Similar Blends: Nothing I've tried. The flavor is so complexthere's no way to get my mind around it! One of the downsides of having found your One True Blend is missing out on treats like this. Hmmm.. it seems others have adjusted their ratings too, and not upwards (Original 2005 review) Yup, yup, yup Scroll thru the list and count the 4-stars. IMHO, latakia blends and scotches were meant for each other, but this particular combination is wedded Bliss. I can easily understand why some have several pounds of this in their cellar. This is simply one of the tastiest tobbacos available. Finish: Finishes more heavily without being overwhelming. I am sure that is me. The only way I can possibly put this into words is: WOW! I was overcome with emotion and cried uncontrollably at the honor that I had bestowed before me. They both look and feel similar, smell similar, and smoke similar. I cant see me getting my mitts on any more in the near future,so I can now cross this off my bucket list and pass into oblivion a happy man. both are crumble cakes with rather complex flavors. The orientals tempt some to believe this blend is cased. Difficult to add much to what's already been said, except that I find this excellent tobacco to provide two smokes for the price of one. I am smoking some more today and this is really good and can see why it has over 450 reviews. Everyone should try Penzance once, but it has not become a go-to blend for me yet. Penzance tobacco is tinned in a charming golden colored rectangular tin. I have noticed that good tobaccos can some times receive bad reviews - can it be that the local, seasonal climate where people live can effect the taste of their tobacco? The aroma from the jar is unique. Also great are Margate and Quiet nights , both a wee bit different . The best English I've tried to date. The VA in it provides enough body and sweetnes so the latakia does not get monotone. Price in Bulk 8oz bag is quite reasonable. Having tried more than a few different tobaccos since, and knowing how rare it was to find Penzance, I decided to pick up a tin. BAM! Penzance. Nevertheless, if you enjoy traditional latakias, you should get some. Every website you go to will likely read Out of Stock. The tastes, both complex and simple, all the way through the bowl are nothing short of amazing. I didn't have to dry or otherwise mess with it to get a perfect burn. I'd recommend this to someone fairly new to English blends who might be afraid of too strong a flavor, only if it was available and priced properly. What I mean by raw is that the flavors of the various tobaccos are more distinct and identifiable. At first, the flavor of Penzance is full in Latakia with a very slightly sweet background creating a well-rounded taste. I have always loved the unique flavor and incense like quality of Germain's Latakia, but there are other Germain mixtures where I feel this special leaf is better highlighted. Smoking this stuff made me reminisce back to my childhood days, growing up in Far North Queensland. I was fortunate enough to find a forum member willing to trade me for some. I can say it wasnt as bad as it smelled, a different flavor than what im used to maybe alittle soapiness but it wasnt an unpleasent experiance. Strong and stout, yet smooth and creamy. A couple of bowls, however, and I was in love. Stock up! All very pleasant, very interesting. Germain's latakia, like their Oriental (I'm thinking about their Special Latakia Flake) has a personnality and taste like no other. Personally, I like Balkan Sobranie much better. In a very large bowl, it's important to not crush the bits too much and gently push them down during the smoke. (I would love the room note as well, I suspect, but I can't tell that for sure). Love the crumble-able flakes and the small efficient tin easily pocketable. Worth the wait: absolutely! If you are lucky enough to find it in stock and have never tried it and want to know if it's worth all that money, you are the only judge of that. I recently transitioned to English Blends as My journey as a Pipe Smoker has evolved. Nonetheless, it is a quality product, somewhat novel, and I do enjoy it from time to time.. Fours stars, it has all been said. I find the taste profile of Penzance to be quite distinctive. It packs well enough. The second occurrence was yesterday,when I received an 8 oz.bag from the States. Would not turn away a gift of this stuff. This slight drying seems to help keep the tobacco from clumping in the bowl and I find I relight less often. A rich, full bodied blend I even gave away 10 of them to a friend! I liked it so much that I went back and bought a 2-oz tin. probable. One of my new favorites. Burns all the way down to a fine white ash without a relight. Ive tried this blend in different pipes, with and without filter, straight out of the tin or very dry, packed loose or tight. I like it better than the Margate that came with it. I've enjoyed reading the reviews here and found them helpful as I find out what works for me. I came across a sealed Mason Jar of this stuff that has remained hidden in a dark closet for the past two years. Some smokers like this (a la Frog Morton?) With that being said, I do believe the scarcity of this blend also lends a tremendous amount of the desire for pipe tobacco smokers to seek out this blend. 11 year old Penzance. :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion Fully rubbed out; dried for 5-10 minutes (per my tobacconist's advice), it lit quite easily. If they were all this good though, we would get mighty bored and have nothing to complain about. My first impressions of Penzance were less than favorable and although it didn't meet my initial expectations, there was something about it that kept bringing me back. The aroma is of a smoky Latakia presence combined with Oriental essence. The room note is pungent, and won't likely suit non-smokers. There are also a lot of soft, buttery, floral, woody, slight sour qualities to this that come from the oriental tobaccos. The taste is still sweet and still smoky. But then he came, and I saw his fruity bug vroom on down the street. Is there any other pipe tobacco anywhere in the world that tastes exactly like Penzance? It has the most pronounced after taste of all the English blends I have tried that lingers, and lingers, and lingers. This is an excellent english style tobacco. I have smoked 2 full tins in a short time. 2001-2023 STC Holdings LLC, a division of Mac Baren USA. Do NOT be put off by ABSSiegel comment, "If you don't love latakia, stay away!" The "thick" flakes are in fact quite thin, and it hardly matters since the tobacco begins to crumble immediately when it is handled. The cut allows considerable flexibility in preparation and is also easy to travel with in the pouchit rubs itself out to a nice broken flake. Esoterica Pipe Tobacco Penzance 2oz Tin - SmokersHaven.com Recommended. lakeland (please note I used a small "L"). Then lightly fill your pipe with just a slight amount of tamping, but not too much! There's a little local shop I know of that often has bags and tins of this, because nobody actually smokes it - they're all too busy cellaring it to realize that it's become something far less than it once was. Not overpowering, the richness of the blend makes it very satisfying to smoke as the taste comes across creamy if smoked methodically and not too hurried! The smoke was very mild, and easily inhalable with no noticable nicotine. I finally got a 2oz tin of it by chance. I like the flavor, Im not sure its worth the labor. Anyway, this stuff is quite remarkable. It smokes cool & mild without any harshness or bite. The taste was a very married cool English flavor. The taste to me is flat. If you prefer milder blends or are just experimenting with Latakia blends, then you might like this. Again, this is not a regular for me, and I might have missed something that others have reported, but Penzance is an interesting smoke if nothing else, certainly not a classic in my 40 years experience of pipe smoking. It might just be the fermentation process. Indeed, I think any tinkering to add extra contrived nuance would diminish it. Its a great one. This is the king of all latakia blends! When I found an 8 ounce bag of it at my local B&M I snatched it up. Now if you are one of those people that chases unicorns. Tin note is rich sweet earthy tobacco with an occasional hint of iodine. So finally I got a tin last month. Will I pay a premium for it again? Well here is my prediction: In the fullness of time, all good things come to an end. The tobacco world's own white whale, Esoterica tobaccos are manufactured by G.F. Germain. I Have only got four stars to give it, But I believe it deserves one more. Wow! $17.80 - $44.20. You have to understand it. My tobacconist had located two, eight ounce bags, and wanted to know if I was still interested. This smell, which reminds me of iodine, carries over into the smoke and is largely responsible for the absolutely unique flavor and texture of this blend. 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. Components: Latakia, Orientals, Virginia Family: English Cut: Flake Customers also purchased Quick View New Rattray's: Red Rapparee 50g $16.79 Sale $13.43 Sale -20% View Product Write Review Quick View New Samuel Gawith: Mayor's Chocolate Flake 50g Cellaring is done in a vacuum sealed tin where there is a lot less air available. Lots to enjoy here. PLEASE READ TO END WITH UPDATE of 4/20/12 !! I rubbed out one flake gently. But there are lots of blends just as good that aren?t so finicky. The smoky, musty Latakia aroma is still there though mellowed compared to an unaged tin. Vapid - a waist of money and worthless. Oh my goodness this stuff smelled terrible. bag are even more wet / oily. It taste nearly none or mighty when I lighting it. I'm not trying to be funny here but I believe one might catch a better buzz by going outside & just breathing some of our good, old polluted air. The absence of sweetness in the scent was promising to me. Older vintages: Hall of Fame nominee IMHO. Davidoff Pipe Tobacco I can understand why it's so loved and obsessed over, and I'm very glad to have had the chance to smoke it. Just now finished a bowl of Penzance Circa 1991.WOW.the Penzance I truly remembered. At this moment, there are already 342 other reviews of the much sought after Penzance. The tin note is heavenly.just gorgeousbut the crumble cake style is a bit challenging to handle, so extra care must be taken in packing the pipe, as many before me have noted. This is the only tobacco I can think of that I've finished a bowl, and immediately refilled and smoked a second - it's that good. Even this confirmed Virginia smoker must make room in the rotation for Penzance! I would not call it an all day smoke, at least not unless you're a very serious pipe smoker. In other words, the lat is dominant with the orientals supporting at interval. As I mentioned, this is the only one where it comes through in the smoke for me. It is magical in a way. Although it's not MY number one tobacco, I am sure it will be to many. This stuff stays good all the way down to the last. Not English and not American . Favors are still creamy and smoky with a bitter sweetness. Despite it's strong scent, it doesn't seem to linger, fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view. Get exclusive updates on all our fresh offerings, sales, and promotions -- right to your inbox. The blend isn't terribly complex, it's basically an ongoing duel between the sweet virginias and the rich smokey latakia, with some condiment tobaccos present to spice things up slightly. This is the first flake-cut blend of it's type that I've seen and I found it quite interesting. Latakia laden blends can be, and usually are, both pungent and sweet/flavorful. For the most part, my stock of Penzance (and Stonehaven) have been resting quietly in mason jars, in the darkness of my hall closet for the past couple of years. I give Penzance 4 stars because it is my first experience with a full-bodied, complex smoke. Nothing to say that hasn't been said 250 times already. The most heavenly and luscious "Liquid Latakia Cream"available to discriminating smokers everywhere. My brothers nieghbor dropped me off this as I had given him tobacco to try in the past. Does this make it taste better, I wonder. I had just finished a tin of SG Bracken Flake and thought I would try the Penzance. Everything about this tobacco screams perfection to me. 309 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011 Toll The process is very smooth and linear change. Very shortly after taking the flakes in with your eyes, you'll experience them with your nose. I've heard great things about it, read rave reviews, and couldn't wait to try it. After a year of fruitless searches, I finally broke down and purchased an 8-ounce bag of Penzance via e-bay (at about a 300% markup). My third experience is actually occurring right now in the form of My Mixture 965, so it will be hard to keep my tobaccos straight. All rights reserved. Upon lighting, wait for them to warm until they unfold with that soft, unique, slipstream fragrance that you long for. It smokes well outdoors and easily stays lit. I also recommend aging it. Having said all that , It is a great blend and if you can get it by all means at least to try one tin . these folks find these two blends overwhelmingly strong! Very highly recommended! (Josh was exceptionally good at answering questions without actually answering any of the questions). I'd recommend doing sooner than later as the price keeps going up & up due supply & demand. Consistency to the bottom of the bowl, rich and complex flavors, a crumbly texture that makes loading very simple, and something very unique and satisfying in the smoke of this masterfully blended cake have made Penzance the most plentiful tobacco in my cellar. of STC Holdings LLC. Disclaimer: I have bought all of my Penzance at a mom and pop shop and paid no more than retail for a bag or tin. Astley's No. Just don't give up if the first pipeful puts you off -- try a different pipe until you hit the magic button. Mottled brown and black 1 1/2x1/2x1/8" cross-cut sliced cake. To me it seems the perfect Balkan blend so far, even exceeding the Pease blends. Or, if you are so inclined, smoke this all day -- you might be able to, but I think my taste buds would need about a week off to recover. I had heard about the flavor fading if the tobacco dried, so I took my 8 oz tray of flakes and put them all in a Mason jar when I first opened it. This wonderful crumble cake typically comes moist. I have given up on this and, in fact, all Esoterica products. Long matured and easily crumbled to facilitate pipe filling. While smoking, Penzance is very complex. I do prefer these to Penzance and the thought came to me that this should lower Penzance to three stars, but the differences are minor and all of these blends are worthy of four stars. The fact it's a flake garners it brownie points with meas does the small, pocketable tin. It's very complex, full flavored and very well blended. The most beautiful tin presentation you'll ever see, but thats where the good ends for me. I smoked this for the first time two years ago and fell in love with it immediately. Penzance is at most a "medium" on the strength meter. Margate is better. The best behaved and easiest English tobacco Ive ever smoked. I'm one of those people that have notifications set all around the web for when Penzance goes on sale. Finally, a latakia-based blend that I can enjoy! Latakia is undoubtedly the star of Penzance but it does not perform alone. The flake crumbles marvellously and, in raw form, I am rather charmed by this offering. It's a melody of flavours pouring out. Latakia lover should not try it 'cos it may run out of stockthen you are in trouble! 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. It is funny now how a 60 something mile one-way trip back then was exciting, daring and risky, hoping I would not break down. Penzance is an interesting offering, yet I couldnt get satisfaction out of it despite tyring different pipes, packing configuratons, and rubbings. After starting with aromatics (I pre-ambled this by stating I knew absolutely nothing about pipes or pipe tobacco), I began researching, sampling and comparing every different type and blend of pipe tobacco I could lay my hands on. It is very different from penzance yet both display age like no other. 4 Stars. It's a little moist in the package for my taste, but that's easily fixed by drying it down a little. Get it. First Impression: Seemed very "olde world" and I liked it very much! The Cyprian Latakia turns me into a Smokeasaurus with dragon breath! Borkum Riff Pipe Tobacco The tin presentation is nice. But this blend is over the top. I highly recommend this to latakia lovers. It's good, not great. Having been to Amsterdam not too long ago, I fell for Dutch salty licorice and there's a similarity somewhere in Penzance's flavor profile. Nice - it hits you with a fair amount of flavor from the get go. The small tin makes it very convenient and is also a good conversation piece. I'm some place around the halfway point right now and my palate is telling me " okay we get the point , you done yet?" In my mind, the cult-like demand and premium cost are not justified by the actual quality. That's not why I like this stuff, really! J.F Germain's truly are the masters of rare, time consuming and perfect blends. I think you can get a 50 g tan on four noggins for $127? Penzance isn't a powerhouse in strength as the nicotine is 1.5 - 2 out of 5. This is one of my favorite English blends, it is especially good I think with some age on it. Originally a private label for Smokers' Haven, when the new owners parted ways with Germain, the blends lay dormant. It's an earthy balkan/English and in no way are the orientals nor the VAs at the forefront. Hours of Operation: Our website is always open and you can place an order at any time. Kinda like the forbidden-fruit. Smokes cool and smooth. It takes two matches and a strong effort to keep it lit, with puffing. As I stated, a real problem is with the moisture. So I scored a pound in April-2 eight oz bags, looked to be a year old or so when I recd them. This is a full english blend with the Latakia and Virginia being the dominant flavors. I really enjoy other Esoterica blends. Penzance is mild enough to smoke frequently. It gives me that almost indefinable quality of smoking 'satisfaction' - that fulfillment feeling - right from the start. Has that plum pudding flavor and is obviously one of the most desirable all time best blends ever produced, just look at how much the 8oz bags go for on Fleabay. I wouldn't call this a lat bomb as many others have. Rich, intense and creamy, this blend is one of my top picks. Misrepresentation of your Once the product has come back in stock, you'll need to resubscribe for future notifications. Craig Tarler?s Pirate Kake uses Burley, but I haven?t tried it yet. I believe that Penzance will one day be for me as it is with many of the conniseurs of the pipe. I now prefer Astley's #99 for an all-day, any day latakia (and ease of use cut), but I can't imagine being without a tin of Penzance stashed somewhere for those evenings when I want some quality time with myself! A nutty flavor also persisted especially when the smoke was swallowed. The presentation is nice, however, the flakes crumble much too easily and once a few have been removed from the tin the remaining flakes become more or less rubbed out within the tin itself.