Durian fruit. It had been a bit since I had smoked it, as I have been trying samples of other blends. A solid 4 stars. As a matter of fact, the entire second half of the bowl, that's all I could think of. I think everyone should try this just to see what all the buzz is about. He held his hand out of his bug and gave me this little wave that really threw me off. This stuff does wonderful things! If youre just starting to enjoy the smoky stuff, I would wait until youve got a few more blends under your belt so that you can fully appreciate this blend. Because it was rare and hard to get at the time. I normally smoke potent blends such as St. Bruno and Marlin Flake, but the taste of Penzance is so heavenly refined, that the (absent) nicotine-level is not all important here. Upon opening my first tin of Penzance some four years ago, I was put off by its composition (described elsewhere). I have had an aversion to latakia English blends. 3. I give it 4 Star . One of my favorite English blends. The consensus seemed to be that Penzance was an amazing blend that no one would ever copy and that its so great and "oh i have 5 lbs. Creamier than one might expect without being overly sweet. It is special, delicious, and worth every penny. The aroma is smoky and slightly phenolic. Finish: Finishes more heavily without being overwhelming. This is obviously delicious stuff. Burning very slow. I would call truly outstanding. It's nothing so heavy as say, SOTE. I didn't like the orangy residue left in my palm after rubbing it out a little. It comes in a small rectangular tin and is in wax paper in thin precut slices, that crumble very easily. There are many other Balkans of this caliber that come to mind, Durbar and Bill Baileys as an example. A hint of Virginia tang comes through in the smell. The amazing Virginians of Rattray (Old Gowrie, Marlin Flake, HOW), the standards of Dunhill (965, EMP, NC), and the Balkan delight of Pease Odyssey all have qualities by which I measure all others. And that was it. I showed restraint, and did not get overly excited. Packaging: Bag Almost peppery, as if it had perique in it. If you prefer milder blends or are just experimenting with Latakia blends, then you might like this. This is not a tobacco that merits such poetic prose. The second was Frog Morton. I very much enjoyed the tin I bought but I probably won't puchase it again, or at least, not very often. After acquiring some Penzance, then came the waitthe anticipationthe wonderment of what I was about to experience. If you like it enough to pay 10 dollars per ounce, go ahead. Whatever the case, Penzance is a complex mixture that develops wonderfully as you get down the bowl. I am quickly trying other english blends to see how they stack up. Having said that, I love the interplay of latakia and virginia--the latter being the glue that holds the whole thing together. With so many wonderful reviews, or course I had to try Penzance. My first bowl has proved to be quite an extraordinary journey. Combustibility: The flakes are very moist / oily. Also i collect pipe,s from Eli Belgium a master pipe maker ( see his website ). Opening the tin, the tobacco is cut in slices that crumble easily. HOME OF THREE STAR TOBACCO Store Hours: Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday Closed Lounge Hours: Monday - Wednesday Thursday - Friday Saturday Sunday Closed We now offer discounted parking at the 55 E. Monroe Parking Garage. This Penzance is a very fine old school no nonsense smoke but I think Revor just pips it to the post.I am aware tobacco tasting is a purely subjective thing so other reviewers will no doubt have their own take on this tobacco but for me it is almost exactly like good old Revor plug with a slightly oriental aspect.Good stuff though! Very earthy in that kind of way. Volumous smoke with a great depth and breath of flavor and aroma. I dislike the results always from overheating any tobacco with my meer, but Penzance even more so. Soft smooth and cool a pensive experience. This blend has a very low tolerance for man-handling. All hand blended together, hard pressed and broad cut into thick flakes. Not to be outdone, the Virginia(s) are soft and sweet and the Latakia neither heavy nor cloying. bag are even more wet / oily. Clean, subtle, latakia predominant flavor does not compensate the relatively weak body in the taste. It's tasty, it's easy to handle (a big plus over SLF), and it burns nicely down to a fine ash. It's really a foul concoction & barely rates one star. A nice latakia blend with camp fire smells . It was rather moist and much milder than the other reviewers had led me to expect. A creamy wonderful tasting tobacco. Quiet Nights is more full flavored and raw. Or maybe I'm just burned out on it. PLEASE READ TO END WITH UPDATE of 4/20/12 !! It can't be the Latakia, because as we see above, of the top 3 rated tobaccos two haven't any Latakia at all, and the other hasn't enough to write home about. Caution: the essential oils seem to evaporate quickly past 10 minutes and such will reduce the flavor. Some decades ago I used to build a crescendo of Balkan/English taste and flavours, beginning with Early Morning Pipe, progressing to My Mixture and Balkan Sobranie and concluding with Nightcap. Why would I go through all of this for some stupid tobacco? At first, not much happens, as latakia is not a multi-flavour leaf. I don't like English blends. Dont pass it up if you get a chance. It is, though, a recommended solid three--and for good reason. I am working through 8 oz of it now and decided to add one more review to the body of knowledge. The tightly pressed flakes are fun just to feel and smell. I do wonder how many jerks there are hoarding this stuff in their stashes who don't fully appreciate its beauty and are letting it rot & wither away. The tin aroma suggests fine tobacco, and the smoking of that tobacco confirms it. Stock Price. Once the product has come back in stock, you'll need to resubscribe for future notifications. The tin aroma is unforgettable, but not the smoke. The taste is light to medium a bit to light for my enjoyment. Am I the only one who gets a chemical sensation from the taste and aroma of Penzance? The volume of positive reviews for Penzance led me to give it a shot. You never know what you might get. First ever at this but here goes. There really isn't anything bad to say about. The tobacco is neither moist nor dry. I love the smell it leaves on my hands after smoking it all day. This one has no bite and is a complex smooth smoke with a satisfying amount of Latakia. It has a easy but pleasant aftertaste, but it doesnt last long. Ive only ever been able to find it from the local B&M. I've only had one bowl so far (I'm still smoking it as I type) and although it is smoking a little wet for me, I like it a lot. I avoided all other English blends thereafter. black, and then topped with licorice essence and a pleasant aroma Seriously, though hard to find, it was worth the chase. I was gifted a sample back in 2013 and it took me the next 5 years to acquire more of it and I have to say it was worth the wait! Very tasty and satisfying smoke. This unique crumble cake is what I like to take to work with me. I would recommend this blend to people who (as I do) tend to stay primarily with Virginia flakes. Nothing I would truly go back to! This has become my #1 favorite tobacco. Took to the flame fast and almost immediately started turning into a nice white ash. I didnt quite crumble up enough for a full bowl, so I did a modified three-step gravity fill. If I was to do that today Penzance would take the place of Balkan Sobranie. I am finishing first "tin-full" of that bag-10 months later. I do recommend you to try, because I am in the minority, but in a word- bitter. Again, "Margate is to the morning, what Penzance is to the twilight, the evening, and the black and dark night." A personal irony: I was born in the town of Penzance in Cornwall, and the specialist tobacconist there (the excellent West Cornwall Cigar Co., in Chapel Street) has never even heard of this blend, which is not available in the UK. Although everyone is entitled to an opinion, the reviews like the ones titled "Overrated! 08/01/15 Come on guys, the problem is the lack of business sense of esoterica. ). I could go on but why? So, is it a good blend? It virtually crumbles to a soil like form. Contrary to researching and buying cigars by the box for walk-in humidor conditioning over months to years, reserving judgment to time and 'finish,' I am unfamiliar with the utility of flavor 'notes' divorced from a conditio sine qua non nicotine bass cleft. It's a little moist in the package for my taste, but that's easily fixed by drying it down a little. And remember it can be had in large flat bricklike bulks and if stored in say one of those porcelain seal jars with a latch and rubber gasket it will keep quite well for extended periods of time. Overall, a great blend. One of the better latakia blends out there, but somehow almost disappointing. They had two 8-ounce bags of Penzance, along with two 8-ounce bags of Stonehaven, and I bought both for a total cost of $260. Maybe one day another blender will come up with something which is comparable to Penzance, but nothing comes close to the 2010 batch I hadaccording to 1,000 or more pipers' opinions who say the same. Esoterica | Chicago's Pipe, Cigar & Tobacco Store - Iwan Ries Ive been a pipe smoker for over a decade, and I finally had a pipeful of this celebrated blend. The latakia and the orientals mix smoothly and the virgina gives just enough of a kick to keep this blend exciting. If you can find it, try it, but please do not over pay. This mystified blend is not only virtually, but practically never available here in Germany and even when it's available in the US, it's faster sold-out than you can say "YUMMY" so I was very excited when a fellow pipe-friend passed me a generous sample for about 5-6 bowls worth of this glorified gem. If you can find the stuff give er a whirl, ya might like it but try not to harbor any unrealistic expectations of it, its just a very nice, expertly blended crumble cake. Get your behind down to the store and buy as much as you can!!!!!!!! My bowl lasted nearly an houran hour of pure bliss. Sadly, this will not make it into my rotation for now. Is there any other pipe tobacco anywhere in the world that tastes exactly like Penzance? Smoking this tobacco I was under the impression it was well aged as it was quite mellow on the palate and I could not detect any harsh spots or rough edges. This is truly a darn near perfect smoke. Super consistent all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I can see why this blend is so popular as it has a little bit for everyone and in perfect balance. are are incredible blends. These days, I tend to smoke it in meerschaum, which calms down its tendency to nip and smoke hot. In other words, the lat is dominant with the orientals supporting at interval. Not saying it lacks strength, but somewhat monotone to me. and natural fruit extracts, Woodbridge is a perfectly blended and Packing: Packed very easily. bag or two - not to sell, but to smoke and enjoy. To my palette Richs is a much more credible source. It has a wonderfully deep flavor with a nice thick body to it. Lots of latakia, not very mushroomy. Penzance half way through starts getting pretty good actually, but I really don't like having to smoke half a bowl to get there. Decent stuff , but not memorable . Lighting this up and closing ones eyes while sipping a tea and listening to most any of the classic rock groups from the 60s or 70s and I'm in heaven. It's fun to smoke, the tin is fun, rubbing it out (sounds dirty) is fun. Germain processes their Virginia leaf offers a distinctly sweet aroma and flavor that follows all the way through the smoke. Similar to Gaslight, but much more balanced, smoother, and not as strong in the nic or latakia (campfire smokiness). Could be my new #1time will tell. One thing that makes this tobacco incredibly unique is its consistency, not as defined by conformity with previous attitudes, behaviour, practice, etc., but as defined as the state or quality of holding or sticking together and retaining shape. A complete stranger sent me an 8oz bag of 2001 Penzance in the old cream colored bag. This blend is a phenomenal mating of sweet virginias and oriental latakias that manages to overwhelm the senses with it's perfection. Everything from the presentation in the tin, aroma, burning quantity and flavor were top notch. Upon finally deciding to buy tobacco from SmokingPipes.com due to a lack of fine tobacconists in my area I went to the top rated tobaccos on this site so I might try what everyone else found to be excellent. Although cellaring will provide some mellowing and melding, the lack of air wont allow for organism activity which provides the sweetness and structural delicacy. And I lived relatively close for a period of time. If you're going to cellar this blend, I'd recommend buying it in larger quantities and breaking it down into two ounce portions stored in little mason jars. What's the use? Defintiely a top notch tobacco, and did I mention how much I like crumble cakes?. The pipe tobacco remains remarkably similar tasting through the bowl with hints of Orientals and Virginia but this is not boring. The crumble cake is a joy to feel in the hand and I tend to load haphazardly into a Peterson Donegal Rocky B10 P-Lip, which I've devoted to Penzance. B&M stores i have gotten loads of other Esoterica blends always say we didnt get any Penzance this shipment . I can see why it is so highly regarded. The tobacco smells slightly smokey, is moist, and wants to crumble naturally. This stuff has a flavor which is hard to describe. It can tend toward bitter or hard if rushed. Well, I think that these two are vastly superior. What's worse every now and again it bites. Ah, what latakia blend to accompany? Penzance is not a beginners blend either. Always seems too moist in the tin but I guess that's easily remidied. Availability: . Plenty of flavor without overwhelming in any way. Overall, there is a pleasing mocha / coffee taste throughout the bowl, with high notes of spice and sweetness here and there (especially in the middle third of the bowl) but many of the subtleties which I was expecting, based on the uber-hype, were simply not present. The end result of this for someone who has never tried it before is they are either disappointed, never meet your heroes, or they jump on the Penzance is the epitome of tobacco bandwagon. It is an oriental forward blend with a distinctive "mouth feel" and pleasant aftertaste. It is other-worldly, and it makes you wonder just what is in there! That said, rating an English isn't easy for meI don't smoke them often enough, and I find most (Cyprian)Latakia blends so similar to each other that separating them out is nigh impossible. An occasional treat, it is brought out of the hanger on special occasions. Would give it 5 stars if I could. However, with the idea that more is better I began my quest for what many believe to be the epitome of the Latakia blends and was quickly directed toward Penzance being described by many as the graile of Latakia. Further down the bowl, a mild smoky Latakia aroma evolves. The room note is just a little bit stronger, but my wife made no mention on whether it was more or less tolerable than the Dunhill. No doubt you can taste the Latakia & Orientals. My tins were just a little moist for my liking upon opening, but some air made it just right. And yet, as magical as this blend is, I do not find it to be the superlative blend for this experience. 4 stars is reserved for those rare blends that put me in a state of bliss which I am finding in perique blends only these days. Esoterica Penzance comes in both, a 2 ounce tin and an 8 ounce sealed Mylar bag. The Virginias provide a sweetness balancing it all out. Out of Stock. I've discovered that I like Esoterica blends the most. I cant believe people actually PAY for this stuff!! Trouble was, it was simply unavailable, and I couldnt find it for sale (I had no inkling at the time as to the real reasons why these tobaccos were so very scarce). There are, but a few, that go to the top shelf, and this is certainly one. And it's not like the latakia was overpowering everything else. Would life go on without it? Fold-and-stuff does not, in my experience, work so well with Penzance. Being that it is in Germany and needs to be shipped overseas this is a costly alternative, but it is available and I would recommend that to overpaying for some Penzance. It's a silky smooth flavorful mottled flake that ages like a very fine Bordeaux. It stays lite, the moisture is perfect, it rubs out flawlessly. Period. These come and go as you smoke down through the bowl. Will not miss it. Price? In the tin, a wonderful full Latakia smokiness, reminiscent of sitting next to a camp fire with a spicy undertone somewhere between those nostalgia. This blend is an old companion that can always be relied upon to brighten an otherwise dreary day. This stuff is just beautifully yummy. The smoking experience is as smooth as buttered velvet. I ordered Penzance based on the 4 star rating and some of the eloquent descriptions. The aroma will repel mosquitoes , birds, dogs, bears and of course your wife. Over all i liked it, however the tin aroma was almost untolerable. Entirely made, blended, and aged in the UK British Isles, I am new to pipe smoking and purchased this tobacco based on the recommendations on this site. A super pleasant lingering aftertaste. It takes two matches and a strong effort to keep it lit, with puffing. I was surprised by the appearance because I had never purchased anything that was flake or krumble cake before. The nic-hit is just shy of being medium, while the strength is medium. I do have a couple of tins cellared. 4 stars. I used to love Penzance, but one day it just turned on me. Clearly a favorite. One of the downsides of having found your One True Blend is missing out on treats like this. No big smash to me. Truly a fine tobacco. If you are too heavy handed with the tobacco, you get a wet lump at the bottom of the bowl. I'm going to alternate it with Old Ironsides as the smoke that I smoke after dinner and end the day with. Smooth smooth smooth, with a "fluffy" full flavour in any size bowl. Penzances taste is a one-trick-top-note. Well some day, when Germain finally fades into glory, old pipesters will wail and gnash their teeth, much like some of our compatriots do about Balkan Sobranieso don't miss out! I usually don't like full English blends although there are a few that really hit the spot once in awhile and I can see this one sharing that trait. This is incredibly smooth and cool with a great rich taste to it. One of the most complex blends I have smoked to date. I can't imagine that it can get better than it is, but other reviewers assure me it will! The moisture level is about right to perhaps a little moist (nothing a few minutes won't fix). Very easy to light,leaving a nice white grey ash. Tin Note: Smelled like a mild English. All very pleasant, very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this and plan to sample all of Esotericas products soon. Smoking Penzance is not an advocation, but for contemplative moods when it can be given due attention and appreciation. Long matured and easily crumbled to facilitate pipe filling. When you light it up you instantly notice the creamy, slightly sweet and richly smoky Latakias, which also sport a fair amount of earthiness. Get some Frogmorton and you'll have everything there is here without the hassle. Today, if you go for any major surgery they "slather you up" with a reddish solution called BETADINE, this contains 10% povidone-iodine but the smell is there. It seems to be better of late, so either my taste buds have perked up or this is better after sitting a while. Being a fan of these latakia blends and of flake cut tobacco, I had to give this one a try. Stock up! But honestly, this is not like what I thought in mind. I would like to add that curiosity got the best of me and I wondered how this aged tobacco compared to a fresh tin so I bought one. The flakes were crumbly and wonderful, resulting in an almost cube-like texture. If youve ever been inside of an old tack room in a stable, you know what I mean. I won't go into specific sensations, but suffice to say it is quite wonderful. On the plus side, this tobacco does not have any off-notes. This recipe should have been the penultimate English/Balkan blend for me. This is what civilized pipe smoking is all about. Difficult to find online, but my local B&M has an ample supply, I'm quite fortunate. Now I'm stuck with one pound of compost. Maybe Smoking Pipes should order a real big amount that would stay in stock for at least a month, kn owing it sells like hot Cornish pasties. But it is amazing. Smoke is rich and velvety. Aside from the Donegal Rocky, I find that this blend smokes well in pipes generally devoted to Dunhill's Nightcap. I, for the most part, agree with them. It is easy to light and has the most wonderful flavor. I don't think it lives up to all the hype that surrounds it but it is definitely a very good tobacco, try it if you enjoy English blends and when you first light up, pretend it is just another tobacco, not some holy grail of smoking and you won't be disappointed. Opening my tin I definitely noticed the almost smokey.. beef jerky smell.. not in a bad, store-bought kind of way, but the kind of smokey goodness you'd find at your local farm, or out up in the mountains to the west. Esoterica Penzance - when available, very limited! Germain & Son, Jersey, British Isles. I find the crosscut form kind of fun. Acting on tips in this forum, I immediately transferred the contents of my new tin to a tightly sealed jar to keep it from drying out. 2001-2023 STC Holdings LLC, a division of Mac Baren USA. While I find it a delicious and refined blend, it is not worth the insane hype that surrounds it. This tobacco is good. It may be evident that my review is biased by my fondness of VAPER. This is a top quality tobacco and is among the best in the genre. It's legend status is probably derived by its relative rarity, something we see in all areas of life. You will be spoiled! Four stars, only because it is the max I can give it. The only problem is that it's too mild for my taste, it always leaves me wanting for more. I find myself in a bit of a pickle. You get the picture? The tobaccos used are obviously of quality but the blend lacks climax. Penzance needs no introduction or fancified "me too" style praise. I'm not a fan of pineapples on pizza btw. The major down side to this tobacco is the difficulty in obtaining it on a regular basis, fortunately I have a tin in the cellar. Second, the crumble cake cut allows the smoker to rub it out to their liking. Love the flake format. I was pleasantly surprised when I happened upon this blend at a tobacconist, since a tin of Penzance is about as common as a solar eclipse these days due to huge demand, astronomical hype and hoarding. Pembroke is the marriage of fine French Cognac with Esoterica's In the tin, this is dark and oily. Not for everyday use, but if you're sitting on your own in the evening in your living room or porch without having to do anything, Penzance is your best friend. It seems like the blend may have lost some of its vigor after 6 years. I keep Penzance around for when I'm looking for a good trade or need to buy something else I like. Just got my one time notification, looks I have been beaten by the bots! I find it easy to light and keep lit, and it burns quite cool. Since there have already been so many other reviews of penzance, I'll be brief and only cover things not mentioned in other reviews. Availability: Out of StockPrice: $42.95 USD. I wouldn't try this indoors in company of other than pipe smokers. Yeah, I can see why it has so many reviews and folks are hoarding it! Well. I think it's a great English blend, and deserves to be called a GREAT representative of english blends. Virginia and Oriental lovers on either side of the fence will be pleased again and again. Im changing my review. In the middle it gets steamy and one dimensional, and at the end it?s wet and tastes dirty. I'd love to be well stocked with this blend. Now, my only gripe is getting the hang of packing this tobacco just right. Even if I do not smoke it regularly, it is truly the finest tasting English tobacco I've had to date. Hard to say anything much better about this tobacco that has already been posted. Removing several flakes from the tin I easily rub them out in my palm with my thumb. Penzance requires little if any rubbing out. This is indeed one of the best tobaccos I have smoked to date. I've been smoking the Dunhill blends- #965 and Nightcap, and well as a bulk blend my tobacco shop calls Chartwell. Whatevle. Packaging: Bag After just a couple of puffs, I realized that I'd smoke Penzance even if it caused the bees to sit on the bowl of my pipe. Thank you Tobaccoreviews for helping me find this blend. . The flakes were more crumble cake than I remember. I like the flavor, Im not sure its worth the labor. Sadly can not be a daily smoke because of its hard to find status. For me, I?m kinda sitting on the fence with this one. True english sliced crumble cake. My mind was churning(it always is) and I kept thinking of roasted barely, but that wasn't it. There are better ways to enjoy the pleasures of tobacco without the chronic ball and chain of sucking down cheap tobacco in the form of cigarettes. However, I can see why so many pipesters are attracted to this particular blendbecause most pipesters seem to prefer the milder blends. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0b9f44b91dc914 With the understanding that there is zero, zip, zilch added flavorings this tobac is truly a blended masterpiece! This is not just Balkan, it's Balkan in a tuxedo. Ive seen someone talking about a process of fermentation which would give this blend its spark and I believe it to be true. Once the pipe was properly lit the smoke tasted like dirt. Taste and smell are terrific (sweet and spicy), just as the leave and burning properties! I was taken aback somewhat by the texture as I was expecting more of a traditional flake as opposed to a crumbly cake-type mixture. Large clouds of gray smoke still. There is a subtle background of incense. IMHO, Penzance is very much overrated. But I don't consider this an overdoing of flavours. To start with, this baccy crumbles with a grimacing look, no force needed. For all of its popularity, I have never liked this blend and I've tried it at different times in different pipes. It is NOT tobacco of the gods. I imagine keeping it in a Mason jar will keep it from drying out as quickly. If I was comparing to wine, I'd say that Penzance is Chateaux Petrus. 2. You must be 21 years or older to make any selections on this site - by doing so, you are confirming that you are of legal age to purchase tobacco products or smoking accessories. CAO Flavours Pipe Tobacco This is a blend for those who really love Latakia. Krumble Cake as the British refer to this tobacco not only has a formidable reputation but upon smoking it has a wonderful unique combination of flavors and aromas. I previously wrote a review that made it sound like the folks that own the esoterica brand were business morons for not finding some way to satisfy the strong demand for their products. Abingdon is better than this, but I prefer Westminster -- there is just more going on. I like to buy mine in bulk then put it into a tin for easy transport. I am a new pipe smoker (started about 4 months ago), longtime cigar smoker, ex-cigarette smoker and this stuff caught me off-guard. I Have only got four stars to give it, But I believe it deserves one more. Smoking this stuff made me reminisce back to my childhood days, growing up in Far North Queensland. I tried this over hyped baccy back in early 2020 before covid hit at my local pipe club meeting. I feel the same way if heaven forbid, I'm out of Penzance. The room aroma is also quite distinct, though I doubt our non-smoking friends would be appreciative. I had almost given up on trying this tobacco blend, due to its unavailability. mars cigars & pipes - Esoterica Esoterica blends have one of the most intriguing tin bouquets. Smoke the whole tin before you give up on it. Note: I smoked this blend long before the hipsters took to it and must say I'm disappointed that's it's harder to be had these days. The flavors continue to mingle though more slowly and with less emphasis. The Orientals really have some sweet depth to 'em and shine on the foundation of the smooth Latakia and rather mild presence of sweet Virginias. Out of Stock. and piquant flavor. Penzance, and other latakia or blends with a subtle complexity to them just suck in a corn cob IMO. There is very little nicotine here and the flavor is a couple of notches shy of full. The appearance is nauseatingthe "pools of oil" on the wax paper look more like something I would find on the filthy floor of a garage.