Kramer's Pipe and Tobacco Shop Father Dempsey
(3.47)
Though originally blended to match Father Dempsey's own preferred smoke, this full-bodied English mixture is now Kramer's most popular house blend and has been enjoyed by the likes of Cecil B. DeMille, Henry Wilcoxon, Samuel Goldwyn, Gene Barry, Mike Kaplan, Mel Tolkin, Fred McMurray, and many others.
Notes: The good father, an Irish priest, and my father Allen Kramer (who came to American as a child from Russia), may have seemed like an odd duo, but they became fast friends. When Father Dempsey was assigned to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, right behind our shop, he would always come in for a visit. The Father was used to buying his tobacco at Dunhill, but told my father he'd rather buy from his shop, if he could create a comparable blend. They spread out his blend on the tobacco bar and my father studied it. He was able to identify the different tobaccos, but not the proportions. So they kept trying different formulas until finally Father Dempsey said, "Stop right there! This is better than my old blend ever was." And soon so many of the Father's friends and parishioners were coming in asking for "Father Dempsey's tobacco" that it came to be called just that. My father would say it has the aroma of a campfire burning--a smooth and full-bodied Latakia based blend.
Among those in our rolodex who chose Father Dempsey's blend were Cecil B. DeMille, Henry Wilcoxon, Samuel Goldwyn, Gene Barry, John Conte, Ricardo Cortez, Howard Duff, Herb Edelman, Mel Frank, Mike Kaplan, Jesse Lasky, Sr., Fred MacMurray, Robert Sherman, and Mel Tolkin. Father Dempsey is gone now, but when he passed away he left his statue of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus and the medal he carried through the battle of Dunkirk to my father--and of course, the legacy of what is Kramers most popular house blend.
Details
Brand | Kramer's Pipe and Tobacco Shop |
Blended By | Allen Kramer |
Manufactured By | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
Blend Type | English |
Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
Flavoring | |
Cut | Ribbon |
Packaging | 2 ounce tin, bulk. |
Country | United States |
Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
3.47 / 4
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Reviews
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Displaying 61 - 66 of 66 Reviews
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 03, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Decent, middle of the road English, not bad at all but not especially interesting either. The sample I had was some of the recent tinned production, not the bulk from the now closed shop, so the original may have been a little different, nevertheless this is what we can get now. With so many English blends on the market, this one didn’t impress me enough to try again.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2010 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a great one that has withstood the test of time. The Latakia is somewhat dominant but it's very well balanced, none of the top quality components overpower and the room note, taste, and moisture level are just perfect. My cupboard is pretty well stocked but it's Father Dempsey I usually reach for after a long day.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I’m a bit confused by the 2 star reviews. If you are burned out on English why review a new English? If you don’t like FD then super that is why people have different palates.
I think this is excellent. The leaves are a bit rough but the moisture in the bulk pouch is excellent. The orientals add spice and background. The Latakia is present but balanced. Overall this is an excellent full English.
I think this is excellent. The leaves are a bit rough but the moisture in the bulk pouch is excellent. The orientals add spice and background. The Latakia is present but balanced. Overall this is an excellent full English.
Pipe Used:
IMP Meerschaum
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 06, 2023 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
What I love about this tobacco most is it's classy green packaging.
Apart from that, it always smoked hot for me, unless I dried it out for a whole 24 hours.
The ribbon cut is cute, and the after taste is delicious and lasts a very long time, lingering and giving you a feel good factor to the aftereffect of this smoke
Apart from that, it always smoked hot for me, unless I dried it out for a whole 24 hours.
The ribbon cut is cute, and the after taste is delicious and lasts a very long time, lingering and giving you a feel good factor to the aftereffect of this smoke
PurchasedFrom:
Super Jainsons
Age When Smoked:
new
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Preparation & Burn: 8/10 Good presentation. Burns well.
Taste: 12/20 Doesn't really make itself special compared to other English blends, I find. It is alright though.
Mildness: 8/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better.
Total: 28/40
Taste: 12/20 Doesn't really make itself special compared to other English blends, I find. It is alright though.
Mildness: 8/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better.
Total: 28/40
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I appreciate that this is a quality blend. But it is not for me. It is simply too earthy and too woodsy tasting. To my palate it is thick and earthy and I'm not a fan.