I have been using up my first tin of Kendal brown quite a bit after not thinking too much of it at first. It has become my current favorite. It is the original from Sam Gawith. I have quite a bit of other snuff to use before I make another purchase, but I am interested in finding out a little about different makers and styles. What is your favorite Kendal brown if any?

I think I have a GH Kendal Brown comming in the mail, regardless, I ordered a few SG and GH snuffs, and ill be sure to let you know how they compare if thats what you meant by the different makers and styles.

I suggest trying any or all that SG or GH have to offer. Still deciding on a favorite. I’m leaning towards the sweeter Samuel Gawiths. 

Yeah guess I’ll hit up the trade forum.

My last order from Mr.Snuff consists of Kendal Browns only.  

5 tubs of GH KB  

1 SG KB Original  

1 SG KB Plain   (Yet to try)

1 SG KB Special   (Yet to try)

I guess you can tell that I favor the Gawith Hoggarth.  When I compare the GH to the SG KB Original, the GH is a medium grind, less smokey, and unscented. 

@pennanalgann are those 260 gram tubs? That’s a nice order:)

Oh Hellz, I wish!  25g. tubs.  I do have a 260g. tub of the GH on special order though.  Gotta make it through the holiday season don’t ya know ~:>

Lol that sounds right. I guess if you snuffed that much Kendal you are likely to turn into a tobacco leaf or something

These variations on the Kendal Brown theme have only been serenading snuffers with their varied notes in recent years. When I took to snuff there were only three Kendal Browns available from Kendal (four if one includes Smith‘s Kendal Brown, sold in London but made in Kendal). Samuel Gawith - Original Kendal Brown Illingworth Snuffs Ltd - Kendal Brown Gawith Hoggarth - Kendal Brown, Genuine Celebrated The latter has since been stripped of its illustrious adjectives and is now sold simply as Kendal Brown. It benefits from sale in the little tubs. Illingworth Snuffs Ltd, meanwhile, burned down and is no more. Both these companies derive from Samuel Gawith. These are the snuffs that I’ve always known and favour as the genuine article although since 1995 K.B.O has been my mainstay. Viking Brown is a good and genuine Kendal Brown. Smith’s Kendal Brown (made in Kendal) is also of interest and claims the 1792 recipe. Those made in Sheffield are impostors. Of minor interest: Well before S.G took over William Nevison & Son in the 1930s they registered a trademark on Genuine Kendal Brown on 11th July 1877. http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm/t-os/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=12679 The original fearsome beast shown here looks like something that haunted the moors of Westmoreland (now Cumbria), shattering the misty silence of night with blood-curdling howls. Whether it was slain by Sherlock Holmes is debatable, but in later years it was degraded to a yappy little black dog. You would be unlucky if it even nipped your ankle.

Viking Brown is awesome, it jumped to the top ten of my list right after a few pinches. it works so well, you can take pinches nearly like you want and taste is very, very good imho. just another great snuff to enjoy.

I agree with most of this.  I’d put in another good word for GH Kendall Brown.  (SG does so much so well as far as I’m concerened that I can forgive any peccadillos - goes without saying.)  The GH variety, finer, moister,  keeps very well, and matures into a very good snuff indeed imho.   My Christmas Bulk?  I think I’ll lay down some GH KB  - for next year! 

Mind you, that Viking Dark is very tasty - speaks to me convincingly of SG.  (Prismaster, you’re right, there’s a lot to enjoy.) 

Fribourg & Treyers Kendal Brown is actually pretty good as well…  I’ve only got a half-tin left .  I would suggest anyone to give it a go if you like Kendal Brown snuffs!

@MikeMoose i use F&T Kendal Brown since a year now and i think it is most diffrent from all the other KB´s i know. There is this clear floral undertone in it. Like roses. I really hope i am not the only one who smell/taste it.

The F&T Kendal Brown has no business calling itself such, but I will admit its a good snuff all the same.

true Kendal Browns are as follows (fearsome moor roaming beasts notwithstanding):

Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown Original

Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown Plain

Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown Scented

Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown Special

Gawith Hoggarth Kendal Brown

Gawith Hoggarth Scented Kendal Brown

Gawith Hoggarth Plain

G. Smith and Sons Kendal Brown

pretenders to the name are as follows:

Wilsons of Sharrow ‘Kendal Brown’

Fribourg & Treyer ‘Kendal Brown’

Snuffs giving homage to Kendal Brown while not being pretentious are:

Toque Berwick Brown

Samuel Gawith Menthol Brown

Viking Brown?

Those are all going to be contemPlated before my next order from mr snuff to which I will be adding some gawith pipe tobaccos and some twist

Once Dave gets the Viking snuffs in I’ll definately be trying them!  I have tried the Toque Berwick Brown and while it smells decent (and strong) in the tin, it is just a little too much in my pansy snozz.  I’ve kept it around since it might get much better once the aromatics lose some potency.  Since I read that the WoS and F&T are even stronger in scent than the Toque offering, I’ll not even try them.

After this last order, I need to try the SG KB Scented and the GH Scented KB.  I would also like to try the G Smith and Sons but Dave doesn’t carry it.

@Sly3904 - I tried the SG KB Special that I had ordered first, and I really can’t tell much difference between it and the Original at this time.  Maybe a slight bit more scenting in it…maybe?

@pennangallan probably, I am really unsure I am new to snuff in general. But if is close to the original Im guessing that it must be good and couldn’t hurt to order a little.

I’m still very much in the  "figgerin out what I like " phase myself.  I just cracked the KB Original seal for a side-by-side comparison and the differences are a little greater than I thought.  SG Special is darker, finer,  and smokier with the same scenting.  Better in my opinion.

(sigh) Guess I’ll have the KB Plain open by the time I get ready for work…so much for self control.

*EDIT at 7:14*  The Plain is the Special with no scent added…didn’t even make it into bed before I tried it.  I have the self-control of a 4-year-old.

Really enjoy SG Kendal Brown Original…rich and pure tobacco scent

@Xander : Yes, isn’t a Kendal Brown snuff suppose to be very basic…?  The F&T one seems more complex, and definitely does have a floral tone to it

@mikemoose Everything about the F&T “version” is wrong, not just the scenting.  KB should be medium-coarse, dark brown and fairly moist.  It should also probably be actually made in Kendal, not Sheffield. F&T’s Santo Domingo is closer to Kendal Brown then their "Kendal Brown.’

Yes, I’ve become more opinionated on this over the last year or so.

@Xander I can’t understand how you can let Roderick get away with his Berwick Brown. While the scenting is superbly reminiscent, the tobacco base is far from the mark. As are F&T and Wilsons.

I think the BB is not as coarse as KB, but is more than the F&T or WoS.

I’m also only calling it an homage. 

Hello all…I don’t post much here…I think this is my third… I really love the Samuel Gawith KB Special. Definitely my favorite of them all. I don’t use it all of the time but am not often found without a tin of it within arms reach. I also love the Berwick Brown but I don’t class it as a KB. It is a fantastic snuff in its own right. As for the F&T and WOS versions…they are not bad snuffs but in no way a KB. I like the WOS version and hated the F&T.

So, just to clarify, a true KB is coarse by nature or were there any true KBs that were finer?  I love the flavor of SG’s KB but my nose just doesn’t like coarse grinds.  (Except for Schmalzlers, those are so greasy and run so quick they don’t have time to irritate my nose.)

Should have been called Sheffield Brown then eh?!  :-P

Xander and others are right in claiming that the Sheffield Kendal Brown is fake. Apart from the fact that the grind and taste is different it’s rather like a German wine manufacturer churning out Chateau Bellevue Mondotte.

@Mikemoose They’re not even brown!  ‘Sheffield Tan’ maybe!

Sheffield Tan? Ah, that would be the generous coating of soot and grime that used to cover everything in Sheffield back when the steel mills were all still working… 

@Spyro - SG KB Special is finer than Original, with Plain being finer still…about like F&T Old Paris if that isn’t too coarse for you.

lol, Tony.  We have a steel mill a town just north of here.  They forget about line drying their clothes and have to wipe off their car windshields every morning.  Maybe thats also why the place is a ‘cancer cluster.’

Thanks Penn., I love Old Paris so that gives me a good picture.

Hello Fellow Snuffers, On the subject of Kendal Brown, has anyone on the forum tried SG London Brown? And if so what is their opinion on it? In my opinion it’s the most unuseable snuff i’ve ever experienced. If you thought F&T Santa Domingo was clumpy try this one, it just falls from the nose. Not a pleasant experience!

I love London Brown, its pretty much similar to the other rappees.

They do require some patience to use, though and tolerance for a bit of mess.  Likewise with the South African gwayis.

London Brown is certainly one that you would not want to get or use from a tap box. It just so happens I have my box full of this for my work a day snuff. Little balls of snuff falling about and all. I like the fact that I can inhale when snuffing with no discomfort with these types (Taxi a favorite). I’m thinking a ball bearing in my box might smooth things out but the last thing I need is to get one in my lungs. I’m going to use a tonka bean once the box starts drying out (no, I don’t use it fast enough). Shake it, shake it.

@collierboy I am in love with London Brown too, earthy warm taste and works sooo well with beer. if you like that one, i am nearly sure that you will like Scotch Black too

“Hello Fellow Snuffers, On the subject of Kendal Brown, has anyone on the forum tried SG London Brown? And if so what is their opinion on it? In my opinion it’s the most unusable snuff i’ve ever experienced.” I’ve been using it for many years now, but agree that for many it must be a daunting snuff owing to its unusually coarse unevenness - the closest in texture to râpé (the French word for grate and from which rappee derives) available from Britain. The snuff is named after the practice, first used in London, of painting refined sugar with molasses. Because I make such an abominable mess with London Brown, I never take it away from home or garden, check my appearance before venturing out after using it and never take it in company - especially female. Indeed, if I’d been alive during the halcyon days, Zeus would have sent Hercules to clean my house instead of the Augean stables. Fortunately we have carpet-sweepers. Glad to read that I’m not the only one who enjoys the texture and sweet smoky flavour of London Brown. (Never buy LB from a tap-box. Use a large snuffbox or tin and gather up as much as you can. Steady the nerve and apply a short sharp sniff from the diaphragm. Some snuff will always roll out but don’t mind that.)

More praise for the Viking.  If anyone ever, God forbid, needed to find a replacement for SG KB: the Viking Brown would be a very natural replacement.  Slightly finer grind (which makes it easier on my nose) Perhaps a little darker, moister.  I’m reluctant to say that it is a BETTER Kendall Brown than SGKB,  - except I’m convinced that only Samuel Gawith can make a snuff quite like this. I’d say that despite the name, it appears to be a true Kendall Brown by birth.

The Viking Dark has a grind closer to the Gawith Hogarth Kendall Brown and is again an excellent replacement for those who like the Lakeland flavour, but cannot handle the coarseness of the grind of others mentioned in this thread. Silky smooth. 

I have tried Viking Virginia pipe tobacco from My Smoking Shop.  My guess is that  these snuffs will not be appearing anywhere else…I hope I’m wrong.  But I intend to bulk buy some of both and I truly hope that the quality will be maintained as more is sold.           

Unfortunately in snuffstore.de in Germany Viking Brown is sold out. It’s really a wonderful snuff.

Allow me to revive this subject- great input here from someone who passed away. I now see there comments on Sheffield KB, but it ain’t bad and there’s in my opinion similarities with Kendal. So here’s a humble review of Wilsons Kendal Brown: Good fresh delivery. Rather moist and brown tobacco base. A floral smell coming from the jar. Something spicy / peppery in the back. In the nose a strong sweet geranium, followed by full orange blossom, moist tobacco scent. After that a little sour lemon, and a salt flavor. And for sure the caster sugar! Very long lasting developing smell. Surprising snuff! I really like complex snuffs like this. I’m convinced one of the secrets of KB is brown caster sugar. It was always on our breakfast table when I was a kid. It seems to be the thing that makes the tobacco darker, brown.

Thanks for reviving this thread. It reminds me of the heart and soul of snuffhouse which is somewhat lacking these days for some odd reason. I am sure you’ve noticed .

 I have most of these great offerings except the GH,WoS and G Smiths versions and will be employing them once again. Rotating back to basics I’m sure will help refine my tastes. 

Here is my opinion about F&T Kendal Brown:

Fribourg &Treyer Kendal Brown: Medium grind, moisture and nicotine content is also on medium level. Opening tin notes: a wee bit of amonia scent subbed by hints of soapy flavours from geranium and violets. Pleasant nose burn with longer lasting scent. if compared to real Kendal stuff from Sam Gawith it looks like as mockery of peasant by noble man at costume ball. 4.8/5
Jack

I’ve tried the GH KB and the SG KB Original. Really interesting stuff. In the SG KB Original, I get moist earth, with a kiss of meyer lemon and flowers (not sure which one) in the background. With the GH KB, I get almost entirely moist earth. Both are like walking through the woods after the rain, and both are top ranking snuffs in my rotation. There is another element to both, that I just can’t place. I know what it reminds me of, but it sounds crazy to say it. You know when you walk into a hotel room, and the air conditioning has been running, and there’s that fresh, purified scent to the air? I get that with both. Much moreso with the GH. Because of that, so far GH is my favorite, as it reminds me of going on vacation when I was a kid. That said, I’m strangely enough more likely to use up the SG more quickly, and relegate the GH to my “sentimental” stash (next to the Old Paris) for those special occasions when I am in the right frame of mind be taken back 25 years.

To me taking a KB is like taking a coffee. Can be strong sometimes. And can be enjoyed every moment of the day.

I agree. If you like good dark roasted coffee you will probably enjoy a KB. Btw @salmiak who is the person who passed away (ref. your post of Nov 29)

I was curious about that too.  Anyway these comments regarding Kendal Brown fascinate me, chiefly because the tapbox of GH Kendal Brown I got in 2009 was so obviously scented that I literally cannot imagine anyone describing it as unscented.  I believe them, but that still leaves the mystery of the snuff I purchased (from Nicotine Rush).  I didn’t care for it and never bought another Kendal Brown.

When I’m correct, user PhilipS passed away? The one with the most educational posts. I believe as well GH is scented. I think with some caster sugar syrup.

786 Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.
(indeed, from God we come and to Him is the return; said upon receiving news of a death)
That cat had forgotten more about snuff than I have absorbed in my entire life; which is saying something.

@salmiak if so that would be a terrible loss. His last post here was on Oct. 29. Was this info posted anywhere? How did you hear of it?

@slobandtom I have some GH KB right here in a newish 25g tub and it doesn’t appear scented to me. Perhaps you had the KB Scented? I understand that one is very citrusy. The one I have is just tobaccoey goodness and actually a little subdued as far as flavor goes. I don’t pick up anything other than fermented tobacco.

@slobandtom another reason why you should never buy English snuff in a tap box.  GH KB is unscented, nothing but pure baccy goodness.  The snuff in the tap box most likely absorbed the scents of the snuffs it was stored with in the warehouse

I should revisit it, then; thanks everypony!  I love this place…