I just opened an 8oz mylar package of Esoterica Penzance. I laid away four 8oz sealed mylar packages back in March of 2005. I opened one at five years, another at 10 years, and now this one at 15 years. The last one will be opened at 20 years. These are the original Penzance with Syrian latakia!
I'm smoking the first bowl as I write this review. The slices have survived intact as well as the moisture content. The tray aroma is leather smokiness with subtle notes of sweetness. The slices crumble nicely, but I use the fold and stuff method for Penzance, otherwise it can pack too tightly.
Pipe used is an old Barling rusticated African yellow meerschaum quarter bent Rhodesian with a medium size chamber.
Penzance is a tobacco that needs to be smoked very slowly, it can heat up otherwise and compromise the flavor. First light reveals a subdued, slightly sweet and smoky flavor, that persisted for the first quarter of the bowl. This gradually developed into a delightful incense, and hit nirvana at about the one third mark. The original Penzance is unique, and difficult to thoroughly describe. But flavor is sweet and creamy, with a leathery smokiness. There is a difficult to describe spiciness from the Orientals, as I'm not sure what leaf was used 15 years ago.
The Syrian latakia has mellowed a quite bit, but is still very present. I remember the fresh as having more of a latakia punch than this, but this is somehow better. The Virginia and Orientals have bloomed with age, and this is a far better smoking experience than when it was fresh (though it was extraordinary when fresh).
I'm at the half way mark, this is the best smoke that I ever had in 40 years of pipe smoking! I can't remember ever enjoying a bowl of tobacco as much as I am now. It's a pure joy, and reaffirms why I adore Penzance so much.
I dumped the ash at the 2 thirds mark, and the ash is a white, fine and powdery. The last third of the bowl continues to be totally in the zone, and I just don't want it to end. Oh well, I still have 8oz's minus one bowl to filler up again and again, and......!
So I'm finally finished with the pipe, it lasted about an hour and a half. I write with absolute honesty, that this was the very best smoke that I had ever. Something magical happened to the Penzance between the 10 year mark and now (15 years). The 5 and 10 year old Penzance was incredible, but the 15 year old is in a league all its own. I'm already pondering as to how the next package will be at 20 years. This very well could be the peak of aging benefit for this particular blend. I'd hate to have it dimi
Due to the situation in Syria, it is doubtful that we will ever see Syrian latakia again. The available stockpile was sadly lost in a warehouse fire a few years ago. I'm in possession of the the last pound of the original Penzance that I will probably ever see. It make each pipe full all the more precious. I only wish that I could have have cellared far more than I did. It is what it is, and I'll savor this last pound, and share it with some good friends. You don't hord tobacco this good, I thoroughly intend to enjoy it with my buds!
I'm smoking the first bowl as I write this review. The slices have survived intact as well as the moisture content. The tray aroma is leather smokiness with subtle notes of sweetness. The slices crumble nicely, but I use the fold and stuff method for Penzance, otherwise it can pack too tightly.
Pipe used is an old Barling rusticated African yellow meerschaum quarter bent Rhodesian with a medium size chamber.
Penzance is a tobacco that needs to be smoked very slowly, it can heat up otherwise and compromise the flavor. First light reveals a subdued, slightly sweet and smoky flavor, that persisted for the first quarter of the bowl. This gradually developed into a delightful incense, and hit nirvana at about the one third mark. The original Penzance is unique, and difficult to thoroughly describe. But flavor is sweet and creamy, with a leathery smokiness. There is a difficult to describe spiciness from the Orientals, as I'm not sure what leaf was used 15 years ago.
The Syrian latakia has mellowed a quite bit, but is still very present. I remember the fresh as having more of a latakia punch than this, but this is somehow better. The Virginia and Orientals have bloomed with age, and this is a far better smoking experience than when it was fresh (though it was extraordinary when fresh).
I'm at the half way mark, this is the best smoke that I ever had in 40 years of pipe smoking! I can't remember ever enjoying a bowl of tobacco as much as I am now. It's a pure joy, and reaffirms why I adore Penzance so much.
I dumped the ash at the 2 thirds mark, and the ash is a white, fine and powdery. The last third of the bowl continues to be totally in the zone, and I just don't want it to end. Oh well, I still have 8oz's minus one bowl to filler up again and again, and......!
So I'm finally finished with the pipe, it lasted about an hour and a half. I write with absolute honesty, that this was the very best smoke that I had ever. Something magical happened to the Penzance between the 10 year mark and now (15 years). The 5 and 10 year old Penzance was incredible, but the 15 year old is in a league all its own. I'm already pondering as to how the next package will be at 20 years. This very well could be the peak of aging benefit for this particular blend. I'd hate to have it dimi
Due to the situation in Syria, it is doubtful that we will ever see Syrian latakia again. The available stockpile was sadly lost in a warehouse fire a few years ago. I'm in possession of the the last pound of the original Penzance that I will probably ever see. It make each pipe full all the more precious. I only wish that I could have have cellared far more than I did. It is what it is, and I'll savor this last pound, and share it with some good friends. You don't hord tobacco this good, I thoroughly intend to enjoy it with my buds!
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