G. L. Pease Penny Farthing

I’m not entirely surprised this blend isn’t more popular as it takes some effort to maximize it’s potential. That said, it’s worth the effort. It’s modestly dry out of the tin and ready for packin’. It’s a different cut than other shags I’ve tried as it’s a chopped shag. Extremely easy to pack as it’s not a long stringy cut like one finds in a shag such as Three Sails. Lights easy, but use caution not to scorch as it becomes ashy tasting (and stays that way) off the launch if overzealous with the flame. Take your time when smoking to keep the flavor at it’s best - the cut makes a slow pace effortless without worry of constant relights. Follow these steps and you won’t experience the cigarette note mentioned in a few reviews. I don’t get as much sweetness as some other reviewers have noted but it’s not entirely absent. Penny Farthing is equally savory as it is spicy, being fairly consistent with this flavor profile throughout the bowl. It’s Virginia dominant and more bready than grassy in flavor and aroma. The Kentucky presence is subtle but rounds out the flavor quite nicely. All in all, highly recommended. It’s a shag cut... treat it right and I think you’ll find it worth keeping in the rotation. If you scorch it too heavily on the light or puff it into ashy oblivion, dump it out and start again with a softer approach before making a final judgment.

Penny Farthing

This blend has really grown on me. In the tin it is a much lighter color than I expected given the description. It has a nice dark fruit and natural tobacco tin note. It packs and lights easily, smokes effortlessly. It has a nice dark, earthy-sweet flavor that’s not too strong. In fact, the blend, to me, is rather smooth and "gentle” given the amount of flavor the i get from it. The Perique is definitely a background player; the dark fired Kentucky and Virginias are the star, coming through on every puff. I don’t think it’s a very complex blend that evolves throughout the bowl; it’s consistent from start to finish, which I rather like. It smokes dry and to a nice grey ash. Being a shag cut it can burn a bit fast or hot if you push it but even then it doesn’t get harsh or bite. I’ve been enjoying it in small to medium sized bowls.

Penny Farthing is quite delicious. In the tin the tobacco looks like the bottom of a bag of shredded wheat cereal. The tin aroma is sweet, smoky & sharp and the moisture content is relatively low. Being a shag cut, Penny Farthing is somewhat pipe dependent. With the accelerated burn rate, I found this blend smoked cooler and tasted more dynamic in a pipe with a longer than average stem and with thicker walls. In an effort to confirm my preference I did smoke several bowls in a few group 2 sized pipes and as expected the smoke was not as nuanced, but in trade the overall experience was more intense.

The flavor of Penny Farthing is rich but never overwhelming. It reminds me of a few of the best blends that Daughters & Ryan has to offer, in that it’s rugged with a sense of elegance still at play. The Virginias are toasty & sweet tasting and the Kentucky adds a slightly bitter, smoky counter balance. The perique seems to be blended for seasoning more than overt flavor, and comes across as peppery rather than fruity. The whole experience of smoking a bowl of this blend is quite delightful and if you enjoy spicy tobacco this is a must try. I wouldn’t smoke this as an all-day blend, it’s a bit too potent for that. However, it makes for an excellent evening smoke and if you enjoy a bit of spirits with your pipe I found that this pairs wonderfully with bourbon or even better a few fingers of rye.

Of all the other blends in GL Pease’s catalog, Penny Farthing reminds most of Cumberland. Comparatively Penny Farthing is more sprite and slightly sweeter, but it shares Cumberland's complex yet balanced interplay of flavors coming from the trio of Virginia, Kentucky and perique tobacco.

There is a difference between shag cut pipe tobacco and cigarette tobacco . The Penny Farthing cut is so fine that it is difficult to smoke in a pipe . Such a cut in a pipe burns fast and burns hot . The tin note and composition of the blend is promising with its Virginia- perique- combination but any flavor that might have been captured seems lost due to the burn . I found that it caused tongue bite and a really hot feeling in the mouth . I know that Greg Pease is a serious blender who strives for quality but I think that this one got away from him .

So, is Penny Farthing “zesty”, or “hot”? I’m going with “zesty” (and 4 stars). YMMV, of course, and my guess is that some smokers who are more used to or attuned to more “conditioned” tobacco (English or European) might find this GLP offering to be more intense than expected, and most of this this tobacco forward taste is in a higher register than usual. My young tin full was cut to a classic fine shag, with some broken flake to prove real, flue cured VA flake was included. Colors range from golden, to red brown and dark brown, reflecting predominant bright, flue cured VAs, air cured and maybe a little stoved red VAs, a significant portion of Perique, and a dash of KY. Tin note is muted, smelling somewhat of fresh wheat bread, a tiny bit sharp, and a little yeasty. PF handles, loads, lights and smokes like a dream. I pack it snugly in a larger bowl, because of the cut, and it’s best, I think, to follow Mr. Pease’s advice and just sip this one, not only to minimize bite but this also affords one’s best chance at getting the most from this blend, which might come off as a codger RYO without due consideration. Given proper consideration, PF is a high quality VA/Per with some KY added for undertones and interest. The bright VAs lead with tangy grasses that either sparkle or bite, depending on how one smokes it, also how one handles flue cured VAs that are not all that mild to begin with. The small quantity of red VAs takes it down a notch, at least in terms of “frequency”, but their paucity yields just a trace of earth and dark fruit. There’s ample Perique that’s rather dry and a little sour, also more zippy spice than fruit. The KY adds just a little nutty tannin and smoke, along with the aforementioned under tones. If you insist that tobacco be sweet, pass on this one. Strength just toes over medium. Tastes are just over medium. Room note is pretty nice for a blend with Perique. Aftertaste is a slow trailing off of the best of the smoke. It lingers long and leaves a great taste in my mouth.

Again, the “trick” with Penny Farthing is to take it easy, top to bottom. Not sure how it will age, given the cut, but I like it fine right out of a young tin. It hasn’t replaced any of my favorites yet, but that doesn’t stop me from giving it 4 stars.

At my past weekly pipe club meeting, our local brick and mortar tobacco store had this as a new addition. I try to make a point to buy something because for me I do not want to spend hours at someone’s establishment and not support the store. So, in a way it is like paying informal pipe club dues. I am getting somewhere so bear with me. California has some of the highest tobacco taxes I have ever seen. This is no reflection on the store because they have to pass the taxes on to the consumer but this tin set me back $18.25 a 2 oz tin plus sales tax. On line I can get it for $11.05 plus shipping or even free shipping with a certain price point. There are actual very few pipe and cigar stores left in this state due to the high cost of operating a business, tobacco taxes, etc. We do have a lot of cigarette stores but no place to sit down and converse with like fellows who enjoy the hobby. So, to all my fellow pipe club smokers wherever you are, I encourage you to support your local shop as I am sure we all do or we won't have anyplace left to rest our pipes. Since I got my sticker shock experience out of the way on to the review. This is definitely a fine shag cut with a few broken pieces scattered throughout the tin. Nice mild sweet smell, can’t really put in words what it reminds me of but it is a pleasant sweet Virginia smell. This of course lights quickly and can burn fast. I took the suggestion from the tin and tried sipping this blend. Sort of reminds me of a milder version of D&R’s Picayune blend. Good blend, especially if you like shag cut tobaccos like I do. And by the way I am surprised I beat out some of the Legends on this site that have not yet reviewed this one. Yea! And it is even advertised on the page of the website.

The tin note is typical of the component tobaccos, with a hint of dark chocolate and fruity alcohol. The moisture content is perfect, no drying time needed for me. This is my first experience with a shag and it behaved very nicely. I pack it tighter than usual and it burns relatively slowely to a fine white ash. The flavor weaves through the component tobaccos depending on your cadence and gets spicier throughout the bowl. It’s similar to Sixpence, but stronger and with less boozy casing. Nic level is on the high side of medium for me. I’ll be buying more for sure.

Here's a blend that does NOT get better with age.

When fresh, it's ripe and rich, but after a couple years it mellows and becomes a bit monochromatic. Disappointing. Nevertheless, it's a really enjoyable smoke when fresh. Shag cut, so pack your pipa con fuerte. Small bowl to bring out the flavor, or large bowl to billow down the block on your Victorian bicycle trailing smoke like a locomotive.

Monocle not included.

My tin was dry as a bone. Properly hydrated, it packed easily (using Frank method) and has been going well from the first lite, which is a first for me.

Mildly sweet, with a touch of spice, the flavor is consistent throughout the smoke. Dark fruit, with a touch of sharpness and some body. Tangy, lightly nutty with a natural sweetness. Midway through the bowl, a bready flavor rounds out the proceeding with spice ever present. Finally, it requires a re-light mid bowl. Smokes cool, without excess moisture. The nic hit is noticeable. I'm no light weight, but I'll need to set it aside and take a pause. The room note is divine.

This is a winner for me. I'm so glad I have another tin, and will likely pick up some more for aging.