The fourth offering from Abraxas, Dragun is significantly different from the earlier three. Rather than being dark and moist it is a pale yellow brown and it is relatively dry. The grind however is still medium coarse, thus rather proving my earlier point that dry snuffs aren’t always fine in grind. The grind and colour remind me of the Dutch Mettaijer Snuif and also of the fabled Spanish Jewel but the flavouring is quite different to either. Mettaijer has a vinegary top note while the Jewel was cheesy and sweet and Dragun is spicy and sweet. A curious combination perhaps but it works well for me.
The notes on the Mr Snuff site mention several spices as being in the flavouring for Dragun, chilli, cinnamon and nutmeg, and I’m not going to argue about any of those. All seem to be present, but the initial scent I get is of something much sweeter. A hint of apples and raisins with cinnamon perhaps, or something along those lines. I find the chilli tends to makes itself known as that initial sweetness fades. Finally the tobacco itself comes forward coupled with a heft nicotine kick. Very satisfying and very moreish, even if it does tend to make me sneeze, just like the Club and the Cerise Connoisseur! I suspect that, while the grind of Dragun is finer than that of Club and Cerise, it’s the dryness that starts me sneezing (though high dry toast doesn’t have that effect on me). For the latter reason alone I’ll give it four stars rather than five, though 4.5 would be more accurate. Another must try snuff from Abraxas.
Update: I have recently received a tub of Dragun from the second batch. Same great flavour but the grind is slightly finer, resulting in an even better product which is much less sneezy than before. Now it’s a solid five stars for Dragun!
Me, too. Third and fourth sniffs of this snuff reminded me very much of apple pie. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had no apple in it, maybe that flavor coming from the pepper? It does make my nose run like a fountain; no sneezes, but on the first sniff I did overdo it and had a bit of a coughing fit. All in all, it is a lovely, spicy, coarse-ground, pale brown treat.
Dragun is a fine dry snuff and the flour is reminiscent of a mild US Scotch. There is a good pinch of cinnamon in it and I think some allspice. I have heard people say it has capsicum or hot peppers, but I don’t think so. I think the spiciness comes from the cinnamon. It starts off with a slight sweetness and then the spice kicks in and warms the nose. It is not as strong as some say, but I go through a lot of American Scotch so maybe I am immune. Quite pleasant.
This is becoming probably my all-time favorite snuff, and becoming easier to take after repeated usage. I received a sample of a new batch that seemed to have a slightly different burn from my previous batch, although perhaps that’s just because it’s fresher. I find the intensity of the burn to be strong, but very satisfying and lasting for quite a few minutes. It sits in the nose very well and, for having such the spicy note in the nose, I’m currently experiencing no unpleasant drip. I also love the slight sweetness, that is not cloying, but complements the spicy tones tremendously. Fantastic! Note- the other day I got some 8oz mason jars and decided to decant my 140g tub of Dragun. Even after using quite a bit, it took TWO jars to hold the rest of it! There is incredible value in the generous packaging and quite possibly the best bang for any buck I’ve spent.
New snuffer and on my second order (a large one), I decided to start with Abraxas Dragun. This thing is like ambrosia…I can’t really tell apart its complex taste but it is divine! Also chilli seems to somehow decongest my nose after 5 minites have passed (+1) Dragun gave a silly smile on my face and a great reason to keep snuffing.
Dragun is a wonderful snuff for all the reasons mentioned above, but in my opinion Dragun Menthol takes it one step further. It gives all the spiciness but with a slight cooling sensation at the same time. It’s a bit confusing in the nose and once I get started on it I have a hard time stopping!
I haven’t tried Abraxas Dragun but I have tried Abraxas Dragun Menthol. I get the chili and spice scents, but no detectable menthol, so I’ve mixed with some mentholated snuffs to try to get the desired effect. So I can’t comment on Dragun itself but Dragun Menthol is pretty good except don’t expect much menthol, which I guess makes it pretty similar to regular Dragun.
@DivinusSalviarum Don’t be too concerned, I have yet to find much menthol in Dragun Menthol. I can tell a difference between the two, but it’s very hard to say definitely that it’s menthol.
There is only a very small amount of menthol in Dragun menthol - I use it because menthol in very small amounts acts as a flavour enhancer, a little like salt on food. It really does work - the flour of Dragun menthol tastes completely different without it. DM also has fewer sweet spices. Cheers guys, Nigel.
I had to double check to see if I bought both Dragun and Dragun Menthol in the Mr. Snuff order that is on its way, but apparently I did. After reading this thread, I can’t wait to try them both; should have part of my Mr. Snuff order around Wednesday (passed customs, at the local USPS sorting facility) and the other part maybe a day or two later.
I’ve received my Dragun 15g tub today, and I’m puzzled by the smell, which I like. It’s somewhere along the lines of some fruity/syrupy Schmalzler like Doppelaroma… it’s indeed apple like, but also reminiscent of fig in some ways. Anyway, fruity and sweet… and fiery.