Solani 656 Aged Burley Flake: Myth or Legend?

[MRW]

GL Pease states that Burley is still Burley. Since it has essentially no sugar in it, there's nothing to ferment. Sure, the flavours meld and mellow, but the stuff really doesn't change character much. G.L. Pease, 1998-07-09 (revised 2003-12-23). My question therefore is this; Is this simply a well-played marketing ploy from Kohlhase & Kopp or is there something to this blend? I have my own personal thoughts but would love to hear yours.

 

[pantsBoots]

There's something unique about it, for sure, though whether it's the age, the constituent tobaccos, or the pretty label, I cannot say. I love the stuff, personally.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Myth or ledgen? I'm not sure what the difference is... even if you meant "legend." But there is a difference between aged and fermented. And, I would never put 100% assurance on the words of Greg Pease, whom I hold in high regards. I just don't deem him the highest authority on tobaccos. I respect the hell out of him, and he probably knows shot loads more than me, but I am not even sure what context these words play from. But...

There are lots of different burleys. And, the differences between Varieties that we pipesmokers call Virginias and burleys is merely marketing. In books regarding the actual botanical aspect of tobacco, there are no differences. It is fair to say that there is "more" sugars in "Virginias," but to say that there is none at all in burleys is probably not 100% accurate. I can pull some sweetness out of some varieties of burley, that I know has not been cased.

If you look at the discovery of "flue curing" what later became deemed "bright leaf" and then marketed to pipemokers as "Virginias" was a burley cultivated in the worst soils know to agriculture, the Virginia and Carolina lowlands, sandy and nutrient deprived. It was accidental that this poorly cultivated burley was made sweeter by turning the starches to sugars with heat. Many in the tobacco farming side, don't even consider there to be any differences between these new cultivars.

 

[Chasing Embers]

ledgend

Huh?

 

[sandollars]

It's all MYTH! It's TERRIBLE!!!! DO NOT BUY THIS STUFF!


Seriously,

It's is one of my all-time staples and I love it. If I have only 4 blends open, this will be one of them.

I don't concern myself with if the Aged portion is Myth or Legend, just that it's the bomb...

 

[tmcg81]

I enjoy ABF quite a bit but it has become increasingly difficult to find. I have a few tins stashed away for a rainy day, but I find myself reaching for MacBaren HH Burley Flake more often than the Solani. It's still a nice treat for me when I have the time to properly dry the tobacco and then sit and smoke it for a while.

 

[kcghost]

I absolutely hate burley.

 

[MRW]

I absolutely hate burley.

THIS we know

 

[MRW]

Myth or ledgen? I'm not sure what the difference is... even if you meant "legend." But there is a difference between aged and fermented. And, I would never put 100% assurance on the words of Greg Pease, whom I hold in high regards. I just don't deem him the highest authority on tobaccos. I respect the hell out of him, and he probably kno shot loads more than me, but I am not even sure what context these words play from. But...

There are lots of different burleys. And, the differences between Varieties that we pipesmokers call Virginias and burleys is merely marketing. In books regarding the actual botanical aspect of tobacco, there are no differences. It is fair to say that there is "more" sugars in "Virginias," but to say that there is none at all in burleys is probably not 100% accurate. I can pull some sweetness out of some varieties of burley, that I know has not been cased.

If you look at the discovery of "flue curing" what later became deemed "bright leaf" and then marketed to pipemokers as "Virginias" was a burley cultivated in the worst soils know to agriculture, the Virginia and Carolina lowlands, sandy and nutrient deprived. It was accidental that this poorly cultivated burley was made sweeter by turning the starches to sugars with heat. Many in the tobacco farming side, don't even consider there to be any differences between these new cultivars.

English is not my native language. I so sorry

 

[clynch]

I'm trying to learn Burleys. Just got Granger. Talk about sublime. First impression is very mild and not terribly moist but I still prefer a good drying. After a month or so I'll try one of these other, for lack of a better term. design Burleys like Solani

 

[verporchting]

Pure speculation here so take it for whatever it’s worth up to and including nothing, but …

I suspect the aged part is something inherent to the production of this flake and that’s what makes it special. I say this because I’ve not experienced burley getting better with age in my cellar but this stuff is special right out of the tin.

That’s my totally unscientific postulation for the day. You’re welcome, lol.

 

[Peter Turbo]

great blend, its knocked me on my ass a couple times. i love the flavor and tin note.

 

[sandollars]

I enjoy ABF quite a bit but it has become increasingly difficult to find. I have a few tins stashed away for a rainy day, but I find myself reaching for MacBaren HH Burley Flake more often than the Solani. It's still a nice treat for me when I have the time to properly dry the tobacco and then sit and smoke it for a while.

HH Burley Flake is excellent too. Much cheaper also.

 

[fireground_piper]

Pure speculation here so take it for whatever it’s worth up to and including nothing, but …

I suspect the aged part is something inherent to the production of this flake and that’s what makes it special. I say this because I’ve not experienced burley getting better with age in my cellar but this stuff is special right out of the tin.

That’s my totally unscientific postulation for the day. You’re welcome, lol.

Looking at the tobacco review description, and assuming it’s generally accurate, I’d say that’s pretty on point.

With that in mind, I would position the blend as an “aged burley” flake vs an aged “burley flake”. It mentions a toasting process developed for the blend.

 

[Ahi Ka]

You want to try aged burley? Go grab a log of tambolaka

 

[anotherbob]

Sorry but the initial statement is missing a great deal of context. What is the difference between change and aging? If I remember the initial article correctly. What he's saying is if you put your burly based blend in a cellar for ten years expecting something magical to happen, it will not. It will mellow out and possibly be much more enjoyable. But the thing is a VA that's been cellared for even two years can be quite a different beast then what you put in the jar. A burly is going to be the same beast with blunter teeth (so to speak). In the context of an article about aging tobacco and cellaring suddenly the initial statement makes more sense. You might like what you get more with an aged burly but it's not going to be an adventure and not going to give the same type of reward to your patience.
So to answer your question they could have said it was a mellow burly flake or aged and it would pretty much be the same info.
And finally anything "aged" without a number doesn't mean all that much at least nothing specific.

 

[Ahi Ka]

On the flip side, I’ve noticed air cured (and fermented/kilned) burley in the short term to “age better” than flue cured leaf. Possibly due to the temperature of the flue killing some enzymes. I’ve also found stoving and pressing burley to result in significant immediate change in flavour profiles. I’ve also found the inclusion of burleys to enhance the flavour of other components in the blend, subjective of course as I prefer burley leaf, but even when only mixed in at 10% I find it makes the rest shine rather than becoming a dominant flavour (much like condimental use of perique).

i enjoyed the ABF, but I gave my tin away after 3 smokes. I totally understand both the excitement of this blend, as well as the “meh” response by others. I wonder aloud whether this blend is less forgiving than others when it comes to pairing with our distinctive pH preferences, and wallet sizes.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Yeah its definitely ?. Send it to @sandollars for proper disposal. ?️

 

[SmokeRings79]

I really like ABF. It tastes great, and has one of the best tin notes I've ever smelled. If I remember correctly, it is made from several types of burleys. Maybe aging results in a more married flavour. Maybe it is only marketing. In the end what matters is if you enjoy it or not, even if it's not made out of rare leaves which were harvested by virgins on a full moon.

 

[verporchting]

Looking at the tobacco review description, and assuming it’s generally accurate, I’d say that’s pretty on point.

With that in mind, I would position the blend as an “aged burley” flake vs an aged “burley flake”. It mentions a toasting process developed for the blend.

Toasted burley flake makes more sense to me and I get something rich from the taste. I’m going with that.