Solani 660: Silver Flake
(3.65)
An incredible blend of premium dark red and sweet Virginias from the "border belt", light yellow Virginia from South Carolina, and dark-fired, spicy Kentucky. Slow burning and because no flavoring has been added, this blend has a real tobacco taste.
Details
| Brand | Solani |
| Blended By | R.L. Will |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Kentucky, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 100 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.65 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 89 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 25, 2006 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Rudiger Will is a master blender, of that I'm sure. The introduction of Silver Flake is one of the best new tobaccos of 2005.
Appearance: A beautiful flake presentation of mixed hues of tans and brown.
Tin aroma: An amazing and complex aroma of rich hay, stewed fruits and spice. A lovely forest rich smell.
This flake arrives nearly perfect in every detail, moisture content is exactly right. As with most flakes I simply fold several flakes up and insert them directly into the chamber unmolested. This assures me a long lasting even burning smoke. For this review, I've chosen an Armellini Freehand which is quite faithful in presenting complex Virginia tobacco mixtures. I've pre-smoked several bowls over the course of a week of Silver Flake in this pipe in preparation for this review.
A one match light is brings billows of rich gray smoke, followed with a brief visit of the tamper. The deep red VA is immediately there and while a bit tangy at first becomes a nice compliment to the fine quality leaf underneath. Flavors of Red Virginia are dominant throughout, Burley chimes in with rich nut like and cigarish notes.
Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to building layer upon layer of complexity. The tones of forest deepen steadily as this mixture gains strength. Rich caramel tones are evident with a slowly building rich cigar like quality and I find myself relaxing ever more deeply into my stuffed chair, smiles widening across my face. I continue to marvel each time at how rich and full flavored this blend becomes. A huge benefit from such a seemingly simple mixture.
Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the palate is very complex, very rich, and satisfying. The tangy duet of Red VA's, and Burley with cigar like notes seem to keep expanding until suddenly tamping and repeated application of flame no longer yield any more. I am consistently surprised to find that I'm done! Well behaved and cool burning throughout, this blend is a definite all day smoking candidate. With Silver Flake, #633 and a good Balkan blend, I could retire to a desert island without regrets. This mixture provides near complete combustion every time, yielding perfectly dry white ash.
Supplemental Notes: This is a regular part of my rotation as something reached for when a Virginia and Burley mixture is craved. Absolutely a perfect smoke for anytime of the day. **** 4 full stars
Appearance: A beautiful flake presentation of mixed hues of tans and brown.
Tin aroma: An amazing and complex aroma of rich hay, stewed fruits and spice. A lovely forest rich smell.
This flake arrives nearly perfect in every detail, moisture content is exactly right. As with most flakes I simply fold several flakes up and insert them directly into the chamber unmolested. This assures me a long lasting even burning smoke. For this review, I've chosen an Armellini Freehand which is quite faithful in presenting complex Virginia tobacco mixtures. I've pre-smoked several bowls over the course of a week of Silver Flake in this pipe in preparation for this review.
A one match light is brings billows of rich gray smoke, followed with a brief visit of the tamper. The deep red VA is immediately there and while a bit tangy at first becomes a nice compliment to the fine quality leaf underneath. Flavors of Red Virginia are dominant throughout, Burley chimes in with rich nut like and cigarish notes.
Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to building layer upon layer of complexity. The tones of forest deepen steadily as this mixture gains strength. Rich caramel tones are evident with a slowly building rich cigar like quality and I find myself relaxing ever more deeply into my stuffed chair, smiles widening across my face. I continue to marvel each time at how rich and full flavored this blend becomes. A huge benefit from such a seemingly simple mixture.
Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, the palate is very complex, very rich, and satisfying. The tangy duet of Red VA's, and Burley with cigar like notes seem to keep expanding until suddenly tamping and repeated application of flame no longer yield any more. I am consistently surprised to find that I'm done! Well behaved and cool burning throughout, this blend is a definite all day smoking candidate. With Silver Flake, #633 and a good Balkan blend, I could retire to a desert island without regrets. This mixture provides near complete combustion every time, yielding perfectly dry white ash.
Supplemental Notes: This is a regular part of my rotation as something reached for when a Virginia and Burley mixture is craved. Absolutely a perfect smoke for anytime of the day. **** 4 full stars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2023 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Tin note of pungent, vinegary and stewed sour fruit. Tobacco is a Flake of marbled reddish brown and dark brown. Moisture content is great, rubs out with a little effort. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is medium. No flavoring listed, but there is a sweet alcohol flavor more prominent in the first 1/4 that slowly dissipates to nothing within the first 1/2. Taste is medium to full and mostly consistent, with notes of toasted bread, wood, sweet alcohol, spice, leather, spicy, floral, earth, nutty, peaty vegetation/hay, dry, mildly acidic, tangy zesty, orange peel/bitters, mildly savory, a stewed rich dark fruit background note, and a peppery retro. Virginia is leading with Kentucky supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.
Pipe Used:
1992 Ashton Sovereign XX Billard
Age When Smoked:
4 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2020 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I bought this is 2018 at a local B&M after a recommendation by the tobacconist. I was warned about going ahead and jarring it due to the cellophane packaging. I had a few bowls then and jarred the rest of the beautiful flakes.. and promptly forgot about it.
Que October 2020 when I was going through a tote looking for something else and I found the jars of this. Man this is delicious with a couple of years on it. Dark long flakes that are easily broken up or cut to be folded and stuffed. It is easy to light and keep burning.
The taste to me has a great combination of sweetness along with the spice of the Kentucky and if I didn't know better I'd think it was a VaPer. It reminds me of ODF except that the sweetness is kicked up a notch. The strength to my taste/tolerance is a shade higher than medium. Not something I'd smoke all day.
I'll definitely be picking up more to jar-up for future smoking pleasure.
Que October 2020 when I was going through a tote looking for something else and I found the jars of this. Man this is delicious with a couple of years on it. Dark long flakes that are easily broken up or cut to be folded and stuffed. It is easy to light and keep burning.
The taste to me has a great combination of sweetness along with the spice of the Kentucky and if I didn't know better I'd think it was a VaPer. It reminds me of ODF except that the sweetness is kicked up a notch. The strength to my taste/tolerance is a shade higher than medium. Not something I'd smoke all day.
I'll definitely be picking up more to jar-up for future smoking pleasure.
Pipe Used:
The Blackjack Professor from Morgan
PurchasedFrom:
Puff n stuff
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 07, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Full natural taste. No aromatic addiction (even if whisky is quoted in somehow). Full day smoking, every charge has an incredible duration. Tobacco burns perfectly and no difficult is noted due to flake cut.
Pipe Used:
Ascorti, Peterson, Dunhhill, Comoy's
PurchasedFrom:
Motzek, Germany
Age When Smoked:
54
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 05, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I smoke this paired with Assam or English Breakfast Tea, folded and packed lightly. It takes the match well, needing a couple relights, and burns at a typical Va/Per speed. It doesn't bite (with a beverage), and gives off a fair amount of smoke. The flavors are typical hay/wheat and a little citrus with a tiny bit of spice coming from the Kentucky. It burns clean to the bottom of the bowl. I get a little moisture about half-way through (as I do most natural tobaccos), and I think this is normally around the time I pack, purge, and relight. I would highly recommend this blend.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Tara 03
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
1-60 days
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2017 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Presented in long leathery flakes that exude a delicious freshly dried fig aroma. The blend of Vrirginas are supple and grassy sweet with notes of peat and a light dry citrus efervessence . The Dark fired Kentucky balances the blend with nuttiness, a mild woodsy background and date undertones, At times, I notice a spicy white pepper note from the African White Burley, quality is superb. Jar the long flakes as the tin may not maintain moisture level for long. Burns smooth and clean to a grey ash leaving very little moisture, requires few relights especially when rubbed out. Room note is pleasant. Solani’s 660 is a well enjoyed classic that ages well.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2017 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
I purchased a tin of Solani Silver Flake & Tropical Mango Flake at the same time. I didn't care much for the latter (and I'm an Aro guy) .... but boy oh boy do I like SSF! Excellent taste & aroma from this natural blend of high quality sweet & tangy Virginia Flake ... but the Dark Fired adds another dimension of depth to it. It somewhat reminds me of Rattray's HOTW (which I also enjoy) but with an added boost of earthy-woodsy flavor from the Kentucky. I'll be stocking up on more of this blend for sure.
Pipe Used:
Briar Canadians, Lovats, & Stacks
PurchasedFrom:
PipesandCigars.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 21, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Magik flake!!when you open it you get the citrus from the virginias.very easy to rub at right moisture thou it might need a few re lights.when smoking you get mostly the fruits and some spicyness from the darkfired kentucky in a really good balance.burns in balance and doesn't go hot if you go hard.it's a really unique combination with a light toping of whiskey i suppose which you dont get when you smoke it.you can start your day very pleasant and end it with this loend.defenitelly a must try!
Age When Smoked:
?fter 1 week
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2016 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I agree wholeheartedly with GentlemanZombie -- age truly does 660 justice. As with HOTW, I was thoroughly unimpressed straight out of the tin...seemed mediocre at best. After only 6 months in jars this has transformed into a totally different animal! So, as with HOTW, I'm glad I postponed this review for this blend to come of age a little.
I'm not certain what the proportions are here, but I'm leaning towards nearly 50/50 VA and Kentucky. Whatever it is, it works...works very, very well. That dark earl grey tea note that I love so much about Kentucky is right up front, letting you know its more than just a condiment along for the ride. Fantastic matured VAs are there, equally present with hints of sweetness and citrus. I love that the sweetness never becomes more than a whisper, clearly indicative that no topping is used. I also really dig the pleasant, mild nasal pinch from that DFK. No tongue bite whatsoever. Burns cleanly and evenly to fine powdered grey ash. Muy delicioso.
This is my first foray into Solani. As impressive as 660 is, I believe further experimentation will be necessary into their other offerings. Sublimely well done, and at a fair price point to boot. Just do it a favor...give it some age before you make up your mind. You won't be disappointed.
I'm not certain what the proportions are here, but I'm leaning towards nearly 50/50 VA and Kentucky. Whatever it is, it works...works very, very well. That dark earl grey tea note that I love so much about Kentucky is right up front, letting you know its more than just a condiment along for the ride. Fantastic matured VAs are there, equally present with hints of sweetness and citrus. I love that the sweetness never becomes more than a whisper, clearly indicative that no topping is used. I also really dig the pleasant, mild nasal pinch from that DFK. No tongue bite whatsoever. Burns cleanly and evenly to fine powdered grey ash. Muy delicioso.
This is my first foray into Solani. As impressive as 660 is, I believe further experimentation will be necessary into their other offerings. Sublimely well done, and at a fair price point to boot. Just do it a favor...give it some age before you make up your mind. You won't be disappointed.
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 03, 2014 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Kohlhase und Kopp makes high quality tobacco pipe, I knew that already.
Upon opening the tin and seeing the huge, long, wide flakes, I was impressed with the sight of the dark colours and the very natural, pure smell of unadulterated Virginia and Kentucky tobaccos.
The smell is a mixture of wheat fields (so earthy) and the mélange of different Virginias gives it a note of hay, citrus and sweet quince jam.
The humidity level is ideal for rubbing, filling and smoking without waiting and drying (SG should take note).
The tobacco lights like a charm (never had to relight), and I am caressed by the aromas of this magnificent pure American tobacco. Very cool smoke with a respectable N hit. The room note however is less than pleasant to the people around me.
I find this tobacco better than SG 1792 flake from every single aspect. Kudos to K&K for this magnificent blend.
Upon opening the tin and seeing the huge, long, wide flakes, I was impressed with the sight of the dark colours and the very natural, pure smell of unadulterated Virginia and Kentucky tobaccos.
The smell is a mixture of wheat fields (so earthy) and the mélange of different Virginias gives it a note of hay, citrus and sweet quince jam.
The humidity level is ideal for rubbing, filling and smoking without waiting and drying (SG should take note).
The tobacco lights like a charm (never had to relight), and I am caressed by the aromas of this magnificent pure American tobacco. Very cool smoke with a respectable N hit. The room note however is less than pleasant to the people around me.
I find this tobacco better than SG 1792 flake from every single aspect. Kudos to K&K for this magnificent blend.
Pipe Used:
Straight Bulldog by Piazzolla
PurchasedFrom:
Pipe-Shop.net
Age When Smoked:
1 year
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