G. L. Pease Penny Farthing

I put off purchasing Penny Farthing for as long as I could because there are only so many smoking hours available in a day and I have A LOT of blends that I needed to finish up. But I decided to pull the trigger because I'm really looking for that all day smoke for the Summer months here in Florida. My tendency to smoke during the months of June-August goes down quite a bit as it is just too hot, even in the evenings, to enjoy a pipe since I'm relegated to smoking outside at home, or in my car during my daily commute.

So I was looking for something that might be flavorful enough to keep me interested, but light enough to not make me wonder why I'm adding fire to the already blistering surface of the Sun.

I'm not sure if this blend fits that niche, but it is a very good blend nonetheless.

Cut - Very fine cut with Bright Virginias, Red Virginias and Perique/DFK readily recognizeable. Moisture content is a little on the dry side, which suits me just fine as it makes it easy to just pack a bowl with no dry time.

Tin Note - Fresh Bread, Hay and Dried Fruit are dominant with some earthy notes. Very pleasant.

Mechanics - Loads easily due to the cut and moisture content. Lights even more easily and I have to force myself to char, tamp and wait because you can smoke this right from the get go, but I've found that the charring light really does help open up the flavors. The blend smokes well all the way down to the bottom with ease. It is crucial that this blend be sipped. Overpuffing will cause the pipe to heat up something awful and the flavors will be harsh and muddled. But once I figured out the cadence, the flavor is outstanding.

Taste - I've found that this blend is very pipe dependent. It seems to shine best when in a medium size bowl (Group 3 or so) with just a hint of width to it. If the bowl is too wide, it burns very quickly and can get really hot. If the bowl is too narrow, the flavor is more intense, but the nuance gets lost. Once I found the right pipes, however, the blend is very good and evolves throughout the bowl. First 1/3 of the bowl showcases the Virginias and the Perique adds just enough spiciness to balance out the sweetness. Second 1/3 the Perique shows more of the dried fruit essence and the blend becomes deeper and more rich. Third 1/3 the DFK is more noticeable as it's earthy and smoky notes peek through the rest of the flavors.

Overall - I thoroughly enjoy this blend. It pairs wonderfully with my morning coffee. I love blends that offer different experiences as the bowl progresses and Penny Farthing certainly does that. I would also imagine that age will only help the blend to mellow and become something otherworldly. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure if this is my all-day, surface of the Sun, Summer Blend as it requires patience and thoughtfulness in order to keep it from overheating, but it is a great smoke on it's own merits.

It will probably be amazing on one of the 4 days of Fall that we get here in Central Florida.

I was skeptical at first regarding the shag cut, even more so when I opened a tin. Think more like pencil shavings. It is a very thin/fine cut. I could only imagine it burning hot and fast. It's possible, however as it is easy to light and keep lit, it is also to gently sip to get the full tobacco flavor without the heat.

There is a significant pepper/spicy component within the grassy/hay Virginia. My skepticism was shot down as my concerns about the burn were put to rest. It's possible, with any blend to over puff, but you don't need to here. Further, the smoke itself is rather nice and complex with the peppery Perique.

I give it 3.7 stars.

This blend struck me as a very sophisticated blend. The flavore profile is somewhat unique, having Kentucky, Perique, mixed with both Red and Bright virginia. Penny farthing seems to reveal the most of its flavor in a bowl with a large diameter. In my chase, the pot was clearly the best pipe to smoke it in. The nature of the blend demands a cleaan pipe, and a slow sipping cadence, otherwise very little of the intrigue hidden within is revealed. The shag cut burns very well, and is easy to control. The red virginia is fully sweet, and less grassy then expected. There is the toasty and deep bbq notes from the darked fired Kentucky and the perique adds the hint of spiciness that really rounds outvthe blend.

That gets me to the slight disappointment-- the bright Virginias. The Bright virginia is a little harsh and the lemon/citrus notes have not been fully liberated and married to the Kentucky and Red Virginia notes as of yet. I would fully expect that to happen with a full year age figuring from now.

Continued smoking continues to release complex notes of figs,raisins, Cajun rub, and a number of others. This complexity continues to the end. I currently rate thiis at three stars with one year of age most likely making this a four star. That rating comes with the strong admonition to smoke this by sipping gently and slowly in a large bowled pipe.

This came recommended and as someone who enjoys shag was glad I bought it. A tad moist so dried for 15-20 minutes, a very nice smoke, can taste a mild sweetness and definitely spicy perique stands out. You definitely get a nic hit if you smoke quickly Which if sipped helps. I wouldn’t say it is a smoke for a beginner, but overall it is a very satisfying blend and bought 10 more tins as it’s a very well rounded smoke !

Went into the b&m looking for Elizabethan Mixture. They were out, so I picked this VA/Per instead. I wasn't expecting the same thing, and they aren't, but I was not disappointed.

Tin note: Raisinets, among other things. I could sit here all day smelling this stuff like Dennis Hopper with his gas tank in Blue Velvet. Outstanding.

I think the perique is the more fruity variety. The chocolaty flavor from the Kentucky adds a good amount of depth.

This will burn a little hot if you don't smoke it slowly, which is not an easy task considering how delicious it is.

Great stuff from an amazing blender who, based on my recent purchases of this and Spark Plug, is getting even better.

I think I might have found the perfect blend for my Radiator Pipes. The shag cut is not something I'd normally reach for as I think of the cut as being more for Roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes than for smoking.

The tin note is VaPer. The cut is a true shag and was the perfect moisture. It's easy to pack, just be careful not to over "tamp" it down so that it gets good airflow. Easy to light (doesn't even usually require a charring light) and easy burning.

No tongue bite even if pushed a little. Medium Nicotine content.

The perique is the star in most bowls being supported by the Kentucky which gives it some darkness. I find some sweet notes from the Virginias, but they are in the background.

Due to the cut, it wants to burn quick. It might be the perfect blend for commutes or even a lunch-time smoke. You can pack a medium sized bowl and get a good smoke which will last 20-30 mins.

I'll be stocking some of this in my rotation for those occasions.

This is the perfect blend for all day summer sipping. This will be a great blend to just slow your roll with. The shag cut makes for a easy 1 match light with probably no relight. Immediately after lighting the show begins. First star of the show are the Virginia's. A well balanced ballet of hay and dried fruit. Then the supporting act brings a little spice and body. The dark fired and perique twirl around on the back side of the stage throughout the whole show. To me this is Sixpence lite shag cut. Very similar profiles, but with such complexity that they are completely different. I smoked this blend in quite a few different pipes and have narrowed it down to my 3 favorite styles. It basically comes down to your bowl size and depth. Reach for your deepest bowl that is 3/4" in diameter maximum. My 3 favorite pipes were a meerchaum billiard with a 3/4" diameter bowl at 1.5" deep, next pipe a very large deep cob, pipe 3 a briar stack straight billiard with a 3/4" bowl that is 2.25" deep. Whatever you smoke it in, the object is to barely keep it lit. Delights are fine. It just means you are doing your job. Great with iced tea, coffee, iced coffee, beer, whiskey.

It's almost a classic virginia-perique type blend with a little Kentucky added in. The tin I opened had a production date of "November 12, 2020," so the tobacco had been lying around for a while.

Appearance: thin cut - shag, even brown in color without any flecks. It could easily be mistaken for cigarette tobacco. Moisture from the can - ready to use.

Flavor: Simple enough, even for a blend of this type. Grass, hay, figs, and a bit of citrus from the Virginia play along with the spice set from the perique, and a slight scent of nuts and cocoa gives away the presence of Kentucky. If it weren't for the perique, the blend could be mistaken for a cigarette blend.

Taste: very rich, but very simple. Hay, bread, and dried fruit are backed by plenty of perique, giving a rich peppery note mixed with coriander. Kentucky slightly softens the spiciness with a touch of chocolate. It doesn't bite, but it's pungent if you linger. The strength is medium. Nicotine kick almost certainly awaits lovers of large pipes. The blend does not change flavor throughout the smoke. Burns evenly and a little fast, as befits a shag, so can warm up a pipe to hot. Leaves almost no moisture in the bowl. The aftertaste is sweet and spicy, similar to the taste of paprika.

The smoke from the blend is sweet and spicy, light and pleasant, and quickly dissipates.

Bottom line: this tobacco will appeal to fans of virginia-perique blends and quick smoke breaks. It's hard to say anything else about it - just a good tobacco without any frills. In small pipes it's the best. I don't know what it will be like when aged, and I have no intention of buying it for that purpose.

The tin I opened was form the first batch produced. I was very disappointed to discover the tobacco was dry as bone, without any discernable tin note. Lighting up and afterward it was clear that things would not work. Despite being a shag cut and being dry as bone, there was no way I could keep it lit. When it also turned out the tobacco was flat in taste, I did not bother any further. If you are seeking a decent Shag Cut, look for some of the G & H offerings instead.