Penzance - is it for real?

nutcracker · 03-10-2015, 09:40 AM

So Rob (Badbriar) generously helped me procure some of this stuff. I always wonder about hype - especially hard to find/ limited editions/ etc. Interestingly though the tobacco is not that expensive retail - just hard to find and abused by secondary markets.

I opened the bag on the weekend to give it a try and loaded a bowl immediately. Struggled to get it going, so abandoned the attempt is fear of scorching the rim. I set some aside to dry a bit for 6 hours and had a go last night.

Te appearance is like crumbling thin sliced biltong (jerky). The aroma is powerful - fills the space even before lighting. A smokey medicinal smell that reminds me of Laphroiag single malt. - iodine, salty seaweed and bandaids.

I packed a big bowl full in my Dunhill '56 Canadian shell briar. First imprssions were underwhelming, but after ten minutes this went full bore. Tons of flavour and aroma. Fantastic - BBQ meat, turkey dark meat and stuffing, maybe even dates and figs. This is a meal of a smoke.

The aftertaste hung around for a good hour. Later in the day I had some Syrian Star and it seemed positively whimpish by comparison.

CoffeeWaterBeer · 03-10-2015, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the review Neil. You've got me salivating on my keyboard. I have to say that's the first time I've heard band-aid used to describe a baccy aroma

ol:

nutcracker · 03-10-2015, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeWaterBeer

I have to say that's the first time I've heard band-aid used to describe a baccy aroma

ol:

Well - give it a whiff and tell me if I'm wrong!

03-10-2015, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutcracker

Well - give it a whiff and tell me if I'm wrong!

If you have any left for aging,

The aroma is very refined... And strong! Methinks this stuff is made in Olympus!

Subvet642 · 03-11-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbriar

If you have any left for aging,

The aroma is very refined... And strong! Methinks this stuff is made in Olympus!

+1

gravel · 03-10-2015, 09:24 PM

Penzance is tasty, but can be underwhelming for all the hype. I am fortunate to have had a little more than a pound of the stuff. I shared most of it, as I wanted others to experience it as well.

It isn't my white whale, but I thought it would be. My first smoke was sublime.

Stonehaven, on the other hand, is poetry. I've had it once.

CoffeeWaterBeer · 03-11-2015, 09:31 AM

Of the Esoterica blend Pen and SH are the only 2 I've had. I really did enjoy Penzance but didn't pick up on the band-aid from the sample I had. To be fair, my palette is still learning with Lat blends and I was much greener when it was smoked.

AdamJoshua · 03-11-2015, 10:03 AM

I thought Penzance was for pirates.

CoffeeWaterBeer · 04-16-2015, 10:49 AM

Now that I'm aware of the band-aid/antispetic hints, I've noticed it in Blue Mountain as well. Not a bad thing by any stretch, just interesting now that it's identified.

Subvet642 · 04-16-2015, 11:43 AM

It certainly has a taste of its own.

04-16-2015, 12:15 PM

reminds me of Laphroiag single malt. - iodine, salty seaweed and bandaids.

Neil - that bandaid aroma was from the boo-boo on your hand!!! Sheesh! - Bandaids!!!

Next thing, he'll be telling about the cigars that taste like chocolate!

The.Sheepdog · 04-30-2015, 09:02 PM

what? Chocolate cigars? All I ever got was tobacco and a few bubble gum cigars!

I want some!

03-10-2015, 09:40 AM	#1
nutcracker Shameless epicurian Join Date: Apr 2014 First Name: Neil Location: Winnipeg, Canada - Home of the Jets! Posts: 1,631 Trading: (26)	Penzance - is it for real? So Rob (Badbriar) generously helped me procure some of this stuff. I always wonder about hype - especially hard to find/ limited editions/ etc. Interestingly though the tobacco is not that expensive retail - just hard to find and abused by secondary markets. I opened the bag on the weekend to give it a try and loaded a bowl immediately. Struggled to get it going, so abandoned the attempt is fear of scorching the rim. I set some aside to dry a bit for 6 hours and had a go last night. Te appearance is like crumbling thin sliced biltong (jerky). The aroma is powerful - fills the space even before lighting. A smokey medicinal smell that reminds me of Laphroiag single malt. - iodine, salty seaweed and bandaids. I packed a big bowl full in my Dunhill '56 Canadian shell briar. First imprssions were underwhelming, but after ten minutes this went full bore. Tons of flavour and aroma. Fantastic - BBQ meat, turkey dark meat and stuffing, maybe even dates and figs. This is a meal of a smoke. The aftertaste hung around for a good hour. Later in the day I had some Syrian Star and it seemed positively whimpish by comparison. __________________ "Well I ain't often right but I've never been wrong.... Jerry Garcia (R.I.P.)

03-10-2015, 01:33 PM	#2
CoffeeWaterBeer Critiquing Perique Join Date: Sep 2012 First Name: Seth Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 779 Trading: (13)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? Thanks for the review Neil. You've got me salivating on my keyboard. I have to say that's the first time I've heard band-aid used to describe a baccy aroma ol:

03-10-2015, 09:24 PM	#6
gravel Still Washing My Back Join Date: Mar 2014 First Name: Geoff Location: Oregon Posts: 262 Trading: (3)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? Penzance is tasty, but can be underwhelming for all the hype. I am fortunate to have had a little more than a pound of the stuff. I shared most of it, as I wanted others to experience it as well. It isn't my white whale, but I thought it would be. My first smoke was sublime. Stonehaven, on the other hand, is poetry. I've had it once.

03-11-2015, 09:31 AM	#7
CoffeeWaterBeer Critiquing Perique Join Date: Sep 2012 First Name: Seth Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 779 Trading: (13)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? Of the Esoterica blend Pen and SH are the only 2 I've had. I really did enjoy Penzance but didn't pick up on the band-aid from the sample I had. To be fair, my palette is still learning with Lat blends and I was much greener when it was smoked.

03-11-2015, 10:03 AM	#8
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? I thought Penzance was for pirates.

04-16-2015, 10:49 AM	#9
CoffeeWaterBeer Critiquing Perique Join Date: Sep 2012 First Name: Seth Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 779 Trading: (13)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? Now that I'm aware of the band-aid/antispetic hints, I've noticed it in Blue Mountain as well. Not a bad thing by any stretch, just interesting now that it's identified.

04-16-2015, 11:43 AM	#10
Subvet642 Bilge Rat Join Date: Nov 2009 First Name: Darren Location: Torpedo Room Bilge Posts: 2,997 Trading: (13)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? It certainly has a taste of its own. __________________ *"Man's mind is his basic tool of survival. Life is given to him, survival is not." -John Galt*

04-16-2015, 12:15 PM	#11
badbriar Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Penzance - is it for real? reminds me of Laphroiag single malt. - iodine, salty seaweed and bandaids. Neil - that bandaid aroma was from the boo-boo on your hand!!! Sheesh! - Bandaids!!! Next thing, he'll be telling about the cigars that taste like chocolate!

04-30-2015, 09:02 PM	#12
The.Sheepdog I Need More Pipes! Join Date: Nov 2014 First Name: Bill Location: Central Florida Posts: 313 Trading: (0)	Re: Penzance - is it for real? what? Chocolate cigars? All I ever got was tobacco and a few bubble gum cigars! I want some!