My Ongoing Penzance Project

[lloydcole]

Last night I tried Mac Baren's Crumble Kake English #1.

Not bad, but not very exciting to this palette. Closer to Margate in strength, fuller English vs PZ which I'd call med/light strength. That said, quite enjoyable. Spicy and complex but just a bit strong for me. I won't be throwing it out. It will go in mason jar and I'll revisit occasionally.

 

[Loomungus]

Have you tried McConnell's Original Oriental or Kramer's Father Dempsey? When Wilke stopped making their #10 and Penzance became unobtanium, I found both of those and have continued to enjoy them regularly. Excellent alternatives in my book.

 

[lawdawg]

"Shepherd's Pie which is a shop blend by Country Squire"

Ordered! Thanks.

You're welcome. My tracking info says that my order of Shepherd's Pie is on the way, and I'll try to remember to post my thoughts in this thread. I'm really looking forward to trying it, and possibly having it be my go-to blend this Fall where a mild latakia blend is what I'll be wanting.

 

[lloydcole]

"Have you tried McConnell's Original Oriental or Kramer's Father Dempsey?"

Just tried McConnell's Oriental. Liked it but not so much as John Cotton Smyrna. They are similar. I give Smyrna the edge.

Just ordered some Father Dempsey.

Thanks!

 

[lawdawg]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Kramer's Father Dempsey, Lloyd. That's one I've been wanting to try.
I got 4 oz. of Shepherd's Pie in the mail yesterday from Country Squire. While I'm hesitant to give my opinion on a blend based on only one pipeful, I will say that it is an excellent blend based on my limited experience with it so far. I'm aware that it's a match, or inspired by, Frog Morton. I regrettably never smoked the original Frog Morton, but I am a big fan of Frog Morton Cellar. Fortunately, I have several 100g tins of FMC in my cellar and still smoke a bowl regularly but sparingly. To my taste, Shepherd's Pie is very similar to Frog Morton Cellar, and I detect a cavendish component, and/or some sort of liquor topping, much like FMC and also much like another favorite, but no-longer-produced, Iwan Ries Gourmet English. I would not be surprised at all if Frog Morton Cellar, rather than the original Frog Morton, was the inspiration behind Shepherd's Pie (but of course that's hard to say, having never smoked the original FM). I look forward to smoking some more Shepherd's Pie today after work, and probably placing another (much larger) order soon.

 

[lloydcole]

Father Dempsey. Very enjoyable first bowl. Light and slightly spicy English, and smooth. Not quite a PZ alternative but a pleasant tangent, thanks.
Plum Pudding update.

I A/B's the regular and the Special Reserve and the result was interesting. I enjoyed both but the regular PP seemed to thicken and strengthen rather more than I'd like in the second half of the bowl. The special reserve was quite the opposite - borderline, dare I say, bland for the first half, and then filled out and much smoother and sweeter for the 2nd half.
Also, the new Bengal Slices white label, which apparently is a pure English with no topping. Difference was subtle. Definitely light and cool smoking. I'll need to A/B the two one day soon to be sure which I prefer. Definitely enjoy both.
More soon.

 

[jojoc]

lawdowg - interesting thoughts on Shepherd's Pie. I picked up a few ozs a year ago. Tried a few bowls . My take was dirty socks. I'll have to pull it out and give it another go. Although I have smoked off and on for 20 years (mostly cigars for most of that time with a pipe now and then, it has just been the last couple years that I have been trying out different tobaccos. When I did smoke, it was almost exclusively 1Q. It will be interesting to see if my tastes have changed as I have moved away from aros to English and VA blends.

 

[lawdawg]

lawdowg - interesting thoughts on Shepherd's Pie. I picked up a few ozs a year ago. Tried a few bowls . My take was dirty socks. I'll have to pull it out and give it another go. Although I have smoked off and on for 20 years (mostly cigars for most of that time with a pipe now and then, it has just been the last couple years that I have been trying out different tobaccos. When I did smoke, it was almost exclusively 1Q. It will be interesting to see if my tastes have changed as I have moved away from aros to English and VA blends.

One man's dirty socks is another man's treasure, as they say :: I've actually heard people make similar "dirty socks" type statements about peated scotches, which I really enjoy. Peated scotch is smoky like latakia. I suspect there is a chance that your tastes may have changed now that you've ventured away from aromatics. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of Shepherd's Pie.

 

[newportpipe]

A previous post that appears to be overlooked:

Germains 1820 flake would really be your best bet since the manufacturer says it’s the same without an additive or two.

“Others” seem to agree. Here’s a comparison....
https://youtu.be/j1tiTr1pXdU
Bottom line: 1820 Flake will (could) hold you over until you can get your Penzance fix. YMMV. ::
Cheers!

 

[lawdawg]

A previous post that appears to be overlooked:
Germains 1820 flake would really be your best bet since the manufacturer says it’s the same without an additive or two.
“Others” seem to agree. Here’s a comparison....
https://youtu.be/j1tiTr1pXdU
Bottom line: 1820 Flake will (could) hold you over until you can get your Penzance fix. YMMV. [::]
Cheers!

Newport very may well be on to something, but I could not say since I've never tried 1820. Germains blends generally seem to be hard to find, so that is a factor.
On the point of overlooked recommendations...

Balkan Supreme.

I think Chasingembers might be trolling us a little bit with the recommendation of a cheap commonly available bulk blend, but Balkan Supreme is an excellent blend and very similar to Penzance. Every lover of Balkan style blends (like Penzance) should at least give it a try.

 

[jojoc]

One man's dirty socks is another man's treasure, as they say [::] I've actually heard people make similar "dirty socks" type statements about peated scotches, which I really enjoy. Peated scotch is smoky like latakia. I suspect there is a chance that your tastes may have changed now that you've ventured away from aromatics. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of Shepherd's Pie.

I dug back in the cabinet and pulled out my jar of Shepherd's Pie last night where it has been resting undisturbed for about a year now. Filled my Royal Comoy and headed to the back porch. My decision/opportunity to light up was a last-minute thing, so the tobacco had no drying before loading up. No dirty socks this time. Actually found it to be a very enjoyable flavorful smoke. Only draw back was the need to relight a few times due to the lack of drying time for the tobacco. No much of a review, I know. I don't have the gift of really being able to identify and describe the flavors, but if was a very enjoyable smoke. Even with the moist tobacco and relights, not even a hint of bite.
lawdawg - thank you for the encouragement to give it another run.

 

[danimalia]

Germains blends generally seem to be hard to find, so that is a factor.

I am not sure that the Germaine's tins are any easier to find than Esoterica's. At least here in here in the U.S. Occassionally, I'll see a tin in a B&M, but it's usually one of the less popular blends.
Balkan Supreme is great, but I find it to be fuller and spicier and mustier(?) than Penzance. Well worth trying for its own merits, though.

 

[lloydcole]

Last week I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Germain's Balkan Sobranie. Wow! Sli
ghtly drunkenly a few nights later I searched for more and accidentally bought two tins of Balkan Saseini. The morning after I felt pretty stupid but now I'm very happy. The Sobranie is the closest I've tasted to PZ, at least in the way I appreciate PZ. It is smooth, spicy and complex. Delicious. I must ration myself. The Sasieni is pretty good, though... very smooth and light, not as creamy, but not in any way harsh. Very enjoyable.

 

[tidalwave]

@lloydcole KBV has taken a shot at creating a Penzance clone. If you don't want to buy a bag, PM me an address and I'll send you a sample. I like it standalone, I'm going to do a side-by-side smoke this weekend with actual Penzance.

Zen Pants – KBV

kbven.com

 

[logs]

Balkan Supreme is an excellent blend and very similar to Penzance. Every lover of Balkan style blends (like Penzance) should at least give it a try.

Which one? Both Stokkebye and Arango make a bulk blend called Balkan Supreme.

 

[lawdawg]

Which one? Both Stokkebye and Arango make a bulk blend called Balkan Supreme

My understanding is that Stokkebye makes Arango's Balkan Supreme... they are the exact same thing. Arango has or had some kind of deal or contract for distribution rights, or something along those lines.

As to what I said about it being "very similar to Penzance" that's probably an overstatement, but for me both blends scratch the same itch. Balkan Supreme is definitely woodsier and spicier than Penzance.

 

[ron123]

@lloydcole KBV has taken a shot at creating a Penzance clone. If you don't want to buy a bag, PM me an address and I'll send you a sample. I like it standalone, I'm going to do a side-by-side smoke this weekend with actual Penzance.

Zen Pants – KBV

kbven.com

I've never heard of these blends before. Just looked in Tobacco Reviews and couldn't find any of them. I found his Instagram and followed that, and found a website as well. It looks like he is in or around Chicago, but the name doesn't ring a bell. Has anyone here tried any of these blends? Searching the forums didn't help.

 

[lloydcole]

@lloydcole KBV has taken a shot at creating a Penzance clone. If you don't want to buy a bag, PM me an address and I'll send you a sample. I like it standalone, I'm going to do a side-by-side smoke this weekend with actual Penzance.

Zen Pants – KBV

kbven.com

Ordered some, thanks.

 

[lloydcole]

Which one? Both Stokkebye and Arango make a bulk blend called Balkan Supreme.

Found some. Thanks. Arango Balkan Supreme | Buy Arango Pipe Tobacco at Smokingpipes - https://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/Balkan-Supreme/bulk/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=151152

 

[tidalwave]

Did a back to back with them last night.

Zen Pants has a stronger Lat smell in the jar, but that also may be partly because the Penz has been jarred for 2 years. But the jar smell is similar.

They taste very different initially -- Penzance is better IMO. But after about 5 minutes of smoking, they are damn close to identical IMO.