Xander - for your info. McGahey didn’t have the Cardinal or Macouba. He is sending JH Wilson SP in tin and F&T Seville. It’s the JH Wilson I’m particularly interested in. May be my daily dose.
Thanks for the update. Macouba you can get most any online shop though. Seville is love it or hate it, so be prepared. To love it, it might take some getting used to it for awhile.
what ‘sort’ is it? I’m gradually getting to like the black rappee styles.
No, its fine. It has an unusual floral scent (neroli oil) which is derived from a particular orange flower. Its somewhat sweet and perfumy, and the scent stays with you for awhile. However, neroli has some potent aromatherapy aspects. For me it creates a certain feeling of ecstasy.
You make it sound very desirable. Look forward to giving it a go.
@Xander maybe they will do like Wilson’s do and accept money orders or cheques? I’ve ordered from them in the past and always had good service, but then again I’m in England and obviously don’t have the US credit card problems. Stefan
@ Walrus: they probably would. However, for one tin (or even a few) its not worth all the bank fees I would have to deal with. Its probably cheaper just to send cash.
Definately. Stefan
Xander Received the three Covent(Mullins and Westley) snuffs. To my nose all three are very nice snuffs. I Won’t attempt to describe Jock’s choice as I know you are familiar with it. All I’d say is that at first sniff I got spice rather than fruit. Delightful blend which avoids over the top floral scenting. The mature crumbled is close to perfection for a courser moister SP style. The Particular I find immediately more ‘tobacco-y’ and it seems to develop gradually in the nose in a particular way. Have used a lot of these over the past half hour. I am left with a sense that these are quality snuffs - to my beginner’s nose. I’d be happy to take any of them to work. Slightly more expensive but the quality is obvious. I will wait for the JH Wilson SP and the Tranters. But would be happy to stick with any of these in bulk.
@petersuki: I’m glad you liked them. They are good snuffs. Jock’s Choice has some neroli in it, the prime scent in Seville.
It is very tasty. These three snuffs rely on their tobaccoiness rather than heavy overt flavouring. Very satisfying. I’ve used quite a lot in the last hour. My taste buds have had it a bit. All I’m getting is the tobacco, which is my prime delight.
Xander Received my JH Wilsons and Seville. I think you are right to extol the Seville. My favourite F&T so far along with HDT. An instantly soothing fragrance. JH Wilson much more pungent than I remembered. Perhaps this is because the stuff I had a long time ago had been hanging around a long while, and this is vacuum packed and ULTRA fresh. I will use it at work over the next few days to see how I get on as it settles down. The only delivery I have not had is the Tranter - Waiting for that Dr Johnson.
I’m glad you are happy with your choices. I agree with your analysis of the vacuum tin situation. My understanding is that SP No. 1 can be found in nearly every newsstand in Britian, but only in the worthless little blue boxes. So it stands to reason that most people are only familar with it in a stale state. I suppose some actually prefer it that way since they are so used to it being that way. It will certainly settle down once opened a few times.
The bigger tins were also quite usual in tobacconists years ago (also the menthol was quite common). I’m used to snuffs being past their best, rather than too fresh to show their character. It’s settling quite quickly. I got horses when I first tried it. Took a small pinch of Jock’s Choice followed by a pinch of Seville. Complementary! Repeated the experiment and got nothing. I have a lot to learn.
Xander The three Tranters have arrived. I have snuffed a lot this evening and taste buds are a bit shot. Suffice to say that the Dr Johnson is a darker richer tasting SP style. Regency is is more flavoured, but not at all over the top, and the SP is just that. Which means good to me. It will take quite a while to settle on my favourite ‘plain’ brown. But the Tranter is considerably cheaper than Covent and can be bought in 8 oz tubs…and these all seem very good to me. I had a perfectly happy day with the JH Wilson SP. More expensive than these, but a better tin than these Wilson styles.
Thanks for the update. I’m even more intrigued by Dr. Johnsons now. I agree with you in terms of tins. For large size tins (25 or 1 oz) I just usually decant to a snuffbox anyway. I do like the Wilson’s 10g tin for ease of use though. But you are right, Tranter’s is available in bulk which is the best option of all (once you settle on some favorites). Since my best option of getting Dr. Johnson is if Mr Snuff decides to stock it, he’s only got about half the Tranter’s line currently. I must give him credit for that though, since he’s the first non Tranter store to do so. Don’t forget to check Samuel Gawith someday. They make some good plainer SPs as well and if you get them in the large tin (same as the J&H Wilson type) they are moist and fresh. They generally run a little courser than the Wilson’s types.
Will take Philips’ advice on SG Irish D light at some stage. Will investigate their SP sometime. Their London Brown is quite a shocker. Don’t think I could do that all day. Really quite a conumdrum with these 6 Covent and Tranters SP styles. Which to choose? Tranter’s SP is excellent for a traditionalist. Dr Johnson is more complex and may turn out to be the eventual bulk buy. Thanks for advice during this exercise. I’ll let you know what I decide to bulk buy (might even be Tranter’s Regency: sweeter and slightly more fragant but understated). My briars and SG Full Virginia flake are getting less and less attention.
You have plenty of time. Eventually you will just know, and not have to choose. Irish D is a toast, very yummy but a little tricky to learn due to fineness and dryness. Good luck!
PhilipS - if you follow Have just tried the SG Irish D Light (tin). Delicious. Have also tried the GH Kendal Brown (Tub). Lovely. Xander, if you are still following, to deal with those cravings for briar and and SG Full Virginia Flake, I’ve just tried Taxi Red, NTSU and Grunt. No cravings with these. The greater complexity of the two mentioned above is apparent and delightful after sampling these brutes.
@petersuki you can send me all your left over FVF, just so you won’t be tempted to go back…