Andy, what did you mean by "soapy Irish topping", does it resemble Lakeland 'soap'?
No it's different than lakeland, but similar in the same sense it's a like or hate thing. It's not quite floral tasting like lakelands, I don't think soapy is a good way to describe lakelands either, but it's a very distinct flavor is all I can describe. It's not every bowl either, it's only sometimes. I have the same experience with McClellend's Old world Cake, anyone that likes erinmore should really try that, it's a straight Va though, but a very similar type of topping. I also have almost worked through a tin that I baked, this is where I've been getting the pineapple taste from sometimes, but haven't gotten any of the distinct "irish topping" I mentioned smoking the unbaked stuff. For baking the tin if that's a question you're wondering, I put it on top of a slow cooker lid while a roast cooked for about 6 hours, then let it sit unopened for another 2 weeks or so, that wasn't planned, I just happened to let it sit that along until I felt like opening it. The result was very dark tobacco compared to how erimore usually is, and I guess the smell was a bit different too, but I haven't done a back to back comparison. In unbaked tins that are sealed the predominant flavor I get from the outside of the tin would be licorice, as I find all square tins I get tobacco smell from the sides where the seal is.
