@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.