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 1 - 10 of 29 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
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 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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I get mostly the lighter and sweeter VAs, some Red, and just hints of the Kentucky. Unlike some, I did not find any real topping, attributing the possible taste to the hints of Red VA. Overall, a nice but not overly complex or interesting flake, the kind to try if you're looking to find that pleasant multiple-pipe a day blend.
Pipe Used:
briars, cobs, and meers
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
1 month after purchase
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is a real tobacco taste, sweet, grassy, woodsy, smokey follows with a nice floral taste at my palate. I'm not a fans of burley or Kentucky if smoke it straight without mixed with other tobaccos. Had some experiences when I smoke straight aged burley and I don't like it. It doesn't please me up and just a dull taste for me, but this blend is quite good and nice. Of course this blend has a good tin notes and sight. The tin note is smells so good, a mature virginia follows with baked bread scent. Easy to pack and light, found no difficult to keep the light. The smokes is quite great, not hard to draw, not too much moist and I'm enjoying a cool and dry smoking time, and the dominant taste are smokey baked bread, floral sweetness, follows with grassy sweet virginia and it far different with others burleys, I don't found earthy taste that I usually found from burleys. I think this blend use a lot kentucky burley so it almost dominant the taste so I don't really like it to be my favorite, but for those whose really love Burleys, I will recommend this blend.
Pipe Used:
Comoy Tradition 36
PurchasedFrom:
Indonesian Local Tobacconist
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Unnoticeable |
I was given a nice 18-inch-long flake of this from a friend of mine at the club. I tore off a couple of inches and twisted it and put it into one of my pipes I use for Virginias, a Altinay Poker Meerschaum. It was sticking up about a good half of an inch out of the bowl so I did what any good pipe smoker would do. I took some scissors and cut it off like it was grass and returned the unused portion back into its zip lock bag. The first quarter of the bowl I could detect what I thought to be the Red Virginias. Red Virginias just have a particular taste that I recognize as I have smoked some straight Red Virginias in the past. About half-way the sweetness dissipated and though okay did not taste as good as first lighting up. This puts out a lot of smoke. I have read more than one review talking about there might be a Whiskey casing or topping on this one but I really could not detect it. A good 3-star blend.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 29, 2020 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Smooth unassuming elegance.. This flake, along with 633 are 2 examples of very refined and well put together virginias.. Very consistent throughout the bowl.. This blend has the medium and bright virginia character with just a hint of Kentucky to spice it up.. The Kentucky is not the smokey barbecue type at all.. just kind of a light spice and earthy body that melds right into the virginia flavor.. I have never noticed the Kentucky take over during the smoke.. it is used kind of like perique is to mildly accent and gently shift the character of the smoke but more to enhance the main show.. it is a nice mellow medium smoke with no fireworks.. but it is so well done that it makes you appreciate it and contemplate on it.. At the moment it is only an occasional smoke (oddly I always enjoy it but rarely crave it).. I would recommend it even if you dont like Kentucky.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2015 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I can only give this 3 stars because... well, I just didn't enjoy it that much. Quality is super high, and if stronger, less sweet va/pers are your thing, you might like it a bunch.
Same flake style as Reiner Long Golden - huge floppy strips, lovely quality. In the pipe, a little spice and a good backbone from the kentucky, and a smooth red virginia. I'd like a little more sweetness in the blend, I find this a little austere. I think a more "serious" smoker would enjoy this a lot.
Same flake style as Reiner Long Golden - huge floppy strips, lovely quality. In the pipe, a little spice and a good backbone from the kentucky, and a smooth red virginia. I'd like a little more sweetness in the blend, I find this a little austere. I think a more "serious" smoker would enjoy this a lot.
Pipe Used:
Castello
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 14, 2020 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
Solani has a wide range in a limited number of offerings. All of them are top rate, even if some are not for me. I am not the biggest fan of Burley or Dark Fired Kentucky in general but there are a few blends that showcases these leaves in a way that makes me take note. Uhle and Peretti seem to have my kind of Burley. DFK I like, among a few others, HH Vintage Syrian, Three Nuns and now Silver Flake. The leaf Solani uses is first rate. The Virginia’s area sweet and earthy at the same time. Bread, and some hay like notes are also present here and there. The DFK gives some tang, spice and richness, maybe a sour hint from time to time. I only find one problem with this blend; I don’t know where if fits in my rotation. I think I have landed on “warm weather smoke”, probably in the evening when temperature drops and after dinner, come winter I dont’ know where to put it. I purchased this several months ago and played around with it in the colder months but with the warm weather I have hit it several times, at first just so I could write down my thoughts on the blend. I do think it has a place and wish I could say it is a year round smoke but I can see this fading into the cabinet once it gets cold.
Pipe Used:
Briar’s and cob’s
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Here we have another good German produced flake. To my palate it was slightly sweet and spicy. Very good. The flake came in a long folded strip in a plastic pouch (in a tin). It lit well, and offered a long, relatively cool smoke. I liked this flake a lot, and will be smoking it throughout the summer.
It reminded me a little bit of Reiner LGF (in both taste, and presentation). Those who enjoy a more natural style of tobacco in flake form will like this one (BTW it also went very well with an Atwater Brewery Vanilla Java Porter).
I'll give it a strong three stars (3.75—I always round down).
Recommended.
Keep on Piping!
It reminded me a little bit of Reiner LGF (in both taste, and presentation). Those who enjoy a more natural style of tobacco in flake form will like this one (BTW it also went very well with an Atwater Brewery Vanilla Java Porter).
I'll give it a strong three stars (3.75—I always round down).
Recommended.
Keep on Piping!
Pipe Used:
My trusty Nording freehand
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2012 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
Finally ordered some Silver Flake for a new Stanwell Vario billiard. Beautiful presentation in the cellophane bag (wrapped that in a zip lock for storage in its tin). Very little by the way of tin aroma, just a mild smelling tobacco. Nice, pliable leaf that loaded and lit very readily. I notice a slight spiciness to the tongue but no true bite. It smoked very cool and was overall mild for an offering that has Kentucky Burley. It reminded me the most of MacBaren's Stocton, but with way less sweetness or "Kentucky kick," with Virginia taste being more like Wessex's Gold Brick. The spiciness of the Kentucky leaf became more apparent toward mid bowl but was never over the top. Can't say this will ever become my one of my favorites as a solo entity since it is way too mild and with very little taste, but I like the way the end result of the blending takes away that Virginia grassiness that I am not a big fan of. I like to mix it with Aged Burley Flake for a fuller smoke. All in all, if you like milder Virginias with subtleness and no bite I can recommend this without reservation.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 25, 2007 | Strong | Medium | Full | Strong |
This one is fun! I originally bought this because I like 633 and I've been smoking a lot of Blackpoint lately and I thought... well - just maybe...???? ...and you know what? I was right! This is great stuff - no Perique (whine!) but the air-cured Kentucky leaf is plenty strong enough to make up for it - and then some! I can load up a huge bowl of this (like J.M.Boswell- size'o-your-fist-Dublin kinda huge!) and work up a real good sweat just getting an ember going in the bowl (I tamp that thing with a carriage bolt!) and then just kick up and pooof away with it like some kinda freakin' beach bonfire. I really love this stuff at the end of a long day with a good, hearty ale. It's strong, yeah, but still sweet from the Virginias, and smoooooooth like you wouldn't believe - but still a mite tingly on the nose like a good Perique might be ('cept it don't last all that long). I believe this has the same topping on the Virginias that the 633 has - not objectionable, but definitely noticeable and still kinda waaaay too European-sweet smelling in the bag when you first open it up - which is weird because I think 633 smells just about heavenly in the bag - but the Kentucky leaf kinda makes it too much of a good thing, I guess. It gets three stars for being such an almost perfect smoke WITHOUT having any Perique.
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