Just took delivery of an order from Wilsons and I note that their new price list includes both of these snuffs. I think they were previously only available as small tins from snuffstore ?
I just recently obtained both a 260 and 450 gram tub of SS. Wonderful snuff it is. One from Tom, and one from Dave. I have run across every size now.
SS is such a great SP. The best i’ve had, more so then my beloved Gold Label. ah! i just got it in the mail.
SS is one of my favorite SPs along with Best SP and Toque Original. It’s one of few I buy in bulk. Tom Buck and Queens ES give too much of a flowery note for me, and after a half drum of Tom Buck I still don’t like it nearly as much as SS.
Flowery? Wow nose really pick up vastly diffrent things don’t they.
S.S is a very old Wilsons snuff that (until quite recently) always featured on the list. In recent years it has led a strange ‘now you see me, now you do not’ existence. I read a suggestion somewhere that the letters stand for Snuff Store - an impossibility as S.S was available long before Snuff Store came into being. Can’t recall S.P.2 and looking at my surviving lists dating back to the early 1960s the name does not appear. I wonder if it is a reincarnation of the rather pungent S.P Circle. Not so long ago the snuff now sold as Best S.P used to be called Queens. The name Queens now survives as Queens Extra Strong, which is relabelled Tom Buck.
@PhilipS: The “Snuff Store” idea stemmed from the fact that they were the only ones who carried it. I have read of a Wilsons snuff called “Scotch Snuff, S.S.” in an old price list. I emailed Wilsons, and they had no idea what S.S. stood for.
“I have read of a Wilsons snuff called “Scotch Snuff, S.S.” in an old price list.” Do you have the year of the price list? In all the lists I have the first letter S always stands for Sharrow.S.M, S.L, S.W, S.T etc.
I think it was from the 80’s. I’ll have to try and find it again.
Well it seems that the SS is getting more recognition! I have always liked it. Most reviews of it are mixed as it is a very unique SP, I think the fine grind of the SS has a lot to do with that. It hits fast with a good nicotine uptake then fades pretty fast, but that is what I like about it, I just hit it again, really good clean citrus with a sharp short burn. I first encountered it 6 months ago and shared it with some friends, they consider it one of their favorites still. I took advantage of the Wilsons online offer to get a pound of it. I have noticed more people rating it among the favorite SP’s on the lists. I think if one has not tried it they should at least seek out a small sample tin when able.
Mixed reviews? There are four on snuffreviews. two 5 star, one 4 star and one 3 star. That seems pretty good to me!
Regarding the flowery note I detect in Grand Cairo, yeah a floral-ish note lingers over the quite nice “red rappee” base. Lavender? Coriander? Spice? Not sure exactly what it is, but the more I use Grand Cairo the less I find it to be a ‘classic SP’ in my book. I see it as a lightly perfumed snuff whose scent has similarities to the SP range, but the base tobacco differences being too vast for me to reach for it when in the mood for SP, which is most days. Speaking of SPs, I’m seriously considering some Irish D.H. Toast #20 once Wilsons isn’t so swamped and/or US payment method thing works out!
Since I saw the Cairo thread pop up, I thought I would pop this one up too! Both because of Dennis appropriate comment about the Red Rappee being distinct from a SP. And because I would like more people to try SS if possible. Love them both.
It’s a very tasty snuff indeed. I got my first can in the Wilsons sale - if I’d tried it beforehand I’d have ordered a bulk drum. I first opened the can down the pub and was busy decanting it into an F&T tube when a woman approached and asked me where I got my snuff from as her partner used to snuff but couldn’t find it in the shops any more. I gave her Wilsons phone number and about 1/4 of the tin of S.S., which I kind of regretted once I’d spent an evening with it !
A kindness on your part that shall be repaid in kind someday! Glad you enjoy the SS, and sorry you missed out on the bulk, I had not tried all of the Wilson’s, I regret not getting a 1/2 drum of Rose! One and a half of SS though, seemed like a wise investment, all of my bulk snuff that I bought during the bulk sale was a great buy, I placed three separate orders to accommodate them all, oh the missed rose buy, oh well. Enjoy! And giving away a 1/4 of a great snuff to a stranger is the ISTA way imho. Kudos.
Well I am popping this thread up again to focus on the SP2. I am a big fan of the SS, and I have had a small tub of SP2 decanted from bulk in front of me for a month. The reviews I have read remark on the less is more aspect of this one, and I had some trouble with it as long as the ammonia was so strong. To me there are two distinct properties to this one, a fine grind that allows for a sharp note, but one that does not overwhelm, very pleasant to take, and the bergamot is very crisp and clean. This results in a very pure SP, one that must seem underwhelming to those accustomed to powerful complex SP’s, but the focused SP flavor is unique in itself, its a very pure SP note, not embellished with citrus or florals or spice. Clean and allows the tobacco to sing a little. Crisp!