Solani 660: Silver Flake

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

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!

A quick edit here as I jarred few tins (tin date of Nov 2018) for 2 years. It's now March 2021.

The jar note on this when aged is more apricots and honey.

I definitely notice floral notes from the smoke this time (a slight lavender hint on the edge, reminiscent of a fine potpourri) which are very pleasant and not overpowering. This, along with a sort of milk cocoa as you near half-way point.

Very smooth and creamy smoke exudes from this rich, sweet, nutty mix, but there is a tangy edge. The increased sweetness did increase the risk of bite a touch.

A burley wood and nutmeg spice character comes forward near the halfway mark and a touch more of that 'dark fired' character is revealed.

If you smoke down to the end of your bowl it notably intensifies becoming more cigar-like (not a Cuban, something like a nice sweeter Brazilan stick). Still nice, but significantly fuller in flavour.

This is still a truly excellent and contemplative smoke, but it does seem to have intensified with age and I don't notice the citrus notes at all anymore. Definitely best smoked slow.

See my initial first impression notes below (from Dec 2019): As a first impression as I tried it for the first time last night.

The tin is large and unsealed, tobacco folded on itself in a long flake (similar to Marlin Flake). Scent impression is earthy and sweet. It looks, smells and feels like quality tobacco. Dried fruit (raisin's and prunes) are forward with a bit of nutmeg and citrus (more orange than lemon). The tobacco was perfectly dry to smoke out of the tin, I jarred it straight away.

My main flavour impression was of tangy and bittersweet orange marmalade over 'brown sugar' Virginias. But it definitely tastes like good natural tobacco with a light typically Danish casing.

I found this smoother and less prone to bite compared to some other Va tobaccos I've tried.

The nutty bitterness comes through from the Kentucky/Burley from which I get a mild peppery mouthfeel and the dry smokiness. There are hints of malted sugars and sweet chestnut as the flavour builds.

I folded and stuffed a torn-off portion in a small apple with a tapered bowl. Second bowl worked well as a cube cut. It burned very well (to a light grey ash, tipped out periodically) had to relight a few times. Slight dampness in the bottom but could have been too tight a pack.

First impressions are overwhelmingly positive.

This review was initially written in 2009 under my old handle. Back then TR's description stated that this combination of Red VA & dark fired Kentucky had a whiskey topping & also was depicted in a light green tin rather than the silver tin of latter times. This tobacco comes in a good quality, folded, plastic bag that shouldn't allow the flavor or moisture to bleed through & is contained within a hinged top, non-vacuum sealed tin. If you elect to purchase some & don't plan on smoking it right away, be sure and make use of a quality zip-lock or a good freezer bag right away. I triple seal mine, inside & out but obviously, a Mason jar or bail top would be the better choice.

However, my tins usually don't last long enough to worry about that anyway & this stuff is so good right out of the tin, I don't consider aging although I'm sure that would be a plus. The tin aroma to me is of tobacco only. Imagine that! I dried it to proper smoking moisture and rubbed it out to an almost shag-like consistency. It's crumbly & easily rubbed out, contains no trash & requires little drying time.

I stoked it into a GBD, Virgin Apple... lit up and immediately recognized the DF KY & the sweet taste of Virginia tobacco, which, BTW was named after the state which was named after & in honor of the "Virgin" Queen, Elizabeth I... a quick lesson in 16th century tobacco history, for all loyal subjects of interest in the "leaf," as it were. I'm unable to distinguish positively which tobacco is up front. My impression is slightly more VA than KY & the flavor remains consistent with maybe a little more sweetness at the halfway point. Some might say it's "cigarettish" but due to the flavor of the quality leaf, expertise in the preparation & blending, it's so much more than that.

OK! Moving on! Puffed a few times & let it sit a few minutes... I always use this DGT method on VA blends. Didn't take long to get a nicotine jolt. It is very mild tasting & doesn't bite but has a relatively strong nicotine content. I recently started inhaling one single puff after acquiring a good burn rate to judge the Vitamin N content. I contend SF Number 660 to be of exceptional quality. This is a very smooth, VA/Kentucky blend & I'm quite sure it no longer contains a "whiskey" topping... at least it no longer contains a sticky residue on the fingertips while rubbing it out & is unnoticeable in handling or smoking. However, this mixture back in the "old days" most likely had the whiskey topping because I remember it feeling a little sticky while rubbing it out & seemed to have a little more bite to it. I don't get that today & I'm smoking some right now... ten years later & I like it better now than I did back then.

If your preference is for a very good VA/Kentucky blend, well, here you go. Although relatively more expensive than similar blends, you'll find it's well worth the difference in price. It doesn't get any better than this and will be a mainstay in my rotation.

I am still learning what Kentucky tastes like, and this flake is a good teacher. I don't think Kentucky is a favorit of mine. But having said that, there is no arguing that SF is a top quality tobacco. Perhaps a bit tangy at first but developing into more sweet notes; taste is a little nutty, vinegar and hint of dark chocklad. And the smoke, wow... thick, velvety and enticing smoke that will not get hot and bite. I find myself shifting between taking big mouthfulls and just sipping gently. It burns perfectly, with no additional relights. It works very well in a filter pipe. This is not my first choice of tobacco type, but there is truly a magic quality to this flake. If I was a Kentucky lover I would probably search no more - this would seem like the perfect tobacco.

Even if it is a nice and mellow smoke, the Kentucky has a robust vibe. I can imagine this choice of tobacco on a rainy day. Perhaps outdoors in a raincoat seeking shelter under a tree during early autumn here in Sweden. It feels like the type of tobacco that would turn such an occasion into an enjoyable moment, with enough vigour to captivate your mind into a contemplative mode.