Solani 660: Silver Flake

Hi Ho Silver Flake...!!!

Sheer magnificance. Genius. Bravo. Yet so simple.

The flakes are long but partially broken or will break up some in removal from the foil packaging in the tin.

Very natural, pure scent in the tin. Dark and brown looking.

Fairly dry to the touch and in the bowl, but easily manipulated (folded, torn, etc.). No Pandora's box here.

Tobacco flakes consists of reds and some bright virginia leaves and dark fired Kentucky. Looks and tastes more like a brown flake - fullish.

A wonderful straight tobacco taste, earthy, cool, with dark undertones (probably the slight "spicy" effect from the Kentucky). So phantasmagoric, words fail me. No sweetness added (and certainly no whiskey or flavors even sensed). This is straight, no nonsense tobacco. For the artic explorers in us all. Full at times, yes, and even on the strong side for some, but not near overwhelming IMO or over the top. I would say reserved in its body and strength but certainly not overdone. Smooth. Even cigar like (but no cigar leaf here). "Touching on the outer rings of richness." A master's touch, as they say, for sure. Not just a nectar of the gods, but it summons the gods as you puff.

Not as full as G&H's robust Brown Flake; maybe as full or slightly more full than Germain's Brown Flake version. Close to Nut Brown Flake, that some call the "King of all Tobacco." This is fuller and less sweet than Solani's Long Golden Flake, which has more bright leaf and some Tennessee white burley instead of the dark Kentucky burley in Silver Flake. But never bitter.

This is a true dark strong Kentucky, and the best I've tried with this Kentucky leaf added. It's potent but forgiving. No bite to me but maybe some spice from the Kentucky. Smokers who don't care for burley or real straight tobaccos may not take to this, but eveyone should give it a try if you want a fullish blend on the outer ring of richness.

My mother and son say it smells delicious. Strange, as only straight natural tobaccos are involved here. What can I say?

I've nearly finished my 100 grams in two pipes -- an old Comoy and a new Jacono. Lots and lots of bowls. A real test flight, not just a drive. Took me through a hurricane wait this summer (2005). Kept me calm and at peace with myself and the world.

Highly recommended as another stroke of the R. Will genius. "Hi Ho Silver Flake and Away!"

EDIT 2/13/2017

I just finished up the 100g tin that I had and I think I will leave this one at 3 stars although it is very close to making the jump. Maybe a 3.4 or so. This is just a great VaBur flake. The only thing holding this back from four stars is the fact that I still find Irish Flake, Stonehaven and Rich Dark Flake to be more to my liking.

Those blends I enjoy more are definitely topped flakes. This one may also be topped, but its flavoring is far more elusive if it is. I guess it goes without saying that, as it pertains to VaBur flakes, I like a little sweetener added.

One should not think that Silver flake is lacking in sweetness, however, It is more the raw sweetness you would expect in a VaBur. Nutty and earthy sweetness amplified by ample Virginia. When it comes to this type of smoke, my tastes tend to gravitate more to the cube cuts such as Uhles 300 and PPB, but once again, this is still a fine smoke and with a little effort that I don't want to expend, this could be easily converted into a cube cut.

Another concern with this blend is the storage. I don't know why Solani opted to use a Piano hinge tin with this. Those tins are the worst for storage. I opened my 100g tin relatively quickly, and then needed to jar it quickly, so I don't know what effect this would have on long term storage of a sealed tin, since there really isn't much seal to it. I don't think I will chance putting a lot of this in the cellar.

A B&M that is about 40 minutes from me does stock this one though, so I may pick up a tin on occasion for a treat.

ORIGINAL REVIEW 10/14/2014

This is a very tasty blend from a label that knows how to make great tobaccos. I just finished up a sample of this by giving away the last few bowls. I really did not get a chance to know it well, but am not concerned as I have a 100g tin sitting in the cellar for later.

I have no qualms giving this 3 stars based on the three or four wonderful bowls I had, but will wait until I get into that tin to further evaluate. I actually think this may get a fourth star from me later.

Just the perfect body for a relaxing smoke. Everything you would want in a VaBur flake, but not quite overtaking Irish Flake in my rotation yet.

I bumped into 660 in Madrid, in that marvellous tiny tobacconists where the piper slowly faints while browsing through the hundreds blends available..

The box caught my eye, telling me “I’m good bro”. A bit disappointed by the non-vacuum bag (there must be a reason for that, I wonder), but extremely delighted by the length and the structure of the flakes. Just marvellous.

Easy to load, the flake is quite mashed already. Wondeful smoke, creamy, earthy, still full of all virginia taste. This tobacco is a landmark for all Va/Bur (imho), because it is able to mix fired harsh dark leaves and grassy zesty leaves, creating something just spectacular.

Few or no relights, better be tasted in a large bowl for my buds, ash is wonderful and white, room is ok.

For me, this is an excellent starting point for natural va/burs.

I love the tin for this stuff. Opening it it reveals a bag full of multi-colored flakes that seem to already be breaking apart that are of the perfect moisture level. Smells of raisins, plums, a bit of earth and hints of tang and citrus. Easy to rub out or stuff directly into your pipe. Lights nicely with normal amounts of lights and remains lit if tended to with light but firm tamping. I find it burns better when lightly packed in the pipe, giving it a bit more air.

The smoke is plentiful and flavorful. This is an enjoyable smoke that reminds me of a few different VA flakes I have tried. This is one of the only smokes where there is some spice that doesn't work as a contrast to the sweetness but rather is so well mixed in and blended with the sweet VA's that it is hard to distinguish between the two. It's slightly spicy with wonderful va sweet flavors of dark fruit and citrus with hints of earth and a bit of grass. I even got hints of malt here and there. As the bowl proceeds some nut flavors appear to work well with the others. A great smoke that is enjoyable and doesn't need a lot of thought but can be intriguing enough with it's complexity.

I've been smoking this tin of Silver Flake for just under a month. When it first arrived, I found that its appearance was exactly as all the other reviews have discussed. However, I also found that right out of the tin it was very heavy on the Burley, and a bit harsh. Where were the Virginias?

Fast-forward three weeks.

Whether a palate adjusts to tobacco, or whether a tobacco can truly breathe and take on new dimensions in a mason jar - I am not sure. What I do know is that this tobacco has skyrocketed to being among my favorites. If there were a five star rating I would give it to this blend.

Where right out of the tin the leaf was heavy on the Burley and the Virginias nearly non-existent, I am now finding an amazing balance between the two. Perhaps more than any other tobacco, I enjoy bringing the exhaled smoke back towards my face so that I can smell the aroma - just a clean tobacco aroma. Tobacco as its meant to be smoked.

I find that this tobacco wants some attention: not because it needs constant relights. Rather, it deserves attention because of the subtleties and range of flavors. The tanginess of the Burleys. The sweetness of the Virginias. And where I found that this tobacco would bite right out of the tin, I am now finding it much less likely to do so.

Some have asked me if it's worth the price. For a 100g it is more expensive than some other excellent tobaccos. I would certainly say that it's well worth the price, as the quality of the leaf is among the best out there. It's just that good.

Have an adequate supply of jars on hand if you purchase this for aging. Although the unsealed tin is a collectible, the cellophane wrapper inside it is worthless. You get about four 16" long tobacco flakes folded over several times.

The flavor is sweet and bread-like red Virginia with a wine-like finish. This is among the finest Virginia flakes I have had the pleasure of smoking. There are no negative issues -– except perhaps the useless packaging. The price is a little high, but then again, you get what you pay for. In this case, it is a guaranteed succession of “ah ha!” smoking experiences.

Incredibly, as others before me have observed, this expensive tobacco is offered for sale in an unsealed plastic bag, inside an unsealed tin. None the less, it appears that the tobacco remains moist enough and fairly supple. My most recent sample is formed into one l-o-n-g, mottled, dark brown “flake” that is rolled up and folded like a soft, wide leather belt without a buckle. The tin note is subtle yet arresting, smelling mostly like what it is: well-aged, stoved and hot-pressed, fermented versions of premium iterations of deep VA and KY tobaccos, also like well-tended, older, handmade leather shoes, along with soft-yet-exotic Oriental spices. I happen to be quite taken with SF’s rather unusual tin note. I always jar SF immediately, whether to smoke it or to age it, because the idea that it’s “exposed” in an unsealed tin makes me nuts. The pressed tobacco “flake” yields and breaks up readily when it’s handled. At first it was easy to gather and load small-ish or large-ish pieces of the “flake”, but over time it has broken down from picking to become something like a rough shag. Regardless, SF is easy to load, and it’s easy enough to light, as well. Once lit, and tamped with relaxed regularity, it smokes straight down to a very few cinders. There is ample smoke that seems to thicken as the smoke progresses. There is a light topping that supplies the first, fairly delicate scents from the smoke, and I am just guessing that it includes vanilla, almond, orange, and honey, among other additives. Soon enough, however, the constituent tobaccos take over, and the smells and tastes ramp up gracefully but forcefully to a “full” version of the tobaccos featured in the tin note. The tastes and the scents, and the smooth, dry smoke somehow remind me of certain premium Tampa cigars from my youth (a long time ago…), for whatever that’s worth. Though somewhat “blunt”, and consistent end to end, the tastes are subtly varied, if not myriad, and they are well aligned with the scents. The VAs are mostly deep and earthy, also slightly pungent, and their sweetness is balanced and occasionally overshadowed by the bitter tannins from the KY. This KY is also rather spicy, and somewhat “smoky”, again, like the Blue Ribbon KY once commonly used in premium Tampa cigars. To my tastes, the constituent tobaccos are well met, even exemplary for this. Meanwhile, the steadily increasing “force” of the smoke probably makes this a blend best suited for “experienced”, slow pipe smokers. Strength is medium, and tastes are (eventually) full. Although I like the strong room note, and I get no complaints from the cigar crowd, I’ve never tried it on my loved ones. I really enjoy the aftertaste, which is a sweeter, trailing-off version of the best of the smoke.

If one wants a rich, deep, “easy” smoke, and one is OK with the constituent tobaccos, then, IMO, Silver Flake is worth its price. In this respect, SF fills its niche perfectly. I find it relaxing, but only if I have the time and the inclination to really relax. Otherwise, I can see how it might seem overwhelming or even monotonous to someone unused to this sort of tobacco. I recommend it first to “serious” VA/Bur lovers, then to VA/Bur/Per lovers, also to veteran Burly lovers. Despite the obvious differences, SF rather reminds me of MacBaren’s Old Dark Fired Flake, and GLP’s JackKnife Plug and Key Largo, all of which are among my favorite pipe tobaccos. 4 Stars from me, because IMO SF is among the best of its ilk.

Update: A year and a half in a Mason jar and this blend has become downright elegant, with no loss of intensity. In this regard SF reminds me of Savinelli's Doblone d'Oro. Very nice, indeed

Upon opennig the large rectangular tin I found a cellophane pouch, similar to other brands. It is not a material I like, since I found very hard to keep tobacco moist. Anyway, large semi-broken flakes wellcome you, with light brown and golden tones. The aroma is lightly fragant, with promising breadish notes.

Because the unusual size of the flakes, I took more than normal time to prepare the pipe. It lit with no problem, and give an even burn.

On the taste side, this blend dissapointed me. It was spicy yet flat. Got quite a bite.

After tasting Solani´s Aged Burley Flake I was eager to taste this blend. Unfortunately it was not as good as Burley Flake, which is one my current favorites.

Simply put, one of the best tobaccos ever made in Earth. Red and lemon Virginias interplay to provide a smooth, sweet, grassy smoke, complemented by a wisely low amount of Kentucky that, instead of getting in the way, give the blend a VaPer-like taste, without the sour touch of Perique. Splendid!