
WDC Dutch Billiard with
Poor Man's Penzance - a blend of Sutliffs' 507C, 515RC, Sweet Virgina, Stoved Cavendish, Smyrna, Turkish, and Latakia.
While not an exact replica I found it to be a reasonable and very pleasant replacement for Esoterica Penzance. There is a subtle recognition of the fabled blend that really is roaming around the blend.
I made this blend before the announcement of the closing of Sutliff back when I had the leisure to experiment with different Sutliff leaves and flavors. At last - I was only able to make about a half a pound.
Truthfully, the blend has aged nicely and ... it lives up to its name. Sadly, and just as truthfully, it is a blend that I can no longer replicate even though I have the recipe and proportions saved.
The blend is milder than Star of the East and more balanced than Quiet Nights if you can believe that. The Penzance essence sits in this blend, and while it won't be mistaken as a duplicate of Penzance, it would be described as Penzance like.
I accomplished my mission but failed in my attempt to have for myself a readily off-the-shelf alternative to Penzance due to Sutliff's closure. The futility of it all. To quote Kurtz, "The horror."