Fan is short for fanatic. I am a fan of snuff in general and Rustica tobacco in particular. Having enjoyed JNF’s Indian Rustica snuff in the past, I was eager to go down-the-rabbit-hole that “Hearts” was seductively offering. Malt is a cereal that has been dried and made to germinate by soaking it in water. The process is stopped by drying it again. It has an umami taste that is both savory and sweet. Umami is one of the five basic tastes after sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness. Appreciatively presented in a screw-topped aluminum tin, “Hearts” is a finely ground, compact and oil-finished snuff, which is khaki pale like a salty pith helmet after a campaigning season in the sun. At first address, one is greeted by the smell barley malt steeped in sandalwood and lavender. Upon uptake, it stings like a rattlesnake, causing wincing and the occasional tear. After dissipation, the burn morphs into a nicotine infused kaleidoscope of organic cane sugar, macassar vanilla and malt. It is my firm belief that snuff is one of the lost arts of the table and that a well-selected snuff can either open the appetite or enhance the meal. “Hearts” is such a snuff. When paired with Highland Scotch, it gives it breadth and serves to stimulate the papillae in anticipation of repast. Well and worthily recommended, a tin of “Hearts” should be lovingly lodged in the pocket of any serious scotch drinker.

I bought the 12 tin sampler of the Rustica snuffs from JNF, and to be honest, they’re a little underwhelming. The scenting is quite weak imo, but the base snuff is pretty good. I took one little tin and emptied it out on a sheet of tin foil, mixed in some pure almond extract, then toasted it in a hot oven for about 4 minutes. The results were great. I wish they’d made the scents a little stronger but I enjoy them anyway.