Hi All, I’m a relative newcomer to the glorious world of Snuff and would like some recommendations for new snuffs that might tickle my fancy and please my nose… So far, I’ve found myself to be a bit of a WoS fan, and I appreciate the strong, meaty, oily, dark, coarse snuffs and lighter, scented/mentholated snuffs in equal measure. Current favourite is WoS Ice Liquorice with Best Dark a close second. The only snuff I wasn’t massively keen on upon first pinch was J&H Wilson’s SP No.1, I found it very dry, extremely fine and a very peppery snuff with an initial harshness which didn’t agree with me…the base tobacco taste with light notes of Galangal and Bergamot was very nice but the initial nose burn was unusually harsh-having said that, I bought one of the little blue tins which I’ve read aren’t ideal for maintaining good moisture levels etc, so maybe I got a duff batch. Anyhow, on the basis of my preferences so far, can anyone recommend some new snuffs to try? I’m keen to venture far and wide across the snuffing universe, I love it!
I think the best thing you could do would be to trawl through the reviews here and also on SnuffReviews.com - that way you can get a lot of opinions very quickly , also our supporter shops-------------------------------------------------------------------->>> all give good descriptions of their snuffs. In terms of WoS snuffs I would recommend Tom Buck, Grand Cairo, Kendal Brown and any number of the Fribourg and Treyer snuffs that they sell. Some snuffs are so much a part of the snuff tradition that several different companies all make versions of them - Kendal Brown and SP being two of them. WoS also make the Tranters brand which has some good flavours. Toque, 6 Photo and Dholakia all make some great snuffs - I would recommend the Toque version of KB, Berwick Brown which is coarse and strong. The Dholakia FUBAR range has some good rich snuffs such as Grunt, whilst 6 Photo market some excellent, fragrant Indian types. Everyone will be able to rattle a list off but the best thing to do is read the reviews. Small cans are ok for testing snuffs out but they are really pretty poor at keeping them in good condition - even sealed cans like the WoS ones are as likely to have dry contents as not; bulk buying is the only way to taste snuff in the way the blender envsioned it. There are good cans out there - Toque and FandT - but most don’t do the product any favours. Snuff in plastic flip top cans will be deteriorating as soon as it leaves the factory. Even after giving your preferences it’s still very difficult to recommend snuffs though. Maybe I shoudn’t mention my own brand - but I will. Abraxas is a coarse, rich snuff with fine liquor and spices available at Mr Snuff. But take out a loan.
For “meaty, oily, dark” I would suggest a Latakia and a Schmalzler (especially schmalzlers.) Sounds as if you have started with English snuff… To continue with English, I would suggest that you explore what Fribourg & Treyer have to offer. Next you might want to start exploring the German snuffs. On the other hand, you might want to start exploring the Indian snuffs. Everybody’s nose is unique. Enjoy your journey!
It sounds like your tin of J&H Wilson’s SP No.1 was old and dry. I’m guessing it was one of the little blue rectangular tins. It shouldn’t be like that at all! If you get it in the 25g vacuum packed tins you’ll find it far from dry, very tasty and easy to take.
Thanks for the comments, all! @ermtony, I am sure you’re right regarding the J&H SP, it does seem rather dry and dusty-if I tamp it down with a fingertip in the tin, it doesn’t leave a nice compacted fingerprint like my WoS snuffs. It is, indeed, one of those little blue rectangular tins. Luckily my wife’s uncle runs a gentlemen’s outfitters and millinery in the town I live in that has a good selection of snuff-he knows his stuff and did mention to me that the snuff in the bigger 25g J&H tins is likely to keep much better than the snuff in the little taster tins. As it’s relatively inexpensive, I’ll buy one of the bigger tins and give it a fair crack of the whip-as I mentioned, I like the taste, even of the out-of-condition stuff. @howdydave, I’m certainly enjoying my journey so far, and, in relative terms, I’ve only just set off…I have read good things about Schmalzlers, they sound delicious and a real ‘event’ of a snuff-I’ll definitely be getting my hands on some of those to roadtest. I’m keen to try everything and anything, I’m sure I’ll find favourites along the way but I find the huge diversity of the snuff available very exciting. The historical aspect of snuff is a big draw for me too, it seems like one of the last bastions of 18th century culture to still be commercially available and popular in a relatively unchanged format-I know it could be argued that the same applies to tobacco in general, but not many 18th century dandies could be spotted torching up a Marlboro 100 with a Zippo…there is a good deal of mystique and intrigue about snuff, everyone I know who spots me having a pinch has questions to ask and sometimes asks to try…I had a very enjoyable pinch with my 72yr old father last week who used snuff for a while in the 1960s before his local tobacconist stopped selling it-he enjoyed it very much! @snuffster, great advice there, thankyou-I just had a nose (no pun intended) around snuffreviews.com which is fascinating-I’ll have an indepth read once I’ve posted this. I’ve yet to try any Toque but I’ve only read good things, as I have about your Abraxas-I will treat myself to some of that in the next day or two! I plan to buy more bulk snuff once I’ve settled into a rhythm with a selection of favourites, it seems the general consensus that it’s the only way to maintain condition from manufacturer to nostril. I have read in a couple of places that WoS Tom Buck and Queens Extra Strong are the same snuff under two different names-is this so? I’m very keen to try Tom Buck but my local snuff emporium is out of stock of it at the moment-they have QES and SP100, which the proprietor advised was similar to Tom Buck but a finer grind and slightly less strong. Grand Cairo is very evocatively named, it cunjors images of 1930s opulence and opium dens in low light, dripping in gold leaf and silken drapes…I must get some in my nose post-haste! Thanks again for the informed and interesting replies and for being kind to a forum newb-much appreciated!
Ice Liquorice is a cracking starter snuff, IMO. You might not want to overdo the mentholated snuffs, however. Shoving too much menthol up your schnoz when you don’t need it can actually make you more bunged-up due to ‘menthol rebound’ (rhinitis medicamentosa).
I soon came to the realization that I would not be able to try EVERYTHING on the market. I would suggest that you try general categories and zero in on what you like.
@Jinder whenyou wrote: strong, meaty, oily, dark, coarse snuffs all I can think of is Bernard, Bernard, Bernard! You need to dive into the range of Bernard’s snuffs. Doubtful you will find them locally, I’m sure you will have to buy online. Samuel Gawith has some like you describe, sans the oil, in the areas of the Rappees (Black Rappee, Scotch Black, London Brown) and Kendal Browns. You might get these locally, but avoid tap boxes at all costs. With Bernard, tap boxes are acceptable as the oil base will keep them fresher longer.
I have to agree with Xander about Bernard… I was just trying to avoid directing you toward any one brand name.
Tom Buck is also a good base if you want to tone something down or for when you get to the stage of experimenting with creating your own flavors.
Thanks for the info and advice, all…drawing myself up a shopping list as we speak, I’m going to place an order with Mr Snuff tomorrow. I look forward to trying them all, particularly the Bernard Schmalzlers as recommended-I like the idea of a dense, rich, punchy snuff with an evolving flavour that has a long life in the nose…WoS Best Dark is the closest I’ve come to the snuff I’m imagining, but I know there’s a good way further down that path to travel with regard to rich, peaty, oily power. I am a big fan of Laphroaig whiskey, which seems to be too peaty and earthy a taste for most people I’ve offered it to, but I adore it. I’ve yet to combine it with a snuff, but I should imagine a Schmalzler and a generous dram of Laphroaig would be the perfect combination, maybe in conjunction with a high-backed leather armchair, 1am, Coltrane on the turntable and some good company…
Not just Bernard schmalzlers. Feiner Offenbacher Cardinal, Gekachelter Virgnie Dunkel, Alt Offenbacher Köstlich, Civette Extrafein are all among my non-schmalzler favorites.
For an evolving flavor that stays in the nose, you have to try Indian snuffs.
I have spent the morning reading Snuffreviews.com and many of the great reviews on the Mr. Snuff site, and have subsequently ordered the following: Bernard Brasil Doppel Fermentiert (amazing reviews, sounds stunning) 6 Photo Anarkali (had to sample some Indian snuff after your recommendation, @howdydave) F&T Old Paris (the review describing the aftertaste as “dirt and old leather” was intriguing!) WoS Crumbs of Comfort (lots of people seem to love this and it’s not in my local emporium, so had to order some) WoS Grand Cairo (@Snuffster your recommendation pointed me this way, the Toque Berwick Brown was out of stock and they only had Tom Buck Extra, so have held out on those and will try to get my local chap to stock them) Wilsons Lavender (my good lady wife wanted to try it) Poschl President (it was on special offer so I thought I’d give it a crack of the whip…I don’t like the tapbox idea but if I hate it, it’s only an outlay of £1.80ish!) I reckon they should be with me by Saturday, just in time for a weekend treat! Thanks again for the advice 
I almost exclusively used President for 3 or 4 years.
Excellent, good to know it’s a winner-I’m always slightly suspect about anything on special offer but I’d heard good things so couldn’t resist the President…I really like the fact that snuff is such an inexpensive luxury, I have enough snuff on that order to keep me going for at least a month or two, all for under £20.
There is no such thing as “Tom Buck Extra” that’s a misprint. There is also no such thing as Macra, but that’s another story. For Pöschl, you could do worse. President is not bad. Tap boxes sort of suit German snuffs so don’t fear them in thier own context. A schmalzler bottle is best though. Tap boxes are simply disposable imitations. WoS CoC is strong Spearmint and then some. Some hate it, some love it. If you like spearmint you’ll be ok. Standard Wilson’s flour. Their Lavender is pretty awesome, very relaxing. Also same flour base. Oh, and Grand Cairo is something that you live for. If you take enough your eyes will turn blue. Either that or you hide in dark damp cellars guarding barrels of it, counting them every 15 minutes to see if any have been stolen. I think you will have a good weekend.
I’m excited about the Bernard and the Grand Cairo in equal measure-everyone seems to love the Grand Cairo, I’ve not read a bad review or comment on it-unusual to find something in such a varied arena that everyone seems to agree on! I can’t wait to try it.
Oh, and yes, Tom Buck and Queen’s Extra Strong are identical. Wilsons will confirm this. Once upon a time these were regional names or something. Its basically Best SP with extra bergamot. Quite envigorating! One you can’t buy too much of.
That’s great news, my local snuff chap has QES but no Tom Buck, he said he thought they were the same but couldn’t guarantee it. It’s good to know, I’ll pick some up from him when I’m next in town. He also said SP100 is a more finely ground version of Best SP, but again he wasn’t sure-is this also the case?