I am curious to know what all you pro’s, who have had the luxury to try all 5 of the SWS snuffs, opinions on your favorite. I was also hoping for a quick description of each one in list form. These snuffs are a pretty penny, and I would like to sample them all, but for the coin, buying all 5, along with my usual reorder snuffs might just break the bank. Any suggestions for the first time purchase of SWS?
@wiscsnuffer =Tricky question as you don’t give any indication of your usual tastes? All of the SWS range are all really top drawer. I reckon that most go for creme de figue #1 as the first try; this has a favourable similarity with Abraxas Connoisseur Cerise, this is a mid grind dark and moist snuff; very nice for after dinner use. @Polly’s impressions of this as first time user are given in the Old Paris thread. Personally, the one I hit most is either Lundy Foot (a fine, dry,pale, candy floss type, toast with a very healthy nicotine hit) or Field of Junipers (medium fine ground, mid coloured; subtle botanical scent) - I wasn’t blown away by this one intially, but it’s very morish and extremely easy going and has become a firm favourite. Auld Allaince is another mid grind dark and moist snuff - amazing flavours; in many respects this is my favorite. Mull of Oa is somewhat similar to Viking Dark [to me] but considerably more complex, a winter season snuff for me with accents of peat and whiskey; and like single malt whiskey, probably not an all dayer for most, but an amazing treat on a cold evening. Johnny is a lovely fellow and his snuffs are truely artisan. I think that the aim to produce new snuffs like F&T in their hayday is both admirable and a credit to him for his creativity and dedication. Personally I’ve never had a bad one and think that his snuff is well worth the money I hope you enjoy them all 
Auld Alliance!!
Thanks for the mention @MisterPaul for my rather scatty review! @wiscsnuffer, I’ve now tried all but SWS’s Lundy Foot, and like Paul find it hard to place one above the others: all four I have are superb. I think it comes down to preference. Do you like dry and dusty with a touch of smoke and complex subtle botanical flavours? If so, Field of Junipers! Do you prefer moist, sumptuous and winey? I’d have said Crème de Figue three weeks ago but then I tried Auld Alliance which for me might even beat it. These two (for my nose) are more similar (but both indispensable), with AA just slightly squeezing past for me this week because it is just *so* rich and brandish and autumnal. Yum! Next week I’ll probably says CdF again. Or do you love: strong smokey peaty malt whisky! Mull of Oa, my latest try is amazing: as someone who’s enjoyed quite a few Islay malts this really is the real thing. No chemically imitation of whisky here: this *is* like having a fine Islay malt, with all the subtleties of the flavour, backed by dark rich tobacco. As I said in the other thread, what I got from @Johnny’s snuffs are a really organic integral mix of flavours to create something new, not just a layering of one or two scents on top of tobacco. I watch my pennies but they really are worth it! Do come back and tell us what you ordered and how it was.
@wiscsnuffer - I have to agree with @MisterPaul that it is difficult to recommend a particular snuff without knowing your tastes. I have not tried the entire range as the Lundy Foot sounded a bit too fine for my tastes but I have tried and regularly use the other four. Creme de Figue is simply outstanding and I think that everyone should sample this. My notes to myself after my first pinch read “Bliss – perfect coarse grind and beautiful aroma” and my opinion has not changed. It is probably a bit rich in aroma for an all day snuff but I have on occasion been tempted to pinch it first thing in the morning and after that I just had to continue for the rest of the day. But with the fig arrack licquor aroma it probably should be used as an evening / dessert snuff on the basis of too much of a good thing. Auld Alliance - I realised as I was writing that I have not had any of this for some time so I just took a pinch. - marvellous. It is still beautifully moist and fluffy in the original jar. To my nose it is not quite as aromatic as Creme de Figue and slightly more of the underlying tobacco aroma comes through. Once again this is probably an evening snuff. Mull of Oa - this is moist and a coarse grind. When I first opened the jar it reminded me of the aroma of a classic pipe tobacco - the aroma that used to be found in high class tobacconists in London. There is a smokiness to it that comes from the malt whisky but in some ways that just adds to the pipe tobacco feel. It is also long lasting in the nose and could easily be used as an all day snuff. Field of Junipers. I was initially unsure about this as it is a finer grind but as it is not too dry I find it quite easy to take - in large quantities! It is truly addictive and can be used all day long. It is complex and the juniper certainly does not overpower or stand out from the overall aroma. I know that compared to other snuffs - with the exception of Abraxas snuffs which you should also try - these snuffs seem quite expensive. But when that is compared with the price of pipe tobacco or cigars - particularly a serious Havana - then it is still remarkably inexpensive. And a jar will last significantly longer that even a large Havana. So my recommendation would be to try all of them but if you only go for one of them then go for the Creme de Figue - it is truly outstanding. I hope this helps
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That is hard but for me it’s FOJ. Have not tried Auld Alliance. Creme de Figue is nice but I think Cerise just pips it and Figue I find hard to get and keep up the nose and I hate wasting a single grain of it. I can’t really describe FOJ. It’s a sort of almost floral berry toast to me but every time I open the tin I know its my favourite of probably all snuffs but I only use it as a treat. Probably would go great with champagne or such. I love mixing a little with FireDrac also which is superb but quite a nicotine hit. Definitley always have to be on my order list when I run low. I’ve tried some other Juniper type snuffs but they are not in the same league by a wide margin. They really do have that mass produced quality in comparison with FOJ which totally seems hand crafted with loving care. Strange thing is I remember like a lot of snuffs not knowing how to appreciate it in the beginning but that didn’t last long, maybe one pinch. FOJ has to be a modern snuff masterpiece or just plain masterpiece. Top of the class.
All these responses have been a joy to read! Great descriptions guys. I enjoy all snuffs from fine to coarse. I do prefer the fines to have a bit of moisture to ease uptake. Also the more coarse a snuff is, the more I tend to blow out. From the sounds of it, they really are all lovely. I was leaning towards Lundy foot or foj, but now I just may have to pony up and get all of them. Is the Lundy foot as dusty as a Dholakia white? @misterpaul
i have tried all, and prefer the scent of Mull of Oa, but prefer taking FoJ. the grind and drip i get from SWS (except FoJ and LF) is enough to put me off, i dont get on with them much.
I liked the scent of Creme de Figue very much.
…, i dont get on with them much.
Topic : Which is your Favorite SWS? Oh well I’m sure SWS will do much better next time, and hopefully please you.
I believe i answered this thread correctly, it asked everyone (particularly those that have tried all 5, which i have) which one is their favourite. which one they prefer. which one pleases them most (its all the same thing). it didnt ask for just fanboys that all share the same opinion.
People should not be harried when giving their honest opinion. Snuff is certainly an individual experience for different individuals which the experienced I’m sure well know. I like that line.
I like them all, but will choose Creme de Figue, and Lundy Foot.
So I threw in a small tin of FoJ to my order along with some Abraxas premium batch fin And some other various toasts. Can’t wait!
Mull of Oa, though it is just an “occasional” snuff for me. It is so very like the aroma of enjoying a pipe along with a nice scotch whiskey in hand.
So I threw in a small tin of FoJ to my order along with some Abraxas premium batch fin And some other various toasts. Can’t wait!
Sounds good. Hope you enjoy. They are all definitely worth getting to at least try for yourself (I’m including the Abraxas in there also) and see which you personally like. Even if you only get one or two each order you will soon get round them all. Just give your nose a good chance to aclimatise to the luxury.
Anyone seen / tried the Abraxas St. Casura? New SP style.
Creme de Figue numero uno, followed by Mull of Oa and Lundy Foot.
Anyone seen / tried the Abraxas St. Casura? New SP style.
why have i not heard of this release, i knew it was coming. not on mrsnuff though. i NEED to get my hands on this.
@Firestarter0 Only know about it from the website. http://theartisansnuffsociety.com/abraxas-premium-batch-english-snufff
Let’s ask @abraxas