Im kinda new to snuff. I have ordered an SP snuff and like it well enough. I was just wandering what the SP means and what makes SP different from High Dry Toast for instance?
Searches are always a nice tool:SP
The search engine here is very good. The one at snuson is worthless.
SP stand for Superior Product and the only snuff which qualifies for that title is Toque Original.
SPAM^^^^^^^? hahah, just joking there, Pieter. (Endorsing Toque Original quite strongly here today, old chum!
Wait a second I use Toque Quit and it’s darned good.
@tomzgreat Even though there’s lots of very good Toques, Quit is my #1 and the only one I ALWAYS have on my person. I don’t know what it is…it’s not flashy, it just satisfies.
I love Toque Quit but it’s not an SP, just pure tobacco.
There is no set criteria, for many reasons, but ‘SP’ is now known, generally, as a medium grind, medium nicotine snuff often flavoured with a hint of beragamot and citrus. The flavouring tends to be more in the background giving in effect a plainish snuff with a ‘twist’. Opinions differ about the name - the two most often suggested are ‘Sheffield Pride’ (as the bulk of it’s type was made in Sheffield, UK) or an abbreviation of ‘Spanish’ from a capture of Spanish snuff from a galleon in the 1700’s. The fact is we don’t know, but it seems likely that at the end of the day it’s an 18th century snuff company book keeper’s abbreviation for ‘Spanish’ Modern examples are Toque Original and WoS Best SP, to name just two. Wilson’s also regard some of their flavoured snuffs as SP’s so the name is fairly flexible; pretty much like the word ‘beer’.
@snuffster I believe I will go with your definition and call it gospel! (-;
LOL, Im not sure Im worthy of that!
Thanks. Still not sure what the SP stands for but I get SPs now. I have been sampling quite a few these days. I like them but not as much as scotchs and high dry toast.
so does it mean that all SPs taste the same as toque original? or are they just very similar in taste.
@fazer, all SP’s taste different except for the fact that it always have a citrus aroma.
The fact is we can’t pin the name down, so it refers to a type, like high Dried Toast - all fo which are different in some way.
Just expanding a little on Snuffter’s excellent description above (and quoting from an earlier text) … Definitions of SP seem to be getting broader. Wilsons list snuffs such as Princes, Brunswick and Morlaix on their website under the heading of SP varieties. These are not, in my opinion, SPs at all - or even varieties. It seems that these snuffs were listed under the heading - SP types - solely for want of another category listing. SP is quite probably derived the label for Spanish - here the haul of Havana snuff looted from the Spaniards by Admiral Rooke at Vigo Bay in 1702. This was the first silky-smooth commercially-made snuff introduced in large quantities to Britain. It was almost certainly unscented. Some people have claimed SP stands for Sheffield Pride. While this is unconvincing it seems that the first SP manufactured in Britain bearing that name originated in Sheffield - possibly at the Sharrow Mill. With the exception of Queens, Tom Buck, Royal George and Rose of Sharrow every item used to be distributed by Sharrow as S.X where S refers to Sharrow and X to the snuff. There was S.T (Tonquin) S.L (Lavender), S.C (Carnation), S.J (Jockey Club), S.W (Wallflower) S.M (Medicated) etc. If this very old labelling system (other manufacturers used numbers) is the origin of S.P then S stands for Sharrow (not Sheffield) while P remains a mystery. Whatever SP stands for it should, in my opinion, should have the following characteristics: Colour - light or golden brown only Mill - no coarser than demigros Moisture - dry to medium dry Flavour - the pungency derives from unscented tobacco. It may however be complemented by hints of the Citrus of Bergamia and lavender, as was the case with Fribourg & Treyer’s version Best S.P by Wilsons of Sharrow (formerly Queens) is the classic bergamot snuff. S.P No. 1 and Top Mill by J&H Wilson are examples of plain S.P, which derive their pungency purely from tobaccos and their preparation. Toque Original is another genuine S.P. Princes, Brunswick, Morlaix etc are not SPs.
Thanks for the time put into that Philip. As an almost total snuffling myself, I certainly appreciate the straight forward insights with which to build from.
Also can stand for Skinny Puppy which is certainly not a snuff.
@ PhilipS: Thank you for what really is the most comprehesive and straightforward explanation. The historical point you bring up regarding the SX system made me think of something. I remember you mentioned that once before, but I only now just thought about the SS which has been out since last year. Supposedly this was a snuff resurrected from Sharrow’s archives and which they decided to put back into production. If you are not familiar with it, it fits all the criteria for an SP that you describe (and I agree with). My question is: does “SS” stand for anything? We had this question before when it first came (back) out, but we really didn’t sort it out. Its quite nice, whatever it means!
@Xander: I emailed Wilson’s directly concerning SS. They told me that it did not mean anything. Here is my original message: “In this catalog is listed a snuff called “S.S”. The description says that “S.S.” is short for “Scotch Snuff”. Is your “S.S.” short for “Scotch Snuff”? I have never been able to figure out the meaning, some ideas were “Sharrow Snuff” and other half-baked ideas.”