Hello all! Well I have never had the privilege of sampling the Spanish Jewel, so I have a severe handicap right off the bat with my sudden urge to try to make some on my own, but why let that small detail get in the way, right? After reading all I could about this mystic snuff, it seemed out of the question, until a reply to the Rustica thread caught my eye. It was the one that when grinding the Rustica from Roderick, Juxtaposer say’s he got a hint of the Jewel. This really caught my eye, I had been having a running conversation with a friend about Rustica, and it just made sense that this is the base tobacco for this snuff. It is strong, and that matches the reviews I have seen, about the warm nicotine glow, and after grinding some up, I realized that the taste is mellow, and somewhat nutty. I have played around with some Carlos the 3rd Solera brandy, and it has potential, although I have been told that I need to offset the Brandy with the honey, to get the right balance. I have no prior experience with snuff making, and do not pretend to know how to do it, but I am learning! What I found today gives me hope, I received a supply of Mapacho, Rustica Indian tobacco bundles from Guatemala. This turns out to be wonderfully cured fresh leaves in a bundle. The bundle unfolds into whole pliant leaf, which allowed me to remove the stalk and stems. The resulting fresh snuff was an eye opener, light clean tobacco taste with a punch. I will be cleaning and preparing a large quantity of natural snuff from it, and would appreciate any thoughts that may help me from here. I am giving a lot of thought about flavor, infusing, and what I think is most important, maturing the resulting snuff. I would welcome your thoughts on this. Thanks.
Sure, right after you help me build my own Lamborghini! Seriously though, it’s like trying to make your own cognac. Cognac is called Cognac because it is made in the Cognac region of France and from specific grapes. Everything else is just brandy. Even if by some miracle you could recreate SJ without ever having tried it, it would be a sin to give it the same name. However, I highly encourage anyone with the will and patience to create their own special snuff with their own special name. Good luck!
My thoughts are to dilute some honey with brandy and pour directly into the ground N. Rustica. Then keep in a tobacco jar, clay preferably, or something that breathes. I will be using bourbon myself for a first batch. The Toque Rustica certainly can use a little mellowing. I hereafter will name the snuff I make with Toque Rustica… the “Inquisition”.
I don’t think I’d ever be able to duplicate some of these produced snuffs. I’m coming to find out it really is an art form and an acquired skill, (and some luck). I’d be happier with myself if I was able to make a snuff SIMILAR to my favorite, kind of custom, instead of reproducing a produced one.(Maybe this is what you mean?.) I mean, what do you have in the end…just another Spanish Jewel, IMO. You sound like you have a good knowledge of tobacco, really know what scents you like, and have energy–those are some key ingredients in making yourself a nice snuff, just the way YOU like it!!!. Good luck, Whalen. Let me know how it works out!
@Juxtaposer LOL! Ever see “History of the World:Part I”?
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!!
SUPRIZE AND FEAR OUR TWO NO THREE RUTHLESS EFFICIENCY WAIT FOUR I’LL COME IN AGAIN
Would you be committing Heracy against SPANISH JEWEL I would love to try some as well but I dont even know how I would go about it.
Spanish Gem is the heresy committed.
it’s pretty good though, the Spanish Gem, that is. I, as well have only read about the true Spanish Jewel. It’s got to be very good because the people on this forum really know what they’re talking about. You’d never really know if you’ve gotten it right though, or not. Even if someone told you one way or the other, not tasting it you’d not really know. I bet it’ll be good though, Whalen. If you start with good ingredients you’ll probably have a better chance of a good end result. Now we await the details. Best of luck, and Godspeed.
And now I suppose Roderick has quite a predicament on his hands. Whatever snuff he makes with his rustica will no doubt be more like Spanish Jewel than his Spanish Gem is. But I digress, it is the love for snuff and Spanish Jewel that is the driving factor. We could not be more fortunate.
Count De Monet
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!! " Fetch the comfy chair!
Juxtaposer, brandy and honey won’t do the trick. I’ve tried it and although I did get a whisper of SJ, it’s still far from it. I’ve had the privilege to put some real SJ up my nose and it’s gonna be very difficult to replicate. Rustica on it’s own isn’t all you need. I’m pretty sure that SJ is a blend of more than one tobacco. I’ve cured some tobacco leafs in brandy and honey for 6 months and although there is a hint of SJ, I’m still looking for something to add to get it much stronger. Rustica alone is to sweet smelling and soft. SJ is a robust snuff with a lot of different nuances. Unfortunately I have no more SJ left to compare with what I’ve got here. You must also remeber that the main ingredient of any good snuff is patience. Snuff takes a long time to develop.
I do realize that I tread on sacred ground, to some, for attempting this, and have no illusion that I will fall far short, and I offer apologies for my insolence, but an obsession like this really should be indulged! To make amends, and with your indulgence, I wish to refer to my humble snuff as “Spanish Folly”. My main focus is in trying to obtain a base tobacco worthy of my efforts. This is a personal snuff, something I will hopefully treasure. Rest assured the SJ l will be safe in the memories of many, and that I have no intention of using the SJ term other to identify to you what snuff I am focusing on. I tend to agree with a friend in thinking that this snuff was possible due to the efforts of one man to keep alive a snuff that was the legacy of the leaf, one that I believe was a Rustica. It is the nuance of the leaf I am trying to replicate, a tribute to the history of tobacco growing and selection. I will consider myself fortunate just to get a glimpse at the potential. The Mapacho tobacco is an exquisite leaf, honey blond to chocolate and came to me so pliant, yet well cured, that only the portions free of all veins was easily removed with patience. The resulting leaf was remarkably light and a delight to work with. No heat was applied this time and the blade and mortar rendered a light creamy snuff. Very light color, a very subtle nutty yet sweet flavor. Nicotine hit was muted but came out in time. This is a raw bare snuff with no additives at this point. I am focusing on patience, just rendering more of it into base snuff, and giving thought to what needs to happen next. I need to help the nicotine uptake, that is a common adjustment, PH, and then on to blending with the other Rustica. I do very much agree on the point of Roderick’s dilemma, There is no doubt he will produce a wonderful snuff with this leaf!
I also have never experienced Spanish Jewel although i have read about its joys often and my question for those seeking to replicate it is where are you getting your cheese from ? Brandy and honey are great sweet additions to snuff but to imitate this holy grail of snuffs do you not need something to replicate the dirty stinking sock component and what might achieve this ?
Big Al, we’ve got Cheese & Bacon!
@ Big Al: I believe it is the tobacco itself that produces the ‘cheese’ effect. I have smelt something similar in Cuban cigars (unlit).
Understanding that I have never had the pleasure of trying this snuff, I have been researching every comment to illicit the essence and qualities associated with it. The use of Rustica is to me a key, although Virginia is mentioned. There may be one element here that will be impossible to replicate, and I am beginning to think that the locker room/smelly socks is telling. The simple effects of yeast/mold. Certainly possibly present in a jar of curing snuff, or in the cure of the leaf itself. I made the mistake of keeping Los snus in the cheese drawer, and have encountered this smell firsthand in tobacco.
Roderick, Why not re-formulate Spanish Gem and then re-release it?