Solani 763: White and Black

This is a nice sweet blend. The Syrian Lat is of high quality. Ultra smooth, smoky and mildly woody. The raisiny, tangy Virginias have a fairly strong presence. The Black Cav is mildly toasty and very sweet. It's a joy to smoke, but shouldn't be pushed or it can burn a little hot. Moderate puffing is fine. I have to avoid smoking these sweet blends too often or I'll tire of them. I don't want to do that so I'll have to ration myself with this one. I will certainly enjoy this blend on occasion.

Tin note; Sweeter than I expected from an English, earthy undertones Appearance; Black with flecks of reddish brown, broken flake. Very moist in tin am drying it out now. Ten minutes. A note before tasting; I know I should have cobs around here or break out a meerschaum but, you know, what's the point in collecting fine smoking instruments if you're not going to use them, right? I mean if I had four figure S. Bangs and the like I'd keep them in a glass cabinet for show, but my nicer three figure Dunhills and Beckers I bought for their smoking qualities. Nothing about this blend suggests it will ruin a good pipe, so first impressions will be me at my best and the tobacco at it's best. I've married on first impressions (granted I've been divorced twice now, but that's not the point). So, I'm trying this out in my favorite bent brandy becker let's call it a group 4 maybe 5 and in an hour or so let y'all know what I think. First third --- I like this, I'm going to partially agree with another reviewer that if you want a different English blend this is it. I'm not sure I'd sign my name to calling this an English blend at all, it tastes more like a stoved and fermented VA with a thing or two to help it burn cooler. I really don't taste a topping so I'm calling the sweetness just from the VA, but it might be a very well made topping too subtle to give off that chemical goopiness that keeps me from aromatics. Second third --- Same taste a little darker, earthier. Last third --- No variation, burns to fine gray ash no dottle, even more evidence this is unlikely cased, no goop, no dottle. If I were to compare this anything else, and I won't name drop, it's like a well cellared stoved broken flake Virginian. The taste hardly varies at all, but then again when you eat Crème Bulee you don't expect it to change halfway through into a snickers bar. I'm not sure if I will smoke this often or always need to have it on hand, but giving it less than three stars would be insulting; it's quality tobacco. It's possible I received an off tin or something, one with just the Virginians and Cavendish (though I don't really like Cavendish when I can taste it) I mean my review seems different.

Tin note of tart sweet, smoky, and vinegar. The black broken flakes with a little brown mixed in is listed as a ready rub. Moisture content is good, rubs out nicely, no drying needed. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and consistent, with complex notes of very woody, musty grass, dry earth, citrus peel, mildly sweet tart fruit, mildly smoky, a lemony background note, and a peppery retro. Virginias is leading with cavendish and Latakia supporting. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

Solani 763 had underwhelming reviews at the time I purchased a tin and I was skeptical but curious. Tin aroma did not disappoint, rich but subtle, smoky.

Sweet earthy virginias play nicely on the rich fruity cavendish and are complimented by the smoky Syrian latakia. Burns clean and smooth, rarely need relights. Flavor stays consistent throughout the bowl yet has a complexity that will keep you entertained. Leaves no dottle.

This blend shows wonderful blending, as each of the components complement the other without taking center stage . If you like Virginias, then I can't see you not liking this one. Don't look at the ingredients (Syrian, Virginia & Black Cavendish ) and try to imagine this blend, you will be off by a mile. The taste is a very smooth, but tangy, fermented Virginia's. The Syrian Latakia is added only as a hint and not very noticeable from a smokiness kind of way, it just adds some "Butter" and rich dark earthiness to the Virginias. I suspect the Black Cavendish is a Burley base, even though it is advertised as a Dutch Style of blending ( Virginia base ?). This adds an almost Perique taste quality of raisins and figs without the pepper ( No, it doesn't contain Perique) .

When you open the tin, the blend is a dark and medium brown long broken flakes, that are very easy to work with. The flakes require some drying and they are somewhat sticky, which leads me to believe that there might be a light molasses topping. The tin note is of fermented raisins and figs and this translates into the taste. Overall the smoke starts smooth , sweet and tangy, and ends dark and earthy. However, I am very tongue sensitive to Burley and I find a slight harshness that I attribute to the Cavendish.

This blend reminds me somewhat of "Astley's #44 Dark Virginia Flake" with the "N" toned down to Medium or Rattray's Dark Fragrant with the flavor turned up.

I also find this blend great on the relight, doesn't turn ashy and keeps delivering flavor. If you think of this blend as a "Dark Fermented" Virginia rather than a Latakia blend, you will say, Wow! 3 1/2 stars

( do you want to change this into a smooth creamy latakia forward blend? Add 25% Robert McConnoll Pure Latakia. very tasty and no harshness ,4 stars this way)

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I've got to say ... K&K did a pretty decent job again. Let me explain. While this is an English Mixture, it needs to be said that this blend is Virginia-forward.

Tin note is the fruitiness, sweetness, and yeast from the VAs, mixed with the smokiness of the latakia. The broken flake is nice and thin. Rubbed out fully and packed well.

The smoke itself is pleasant. Virginia on the front, latakia in the background, but the black cavendish adds a lot of sweetness to the smoke.

Smoking mechanics are fine. No issues, very few relights. It didn't bite or turn on me. The smoke was cool.

Solid three stars

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Being a Serious Pipe Smoker living in Canada..Our Choices are FEW+FAR Between(for Premium Pipe Tobacco)I'm very pleased that "Brigham"Did their homework 2find a Company with Consistent-Quality Lines(that'Renier' Embodies)I've tried ALL Renier Tobaccos that are Avail.in Canada.This English Tobacco is not Unlike H.O.W.(Revelation)or McC's(Frog Morton) I find it smokes best if U rub it out Even more/This weed smokes best in a Meer or Cob.I usually have a SM-scotch or Expresso in my free-hand. Take Ur-Time+enjoy this Complex Character

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.

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.