Kane's of New Zealand Lamb Cake Slices

I have a friend from New Zealand who's name, coincidentally, is Kane. Must be a popular name there. Anyway he sent me a sample of this luscious blend and for that, I am grateful.

The base tobaccos here are top quality and, surprisingly, not at all overpowered by the ladled on topping. I admit I was afraid to try this at first knowing that it 'contains real lamb juice` (just what is Lamb Juice?) but I'm glad I did. The sweet gamey flavor compliments the leaf nicely. It could use a nic boost, but hey nothing's perfect, eh? I also recommend adding 5% crushed mint leaf. Leg of lamb in a pipe. Perfect! (almost)

p.s. I'd like to thank Pipestud for the historical information. Nearly brought a tear to my eye to think this great smoke could be lost forever.

I was excited to find that both A. Wolff?s and M. Haddaugh Little?s carries this blend here in the States. My wife found the room note so severe (pace the other reviewers) that she sent me packing out of the house with a ?if you?re going to smoak that stuff, go out in the pasture!? Being a regular reader of the reviews on this site, I am amazed at how widely varied opinions are as to this blend?s strength. My hypothesis is that aging will mellow this stuff remarkably--I?ve bought a few extra pounds to age in the freezer. Aging should also eliminate the ?springy? packing I?ve experienced?it practically jumps out of the bowl (the air-pocket method helped a bit with this). When I opened the can it was very, very moist. The "ketchup" smell of McClelland's is nothing compared to this stuff. A few hours at 325 degrees fahrenheit in the oven brought mine down to the correct moisture level, although to me it still has a bit of a ?wooly? taste. I don?t know that I?ll put this in my regular rotation, but like some of the other pipemen, it just feels right to be smoaking this stuff in the spring. UPDATE: I've sent a photo of the tin which should appear soon (?)--it actually comes in 200g cans & carries the Kosher symbol--perfect for those about to begin Passover this weekend!

This blend reminded me in some ways of Tyson's Gobbler Cake, which is made from pressed Virginia, Burley and cased in turkey pan drippings with a hint of cranberry added. It was a special edition blend made available throughout the holiday season in 1990 and I still have a couple of tins left.

As for Lamb Cake Slices, the mint seemed to stay in the background while the Virginia and Perique did most of the talking. Smoking it provided little in the way of tongue bite but much like the above mentioned blend, it gave me the strange urge to take a nap afterwards.

Lamb Slices is indeed an oddity, something every menthol smoker might enjoy, particularly if one felt compelled to abandon their cigarettes. For me, the mint is the most prominent component, similar to deer's tongue, which some can grow to detest. If Lamb Slices can take off, like it so deserves, perhaps we will be awarded with more blends that incorporate mint into their constitution. I think many agree that would be a good thing, a way to diversify the already wide choices available to us as pipe smokers.

I confess that my only experience with Lamb Slices was a single tin back in the seventies, and I have not tried the reincarnation that has since been brought back from the dead after the events Pipestud has thoroughly documented. I suppose this means I'll have to put in an order with Kane's for a sampling of the new batch, though I question whether it is truly possible that they could so faithfully emulate the essence of lamb as the original.

Good tobacco? Yes. Original? Definitely. How's the taste? A bit gamy.

Four Stars

Ah, I enjoyed some of this for my Easter supper, and it was absolutely delicious. A delightful spring treat for the quick witted pipester. The mildness of the flavor is such, that you may wonder if you are really smoking at all...

For a fuller, richer experience try the same blender's Mutton Cake Slices...;)

Pipestud and I rarely agree on blend ratings, but this one is different. Maybe it is nostalgia or just the surprise that Lamb Cake is again available, but I am sure happy to have this again after being so long denied.

I am baffled that I missed this in the Kane's catalog. I have been mail ordering their famous dip for more than a decade. Cheeky monkeys to not widely announce their chief triumph's return.

I would recommend ordering this in the Spring, as the flavor just seems milder to me than at other times of the year. It is sold by the pound, of course.

Bon Appetite!

"Pipestud"

Is this another one of you're April Fools Joke's???

Gae.I live in Australia,close to new Zealand,and no one has even heard of it!!!