - Reddit Clearly made from ribbon cut tobacco which has been pressed. Highest recommendation and well worth the money. I have gotten lost and almost fallen asleep smoking this in the late hours, it relaxes me so. You could do a lot worse. I was expecting a luxuriously rich, opulent, and flavorful smoke - pleasing to the taste, nose, and sinuses. The Latakia is quite nicely appliedoffering an assertive cedar smokiness that melds well with the sweetness from the Virginias. I?m also very happy that this is not exactly like Germains as I am in awe of both blends for similar reasons, but as these tines go to the forefront of my tobaccos I can expect a different sublime experience from each. The -.5 star is for the format. If you own any G size pipes and have an hour and a half of solitude ahead of you(or solitary confinement for that matter)try this one. This is certainly very top draw, best smoked after mid morning in my opinion. So Id call this a crumble flake, not a flake. What a travesty. Burns super cool, leaves no dottle whatsoever. Have no way to verify the veracity of the date or how it was cellared -- all I have to compare this with is my own stash of Penzance from 2018 and 2012. As for Penzance: I was impressed with the number of seasoned pipe smokers who rate this blend so highly. Godfrey, can you provide me with some contact information so that we might talk about getting ahold of some of your tins? this is a masterpiece and is my favourite tobacco. The presentation in the tin and the composition of the flakes (sliced Krumble Kake to be more precice) is a big part of the appeal of this tobacco. No wind at all made it perfect for my rendevous with Penzance. Conclusion: Because of the scarcity of the tobacco people begin to make comparisons with Balkan Sobranie and Bengal Slices. No, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Leaves a nice fluffy grey ash. Size: 8 Oz. My wife hates it when I smoke this because she knows I'll be outside for like 2 hours instead of helping her in the house with the kids. My conclusion of Penzance is that those beholden to it are just a little bit insane. The incredible reviews of this product caused me to rethink my position. They are faithful to their man. I have to slow down a bit near the end to keep it cool and to keep the flavors balanced. I suppose most folks will find this blend on the heavy side, yet it falls on the mild side of my taste curve. Lite this stuff up in a room and you clear it pretty quickly. If I had written this review after the first or second tin my rating would have been 4 stars. Rather I think a sip after a puff highlights the fundamental sweetness of the virginias in Penzance - a nice counterpoint to the medicinal quailty of Laphroig. There is nothing like it. Finish: Does not get harsher at the bottom, smokes quite dry, and leaves a nice white ash. It reminds me of church incense. I don't think some drying would hurt this a bit. I do not claim to be one of those people who can inhale the faintest wisp of smoke and taste cherries, almonds, leather, and every other conceivable flavor known to man. Before I begin, a little about me as a tobacco taster. I doubt I'll be trying this one again from a fresh or aged tin! I smiled real big because I'm in control of the pudding now. The latakia was definitely present, but I couldn't quite discern anything else in the mixture. Sealing them in jars to let them age, drying them for different lengths of time, smoking in different pipes all proved to be futile. In a large bowl combined with French inhaling it's capable to get you a sub par nic hit but definateley not much here. After so many reviews I will not describe this tobacco, what I will say is that this was a very good smoke. The aroma is of a smoky Latakia presence combined with Oriental essence. In response to Steelcowboy: Virginia is a very complex tobacco and can be smoked by itself. The flakes are almost solid black, very crumbly, and a bit more moist than I expected. I know, smartass, it hasn't been around for twenty five years, it was rhetorical, sheesh! nasty after- taste?.IMO. Considering only 4 of the 20 ounces were enjoyable bringing the cost to 21.27 per ounce of smokable tobacco, 2 stars here is very generous. It packs easily and lights quickly, burning through a bowl with a below-average number of relights required. Description. Buy some if you can find it. They are tender flakes that crumble more than seperate but the end result provides easy packing and a fantastic burn rate. Gifted 100gms of this baccy when buying an estate pipe off Ebay. It loads and lights easy. It was so bland that I gave the second half of the tin away to my tobacconist. I did'nt even touch the bourbon because I wanted a one on one with this fantastic blend. of Burley and air-cured leaf provide Tilbury's unique natural aroma
I said I didn't care, and I knew about the rarity of penzance. It's like drinking gas station gin all year with joy and happiness and contentment and suddenly someone hands you a glass of blue label Johnny Walker. It's an earthy balkan/English and in no way are the orientals nor the VAs at the forefront. The other is Special Latakia Flake with which I find that it shares the Virginia flavor but while Special Latakia is indeed Oriental (Turkish) forward this one in my mind is the true Oriental blend- Penzance is more about the Latakia. Won't bite or get harsh. Delicious aroma that urges you to quickly fill a bowl. It?s a great flake, though like most of its species, it sears my tongue if piped a little too quickly. I only wish more really go blends came in cruble cake form. In the tin, after two or three weeks, this stuff dries out quite a bit. So "fruity" is the nose that it works its way into the taste, like apricots, figs, and vague pineapple, citrus, etc. I'm just glad this stuff exists and that I live in a time when I can enjoy it. Definitely one to keep in the cellar. It is a damn fine smoke that delivers what it should - a long, cool, creamy, smoky, nougatty, Latakia/Oriental smoking experience. Next best is any tin that's just been popped, because it simply goes flat in a jar over time. bag are even more wet / oily. Cornwall). He held his hand out of his bug and gave me this little wave that really threw me off. Sampled from a 2008 vintage tin. tin and was extremely excited when it came in the mail. Most of the sweetness comes from an undivided note from the mix of virginias and orientals. An elegant flake presentation. Allow it to dry to your liking prior to your planned time for smoking. I've only been pipe smoking about ten weeks now, but I've tried thirty or so blends, mostly based on reputations here - how Penzance isn't 4* I don't know, but each to their own and where more so than this arena? For what it is though, it?s a quality product which is deserving of its many loyal followers. This is some sort of a Cake/Flake and moist! Rows of black and brown flake stacked horizontally to give a ribbed effect like serrated fudge. It reminded me of a burley blend with that sour/bitter nut flavor, like Haunted Bookshop, but far worse. Thus, even though I really enjoy the experience Penzance provides, I'm forced to rate it three stars. One of the finest tobaccos available and one that I will keep with me for as long a loooong time. Penzance is a wonderful, full flavored flake. I wondered if this flake would have some type of dressing on it. The taste level is full. I asked the owner to put me down on the waiting list for an eight oz. (56.7 Grams)
First smoke had no taste, and was too moist. We established this policy in an effort to be as fair as possible with the distribution of these highly sought after blends. The taste was a bit underpowering at first, but finally began to coax its way forth after about one fourth of the bowl. I guess this is why it commands such high prices when the supply dries up. So I did. Latakia laden blends can be, and usually are, both pungent and sweet/flavorful. Well worth trying some out if you are sampling English blends. Penzance is by far the worst tobacco I've ever encountered! Well, I've read a whole lot about this blend on tobacco internet forums across the cyberspace. I walked into my favorite Boston tobacco shop looking for something else. The taste was a very married cool English flavor. I did a smell test and there is a similarity between the antiseptic and the tin. The lack of Penzance at my local tobacconists led me to two other very fine tobaccos, Germains special latakia flake and Old Ironsides. bag. IMO, Penzance and Westminister are the two best English tobaccos on the market today. I guess there is no accounting for tastes right. For me, it's almost tastebud overload. This tobacco is one that takes age well, but if you are like us, your excitement will cause you to pop this tin as soon as you get it in the mail. This tobacco is not worth the fuss. The flakes are all in tack but, the crumble cake however is a bit too crumbly for me. Outstanding. So far it is flying right up there for me. What wonderful stuff this is. Medium in body. Packaging: Bag
The Room Note Aroma was typical Latakia/ English. The tobacco texture in the tin is unlike any I have encountered before. The presentation is nice, plume ridden thick flakes that crumble to the touch, a Balkan like smell with the mandatory stained wax paper. I rarely get to enjoy this as an all day smoke due to the lack of quantity available. Sometime a all day Smoke. Needless to say I have never even seen pipe tobacco that was packaged as such, like bacon! Now, margate quickly claimed #2 spot on my list. Definitely top-shelf. This tobacco is mentioned with a LOT of praise by so many people. That unique taste is what drives the fuss for this blend. The flavour of the virginias,turkish,orientals and cyprian latakia,are perfectly synchronised. It?s also a bit hard to keep lit, requiring several matches. Moisture content is perfect and, depending on your pipe-loading preference for this flake, it folds and/or rubs out very easily. Penzance is my all-time favorite blend. The tin presentation is nice.