Solani 633: Virginia Flake with Perique

As the name states, the tobacco comes as a flake, and is a blend of bright Virginia and perique. Perique is an interesting tobacco, with a rich and deep aroma on its own, and blends nicely with Virginias. I'm probably wrong, but everything about this blend reminds me of Mac Baren. The immediate tin aroma was of fermented fruits and fermented Virginia, and the tin looks very much like the tin in which Mac Baren's Navy Flake is sold. Initially, the tin aroma actually threw me a bit.

Forging ahead, I took out the tobacco, which almost looked more like a cake than flakes. This tobacco is very moist, making the flakes a bit difficult to separate. They sort of peel apart in strips. However, once removed they rub out nicely into a sort of ribbon-cut appearance. Because of the moisture content I packed the first pipe a bit more loosely than I usually do, and I think that was a good idea. The draw felt just right when I first set flame to the tobacco.

My first thought when I had it lit? Wow! I wasn't really expecting too much, in part because I didn't want to be disappointed and in part because I bought the tobacco having not heard of this particular blend. I found a nice, rich, sweet taste from the Virginia, and the perique added a sort of fruitiness reminiscent of a stoved Virginia and a spiciness reminiscent of McClelland's 2035. Several people who were around me during the first bowl commented on the pleasant aroma of the tobacco. The main flavor is dry and sweet, and the spicy and fruity undertones are exceptionally pleasant and smooth.

Several subsequent smokes have confirmed to me that this tobacco is a keeper. It DGTs well, smokes surprisingly dry for as moist as it is in the tin, and provides a smoking flavor and experience that rates up there with my favorites.

I love Solani 633. I love Escudo. If I had to pick between the two (God forbid) I think I'd go with Solani 633. It's just a matter of personal taste. For me 633 is just a little better behaved in the pipe than Escudo. I find it to be a bit sweeter and smoother for a fast smoker like myself. I have never roasted my tounge with 633 and the mellow, grassy, citrus flavor remains for the entire bowl. I don't detect any topping but thats not to say none is there. Tin aroma is a crazy reason for loving a blend but I swear I this is the finest I've run across. I could spend an evening just sitting around huffing a freshly popped tin! Solani 633 is certianly one of my favorites and IMHO a very underated tobacco. I urge you give it a try.

Tin note: a little bit plum and fruity Perique smell; most are very grassy and citrus Virginia.

Solani - 633 is on Virginia side rather than Perique side; it is on Bright Virginia side rather than dark Virginia side.

When smoking: Grassy Bright Virginias are much more than ripe red Virginias that are a little bit fruity and earthy; perique has fig and raisin smell in the background.

Cool, smooth, clean taste all day smoke.

Four stars rating. One of best VaPer and a little bit hard to get in the US.

And I see some two stars reviews, and I recommend you guys should age for some time to enjoy.

Besides, I don't think Solani 633 is "on the boring side" like some two stars reviewer said. Additionally, as I said Solani - 633 is on the Bright Virginia side rather than on the Perique side or dark VaPer side. So it is very different from the dark VaPer category including St James Flake, Escudo or Navy roll, McC- Beacon Extra, Rattray's- Marlin Flake. For the same category, Solani 633 is much much better than STG Dunhill -Elizabethan. Hope the guys enjoy their the STG version Dunhill -Elizabethan shag and I just enjoy my Solani - 633.

This is a fine VaPer. Very nice presentation and aromas from the tin. Great virginia taste with more sweetness and something spicy from the perique that makes this blend very satisfying. Great quality tobaccos. 3.5 stars

This is high quality tobacco. Solani 633 comes in rather large precise flakes assorted very neatly in the tin (pretty much the opposite from a sam gawith presentation). they have a pretty straight forward smell in the tin - the usual hay and figs.. I find half a flake easily fills the bowl of my small peterson barrel pipe. smoking qualities: very easy flake to smoke.. not much relighting required.. smokes fairly cool at a slow pace. one of my best flake experiences overall. tobacco qualities: mellow yet flavorful.. this is a great combination of virginia and perique. a little more spicy than escudo.. but it has some of the same characteristics.. very nice and earthy. there is a pleasant mustiness that reminds me a little of old gowrie.. oddly pleasant dusty attic kind of thing (hard to put into words) dried fruit comes to mind. The most addictive of the recent vapors i have tried (dorchester, st james, escudo, scottish cake) overall, this could be my new favorite. 633 gets some mixed reviews but for me it is well worth the price.. maybe not as complex as escudo.. but equally as satisfying - and with a certain flavor that i find very interesting.

This tobacco is one of my favorite Vapers. While others find it too sweet I think it?s just right, and while maybe it doesn?t quite reach the level of true Vaper classics such as Bell?s 3 Nuns or Cope?s Escudo, it is still a very fine mixture.

Appearance: This is one of the more beautiful tobaccos I?ve ever seen. Very finely cut flakes pressed into a very tight cake which appeals to the senses visually and tactilely as one rubs it out, which I seldom do to any great extent.

Tin aroma: Initially, I smell very ?bright? Virginias, and citrus, followed by deeper caramel and earthy tones. There is the quality of freshly mown hay, and a deep stewed fig kind of a smell I associate with perique.

This tobacco is very easy to rub out, though lately I find myself only rarely rubbing out a flake tobacco mixture. I find for me, I simply roll flakes up and gently inserting them works better, giving a longer more even burn. Some times I rub a small portion out for the ?top portion? to facilitate even lighting.

Lighting usually is a single match affair, though once in awhile if I pause or just let the pipe go out, I might have to re-light it. This is a very easy going easy burning tobacco that almost smokes itself if packed correctly. The initial flavor is very hay like and somewhat light almost giving me the impression that it?s going to be too light for my smoking preferences. The flavors build slowly and the brightness of high grade Virginia tobaccos are joined in wider and wider circles of flavor with perique peeking in from time to time. Though not what I would call a complex taste, there are subtle changes from time to time to keep things interesting. I begin to catch some of the coming depth of flavors; this is not a monochromatic blend at all.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the brightness is joined by deepening tones, earthy and full. If exhaled nasally the brightness is still very much there, when inhaled, tones of caramel and figs are present (the best inhaling method being the ?French curve? out of the mouth and gently inhaled side stream through the nose). There is a very mild (natural) sweetness to the blend, a sweetness like molasses or raw honey, which is only ?just there? barely perceptible. While this mixture is pretty mild to me, there is strength to it, and the volume of smoke it produces even when sipped carefully is quite full. This is the kind of smoke which makes me put my feet up and hold the smoke in my mouth letting its buttery silkiness dance around my pallet.

Home Stretch: All of the starting elements are still there; the Virginia richness and the subtle amount of perique adding it pepper and spice in one of the gentlest and well behaved of all offerings in the Vaper category. This often smokes down to very little dottle leaving fine ?salt and pepper? ash. While #633 never really develops into a complex masterpiece like Escudo, or 3 Nuns, it deepens nicely to a very dry smoking winy goodness one expects from fine Virginia tobacco.

Supplemental Notes: This is becoming one of my more often reached for Vapers. For those interested in numbers ****

The smell of honey from the tin misled me into thinking this would be a mild generic danish style Va/Per. I was pleasantly surprised by how full flavoured it was. I get notes of bread, dried fruit and pepper with a very satisfying crescendo of flavour as you progress down the bowl. I smoked the flake folded after drying it out for a few hours and it burned beautifully. This may very well replace Escudo as the king of Va/pers. Highly recommended.

This flake is beautiful in every way. Gorgeous presentation in the tin, and a tin note which is nothing short of fantastic. Loads of stewed dark fruits, figs and raisins, with a complex sweetness and a fully integrated spiciness. Mouthwatering!

The taste is just as fantastic, though somewhat diferrent than the tin aroma. More grass and hay and even a little citrus on top of the deep fruit base, with subtle tanginess underneath. The Perique is perfectly integrated, never sharp or overpowering, but greatly supporting and enhancing the complexity of the Virginias.

Rather moist out of the tin, and a few relights may be necessary. Will not bite the experienced. Burns cleanly and leaves little other than light-grey ashes.

I got the best results smoking this in cobs and clays. Briars seem to subdue the lighter aromas very slightly.

This is without a shred of doubt the best Va/Per I've had, and pretty close to the overall best pipe tobacco. Yes, it really is that good.

I am smoking a 10 year old tin of this, and I find it to be my current favorite VaPer. It has a slight tendency to bite me, but not to the degree that Silver Flake exhibited. For whatever reason my 10 year aged tin of Silver didn't agree with me, and I get along with most of the Mac Baren blends which tend to bite many. It has just the right amount of spice from the Perique and the VA is quite smooth. Very tasty! The thing is, I am not normally a VaPer smoker; or wasn't until now. This is one of my favorite year round morning smokes.