Solani 763: White and Black

My experience with 763 is exactly the same as smokeemifyougotem except that I was introduced to this mixture at a local pipe show and was so impressed that I purchased three 100g tins of it. Well, those three tins bore no resemblance to the fine product I had sampled.

Save your money.

It was not without some trepidation that I opened my first tin of Solani 763 the other day: what with all those mixed reviews I wasn't sure what I would get! But luckily I was greeted by the sight of a nice, coarsely rubbed out, flake that did smell of latakia and VA. It was rather moist so some airing will do it good. It is a very tasty, slightly sweet smoke with a subdued Latakia presence and with a little tendency to bite, so nipping it brings out the best. Not overwhelmingly strong either, it will satisfy the palate for a good Va, BC and Latakia rubbed out flake.

OK, so I'm an aromatic smoker, but I thought I would try this out because of all the rave reviews. Ooops! It just blew me away. It was a very strange experience smoking this. At first, the flavours were very pleasent - interesting nuances I was not familiar with (Latakia?) But after just a few minutes i found the strength building up to become overwhelming. I ended up light-headed and nauseous. Is that the nicotine? What-ever it was, it made this a once-only experience for me. So, beginners beware! (and I should know, because I've been a beginner for 20 years now)

I may have received a tin of B&W from the same production run (or ?bottom of the barrel?) as Redneck below and I echo some of his comments. I found B&W flat, lacking in flavor, body, taste and strength. It was very much a ?hot air? smoke in that it pirouetted across my palate on ballerina tiptoes, i.e., I hardly knew it was there. In short, BLACK and WHITE apparently has a GRAY area and that gray area may be in quality control. I?ll have to try some of Redneck?s friends B&W or purchase another tin at a later date. There are just too many glowing reviews here and it leads me to believe that I, like Redneck, received a ?gray? tin with our first purchase.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this blend 7.1 out of 10.

If you are aromatic lovers please just stay away from Solani Black and White; Latakia may disturb you. As other reviewer say it is a good tobacco, but this is true only if you are a ?profi? with Latakia.

I recommend this tobacco only if you smoke once or just twice in a day.

Roger Wills at the plate; Steve Monjure pitching. A slow ball, Roger swings and hits a long fly ball into deep, deep center field. Back. Back. Way back. Tim of Paylesspipes, playing outfield, runs and leaps up to steal a homer, but it's over his head. HOME RUN! The crowd goes wild.

I met Steve and Tim with a new batch of Rinaldos at paylesspipes recently . They tempted me with his new tin. I have smoked nearly two tins now in a new large Rinaldo.

Yes sir pipe fans, this is a no non-sense tobak. Full, deep, rich, manly. Very slow burning, and needs no extra rubbing. Combines three simple tobaccos into a majestic broken dark flake. Easy to pack and light. Medium and mellow in taste at the start, it quickly builds to a spicy, stronger middle. The end is very round and dark. Dry smoking; you feel like you just had a meal after it's end.

Not many a tobacco pack this much flavor and are as smooth like this. The only things much smoother are the very old and aged old syrian blends. This blend must have been aged plenty, and is ready to smoke off the shelf. Extra aging may improve its smoothness.

This is also quite complex. The syrian latakia adds strength but not the smokiness of cyprian. The black cavendish is not sweetened and just gives the taste a dark side. The dark and lighter virginias used give it a semi-sweet, natural base. No one tobacco dominates, and this is a good finish for the evening. Quite rich but different than most english blends. No orientals.

The recent review in P&T magazine (March 2004) recommends this but does not add how truely superb and special of a blend this is. It is on the stong side mind you, so may not be an all day smoke for many. But it is a wonderful experience even once or twice a day. Highly recommended.

Solani White Black, un tabacco dalla scuola semplice e raffinata che strizza un occhio al rimpianto Sobraine, il contenuto è un delizioso flake prevalentemente scuro Virginia, Cavendish e Latakia uniformemente tagliato.

Il Latakia è dichiarato siriano, ma sicuramente in quella martoriata nazione avranno altro cui pensare che affumicare tabacco.

Il primo pensiero che mi ha assalito la mente, alla prova a secco è quella delle vecchie cantine ove il vino riposa nelle botti. Poi ecco la frutta secca e le terre del Virginia, il Latakia non è così preponderante, si percepisce dopo un po’ l’affumicato tipico di questo tabacco. E’ assente la nota dolce del Cavendish, segno di bassa o assente zuccheratura.

Carichiamo la pipa dopo aver fatto asciugare appena appena la quantità scelta. Oramai è noto che non sbriciolo, ma avvolto i pezzi di tabacchi spezzati nel fornello. Utilizzo ovviamente pipe dal fornello ampio. L’accensione è lenta e delicata affinché la brace sia persistente, ma sopratutto uniforme.

Cosa mi dice il palato? Che abbiamo di fronte una EM delicata, signorile, costruita per i palati signorili, quelli che apprezzano le cose fini, delicate e odiano la ruffianeria.

Partiamo da Latakia: non è violento, grezzo anzi appena appenda dolce (sicuramente tutto cipriota), non è il protagonista, ma il co-protagonista, quella figura in secondo piano, un po’ in ombra, ma senza la quale lo sviluppo della trama crolla. In questa miscela dona il corpo e profondità.

Il Virginia: ohibò sentire tutta la tavolozza aromatica dall’agrumato alla terra passando per la frutta secca al legno ad ogni puff, non ha prezzo.

Il Cavendish è invece una scoperta, poco zucchero o vanigliato serve per addolcire la miscela che alla lunga stuccherebbe.

Se sentiamo il retronasale saremo più propensi ad avvertire un po’ di pizzicore dato da Cavendish.

Alla Solani hanno fatto un ottimo lavoro.

Certo non è la classica miscela inglese cui siamo abituati, ma hanno aggiunto una grande variazione al tema. Come quel musicista che rivede una partitura classica e senza stravolgerla sa mettere il suo carisma e valore personale.

Non è assolutamente forte, ma non è neppure da bamboccioni; fumato male la nicotina sa ricordare della sua esistenza. Ripeto è un tabacco per signori, coloro che accendo la pipa e si fanno una passeggiata nel verde autunnale pieno di colori o per coloro che accompagna alla fumata un ottimo libro.

La nota ambientale è puro tabacco. Può essere on piacevole, ma non è mai disgustante per chi sta accanto.

La persistenza è buona e lascia memoria palatale, come il ricordo piacevole di una dolce compagnia.

Lo posso raccomandare oltre che a quel fumatore che (come dicevo) cerchi una variazione al tema EM anche a quel fumatore che voglia avvicinarsi al Latakia senza farsi sorprendere o spaventare.

Non voglio parlare del prezzo imposto alla vendita perchè esulerei dalla recensione, posso dire che la spesa è comunque giustificata dal prodotto che andremo ad assaporare.

Il giudizio numerico 4,9 (non do il massimo solo per il prezzo esagerato).

I was a little worried that the Cavendish would impart a muted dullness to the palate, as it often does. But no, everything is actually in perfect balance. The Cavendish does not impart any overt flavorings in the manner of some crossover blends like Northwoods or SPC Plum Pudding. What we get here is just an ever so slightly sweeter version of a classic medium-bodied English (Virginia-Latakia). Clean and focused, with wonderful spice from the Syrian Latakia (toasted pinoli, sunflower seed, clove). There are also some hints of broiled steak which suggests to me that the Cavendish is actually more of a dark-matured Virginia. Nothing heavy or overtly campfire. If you like Lat-bombs like Pirates Kake or Gaslight, this will not be for you.

I did a direct A-B comparison with another elegant classic using Syrian Latakia: Mac Baren Vintage Syrian (no longer available). Impossible to declare a clear winner because they are not intended to be considered in the same category. The Mac is more savory and clearly shows the 'sour cream' flavors of Turkish, while the Solani has no Turkish, its spice derived from the wonderful Syrian. Some nice cedar notes, and the Cavendish gives a slightly sweet finish. This is also a versatile, non-fussy blend that seems fine for either warm or cold seasons, morning or evening, briar or meer. Thick chunky ribbons seem slightly moist but they burn just fine without needing to dry.

I also spent several sessions going back and forth between blends that are considered in this same category of English-Aromatic: Frog Morton, Cult Embassy, and Boswell Northwoods. Embassy was the smoothest, with the least amount of natural tobacco taste, and that has its own appeal with a companion cup of coffee, but not much to get excited about. Frog has always seemed muddled on the palate, and all I get on the retrohale is scorched ketchup (least favorite of this group for me). Northwoods has the boldest, deepest flavors of the group, but you really have to like the idea of chocolate flavored Latakia. To my tastes Solani is the best of the bunch because of ideal balance, quality natural tobacco taste, and a slightly sweet background note that is not derived from obvious flavorings like vanilla or chocolate.

By the way, this is European processed red Virginia, so no American-style ketchup or vinegar; just natural goodness! I'm surprised this isn't talked up more, it was a great discovery for me, and a real treat from start to finish of the bowl!

Searching for some Balkan blends, Sol Cigar conjured this among two others for me to smell and taste. Almost aromatic in aroma, only a faint note Latakia was detected. I still agree to buy a sample.

This I do not regret. Although it very unlike the previous Balkans I’ve tried, it still produce a medium-to-full bodied smoke, with the Virginia and Cavendish as the main players. It’s this very sweet, exactly how I’ve pictured a non-aromatic Cavendish, providing some brown sugar and dark honey sweetness, and almonds. The Virginia offers some earthy notes and sweetness as well, with the Latakia offering a supporting role of some woody notes. After some drying, more spices are detectable. Easy to light and stay lit, it does not bite. A highly pleasurable smoke.