Battle of the SP

S.G.SP# 1 High Mill is my favorite, but Snuffstore Traditional is a close 2nd, followed by all the rest, which I also like very much. 

Update: Today I opened a tin of Gawith Hoggarth SP, included in my most recent order. Wow is all I can say! Really good, with a bergamot-like scent, but not quite…whatever it is, it’s nice. Tobacco is smooth(pause to pinch), rather fluffy, slightly moist. I kind of sad that in all my years of snuffing, I’ve never tried it before. Has anyone else tried this? 

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Not me - but there’s many I have yet to try. I’ve not tried McC SP, SG SP No1 or High Mill, Toque Original, or several of the WoS ones that have just disappeared. I do have a tin of each of the four remaining WoS SPs, (Best SP, Tom Buck, Gold Label, and SP100) and may do a side by side review of them all at some point.

Just picked up some SG Kendal Sp No1. High Mill I may be partial at the moment though this would be my favorite SP

I just opened a tin of Gold Label, never tried it before. Very good snuff. It’s medium brown, slightly moist, reminds me of Covent Mature Crumbled. There are a lot of really good SPs, I like to use them all, and they are all different. Some within brands, like WoS, are pretty similar, but others, like SG No.1 HIgh Mill, are totally different. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I recently opened a tin of G. Hoggarth SP, and found it also different than any of the others I’ve tried. And I almost forgot to mention Abraxas St. Casura. It’s another one that is distinctly different from the others. I recommend everyone to try if, if you haven’t already. To me, it’s just about impossible to pick one, above all others, because every single one is good in its own way. Some have more bregamot, more citrus, etc, while others have less. I also think we each experience scents differently. I’ve read lots of reviews of many snuffs, and I usually find that my own nose sort of picks up things differently, to a degree. Of course, particular scents, like spearmint, or to a lesser degree, apricot, I mostly find myself in agreement with other people’s reviews and perceptions.

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Toque Best SP WoS Gold Label SG - all of their SPs And SP-like snuff; F&T Bordeaux Toque Berwick Brown WoS Best Dark

I’m trying to find my favourite SP so that I can buy bulk. So far I like them in this order, but it keeps changing:

  1. Covent Mature Crumbled, turpentine mothballs

  2. J&H Wilson Top Mill No.1, creamy

  3. WoS Best SP, tobacco taste

  4. WoS SP100, fluffy

  5. J&H Wilsons SP No.1, nutty

I didn’t enjoy compiling this list as much as I thought I would. This website says we should not put our snuff experience into words, instead we must focus on the thoughts and energy released by the medicine. 

Toque SP extra for me

I’m just not getting the whole SP thing.  Of the ones mentioned here, I’ve had WoS Gold Label and F&T Bordeaux - and to me they are nothing alike.  Can someone explain what makes them both SPs?  Is it like “whisky” which encompasses Islay, Irish, and Bourbon which taste nothing alike?    :-/

@Chico - You may have answered your own question there.

Whiskey is defined by the process and not the outcome. I suppose with SPs it’s a similar thing. Usually fine and dry, with a bergamot or other citric note (varying strengths) but not always. There are no rules about what kind of tobacco is used, or what other scents are allowed to be present. I’ve had some dark, musky snuffs called SPs, and I’ve had some very refined and delicate perfumed snuffs called SPs. Maybe it’s a top shelf vs bottom shelf thing, like with the whiskeys. There may be more extremes within whiskeys than SPs.

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@cpmcdill - thanks.  I guess it takes practice and experience.  I can tell the difference between the whisky types, and between them and rum or whatever… but sure couldn’t classify an SP.

@Chico personally I’d compare an SP to a Gin than a Whiskey. Very loosely defined though needs to have certain ingredients to be called a Gin. With an SP that would be the Citrus and Bergamot, as you would have Juniper with Gin. Though you can have additional scents ontop of this and its still deemed an SP, as the same with Gin.

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I’d like to add an unsung hero to the list, Wilson’s Gold Label. Nice leathery base tobacco that always reminds me of an antique store (in a good way), bergamot, and… Is it lemon? I just can’t tell. It’s like a “brighter” SP Best.

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  1. SG SP Scotch, which is not quite a “normal” SP, nor a Scotch, but a wonderful hybrid.

  2. Gawith Hoggarth SP. It has a scent no other SP has, but it’s familiar and very good.

  3. WoS Gold Label

  4. Toque Original, consistently good.

  5. Covent Mature Crumbled

  6. Abraxas St. Casura. A unique SP with a delightful scent.

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McChrystals SP is pretty nice

when i think of an SP snuff, i think of WoS best sp.

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IDK if it is an SP but I am really liking grand cairo right now.

I’m using a fair amount of Grand Cairo at the moment. I’d just about call it an SP, though opinions will vary and many will find it too floral to qualify. I’ve also found significant batch difference in flavour. Unless anybody unearths the original Sales Pollard recipe, I suppose we’ll never pin down exactly what a true SP should be.

  1. Grand Cairo - sweet lemon with lot of spicy bergamot, then floral. The real SP extra. 2. Mcchrystal’s SP - nice mild sweet bergamot/citrus with slight floral. 3. Tom Buck - nice strong mix of bergamot. A true strong aroma SP. 4. Gold label - nice strong tobacco brings out the bergamot which makes it offer a nice change from Best SP or Tom Buck. 5. Gawith hoggarth SP- nice sweet Kendal floral tobacco which makes a beautiful snuff. Toques SP’s are good but don’t make my list. I think Wilson’s are the real SP masters. But Mcchrystal’s and Gawith hoggarth have 2 good contenders.
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I think the WoS Tom Buck is fantastic at first …but then the bergamot is a bit heavy…

WoS Best SP is lighter on the bergamot, and so easier to snuff all day long .

JHWilson SP No 1 is probably gonna be my favorite, as it isn’t too potent, but has a long lasting nicotine hit which i like, not too heavy on the bergamot…quite strong really…

For me if i am interested in nicotine hit …then JHWilson SP No 1

if i’m interested in tooting all day and being real comfortable about it then WS Best SP.

Also i musn’t get carried away, so i have to remind myself why i snuff, because it’s the cheapest, safest way to get my nicotine hit, just as much a hit so i can get on with my day and forget about nicotine…and i do it only for that.

Taking this into account JHWilson SP no 1 is a clear winner.

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