Why Are There No Match Blends for Esoterica ?

[RSteve]

When it appeared that there would be no continuation of Dunhill blends, Sutliff aggressively began their "Match" program. Even though Peterson now produces and markets many of the former Dunhill blends, Sutliff has continued to produce Match.
I wonder why Sutliff hasn't begun an Esoterica Match program.
Today on a major pipe and cigar retailer's site, I saw an 8 oz. bag of Penzance offered for sale for nearly $400.

 

[Ranger107]

Everything I have read says Penzanze was the pinnacle of the Esoterica blends and a superb tobacco, which may be true, but $50 an oz for any tobacco is ludicrous. It may be better than Balkan Supreme but at a difference of $45 an oz I can be very happy with BS.

 

[Niblick]

Was that a bag of Penzance that had some age to it and not one that was made just recently? My thoughts on Esoterica tobacco is they are blending with aged tobacco that would be difficult to copy.

 

[ftrplt]

Penzance, et al, is a supply-and-demand thing. It's damn good; but I'm not sure it's $50/ounce good!! Must be for some folk, though! Check out the prices on Pipestuds site. Last Saturday most everything was mucho expensive...and sold!!!! FTRPLT

 

[Zeno Marx]

Like in the McClelland thread, I'd like to know who is buying this as fast as it can be put online, price be damned. Is this the new Chinese pipe market? And who pays $50 for a tin with a handful of years of age when you can still buy the tin for $12 new?

 

[ftrplt]

Zeno, all good questions!! The "Who's" show up every Saturday on Steve's site!!! FTRPLT

 

[RSteve]

I'd like to know who is buying this as fast as it can be put online, price be damned. Is this the new Chinese pipe market? And who pays $50 for a tin with a handful of years of age when you can still buy the tin for $12 new?

It sure as heck ain't me!
I never found Penzance to be a preferred flavor profile and gave several bags to my daughter, who sold them on Ebay, when you could still sell tobacco on Ebay. For fun, I've been searching the web for an available blend that has a similar taste profile. One that was mentioned frequently was Drew Estates Meat Pie. That is also out of production.

 

[ftrplt]

My taste buds ain't nearly what they were years ago and no match for Brother JimInks!! Arango Balkan Supreme (and all its cousins!!), Charles Fairmorn's Lancers Slices, and LJ Peretti's Tashkent (and several of its kin!) are three I enjoy just as much as Penzance! The first two are a steal at bulk prices!!
Disclaimer: My Penzance is from 2008 & 2009. I smoke it on special occasions, as my Larus Bros. Edgeworth Sliced! I have no idea what current Penzance smokes/tastes like. Nor does it matter; I wouldn't pay for Penzance at today's pricing; not with Lancers and Arango available!! Just my $.02 worth!! FTRPLT

 

[Jevverrett]

The blend chosen for Penzance is nearly identical, if not exactly the same
as the tobacco which had been made for Smoker's Haven in Columbus, Ohio
called "Krumble Kake."

Thus sayeth gregory pease, google groups 4/4/2000. It’s no longer in production however. I think I may have had it in the past, and it was very good. I’d try Seattle pipe club plum pudding, if you haven’t. It’s fantastic.

 

[RSteve]

I have no idea what current Penzance smokes/tastes like.

I don't believe there is currently made Penzance.

 

[RSteve]

The blend chosen for Penzance is nearly identical, if not exactly the same
as the tobacco which had been made for Smoker's Haven in Columbus, Ohio
called "Krumble Kake." Thus sayeth gregory pease, google groups 4/4/2000. It’s no longer in production however. I think I may have had it in the past, and it was very good.

Yup, Germain made Krumble Kake for Smoker's Haven and for Esoterica/Butera as Penzance. "Nearly" may be the operative word. I've smoked a goodly amount of each over the years and I do think they are somewhat close in taste, but certainly not identical. Personally, I prefer Krumble Kake because I prefer a blend where latakia is dominant and I believe Krumble Kake had significantly more latakia than Penzance.

 

[ftrplt]

I don't believe there is currently made Penzance.

No kiddin'!!! Didn't realize that!!! Truly "unobtanium!!" FTRPLT

 

[Ranger107]

My taste buds ain't nearly what they were years ago and no match for Brother JimInks!! Arango Balkan Supreme (and all its cousins!!), Charles Fairmorn's Lancers Slices, and LJ Peretti's Tashkent (and several of its kin!) are three I enjoy just as much as Penzance! The first two are a steal at bulk prices!!
Disclaimer: My Penzance is from 2008 & 2009. I smoke it on special occasions, as my Larus Bros. Edgeworth Sliced! I have no idea what current Penzance smokes/tastes like. Nor does it matter; I wouldn't pay for Penzance at today's pricing; not with Lancers and Arango available!! Just my $.02 worth!! FTRPLT

I never smoked Penzance so can't compare, but I will second the suggestion that Arango Balkan Supreme is a very, very, good blend. Ironically, I am smoking a bowl now in a Randy Wiley freehand and it is delicious. Definitely a sublime smoke. RSteves post reminded me I have 2 unopened tins of Krumble Kake in the cupboard. Maybe time to open one.

 

[Scallywag]

Yup, Germain made Krumble Kake for Smoker's Haven and for Esoterica/Butera as Penzance. "Nearly" may be the operative word. I've smoked a goodly amount of each over the years and I do think they are somewhat close in taste, but certainly not identical. Personally, I prefer Krumble Kake because I prefer a blend where latakia is dominant and I believe Krumble Kake had significantly more latakia than Penzance.

Thats correct, the late Steve Richman had said to me once that Krumble Kake was made with syrian and was Latakia forward, while Penzance was oriental forward. Penzance was made with syrian as well until sometime in the 90s when the supply ran out. Penzance is still currently made but in smaller quantities and released even slower than that by Arango.

 

[RSteve]

Penzance is still currently made but in smaller quantities and released even slower than that by Arango.

That is a total surprise to me. I've looked at the websites of many European vendors and I haven't seen it. Of course, U.K. vendors aren't allowed to ship to the U.S.

 

[Scallywag]

That is a total surprise to me. I've looked at the websites of many European vendors and I haven't seen it. Of course, U.K. vendors aren't allowed to ship to the U.S.

So Esoterica, was created by Steve Richman and originally sold in his shop, The Piedmont Tobacconist in 1987-88. He later sold the Esoterica line to Mike Butera around 2000. Mike later sold it to Arango around 2012. Esoterica is only sold in the US, no UK vendors get Esoterica. (though Jf Germain distributes their name brand blends to the UK and US and maybe some others.) Pre virus is was released by Arango to US brick and mortars and online shops 3-4 times a year. The last couple years its been one release per year. There was one release this year in the spring and it all sells within minutes from the online retailers. Esoterica hangs around a bit longer in the shops. All the blends are still made, but not all blends are released in each drop.

 

[RSteve]

I do see the Esoterica blends on the Arango website,
---https://www.arangocigarco.com/cart_catalog.cfm?cat=20405---
but I haven't seen any of the blends in any local shops or on line in at least a decade. PIPE TOBACCO

 

[scottbtdmb]

My personal opinion is that Sutliffe wouldn’t be able to make a suitable match for Penzance or any other Esoterica blend at that! Not a knock on Sutliffe, I just think there are certain tobacco blends that are so distinct and special, that they simply can’t be recreated. I would also put Gawith Hoggarth and Samuel Gawith in this category. Sutliffe to my knowledge doesn’t source “empire” tobaccos and specialized oriental tobaccos, so I just don’t see anything like this ever happening….

 

[smoker13]

It sure as heck ain't me!
I never found Penzance to be a preferred flavor profile and gave several bags to my daughter, who sold them on Ebay, when you could still sell tobacco on Ebay. For fun, I've been searching the web for an available blend that has a similar taste profile. One that was mentioned frequently was Drew Estates Meat Pie. That is also out of production.

Is this true? I made a tidy bundle selling old Pease and McClelland blends on ebay last year. When did the curtain drop on tobacco sales on ebay? This whole tobacco targeting thing is getting ridiculous, as if its been relegated to the same category as AR-15's.................

 

[RSteve]

Is this true? I made a tidy bundle selling old Pease and McClelland blends on ebay last year. When did the curtain drop on tobacco sales on ebay? This whole tobacco targeting thing is getting ridiculous, as if its been relegated to the same category as AR-15's.................

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