Solani 660: Silver Flake

I dont use to write reviews but im a pipesmoker for a long time. Weirdly silver flake taste like a VaPer. We know it contains virginia and kentuckey but you feel a VaPer almost. Its burn slowly and turn to soft ashes soon and should smoke slow and dont let lose its wetness so much. I felt earthy, salty and sweetness on my tongue and salty taste was intersting to me. I recommanded badly cause its one of the greatest mixture ive tried

At our 2019 NASPC show I bought the tobacco portion of a former pipe smoker's collection. He had recently quit under duress from his physician and his wife and the bulk blends were relatively fresh. One, tightly sealed in a pint canning jar, was labled simply "Silver" and none of us understood what it was. My research shows that it is Solani 660-Silver Flake and I had never smoked it. So I did just that and this is what I found. Some reviewers compare it to Orlik Golden Sliced and I can see that; however, it is more like "Golden Sliced Light" to me. It smoked in that satisfying, but narrow, range of enjoyment one gets from most Virginia/Burley blends and had the typical brown interlaced with gold color in the Flakes. The top third of the smoke was somewhat wishy washy and required relights. In the middle third you begin to sense what this blend is trying to do and the bottom third was the best part of the bowl. Lighter than other VA/BURs I've smoked, it approaches an all day smoke level. On the other hand, I agree with some reviewers who noted a roughness on the tongue feeling which, for me, persisted down the length of the bowl. All in all, not bad and recommended at three stars.

I've smoked almost the entire tin and while I like the taste, as a very few reviewers noted it bites. It is rich tasting, has a nice sweetness and moderate strength but no matter how much care I exercise I get slightly scorched. It was aged 10 years in the original large tin and at good moisture level, perhaps slightly dried. Appearnce was a large clump of broken flake. I don't know if that is normal as it varies from what others describe. Overall I can't fault the tobacco. It just didn't agree with me.

This is a solid Virginia blend that hits a lot of high notes and a good deal of low. I see a lot of reviews wondering if there is a topping or not and I have to fall in with the cadre that claims that there is. It's relatively faint, but there is definitely something sweeter than just bright Virginia.

Silver flake is a good, honest, and enjoyable tobacco, but there are so many more that I enjoy more. Is it worth trying? Absolutely. With me, however, it just didn't ring any bells. The price is a bit of a turn-off for me, as well. It also has very little in the middle range, and seems to be all bright and a bit smoky. This supposedly has red Virginia as well bright, but if it does it is overpowered by the Kentucky.

There is nothing at all wrong with this tobacco and a lot that is right, but when factoring in the price, there are other blends like this that I enjoy more. I know. I sound like a miser... I'll definitely call it a solid 3 or even higher, but it won't make my top ten. I've had some very enjoyable smokes with this one, but it comes up a bit short. taste is subjective, so treat this review with a grain of salt.

Rich taste, but for me very simple. Solani use quality leaf, and it has really natural taste. Burley is interesting in it, because it gives bread/toast notes, but there's no deepness which incite me to buy again and again + strange packing means 4 star here.

Solani Silver flake... what a treat this has been to try this stuff, fresh from the can this was a heavy hitter for me. The blend is composed of red Virginias and a Kentucky blend. I enjoyed this smoke it was a nice flavorful tobacco as well as a nice nic hit. Although this blend is highly rated by most I feel a dire need to take these flakes and place them in a jar and cellar this in hopes to mellow it out. Im not saying its a bad blend by no means, but if you are going to smoke this I would advise to let the flake dry out prior to smoking this. I most likely will add to this review as I further digest through this lovely tin.

First impressions: I wanted to like this one more than I did. Drier than I usually smoke my Virginias but top quality, no doubt. I found it reminiscent of the so-so Dunhill Flake. There was a spice to it that DF doesn't have but its so subtle. If you've had DF then you already pretty much know Silver Flake. Very similar. I would give SF an edge on depth and nuances but DF an edge on availablity and price. I'll jar it and seem what happens in a year or two.

Exceptional quality straight VA/Kentucky blend. Like all Solani products I've tried, this tobacco is of the highest quality. There's a very pure, slightly rough tobacco taste here. There is no casing or topping evident, nothing to dim the rough edges of the constituent ingredients.

Silver lights easily and builds in flavor and strength as you progress through the bowl. There's a lot going on in here--it's a pleasure trying to identify the different VAs in the blend, or wondering where that peppery peck is coming from. It's so interesting, really, that you almost forget to notice the simple, pure quality of this tobacco: a bowl lasts a good 40 minutes, burns cool and evenly, even when one pays too much attention to writing online tobacco reviews and not enough to proper smoking technique.

As evidenced from the previous 4 star ratings, I think lots of people want an un-tampered with blend just like Solani Silver. I like this, but the Perique-like pepper spice of the Kentucky and (I think) red Virginias puts me off just a little. I like my rough edges a little more rounded off.

An earlier review noted the "crecendo" of the last part of the bowl. Perfectly put. After 30 minutes of delicious VA and Kentucky flavors, and more than a little spice, this turns a corner. The spice of the first 2/3 mellows out, and a rich, creamy, magnificent flavor appears. It's the same thing you get right at the end of a bowl of ABF, when the chocolate backnote fades and you're left with this exquisite, calming (lots of vit. N at the end) experience. And then, suddenly, it's over. Fine white ash. Wistful satisfaction. See you next time, Silver Flake.

While Silver can be compared to Dark Strong Kentucky in many ways, the the flavoring agent (whiskey) enhances the natural tobacco rather than giving it an anise note.

I'm always wary when manufacturers go a bit overboard using words such as "incredible" in descriptions of their products, but in this case the adjective is warranted.

Very easy to pack, light and smoke. Worth a try!