Brothers and Sisters:  I am really enjoying Chef Daniel’s latest creation.  It’s definitely another OM home run, and something new to me personally. You can read about the ingredients on the Old Mill website, but this is basically tobacco, bourbon, and a little bit of Amish butter.  Of course, that’s like saying that wine is made from grapes and water…  

I was initially blown away by two things.  It has a deep but subtle sweetness, which, though hard to believe, comes simply from the whiskey and the leaf itself. Whatever alchemy Daniel performed here is amazing.  It’s sweet but not too sweeeeet, if that makes any sense.  

Second, the tobacco bill in Commonwealth is simply Burley and Virginia, with multiple preparations of each included.  Again, best to check out the menu description at oldmillsnuff.com.  The real genius move here is the combination of fine milled and course milled tobacco.  I’m not really used to the course stuff, but the combination of “course and fine” makes this snuff very easy to take.  I don’t need to use any kind of utensil, just my thumb and forefinger, and believe me, given my general lack of fine motor skills, and my growing preference for toasts, this is a pleasant change of pace.  And the scent is “simple” yet fantastic.  During my long ago period of pipe smoking, I was a big fan of burley, and my first snuff of Commonwealth took me immediately back to that simpler time of 30-35 years ago. It is so true that our sense of smell may be the most evocative of our senses (You know, the olfactory, or as I call it, the Old Factory).  I think I need to explore more snuffs that use burley.  Anyway, this is a snuff that I am happy to take exclusively all day and into the evening.  It’s got substance but it’s not overpowering, and again, that burley in particular just sits so nicely in the nose.  For what it’s worth, I am able to take large portions of Commonwealth without excessive sneezing. As far as the power of the nicotine hit, I’d judge Commonwealth as “medium:” You feel the comfort of the vitamin N, but you won’t break into a sweat or start shaking LOL.

I wanted to add a side note here that, given the considerable discussion lately about the cost of snuff, I’ve got to say that, since this is my primary vice these days, I find artisan snuff to be one of the most affordable of pleasures.  When compared to whiskey, wine, cigars, coffees, or any other pleasure substances, artisan snuffs are positively “cheap” in my view.

I realize that this review is as subjective as my comments always are, but if you enjoy more of a “straight tobacco flavor,” think about checking out OM Commonwealth.

I completely agree. Ive had my jar of commonwealth for a few weeks and the bourbon is really coming out. It is truely fantastic. Im going to order a large jar in a few days because I dont want to run out. I, too, find chef dan’s creations an affordable hobby/habit. I went from chewing a pint size tub of dip a week, soley for the purpose of nicotine, to Old Mills snuff purely out of enjoyment. They are all amazing!

Thanks for the review!  It’s the best when you find a snuff that brings you back to a good place/time.  I’m waiting for the chef’s next release before making my order - looking forward to it!  Sounds like my kind of snuff.