(mods, this is not really a review so I hope it can stay on the general side) Over the last few months I have had the pleasure of following the development of a hand-made snuff made by a fellow snuff-man who really understands the art of blending and balancing the flavour of great tobacco with excellent ingredients. The result is Sir Walter Scott’s Fine Border Snuff: Creme de Figue; a heady, coarse ground snuff with the deep flavour of fig arrack. I’ve had arrack before but not the fig version, so the taste was new to me and all I can say is that it makes an exquisite snuff that is reminiscent of an original Fribourg’s; luxuriant and a delight to take. This snuff has obviously been formulated by someone with a real feel for the tobacco and I truly hope that this is one of many more blends to come. I love the products of the major snuff companies, but something hand crafted by a man who loves the ‘art’ is a treat in anyone’s book, but, more than that: it shows that it can be done, that you do not have to have been a professional blender for decades to make something that is exceptional and that other snuffers will appreciate; I hope you enjoy ‘Creme de Figue’ as much as I have: it’s a venture worth getting behind. Creme de Figue is made by Sir Johnny Scott, a man of so many interests I wonder how he manages to find the time to make snuff - to the best of my knowledge he is the first Baronet to make a commercial snuff!

When can I buy some?

Is it available to the general public and if so where can I buy some?

Sorry guys, I am told it’s on route to Mr Snuff.

No need to apologise - that means it will be generally available so good news.

It should be in the warehouse so I am putting up as of now. There are only 20 jars unfortunately (make that 19 )

Awesome, now it’s 17!

Got mine! All is good.

I just hope it has arrived! I wanted to give you guys first dibs before the email goes out tomorrow.

I don’t see it on the site?

I checked it out, click on “British Snuffs”

I bought yours 12 left

I am immensely grateful to Nigel of Abraxas for his kind review, friendship, help and encouragement in my creation of Crème de Figue. I have been fascinated by the culture and history of snuff taking, ever since I became a devotee of the exquisite snuffs made by Fribourg and Treyer of blessed memory, Britain’s premier snuff chandler. Entering their magnificent, bow windowed premises in London’s Haymarket, was to step back in time to the elegance of Regency London and to rub shoulders with the ghosts of Beau Brummel, Lord Petersham, the Duke of Wellington, Hellgate Barrymore, Sir John Lade and Old Q, to name only a few of the extraordinary characters of the Georgian era, when snuff taking was at its most popular. I gave up snuff when Fribourg’s was bought out and only started again a few years ago, when I discovered this site. Although I am an admirer of many commercial snuffs, I became intrigued by the information on snuff making provided by various members here and, inspired by the example of Abraxas, I began experimenting myself. My ambition was to make a strong, rich, exquisite snuff similar to those made in the Georgian era, using exclusively the finest ingredients. Months of experimentation with different tobaccos and sauces went into Crème de Figue, before I felt confident enough to share it with others. Only tobacco leaves from which the mid ribs and stalks have been removed are used, with the flour matured and sauced with rare fig arrack. The ingredients are necessarily expensive, but I hope that this has been more than justified by the end product.

I am greatly looking forwards to this. Thank you for sharing your passion. 11 left.

@Johnny Thanks for the background on your snuff. I have a jar in my Mr.Snuff shopping cart. I also used to frequent the Fribourg & Treyer shop and until a few months ago I had not used any snuff since they closed down. I very much look forward to trying your snuff - it sounds wonderful. Thanks for all of your hard work in bringing this snuff to fruition.

Thank-you Chris. When I worked as a broker in Lloyds, in the early seventies, many of the Underwriters took snuff and Fribourg’s had a booth in the basement, next door to the chap who cut the quill pens some of the Underwriters still used ! I do hope you enjoy the Figue.

Damn that was quick. All gone and I missed out. @Johnny will there be more in any near future?

Sorry you missed out, distaind, I only make a small quantity at a time, but there is another batch of pots on their way to MrSnuff.

I need to be quicker next time

Please share your reviews from those guys about snuff those who bought it?

I hope I get paid before the second batch is all gone!!

Well, I tried, but diddled too long… Sure hope another batch is in the works because I am DEFINITELY interrested!!!

I just placed an order with Mr.Snuff and it now shows that 21 are left.

I just placed an order with Mr.Snuff and it now shows that 21 are left.

I just placed an order and it now shows that 25 are left.

ordered. thanks, Dave!!

What size is this?

@Johnny I arrived home this evening, after an extremely stressful day, to discover a package from Mr Snuff containing a jar of your Creme de Figue. When I opened the jar there was the slight ammonia scent coming from fresh snuff so I will decant some into a smaller jar and let it air out a bit. But I could not resist taking an initial pinch and I can only say that my nose is now in paradise. I can only agree with the eloquent comments from @Abraxas and I will not attempt to do a review here. I will need to take some more after it has aired to get the full taste but it is everything I was hoping for and more. It has also left me slightly light headed and being fairly nicotine tolerant I do not know whether that is caused by nicotine or simply the splendid and rich aroma. I think you have exceeded the ambition that you mentioned above. Many, many thanks for this snuff and please make more.

Mine shipped out today. I’m looking forward to trying this masterpiece

Chris - I am delighted you have received your jar of Crème de Figue. Very many thanks for your very kind comments and I hope you find the snuff as enjoyable after it has aired a little. I think you will find it has a high nicotine content. The blend is made with pure leaf tobaccos and apart from a tiny amount of Maldon sea salt to bring the fermentation to a halt, has no other additives other than the fig arrack saucing. The fermentation process alone seemed to be sufficient to freebase the nicotine.

@Johnny I am sure that the snuff will only improve - if that is possible - with a little airing. I am trying to cut down on my cigar intake so the nicotine content in your snuff may well help with that. I have certainly never had a snuff with this level of nicotine kick before so I will experiment with the snuff when I feel the urge for a cigar. Not that I will need any excuse to take pinches of this truly delightful snuff!

Thank-you, Chris. I will be very interested to hear how you get on. I was an inveterate pipe and cigar smoker - one of my treasured memories is attending the Cigar Festival in Havana, some years ago, but one door closes and another opens. I have found that by carefully choosing snuff with a sufficient level of nicotine, I have been able to stop smoking altogether and have replaced it with something which has proved to be more enjoyable and utterly fascinating.

@Johnny I will keep you updated. I am sure the Cigar Festival in Havana must have been wonderful - far too many great doors have closed over the years. But as you say - another one always opens. I have no wish to stop smoking the occasional pipe but since returning to snuff a few months ago I have only had one or two bowls so the snuff has had an impact there. But in moments of stress I still light a cigar and none of the snuffs I have tried thus far have helped with that but I think your one might do the trick there. You mentioned your choice of snuffs with reasonable nicotine - would you have any recommendations there? I would happily use the Creme de Figue all day long but as it is in very limited production I will attempt to resist that temptation and save it for moments when I can sit back and savour it. I have seen references here to some of the Indian snuffs with high nicotine content but they all seem to be a very fine grind. I can just about manage fine grinds but I much prefer the more traditional coarse grind - yours is just right. So any recommendations for an everyday snuff would be much appreciated. Alternatively were you to put the Creme de Figue into larger scale production so that it is always readily available I can guarantee that you would have me as a customer for life. I know that given the quality of your snuff that scenario is unlikely but one lives in hope.

I will definately be ordering the Creme de Figue. Has anyone tried Paul Gotard new snuffs in the glass bottle? I’m curious…

@Eighttrucktires The jar says minimum 15g and it is tightly packed to the brim.

Thank you…

i tried one they don’t seem to have anymore. The snuff in theglass bottle i tried was the amber. It was pretty great. the jars are awesome, they keep snuff fresh and are classy and pocket size. Unlike wood or plastic the glass holds no scent. What I’am saying is they’re worth it for the jar, the one snuff I’ve had in the jar was definatily great snuff.

I received it, I tried it, I really enjoyed it. Good medium grind, good tobacco, good flavour and the right amount of salt. Impressive for a homemade snuff. Like the glass jar as well. This snuff is all class. If i may be so bold though, i would like to make a suggestion. Add some sodium carbonate or similar to alkalize this a little more and add a bit of burn. This is only my preference in a snuff and tastes vary but i do like a bit of burn.

Got mine today. Fantastic stuff! Thank you, Sir Johnny!

It is indeed a fantastic snuff. I went back to Mr.Snuff to order a second jar but they had sold out completely. I am praying that Sir Johnny decides to make some more.

It’s not important but I read that as 1,000g jars. I thought damn that must be a good snuff if you think the market will bear that type of bulk.

Another new handmade snuff with some potential are the ones by @shawn622. Both the Anisette and Blueberry are different enough from other snuffs to justify a try if they ever hit the market. I’ve just been sampling them and they have some serious body along with the flavor.

@MrSnuff I have had a pretty stressful day but you have just brightened it up by a massive degree with the news of further supplies of this wonderful snuff. Now if you could just arrange for that to come into stock at the same time as the New Abraxas coffee snuff and the promised new batch of Abraxas Premium original so that I could put them all on one order then I would be in absolute bliss. Cheeky I know but if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Chris - my apologies fo the late reply to yours of Nov 27th. I am delighted you are enjoying Figue. Another small batch will be available early next week and there is 5kg maturing which I estimate will be ready in the beginning of the New Year. As to other snuffs with a high nicotine content. I have always been a fan of the superb Abraxas range, particularly Cerise, Premium and the earlier Club, although I also enjoy Dragun, and the Menthol is of course, delicious. As I am sure you know, these are all hand made to an extremely high standard, using only the finest ingredients. I have read that many people find the Indian snuffs high in N, but like you, I find the flour too finely ground.

@Johnny Thanks for your reply and absolutely no need to apologise - particularly as you are producing more of the Figue >:D< Thanks for the comments re the Abraxas range. I fully intend to explore those snuffs but was holding out on the basis that a new batch of the Premum original is maturing and I would prefer to get that as opposed to the Premium Fin. As soon as the next batch of Figue arrives with Mr.Snuff I will order some and a jar of the Abraxas Cerise. I am also hoping that the new batch of Premium original, and the new coffee snuff, will turn up at the same time so I can include those. That selection would make an excellent Christmas present to myself.

@Abraxas I’m finally over my cold enough to give Abraxas Premium Fin and Sir Walter Scott’s Creme De Figue a proper try. I’m really surprised I managed to wait this long, as I have little self control when new snuffs land in my mailbox. The Premium Fin is excellent. Nice grind, excellent tobacco and just enough liquor scenting to provide a delicate enhancement to the tobacco, without overpowering it. @Johnny The Creme De Figue now holds a very special place in my heart. The first sniff filled my nostrils with a scent, I haven’t smelled in many years. I was fortunate enough to know and spend many quality years with my great grandparents, who were farmers in rural Georgia. The scent of this snuff brought back memories of Grandma and my aunts, all gathered in the kitchen, hanging over a stove with a pot of figs boiling for preserves. The smell of those preserves filled the house and even the memory of them makes my mouth water. They took very special care to assure that the preserves were the best they could be. I can confidently say the same about Creme De Figue. It’s obvious from the very first pinch that every effort was made from beginning to end, to create the best snuff possible. I tip my hat to you Sir Johnny, for you have created a masterpiece. Both the Premium Fin and Creme De Figue are top level snuffs that I would recommend to anyone. They’re a little pricey, but well worth the cost. I look forward to the Abraxas Premium Original and more offerings from Sir Walter Scott’s, hitting the market in the near future.

Glad you liked the Fin and thanks for the feedback. I couldn’t agree more about Johnny’s excellent snuff - I think a major talent is coming to light here.

I’m excited to see what else he comes up with. Looking forward to some more amazing snuff from johnny

Very many thanks to Scurvy, Faust, distaind and Nigel of Abraxas for their feedback and kind comments. Another small batch of Figue should be at the MrSnuff’s warehouse by Thursday lunchtime, with more in the maturing bin which will be ready in the New Year. For those who might be interested, I am in the early stages of developing a companion to Figue.

@Johnny I will be monitoring the Mr Snuff site like a hawk to order some more Figue. I am definitely interested in a possible companion to the Figue. Do please keep us updated on that.

Of-course Chris. I hope to be able to give a positive porogress report by about the middle of January.

I Can’t wait to try the next one and am intrigued as to what it might be - although I am certain it will be excellent.

Another small batch of Figue was dispatched to MrSnuff yesterday and should arrive at the warehouse to-day.

@MrSnuff Thanks for the info - I have just ordered the 50g tub. That should keep me going over Christmas.

@MrSnuff… I ordered mine too!!! YAHOO!!!

YOU LUCKY DUCKS! Oh sorry for caps lock, but it conveys my emotions accurately --can’t make any orders for awhile, sadly.

Me neither, it does get to be a bit of a tease…

I found on ebay the Sir Walter Scott snuff box, some collectors might be interested! http://www.ebay.it/itm/300834312354?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&\\_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 I hope that I was wrong to post this in this tread…

Just a quick note regarding this snuff. I have had the pleasure of enjoying it over the last several weeks and am very impressed with both the quality of the tobacco and the flavorings used. The rich scent of premium leaf coupled with fig arrack is simply divine and I find myself reaching for it often. Bravo, Johnny!!

Sounds like an interesting adventure

I have some enroute. can’t wait as I also love the Abraxas small batch as well.

@MrSnuff: I’m so happy you got more! I’m really going to miss it when the supply eventually runs out, but thankfully that won’t be for quite a while now.

Fear not Mike_B, I have another 5kg in the maturing bin which will be ready in a couple of weeks, plus two other snuff blends in the making. Johnny

@Johnny Great news on the additional supply of Creme de Figue and looking forwards to the two new ones. You mentioned a while back that there was one new blend so another one on top of that is a bonus. Between you and Abraxas I think my nose is going to have a very happy year.