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Post by exbenedict on Jan 8, 2019 17:04:27 GMT -5
Ok, so a while back I posted up my utter lack of excitement for some Penzance. I was told that I hadn't tried it enough or that I needed to give it sometime....you know, the usual rigamarole, so I have now officially gone through an entire tin and smoked it in briars, meers, clays, and cobs. I honestly still don't see what the hype is other than fake manufactured price manipulation due to the scarcity alone of the production. Now, don't get me wrong, it IS smooth smoking, cool flavored, and not palate destroying or anything like that. I just don't get the wow factor from it. I wouldn't turn it down if someone was offering it up for free, or at retail prices (only to resell on eBay of course at a profit  ), but I would rather spend my time and effort on getting other blends cellared wide and deep at market prices than chasing after a unicorn that tastes like chicken. Just my $0.02 now that I've worked through an entire tin. As always, YMMV, but there it is. Meh. |
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Post by roadsdiverged on Jan 8, 2019 17:08:23 GMT -5
I'm glad you said it... hahah.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 17:08:34 GMT -5
I too find Penzance kind of on the “ blah, bland “ side. Not worth the BIG bucks or the hype. I traded what I had a couple of years ago, I can definitely live without it!! Every pipe smoker has different tastes.
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Post by slowroll on Jan 8, 2019 17:15:09 GMT -5
I'm in your camp. Plenty of good lat blends for less money and available 5 lbs at a time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 17:16:07 GMT -5
Penzance is pretty awesome stuff, just not worth the asking price. Esoterica And so to Bed is better with age IMHO.  |
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Post by slowroll on Jan 8, 2019 17:20:58 GMT -5
Penzance is pretty awesome stuff, just not worth the asking price. Esoterica And so to Bed is better with age IMHO. Yeah, it's good, but not that good. Since I smoke better than a lb a month , i want stuff around 35 bucks a lb. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 17:23:39 GMT -5
Penzance is pretty awesome stuff, just not worth the asking price. Esoterica And so to Bed is better with age IMHO. Yeah, it's good, but not that good. Since I smoke better than a lb a month , i want stuff around 35 bucks a lb. G.L. Pease Quiet Nights. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Jan 8, 2019 17:24:55 GMT -5
I suppose I should weigh in on this. Every smoker has their own tastes, and not everything appeals to everyone.
For me, there was a tin note on first opening that was attractive. I don't know what it was... a preservative, kind of a ketchup scent or maybe vinegar... but it was like nothing else I had ever tried.
The second part was the taste of the smoke itself and the burning quality. I had never had such an easy smoke right down to ash.
As you all know, I'm now over it, but when I was first introduced to it, it was unique and seemed very exotic... but time and experience has shown me that I was simply seduced by the differences in Penzance from other blends available in those times.
I will never chase it again, first of all because of all the brou-ha-ha surrounding it, and second because other tobacco blends check the same boxes for me.
If you get a chance to try it, go for it... but don't spend stupid prices on it.
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Post by slowroll on Jan 8, 2019 17:31:44 GMT -5
Yeah, it's good, but not that good. Since I smoke better than a lb a month , i want stuff around 35 bucks a lb. G.L. Pease Quiet Nights. I found that to be kinda meh too. I like Odyssey better. Besides, no G.L, Pease in bulk, so i don't buy it often. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 17:44:30 GMT -5
I found that to be kinda meh too. I like Odyssey better. Besides, no G.L, Pease in bulk, so i don't buy it often. Cool beans. What cranks your engine? |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jan 8, 2019 17:49:18 GMT -5
I suppose I should weigh in on this. Every smoker has their own tastes, and not everything appeals to everyone. For me, there was a tin note on first opening that was attractive. I don't know what it was... a preservative, kind of a ketchup scent or maybe vinegar... but it was like nothing else I had ever tried. The second part was the taste of the smoke itself and the burning quality. I had never had such an easy smoke right down to ash. As you all know, I'm now over it, but when I was first introduced to it, it was unique and seemed very exotic... but time and experience has shown me that I was simply seduced by the differences in Penzance from other blends available in those times. I will never chase it again, first of all because of all the brou-ha-ha surrounding it, and second because other tobacco blends check the same boxes for me. If you get a chance to try it, go for it... but don't spend stupid prices on it. I don't think I could say it better than Martin has. I got my first introduction to more-than-a-bowl quantities from Martin...after smoking enough to satisfy that desire...I'm in the same camp as the others. Glad I have some, will I chase it...hell, no. |
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Post by peteguy on Jan 8, 2019 17:52:25 GMT -5
One of my top 5. Send any/all here and I will enjoy the shite out of it. While you are at it send all the Captain Black Grape and Cult Blood Red moon as well.  |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jan 8, 2019 17:55:36 GMT -5
That's the beauty of our sport... To each their own.
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Post by kbareit on Jan 8, 2019 18:05:01 GMT -5
I'm feeling fortunate in all of this. Can't miss what you never had.
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Post by slowroll on Jan 8, 2019 18:05:12 GMT -5
I found that to be kinda meh too. I like Odyssey better. Besides, no G.L, Pease in bulk, so i don't buy it often. Cool beans. What cranks your engine? C&D Engine 99 , Byzantium, Arango Balkan Supreme, HH ODF. |
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Post by isett2860 on Jan 8, 2019 18:12:26 GMT -5
Yeah, it's good, but not that good. Since I smoke better than a lb a month , i want stuff around 35 bucks a lb. G.L. Pease Quiet Nights. I took this advice a couple years back from 10furlongs, and completely agree. Quiet Nights is (usually) easy to get and doesn’t require a loan or co-signer! |
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 8, 2019 18:21:09 GMT -5
So I guess I’ll weigh in as well and admit I like Esoterica’s Penzance and Stonehaven. No I will not pay exorbitant prices, so I only buy it rarely and smoke it on special occasions. A reasonable price to me would be 35 or 40 dollars for the half pound bag. I don’t find that very often but when I do I buy it. I think their secret is simply they age it longer than most blenders. All that said, I think HH Latakia Flake and HH Old Dark Fired come very close to those two blends and I do smoke those often. When I don’t have Esoterica I don’t miss it, but having that occasional bowl is like getting that chocolate mousse after a nice dinner out. Just a nice experience.
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Post by dave g on Jan 8, 2019 18:41:56 GMT -5
Now that I have a sufficient stash cellared, I’ll say this.
Penzance is a good smoke, but Margate is by far my favorite Esoterica blend.
different strokes for different folks. I always heard the unwavering praise of Stonehaven. After finally scoring a bag I was disappointed. I ended up giving it away.
There’s too many fantastic blends readily available to fret over unobtainium
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Post by Dramatwist on Jan 8, 2019 18:46:08 GMT -5
Now that I have a sufficient stash cellared, I’ll say this. Penzance is a good smoke, but Margate is by far my favorite Esoterica blend. different strokes for different folks. I always heard the unwavering praise of Stonehaven. After finally scoring a bag I was disappointed. I ended up giving it away. There’s too many fantastic blends readily available to fret over unobtainium This is what I have arrived at, Dave... there are so many good tobaccos available right now... I just can't see my way clear to pay ridiculous prices for something that, while delicious, does not justify the expense. |
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Post by dave g on Jan 8, 2019 18:56:30 GMT -5
@drama
I say this but yet, I’ve consciously bought vintage Krumble Kake...
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Post by PhantomWolf on Jan 8, 2019 19:42:14 GMT -5
I'm a jaded guy by nature and I abhor popular opinion. Show me what the masses love and I'll throw rocks at its face. If the Emperor were naked, I'd be the first to say so. haha That being said, despite the bandwagoning and over-hyped nature of that particular blend, I may have to swallow my contempt and buy a tin on eBay.
I just love anything produced by Germain & Son. From the Esoterica line to Germain's, to the line of tobaccos blended for Smoker's Haven. There is magic on that ancient little island- Or at least a fine tradition of work ethic and blending knowledge. haha |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 8, 2019 23:23:50 GMT -5
I have smoked a tin each of Penzance and Stonehaven. I couldn't taste the Stonehaven at all, but the Penzance was very good once I found the right pipe for it. I have several blends that I like better, much better. I don't expect to ever smoke it again and I am very fine with that.
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Post by exbenedict on Jan 9, 2019 2:16:16 GMT -5
Now that I have a sufficient stash cellared, I’ll say this. Penzance is a good smoke, but Margate is by far my favorite Esoterica blend. different strokes for different folks. I always heard the unwavering praise of Stonehaven. After finally scoring a bag I was disappointed. I ended up giving it away. There’s too many fantastic blends readily available to fret over unobtainium Yes...Margate is another story entirely. I love that stuff. I have been lucky in that one of the unknown local B&M's gets random shipments of esoterica stuff and anytime there is some margate int here they give me a call first. They haven't had any Penzance or Stonehaven in over two years, but Margate shows up about twice a year. No bags, but about 6 tins at a time. I buy as much as they'll let me. |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Jan 9, 2019 2:37:51 GMT -5
I've only had Cardiff, Dunbar, and So to Bed. Dunbar and So to Bed are both abundant in my cellar.
Cardiff, I use in a couple home-brews. On its own it is good, but only when fresh. The light strawberry shortcake-like flavour lightens and fades quickly after being jarred. Within months(opening for occasional bowls) you are essentially left with the makings for a really terrific cigarette. haha
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2019 8:48:26 GMT -5
I love it and don't chase it. I have enough to last me a long, long time. All purchased at $38 per 8oz bag.
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Post by qmechanics on Jan 9, 2019 20:20:39 GMT -5
That's the beauty of our sport... To each their own. Sport? |
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Post by slowroll on Jan 9, 2019 23:24:12 GMT -5
That's the beauty of our sport... To each their own. Sport? Well sure. Isn't balancing a piece of wood and vulcanite between a coupla teeth while lit and doing something else at the same time a sport? |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jan 10, 2019 2:28:11 GMT -5
Well sure. Isn't balancing a piece of wood and vulcanite between a coupla teeth while lit and doing something else at the same time a sport? That's a good enough definition for me. |
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Post by bonanzadriver on Jan 10, 2019 3:27:23 GMT -5
Although I appreciate the opinions voiced here, I for one absolutely enjoy Penzance. I don't pay stupid money to obtain it, but I do invest a little bit of effort and time to pick it up when I can.
I admittedly have acquired an ample supply of it, along with every other Esoterica blend, and am in no hurry to obtain more at foolish prices.
I'm sure the O.P.'s intents were not to espouse any sort of "sour grapes" comments, but sadly I have seen many such posts, on other forums, marginalizing that which they can't or haven't tried.
I agree with Paddy's comments, "to each their own"
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Post by qmechanics on Jan 10, 2019 4:31:49 GMT -5
Well sure. Isn't balancing a piece of wood and vulcanite between a coupla teeth while lit and doing something else at the same time a sport? That's a good enough definition for me. Funny guys..😁 |
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), but I would rather spend my time and effort on getting other blends cellared wide and deep at market prices than chasing after a unicorn that tastes like chicken. Just my $0.02 now that I've worked through an entire tin. As always, YMMV, but there it is. Meh.
