Black Rappee is another of the Samuel Gawith coarse snuffs revisited. My original comment was rather short and to the point: “Moist, black and coarse. Plain tobacco and tasty with it.” Still true of course, but I think I have learned to appreciate Black Rappee even more. It is good, strong tobacco, perhaps lacking the slight smokiness of London Brown but very satisfying with a long lasting flavour. That solid tobacco flavour is so full that one could not call it a mere scent. The grind is coarse, the moisture is positively wet and the colour is as black as it gets. Perfect! The trick, as with all the Samuel Gawith coarse, dark snuffs, is to be sure that the snuff is fresh and moist. If it dries out even a little bit then the best of the flavour seems to go with the moisture. If it’s dry it seems to turn clumpy and gritty. Of course the snuff can always be rehydrated but once it dried beyond a certain point it will prove impossible to recapture the essential qualities of the snuff. Buy it in bulk and use the three tier decanting system for daily use.
Right on Tony. Black Rappee is a delicious dark, coarse snuff. My tin dried out long ago, but this is one that re-hydrates with ease, and once placed in an airtight container, keeps its moisture. Dark, earthy tobacco with hints of rich leather. The scent that lingers reminds me of wood after a long rain. The tobacco if kept moist will stay fluffy and thick, easy going.
I’m loving it recently, myself. I’m going back and forth between it and Scotch Black. The Princes Dark seems to use the same base. Reviews are forthcomng…
I am surprised that Black Rappee and other, similar SG snuffs don’t get discussed all that much. Or maybe those in the know are too busy snuffing them to write about them 
I’m contemplating a bulk purchase of one them. It’s probably a toss up between Black Rappee and London Brown. Tricky decision. Knowing me I may go for both!
I hear ya Tony. Both Black Rappee and London Brown are certainly on my bulk buy list. EDIT: Add Irish D Light to that as well.
First on my “bucket list” is acquiring the knack of taking coarse snuffs whereby it mostly stays in my nose 'till I wish otherwise. This would be such a stupendous accomplishment it would render all other items on the list superfluous, and I could die a happy, fulfilled man. Until that day, I’ve got a half pound each of S.Gawith’s High Mill and Irish D Light winging their way over the Atlantic as we speak!
@ ermtony - I have recently bought Black Rappee and London Brown in 250g and you certainly won’t regret the purchase at first i thought they were very similar but the more i spend time with them the more differences are noted in scent, texture and moisture if you decant from each into smash boxes from the Samuel Gawith tubs they will develop very differently over 24 hours. I use empty NTSU containers as they hold enough for a days supply and really allow the character of the snuff a chance to shine unlike tins which dry it out too rapidly.
Thanks for the comments Al. Very useful. I can see me going for both very soon, probably once I’ve finished the various sample boxes (AKA plastic dispensers) I got recently.
I ve just tested SG black rapee i agree that it is relaxing. I hardly smell the taste in my nose though maybe it s because i ve been taking sws latakia blend and mull of oa very often recently.
One of the snuffs that I will take with me in the afterlife, hahaha!
@Gilliat Whoa! I’ll trade you one of my kids…
=P~ @Gilliat That’s a awesome stash!! Black Rappee is one of my favorite “Black” snuffs.
SG Black Rappee was my first snuff back in 1982 and still one of my favorites
Black Rappee, excellent snuff. One of my favourites, but I never use it outdoors. Your nostrils look like a chimney sweeps when using it.
The other dark favourite of mine is S.Gawiths London Brown, I believe now discontinued, but I have six tins unopened for the future.
I’ve been trying to be conservative with my last can of Black Rappee, but it’s hard. I’ve always been that way with this one. I’ll go a year without it sounding at all appetizing, then for a month it’s the only thing I seem to want. The Rappee I really wish I had a back stash of is the Scotch Black. I would pay handsomely for a tin or ten of those. Did any of you get the chance to try Old Mill Marlin Spike? It wasn’t a Rappee, but it had that Briney quality in spades. That, along with the kind of smoke it carried, brought me right back to Ensenada, building bonfires on the beach with the air full of the sea.
Just stocked up on this and others. I LOVE THIS SNUFF! could do with more salt though
Well I figured out the black rappee scent more when outside, the scent is so light, and the tobacco so relaxing that it’s becoming my all day & night snuff with SWS Latakia blend and for the black nose just pretend your working on your car or something ;-).
@Hitsuzen - Scotch Black is what I had hoped Sea Breezes would be like, juding by the description. That briny smokiness is wonderful, and I’m cherishing the single tap-box I have. Need to try Black Rapee one of these days.
AFAIK (but maybe I am wrong) Scotch Black and Black Rappee survived the TPD2 massacre. Sadly, London Brown didnt, I managed to snatch the last 8 tins kinda overpriced from snuffstore.de as I couldnt find it anywhere in UK.
Under the title of
Wos Best Dark; a rapee snuff?
(rappee was spelt using a single p, just in case the search engine has problems with rappee.)
HR_puffnsnuff in July 2014 tells us that Bob Gregory from the factory told him that Black Rappee and London Brown are the same. London Brown was labelled differently for a particular customer.
The snuff in my tins of London Brown is slightly lighter and doesn’t roll into balls just as it is about to leave the fingers for the nose. Unlike the Black Rappee.
I don’t know if its true or whether to take this info. with a pinch of snuff.
Interesting thought though.