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Celebrate Diwali & Old Fashioned Week With A Rampur ‘Asava’ Whisky Cocktail!

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The Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky Old Fashioned Cocktail!

To celebrate Diwali – the Festival of Light (2nd. – 6th. November) and Old Fashioned Week (5th. -14th. November), Rampur Distillery has very kindly sent me their Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky Old Fashioned Cocktail to try!
(Many Thanks Rampur Distillery!)

Diwali celebrates the Indian New Year, traditionally enjoyed with fireworks, the exchanging of sweets and the lighting of candles and lamps in all the homes in India.

Diwali – the Festival of Light (2nd. – 6th. November)

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whiskies are a range of luxury whiskies produced by one of India’s oldest distilleries, Rampur Distillery. These super premium malt whiskies, which are styled as “The Kohinoor of Single Malts”, are steeped in the rich Indian heritage and enduring traditions of the Maharajas. Rampur whiskies are named after the princely India state known for its rich heritage and royal traditions.

The Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky Old Fashioned Cocktail is infused with Chai Tea, Cardamom Pods, Cloves, Cumin Seeds & Cinnamon, Demerara Sugar Syrup and Cardamom Bitters!

Rampur Distillery is owned by Radico Khaitan, which was established in 1943 and is the largest Indian beverage company. Radico Khaitan is also one of the oldest whisky distillers in India and Rampur Distillery has been distilling high quality and innovative malt for over 25 years. Rampur Whisky is distilled, matured and bottled in Uttar Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The Process

The Himalayas provide polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year, which means that Indian whisky matures significantly more quickly than other whiskies such as Scotch and Irish whiskies.

As Rampur Distillery is situated at the foothills of The Himalayas, the cold winters and hot summers give their whiskies added dimension and produce single malts with depth of flavour which are smooth and mellow tasting with a long-lasting finish. Master Blender, Anup Barik, was born into a family of blenders and brings decades of expertise and perfection to the blending of these fine whiskies.

I find that Rampur is a great dram for people who are new to whisky. Their sweet, tropical fruit trademark is an easy introduction to the world of whiskies!

So, what did I think of the cocktail? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – The Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky Old Fashioned (26.4%)

Indian spices galore!

Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky infused with Chai Tea, Cardamom Pods, Cloves, Cumin Seeds & Cinnamon, Demerara Sugar Syrup and Cardamom Bitters.

Nose: Rich ginger and a whole myriad of aromatic spices!

Palate: So many flavours with ginger being on top followed by cloves, cumin and all wrapped up in sweet sugar and bitters coupled with the solid body of Asava whisky.

Finish: A warming, spicy ginger finish with a sweet and bitter combo and those ever present indian spices!

Overall: A flavoursome rich, full-bodied cocktail – one of the best I’ve ever tasted!

I’ve also included my Tasting Notes for Asava Whisky ….

Tasting Notes – Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky (45%)

Matured in American Bourbon barrels and meticulously perfected in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks for the first time in History!
Non-chill filtered.
£64.95



Nose: Creamy biscuit, vanilla and tropical fruit. The blackcurrant is there but arrives slowly. Then make way for chocolate and coffee.

Palate: Gorgeous Lychee with very smooth creamy chocolate.

Finish: Very peppery with tannic and tobacco.

Overall: The red colour from the Cabernet Sauvignon casks is very Alluring – and so is the taste! Forget the dessert course – just have a Rampur Asava!

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky is available from The Whisky Exchange

Once again, many thanks to Rampur Distillery (Instagram: @rampursinglemalt) for the lovely sample!

Celebrate World Whisky Day With Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky!

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Celebrate World Whisky Day with Rampur!

World Whisky Day on the 15th. May is the perfect excuse to try something new, a single malt whisky from India is a great country to start your exciting adventure!

The excellent single malt whiskies produced by Rampur Distillery, which is one of India’s largest and oldest distilleries, has a unique distilling location at the foothills of the Himalayan mountains.

Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky

This exposes the whiskies to polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year, with the flavour of the famous Indian Summer giving Rampur Whiskies an added dimension and depth. Indian whisky matures significantly more quickly than other whiskies, such as Scotch and Irish Whisky.

I got the chance to sample some of these wonderful whiskies – See my tasting review here!

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky

For the first time in history, a single malt whisky matured in American Bourbon Barrels has been carefully finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks, making this a must for whisky collectors.

The combination of Rampur’s unique distillation and maturation process sees Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture. Rampur Asava is non-chill filtered and bottled at 45% ABV, resulting in a ground-breaking expression with perfect balance.

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky is available from The Whisky Exchange

Rampur Indian Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt is a hand-crafted single malt whisky matured in hand-selected American Bourbon barrels as well as European Oak Sherry casks chosen by Master Distiller, Anup Barik.

Distilled in traditional copper pot stills, the malt matures for two-thirds of its life in handpicked American Bourbon Barrels and a third in European Oak Sherry Casks at India’s largest distillery and is then non-chill-filtered and bottled at 45%. The combination of Rampur’s unique distilling and the double cask maturation process, sees this luxury Single Malt taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture.

Delicate balsamic vanilla notes from the American white oak compliment the full-bodied aroma of tropical fruits, smooth malty tones and oaky notes whilst rich caramel, dried dark fruits and spiced tonality from the European oak add to the depth of flavour.

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky is available from The Whisky Exchange

What Better Way To Celebrate Diwali Than With A Rampur Indian Malt Whisky Tasting!

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The Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky Virtual Tasting Line-up!

The team at Rampur Distillery invited me to an online virtual tasting of their four Indian Single Malt Whiskies yesterday to help celebrate Diwali – the Festival of Light – culminating on Saturday 14th November!

The online tasters had the pleasure of tasting four Rampur expressions led by Master Distiller, Anup Barik:-

  • Rampur Select Indian Single Malt Whisky
  • Rampur PX Sherry Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky
  • Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky
  • Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky

Anup with Rampur Whiskies

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whiskies are a range of luxury whiskies produced by one of India’s oldest distilleries, Rampur Distillery. These super premium malt whiskies, which are styled as “The Kohinoor of Single Malts”, are steeped in the rich Indian heritage and enduring traditions of the Maharajas. Rampur whiskies are named after the princely India state known for its rich heritage and royal traditions.

The Distillery

Rampur Distillery is owned by Radico Khaitan, which was established in 1943 and is the largest Indian beverage company. Radico Khaitan is also one of the oldest whisky distillers in India and Rampur Distillery has been distilling high quality and innovative malt for over 25 years. Rampur Whisky is distilled, matured and bottled in Uttar Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Rampur Distillery

The Process

The Himalayas provide polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year, which means that Indian whisky matures significantly more quickly than other whiskies such as Scotch and Irish whiskies.

As Rampur Distillery is situated at the foothills of The Himalayas, the cold winters and hot summers give their whiskies added dimension and produce single malts with depth of flavour which are smooth and mellow tasting with a long-lasting finish. Master Blender, Anup Barik, was born into a family of blenders and brings decades of expertise and perfection to the blending of these fine whiskies.

I find that Rampur is a great dram for people who are new to whisky. Their sweet, tropical fruit trademark is an easy introduction to the world of whiskies!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Rampur Select Indian Single Malt Whisky (43%)

Styled as “The Kohinoor of Single Malts”. It is their only dram of the four that contains caramel.
Rampur Select won the Double Gold Medal in The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017.
£49.95



Nose: Massive fruity hit of green apple closely followed by Lychee. The Lychee then takes over coupled with toffee – lovely!

Palate: Smooth and light with strong flavours of Lychee, mango, vanilla toffee.

Finish: Short finish with a growing spice.

Overall: Such a drinkable whisky with the tropical fruit flavours delighting every time!

Tasting Notes – Rampur PX Sherry Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky (45%)

A limited 48 Casks release.

A few exceptional casks of Rampur Single Malt Whisky matured in American Oak were handpicked by Rampur’s Master Distiller post maturation and transferred to PX Sherry Butts from Jerez, Spain for further maturation.
£68.95



Nose: Very sweet and fruity with tropical fruits including Lychee and mango. Then add in some creamy vanilla fudge!

Palate: Huge Lychee and Rose palate hit – very unusual but fantastic! Blackcurrant (which lingers to the finsish) and chocolate.

Finish: Very peppery, warming spice but that tropical fruitiness goes on and on!

Overall: I LOVED the Lychee and Rose flavours – so unusual. A big hit for me!

Tasting Notes – Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky (45%)

Handcrafted single malt whisky matured for two-thirds of its life in hand-selected American Bourbon barrels and one third in
European Oak Sherry cask.
£60.00



Nose: Apples and rich plump fruits with banana also thrown in for good measure. Old polished wood. Honey with a vanilla sweetnes.

Palate: Tropical fruits abound! There’s hints of pineapple but mostly gorgeous flavours of mango and even lychees!

Finish: Rich, fruity spiciness with honey and lots of tropical flavours. It’s a long finish that gets quite fiery – very warming!

Overall: This is a really great whisky. The strength of the tropical fruit flavours is a revelation! But it’s all well tempered with some nice spiciness.
A fantastic dram from a great whisky producing nation!

Tasting Notes – Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky (45%)

Matured in American Bourbon barrels and meticulously perfected in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks for the first time in History!
Non-chill filtered.
£68.95



Nose: Creamy biscuit, vanilla and tropical fruit. The blackcurrant is there but arrives slowly. Then make way for chocolate and coffee.

Palate: Gorgeous Lychee with very smooth creamy chocolate.

Finish: Very peppery with tannic and tobacco.

Overall: The red colour from the Cabernet Sauvignon casks is very Alluring – and so is the taste! Forget the dessert course – just have a Rampur Asava!

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky is available from The Whisky Exchange

Many thanks to Rampur Distillery (Instagram: @rampursinglemalt) for the lovely samples!

Celebrate Old Fashioned Week!

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Cotswolds Distillery Old Fashioned

Happy Old Fashioned Week!

Celebrate Old Fashioned Week (30th October – 8th November) with these four amazing cocktail recipes from around the world!

Delicious recipes to inspire you to get creative and have a go at creating this classic cocktail!

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky – this award winning English single malt whisky adds a twist to the classic recipe which is simplicity in a glass. With delicious notes of sweet malted barley, hints of caramel and overtones of toasted butterscotch, with a marmalade finish!

Ingredients: 60ml Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt Whisky, 10ml maple syrup and 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters

Method: dissolve the whisky and maple syrup in a cocktail jar or glass. Add ice and stir continuously for dilution. Add the bitters, more ice and stir a few more times. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass, express orange peel around the glass. Garnish with the orange peel and serve.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky: RRP: £39 for 700 ml. ABV 46%. Available from:
The Whisky Exchange

Rampur Old Fashioned (Photographed by @Mix.Mann)

Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky Golden Old Fashioned – add an Indian touch to your Old Fashioned with this stunning subtly spiced recipe created by @Mix.Mann which includes Cumin, Star Anise, Orange Peel and Demerara Sugar. The addition of Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters adds further spice.


Cumin Anise Syrup ingredients:
half teaspoon Cumin Seeds (place in palm of hand, use your other thumb to apply pressure whilst rubbing the seeds, this opens them up releasing the delicious aromas),
2 pods/points from a Star Anise,
Orange Peel from 1 x Orange (remove as much pith as possible),
200ml Water
200ml Demerara Sugar.

Method: add all the ingredients to a saucepan. Gently bring to the boil, stir occasionally and simmer for 6-7 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Strain into a clean jar to remove the spices and peels. Store in the fridge.

Rampur Golden Old Fashioned ingredients:
60ml Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky,
10ml Cumin Anise Syrup,
1 x dash Ms Betters Bitters Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters
Garnish with dehydrated orange wheel, STARLINO Maraschino Cherry and Star Anise

Method: add all the ingredients to a mixing glass half filled with ice. Stir for 30 seconds, add more ice and stir again for 30-40 seconds. Strain into a glass over a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish.

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky: RRP: £60 for a 70cl bottle 45% ABV

Available from:

The Whisky Exchange

Master of Malt

J&B Rare

J&B Rare Old Fashioned. Created in the 1930’s and distilled, blended and bottled in Scotland.

Ingredients: 50ml J&B Rare, 1 x sugar cube, 2 x dashes of Angostura Bitters and orange zest to garnish

Method: stir all the ingredients in a rocks glass, adding ice as you go along. Garnish with orange zest and STARLINO Maraschino Cherries!

J&B Rare RRP: £22.50 for a 70cl bottle. ABV 40%

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange

Master of Malt

Storywood Tequila

Storywood Tequila – why not add a twist to the cocktail and create an Old Fashioned with a whisky aged Tequila – Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo?

Ingredients: 50ml Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo, 10ml agave syrup, 2 dashes of bitters and dehydrated orange wheel.

Method: Stir half the tequila with three cubes of ice in a glass. Add agave syrup, bitters and two more ice cubes, before stirring again. Add the rest of the tequila before stirring once more. Add more ice cubes, if there is room, and garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel.

Storywood Tequila Speyside 14 Añejo. RRP: £47.45 for a 700ml bottle. ABV: 40%

Available from: amazon.co.uk and proofdrinks.com

Hotel STARLINO Maraschino Cherries

Hotel STARLINO Maraschino Cherries would add the final flourish to an Old Fashioned Cocktail. Hailing from San Gennaro, Vesuviano, close to Naples, these cherries are moreish and a delicious addition to the classic old fashioned cocktail.

Hotel STARLINO Maraschino Cherries RRP: £10 for a 400g jar and £20 for a 1kg tin

Available from:

Master of Malt

Rampur ‘Asava’ – The World’s First Single Malt Whisky Finished In Indian Wine Casks!

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Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky!

Radico Khaitan is launching an innovative and exciting new expression in the UK at The Whisky Show 2020 – Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky!

For the first time in history, a single malt matured in American Bourbon Barrels is carefully finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks, at one of Asia’s largest distilleries.

Rampur Asava is also non-chill filtered and bottled at 45% ABV, resulting in a ground-breaking expression with perfect balance.

Available exclusively from The Whisky Exchange from mid October 2020!

The combination of Rampur’s unique distillation and maturation process sees this single malt taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture.

Produced at a distillery located in the foothills of the Himalayas, this luxury whisky combines tradition with innovation through the use of Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks.

The unique distillery location exposes the whiskies to polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year, with the flavour of the famous Indian Summer giving Rampur Single Malts an added dimension and depth.

Rampur Asava is an exciting addition to Rampur’s Indian Single Malt Whisky range, which currently includes Rampur Select, Rampur Double Cask, limited edition Rampur Sherry PX and the ultra exclusive Rampur Signature Reserve.

We are very proud of our Indian heritage and Rampur Asava is another step in bringing the unique whiskies of India to the world. We are confident the exotic and unique Indian flavours will delight your palate.
– Sanjeev Banga: President of International Business at Radico Khaitan

“We are always striving to make each Rampur expression of the highest quality and exciting for malt whisky drinkers”

We are always striving to make each Rampur expression of the highest quality and exciting for malt whisky drinkers. The diverse weather conditions at the distillery have enabled us to be creative and experiment with our single malts.

I was inspired to create Rampur Asava as I wanted to see how the dark fruit flavours of an Indian Cabernet Sauvignon would develop the flavour of Rampur Single Malt Whisky.

I am delighted with the results as there is an impeccable balance of taste in this finely perfected golden nectar that lingers on your taste buds.
– Anup Barik: Master Distiller at Rampur Distillery

Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky RRP: £68.95 ABV: 45% – Available exclusively from: The Whisky Exchange from mid October 2020.

Rampur Distillery (Instagram: @rampursinglemalt)

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Dark mahogany

Nose: Typical tropical fruity note of Rampur with added notes of apricot, blackberry, black currant, dark cherry & plum followed with a faint hint of tobacco and spices.

Palate: Velvety, Manuka honey sweetness highlighted by spicy oak, vanilla and balanced with dryness from Indian red wine.

Finish: Medium to long finish which gently lingers on the palate

Sampling Rampur Double Cask Indian Malt Whisky – Let’s Get Tropical For World Whisky Day!

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Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky

It’s World Whisky Day this Saturday 16th. May 2020!

Which, of course, is a great excuse to try Indian Single Malt Whisky. Rampur Distillery, which is one of Indian’s largest and oldest distilleries, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, sounds like a great one to try!

The unique distilling location of the Himalayan foothills exposes the whiskies to polar opposite climate conditions!

The unique distilling location of the Himalayan foothills exposes the whiskies to polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year, with the flavour of the famous Indian Summer giving Rampur Whiskies an added dimension and depth.

Indian whisky matures significantly more quickly than other whiskies, such as Scotch whisky and Irish Whiskey.

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt is a hand-crafted single malt whisky matured in hand-selected American Bourbon barrels as well as European Oak Sherry casks chosen by Master Distiller, Anup Barik.

Distilled in traditional copper pot stills, the malt matures for two-thirds of its life in handpicked American Bourbon Barrels and a third in European Oak Sherry Casks at India’s largest distillery and is then non-chill-filtered and bottled at 45%.

The combination of Rampur’s unique distilling and the double cask maturation process, sees this Single Malt taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture.

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt retails for approximately £59.00 to £65.00

The kind people at Rampur Distillery have sent me a sample of their Double Cask to try – just in time for WWD!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky (45%)


Nose: Apples and rich plump fruits with banana also thrown in for good measure. Old polished wood. Honey with a vanilla sweetnes.

Palate: Tropical fruits abound! There’s hints of pineapple but mostly gorgeous flavours of mango and even lychees!

Finish: Rich, fruity spiciness with honey and lots of tropical flavours. It’s a long finish that gets quite fiery – very warming!

Overall: This is a really great whisky. The strength of the tropical fruit flavours is a revelation! But it’s all well tempered with some nice spiciness.
A fantastic dram from a great whisky producing nation!

There’s also Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky.

Styled as “The Kohinoor of Single Malts” this super premium malt whisky is distilled in traditional copper pot stills, matured at the distillery and then non chill-filtered and bottled at 43%.

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky is smooth, with a mellow taste with a long-lasting finish. It is distinctively malty, with creamy vanilla taste with hints of apricot, apple and sweet and wine-like finish.

Many thanks to Rampur Distillery (Instagram: @rampursinglemalt) for sending me the sample!

Rampur Whisky is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Rampur Double Cask Whisky Wows The Whisky Show!

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Rampur Double Cask

Radico Khaitan’s Rampur has launched a new expression: Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky.

Now available online, exclusively from The Whisky Exchange

Launched with great success at the recent Whisky Show in London it is now available online, exclusively from The Whisky Exchange.

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt is a hand crafted single malt whisky matured in hand-selected American Bourbon barrels as well as European Oak Sherry casks chosen by Master Distiller, Anup Barik, who brings his decades of experience and expertise to the creation of this fine Double Cask Single Malt.

Produced in India’s oldest distillery, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, this super premium whisky combines tradition with innovation.

Distilled in traditional copper pot stills, the malt matures for two-thirds of its life in handpicked American Bourbon Barrels and a third in European Oak Sherry Casks at India’s largest distillery and is then non-chill-filtered and bottled at 45%.

The combination of Rampur’s unique distilling and the double cask maturation process, sees this luxury Single Malt taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture.

Rampur’s distillation expertise sees the launch of this Double Cask Single Malt next to its signature Single Malt as well as it’s limited edition PX Sherry finished Single Malt.

Rampur’s Whiskies are a touch of understated luxury and the Double Cask is no different. It is presented in an embossed sand and copper drum, reflecting the brand’s heritage.

Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky – 70cl bottle, 45% ABV: £54.95.

Rampur Signature Reserve – Sold Out!

Not only did the team launch the new Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky but they also sold all of the UK allocation of Rampur Signature Reserve priced at £900 a bottle, which was also one of the Dream Drams at the event.

This limited edition single malt whisky, only 400 bottles are available worldwide, is the oldest Indian Single Malt Whisky in the world. Four unique American Standard Oak Barrels were handpicked and reserved by the Master Distiller Anup Barik and were aged for an extended period of time before being transferred into a specially selected PX Sherry Butt from Jerez, Spain for the final years of maturation.

ABV at cask strength: 43.9% for a 70cl bottle

Tasting Notes: Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky

Delicate balsamic vanilla notes from the American white oak compliment the full-bodied aroma whilst rich caramel, dried dark fruits and spiced tonality from the European oak add to the depth of flavour.

Nose: Full bodied aroma of tropical fruits, smoothly malty tones and oaky notes from double oak-wood barrels create vivid flavours.

Palate: Sensual elegance of sweet fruits riding on rich sherry

Finish: Tantalisingly long, lingering and generous.

Rampur Single Malt Double Cask Indian Whisky is owned by Radico Khaitan. Radico Khaitan was established in 1943 and is the largest Indian beverage alcohol company and also one of the oldest whisky distillers in India — where they have been distilling whisky for over 25 years — with a reputation for quality and innovation.

Three of its distilleries are based in Uttar Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas, where all of Rampur’s Whiskies are distilled, matured and bottled.

Master Blender, Anup Barik, was born into a family of blenders bringing decades of expertise. His skill and love of blending fine whisky is evident in every bottle of Rampur Whisky.

Rampur is named after the princely India state known for its rich heritage and royal traditions.

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