Zenith

Description

Zenith is a large compound — four cakes pre-fused together so the whole thing runs from a single ignition — and at 150 seconds it’s long enough to be the backbone of a display on its own.

It opens fast, with two-tier strobing and Z-firing comets alongside a volley of multi-coloured mines. From there it drops into vertical firing with alternating sequences of strobing bi-coloured stars, then back to Z-firing for big bursting brocades with complementary coloured stars filling in around them. The finale switches to vertical and empties on intense gold and silver palms.

What makes it work is the layering. Three tube sizes — 20mm, 25mm and 30mm — mean the bursts sit at different heights, so you get depth in the sky rather than everything landing on one plane. The intensity rises and falls through it too, which is why two and a half minutes doesn’t drag.

Noise is medium rather than relentless, so there’s a bit of bang without it being the main event. With 2,120g of powder and a 25 metre safety distance, plan for a field or large garden.

Worth knowing about the brand: Kimbolton has real display pedigree — the original company put on the 2012 Olympics ceremonies and Jubilee displays — and Kimbolton Fireworks Retail is now a trading name of Celtic Fireworks.