Solani Silver Flake. Your thoughts???

[Growley]

Hey Brothers, I'm reaching out to you for your opinions on this flake. I got some quite a while back and was intrigued by it's name and cool packaging...even though functionally the packaging is terrible, in my opinion.

I inherently seem to want to like this stuff, but I'm not sure I'm recognizing all of what's in it. A lot of times, when I'm smoking something new, I'll read reviews to see what other people are finding in it that I might be missing. It helps me a lot actually.

Mine might be a bit dry, so I'm wondering if that's the culprit.

So, who's tried it, who likes it and why? And if you don't, why not?

I'd love to hear!

Brian.

 

[Brewdude]

Brian-

Yup, packaging is first rate *****. Spot on observation. Solution - jar up ASAP.

Moisture level - yes it's on the dry side. Much like PS blends such as Luxury Twist, Luxury Bullseye, Navy Flake, etc. This is a good thing for me. Just the right R/H IMO.

Oh, and I like it a lot. It's a bit on the subtle side, so keep that in mind. Not terribly complex, but interesting enough. I like it as the first bowl of the day kind of smoke.


HTH



Cheers,

RR

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I agree with the great Brewdude on this one. However, I find it to be just a tad stronger, definitely not what I would classify as a morning smoke but then again I don't have an iron-clad constitution when it comes to tobacco.

I will add that it ages magnificently, sweetening nicely and mellowing out some as well as the months go by.

R.L. Will claims that SF is completely unsweetened and only the sweetness of the tobacco itself is what you are experiencing. I think it has a remarkable flavor with a nice mellow spice note from the dark fired. It's a subtle one but I love it. Frankly it reminds me of blends like Embarcadero, where smoking it once or twice will never reveal its true potential. Also, it's one of the only tobaccos I have dedicated a pipe too.

As for the OEM tin? Um, It makes a good ashtray.  

 

[mark]

Great stuff. I like it. It tastes good. Packaging designed by an anti smoker.

 

[Brewdude]

I think it has a remarkable flavor with a nice mellow spice note from the dark fired. It's a subtle one but I love it. Frankly it reminds me of blends like Embarcadero, where smoking it once or twice will never reveal its true potential. Also, it's one of the only tobaccos I have dedicated a pipe too.

As for the OEM tin? Um, It makes a good ashtray.  

Well put D&B.


Cheers,

RR

 

[Growley]

Brian-

Yup, packaging is first rate *****. Spot on observation. Solution - jar up ASAP.

Moisture level - yes it's on the dry side. Much like PS blends such as Luxury Twist, Luxury Bullseye, Navy Flake, etc. This is a good thing for me. Just the right R/H IMO.

Oh, and I like it a lot. It's a bit on the subtle side, so keep that in mind. Not terribly complex, but interesting enough. I like it as the first bowl of the day kind of smoke.


HTH



Cheers,



RR

Yeah, I think it was the complexity I was wondering about. I'm getting a decent understanding, I think, of when a tobacco is complex and when it isn't, but It's pulling the complexities that I'm still picking up on. I guess I'll have to just keep smoking... I can't say I've got it mastered yet.  

Thanks for the responses.

 

[cigrmaster]

Silver Flake is one of my favorites and I have noticed that if it gets too dry, the flavors get lost. It comes ready to smoke and if you do not jar it right away it can dry out pretty quickly.

When it is at the proper humidity I get some nice honeyed, caramel type sweetness and some spiciness from the Kentucky. It has some red virginia in it which adds depth and over all it's one great blend. I would try re hydrating it to get some moisture back in and maybe some of the flavors will come back.

The packaging is an affront to humanity and I just do not understand why they do it. A while ago I bought 7 tins of 2002 Solani 633 in the 100 gram tins from a guy. When I got the tins I had no idea they were the 100 gram ones as I thought he was selling me the 50 gram tins. I was freaked out that the tobacco was going to be bone dry but when I opened the tins, the tobacco was packaged in a gold foil like wrapper and the tobacco was as moist as when fresh. Why they discontinued using that stuff I will never know. It kept the tobacco perfect for 11 years.

 

[Growley]

I just smoked some more tonight and it was quite dry. It still had decent flavor, mild but decent. I just put a humidifier in it to see what that does. It was a nice smoke though. It lit well and stayed lit for at least an hour. It ended up being a 2 hr smoke in one of my larger pipes.

 

[cigrmaster]

I would re humidify it by placing the tobacco in a shallow baking pan, spread it out real good and cover it with a wet dish towel soaked in purified or distilled water. Make sure the towel does not touch the tobacco. Using this method the tobacco will get re humidified much more evenly than using a disc and it will happen quicker.

 

[Growley]

Makes sense, I might have to give that a try. Thanks!

 

[cigrmaster]

My pleasure, let us know how you make out.

 

[ftrplt]

Latweed lover that I am, I ventured back into the world of Ginnyweed and Burley in 2011. Steve Monjure (Monjure International who imports the Solani blends) got me hooked on Solani Aged Burley Flake, then Virginia Flake at the Raleigh TAPS pipe show. Then last year, he suggested I try Silver Flake. Oh joy!!!!! I just love smoking this stuff, and the other two, in my clay's and my few dedicated Va/Burley briars. Yes, the packaging is an aberation; mine went immediately to the jar. While smoking SF, I just note pure sweet Ginnyweed! No particular flavoring that I can tell. It does have a "nutiness" and/or "spiciness" to it. I attribute this to the nature of the Ginnyweed. My wife has noted that SF has a "nice" aroma!! Can't ask for more than that!!!:lol: FTRPLT

Whoops!! Forgot to mention...Moisture level is just fine for me. Have not noticed any dryness. Seems about right, lights evenly, and has no bite (smoken slowly as with most all Ginnyweeds!!)

 

[cigrmaster]

ftrplt, if you enjoy a good Virginia/Perique blend Solani 633 is a very nice one. It is one of the only Vapers I have smoked that when aged, the perique gets stronger and not mellower like Escudo and others.

Also since it sounds like you are a fan of R.Will he made a Virginia flake for Brigham called Klondike Gold and it is delicious. It comes aged 2-3 years in the tin and you can taste that fact. It is my favorite new flake over taking Capstan Blue flake for that honor.

 

[ftrplt]

ftrplt, if you enjoy a good Virginia/Perique blend Solani 633 is a very nice one. It is one of the only Vapers I have smoked that when aged, the perique gets stronger and not mellower like Escudo and others.

Also since it sounds like you are a fan of R.Will he made a Virginia flake for Brigham called Klondike Gold and it is delicious.  It comes aged 2-3 years in the tin and you can taste that fact. It is my favorite new flake over taking Capstan Blue flake for that honor.

I thank you muchly for the info. 633 is on my buy/try list. Mr. Will does have a way with Ginnyweed!! The KG sounds interesting. I'll have to try it!! Best regards, FTRPLT

 

[Slartibartfast]

I do still enjoy the 660, but ever since Greg gave us the JackKnife plug I've tended to reach for it instead. Similar flavours to my taste but they're just bigger in the JKP, if that makes sense. Still a top quality smoke IMO but one that seems to spend more time in my mason jars than in my pipes these days.

Newminster Superior Round Slices is yet another interesting variation on the theme - only it's a fair bit more DFK-forward than either 660 or JKP. It's OK fresh but I've got high hopes for this one with a few more years on it.

:cheers:  :cheers:  :cheers: 

 

[Blackhorse]

To me, Silver Flake is one of the best of any, anywhere. It's one of the first I smoked that was serious tobacco, and it still has an honored place. What I like is the moderate progression of flavors as the bowl smokes down. It doesn't get extreme...just moderately more strong. Excellent flavors, good manners. I find that even fairly dry it does well for me. Just so long as it's not to the point where it cracks instead of bends. I put this one in the FVF/Stonehaven flavor group...but that's my own designation. Not one of the good ones...one of the BEST ones!

 

[cigrmaster]

ftrplt, my pleasure. Let us know when you try them, I have a strong feeling you are going to enjoy both. R.Will in my opinion is a genius blender, year after year, tin after tin, his blends never cease to impress me. His consistency and use of high quality leaf makes him one of the best for my tastes.

Slartibartfast, I find the Jackknife plug to be a much smokier, meatier blend than Silver Flake, I liken it more towards Mac Baren Old Dark Fired which I enjoy more due to it's being a sweeter blend. For my tastes the Jackknife lacks the sweetness I prefer in my blends. I do smoke JK on occasion as a change of pace type blend.

Blackhorse, I totally agree that Silver Flake is one of the best blends out there. I like that is does have good manners as you say and is not an in your face over powering smoke. The nicotine levels are moderate and does not need to be smoked on a full stomach like some of my Virginia/Burley blends. It is the only blend that has red virginia as a component that I can smoke as all the others bite me due to my body chemistry issue with the reds.

 

[whiderwarde]

Yes, that packaging... I'm a big fan of 633 and bought it once in the 100g tin. I'm one who likes to control my moisture levels (or at least feel like I am, even when I'm actually burning hot because I was too impatient to let my tobacco dry). The way I see it, moist tobacco can be dried; dry tobacco can only ever be incompletely revitalized. For this reason, I've never tried 660, even thought my all time favorite is Old Gowrie, which includes some Kentucky, which is what I'm (slowly) realizing I love about it.
The other options listed above (Klondike Gold and Jackknife) intrigue me greatly. Although, I have a feeling they won't contain KY as subtly as Old Gowrie...am I right? I tend to think of Old Gowrie as a straight VA with benefits.

 

[Northern Neil]

I really like the sample of Silver Flake I tried, so I purchased 200 grams for the cellar. I heeded peoples warnings from this site and transfered from the tin to a mason jar upon arrival. Can't wait to smoke this again with a little age on it!

 

[cigrmaster]

whiderwarde, Klondike Gold is a straight Virginia with no Kentucky. if you have not tired it yet Mac Baren Old Dark fired is one of my top three Vaburs along with Stonehaven and Silver Flake. It is also priced very well being it comes in 3.5 ounce tins. ODF to my tastes is the tobacco that is most similar to Stonehaven.