I’m curious about some of the lesser mentioned scotch snuffs. I’ve tried Rooster, Railroad Mills, and WE Garrett, and I like them all. I’m wondering if there is something out there that’s kind of in between them… Railroad is a tad too sweet for me sometimes, and I have a little of that problem with Garrett. I snuff Rooster more often than anything else, but some times I get a little tired of the straight, uncomplex BBQ taste it has. I’ve been thinking of trying out Ralph’s or Swisher Three Thistle or maybe Honest Scotch… Any suggestions? Or could any of you describe what some of these other scotches are like?

Did you see snuffreviews.com?

No, I hadn’t, but now I’ll check it out. Thanks.

For the benefit of new members, snuffreviews is an excellent site maintained by a fellow who is also a member of snuffhouse. Most if not all of the top contributors are members here. If you don’t see a review on snuffreviews, ask here. One of the members will almost certainly be able to help.

I like 3 thistles and square about as much as I like rooster. To me square is “smokier” which is apealing to me. Three thistles is very strong which I also like. I’ve been trying some blending to change the flavor of my scotches a little. Most flavors are overpowered by a scotch in my opinion, but i do like mixing checkerberry and Toque abstinthe (with a scotch) for a little variety. To me they seem to have a strong enough flavor to make a difference. I like both flavors on their own, but I have a hard time fitting them into my bullet rotation, so this solution works great for me.

@miamimark: I was reading the reviews on snuffreviews, and it sounded like 3 thistles and square were what I was looking for. Your comments confirm this. I think I might try blending Rooster and Garrett now. Don’t know why I never thought of that. @NickKick: I was thinking of doing the sampler pack thing. I did it with the half sweet half scotch sampler they have, which is how I got turned on to Rooster and Railroad Mills (and how I learned that I don’t like sweet snuff). The only thing is, I wish the amounts with the sampler packs were about twice as much. I’d pay twice as much if that were the case. Hell, I guess i could just order two sampler packs. I think I might just do that.

LOL! The sample packs are just to give you a taste. They save you time and money as you can easily pick which snuffs you like without spending a bundle buying full size tins. The sample packs have changed recently to accommodate almost all of the American snuffs.

I wish someone… (hint, hint) would do the new dholakia flavors in a sample pack.

Yeah, I know it’s SUPPOSED to be for that, but the thing is that when I end up liking a snuff a lot I end up going through the two grams in about an hour. I get snuff separation anxiety very easily.

I find it hard to get into one scotch, so I have a Wilsons cherry box that I put a bit of all the plains and sweets in. I don’t have any proportions so each time I open the box it is deferent. I think the wood adds a bit to the mix. Give that a try so maybe you can scratch that scotch itch with deferent all the time.

@NickKick: Sounds like what I might be looking for. I do believe I shall add that to my order. I’ll let you know what I think. @SnuffyPM: Roasting? Like, putting it in the oven for a bit? No, I haven’t, but it sounds like an interesting idea. Any suggestion as to how long, what temperature, etc? @jarhog: I just mixed Rooster and Wilsons inside an old Wilsons SP can I had, and I’m pretty pleased with the results. Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

I notice alot of people use the W.E. Garrett Scotch with favorable comments. I use it and like it too, but I never hear, or read, any mention of Bruton Scotch. Any Bruton fans here? I have a can I haven’t opened yet. Tom

To me, Brutons is very similar to rooster, I don’t think I could tell the diference in a blind test. My nose isn’t very sophisticated though…

@ SnuffyPM - I plan on giving nuked snuff a try today. It sounds like a wonderful idea. @tom502 - Bruton’s is OK, but nothing that stands out about it. I agree that it is about the same as Rooster, but those two aren’t my favorite scotch’s. They’re still good, but not my fav.

I just did a few pinches of Bruton, and it’s initial feeling is kinda like when one pops one of those sushi rolls with a plop of wasabi on it. Really hits hard at first, then dissapates. Even got a little tear eye. Tom

SnuffyPM, Does the roasting take away some of the BBQ flavor? Sometimes I like the BBQ, other times not, but I ALWAYS like a strong kick in the head -wink, wink. Thanks

So I discovered a few things while roasting some WE Garrett last night/this morning: A) One of my roommate’s shot glasses is not a microwave safe container. B) The toaster oven is great for roasting snuff (probably the only thing it’s good for, as it works well neither as a toaster nor as an oven). C) Overroasting snuff gives it a very pleasant coffee taste. But then, most things probably taste a bit like coffee after they’ve been charred. What I’d like to do, once I have a little more expendable snuff at my disposal, is to perfect this process, getting as close to that coffee taste as I can without charring out any of the other innate flavors. Thank you, SnuffyPM, for the excellent suggestion.

I will definitely keep you posted. As soon as the tobacco store near where I live gets some rooster in I’m going to begin my experimentation anew.

I wish an American snuff company would make a strong menthol snuff.

Until they do I will have to keep making my own. I like to mix W.E. Garrett sweet and mild with hedges. The sweet and menthol go really well together. It’s also fun to add Rooster to Gawith’s apricot, sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty good.

@snuffegnugen My Favorite Mix! Rooster & Apricot!

@tom, Yeah, I think right like the day after I decided to mix the two, I saw a thread were you or someone else had mentioned the same combo. Great minds think alike I guess.

Rooster goes awsome with mcrystals apricot 2. That’s the only reason I buy mcrystals apricot . 50 50 mix works perfect u can even add more rooster and it’s still extra apricoty. It goes so will it’s like it was made like that. Ive been doing alot of Starr scotch , for some reason i love it. People tell me it smells like hey or manure but it’s mild to me.if I had to pick 3 fravorite scotches it would be starr,bruton,and redseal probably in that order,but my tastes are subject to change .

SnuffyPM, Pipe smokers sometimes roast pipe tobacco. I’ve never tried it because I just figured if toasting would improve it,then the maker wouls have toasted as many tobaccos are. The most common technique used was to roast it is in a crock pot on high (outside because the aroma isn’t said to be that good). I don’t remember the recommended time but it would be different for snuff anyway so you would have to experiment to get the time correct for the result you are looking for. It was also suggested to never use a microwave on tobacco. Again, my memory fails me as to why not but I remember it was said it did something bad to the tobacco. I don’t believe microwaves are capable of roasting anyway. Pipe tobaccos often have to be dried out to the smokers satisfaction and that was how this whole thing started. By all means, give it a try and if you get interesting results, let us know.

@ elganso, welcome aboard. Can I point out that this is an old thread that recently got bounced up. SnuffyPM was Last Active Jun 23rd 2009. I don’t think he’ll read you.

Just as a slight aside, for those of you that are new to snuff and experimenting with Scotch, there are some English snuffs that I always think compliment the Scotchs in a collection. An ideal rotation for me on these types would be: Levi Garrett WoS HDT 22 Rooster WoS Best SP Toque Original Toque Rose Using that in rotation would be a great selection of hardcore snuffs and flavours topped by an evening session with the Rose and a good Bourbon or malt in your hand; just my humble opinion.

Standard by US Smokeless is a must try. Nicotine Rush has it. Anyone looking for a butt kicking nicotine hit without the BBQ flavor is going to really like this one. I don’t detect any flavoring, just tobacco. It has a nice short burn and an immediate rush. I bought this to mix and use to kick up other snuffs and while it would be a great mixer, I’m just going to use it straight and it will be an all day snuff.

I don’t know what it is, but I find the American Scotch Snuffs facinating, even though for a nasal snuff, they are not a fave. I do sniff them once in a while, as well as dip them. I traded off all my cans a while back, but now, for whatever reason(maybe just something to do), I wanna try and collect them all. Like a collection. Today I went to the grocery and picked up some Red Seal, Bruton, and Honest. I dipped a little of the Red Seal. I also ordered a few I had never had, and been curious about, like Wild Cherry, Checkerberry, Maccoboy, and some others. I think a part of it, is their shape/size and label designs. They seem to have a vintage look about them. I think it’d be a cool collection to have a can of every kind I can find.

I’ve recently decided that Three Thistles is one of the most interesting of the American Scotches. I felt ambivalent about it for a long while, but I’ve grown to really like it lately. Most of the scotches are one-dimensional, which isn’t a bad thing. They are what they are, but the Three Thistles blend is a bit more subtle and complex. Along with the expected barbeque notes, there’s an almost subliminal sweetness, as well as another faint taste that I cant quite identify.

@kj: I might be leaning towards Three Thistle myself. I’m not sure yet, but it might be No.1 someday. I even like their sweet, and I’m not crazy about the sweets. @ tom: I’m heartened to know you are giving Scotches another chance. Its ok to dip them once in awhile. I was out of snus for awhile and mixed a bit of water with them and made them into a subsitute. While technically speaking Maccoboy and Checkerberry are not Scotches, they are unique and really are worth trying. I’m getting the big jar of Mac next time. If you don’t like them, I can always take them off your hands.

I’m really curious to see how Checkerberry is in the mouth.

Its halfway to skoal wintergreen, but not sickly sweet like skoal. It has a decent nic hit when snuffed though.

I find the Three Thistle quite enjoyable…I do take caution with it now as it is very potent! I don’t detect any sweetness to it,but plenty of good old fashioned BBQ flavor.As kj mentioned there is someting else there that I can’t put my finger on as of yet…pehaps in 5 to 10 years when I am down to half a can I’ll know what it is!(I take super small pinches now) The Wiz!

Three Thistles Sweet: I don’t know if I’m using the most accurate term to describe it but I smell something almost ‘vegetative’ in Three Thistle, mostly just in the nose-slight flower/cut weeds or grass?. Similar to RRMills and Navy in some respects. I’ll have to get Thistles regular soon. @Tom 502 When I heard Checkerberry is made out of people, that is one I will never try, my friend!

@Bart I Have the Three Thistle Strong…and there very well be a “grassy” scent involved there! The Wiz!

Since I think most of us agree over 90% of people who buy these from the corner store use them in the mouth, and today I saw on ebay someone selling a vintage WE Garrett which says, “Your Best Chew” right on the can, that there hasn’t been more flavored types, like mint, or maybe even a menthol. Chocolate would be good too.

@tom502 While I would agree that 90% of the “Corner Store” shoppers would agree with that statement…I would have to be in 10% that still use it as a snuff! A menthol scotch would be a huge hit for me.Chocolate? That would be interseting to say the least! The Wiz!

@The Wiz Just take your best scotch and mix a little of your favorite straight menthol into it. I would start with a 5:1 ratio - scotch to menthol and then mix to taste.

@LincolnSnuff…Thanks…I have some Toque Menthol…I will try that ratio and see what happens!! The Wiz!

I saw a mention in an older post of a Swisher High Toast. Did anyone ever get this? And who won that Peach & Honey? How was it?

cstokes won the Peach & Honey. I forget who won the Lorillard Toast, but do a search for “snuff sausages” I think that was the title of the thread. I got some of that Peach & Honey in trade and it really tastes like honey, much more so than Honey Bee.

What’s everyone’s favorite Scotch Snuff manufacturer? I think I like Swisher the best.

@tom502…I would concur. I love My Three Thistles!! The Wiz!

I think that Swisher is the “best” in terms of variety, but if US Smokeless had a larger range, I think they would take the prize.

Well, I’ve only had Ralph’s, Rooster and Railroad Mills Sweet, but I generally find myself preferring the Helme snuffs.

I wonder if it’s really “bad” to not spit, and well, eat the scotch snuff, if dipping it. The reason I write this, is I put a dip in of this Dixie Sweet, this stuff is like really good butteryness stuff that is literally dissolving in my mouth.

I’ve managed to try 5 Scotches so far, the first four were all sweets. All different and all enjoyable. Just now broke the seal on Conwoods WE Garrett, my 1st, I guess ya call it, Plain Scotch. The BBQ taste I’ve read of puts me in mind of the smokey aspect of smoked salmon. And now after a second good pinch the nic is making it’'s presence firmly known.

I have used English snuff for a long time and recently bought six American Scotches to see what they are about. Most did not really impress me, but Three Thistles Strong was delightful. It is a snuff of some substance, as good or better than any toast I have tried. Not too much hickory smoke like some I tried.