Wilke Pipe Tobacco Wilke No. 400
(3.66)
A full English blend for those who prefer something with greater body as an after dinner smoke. A base of the finest Cyprian Latakia to which is added Turkish Yenidje, Kentucky Burley, Perique and Virginia in medium, long, and granulated large cuts. Not for the timid!
Notes: Formally contained Syrian Latakia.
Details
| Brand | Wilke Pipe Tobacco |
| Blended By | John Brandt |
| Manufactured By | John Brandt |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Burley, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ready Rubbed |
| Packaging | 2 oz. bag, 4 oz. bag, 8 oz. bag 16 oz. bag |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.66 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 22 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 03, 2021 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Another excellent fine burning, full English. This one is neck and neck with Peretti's Omega at the top of the heap. The Peretti is a finer, more even cut, whereas the Wilke has a little more variety in the bag. The Wilke has Perique in it, and throughout the smoke you get little hints of Perique goodness. I believe 400 is a notch higher in the nicotine scale too, again likely due to the Perique. This seems to have a little more complexity across the board versus Omega, as you go through a pipe, you get little hints here and there of the various varieties in 400. I'd be hard pressed to have to choose between the two; why not get them both and try them for yourself?
Whatever basic tobaccos Peretti and Wilke are using, whether it's due to the cut or wherever they're sourcing them from, they both knock a lot of the more "industrial", mass produced full English blends into the weeds. Personally, I wish all tobacco blenders, from the biggest international concerns on down, the best, and I'm glad they're all out there making blends for us to put in our pipes, but these two brands of hand-blended tobacco are quite seriously superior in complexity and general quality... and there's a part of me here that wants us to support these independent blenders just so we can have these as a choice! The way all Wilkes I have smoked, as well as all the Peretti's, burn in the pipe, are the true indicators of quality as far as I'm concerned. They burn superbly, usually without need for a relight, and they burn to the finest white ash. I have to be aware of this when I'm getting to the bottom of the bowl, so I don't burn them straight to a mouthful of ash. I haven't even gone through all of the Wilkes or Perettis yet, but the ones I have are now just absolute must-haves, and have jars (and the great yellow labeled Peretti paint cans) fully stocked up at this time. Wilke Crystal Palace and Peretti Tashkent would be desert island smokes for me, with Crystal Palace like a mild Balkan (although some might classify it as an American English) and Tashkent possibly being the most unique full Oriental blend out there. Throw in a couple of packages of St Bruno and a nice Jose Rubio Prince pipe... and I'm ready to get on the boat to that desert Island right now now!
I think I kind of went off piste here a bit, which is pretty much what I'm prone to... but this website and its reviews have been a valuable resource and I'm hoping I'm able to contribute a little something to it. If me turning on fellow pipe smokers to some solid blends they haven't yet come across, as I have been turned on to some of these previously unknown blenders, then its certainly worth it. I haven't even gotten into HU blends yet here either 😎
Keep in mind too that I'm not an all day smoker, it's a conscious part of my day (and not every day) to sit back, usually putting a record on the hi-fi (howzabout some Wanda Landowska playing Couperin, or maybe the latest Sleaford Mods disc? lol) and spending some quality time with the pipe... so I do lean towards a complex experience in that situation. Out and about in a social situation, I'm fine with good old Saint Bruno or a nice mindless quality aromatic... something crowd-pleasing and enjoyable during conversation.
Whatever basic tobaccos Peretti and Wilke are using, whether it's due to the cut or wherever they're sourcing them from, they both knock a lot of the more "industrial", mass produced full English blends into the weeds. Personally, I wish all tobacco blenders, from the biggest international concerns on down, the best, and I'm glad they're all out there making blends for us to put in our pipes, but these two brands of hand-blended tobacco are quite seriously superior in complexity and general quality... and there's a part of me here that wants us to support these independent blenders just so we can have these as a choice! The way all Wilkes I have smoked, as well as all the Peretti's, burn in the pipe, are the true indicators of quality as far as I'm concerned. They burn superbly, usually without need for a relight, and they burn to the finest white ash. I have to be aware of this when I'm getting to the bottom of the bowl, so I don't burn them straight to a mouthful of ash. I haven't even gone through all of the Wilkes or Perettis yet, but the ones I have are now just absolute must-haves, and have jars (and the great yellow labeled Peretti paint cans) fully stocked up at this time. Wilke Crystal Palace and Peretti Tashkent would be desert island smokes for me, with Crystal Palace like a mild Balkan (although some might classify it as an American English) and Tashkent possibly being the most unique full Oriental blend out there. Throw in a couple of packages of St Bruno and a nice Jose Rubio Prince pipe... and I'm ready to get on the boat to that desert Island right now now!
I think I kind of went off piste here a bit, which is pretty much what I'm prone to... but this website and its reviews have been a valuable resource and I'm hoping I'm able to contribute a little something to it. If me turning on fellow pipe smokers to some solid blends they haven't yet come across, as I have been turned on to some of these previously unknown blenders, then its certainly worth it. I haven't even gotten into HU blends yet here either 😎
Keep in mind too that I'm not an all day smoker, it's a conscious part of my day (and not every day) to sit back, usually putting a record on the hi-fi (howzabout some Wanda Landowska playing Couperin, or maybe the latest Sleaford Mods disc? lol) and spending some quality time with the pipe... so I do lean towards a complex experience in that situation. Out and about in a social situation, I'm fine with good old Saint Bruno or a nice mindless quality aromatic... something crowd-pleasing and enjoyable during conversation.
Pipe Used:
Peterson 406 Spigot, Nording Bent Bulldog, Sav 315
PurchasedFrom:
Wilke Pipe Tobacco
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2019 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I fully agree with the review by DK. Comparing Wilke #400 to Nitecap does this tobacco a disservice! In my opinion, this is far superior tobacco to Nitecap! In many ways it has a similar overall flavor profile but much more like Nitecap that was aged for 5-10 years. The main difference, like DK, points out, is that you can taste all the component tobaccos in Wilke #400 which you cannot do with Nitecap. Smoking Wilke #400 is like smoking a Symphony of tobacco. At points, you get it all working together and at times you taste each individual tobacco flavor, each puff delivers something new and interesting to keep your attention all the way to the bottom of the bowl and you are looking for more! If you're looking for a NItecap match Wilke #400 is very close. Nitecap is more powerful when not aged. If you're like me you will be hooked by this incredible blend and never look for Nitecap again!
Pipe Used:
SmithHouse Pipes custom pot, Parker Brandy
PurchasedFrom:
Wilke Pipe Tobacco
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2018 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
The full body of the sinergy between Yenidje and Latakia interacting with burley and virginias provokes a wonderful taste. I didn’t realize similaritie with Dunhill NightCap but strongly recommend this mixture. The quality of tobaccos used compares with the mixtures from the brazilian Sinergia, the best brand of mixtures in the world.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Hansom
PurchasedFrom:
Wilke
Age When Smoked:
Recent
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 07, 2015 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This has a flavor and aroma that reminds me of an old library adorned with aging leather chairs. PW 400 has been recommended to me as a "step up" from Nightcap and that comparison isn't lost on me, except this blend does pack a bit of sweetness whereas Nightcap is very dry on the palate... and this blend has a bit stronger Oriental presence with a touch less Latakia, at least in my own mouth and mind. Oddly enough the story behind this blend is that the "base" is syrian latakia that yendije, burley, VA, and perique is added to.
Potently Oriental on the front, with a latakia backbone. Rye/Caraway-like spice on the snork and a lot of sweetness (faintly caramel-ish) and pepper on the tongue. Smooth and quite strong nicotine-wise.
Burnt a little wet, next bowl I will likely let it dry a little. I was impatient because this stuff smells incredible in the pouch. One jar is on my desk, the other one is already in my cellar with today's date on it. We shall see how it fares in a year if it lasts that long - I really like this one. As with the taste, the room note is very oriental forward here. Don't think wife would even object.
Potently Oriental on the front, with a latakia backbone. Rye/Caraway-like spice on the snork and a lot of sweetness (faintly caramel-ish) and pepper on the tongue. Smooth and quite strong nicotine-wise.
Burnt a little wet, next bowl I will likely let it dry a little. I was impatient because this stuff smells incredible in the pouch. One jar is on my desk, the other one is already in my cellar with today's date on it. We shall see how it fares in a year if it lasts that long - I really like this one. As with the taste, the room note is very oriental forward here. Don't think wife would even object.
Pipe Used:
DGE Poker Nosewarmer
PurchasedFrom:
Pipeworks and Wilke
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 25, 2012 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable |
Just a top notch English. The fire cured and perique give it some decent strength and it has a deep smoky sweet taste most Latakia smokers are looking for.
If this isn't my favorite English it's top 2 or 3 easy.
If you're deciding whether to try it. Stop deciding and start trying. It's a great one.
If this isn't my favorite English it's top 2 or 3 easy.
If you're deciding whether to try it. Stop deciding and start trying. It's a great one.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 03, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Wilke blends are some of the finest pipe blends on the planet. You will not find better quality.
I am mainly a Virginia based pipe smoker. I like english blends, but most of the time I reach for the Va's. That being said, when I do get that urge for a nice latakia based blend, I like em pretty big and pretty bold. Nightcap has always been a go to for me. I am looking for a big full latakia taste.
This blend really fits that bill, but has a lot of other interesting things going on.
This is a big chunky bulky cut. I find this in a lot of the wilke blends. They tend to be a little clunkier to pack than a fine ribbon or shag, but in the pipe they perform like a champ. Mostly medium to dark in color, the tobacco comes at the perfect moisture level.
This blend starts with a big wallop of latakia, but settles quickly into a somewhat complex blend. If you look carefully, there is a lot going on here. The addition of of the oriental leaf really peaks my interest.
This is a big beautiful meaty english blend. Right up my alley, and one of my top english blends. I would recommend this to anyone.
I am mainly a Virginia based pipe smoker. I like english blends, but most of the time I reach for the Va's. That being said, when I do get that urge for a nice latakia based blend, I like em pretty big and pretty bold. Nightcap has always been a go to for me. I am looking for a big full latakia taste.
This blend really fits that bill, but has a lot of other interesting things going on.
This is a big chunky bulky cut. I find this in a lot of the wilke blends. They tend to be a little clunkier to pack than a fine ribbon or shag, but in the pipe they perform like a champ. Mostly medium to dark in color, the tobacco comes at the perfect moisture level.
This blend starts with a big wallop of latakia, but settles quickly into a somewhat complex blend. If you look carefully, there is a lot going on here. The addition of of the oriental leaf really peaks my interest.
This is a big beautiful meaty english blend. Right up my alley, and one of my top english blends. I would recommend this to anyone.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 06, 2010 | Mild | Very Mild | Full | Very Pleasant |
I've only smoked a couple of Carole's blends. This one is an absolute winner! For me it was time traveling back to the 60s and early 70s when GBD Original was still available. Holy cow, this is what English is all about. The latakia is balanced just right...the pouch aroma, the moisture...just right. It's so damn good it makes me giggle!!!!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 21, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Being a huge fan of Syrian latakia I find myself reaching for this blend on daily basis. It starts off with a nightcap type of flavor profile until the mid point then the burley kicks in and it is like a whole new blend, solid with a good amount of nico and body. Carole at P&W is great to deal with and I highly recommend their blends.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 14, 2024 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Wilke Pipe Tobacco
No. 400
Blend notes: “ A full English blend for those who prefer something with greater body as an after dinner smoke. A base of the finest Cyprian Latakia to which is added Turkish Yenidje, Kentucky Burley, Perique and Virginia.”
I tend to agree with jiminks that there is likely some mild topping to this otherwise excellent, moderate English blend by Wilke. The taste is comfortably sweet but not cloying. Relative to their Surbrug Jackson, No, 400 is integrated and ‘makes sense.’ It reminds me of Maltese Falcon or Father Dempsey — the various players are not being pushed out of the way by team Latakia.
The Yenidje adds a bit of spice, as does the slightly plummy not-very-sour Perique. The burley is the skeleton, aided by a slightly citrus element from the Virginia. No heavy hand was used to get this blend to market.
No. 400 is not ideal for someone new to Latakia-oriented English blends, but then I would argue this is not a ‘full’ blend as much as a moderate version. That of course depends on the individual palate.
If you were new to English/Balkan blends, I’d push you to Thomas’ Blend or Gemini, both from Emerson Southern Forged, or White Knight or Magnum Opus both from Hearth & Home, or maybe Abingdon from Greg Pease or H&H’s Black House.
Overall, this is a moderate strength (taste profile) blend that deserves 4 out of 4 stars.
No. 400
Blend notes: “ A full English blend for those who prefer something with greater body as an after dinner smoke. A base of the finest Cyprian Latakia to which is added Turkish Yenidje, Kentucky Burley, Perique and Virginia.”
I tend to agree with jiminks that there is likely some mild topping to this otherwise excellent, moderate English blend by Wilke. The taste is comfortably sweet but not cloying. Relative to their Surbrug Jackson, No, 400 is integrated and ‘makes sense.’ It reminds me of Maltese Falcon or Father Dempsey — the various players are not being pushed out of the way by team Latakia.
The Yenidje adds a bit of spice, as does the slightly plummy not-very-sour Perique. The burley is the skeleton, aided by a slightly citrus element from the Virginia. No heavy hand was used to get this blend to market.
No. 400 is not ideal for someone new to Latakia-oriented English blends, but then I would argue this is not a ‘full’ blend as much as a moderate version. That of course depends on the individual palate.
If you were new to English/Balkan blends, I’d push you to Thomas’ Blend or Gemini, both from Emerson Southern Forged, or White Knight or Magnum Opus both from Hearth & Home, or maybe Abingdon from Greg Pease or H&H’s Black House.
Overall, this is a moderate strength (taste profile) blend that deserves 4 out of 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli Autograph
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 11, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Since the first time I tried this it has had a place among my top ten favorites. It has many of the same ingredients seen in some other Wilke blends that I’ve given only three stars to, but here the proportions are (for me) just perfect. Unlike my days as a wine critic, where the reviewing process is very codified, I’m taking advantage of the more relaxed format on TR and rating blends on a subjective basis, based on how much I enjoy a blend. However, describing flavors accurately, in either case, does not change. Remember: taste is subjective (whether you like broccoli or not) but describing tastes (properly) is not subjective. That would be a good topic for a YouTube video if I ever get around to starting a channel.
No. 400 is a most satisfying full-bodied end of day smoke for me but it is smooth enough that I still enjoy it now and then on my mid-morning walk. I enjoy it by itself, or with a drink. The jar note is an enticing blend of savory with a slightly sweet nuance. This comes through on the palate as well. When it was young it was a little harsher the first few minutes, still a good three-star smoke, but not yet to its four star goodness. Now that I’m taking from a jar with nearly three years of age, it is smooth and tasty from the first light, even while taking flame. I have another jar that will remain undisturbed until it hits the five year mark. Thus far, I don’t see much change in character, just any last vestiges of rough edges that go away with some age. No. 400 doesn’t have the immediate wow effect of Sailor Jack, but it just grows and grows to the end of the bowl, and it always satisfies.
When young the jar note had some odd fruity overtones of both apple cider and ripe banana peel (volatile isoamyl). This affects the flavor of the tobacco in the first few minutes (reminding me a bit of the top dressing used in Germain’s King Charles), but soon flashes off. The aged jar does not have any of this. Once the flavors settle in I get a complex range of flavors: rye bread, honey-roasted cashew, pistachio, anise, pumpernickel, brown sugar, bourbon, and creamy tapioca. Other than the natural rye flavor, most of what characterizes this blend for me is the distinctive amalgam of casing flavors from the various tobaccos. But with this particular flavor profile it is hard for me to think of this as English blend. I think of it simply as my favorite evening send-off, often sitting on the deck gazing at the stars. Fulsome flavors, but smooth and creamy. I often think that if I knew a bowl would be my last smoke ever, I would hope it would be this.
No. 400 is a most satisfying full-bodied end of day smoke for me but it is smooth enough that I still enjoy it now and then on my mid-morning walk. I enjoy it by itself, or with a drink. The jar note is an enticing blend of savory with a slightly sweet nuance. This comes through on the palate as well. When it was young it was a little harsher the first few minutes, still a good three-star smoke, but not yet to its four star goodness. Now that I’m taking from a jar with nearly three years of age, it is smooth and tasty from the first light, even while taking flame. I have another jar that will remain undisturbed until it hits the five year mark. Thus far, I don’t see much change in character, just any last vestiges of rough edges that go away with some age. No. 400 doesn’t have the immediate wow effect of Sailor Jack, but it just grows and grows to the end of the bowl, and it always satisfies.
When young the jar note had some odd fruity overtones of both apple cider and ripe banana peel (volatile isoamyl). This affects the flavor of the tobacco in the first few minutes (reminding me a bit of the top dressing used in Germain’s King Charles), but soon flashes off. The aged jar does not have any of this. Once the flavors settle in I get a complex range of flavors: rye bread, honey-roasted cashew, pistachio, anise, pumpernickel, brown sugar, bourbon, and creamy tapioca. Other than the natural rye flavor, most of what characterizes this blend for me is the distinctive amalgam of casing flavors from the various tobaccos. But with this particular flavor profile it is hard for me to think of this as English blend. I think of it simply as my favorite evening send-off, often sitting on the deck gazing at the stars. Fulsome flavors, but smooth and creamy. I often think that if I knew a bowl would be my last smoke ever, I would hope it would be this.
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