In one of my rarer moments, I decided to smoke something from the cellar. While pulling the tab on a fresh tub of Granger (love that sound) —I took a moment to look through some opened “premium” tins. — you know —the ones I seldom smoke.
Decided to revisit Solani ABF. Nice interior packaging, Solani. I kept the flakes within a zip-lock bag with the air squeezed out and folded unceremoniously within it’s tin. —It’s not high tech, but it’s been years and the flakes remain moist and fragrant. Tin note is mouthwatering, Solani, and the flakes are beautiful to behold.
I opted to create a granger-like rough-cut by taking scissors to a single flake. I further rubbed out the cubes and placed them into the mid-day sun for 20 minutes to dry a bit.
Hmmmm? What to smoke it in??? Garage cabinet had nothing pristine-clean but my eyes caught two unsmoked MM Country Gentleman cobs. Ahhh, these will do!
I loaded one with the Solani and to my delight, that single Flake provided a perfect fill for the width and depth of the MM Country Gent.
While testing the draw, I could taste a sweetness in the ABF. I don’t know how much of that to attribute to the new cob. —I should’ve tasted the draw of the empty cob first. Live n Learn.
Upon initial lighting and during the ensuing expansion of the cubes, I enjoyed a gentle sweetness. A neutral sweetness. No perceptible flavors, only a light, sweet-taste suspended in a very whispy and light-bodied smoke. For a burley, this has no rough spots. Retrohale is mild and I can detect a faint cocoa. I smoked a third of the bowl with absolutely no change. It’s pleasant, easy-going but…boring. I have to do something and fast!
Should I compare it to Granger? —No. I’ve done that before and the Granger beat the pants off of ABF. (I’m a bit biased. I uh, like Granger). Nope. I filled the other unsmoked cob with with C&D’s Pegasus. —But not before drawing on the empty cob first. Guess what? The sweetness is there. Same neutral sweetness as I experienced drawing on the unlit Solani. Uh ohhh, Solani.
As soon as I lit the Pegasus, a comparable flavor explosion ensued! One doesn’t have to look hard to find the flavor in Pegasus. (I’m a bit biased. Uh. I like Pegasus) — That aside, there’s a genuine depth to Pegasus that the wimpy Solani cannot match. There’s a creaminess to Pegasus, a substantial mouthfeel and depth. Comparing the two I can feel the difference in body. There’s an initial roughness on retro with Pegasus, which I know from experience will mellow on the true light. But my word, the flavor present in Pegasus as well as the wonderful side-stream is euphoric. Comparing ABF to Pegasus is like Jello vs Ice cream. Nothing wrong with Jello, but I’ll take the ice cream, please.
Back and forth between the bowls I go. I’m sorry Solani. I’m sure you are a favorite for many, and rightly so. You’re mild and lightly flavored and a quite pleasant smoke, but you’re not my cup of tea.
Pegasus? I need more than a pound of you!
Decided to revisit Solani ABF. Nice interior packaging, Solani. I kept the flakes within a zip-lock bag with the air squeezed out and folded unceremoniously within it’s tin. —It’s not high tech, but it’s been years and the flakes remain moist and fragrant. Tin note is mouthwatering, Solani, and the flakes are beautiful to behold.
I opted to create a granger-like rough-cut by taking scissors to a single flake. I further rubbed out the cubes and placed them into the mid-day sun for 20 minutes to dry a bit.
Hmmmm? What to smoke it in??? Garage cabinet had nothing pristine-clean but my eyes caught two unsmoked MM Country Gentleman cobs. Ahhh, these will do!
I loaded one with the Solani and to my delight, that single Flake provided a perfect fill for the width and depth of the MM Country Gent.
While testing the draw, I could taste a sweetness in the ABF. I don’t know how much of that to attribute to the new cob. —I should’ve tasted the draw of the empty cob first. Live n Learn.
Upon initial lighting and during the ensuing expansion of the cubes, I enjoyed a gentle sweetness. A neutral sweetness. No perceptible flavors, only a light, sweet-taste suspended in a very whispy and light-bodied smoke. For a burley, this has no rough spots. Retrohale is mild and I can detect a faint cocoa. I smoked a third of the bowl with absolutely no change. It’s pleasant, easy-going but…boring. I have to do something and fast!
Should I compare it to Granger? —No. I’ve done that before and the Granger beat the pants off of ABF. (I’m a bit biased. I uh, like Granger). Nope. I filled the other unsmoked cob with with C&D’s Pegasus. —But not before drawing on the empty cob first. Guess what? The sweetness is there. Same neutral sweetness as I experienced drawing on the unlit Solani. Uh ohhh, Solani.
As soon as I lit the Pegasus, a comparable flavor explosion ensued! One doesn’t have to look hard to find the flavor in Pegasus. (I’m a bit biased. Uh. I like Pegasus) — That aside, there’s a genuine depth to Pegasus that the wimpy Solani cannot match. There’s a creaminess to Pegasus, a substantial mouthfeel and depth. Comparing the two I can feel the difference in body. There’s an initial roughness on retro with Pegasus, which I know from experience will mellow on the true light. But my word, the flavor present in Pegasus as well as the wonderful side-stream is euphoric. Comparing ABF to Pegasus is like Jello vs Ice cream. Nothing wrong with Jello, but I’ll take the ice cream, please.
Back and forth between the bowls I go. I’m sorry Solani. I’m sure you are a favorite for many, and rightly so. You’re mild and lightly flavored and a quite pleasant smoke, but you’re not my cup of tea.
Pegasus? I need more than a pound of you!
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