Hearth & Home Distinguished Penguin

Not a good nighttime smoke, unless you want to go to bed wanting more...

But there is a very pleasant trio of tastes here that I really enjoy when the mood is right. This is a good tobacco for pale beer and although I haven't tried it, I'd like to have a scotch and soda to go along with it. I want to try McClelland Scottish Woods before purchasing anymore Penguin because I don't care for the ticky tacky bottom of the jar quality of the tobacco.

Update 7/2015: A thoughtful person used this as packaging for a used pipe I bought on the Devil's Playground (don't play dumb) instead of styro peanuts. As a result of me not having any more canning jars, I've been trying to smoke it up from the baggie (maybe 4 oz.) before it turns to dust. The smell of graham crackers permeates the area wherever the baggie lies and I have no trouble locating it. I don't recall graham crackers from my previous experience of this, but it reminded me strongly of a bulk burley sample from McClelland I liked years ago. What amazed me is that burley is not listed as an ingredient. What?? I definitely taste and smell burley and it is yummy. Eh, cavendish? I think not: I found my sample of burley (X-some illegible number) I still had and it matched with the big ol' flakes (fish food, as someone put it) in DP. Same graham cracker smell and taste.

And I stick with my 3 stars. A reliable comfort food for the pipe.

Original review from 2011: I am reviewing this based on a bulk sample tightly packed in a canning jar 5 1/2 years ago. I remembered it tasting "green", i.e., harsh and ammoniacal (as many Pease and C&D blends can initially possess). Age has resolved that issue, as it always does.

Two things surprised me about this blend: for all its references in the description and reviews about minor amounts of latakia (confirmed by appearance), I could smell it through the lid seal and could taste it immediately upon lighting. It is present in "condiment levels" and is well balanced (I like latakia and I like mustard, but not so much when either approaches 30%.)

The second is the presence of the discount drugstore standby "cavendish". The mere word has a lisp to it and I irrationally avoid blends that proclaim its presence on the label, fearing tastelessness and bite and cheapness. Well, it may have a diluent function, but there is still an adequate amount of flavor here for my unleathered tongue. Rather nice, and yes, a touch of sweetness. Whether is is natural in the leaf or added doesn't matter to me. There is a slight burley-like taste and smell to it if I seek it- that must be the cavendish.

There is nothing to dislike about this blend unless you seek strong nicotine or profoundly robust mouth-filling taste. I don't smoke every day and it provides what I often seek: a tasty light smoke. It delivers what is advertised: "A mild and slightly sweet smoke with character." I like it.

There is no doubt that two things are important to enjoy this mixture. 1º Must be dry (as from home) 2º Smoking with small and slow pull.

Then you can enjoy aa good light smoke with notes, sweet and smoked. It is not easy to smoke, but I consider a very good test for those who wish to start or better smoking the pipe.

When smoke this great light mixture without pinches language,I think we can say that, learned to smoke a pipe. More, i consider this mixture just for inside place, car.....

Upon first setting my eye on this blend, it had appeared that oatmeal with raisins had replaced the 'baccy. The bag smell had a faint hint of oatmeal too. It was very dry and flaky upon opening.

Upon smoking, I could detect the latakia. It was a sweet smoke. Not the best, but by far not the worst. I felt like I detected a faint taste of cinnamon. The room note was pleasant, and the 'baccy was easy to keep lit.

At mid bowl I could really detect the sweetness of the virginias. This is another find blend by Russ, and this will be making my regular rotation.

This is basically Captain Black with much better quality. The first half is a light scent of vanilla and some plum and raisin over a semi-dry, but very pleasant, cool smoke. The second half brings the richness of the Virginias and Latakia to the front.

I wrote a REALLY long review, but my login expired before I hit submit and I lost it...I don't feel like retyping it, so I will just summarize by saying:

1. This is mild, easy to light and keep lit. 2. This DOES have fullness and richness to it in the second half of the bowl. 3. This is good tobacco and very solid. 4. This is light enough to be an all day smoke. 5. You will like this if you are into light aromatics or milder English blends. 6. 3 stars for quality and solidness, but it loses one star for no WOW factor.

This is a solid, wonderful smoke. Thanks to Russ and his yeoman's work on this fine blend!!

A very unique tobacco where the Virginias take center stage.The Latakia is a background player in ths ensemble cast. This is best described as an excellent rich tasting blend. Smoky- I think is accurate. The only drawback I found was that it left a very dry feeling in my mouth. It reminded me of Dunhill Cigs.The Virginias are excellent and rich. More Cornell and Diehl than McClelland in nature.It was a very nice change of pace for me ,but will not be a regular player. I've stated in previous reviews Virginias affect me in a weird way. I'm a Burley man through and through. For you English/Virginia lovers though,this is a must try. 3 of 4 stars.

Being a linux enthusiast, I picked up this blend for its name. Although this is kind of like buying cheap wine in a cobalt blue bottle, the tobacco was a pleasant surprise. Vaguely reminiscent of Piccadilly, DP stands on its own and may have a bit more body than that august blend. Although it only purports to contain a light amount of latakia, it possesses a wonderful smokiness that even this lat lightweight can appreciate. Distinguished Penguin is wonderful any time of the day.

I am reviewing this based on a bulk sample tightly packed in a canning jar 5 1/2 years ago. I remembered it tasting "green", i.e., harsh and ammoniacal (as many Pease and C&D blends can initially possess). Age has resolved that issue, as it always does.

Two things surprised me about this blend: for all its references in the description and reviews about minor amounts of latakia (confirmed by appearance), I could smell it through the lid seal and could taste it immediately upon lighting. It is present in "condiment levels" and is well balanced (I like latakia and I like mustard, but not so much when either approaches 30%.)

The second is the presence of the discount drugstore standby "cavendish". The mere word has a lisp to it and I irrationally avoid blends that proclaim its presence on the label, fearing tastelessness and bite and cheapness. Well, it may have a diluent function, but there is still an adequate amount of flavor here for my unleathered tongue. Rather nice, and yes, a touch of sweetness. Whether is is natural in the leaf or added doesn't matter to me. There is a slight burley-like taste and smell to it if I seek it- that must be the cavendish.

There is nothing to dislike about this blend unless you seek strong nicotine or profoundly robust mouth-filling taste. I don't smoke every day and it provides what I often seek: a tasty light smoke. It delivers what is advertised: "A mild and slightly sweet smoke with character." I like it.

It seems appropriate that I am writing this review on my Linux machine, running Ubuntu 10.04.....

Yeah, funny looking stuff. Flaky, dry, I would agree with the hamster bedding remark. And not much here to whiff, overall appears fairly inert. Putting it in the pipe the first time is an experience. Reminds me of the stuff left at the bottom of my old elementary school desks, bits of paper and pencils shavings. BUT....once in the pipe and lit, this stuff is interesting! For once the description is, IMHO, dead on. "A mild and slightly sweet smoke with character". Latakia is left in the backround but nonetheless present, the virginias seem to pick up the load here and I suspect the slight (key word) sweetness is probably the unflavored Black Cav. Together this is a very nice flavor, very pleasant and a bit subtle. I find I do have to go easy on my pace, a littler quicker and it does tend to heat up but sipped slowly this blend is very rewarding.

As a side note: I've had this bag for over 6 months. When first purchased I thought it was a little bland and the flavors didn't meld. I just reopened the bag, left it dry and it smokes like a dream.