So, I cracked a tube of Ralph’s last night. Before I say more, I’ll admit that I have been snuffing a year or so and am very much in first grade when it comes to educating my nose. I’ve previously had three scotches and three sweets, as well as a few plain toasts. With that little experience under my belt, I figured that I’d be able to discern any major difference in Ralph’s to say, W E Garrett. I am guessing that the major difference in the scotches is in the percentage of dark fired Kentucky–which must be on the high side for the ones I have tried–and whatever the balance of the leaf is. I am a big fan of DFK in my pipe blends and I’m really starting to appreciate the smoke, leather, and old bookstore in these scotches. I find that Ralph’s is moderate in those aromas, but with layers I have not found in others of the style. There is a nuttiness that, in the pipe, I would associate with burley. I probably imagined a hint of bread (not yeasty, but grainy) in a couple pinches, or the ghost of snuffs past colored those pinches. The nuttiness is there, though, punctuating the smokiness. What came as a surprise is a distinct note of apple just as the burn subsides. I will also mention that I get a quicker yet more intense burn from Ralph’s than Garrett, Superior, or Bruton. This apple scent is almost certainly from the tobaccos used and may not present itself as apple to every snuffer, but that’s what I get. It is fleeting and elusive, but distinct for the briefest moment. Last year I rediscovered snuff before moving southward. Of course I started the search for scotches when I got here. Now I want to kick myself for not getting on board sooner. Reading old threads here will show how many brands have been lost in even the few years before I began my interest in American snuff. I do consider myself very fortunate to try brands that I never would have been able to without SH and its fine denizens. I also feel some duty to help spread the ones that I can get here. The quantities I’m purchasing sure aren’t keeping brands alive, but it feels good knowing I put a snuff in someone’s hand that might not otherwise be able to get it. That’s because I know how good it felt to get this Ralph’s in the mail!

I’m looking forward to getting some Ralph’s soon, so I appreciate the review. I’m also a beginning snuffer, so I’m in that phase where I’m regularly buying a wide variety of different snuffs and steadily building up my supply of favorites, only to keep finding out about new, rare, or discontinued snuffs that I simply have to have. It’s like an addiction!

Or, it’s exactly the same as every other American scotch snuff. Ha, ha. I’m coveting a lot of snuff I have not tried, though I must have a hundred blends. What’s very cool about being new, and this is true for pipes as well, is the discovery of new aromas in a snuff that’s been taken many times. If I lay off a style or even a brand for a few days, it often reveals new things when I return to it. Snuff is the greatest.

Also in common with pipes is the technical learning curve which most certainly affects the flavors we get. I’ve mastered that part of smoking pipes, but I’m far from it with snuff. Every snuff seems to offer me a different type of challenge. I’m enjoying that challenge, throat hits and tears and all.

I actually had a dream where I was down south searching out new American scotches. It’s an obsession. My favorite category of snuff by far.

I have a tin of this, really old, scored on eBay for $3. I did not like it at first, but now enjoy it. MIne may be old and it’s not smokey at, but its still got a good flavor. It turns out my mama goat really likes snuff, and I give her little pinches of Ralph’s in her lip. She really likes it, but likes sweet scotches even more, esp. Tube Rose!