Two new snuffs tried. Viking Dark: Like this one, not as coarse as Viking Brown but similar in taste and aroma. Maybe a slighter higher nic hit? A nice alternative to Blonde and could be a good ‘drinking’ snuff. If you know what I mean. Abraxas St.Casura: My first foray into ‘artisan’ snuff. Wow, interesting experience. First off, I like it. Lots of upfront aromas, I get orange (a bit like Cointreau), sugar/Turkish delight thing going on, pipe tobacco, and a whole lot more. All the aromas seem very ‘natural’ if that makes sense. The upfront aromas don’t seem to linger too long though and I’m ready for a blow fairly quickly, but it leaves a nice pipe tobacco finish. Medium grind and low-med moisture I would say. I have a feeling that whilst I’m liking this now, it will grow on me. I’ve said before that I don’t particularly like flavoured / scented snuffs, however this does feel like a cut above the rest.

Both ‘classics’ in my book these ones. St. Casura benefits from a little rustica tobacco which [to me] provides a lot of vitamin N Good choices @Thunderbird

Vitamin N…

The orangey/candied peel scent of St. Casura always reminds me of Christmas.

Yes it is a bit like that isn’t it? There is definitely a liqueur chocolate feel to it. I think it’s one I would not like too much of in one go. Like a good malt whisky.

Two very different snuffs, both excellent choices. But don’t run away with the idea that SC is a “typical” Abraxas snuff. There is no such thing. Each one is a unique work of craft, and different from all the others

Point taken. Thanks.

@Thunderbird‌, SC is great! But just wait til you try Premium Club … and Firedrac … and Cafe11

I’m just trying SC this morning. I think the Cointreau/Turkish Delight is a good description for the initial scent. I originally thought it was Rose like. I’m thereafter getting some burn and a little drip. Once it settles down the Bergamot becomes clearer and is pretty nice. Definitely would be nice on a sunny day out in Spain or somewhere similar, unfortunately I live in a bog and it’s currently almost dark and pouring down outside. As it’s summer hopefully we will get our annual day of sun and I think I will get this one out again then.

It’s an indulgent snuff I think. I don’t think I’d want it with me out and about, more of a sit down and relax kind of thing, as mentioned, the way one would enjoy a single malt. I’ve had a cold recently and been off my usual favourite, which is Best SP. Found it too subtle to cut through a cold. Now I’ve recovered I’ve taken the opportunity to try a few more snuffs that I have had for a while and remained unopened.

St. Casura, to my taste, is light years superior to Viking Dark, in richness, complexity, and pure “flavor.” But that’s just me. FWIW.

I definitely prefer leaf snuffs over stalks which I assume is one of the major differences between the two. I haven’t tried Viking Dark but isn’t it just base tobacco like the Black Coffee without the flavouring which might indeed be better as I don’t like vanilla coffee. I haven’t continued with my use of SC. It actually reminds my of a milder F&T and I’m off those at the moment and don’t use SP’s much now either. I guess I now have a lot snuffs I like regularly so it takes ever more for new ones to join that set and even a great one like SC and many others have a tough time making it.

To be fair my original post was not intended to be a comparison of the two, it was just stating the two I had taken the most recently. I have tried SC a few more times and I do like it, but for my nose at least it’s going to be far from an every-day snuff. It’s an odd consistency, because it feels somewhat coarse and also somewhat dry, yet it creates a desire to blow within minutes. The grind appears a little inconsistent, similar to when you use a blade grinder on coffee as opposed to a burr grinder.

I still much prefer FireDrac. Always liked it -although it is a bit of a strong chilli- and still like it a lot. Love snuffs that’s consistantly hold my interest and FireDrac seems to be one of those. SC I would still say is one of the best SP types I’ve tried and I may return to those in future.

Definately think that SC is an excellent SP, though due to it’s toasted nature its difficult to compare it to ‘classical’ SP’s as they aren’t toasted. I’ve made a place in my daily rotation for this one.

I’m not sure I would like chilli snuff. Even though SC has what might be called ‘food and beverage’ aromas I usually fall firmly in the camp that I don’t want snuff to smell or taste like food.

I’m not sure I would like chilli snuff. Even though SC has what might be called ‘food and beverage’ aromas I usually fall firmly in the camp that I don’t want snuff to smell or taste like food.

@Thunderbird, the thought of Cheese and Bacon snuff makes me want to throw up, so I’m with you there. But I never would have thought Firedrac smelled like food. It’s just spicy. I find it more like pepper than chilli, but it probably has a bit of both.

@JakartaBoy‌ Yes even the thought of the cheese and bacon one gives me the dry heaves.

@Thunderbird‌ … your review of the St. Casura has sealed the deal for me to place this on my next snuff order. I think the “pipe tobacco finish” description is what did it for me.

I must have completely missed that “pipe tobacco finish”??? Mull of Oa would be the King in that department. Seems I was right about the Rose as I just checked the website http://theartisansnuffsociety.com/abraxas-premium-batch-english-snufff/ With the Citrus then it does add up to a Bergamot type scent. I think the tobacco may have some similarity with something in Havana Toast as another poster mentioned on that thread. I noticed that also in the very beginning but I don’t really get anything much tobacco wise from SC now.

Actually SC and Havanna Toast are made from different tobaccos. A few people have mentioned a cigar-ish flavour to my snuffs although I do not use any Havanna or cigar tobacco in any of them. I suspect it’s something to do with the toasting process. Cheers guys, Nigel.

This is a bit weird, then again that makes perfect sense coming from me. St. Casura reminds me of the long gone Barry Levin(RIP) Turkish Woods broken flake, toasted, then deftly seasoned with mystery citrus (I don’t get that much bergamot, if any), a lovely natural floral note and a perfect Rustica burn for a lingering finish. If this was wine it would be a 1921 Château d’Yquem (23,290.00 €) A toasted SP makes perfect sense. Before SC the only thing that was in that genre was WoS IHDT 20…not in the same league as SC. Hell, not in the same game as SC. It needs to come in 500 gram jars. So does Premium Batch Coarse.