I got a 25 gram tube of this snuff a month ago that I’m already halfway through. I’ve noticed an initial citrus zest that is especially strong when pinching and a sweetness that isn’t too sugary or baby powdery. I also ordered Princes Special with this and judging from the color and flavor difference I think its safe to say there can’t be more than a pinch of Princes in the mix if there is any. Both are superb and have me convinced that F&T are what a classic snuff should be. They say Bureau is a mix of 6 different F&T snuffs so I see it as a greatest hits compilation of sorts. Do any of you know any of the individual snuffs that are in Bureau and/or the proportions of the mix? I’ve also ordered Santo Domingo and Seville but it’ll be another week before they’re in. Even if you know nothing about Bureau go ahead and give your two cents on those two or your favorites from F&T.
Morocco is the most obvious component to me. The other 5 must be Macouba, Bordeaux, Morlaix, Seville and Kendal Brown. I can’t guess what the ratios are, but after Morocco I get a good hint of Bordeaux.
Wow. Hit the nail on the head there. Thanks.
Not a clue! but while you are attempting to discern the mixture’s constituent parts, you might also like to peruse the following references to Bureau: “There is Martinique, pungent, aromatic, and best after dinner ; Masulapatam, its name and odour transporting the fancy to the gorgeous East; French Bureau, every grain of which gives a man a feel of business …” The New Monthly Magazine 1821 ------------------------------------------------------ “I would recommend the neophyte to begin with Bolongaro, Martinique, or the younger Pontet’s mixture ; he may then regale himself occasionally with some of Fribourg and Treyer’s Bureau and Etrenne. Or he may pay his devoirs to the Dutch family—there are a variety of Carrottes, and savoury withal, the black snuffs are the most powerful, and require great age. Bolongaro and Martinique may be likened to Sauterne and Chablis, very light, and very pleasant. The old Cuba, and Mr. Skinner’s mixture, to burgundy and port wine, of great body, richness, and flavour. Fribourg’s stands pre-eminent for Bureau and Etrenne. The concoctors of this plain, gentlemanly mixture, have imparted a flavour to these two snuffs that one may look for in vain elsewhere, and I pronounce it the best for a moderate snuff-taker. It is not so delicate as the Martinique, Bolongaro, and others of the genus brown; nor so rich and luscious as the Cuba, cum multis edits, of Carrottes, but admirably calculated for the admirer of the juste milieu. But to my poor judgment, there were snuffs equally as good as the far-famed Martinique, although not quite so much in vogue, in proof of which, in obedience to all-powerful custom, 1 had a mixture of my own. This was composed of three-fourths Bureau, and one-fourth Havannah Rape, but then such Havannah Ripe ! Alas ! every grain of it is gone, and so ended my mixture.” The New Monthly Magazine 1839 ------------------------------------------------------ "The afternoon snuffs approved by his Majesty were, Etrenne, Bureau, Martinique, Cologne, Old Paris, Havre, Bordeaux, Rouen ; but the most favourite snuff was a Carotte, manufactured expressly for him, by Fribourg and Treyer, and which preparation they now sell, under the title of “The King’s Carotte“. Bureau is usually the same colour and grain as Etrenne ; but it is to be procured of any grain, according to the taste of the taker. Why it bears that particular appellation we have not been able to ascertain ; but we remember the remark of a wag, who happened to be present at our requesting Mr. Kilpack to fill our box with this pleasant snuff: — “ Bureau ! “ the punster exclaimed, eyeing the somewhat Patagonian proportion of our receptacle, “ why ‘tis big enough for a chest of drawers.” A Pinch of Snuff by Benson Earle Hill 1840 ------------------------------------------------------ “Etrenne obtained its name from the custom of presenting Louis XV. with choice specimens of snuff, as a New Year’s offering from the various manufacturers: his selected choice being adopted as the fashionable stimulant for the noses of courtiers for the year. Bureau is a snuff of the same character, and was one of the selected favourites of the sovereign, which being of peculiarly good flavour, achieved a less fleeting popularity, and being pretty generally used in the cabinet of the politician, became known by the French name thereof.” Tobacco: Its History and Associations By Frederick William Fairholt 1859
@PhilipS Thanks. I like this snuff even more now. The only historical research I’ve done is reading the cans and they don’t mention any of that stuff. Just some Dukes in England that they made snuff for.
The main thing, Tom, is that you like it. However, the F&T Bureau of 1839, described as a “plain, gentlemanly mixture” to suit the “admirer of the juste milieu” (happy medium), must have been very different from the potpourri of today. George Evans (grandson of the George Evans who ran the business from 1815) writes that: “Snuff of the present day gives no idea of what it once was, and bears no comparison to that of former years. Its fragrance was derived by careful blending of snuffs made of various tobaccos, and not by the addition of scents or essences. Scented snuffs were sometimes taken, but the proportion was small in comparison to the quantity of unscented snuffs sold. Scented snuffs came more into vogue as the more refined varieties were dying out; the latter, as time went on and the demand for them lessened, were no longer made and are now unobtainable. Many of the numerous mixtures are now only names, and, though fine snuff could easily be made again, it would be almost impossible to reproduce some of these mixtures in their original form.” The Old Snuff House of Fribourg & Treyer by George Evans 1921
Great information there, Philip. I wonder which F&T (Wilsons) comes closest in approximating the scent of the original? Understood this is a rhetorical question based on the above.
According to “The Old Snuff House of F&T at the sign of the Rasp & Crown…” Bureau was one of the snuffs ordered by King Louis XVIII after his restoration to the throne of France in 1815, I believe. During the time of Napoleon, he lived in England in exile, where he became a customer of F & T.
BTW, the book referred to above is available online at archive. org. It is a fascinating read to any snuff enthusiast and includes all sorts of arcane info. Recommended reading.
@mrmanos is the title of the book “The Old Snuff House of F&T at the sign of the Rasp & Crown…”? I tried searching for it on archive.org but there were no results.
@mrmanos nevermind, i found it, was searching the wrong title. when i searched “The Old Snuff House of Fribourg and Treyer” I found it.
Cool, thats it.
F&T Bureau is one of the first snuffs I have bought. The scent definitely puts me in the mind and space of “serious” business. I imagine several distinguished gentlemen taking this snuff, discussing deals, and sipping scotch in a lavish office overlooking the city, not really doing any actual work because they have employees for that. This is the only F&T Ive triied so far. I do like it. Would be good for when Im staying up all night doing taxes or organizing my finances around the home office, lol. The scent lingers and lingers and shifts in character when I go outside into the fresh air.
@OleFactoryHugh The way the scent reappears and changes when I go outside is one particularly awesome aspect of this snuff. Other snuffs do that too, but not like Bureau. It was my favorite F&T until I tried DR JR Justice (A mix of F&T’s Bordeaux and Macouba). Now I’ve tried Bordeaux and realize that’s where Bureau gets a good deal of its complexity from. Basically I haven’t tried an F&T I don’t enjoy (and I’ve tried Seville). Bureau is a good starting point though.