Esoterica Tobacciana Penzance

This is my after dinner smoke of choice. From the moment one opens the tin it is a treat. The crumbly slices, the piquant Turkish and Orientals, the mellow VA and the generous but not overdone Latakia create a great smoke. An evening is not complete without a bowlful of Penzance.

The aging process creates a smooth creamy smoke but it is very complex as it's mottled appearance would suggest, not a homogenized mixture despite its appearance post handling. Its near impossible to just fold this as you would a more leathery slice. It virtually crumbles to a soil like form. I'll let you know when I'm actually able to smoke it as a flake.

I describe it as toasted Balkan. Wonderful stuff.

As with many tobaccos this requires a little time before you will master the technique that works for you. It took me a few bowls full before I understood that Penzance needed to be packed a bit more gently and tamping needed to be classic ... just the ash. If there is one characteristic of this tobacco that is fussy, its the fact that it doesn't react well to heavy hands and will only partially reward you if you don't treat it accordingly.

Cheers, VC

A wonderfull smoke, even after a half burn and put in my hunting vest for two days, really One of my go to,s

I can't add a lot to what's already been said, except that this is hands down my favorite tobacco on the market right now. I love many of the GLP and C&D blends, and still have yet to try some of them, but this is the tobacco that won me over to smoking latakia blends in the first place, and sent me in search of rich oriental blends. The Latakia is the first thing you notice upon opening the tin, and at first light. As you smoke the pipe down though, you get into an oriental nirvana that I haven't quite found in any other blend I've tried. I also have never been bitten by this tobacco, no matter my rate of smoking - it really shines when you slow your pace down a little though - a deep, creamy, rich taste that I simply never seem to get tired of! Four stars just isn't enough for this fantastic blend!

This tobacco is very nice and complex without being overwhelming. I don't like English blends. But this one is the exception to the rule. There isn't anything bad I can say about this tobacco. It is very nice in a Meerschaum outside in the winter. You can even only smoke half the bowl and set it down until the next day and relight it and still get as nice a smoke as you did the day before.

Penzance is possibly the most addictive substance known to latakia smokers, and well worth every penny. Consistency to the bottom of the bowl, rich and complex flavors, a crumbly texture that makes loading very simple, and something very unique and satisfying in the smoke of this masterfully blended cake have made Penzance the most plentiful tobacco in my cellar.

One of my all-time favorite tobaccos! A delightful English blend that is never tiring or dull. Penzance possesses a tasty latakia earthiness and a creamy, satisfying smokiness without an overload of nicotine. A true all-day smoke, or one to be savored after a fine meal. Four stars!

For a full English blend, Penzance is somewhat milder than I expected. I find that I enjoy it immensely. Margate and Odyssey are definately stronger, and 965 is a bit milder. This blend seems to find a great happy medium by having great latikia and oriental flavors but without being overly smoky tasting from excessive latikia. The result is that the other ingredients peep through and all contribute to a full flavored yet surprisingly smooth smoking experience. The crumble cake slices do indeed crumble quite easily so you can rub this out with minimal effort to whatever consistency you want. I find it easy to light and keep lit, and it burns quite cool. Tongue bit is minimal and this is a very easy blend to smoke. The more I smoke of this the more I come to enjoy it. I think I will make this a staple. Others may make stronger latikia blends but this one is exceptionally well done, full flavored but not overpowering. Well worth trying some out if you are sampling English blends.

Penzance is huge, round, and complex. It's a Latakia orgy.

Incredible stuff.

Penzance is all that! This is the very best a classic Balkan style blend can offer. The additional thing Penzance brings to the table is being pressed into flake, allowing a unique marriage of the tobaccos rendering an earthiness and smoothness second to none. This tobacco will burn all the way down to a fine white ash, even when fresh out of the tin - despite the moist feel and oily content when first opened. If you have it around long enough to dry out, it still never becomes harsh as with some blends. This is the real deal!