I realize I don’t post much here, but this project has me a bit excited for snuff, and figured I’d share thoughts on these U.S. made artisan snuffs. As I mentioned before - I’m not much of a refined reviewer - this is my second one ever.
I was expecting a bit more floral a scent, as my mind focused in on the hibiscus, rosehips, and Helichrysum in the description. Wrong answer, Pablo.
The tin note has a bit of tang to it, and I assumed that might be the rosehips, but after reading the tobacco bill, I suspect that’s the rosehips and the almost 10% perique. Smokey leather comes in on the heels of the tang.
Medium brown and maybe a hair moister than the Batch #1, but not much. Also looks a little coarser in grind - but knowing the screening, it may be that the moisture is getting grains to bond a little. I am using a spoon, and not getting a feel for this in my fingers.
In the nose - ka pow.
On the top, I get a little tang, gobs of smoke, leather, dark earth, peat, a lingering fermented tartness. Bold, smokey, spicy tobacco - with no sense of the hibiscus or other ingredients. If that’s because the amendments are there to smooth out the tobacco bill and meld flavors (what I suspect), or whether I am just not able to discern them, I’m not sure. JoJoba is fairly neutral smelling, and I’m wondering if this is influencing the scent beyond being an essential oil carrier. I’m thinking that it may be the source of the perceived moisture, would not be surprised if it helps meld the fat soluble oils in the tobaccos and amendments. It decent nicotine burn, that slowly fades over 15+ seconds. A wee bit of back drip, that does have a bit of acidity/alkalinity to it, but it’s not significant for me.
One of my favorite F&T blends is Old Paris - it has a similar, albeit lighter, sense of leather and smokey wood. This is a bit like that in nature, but stronger in character, and has an addition of perique, and is not floral. Much stronger than Old Paris, and much bolder. It has significant staying power in the nose, and the scent lasts a while.
An excellent straight tobacco centric snuff, beautifully balanced to my novice nose.
