Private Cellar: 2022 Solani no.779 English Mixture

Solani 779 is a medium-to-strong English mixture of several Virginias, a generous share of Orientals, and Latakia. It comes in a short crimp cut and can smell surprisingly sweet or fruity in the tin, while its smoking character is drier, spicier, and more robust. The Orientals give it much of its aromatic complexity; Latakia adds smoke without erasing the Virginia foundation. Compared with a softer morning English blend, 779 is more assertive and tart. A 2022 tin may have allowed those elements to settle together, provided its seal and storage have been good.