Of the Wilson’s variety that is… Reason I’m asking is I’ve only recently acquainted myself with the Wilson’s brand of snuff and really like what I have in front of me at the moment, “Grand Cairo”, that’s all it says on the label. So much so I’ve almost exhausted a 10g tin over the past couple of days and I’ve already ordered a replacement from Tom at NR where I obtained the first tin. I’m pretty sure that way I’ll be getting what I first received (which is a very very good thing). It came on as being very fresh. Thing is, It’s listed elsewhere as being “Grande Cairo (Red Rapee)”. This isn’t what is printed on the tin I have and by looking at the snuff, red isn’t something that comes to mind. Might Wilson label the same snuff differently for different markets (say, UK vs. US)? I’ve seen a few similar questions here and there on the board but haven’t really seen an answer so I thought I’d throw it out to the group. The snuff I’ve been enjoying is very slightly moist, medium to medium fine grind, Bergamot heavy with maybe some other citrus scents thrown in for good measure (lemon comes to mind) and something floral which isn’t distracting at all. Same dark smokey tobacco base I get from a few other Wilson’s snuffs (Lemon Grove for example). Very fragrant out of the tin and long lasting in the nose. Is this the same stuff as the “Red Rapee” or is it entirely different?

Its the same snuff i think .

I don’t even know if there is a label that calls it “red rapee” I’ve only seen it that way on Snuff Store’s website. The only tin I’ve seen is the one I own. Damn fine snuff though. Rose, too, I have a similar question. Many refer to it as “Rose of Sharrow” my tin simply says “Rose” Are there tins from some other time and or place that labeled it that way?

Red Rapee is a description of Wilson’s Grand Cairo. At least that is the impression I got. Now, where is the Blonde Rapee?

They are the same thing.

Thanks all!!

I got a half-pound of Cairo today! This is really one of the best snuffs I’ve tried. It is very peculiar, and reminds me of a more subtle F&T Bordeaux actually. I really like this snuff, and could use this as an all-day snuff for sure.

@Viking, how does the bulk purchase compare to the smaller tins? I prefer the Strasbourg myself, it is similar in style, but ground coarser and is more flavoursome. May be my Grand Cairo was a bit old.

Sandy if you can, buy straight from the mills. You get the freshest batches that way. My Wilsons I bought last year are all still full of ammonia, just like the fresh Toque we get from Roderick! Snuffster said in another thread that his Best SP which he buys by the pound is night and day compared to the tins. Now let’s hear from Viking!

Sandy+Snuffbox - I can’t really compare, since I buy all my snuff in half-pound containers directly from Wilsons! Everything I got from them was always very fresh and really enjoyable. Buying from Wilsons is of course also my best option, since I live in Denmark, and shipping from the UK is only at the most 3 days. I never bought a tin of anything from Wilsons, except the F&T snuffs, and if I could, I would buy them in half-pounders as well :o)

I’ve been tempted to buy a tub of the Wilson’s. I’m finding myself a fan of SP type snuffs. Wilson’s seems to have several. Which would you experts recommend as the best of the bunch?

Best SP without a doubt.

I’ve been wavering between that one and the Tom Buck.

The Best SP is very slightly coarser in grind otherwise they are very similar. It might be my imagination but I seem to find Best SP to be more complex and interesting. Not sure if it’s any recommendation but I do seem to shift a lot of Best SP…

I’ve been on Best SP & Tom Buck for most of the night and I’m with ermtony on this. It has to be Best SP.

"I’ve been tempted to buy a tub of the Wilson’s. I’m finding myself a fan of SP type snuffs. Wilson’s seems to have several. Which would you experts recommend as the best of the bunch? " Not a question of expertise but of taste, and taste varies from person to person. Your decision about bulk purchase will probably be determined by samples from tins. Best S.P (formerly Queens) is Wilson’s flagship snuff. This deservedly popular offering is best bought by the drum - both for economy and quality. Tom Buck is another very old snuff from Wilsons. The flavouring of lavender, Seville orange and lemon (typical of the hybrid Bergamot used in flavouring S.P) is here more pronounced. The zest is decidedly more piquant. However, don’t make the mistake of purchasing Tom Buck and Queens Extra Strong as they are one and the same in all but name. S.P 100 is also the same as Best S.P except for the slightly finer grind. On their website Wilsons seem to have a strange problem with nomenclature as quite a number of snuffs are listed as S.P “types“. There are, in my opinion, only two (three at a pinch) - Best S.P/S.P 100 and Tom Buck/Queen’s Extra Strong. Why not buy two half-pound drums of Best and Tom Buck? Despite the one-time image of cloth caps, clogs, belts and braces S.Ps are the most satisfying of all the medium snuffs and can be consumed indefinitely without cloying.

Grand Cairo was due to be deleted from the list in 2005, but has had an unexpected reprieve. Don’t count on it surviving if sales drop though. I find that Grand Cairo is acceptable in small doses and doesn‘t congest too much. Some say that Morlaix is the best of Wilson’s perfumed snuffs, but it isn’t anything like real French Morlaix which was gros, unscented and, I understand, no longer produced.

They will hear from me if they drop Grand Cairo. I love it. I guess its not an SP in the strict sense, but its a wonderful snuff nonetheless. I’ve also fallen in love with Gold Label. I would also recommend getting sample tins before you commit to bulk. I may buy Gold Label in bulk at some point.

Grand Cairo has become one of my favorite all-day snuffs. I wouldn’t like to see it disappear for sure! Regarding SP - I simply can’t understand how people say that Queen’s extra and TB are “the same”? Different texture, TB is much darker, and the bergamot is stronger in TB, whereas Citrus is dominant in Queen’s extra. But I guess not two persons experience different snuffs in the same way. I would definitely recommend Best SP too, as it is a friendly, forgiving and straight snuff to pinch all day.

"Grand Cairo has become one of my favorite all-day snuffs. I wouldn’t like to see it disappear for sure! Regarding SP - I simply can’t understand how people say that Queen’s extra and TB are “the same”? Different texture, TB is much darker, and the bergamot is stronger in TB, whereas Citrus is dominant in Queen’s extra. But I guess not two persons experience different snuffs in the same way. I would definitely recommend Best SP too, as it is a friendly, forgiving and straight snuff to pinch all day. " Different batches of any one snuff may be subject to slight variation and the diverse names suggests that there MUST be a difference between Queens Extra Strong and Tom Buck. They are, however, the same snuff as an email to Carol@sharrowmills.com will confirm. Bergamot, by the way, is citrus. Grand Cairo was due for deletion because sales had dropped and the flavouring is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Again an email will confirm the status of Grand Cairo as an endangered species of snuff.

Strasbourg is my favourite - more citrusy than Best SP. If you can, try their SS, but I think it’s only available from Snuff Store UK in 5g tins.

I am planning to get a 1/2 drum of Strasbourg in the near future. I’m not sure if I would call it an SP, but it is pretty darn close. Grand Cairo and SP Silver are my other favorite SP types from Wilson’s. Maybe I’ll get drums of them in the future.

Yeah a 1/2 drum of Strasbourg and 1/2 drum of Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown are in my plans too!

just tried Grand Cairo for the first time today and must say I really like this one a lot. It’s very yummy. It reminds me of trying excotic fruits that are familar but not the same as the fruits you are used to. Like trying a type of orange I’ve never heard of before. Definatly a reoreder on this one.

PhillipS - The stock that I have of TB and Queens is definitely not the same. But never mind, both are good :o)

I need an LB for my larder if they are going to kill it. It is easy to do a 5g tin in a day I love it that much.

I love this snuff so. I’m about to order a drum of this. It will be the only Wilsons that I will have in bulk. This 10g tin is disappearing at an alarming rate.

Grand Cairo is my all time favorite. Would be a darn shame if Wilson’s discontinued this one. I would definitely classify it as an SP type, tho it is very unique in its own way. I agree totally with Viking regarding Queens and Tom Buck NOT being the same snuff. I had the good fortune of having both on hand and sampled them against each other. The texture, color, and taste are quite different. Personally, I’d take Queens or SP Best over Tom Buck but that is completely a matter of taste. In any case, long live Grand Cairo! If Nicotinerush carried it in 25g tins I’d have a one stop shop. This is one of the Wilson’s snuffs I’d seriously consider investing in a bulk purchase of.

Wow, I’ve got a tin of Grand Cairo on the way from Northerner now. I can’t wait to try it after reading this thread.

@Ed, Grand Cairo is a very grand snuff indeed. I would have used it as my everyday SP but it makes my nose run like a river. So I use it every second day only!

Its incredibly citrusy from what I can remember… I prefer the more toned-down flavour of Best SP.

The only SP’s which do not make my nose shed water, is Toque Original and Tom Buck. Of the two, I prefer Original although I also love TB.

I have one coming, should be here tomorrow.

LOL sorry about bringing this thread back up, but I was wondering- Is GC still on the endangered list? I will be sad Also- it’s hilarious how that @viking is swearing up and down that TB and QES are different. Poor guy lol I wonder how many times he’s ordered both! ha ha

He is probably detecting batch differences.

@transistor no, its not on the endangered list. Wilsons confrimed it not long after this post. At least its not endangered on their end. Cstokes4 may well consume it all though.

Funny to see the beginning of Stoke’s disorder in his post from Oct 2009, and I quote, “I love this snuff so. I’m about to order a drum of this. It will be the only Wilsons that I will have in bulk. This 10g tin is disappearing at an alarming rate.”

Wow so in less than two years he went from a 10g tin to more than half the worlds supply, impressive!

NO WONDER I can never get any grand cairo- HE SNIFFS IT ALL! I keep picturing that GC monster in that tank that Xander posted… I think it was Xander…

I promise that this orange glow is a florida tan, boyscouts honor.

Orange GC gas. A chamber of that could be a good way to go…!