Isn’t this an oxymoron? I have read a lot of posts that have mentioned SP being plain unscented tobacco. I am a huge fan of what I call ‘plain’ snuffs, but my definition of ‘plain’ means not fruity, mentholated or overtly floral. SP, as I understand it, is scented with bergamot at a minimum, with the Sheffield Exchange site listing the ingredients as bergamot, lemon, lavendar and rose. Having shoved plenty of this stuff up my nose, I agree that, while it is very subtle, it is definitely scented. So, why do we hear about ‘plain SP’, with the likes of Toque Original and Quit being described as SP type snuff?
Toque Original has plenty of that yummy SP flavor to it. I haven’t noticed it with my Quit really, but I’ve got 100g in an air tight container, so it still has plenty of cat pee to it. I’m not sure why something would be called a plain SP, perhaps it’s to distinguish it from things like Sp extra which is super scented?
Toque Quit I would not class as SP. It is simply plain. However, there are plenty of plainer SPs than Wilsons’ Best SP which is what the quoted description refers to. Wilsons themselves offer at least 6 different SPs - some being plainer. Having said that, there is no exact definition of what SP is. Samuel Gawith call Red Crest an SP and that seems quite a stretch of the definition.
The one that has been bugging me is Gold Label. It is as plain as can be. People here have been been calling it SP, but it is not. It is a decent snuff but it is a plain snuff not a SP.
Gold Label has the exact same ingredients as Best SP in the same ratio: Bergamot, Lavender and Rose. The difference is that it is made with Virigina tobacco instead of Zimbabwe. This info comes straight from past published literature from Wilsons. It should be noted though that many cases of “off” tins of Gold Label have been reported here on Snuffhouse. I’ve owned two strikingly different ones at the same time myself. Also sometimes its sold (though not always specifically) as “Gold Label Vintage”. Who knows how old that is?
Xander, my tin of Gold Label has no hint whatsoever of bergamot, Lavender or Rose. It is a decent plain tobacco snuff. I guess I had one of those off tins. Thanks for the info, feel a bit robbed now. Then again not the first time… when Mars Tobacco sold snuff, I got 25 grams of Jaaps Macouba that was moist…
My ‘off’ tin came from Mars, as I recall.
Sad thing is, off tins or not, I miss Mars, with their quick shipping and free samples.
:9(
I still buy pipe tobacco from mars.
Gold Label sure as heck is more than plain tobacco snuff. The bergamot, lavender and rose is distinctive as is the Virginia base. You must have a bum tin. From bulk this one is very rich in scent. No noticeable burn.
J&H Wilson SP No1 seems pretty plain to me.
My idea of a plain tobacco would be Neffa Ifrika (excellent) or a Bernards Gekachelter Virginie (also excellent). All plain SP snuffs seem like plain SP’s, but still far from a straight tobacco taste. I think that these small old tins of snuff from various venders give all kinds of different experiences based on luck of the draw. My reaction to The Gold Label statement was one of astonishment, but I was one of those who bought all of my favorites from Wilsons when they had the half priced internet store sale, I mean a 250 g tub for $15 was too much temptation just a week or so from PACT going into effect, I took it as a sign from the Gods to stock up. And I believe Wilsons made up a whole bunch of very fresh stock to fulfill the orders. The Irish HD toast #20 was phenomenally fresh. Sampling all the different snuffs I received was a very special insight into just how good snuff can be.