Gentleman’s Nod Kanpai 

Gentleman’s Nod (gentlemansnod....) is an Omaha, Nebraska based artisan that specializes in small batch, hand crafted grooming products. Their current offerings feature shaving soap, pre shave, post shave and beard care. The company’s name signifies the respect among gentlemen and their desire for personal care and quality. Each of their current scent offerings is named for a famous gentleman throughout human history. Gentleman’s Nod products can be sourced direct from their website.
Kanpai is named for the Japanese word “cheers”. It honors the community as a thank you for their support of the brand and was developed from a Japanese gin recipe. Scent notes feature: Gin, Yuzu, Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin, Ginger, Asian Plum, Cardamom, Coriander, Sweet Basil and Anise. The resulting fragrance is a slightly boozy, citrusy and spicy accord. Mrs. Ruds approves of the fragrance for casual use. It is pleasing to her, but not sexy enough for the date nights. Strength of scent is mid-strong out of the container and once lathered. Try That Soap (trythatsoap.com/) recommends Oleo Soapworks - Bonaire as a comparable scent profile.
Kanpai is offered in Gentleman’s Nods Cardinal base. This base aims to bring an already stellar tallow formula to the elite class of wet shaving soap bases. Ingredients listed in the formula are: Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Aqua (Water), Tallow (Beef), Ricinus communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter), Potassium Hydroxide, Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter, Fragrance, Lauryl Laurate, Lanolin, Raw Honey, Sucrose Cocoate, Methyl Gluceth 10, Sodium Lactate, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silk Amino Acids, Goat's Milk, Albumen, Buttermilk, Coconut Milk, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, dl Panthenol, Bentonite Clay, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Sodium Phytate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe) Juice (and) Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose. The soap is of mid firmness and loads easily into your desired brush type. The Cardinal base is thirsty and when properly worked will resemble sour cream in terms of lather consistency. Primary and residual slickness of this soap are elite. Much like their other soap bases, post shave is the real star and is among the elite in a crowded soap market. The face feel and protection this lather leaves behind is amazing. Given my experience with the base, Gentleman's Nod Cardinal base receives a ShaveScore of 99. For a similar performance experience I suggest Highland Springs Soap Co.
Disclosure: All reviews and impressions must state how the product was acquired, whether it be free, sponsored, promotional, purchased, or otherwise.
Soap - Gentleman’s Nod Kanpai (promotional gift)
Brush - Mocek "Green Tea" w/ 24mm Maggard SHD
Razor - Razor - Dovo “Bismarck” (gift)
Post - Maol Grooming/Talbot Shaving Voodoo (gift)
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ShaveScore Compilation: goo.gl/tXv4oW