Tobaccos Wilke Pipe Tobacco - Rumcake

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2014-08-23		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

The Jamaican rum is richly sweet, lightly creamy with a little spice, and is the star flavor. You will taste a light honey note from the gold cavendish from time to time, and some vanilla from either a topping or the lightly sugary black cavendish or both (I suspect both is the correct answer). I occasionally notice the presence of nutty, earthy, woody, molasses sweet burley, but it's strictly condimental, as is the Virginia, which is slightly grassy and citrusy. The strength is a couple of steps past the mild mark, while the taste is a step the center of mild to medium. The nicotine level is a hair past the mild threshold. Won’t bite or get harsh. May need a slight dry time because it is moist, but drying it will lose you some of the rum, so you'll have to decide how you want to play it. Burns cool, clean, and a tad slow with a very consistent sweet and lightly spicy, rich, deep flavor that translates to the lightly lingering after taste. Leaves a little moisture in the bowl, but no dottle. Requires some relights. Has a very pleasant room note. An easily repeatable, comfortable all day smoke. Three and a half stars out of four.

Edit: 2-18-2018: I've smoked John Brandt's production of this blend, and can't tell a difference from the older version.

-JimInks

25 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	aztobaccosavant (12)	2018-04-04		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I have read some reviews about old owner vs new owner blending. While I can’t comment on the old blend, I can say that the current iteration is as good as any aromatic/rum tobacco can be. Aroma lit and unlit are equally appealing. The tobacco behaves incredibly well. Minimal if any relights. I believe this is the best aromatic available and am proud to buy it from such a small blender as opposed to a huge mill. Tobacco is a natural product. Every crop the leaf tastes different. This rum cake was expertly blended and flavored. As highly recommend as possible

Pipe Used: Dunhill, Tsuge, Parker

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Wilke directly

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2017-02-11		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

I'm surprised that, after looking over previous reviews, there was not much said about the Vanilla extract added to the Rum in this outstanding blend. I could sure taste it (as well as the rum), and the lighter Virginia in the compilation of leaf added a somewhat bittersweet tang to the presentation. Not a heavy aromatic, but one that when sipped slowly, will be richly rewarding to the palate of those who gravitate toward quality aromatics with Vanilla and/or rum flavoring.

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-30		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I'm not sure if you can say a tobacco blend is good or bad. I must say that I, personally, really like this blend. To me, it tastes more like rumcake than rum. It's the right amount of sweet. I can definitely taste a grassy note (sorry, don't know what else to call it), like the smell of dried hay, which I really enjoy in an aromatic (I think it's the Virginia). It's simply a delicious tasting blend. Sometimes the taste is great right to the bottom of the bowl and other times it gets a bit ash tasting but I think this is due to the smoking technique. While I have smoked a lot of blends that weren't supposed to bite, I found that this one has the least bite of them all. Of the six blends I've tried from Pipeworks and Wilke, none of them bite. It has a very pleasant room note. Everyone likes the smell and many say it smells good enough to eat. Friends often tell me "it smells like cake" or "it's making me hungry". So there you go. Highly recommended. Note: I also enjoy English blends.

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-02-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I recieved a sampler of Wilke Tobaccos. Of all the ones I recieved, this was the one I was least wanted. Just got it to round out the order. Now I am glad I did, as it has become my favorite (Next to PipeandCigars Butternut Burley). I especially like it with coffee in the morning after a light breakfast. And it is one of the few my wife allows me to smoke in the house, especially in the morning. It looks nice in the bag (although now it has its on canister w/ 8 oz). It smells sweet, but not overly so. One reviewer said rum raisin ice cream...dont completely agree with that, but I see how he would get that interpretation. Quite frankly I find its aroma unique and very pleasent. It packs well and lights well, although I helps to dry it a little but it is not necessary. The initial sweetness gently fades and an ever so slight spiciness slowly buils as you get deeper into the bowl. The natural tobacco taste come more as you get deeper in the pipe. As the smoker I have a hard time judging room note, but as I said my wife finds it pleasant in the morning and enjoyable in the evening. Even my carpool buddy likes it...now thats saying something. I just love this and I could see how someone would give it three stars, but this desearves four stars without a doubt. Try it in the morning. Starts sweet then buids throughout the bowl. By the time you are done, you will be ready for the rest of your day...or maybe another pipefull?

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-12-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Rumcake is another aromatic marvel from the folks at P&W. It is my favorite aromatic (yet aromatics are not my favroite type of blend) and in my top five overall blends of all time. The taste is indeed all rum, and pure rum (yet rum is not my favorite liquor). There is none of that synthetic flavoring sensation one gets from many aromatics. How P&W makes this pipe-weed all come together so perfectly is a mystery I'm happy to ponder.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RondyR (8)	2022-01-23		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

As usual there’s nothing more that I can add to a review that Jim hasn’t already mentioned, and he’s definitely a better reviewer than 99.8% of us. So I would like to tell you a fun fact about the blend:

As you probably know, this was the preferred blend of Basil Rathbone, the greatest actor to play Sherlock Holmes. Most of the crew on the Sherlock movies didn’t particularly enjoy the room note of this blend, Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson) chief amongst them. I’m guessing that Mr. Bruce was not an aromatic fan and mainly stuck with English blends.

In ‘The House of Fear’, one of my favorite of the Rathbone/Bruce series of films and very loosely based upon ‘The Five Orange Pips’, the character Captain Simpson smokes this tobacco though it’s not mentioned by name or blender; he states that it’s flavored with Jamaican rum. When told that Simpson must not be too often bothered by people asking for some of his tobacco the other characters in the scene concur. Later, when Holmes and Watson are alone in front of a fireplace Holmes helps himself to some of the blend that Captain Simpson kept in a beautiful glass tobacco jar that was shaped like a doggo. When he lights it, Watson exclaims “Must you smoke that filthy stuff? It smells like an old sock”. They clearly added such lines to the film to tease Rathbone about his favorite blend.

Light spoiler if you’ve not seen ‘The House of Fear’ (and if you haven’t, why haven’t you?! Only a Communist would refuse to watch such excellent films) - the tobacco plays a part in Holmes’ solving of the mystery.

It’s fun to learn these sorts of things and I hope that you enjoyed it.

Unlike dear old Watson, I quite enjoy Wilke’s Rum Cake. It does have a very strong smell that some people love and other loathe, but I recommend that everyone buy at least two ounces of it from the Wilke’s website and give it a try.

It can ‘ghost’ a pipe, which is why I’ve dedicated one of my Chris Morgan Bones and a MM Corn Cob for this blend. Like many rum-topped blends it can bite if you puff too quickly on it, and so this is a tobacco that is best savored slowly with easy ‘sips’.

Virtually all of the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes films are available to watch for free, with only one or two commercial interruptions, on YouTube. If you’ve never watched ‘The House of Fear’ you should make time to watch it today. Follow that up with their version of ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ and ‘Terror By Night’, another of my particular favorites. I’ve seen all of the series at least twice and I’ve watched the above mentioned three films probably around two or three dozen times each. Yes, really. I love them that much.

Pipe Used: Morgan Bones, MM Cob

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Wilke Website

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PKT (30)	2019-04-16		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

The only things I can add to the existing positive reviews is that John Brandt has done it again in continuing the Wilke tradition. I like many of the others am not ordinarily an aromatic smoker. Wilke 622 is my go to tobacco. This blend is an outstanding change of pace for me and has become a regular in my rotation. I prefer it to 515 because it provides a more mellow smoke. John if you read these things it is time to bring back nutty burley.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Various

Purchased From: Wilke

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Packratt (1)	2019-01-07		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

No matter what anyone says about other rum tobaccos. Im not an expert, but to me, this is thee best rum tobacco that i' ve ever put in my pipe. Hands down... and i have tried many. And with that being said, smoke it first, sit back and enjoy. Theres alot of talk about all tobacco's, but really this us as fine as it gets. I am not employed by wilk nor do i know any. But i am going to order another pound. Oh by the way, the other tobacco that i smoke regularly is quiet nights. Go figure......

Pipe Used: Jobey pinch

Purchased From: Wilk

Similar Blends: None, this stands alone., John.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Champagne InHand (3)	2017-12-21		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

So I have been testing pipes, many non aromatic blends, but finally I decided that some of the aromatics I tired are just perfect, and this is one of them. It is not overtly complex as far as tobacco goes, but the descriptor of rum cake is dead on, as all you can think of is a pound cake that has been drizzled with a thick rum sauce. Or if you have had a good bread pudding made with eggs to be like custard, then topped with a cream sauce that is egg white and loads of rum, cooked but not enough to evaporate the majority of the alcohol, then you will understand, what it is to smoke this.

It needs to be sipped, as you want it moist to get that full Jamaican Rum but there is almost an afterthought that this is based with mild tobaccos blended perfectly and topped without being goopy or tasting any bit artificial. seriously you will want to eat it, but instead just sip and enjoy for an hour or more.

What I like to do with serious aromatics that are moist is to move the pipe stem farther back in the mouth so the smoke coming in doesn't hit the end of the tongue but easily goes towards the back of the mouth, and you can easily retrohale this without getting the sinuses going crazy.

Yes this is not like smoking non-aromatic tobacco where we can wax poetic about the individual tobaccos making it up and their aromas and how full the blend is, but something that just takes you to what the description is.

Others I really like are Edward G. Robinson, and I like the Bourbon Street, but with those you can easily identify the tobaccos and their properties and enjoy the topping, but both can sear in the pipe, easily get to hot and leave a bit of crunchy ash, where this blend leaves almost nothing, and it doesn't gunk up mu sten or the reserve area, as I like to use Peterson's with the system or their spigots and the P-LIP system, which helps avoid any tongue bite if you work the tobacco properly. Wilke rumcake was easy sit comes right on the first pipe load as I was sent a few ounces by a pipe buddy.

I like many pipes, but for aromatics I really like the Peterson double stage spigots or Army because they are just easy to drain if needed, though none was necessary with this blend.

With other aromatics I have all sorts of black nasty stuff on my pipe cleaners, and yet this one was remarkably clean, and considering combustion. i was pretty amazed.

So this one gets 4 stars and I will try as hard as possible to buy this in a pound as I could easily sip on this much of the evening. What a treat.

Pipe Used: Peterson's Spigots, Army, Bent Briar P-Lip system

Age When Smoked: unknown

Purchased From: traded a fellow piper

Similar Blends: other um flavored aromatics, but none that really come close in overall finish.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-03-27		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Very new to pipe smoking so bear with me and my first review. Upon opening this bag the sweet, clove-like smell of rum wafted and settled into my nose; I was hooked immediately.

This is a mild smoke. The aroma is intoxicating (if you like rum). I puffed on this like a child with a candy cigarette and still, no bite. I'm still learning how to properly pack my pipe and I can tell you this burns EXTREMELY well because a newbie like me had very few relights (about 8 relights compared to my usual 17 or so).

I smoked this in my parked car. Kept the windows barely cracked because I wanted to be enveloped by the smoke. It smells absolutely wonderful! Got a few stares too. I guess some men still aren't used to seeing women smoke pipes. Or maybe they thought my car was on fire because I was puffing pretty steady. I couldn't get enough of this.

Again, I'm a new smoker, but if you like aromatics or mild, non-biting tobacco, you should try this. I purchased this based on the reviews on this site, so thank you very much for your input.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WmZiggy (81)	2008-06-25		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I have never smoked a rum flavored blend I've liked...until now. I agree with the other 4-star reviews here. This is a nice smoke. It is well balanced, does not burn hot, nor bite, and has great flavor and taste to the bottom of the bowl. The Burley adds a nutty flavor, the Virginia adds sweetness and you can taste the rum throughout. This blend is a natural for the meerschaum, too.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sasha (228)	2006-04-10		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I'm an heavy-latakia blends smoker, but I happen to like rum-topped tobaccos as a change of pace; I think that rum is the only flavouring agent that mixes well with the taste of tobacco.

Sait that, I must admit this is one of the best rum blends I've tries so far: not that I expected something different, being a long time aficionado of P&W.

The blend is really smooth, never harsh or biting and it packs and lights very easily. It burns well too and the flavour keeps consistent to the end of the bowl. I suppose the employment of Virginia and burley leaf for the base, due to the coolness and the great burning characteristics. Another good point is that it's not a wet tobacco at all.

Think about it: cool smoking, not wet, not biting and consistent flavour to the end of the bowl. And it's an aromatic!!! Definitely 4 stars out of 4.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2013-09-09		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Another top-shelf aromatic from Pipeworks and Wilke, Rumcake delivers exactly what it advertises: delicious Christmas aromas and flavors. I would classify this blend less as rum flavored and more as literally rum cake. There's a sweetness there that's intentionally missing from more directly rum flavored blends such as Blockade Runner or Navigator. I assume this is the influence of the Royal Scot blended in? As the bowl progresses through the half-way point, the intensity of the rum flavoring increases, but that sweetness is always there in the background. The flavor reminds me of a popular rum I had in Puerto Rico, the name of which escapes me, that popularized itself by having a mild vanilla background note.

Presentation is typical P&W fine ribbon. Jar note is a bit muted- subtle rather than aggressive. I get vanilla on the charring light that quickly gives way to the signature rum cake flavor. And best of all, frequent relights are not required. Although moist, Rumcake burns evenly and smokes cool - a common theme with P&W aromatics. No goop, little dottle. Certainly recommended as an excellent aromatic. A fantastic Christmas blend. Highly recommended for fans of rum flavored anything.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-05-29		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I have never been disappointed with any of Pipeworks & Wilke blends. Quality tobacco & flavorings are used and are harmoniously blended with flavors that actually taste like what they say. This is one of those blends that is satisfying and no doubt has a good rum backdrop flavor. Not goopy and burns terrific without bite or a nasty aftertaste. The tobacco choices used in this blend are perfectly balanced to accompany the rum. The room note is pleasant and well accepted with non-smokers around. Another superior blend...like many others from Pipeworks & Wilke!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-10-27		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Clean pipe, clean palate and time to relax are all that are needed to enjoy Rumcake. P&W has taken the cynicism from my attitude toward aromatic pipe tobacco blends. Just make sure that your puffing remains moderate or the fragrant Virginia leaf will get too hot and steam-out the mild flavoring. Otherwise, a cool smoke and dry bowl await.

Take a break from your "review race" and enjoy.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-03-24		Mild	Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

I typically do not like aromatics. I typically do not like black cavendish.

Rumcake is an exception and one of the aromatic blends I love (the other is Pipeworks & Wilke's Royal Scot). It has a real rum flavoring and aroma that is delicious. I'm talking serious, serious, strong, rum. Not rum essence or rum-like, but island rum poured on the tobacco. Yow! The tobacco also has something in it that really gives it some zip/spice. I have no idea what it is, although I suspect it is the light strands of tobacco in the blend. At first I thought it was Turkish, but I do not think that is right. Whatever it is, it is a great nuance to an aromatic. And while there appears to be a heavy dose of black cavendish in the blend, it really does not overtake the flavor (which is a big plus for me because I would have tossed it if it did).

This is a very unique and excellent tobacco. Try it if you like aromatics, but try it if you don't. It is a one-of-a-kind blend that everyone should try.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LightMyBriar (18)	2016-02-25		Extremely Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This is the highest quality aromatic I've ever smoked, and if I was o it allowed to choose one aromatic for the rest of my life, this would be it. Smokes perfectly, isn't goopy, maintains the same great flavor for the whole smoke, and the flavor is excellent. Customer service is great, too.

Pipe Used: All sorts

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Pipeworks and Wilke

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Classical (13)	2008-04-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Where have you been all my life? My pipe smoking life, that is!

As one who started this art on goopy cavendishes, the transition in my aromatic habit to the fine blends of P&W has been sheer delight! The flavors are sweet and full. There is no tongue bite and the packing and lighting are easy. The tobacco is of the highest quality and the rum flavor is first-rate.

This is my default aromatic smoke and I can't get enough of it. Plus, everyone loves the room note. Best of both worlds...

What's not to love, for those who love the highest quality aromatics?

Accompaniment: Britten's 3 Sea Interludes.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-09-05		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Rumcake smells Good in the Pouch delightfully,the flavoring stay all the way down to the bottom of the bowl. aroma great in the room This Jamaican rum smells wonderful and taste like.and the Rumcake flavoring flavor stay with thougt out the bowl.one of the best aromatics Pipe tobacco in my book. i smoke two to three bowl a day with a Hot cup of coffee it great.one in best aromatics A.) I like it's complexity. B.) I like that it's not biting. C.) It is easy to smoke, and enjoy a all day smoke. D.) The Rumcake lasts the aroma in the room is delightfully,

I well gave it 4 star

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-07-12		Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

Maybe my imagination is working overtime, but I get the taste of rum raisin ice cream with this blend. (It's my favorite ice cream, although those yokels at B&J have stopped making it.) At the beginning of the smoke it is more rum than raisin, but as the bowl burns down, the slight sweetness of raisin takes over. I assume it is the rum burning off that allows the sweetness to emerge to the forefront. The flavor is not overwhelming by any means, it's just there in the background. I also don't find much tobacco flavor, so the total taste sensation is lacking. And to me, it does have a nicotine kick near the end. It has all the smoking characteristics I demand in a tobacco (stays lit, burns cool, white ash, no dottle). I won't be adding this blend to my rotation, but I think I will order some for the winter months. It just seems to me to fit the cold weather, maybe because I enjoy rum during the snow season. Rest assured when I do order it, I will order it shipped in plastic jars, for as others have mentioned, if left in the plastic baggie the rum dissipates as time goes by.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-06-26		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This is a very thin tasting almost bland blend. It's aroma however is wonderful.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2004-07-13		Medium	Medium to Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

7/13/2014 - I still smoke my Rumcake daily. The trick I have learned with this over the past 10 years is to mix Rumcake half and half with another blend to spicen that blend up. I just received another 8oz of my Rumcake / Nut Brown Burley blend and its still fantastic!!! BTW you can ask Carole to add more Rum, Maple , Vanilla whatever topping you want added to any blend. Rumcake not rummy enough? Ask Carole to add more topping. I always ask for more to be added as I really like Rumcake extra aromaticy. (I know I made up that word). Now is the time to try Pipeworks & Wilke as she's been doing this for a very long time and I would think would want to retire eventually...

UPDATE: 7/13/04 I like my Nut Bwrown Burley mixed 50/50 with Rumcake so i asked Carol to fill a 8 oz jar with half NBB and half the Rumcake and top the blend with the rum topping. She through in a couple of leaves of perique for more flavor and nicotine and viola. What a treat!

1/06/2004 I purchased some of this when i ordered more Nut Brown Burley to cellar. I love rum, whether its rum cake, rum raisin ice cream or a cold rum and coke so this blend was a no brainer for me. Pipeworks and wilke blend every batch per order, so this was so fresh that i could tell they used top shelf rum. I stuck my nose in several Bacardi bottles in my bar and it most resembles Bacardi Gold. Definatley not a blend full of rum flavored chamicals.

Mostly darker leaf, with lighter shades of brown and yellow. You really have to try this if you love the taste of the islands. Reminds me of my trips to Cancun and Puerto Rico. Its funny how you must keep this in a sealed jar. I left my first sample in the bag, and after a week the rum was gone. This is real spirits folks, it WILL evaporate (like it should)

I mix this half and half with Nut Brown Burley. A nutty navy mix. Great all day blend...

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-07-13		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Wow, this stuff is different. I like it alot and has several nice things about it. Real rum makes a huge difference and adds a lovely flavor to the tobacco and to the aroma. I have to say the closest thing I have had to this is Blatter Reserve which is slightly choclatey instead of rummy. Both are yummy and similar. You have to keep this one in a sealed container to maintain the rum topping. It has a slightly spicy side to it as well. I guess I will have to get used to smoking my cake instead of ea.... 4 stars. I'm still eat.... woops! smoking this cake!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-04-23		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

As a rule, I usually do not care for Rum based tobaccos, but this is the exception. This has a wonderful flavor, and the tobacco burns clean and dry to a white ash, with no moisture or gurgle in my Peterson bent. This blend offers a very nice change of pace, and I find my taste memory recalling this often. It is a most flavorful smoke, another winner for Pipeworks & Wilke. They blend great tobaccos. This blend is well worth your examination.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bushido (27)	2022-04-21		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

At first thought it was gross, the flavoring is so strong. But after about 5 min, it balances out and is delicious. If you didn’t know it was imitating the flavor of a baked rum cake, you might think it’s a bit weird tasting, but if you have had rum cake this is very reminiscent. A top notch heavy aro. Very well behaved with no tongue bite, although I recommend an hour or more of dry time.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Michael D (33)	2020-07-03		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Rumcake is the younger but stronger brother to Wilke 515. for a very good Medium to Strong blend with a Heavier buttery rum flavor out front, that is fantastic for those special occasions. Too heavy for me as a daily. Personally, I prefer 515 for the more mild flavor and an all day smoke. Both excellent blends.

Pipe Used: Army Mount

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: wilkepipetobacco.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DocGuinness (11)	2018-03-23		Mild to Medium	Extra Strong	Extra Full	Pleasant

I have been smoking this blend for over 5 years. I ordered Rumcake a couple of weeks ago, the first batch from the new blender that bought the recipes from Carol.

When I opened the bag to smell the tobacco, I was overwhelmed with the topping on this batch. It was incredibly strong, stronger than I've ever experienced with this blend from Carol.

The tobacco quality itself was top-notch, great quality tobacco. Nothing has changed there. I was just overwhelmed by the smell of the blend and the taste of the smoke. In fact I couldn't smoke the entire bowl. The taste is hard to describe.

Edited ( May 21, 2018 ) - The initial, overpowering smell has seemed to taper a bit after sitting for a couple of months.

Cheers.

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: www.wilkepipetobacco.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smoke (15)	2017-08-11		Medium	Medium to Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

The first Aromatic I've ever enjoyed, others I've tried I never got passed quarter bowl. I normally smoke full English blends Father Dempsey, HH Vintage Syrian, Squadron Leader, Night Cap etc.

Every once in a while I crave a sweeter tobacco to mix it up and decided to venture out again, other aromatics I've tried smelled great but the smoke was never Full in flavor always thin and usually never smoked like it smelled this is everything I was looking for, I normally smoke Fast and it hasn't soured I've received no tongue bite it's held on to the Rum cake flavor and coolness perfectly while puffing fast and big, the fullness is what I'm really enjoying .

Can this really be an aromatic? It's more like a Med/full English blend that's been soaked in good Rum(I've never eaten Rum cake but this tobacco does remind me of a Dark Rum I tried once) The NIC hit is nice and not over the top at all puffing fast as I normally do.

Pipe Used: Cavicchi

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Vtpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	runswithdogs (41)	2017-06-28		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

As a novice pipe smoker, I lack the ability to distinguish all the nuances more experienced smokers can detect. But I know what I like! If you are looking for a delightful aromatic, you simply must try this blend. The rum is subtle, and the blend leans towards the sweet side. The room note is very pleasant. I learned a lot about "sipping" my pipes (s-l-o-w smoking) with this blend. Properly smoked, this blend will shine for the lover of aromatics. Huff and puff it, and it won't be as enjoyable.

6/16/21 Update With four years of serious pipe smoking under my belt, I’m less of a novice than I was when I first reviewed this blend. My early stash came from Carol, but I am now finishing up a blend crafted by John, and it is every bit as delightful and wonderful a smoke as Carol produced.this is a highly recommended aromatic!

Pipe Used: Dunhills, Castellos

Age When Smoked: New

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LSUTigersFan (5)	2017-04-17		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I am relatively new to smoking. I smoke once a day and maybe twice on the weekends, and I have for about two months. Some tobaccos I have liked, and some do not appeal to me. I do not have the descriptive skills like some of you here, so what I take away from the tobacco is usually "I don't like", "I like", "I love" and P&W Rumcake. I am still learning the different flavors of the tobaccos, I can say that this tobacco is amazing. You can taste the rum, but it is more like an aged sweet rum like a Demerara rum like El Dorado. It is an extremely smooth tobacco, that I could find myself smoking all day, every day.

I need to stock up on a few pounds before Mrs. Burns finally calls it quits.

Pipe Used: Savinelli: Severe Rusticated (614)

Age When Smoked: One month

Purchased From: Pipeworks & Wilke

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	hockey01 (29)	2011-01-19		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This one smells GREAT in the pouch and smokes just as well; room note very pleasant and one that your spouse/girlfriend could not object to; burns evenly right down to the bottom of the bowl with absolutely no bite whatsoever. For aromatic lovers, this is well worth a try.

And as for the rum flavor, this is the preferred blend of pirates and other corsairs, you know. Really.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-12-05		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

The best rum blend I've had. It is not overwhelming. The blend slowly unfolds as you smoke it. Not sweet or overly rummy(?) I enjoy smoking after a meal. Well worth trying!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sons of Reagan (9)	2010-11-26		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Absolutely superb!!! A great smoke that burns cool without any tongue bite and stays lit with minimal relights. The room note is fantastic with a lot of compliments. In all, one of my favorite aromatics that has just the right amount of flavoring. Well done, Carol!!!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-09-20		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Another fine aromatic. Very rich in flavor, but light on the tongue. Great room aroma as well. So far it is one of the best Rum tobaccos I've tried.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-06-24		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

pipe works has a hit with this one. I could really taist the rum.this one is a winner in my book.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Piper4ever (11)	2010-01-27		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

An excellent blend from Pipeworks & Wilke, where Carole demonstrates mastery, touch and above all great taste at blending time. Very light fruity flavor and dominant rum aroma, there is not a bite at any stage of the bowl and your palate will be remembering those christmas mornings of our childhood. Great tobacco for any occasion, specially after a tasty meal. Enjoy It.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-04-30		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

It smells great in the pouch and has a nice aroma when smoked. It comes a little on the moist side, but thats because it is fresh. I find the flavor mild, nice, but not necessarily definable. What is unmistakable is the sweet sugary taste on the tongue and palate. Because it was so moist I anticipated some gurgling, but there was none. It took just a little work to keep it lit but that was almost surely because of the excess moisture. An easy thing to correct. Just let it dry out for a bit. It is about as bitless as a blend can be and still be burning. However, the very end of the smoke looses its sweetness and becomes ashy tasting. Thats not a problem unless you are breaking in a new pipe and want to smoke it to the bitter end the first few smokes. From the moment you light this blend you are struck by the absence of an overload of chemicals and are immediately rewarded with the blends sweetness. This is really a great blend for a new smoker. While I have not tried them yet, I have a feeling that, like this blend, all the Wilke blends are made from quality tobaccos. It is light on the nicotine side. I only wish the blend was a bit more tasty, as opposed to just sweet. Nevertheless, I would have to say this is one of the better aromatics out there. I prefer Lane's RLP6 which is also half the price.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-03-01		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

An aromatic that I can actually enjoy. Though I found that those around me seemed to enjoy it even more with compliments like, "Smells good enough to eat" and "Damn, that tobacco is making me hungry."

I always dried it for about an hour and then loaded up. Not much attention required and burned away to nothing but the lingering room aroma of desert or pastries freshly baked. Just be prepared for the frequent interruptions from those wanting to know what it is. Perhaps smokers of Rumcake should be provided with some P&W flyers to handout, for less bother!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Big Nick (74)	2008-12-04		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This stuff is Great ! The pouch aroma is just a bonanza of Christmas fragrances like Rumcake baking with real Rum, Vanilla and spices permiating the room. The smoke is mild and pleasant yet voluminous and rich. Puff at will and don't worry about any bite, because there is none ! The rich flavors remain mild and sweet through out the bowl. You do want to leave it out to dry a little, common theme for aromatics.

Air it out, load it up, sit back, fire up, and Enjoy !

You can't help it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-07-19		Mild	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This blend is another hit from Carole! This tobacco is nice and sweet and actually gives the taste of rum! This one maybe the favorite blend of all the ones that I tried from pipeworks! Try this blend if you like no bite aromatics!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-07-08		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Rumcake is exactly as advertised: mild and pleasantly sweet. It's not really my cup of tea but there's no doubt about the quality. P&W makes the best aromatics around, period. As usual, it won't bite no matter how hard you puff. Good for a beginner, for those who just want something to puff on, or if you need a good room-note.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LSU Tiger (14)	2006-08-20		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I suspected that this was another rum flavored blend. You know the type: sweet, very wet, tasting like a piece of hard candy. No. Not even close. I picked this as part of a sampler, figuring that that if I don't like it, I'm not out much. But, it quickly rose to the coin flipping stature of tied for favorite. The taste of rum is subtle throughout the bowl, it seems to dance behind the scene letting the Virginia and burley take the limelight. I could, however not forget it's presence. The taste, for me wasn't anything that I can describe as ice cream or toast. It was earthier, sweet, but not in an overpowering way. My shop odor, which is usually a mixture of wood and steel, was replaced by a blanket of rum and a Virginia/burley nutty sweetness.

It packs easily, lights well(and stays lit!), but will bite if puffed hard. I may well order a half pound.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	craig61a (22)	2020-12-23		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

The toppings enhance rather than sublimate the tobacco. It's hard for me to separate the flavor of the vanilla and the rum. They blend and complement each other very well. The Virginia offers a sweet, grassy taste, and the burley offers a nutty, deep flavor. The cavendish deepens the flavor, adding mouth feel to the mix.

This is one exceptional blend. The flavors synergize; making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Generates a good volume of smoke, and will not bite. I can smoke multiple bowls in a day without becoming overwhelmed by the flavor. Average amount of relights, burns to a fine white ash, minimal moisture in the bottom of the bowl.

This would rank high in the running as one of my desert island blends. A very fine room note, which receives complements from those around. Leaves a slightly lingering aftertaste. Top notch.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Wilke

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kribbage (32)	2017-01-30		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

OUTSTANDING!! Best rum/Rumcake/rum flavored blend out there. Seems better when set out to dry a bit, but it is top top quality leaf with a beautiful taste, flavor, and aroma. Christmas is Rumcake at my house, but now, Christmas is year round! Great job, Pipeworks!!!

Pipe Used: Briars, cobs, meerschaums, clays

Age When Smoked: Freshly delivered

Purchased From: Pipeworks

Similar Blends: Nothing comes remotely close for me.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BC (21)	2016-02-24		Mild	Very Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I like the Rumcake better than 191. It is sweet, but not cloying. There's some kind of spice I really like that provides a nice bass note: ginger? nutmeg? That, combined with the rum, makes this really tasty. There is a creamy base that I attribute to the Cavendish and maybe the butter flavoring. The subtle Virginia taste comes through, particularly as you work your way down through the bowl, and the flavor mix changes slightly. But you always taste the rum and the vanilla. It is wet, and I don't know how to dry it without losing the rum. It burns fine anyway, only one or two relights. It burns down to a nice ash. I do not think this is an everyday smoke for me; I am more of a VAPER and VA guy, but a terrific change of pace, really outstanding.

Pipe Used: no name

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: Pipeworks and Wilke

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	vinci666 (2)	2014-07-14		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

I really love this one!! The room note relaxes me and everyone else in the room. its smooth does not burn hot and i suggest you give it a go

Pipe Used: devil anise,meer, cob,billiard,churchwarden

Age When Smoked: 43

Purchased From: pipeworks and wilke

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-02-23		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I have been craving a aromatic and needed a change from my usual flakes & plug tobaccos. Also needed a non smoker friendly room note since I was getting comments like what crawled in your pipe and died ;)

This fits the bill and gets a strong 3 stars since I reserve 4 stars for legendary blends.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-12-05		Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant

After reading some of the reviews on here I had to have some of this. Not sure if I got the tail end of a batch or what but this was bland to me. I didn't taste any rum, in fact I didn't taste much of anything. No smell at all when opening the pouch either. I will stick with the Vermont Maple Cavendish.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sojang (13)	2006-10-01		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I did not find much rum here. I also found nothing special.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	aadelma (67)	2005-06-25		Very Mild	Very Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Pleasant

This is a very pleasant blend which I found pretty bland. It's well behaved and smells terrific in the pouch and when burning. The only flavor I get is an occasional bit of sweetness. I get a little bite from it, unlike most Wilke blends. I tried mixing it 50-50 with NBB as another reviewer suggested, but still didn't get much out of it. If you like extremely mild tobaccos, this will suit you, otherwise I suggest Wilke's 196 or Bohemian Mixture.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-12-30		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This is really a very good mixture BUT it is not quite as wonderful as I've heard it described.An extremely pleasant aroma with a good sweet taste yet, I found it to be rather run of the mill.If you really like rum i would give it a try,but if you just like good aromatics go for the Bohemian mix and treat yourself to something really different.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimPM (153)	2023-02-03		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Embracing the full flowing charisma of the distilled spirits that inhabit the famed Montego Bay district of Jamaica, comes the thirst-quenching entry from the splendid Wilke Pipe Tobacco the acclaimed Rumcake. Originally inspired by the preferred amusement of Basil Rathbone himself, this celebrated mixture of black and gold Cavendish, assorted Virginia and a modest spritzing of Burley is served within a lively cocktail comprised of pure Jamaican rum, inviting butter, complementing vanilla and perhaps a few other patented ingredients.

Carrying a profuse forward spinning aroma of a delectable, grained rum, the blend’s nose projects a secondary posturing of sugary vanilla enveloping quietly sweetened spices. Buried deep are the airs of tart native grass and funky wood as they work to waft their meagered impressions upon the eager senses. Rumcake’s moist collection of excessively darkened tobaccos is mustered by a mound of beefy blackened Cavendish muscle, long twisted red-golden Virginian ribbons and a scattering of dissimilar flecks of multivariant Burley browns. The amassed appearance of these constituents is generally healthy and densely clustered, yielding the promise of a well cultured and feasibly enjoyable adventure.

As measured, it is apparent the additive coatings stand proudest in the presentation of the overall taste profile. Granted I would be remiss not to clarify that the native strains, nevertheless, do provide a solid foundation resting underneath, performing tastefully well in harmonizing with the assortment of applied top-level ornamentation. Subsequent, with a determined slow sipping of Rumcake, the smoker experiences a considerable volume of deep sweet boozy savor, a real joy to be precisely exact.

Objectively I must admit, within the assorted trials of this quality Wilke production, I discovered the featured rum topping to be exemplary to the class of similar aromatic concoctions. Mainly, a beguiling and consistently colorized note of exquisite Jamaican rum provides the overarching bravado of this recipe. True to the end, the decorated flavoring is genuinely sweet and spiritedly spicy.

More appropriately, what expands within the folds of this rum characterization is a notable grainy caramel undertone laced with accents of what I perceived to be tropical fruits, and rich molasses. I am no expert on the categorization of these spirits, but my better judgement leads me to conclude that the base rum alcohol employed is of the golden or dark spiced classing. What is more, the element itself provides voice as there is an abiding presence of sizzling murmurs as the rum finds purpose in de-gassing during the ensuing burn. This latter development is received well as an interesting exchange in pipe smoking related chatter.

In addition to this forward rum facing, complementing streams of wispy vanilla interlace with a nuance that registered as a cross between a natural butterscotch and that of a buttery maple which only boosts the enhanced sugariness residing within the trails of the highlighting garnishments. Furthermore, I noted a distinct sweet floral-tonka bean like quality to the coating embellishments, which leads me to concur with the postulation of JimInks that is posted on the Wilke site proper, in effect surmising that there might possibly be a secretive dose of deer tongue residing within the recipe. On that last note, there is no denying that this aspect is very much Crooner-like in its taste configuration and experienced recording.

Regarding the accompaniment of natural tobaccos, for all practical purposes it is the Virginian and the Black Cavendish in particular that shape the forcible edge. The gold Cavendish and the Burley periodically arise with a show of indifference, existing primarily in a state of remote passivity. For the Virginia, evidence revealed a steadfast persona marked as a basic herby dry grass enameled with light citrus tart, modest raisin affluence, delicate lemony shading, and certain mature spiced wood. Holding the weighty girth of the bottom layer’s flavoring, the Black Cavendish, most likely cased with a diluted vanilla, brought a charred darkened earthiness, rustic wood, and a bit of light airy zest.

And as I previously alluded, the third element of notable potency, the Burley, hides way back in the rear middle staging finish, just managing to poke its head into the mix with a gentle inkling of sugary nutwood, emphasized by some standard molasses renderings. As to the gold Cavendish it did not distinguish sharply at all, maybe adding just a little heightened caramelization to the melding of general sweetness as its registerable influence on the flavor overall.

Let me just point out, upon receiving a positive comment from my wife regarding the mixture’s fragrance, which never ever happens just so we are clear, I about fell over in a rattled state of amazement. Specifically, the unsolicited comment centered on her assessment of how “nice and mapley” Rumcake’s room essence was presenting itself in the moment. With its expending, the blend does sincerely emit grand clouds of thick serious-minded smoke that commandeer the immediate vicinity that is true. Yet given the rarity of supportive feedback in this case, I believe I am good in suggesting that the resulting room scent is most definitely very pleasant.

Additionally, she was absolutely correct, there is for lack of a better description, a sweet maple-butterscotch like fragrance that is rightly experienced. This representation further combines with a buttered note of comforting elixir spice, mainly being the residual deposit of the Jamaican rum that is. Together they glide aromatically over a thinner odor configured by sweet zestful wood and smokey citrus. Truly an unprecedented development in my long annals of pipe smoking, the wife’s approval, wow! Proper recognition concerning the quality of Wilke’s blending efforts is further reinforced in the demonstration of Rumcake’s solid mechanical properties. Essentially the tobacco performs well with an exceptionally cool temperature, even though we are entertaining a spirit-doused aromatic laced with considerably extended top-coatings. For itself, Rumcake is candidly mellow in a rousing offer of a well metered tempo effectually supporting an enduring aromatic treat. There is no specter of nicotine or rueful harshness encountered that serves to spoil the relaxing presentation of its sweetened treasure.

3.6 Pipes ,

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brunello (166)	2023-01-27		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I’ve been toying with this for the past 18 months, trying to come to grips with the rave reviews. It was at its best when I first tried it: although muted and muddled it had a suggestion of blondie bar and rum, and was an overall satisfactory three star experience at the point. But even then I noticed that if I sat the pipe down and returned later much of the flavor had been lost. Now, even though the ambient aroma smells pretty good, the flavors themselves have faded to the point where the effects of heavy PG has altered the flavor profile to something more savory and somewhat funky.

In preparation for this review, and at risk of losing even more flavor, I left some out on a paper plate for 12 hours (!) to see if drying out would help. While this reduced the stickiness to the fingers, I was nonetheless able to form the tobacco into grape-sized clumps, and they stayed that way without unfurling. Yep, too much humectant. My last bowl started out tasting of pan-scorched brown gravy with a slightly unpleasant undertone of butyric acid, the once pleasant sweet-cake and rum flavors nowhere to be found, now, if any flavors could be described, tasting vaguely of stale Corn Flakes.

I have no idea if Carole might have prepared this blend differently than John, as I’ve only come to know the Wilke blends since John took the helm. And I have several glowing four-star reviews coming for his non-aromatic blends. But I suspect the real issue with the aromatics is that most smokers are not perceptive to the taste and effect on the palate of these additives. I myself never use additives in my own home blending (processed from natural leaf), but blenders continue with this practice as a safeguard against mold, or to control burn rate, because they mostly don’t get any negative feedback.

I’m going to go ahead and give this three stars based on how it tasted when all the flavorings covered up the hidden flaws, but strongly advise enjoying it while fresh. It aint gonna get any better!

Pipe Used: clay, cob, filtered briar.

Age When Smoked: fresh - 18 months

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