Solani 660: Silver Flake

This is my first review and I am still new to pipe smoking. I have recently quit smoking cigarettes, and ventured into the pipe world to help placate the occasional outbursts of intermittent explosive disorder as a result of my recent reprieve from nicotine and an oral fixation. Be it scotch, cigars, wine, etc. I have never pretended to be a connoisseur. I don't pick up hints of this or images of that. I like what I like, and I can't always justify why. I like Silver Flake. I have smoked about a dozen or so mid to higher end blends (my dad has been gracious enough to provide many excellent samples to save me from the pitfalls of the uninitiated) and Solani Silver Flake is the one that keeps my attention the best. Silver Flake is strong enough to remind me that I pee standing up, but not too much to make the experience at all unpleasant. If you are new to pipe smoking I would strongly encourage you to get a tin of this.

Solani Silver Flake; I have had four bowls of this tobacco in the past few days in a Radice TB Oiled Bark Rhodesians, Bulldog, Prince and Bjarne Straight Grain Brandy. When first opening the 100 gram tin The aroma was Red Virginia in a flake about 2" wide two stacks side by side, the flakes were rather long but easily to shred apart. I did not rub the flakes out just folded and packed in the bowls. The color is a rich brown with streaks of light golden tobaccos. The first light of the bowl was more than I first expected as the taste was a full rich Red Virginia with a spicy taste of darkened Kentucky and to my surprise this lasted throughout the bowl as it just got better towards the end of the bowl. This is not recommended on an empty stomach as it does have a full Virginia strength, I will keep this is my rotation as a great tobacco, although this is not the same as Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky it does have a taste of its own. The Silver Flake will leave you with a great satisfaction of well rounded Red Virginia

Solani Silver Flake has a great true tobacco taste with a nice, subtle pure Virginia sweetness. The spicy note of the smoke is light and adds an excellent pleasure.

The colorful flakes pack and light easily. Offers a cool and long lasting smoke. The only disadvantage of the 100 gr tin is that it isn't vacuum sealed. So the aging of the this tobacco might be a problem.

Do not miss this fine blend. I will regularly keep a tin on the top shelf.

I smoked it straight after Golden Sliced Orlik Tobacco and I will probably be unjust to it.

It contains pure RED Virginia and Kentucky. The Virginia in this blend provides a natural sweetness and honestly a nice and discreet scent in the room. This scent is due to the whiskey which unnoticeably perfumes this smoke. The broken flakes are vividly colored.

The humidity content is perfect. To feel any tongue biting you will have to smoke very nervously. The mix comes in a non-vacuum packaging.

This is my first sampleing from Solani. I don't know if they have a better offering. Odd sized, hinged, tin with a gold foil bag of delious tobacco inside. The moisture content of the somewhat broken flakes inside come ready to smoke. I have smoked them as is, and fully rubbed out. Both are easy to load, light, and ENJOY. Full natural flavor, slightly sweet, and no bight will be had from this well balanced blend. Can be an "all day" smoke. It will be in my rotation for now, and I have to get more tins for the cellar. RATE * * * *

I want to thank this wonderful website and it's participants for recommending this blend to me. I've been a 633 fan for quite some time now and believe it or not I've never tried any of the other Solani tins! So I was ordering 4 100's of 633 from SmokingPipes.com and needed a tad more to get me over the $75 free shipping minimum and thought, why not?

All I can say, only partway through this wonderful tin of triumph, is THANKS !!!

It's Dunhill LF without the lemon tang...yum!

Smallish Aldo Valani bent billiard.

This is one of the few blends available here in China. I initially balked at its 200 Yuan, or $24.00 US price. I'm glad I trusted Mr Will's skills.

This is to pipe tobacco as Maker's Mark is to bourbon. A small batch, lovingly crafted, superb blend.

Be advised it has a nicotine kick.

And the best part is, the other half can tolerate the room note.

If I could give it 5 stars I would