There is a lot of mis-information about the relationship between esoterica and smokers haven. To the best of my knowledge this is what happened.
Penzance was modeled after our Krumble Kake in the late 1980's but there is a difference in the recipie. Here is what actually happened:
Back in the 1940's the founder of Smokers' Haven, Joe Zieve, developed Krumble Kake and contracted with Sobranie to make the blend and get the equipment made to make it. In the late 1970's when Sobranie closed the factory, some of the equipment and recipies were transferred over the Germain. Germain continued to product the blends until about 1984/85. The second owner of Smokers' Haven ceased purchasing from Germain at this time. In 1988 after my father took over Smokers' Haven, Germain approached him to re-establish business, but at the time my father refused. He then connected with an old Smokers' Haven customer, Steve Richman from Piedmont Tobacconist to do business with. Steve wanted the SH blends replicated, but luckily for SH Germain only made 3 of the blends close and not exact. Margate was modeled after OBB, Pembroke was modeled after Cognac, and Penzance was modeled after Krumble Kake. The Esotericas were born and then shortly sold to Butera. In 2003 I reconnected with Germain and asked him and Mike Butera if they would work with me to bring the blends back. They agreed.
Penzance was modeled after our Krumble Kake in the late 1980's but there is a difference in the recipie. Here is what actually happened:
Back in the 1940's the founder of Smokers' Haven, Joe Zieve, developed Krumble Kake and contracted with Sobranie to make the blend and get the equipment made to make it. In the late 1970's when Sobranie closed the factory, some of the equipment and recipies were transferred over the Germain. Germain continued to product the blends until about 1984/85. The second owner of Smokers' Haven ceased purchasing from Germain at this time. In 1988 after my father took over Smokers' Haven, Germain approached him to re-establish business, but at the time my father refused. He then connected with an old Smokers' Haven customer, Steve Richman from Piedmont Tobacconist to do business with. Steve wanted the SH blends replicated, but luckily for SH Germain only made 3 of the blends close and not exact. Margate was modeled after OBB, Pembroke was modeled after Cognac, and Penzance was modeled after Krumble Kake. The Esotericas were born and then shortly sold to Butera. In 2003 I reconnected with Germain and asked him and Mike Butera if they would work with me to bring the blends back. They agreed.
