Does Red Cake Improve With Age?

J

jitterbugdude

Part of the Furniture Now

Mar 25, 2014

993

8

• May 18, 2016

• #1

Due to the upcoming Tobaccogedon I've been stocking up on bulks. Along with my 5 pound order of Vintage Syrian

I also ordered and ounce of Red Cake. It was very unimpressive. Being a sauced Virginia I'm assuming it will improve with age. So, does it improve so much that I should considering stocking up on a few pounds?

 

drennan

Can't Leave

Mar 30, 2014

344

3

Normandy

• May 18, 2016

• #2

If your unimpressed now then chances are you'll be unimpressed in 5 or 10 years. Cellar what you love

 

jefff

Lifer

May 28, 2015

1,915

6

Chicago

• May 18, 2016

• #3

Yeah it probably isn't going to change enough to impress you.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

606

• May 18, 2016

• #4

I don't know for how long, but Red Cake is already aged some. I've had some in a jar for two or three years and the only difference I've noticed is a little more dark sweetness than before, but basically it's the same flavor profile.

 

hawky454

Lifer

Feb 11, 2016

5,338

10,221

Austin, TX

• May 18, 2016

• #5

Your tastes may change significantly!

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• May 18, 2016

• #6

An ounce, I'd try mixing it with other leaf or blends. It might improve with aging, but for that quantity, I'd smoke it up. It might go nicely with burley and Cavendish, or to lighten some other blend, depending on your tastes.

 

lonestar

Lifer

Mar 22, 2011

2,854

161

Edgewood Texas

• May 18, 2016

• #7

I like Red Cake most when it is mixed in with a good burley. The flavors marry well, perking up the burley and adding depth to the red cake.

 

jefff

Lifer

May 28, 2015

1,915

6

Chicago

• May 18, 2016

• #8

I just mixed half an ounce with an ounce of the Beast. I'll let it jar for 6 months and try it again.

 

J

jitterbugdude

Part of the Furniture Now

Mar 25, 2014

993

8

• May 18, 2016

• #9

Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll pass on buying anymore. I will however, try blending it with some other tobaccos.

 

cobguy

Lifer

Oct 18, 2013

3,742

15

• May 19, 2016

• #10

Even just one year jarred up shows improvement in the smoothness and flavor.
Just an idea ... have you tried the Maillard Reaction on it? I've heard it responds really well.

 

J

jitterbugdude

Part of the Furniture Now

Mar 25, 2014

993

8

• May 19, 2016

• #11

Yes... and no

I've tried it on straight whole leaf Red Virginia as well as Lemon and regular flue cured. The regular flue cured is absolutely fantastic. The Lemon and Reds are rather bland. I'm not sure how Red Cake would taste, considering it has sauce added to it. I only have a little less than an ounce left. I'm thinking of combining it with something like Little Dutch. If I had more I'd put it in the pressure cooker.

 

yaddy306

Lifer

Aug 7, 2013

1,372

504

Regina, Canada

• May 19, 2016

• #12

When you say it's "sauced", do you mean it's cased, or topped, or has added humectant, or something else?

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

33,983

75,703

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• May 19, 2016

• #13

Being a sauced Virginia

Click to expand...

It is cased, but not topped, which is what most people mean when they say sauced.

I love the aged Red Cake. I have some that is getting close to five years, and it has mellowed very well. But, if you don't like it, then I wouldn't worry about getting more. It's probably never going to change enough to change someone's mind about it.
I find that casing doesn't hinder the aging process.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

606

• May 19, 2016

• #14

I like Red Cake most when it is mixed in with a good burley. The flavors marry well, perking up the burley and adding depth to the red cake.

Click to expand...

Same here. Red Cake has a nice sweet/spice flavor, while the bit of sugar in it smooths out the mix of VA and burley.

 

jcsoldit

Lifer

Mar 27, 2010

1,138

245

Wisconsin

• May 19, 2016

• #15

Red Cake is a mainstay for me. I enjoy it fresh but love it with some age. I'm currently smoking some that was jarred back in '09. ::

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

33,983

75,703

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• May 19, 2016

• #16

Along the same lines as the spirit of the OP, I have found that Peter Stokkebye's LTF doesn't seem to change with age, at least I don't see or taste any effects in five year old LTF. It is a Virginia Cavendish, probably soaked in preservatives. When you get a box of it, the sliced bricks are just wrapped in plastic, with no seal at all on it. So, the company must trust something in there not to go bad in transit and storage.

That said, I don't care. I love LTF, and I jar it up relentlessly. As long as I will always have this blend, I don't care if it is stuck the way it is forever... like Peter Pan, ha ha.

 

iamn8

Lifer

Sep 8, 2014

4,248

14

Moody, AL

• May 19, 2016

• #17

The answer is a definitive NO NO NO! It gets gross with age.

 

prairiedruid

Lifer

Jun 30, 2015

2,005

1,135

• May 19, 2016

• #18

Being a sauced Virginia

Click to expand...

Why are we talking about my neighbor lady's vodka habit?

 

jmill208

Lifer

Dec 8, 2013

1,087

1,163

Maryland USA

• May 19, 2016

• #19

Looks like no one showed up for Nates birthday party....

 

recoilrob

Starting to Get Obsessed

Apr 16, 2011

181

158

• May 19, 2016

• #20

I have a good amount of Red Cake that I got it from a local shop that was clearing out old stock 1996, it was buried in the back of the cigar humidor room in a bulk bag from McClellands. They told me they thought it was from the early 1980's.
I put it up in Ball jars in 1998 and haven't touched it since.
You're welcome to try some, sent me a PM.