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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 12:58:31 GMT -5
Up until recently and with some regularity, I have been able to find a couple of tins or a bag of Esoterica Penzance for sale every year - either online or through a local tobacconist. But this year, Penzance has become more scarce then I am accustomed. Has anyone else noticed a marked decline in availability over the last 12-18 months?
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Post by mwps70 on Apr 8, 2018 13:06:56 GMT -5
For me it has been the opposite for me. I haven't had any luck online at all but I have a small B&M that regularly carries both Penzance and Stonehaven. They don't carry much of it but enough for me to slowly stock up. The owner gets it from Arrango shipped from Chicago. I believe the small B&Ms are who they are stocking and not as much the big internet retail. maybe more to it than that but this is just what I see in my area.
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Post by slowroll on Apr 8, 2018 14:20:06 GMT -5
Maybe they just want to cause people to buy Arango Balkan Supreme from the web dealers  |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Apr 8, 2018 14:33:53 GMT -5
I've yet to find any, aside from the occasional tin going for three figures on eBay.
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sablebrush52
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Post by sablebrush52 on Apr 8, 2018 15:00:43 GMT -5
It's all about timing. Find B&M's with little to no internet presence, who carry these blends. When you hear about sightings in the wild, start calling those B&M's. That's how I've been able to put away enough of what I like to last me a long, long time. I don't have to hunt for any Esoterica blends any more.
Deliveries of Penzance used to be quite regular and it was no big deal to find it sitting on the shelf. It wasn't really a big star. Then in 2006 or 2007, Germain's skipped a few shipments, panic set in, and the mass hoarding swallowed up whatever showed up. Penzance became the idee fixe that it had never been prior to the interruption in shipments. Germain's shipments have remained somewhat fitful, except for a period during late 2016 and early 2017 when they made a more conscientious effort to provide regular shipments. Germain's is a small boutique blender, producing a wide variety of blends, more than they can supply on a regular basis, given that their capacity is limited to what they can produce on their ancient equipment. Revamping the pipeline will affect the resulting quality and characteristics of the blends that they produce. So it is what it is.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 15:10:12 GMT -5
It's all about timing. Find B&M's with little to no internet presence, who carry these blends. When you hear about sightings in the wild, start calling those B&M's. That's how I've been able to put away enough of what I like to last me a long, long time. I don't have to hunt for any Esoterica blends any more. Deliveries of Penzance used to be quite regular and it was no big deal to find it sitting on the shelf. It wasn't really a big star. Then in 2006 or 2007, Germain's skipped a few shipments, panic set in, and the mass hoarding swallowed up whatever showed up. Penzance became the idee fixe that it had never been prior to the interruption in shipments. Germain's shipments have remained somewhat fitful, except for a period during late 2016 and early 2017 when they made a more conscientious effort to provide regular shipments. Germain's is a small boutique blender, producing a wide variety of blends, more than they can supply on a regular basis, given that their capacity is limited to what they can produce on their ancient equipment. Revamping the pipeline will affect the resulting quality and characteristics of the blends that they produce. So it is what it is. Thanks for the comment sablebrush52 - and double thanks for sending me down the Oxford English Dictionary rabbit hole by using the phrase idée fixe on the forum  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 15:18:07 GMT -5
I have never seen it available in any B&M here in Arizona, and never found it on any off the online retailers I utilize, I have only managed to trade for it, wish it was different, as I would certainly like to keep some in my cellar and let it age!
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Post by PhantomWolf on Apr 8, 2018 16:15:14 GMT -5
sablebrush52My local shop is great. They usually have a nice stash of Easoterica and they try to only sell local and at a fair mark-up. I have went as far as asking a couple tins be reserved, so I know the day I get to taste the stuff will come. Eventually. Those of you who would do likewise, just know I spend $100 a month at said shop. It helps to show some patronage before you start asking for favours. Even if it's just a tin or two a month. Enough so that they know your name. Haha
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 16:38:14 GMT -5
sablebrush52 My local shop is great. They usually have a nice stash of Easoterica and they try to only sell local and at a fair mark-up. I have went as far as asking a couple tins be reserved, so I know the day I get to taste the stuff will come. Eventually. Those of you who would do likewise, just know I spend $100 a month at said shop. It helps to show some patronage before you start asking for favours. Even if it's just a tin or two a month. Enough so that they know your name. Haha I do support my local B&M as much as I can, have even asked them to order brands that they don't normally carry (Cult - Blood Red Moon being one of them), they know me well, but know others better! Will keep searching! |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Apr 8, 2018 16:41:02 GMT -5
sablebrush52 My local shop is great. They usually have a nice stash of Easoterica and they try to only sell local and at a fair mark-up. I have went as far as asking a couple tins be reserved, so I know the day I get to taste the stuff will come. Eventually. Those of you who would do likewise, just know I spend $100 a month at said shop. It helps to show some patronage before you start asking for favours. Even if it's just a tin or two a month. Enough so that they know your name. Haha I do support my local B&M as much as I can, have even asked them to order brands that they don't normally carry (Cult - Blood Red Moon being one of them), they know me well, but know others better! Will keep searching! I'll just let my FM, Bulkan Blue, and McC Anniversary keep aging until people are trying to trade Penzance for it. Haha |
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Post by Dramatwist on Apr 8, 2018 16:59:21 GMT -5
...a certain shop here in the SF Bay Area seems to have it fairly regularly... only on one visit in 18 years have they not had Penzance on the shelf... at retail price...
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Post by PhantomWolf on Apr 8, 2018 17:02:05 GMT -5
...a certain shop here in the SF Bay Area seems to have it fairly regularly... only on one visit in 18 years have they not had Penzance on the shelf... at retail price... If you ever wanna trade a tin for some FM(Original and or Bayou,) or Bulkan Blue PM me! Haha |
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Post by Dramatwist on Apr 8, 2018 17:03:44 GMT -5
...a certain shop here in the SF Bay Area seems to have it fairly regularly... only on one visit in 18 years have they not had Penzance on the shelf... at retail price... If you ever wanna trade a tin for some FM(Original and or Bayou,) or Bulkan Blue PM me! Haha ...nice try... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 17:06:01 GMT -5
If you ever wanna trade a tin for some FM(Original and or Bayou,) or Bulkan Blue PM me! Haha ...nice try... I have some Captain Black if thats more your preference! LOL |
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Post by Dramatwist on Apr 8, 2018 17:08:38 GMT -5
I have some Captain Black if thats more your preference! LOL ...you guys are overwhelming in your generosity, lol... |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Apr 8, 2018 17:29:25 GMT -5
Haha Always bashing Captain Black! I love CB and CB Copper. When I'm good and drunk, there is no smoke that is as tasty, well behaved, and satisfying.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 17:33:20 GMT -5
CB Copper is excellent. A friendly smoke that doesn't bother the non-smokers either. Unless they are just ill tempered sods.
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Post by Dramatwist on Apr 8, 2018 17:34:11 GMT -5
Haha Always bashing Captain Black! I love CB and CB Copper. When I'm good and drunk, there is no smoke that is as tasty, well behaved, and satisfying. ...I like CB... has it's place in my cellar... |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Apr 8, 2018 17:40:32 GMT -5
CB Copper is excellent. A friendly smoke that doesn't bother the non-smokers either. Unless they are just ill tempered sods. Absolutely. I'd sleep on a pillow stuffed with the stuff. CB and Copper are some of my favourite aros. |
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Post by JimInks on Apr 8, 2018 18:00:50 GMT -5
I have some Captain Black if thats more your preference! LOL ...you guys are overwhelming in your generosity, lol... Those guys are pikers. What you need is Sammie's Seaweed Ultra Extra with scallops and granulated clam shells. |
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Post by That Falls Guy on Apr 8, 2018 18:04:13 GMT -5
Didn't you recently do a review of Sammie's Seaweed Ultra Extra, and give it 4 Stars?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 18:05:03 GMT -5
Didn't you recently do a review of Sammie's Seaweed Ultra Extra, and give it 4 Stars? HAHAHAHA |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 18:49:33 GMT -5
I do support my local B&M as much as I can, have even asked them to order brands that they don't normally carry (Cult - Blood Red Moon being one of them), they know me well, but know others better! Will keep searching! I'll just let my FM, Bulkan Blue, and McC Anniversary keep aging until people are trying to trade Penzance for it. Haha I don't suppose And So To Bed would work....? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 0:52:06 GMT -5
...a certain shop here in the SF Bay Area seems to have it fairly regularly... only on one visit in 18 years have they not had Penzance on the shelf... at retail price... That's interesting and fortunate for local Penzance fans. What does the retail price look like in San Francisco? |
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Post by JimInks on Apr 9, 2018 1:29:51 GMT -5
Didn't you recently do a review of Sammie's Seaweed Ultra Extra, and give it 4 Stars? Oh, sure. I remember that. It also goes well with New England clam chowder. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Apr 9, 2018 1:47:49 GMT -5
...a certain shop here in the SF Bay Area seems to have it fairly regularly... only on one visit in 18 years have they not had Penzance on the shelf... at retail price... That's interesting and fortunate for local Penzance fans. What does the retail price look like in San Francisco? $14.00 and $36.00 |
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sablebrush52
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Post by sablebrush52 on Apr 9, 2018 3:20:33 GMT -5
sablebrush52 My local shop is great. They usually have a nice stash of Easoterica and they try to only sell local and at a fair mark-up. I have went as far as asking a couple tins be reserved, so I know the day I get to taste the stuff will come. Eventually. Those of you who would do likewise, just know I spend $100 a month at said shop. It helps to show some patronage before you start asking for favours. Even if it's just a tin or two a month. Enough so that they know your name. Haha That's EXACTLY the way to do it. LA now has little to no pipe tobacco available. So I found a couple of shops elsewhere that carry Esoterica and became a regular customer, buying a wide variety of blends that they sell. So when I called about an Esoterica blend they were happy to sell to me. And they also asked that I not divulge who they are because they hate being pestered by cherrypickers. At this point, I'm well set. |
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