Disclaimer: I am a new smoker with relatively little experience. Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, but do not let that discredit my opinions about this tobacco.
Today I will be talking about the Aged Burley Flake by Solani. This tin is my second one, and I will be explaining why it is so.
Solani, from what I read, is not a very old brand. However it has earned itself a good reputation for having high quality tobacco with very good blends.
It was blended by R.L. Will, and is being produced by Kohlhase & Kopp. I could find it very easily at several different stores in Amsterdam, and I am sure it will not be difficult to anywhere else in Europe. However, I am not sure about its availability in the States.
It is a very straightforward burley blend (as a mixture of light burley from Brazil, dark brown burley from Kentucky, and white burley from Malawi) with 'no flavouring' that comes in 50 gram (1.76 oz) tins.
This is how it looks when you first open the tin (and break off some flakes, I could not help myself). The smell that greets you is highly reminiscent of cocoa (hence me quoting 'no flavouring'), but it is very mild and certainly does not overpower the rest burley by any means. I think that the cocoa and burley pairing is just wonderful, and it leaves a very nice cocoa aftertaste.
Kohlhase & Kopp states also on their website that it has a chocolate aroma. Yet, although it is slightly 'tinted' it really does not lose at all from the natural tobacco taste.
It is noted that "a unique toasting process to enhance the natural sweetness of this blend" and that "no sugar has been added." In my personal experience there certainly is a slight sweetness to it, but do not let that discourage you if you are not into sweeter blends because it really adds to ABF's unique taste with the cocoa.
Moisture content of the flakes is right at the level where you can roll them into plugs and immediately smoke, but some of you may want to aerate it for half an hour or so beforehand. I made the mistake of letting the last ten or so grams of my first tin dry out too much. Did not lose much taste or flavour, but the moisture is what makes a flake.
I said a lot of cocoa, but in all seriousness I think it is what makes this blend very special.
A closeup of the flakes show the different burleys, and it really is one pretty looking mixture.
Well then, why is it my second tin? I talked about what it is, how it looks, and how it smells -- but what about when you actually smoke it?
Lighting it is very easy and it ends up burning cool, slow, and dry with a warm smoke. You may have to relight it a bit more often than ribbon cut tobacco.
As I noted before the taste is just amazing, and what is even better is how consistent it stays throughout the bowl. You will not have to dump the bottom because it does not get sour. Its aftertaste is also very pleasant, and I would suggest that if you get your hands on some strong sweet licorice or dark chocolate, just smoke some and then have some. I noticed that you guys do not really like snacking while smoking, but I think these two accompany it very nicely.
With regards to the nicotine content, I would say that it is more than enough for you to feel it, but nothing that is going to knock you out (which is something Irish Flake did for me after two full bowls in my small pipe, judge for yourself).
By tobacco reviewing conventions, I would go on with;
Medium strength,
Extremely mild flavouring (that is just the cocoa topping and the slight sweetness that apparently is not added),
Medium to full taste,
and a pleasant room note.
I strongly recommend this to anybody who enjoys straight burley blends. With its mild sweetness and cocoa topping, it just is the perfect everyday smoke for me.
You can get it for $11.45 at Pipes and Cigars or for $11.75 at 4noggins. I got this tin for 14.50€ (tax-stamped) from P.G.C. Hajenius in Amsterdam, and I am certain I will be ordering online from now on in greater quantities.
Enjoy! :puffpipe:
Today I will be talking about the Aged Burley Flake by Solani. This tin is my second one, and I will be explaining why it is so.
Solani, from what I read, is not a very old brand. However it has earned itself a good reputation for having high quality tobacco with very good blends.
It was blended by R.L. Will, and is being produced by Kohlhase & Kopp. I could find it very easily at several different stores in Amsterdam, and I am sure it will not be difficult to anywhere else in Europe. However, I am not sure about its availability in the States.
It is a very straightforward burley blend (as a mixture of light burley from Brazil, dark brown burley from Kentucky, and white burley from Malawi) with 'no flavouring' that comes in 50 gram (1.76 oz) tins.
This is how it looks when you first open the tin (and break off some flakes, I could not help myself). The smell that greets you is highly reminiscent of cocoa (hence me quoting 'no flavouring'), but it is very mild and certainly does not overpower the rest burley by any means. I think that the cocoa and burley pairing is just wonderful, and it leaves a very nice cocoa aftertaste.
Kohlhase & Kopp states also on their website that it has a chocolate aroma. Yet, although it is slightly 'tinted' it really does not lose at all from the natural tobacco taste.
It is noted that "a unique toasting process to enhance the natural sweetness of this blend" and that "no sugar has been added." In my personal experience there certainly is a slight sweetness to it, but do not let that discourage you if you are not into sweeter blends because it really adds to ABF's unique taste with the cocoa.
Moisture content of the flakes is right at the level where you can roll them into plugs and immediately smoke, but some of you may want to aerate it for half an hour or so beforehand. I made the mistake of letting the last ten or so grams of my first tin dry out too much. Did not lose much taste or flavour, but the moisture is what makes a flake.
I said a lot of cocoa, but in all seriousness I think it is what makes this blend very special.
A closeup of the flakes show the different burleys, and it really is one pretty looking mixture.
Well then, why is it my second tin? I talked about what it is, how it looks, and how it smells -- but what about when you actually smoke it?
Lighting it is very easy and it ends up burning cool, slow, and dry with a warm smoke. You may have to relight it a bit more often than ribbon cut tobacco.
As I noted before the taste is just amazing, and what is even better is how consistent it stays throughout the bowl. You will not have to dump the bottom because it does not get sour. Its aftertaste is also very pleasant, and I would suggest that if you get your hands on some strong sweet licorice or dark chocolate, just smoke some and then have some. I noticed that you guys do not really like snacking while smoking, but I think these two accompany it very nicely.
With regards to the nicotine content, I would say that it is more than enough for you to feel it, but nothing that is going to knock you out (which is something Irish Flake did for me after two full bowls in my small pipe, judge for yourself).
By tobacco reviewing conventions, I would go on with;
Medium strength,
Extremely mild flavouring (that is just the cocoa topping and the slight sweetness that apparently is not added),
Medium to full taste,
and a pleasant room note.
I strongly recommend this to anybody who enjoys straight burley blends. With its mild sweetness and cocoa topping, it just is the perfect everyday smoke for me.
You can get it for $11.45 at Pipes and Cigars or for $11.75 at 4noggins. I got this tin for 14.50€ (tax-stamped) from P.G.C. Hajenius in Amsterdam, and I am certain I will be ordering online from now on in greater quantities.
Enjoy! :puffpipe:
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