I’ve held off doing a proper review as my only experience of this snuff was a small sample bag. I’ve now got a 25g tin and have been sampling throughout the day. Firstly, part of my personal ritual, I took a sharp knife to the label and removed the government nonsense (Rodercik, you must be able to have the warning as a peel off sticker?) Even if the government propaganda was true, I’m an adult - just leave me alone with my pleasure! Opening the flat, screw tin I was expecting that much discussed amonia smell but… none at all, maybe the merest whiff. Anyay that’s never bothered me as I just assocoate it with the smell of snuff that’s just come from it’s maker not sat around on a shelf for years. The contents of the tin are superb - a nice flat expanse of snuff, perfect snuff where no fingers had gone before. The first point is that this looks like the same ‘flour’ that is used in most Toques. Not a problem, the taste is everything. I took a deep inhalation from the tin and that sharp new snuff smell hit me and even after all these years I felt a tingle of expectation. The snuff is superbly put togther. The first pinch feels like silk; it sticks together and presents a perfect consistency; rich and smooth. Upon insufflation you get that typical Toque feeling: a smooth snuff powder with a decent and pleasant nicotine hit. And then…you get the extra. In this case the extra is a soaring single note above the standard SP flavouring. What is it? Bergamot, citrus…whatever it is wonderful.
What is it? Lavender from what I recall. I will open my new tin and re-aquaint myself.
I think ii’s a lavender, rose with a ton of bergamot in a Toque Quit base. Good stuff!
I dont get lavendar just a ton of bergamot.
I get a really interesting incense like SP instead of just regular SP. It has more of an indian spice feel to it than other SP’s. If you get it fresh, it takes a few days for it to really open up. You can even see it gets a shade lighter in the can once you air it out a bit. This is definitly the best SP I have ever had and is my no1 snuff.
I really like this too. Great flavor. I was standing in line at Best Buy with my daughter, she said how weird, she smelled a really nice tea, like maybe Earl Grey, out of nowhere. It was just my nose. I think the best thing about it is, I can take it and take it, pinch after pinch, and not sneeze or blow the nose. Come to think of it, many of the Toques are like that.
If you like incense- or spice -toned SP flavor, you might like to try the WoS Strasbourg or Grand Cairo snuffs.
I’m still on the unclear side of what exactly denotes an SP style of snuff. My understanding is that it is, very generally speaking, a scented snuff using varying proportions of florals and bergamot in a medium grind and moisture base. I’m so ignorant of so much still… Anyhoo, The Toque SP Extra hits with a solid burn and strong floral (lavender?) scent. WoS’s Tom Buck and Grand Cairo are the 2 SP’s I’ve tried previously and neither has the burn that this one delivers. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing though. The burn dies rather quickly, the lavender fades just a little along with it. Here’s where the SP Extra differs from the two from WoS. The floral remains for a good long time. The citrus and tobacco make themselves known as the floral tapers off ending with a satisfying blend of all three. I think for the time being I personally prefer the Grand Cairo but the Toque SP Extra delivers enough nic and nose that it deserves a place in the snuff box!
i think an sp is what ever you want it too be but mostly is citrusy and possibly slightly floraly.
SP is… Toque Original. The rest are imitations!!
@ bob exactly the kinda gray area description that I thought I understood (-; @Pieter So I take it you like the Toque Original…
I believe this to be Toque’s best product and probably the tastiest SP out there. My only qualm with Toque is the scents never last very long. Shorter than usual.
That’s what I’ve been getting from most of the Toques myself saucy, scent is gone pretty quick. The Absinthe is the most notable exception to that.
@saucy_jack and OTD, much more reason to take more pinches!
@ pieter, but there’s something nice in taking a single pinch and have it last for a nice while.
McChrystals Clove and Toque Rose stay with me for quite a while. I agree with you, Jason
Ok, so I’m not the only one to notice this then…I love Toques, but agree most of them don’t last very long, whereas I just recently obtained a tin of WoS Lavender, and I swear I could still catch a whiff of it the next morning!
hehe, hope I didn’t kick a Toque bucket here. Overall nice product. As for simply taking more pinches to compensate, well, that starts to begger the quality vs quantity thing.
Thank you for that Roderick. I really had no intention to question the quality of your snuffs. Your reaffirmation of using only natural flavorings puts the thought of scent duration as a component of quality to rest quite nicely. If a short duration of a scent derived from natural flavorings is a given then, it is what it is eh? Learning and appreciating the nuances of snuff is the most fun I’ve had in some time!
Maybe one of the pleasures of snuff is discussing what ‘SP’ means. Actually, Bob is the closest with ‘whatever you want it to be’ - simply because there is not a single, positive definition. It’s an abbreviation in ancient stock books which has led to a loosely held industry standard. Most - but not all - SP’s will be plainish, middling snuffs with high notes of bergamot and citrus.
oops
I wouldn’t change a thing about Toque SP Extra. If you want more flavour, add a dash of lavender snuff.
Not more sandy, just being greedy and wanting what’s there to last longer! (-;
I like a good scent with a clean finish. Regardless, olfactory fatigue can set in. Due to this phenomena only the most annoying of scents would last anyway. The everlasting gobstopper…forget about it.
I’ve been snuffing Toque SP Extra all day and I am completely backed up for the first time in around a month. I love the flavor so much I think I went a little bit overboard…hehe I guess they don’t call tobacco a vice for nothing.
Toque SP Extra has never bothered me, but everything affects people differently. SP Extra is my fave Toque of them all.
As I get more into snuff I find that the scents that last a very long time become very tiring. Which is one of the reasons I could never get into cigars; I could still taste the thing the next morning as if I just got done smoking it. I did a pinch of F&T French Carotte several hours ago, and can’t get the scent out of my nose entirely. I used to think that was a positive attribute, but now I find it annoying.
Newbie question, haven’t found anything on this on the whole forum (might not have searched the right terms :-? i doubt it) Well here it goes … What does SP stand for ? Or what is an SP Snuff all about ? SPECIAL ?
What’s an SP ?answer Comment #9 and 16
According to Wikipedia, SP stands for Suppressive People and as an example they name Hitler. Now, Hitler had some SS troops and we also have SS snuff. Napoleon, also a military man, was a heavy duty snuff user. Maybe we should look in that direction for an answer.
And some good reading on ermtony’s website>>Classification of snuff
Think I read something somewhere that said SP means special plain. But I can’t vouch for accuracy here. I think if this is true it might mean a scented snuff without menthol, but there must be more to it than that, otherwise a Kendal Brown would be an SP. Yeah it’s a little confusing…
What I have noticed with the SPs I’ve had, is they all have a citrus scent. Bergamot or such.
Back on the topic of Toque SP Extra, it’s one great snuff! A strong blast of bergamot and base tobacco followed by subtle yet distinctive citrus followed by nicotine and good tobacco. That’s not to say it’s one of my most favored SPs. It lacks mystery and magic. It’s elements are upfront and pronounced. Suppose I’m sitting at a desk for 10 hours and I have 6 different SPs to hand. I rarely reach for either Toque Original or SP Extra, rather some of the others, and the reason is that some of the others are also damn good, and mysterious too, with unexplainable character, and changing character. That’s a more thrilling snuff. This is not a knock on Toque or what Roderick is getting done. He’s competing against some players that have had several generations to perfect their tobaccos and sensitivities. I expect we’ll see more and varied SPs from Roderick, certainly I hope so. There are so many ways to go at a good SP, starting perhaps with a base tobacco that’s darker and with deeper tobacco subtleties. As for the question of Toque Original vs. Toque SP Extra, they’re both great and for months I’ve changed my attitude about both frequently. And it’s still changing. Both are good.
Toque SP Extra is the snuff I have with me throughout the day. I am a huge floral snuff fan, but when I am at work or out about my daily routine I would rather have my nicotine and such.
I had always thought the “extra” in SP Extra referred to the slightly higher Nicotine content. Could be wrong, but it’s wonderful stuff regardless.
It must be wonderful snuff. I still have a good supply of toque original and almost a whole pound of Wilson’s Best SP. Plus a couple 25g tins of Sammy G’s high mill no.1. which is a superb SP snuff. I have some Queens and just finished a 25grammer of Tom Buck. I fear I will like the Toque SP Extra better, then what am I to do? I always have a fresh Patrick Collins box filled with one or the other, and it gets used daily. It’s only a matter of time, but I may not be able to wait…that long.
Superb SP in my opinion, very good bergamot scent and nice nic hit, made for drinking sessions!
Love this snuff. I will never be without a supply. Simply delightful and definitely a bulk buy
Reminds me of Tom Buck But I like TB better…
SP extra is my absolute favorite SP delicious and satisfying!!!Roderick is the man!!