I notice there aren’t any past threads about this fantastic snuff. It is fairly coarse, relatively moist and very dark. Reminds me of a more pungent, less subtle and longer lasting version of the mysterious and subtle F&T Old Paris, but I have yet to try all the F&T varieties, so there may be closer similarities with other varieties. I’m not very good at picking out specific components of different scents unless they’re obvious. This reminds me of tar, old rubber, leather and the haze of old industry side by side with fragrant, overgrown, floral vegetation. Sounds repulsive, but it’s incredibly delightful. It reminds me of Chateau Petrus in wines, which most wine connoisseurs describe as having a big, muscular bouquet reminiscent of road tar or asphalt, unlike the cleaner, more delicate, more feminine First Growth Bordeaux’s. To the best of my knowledge, 1961 Chateau Petrus is the most expensive wine of the last 50 years, but WoS Brunswick can be had for less than $3 per 10g tin, which makes it a spectacular bargain.

Railroad Mills Maccoboy + bergamot + citrus = Brunswick Alternatively, Brunswick = black shoe polish + Wilsons Best SP Do I win a prize, then? I quite like Brunswick. It smells like old photos of Victorian shops look. I used to think that Railroad Mills Maccoboy was the only snuff I couldn’t stand. Last week, purely on a whim, I opened my bottle of Maccoboy, which has sat untouched for quite some time. This time around it hit me: “This is a cruder, less effete version of Brunswick!” So now I even like Maccoboy, although not as much as I like Brunswick. Go figure.

@ kjoerup I’ve got a “bonus” bottle of Maccoboy in my latest NicRush order, which I didn’t pick up today, so I’ll have to give it a try. I had a laugh reading my own description of Brunswick. Can you say “waxing poetic?” I just tried it side by side with F&T Santo Domingo, which seems so much more subtle and natural. I suspect my 30gs of Brunswick will last a long time. I think there’s a bit of rose and geranium in there too, however. I don’t get much citrus. As far as your prize goes, visit the Dallas Observer Escort Service Want Ads, pick a number, and tell them LHB sent you. You’ll get the 25% LHB discount as long as you can confine yourself to a little straight-up frottage.

Not only is Brunswick a wonderful snuff, but it also shares it’s name with a colonial settlement founded by the Brits, which would later be burned to the ground by the Brits. I wonder if the two have any relation? This settlement was founded in the 1730’s, WoS was founded around the same time.

This one saved me when my nose wasn’t behaving and my blood was getting a little thick and sharp, if you know what I mean. At first I had to look at my pinch to see if anything went up there it was so smooth. Then of course the scent. Geranium, of course, then smokey-tar undertones, lemon in the middle. Very nice nic. Very little nose leak. If I was a glutton for punishment I would make this one an everyday. Only problem is the scent power. Could give me a headache. It smells yummy on occasion but could be a little cloying after awhile. Very similar to F&T Princes, but I will have to compare more to see exactly where they differ. Thats what I get for now. BTW Can anyone recommend a good one with the same moisture, grind, maybe even tobacco, but sans fragrance? I would be much obliged.

This is one I’ve been meaning to get… I’m not sure whether to make an order or wait until I go home over Easter and buy from a bricks and mortar shop, or pick up a small tin from a bricks and mortar shop here! So many choices.

wildhorsesmane: Yes. Try the WoS Princes (much plainer than F&T). Also maybe the WoS Best Dark. This one has some scenting, but not as fragrant as Brunswick.

Thanks Xander!! iTs on the next order.

This is a great snuff along with the WoS princes - they seem almost the same except Brunswick is somehow spicier. Love it.

Brunswick of…Fruit Loops, of all things. Yes, yes. My taste is indeed refined.

I’ll take Brunswick over Princes any day! In fact I’m giving my Princes to a friend and taking a vow never, ever to get Princes again.

Brunswick is great - but I think Princes is just as good!

I just ordered some WoS Princes which I’ve never had before, along with some F&T Princes, which is the one F&T variety I’ve yet to try. I do very much like the Princes Special, which is my second favorite dark, moist snuff. The one thing that bothers me a little about the Brunswick is it’s “in your face for a long time” quality. It’s very pungent, and lasts at least as long in my nose as any perfumed snuff I’ve ever had, except maybe the Dholakia Kamal. I’m looking for a somewhat more subtle dark, moist snuff I can fall in love with like F&T’s Santo Domingo, so I hope Saucy_Jack is right!

“I’m looking for a somewhat more subtle dark, moist snuff I can fall in love with” Aren’t we all? What’s Roderick up to these days anyways?

@LHB: To be honest I think the difference between WoS Princes and WoS Brunswick isn’t that great. They both have a similar scent. Maybe Brunswick is a bit more moist. I prefer the WoS princes to the F&T princes, as well. But the nose knows, so to speak. lol

I find the WoS Princes to be the plainest of the lot, except for Smith’s Princes Dark (if you can get it). Not a thing wrong with the others though, and I think you will enjoy them.

Cstokes, I think it is probably Brunswick in Germany. It probably has some link with George IV’s (Prince Regent, as in the Princes snuff prince) wife, who was from Brunswick.

And of course originally Brunswick is in German “Braunschweig” - the city is stil alive and well :o)

In Danmark it’s a pastry too - “Brunsviger” same source :o)

Unlike Princes, the original Kendal Brown and several other examples very few British snuffs have any genuine heritage. Brunswick is a new snuff. Mark Chaytor, Managing Director of Wilsons of Sharrow launched a new range of snuffs called ‘Grand Sharrow’ in 1984. Among the snuffs in this range was Brunswick, Grand Cairo and Burgundy. In keeping with the grand range and the grand names the grand price (at the time) was half as much again as the ‘rabble’ snuffs. Jasmine, Extra Crumbs of Comfort and Extra Menthol were other snuffs in the Grand Range.* Burgundy, however, has a genuine heritage. In the 19th century it was called Grimstone’s Eye and was resurrected in 1984 using the same recipe. Grand Cairo, like Burgundy, has been put at least once on the endangered species list, but hangs on for dear life. (Brunswick is similar to the excellent Princes, but has a ghastly scent added that suggests some sort of ointment for repairing hair follicles. However, tastes vary and that‘s only my subjective opinion.) * In case anyone wonders how this information is known, the answer is that the ‘Grand Sharrow Range’ features in an article in the journal Tobacco 1984, which is in my possession.

I can’t imagine why anybody would not want a snuff named “Grimstone’s Eye” What a cool name! Even Bob would like it then. I can’t imagine canceling Grand Cairo. A few members on this forum practically live on it (think Guild Navigators in Dune). I’ve had nearly all their current line up by now. Grand Cairo is certainly among the 5 best ones they make. This is an objective opnion, having not grown up in that culture or knowing anything of regional peculiarites of snuff in England before joining this forum. Burgundy…I would be sad to lose it, but won’t kill myself. I can think of 5-10 they can drop if they are looking to save some money.

I think it is citron spice that’s added to the Brunswick. Like in the Strasbourg. I absolutely love it! Though my hairline has been receding quite steadily.

“I’m looking for a somewhat more subtle dark, moist snuff I can fall in love with” Aren’t we all? What’s Roderick up to these days anyways? So saith Juxtaposer. Since we all are, lets hope for fewer snuffs that smell like food. The one thing I never “got” about snuff is some peoples’ love of food scented snuffs. Not only is the idea strange, but it’s intensely uncomfortable to have the smell of some food in your nose for a long time, without being able to attain the satiety that comes from eating it. It’s like watching porn with both your hands tied behind your back.

@LHB…Agreed!

@ Xander: 10-4 on the Grand Cairo. I think that and Gold Label are their best. They could do away with some of their duplicates. They have a ton of spearmint snuffs and even more nondiscript SPs which all seem the same. For example why have Tom Buck and Queens Extra Strong. I guess London barristers, especially QCs like to flourish the Queens label and miners in Yorkshire wouldn’t be caught dead with it in their pocket, but prefer a snuff with a manly name like Tom Buck.

Kunugaa: I doubt either of us is correct. I was simply linking the snuff to a place that is near and dear to me. Kind of like Grand Cairo. I am obsessed with Egypt, so that is the main reason I love that snuff so much. Grimstone’s Eye sounds like something Blackbeard would snuff. Or maybe an ingredient in a Witch’s potion.

I would definatly snuff grimstones eye! I can think of one bussiness reason not too use such a great name. How could any snuff really live up to such an amazing name. Grand Cairo Is truely a grand snuff. It’s a prime example of just a little more goes a long way in the scent department. It’s a basic sp with a hint of spice added which really makes it so much grander and exotic seeming. Definatly one of my favorites and always quick to disapear.

Interesting information there. Grand Cairo is one of my favourites, too.

Ha ha yes at least it used to be!! Now we only have Northern Slesvig, as the rest was grapped by Bismarck in 1864 :o(

“I wish I could link to an outside website; googling “grimstone’s eye snuff” will be quite surprising. According to the Lancet of 1855, the original snuff contained no tobacco: it was a mixture of various herbs and…salt. Ouch! One of the more fun websites for things like this is www.thequackdoctor.com” Alcyon - How nice that people can chat about irrelevancies like Grimstone’s Eye. Read your interesting source on the quack properties of Mr. Grimstone’s snuff for improving sight. It is also mentioned in ‘Snuff Yesterday and Today’ by C.W Shepherd. I therefore dug out my 1984 copy of Tobacco (to check the veracity of my earlier claim) and read the article concerning Grand Sharrow by Sonia Roberts (in conversation with Mark Chaytor). I’m afraid my memory failed me, for which I apologise. The relevant text is as follows: “The range is complemented by Burgundy and a revival of a line popular in the 19th century called Grimstone’s Eye. Obviously in 1984 we are making no medical claims for the product, but with so much current interest in folk remedies and the alternative medicine scene we thought it would be fun to bring this product back as part of the Grand Sharrow range, and in a pack which we think is probably a very fair simulation of the Victorian original.” Mark Chaytor, Tobacco May 1984 For reasons unknown I remembered Burgundy as Grimstone’e Eye. The eight new snuffs in the Grand Sharrow range* of 1984 include: Brunswick Extra Crumbs of Comfort Grand Cairo Jasmine Glacier Burgundy Grimstone’s Eye The eighth snuff in the range is not named. It was Grand Cairo that, along with Grimstone’s Eye, was revived. Found references to Grand Cairo in Arthur Hill Hassall’s 1855 description of food, drink and tobacco published in 1855. Unfortunately this particular snuff is not subjected to chemical analysis. It is described as a moist snuff. “The only snuffs that are ever scented are brown and black rappee, Grand Cairo, and prince’s mixture, amongst the moist snuffs, and Scotch amongst the dry snuffs.” “The moist snuffs, of which there are a great many varieties, are known in the trade under the following names: Brown and Black Rappee, John Bull, Hardham’s 37, Princeza, French and Dutch Garrotte, Masulapatam, Prince’s Mixture, Grand Cairo, and a great many others, which derive their names either from the fancy of the maker or the fashion of the day.” ‘Food and its Adulterations’ was commissioned by the Lancet. It contains detailed descriptions of the various methods of snuff production including toasts, and is available on the internet. Hope that readers misinformed by my last post didn’t try rubbing Burgundy into their eyes to restore impaired vision. * Mark Chaytor also introduced the Celebratory Range in 1977 (Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee). This included the fruit snuffs like strawberry, which was then marketed as Strawbourg! When I started snuff the Sharrow mill only made a dozen or so snuffs. Illingworth was the largest company. Due to Mark Chaytor’s determination to get younger people on board Wilsons now market about sixty.

@PhilipS Thanks for the book title. Gotta love Google Books and Gutenberg Project and the like. Took a quick glance through the chapter on snuff, fascinating with out doubt. Anyone else interested here’s a link to Food and its’ Adulteration: chapter on tobacco

Philp great post. That’s very good to know. I"am glad to have the name of the man I should thank for some great snuffs.

When my left hand goes limp is when I stop taking my Blongaro! May God look upon me and stop me before it is too late.

Well, I was actually happy for Grand Cairo being a modern snuff but don’t mind heritage either. Actually everything from late 18th/early 19th Centuries is modern.

Brunswick is a great snuff and one I use as an all day snuff a lot of the time, along with what I regard as its sister snuff; Burgundy

I just noticed this thread again and it made me pull out my Brunswick and take a pinch. Great snuff!!

Fresh directly from Wilson’s mill… Friend’s if you think your current snuff lacks flavor, staying power or is generally lackluster and kind of just lies there like your old girlfriend, then you need to try WoS Brunswick. This is a wet, black, flowery, soapy, and leathery monster of a snuff.

I second NOmad’s description. All your posts here made me break down and crack open the tin of Brunswick I recently got from Wilson’s (I have a whole lot of other ones I haven’t tried still sitting here…). I like it. I wonder though if others had my trouble: my tin was downright WET (“moist” would be the understatement of the year). It certainly isn’t “sniffable” - I literally had to take a pinch and stick it in my nose and rub it around. Sort of like spreading mortar…except it hopefully doesn’t turn hard like cement. Nice long-lasting scent. No burn, which I appreciate. Of course, no chance of getting into my sinuses - my fingers are just too fat to shove anything THAT far up my nose… In some ways, this is an excellent beginner’s snuff, as it is pain-free and goof-proof. Try saying that about Dholakia Black or White, or any of the HDTs.

The tins do not compare to tubs when it’s fresh. Night and day.

So, cstokes, you are saying that the tubs are even WETTER than the tin I just got from Wilsons? Are you supposed to use a funnel and pour the slurry into your nose?

@cstokes4 I think mine must be the day version because like I said it is WET, BLACK, FLOWERY, SOAPY, and LEATHERY monster of a snuff. But then again I wasn’t asking for your approval as to container size and volume. Secondly and personally I would not buy a tub of snuff that I have never had before. Although I am happy for you and your tub.

@NOmad: Huh?

Huh? I missed something.

@Geraldo The problem with the tins is corrosion. Every tin of Princes and Brunswick I have purchased have been corroded rather badly. I think the tub is probably a tiny tad bit more moist, only due to the freshness of the snuff. The scent is much more pungent in tubs than tins, but once again that is just a product of the freshness.

@Whalen Me too!

I can not see what precipitated that response. My only problem with Brunswick is that I live precariously close to a small Hick town with that name, people see the tin, read the name, and crack up, usually saying " I am not going to sniff anything named Brunswick!!!" Old school snuff, a must have in the rotation.

Georgia?

Maryland.

@csstokes4, thanks for the insight. I haven’t noticed any corrosion yet, but it is still pretty new. I would have thought that tin-plated steel wouldn’t corrode from a bit of moist snuff. I guess I will just monitor the situation and hope for the best. I can move it into a little glass jar if necessary. Either way, I cannot imagine my Brunswick sample being any moister! It seems pretty fresh. I think it is that way because I just bought it direct from Wilson’s. I don’t know if I would buy a tub, but I will see how I feel about it after I finish the tin (25g, and I have so many OTHER snuffs). Heck, I haven’t even tried the other 20 odd snuffs I have from Wilson’s yet…including Mr. Stokes’ beloved Grand Cairo.

If it’s from Wilson’s, no doubt it is fresh, tin or tub. I have only purchased tins from retailers.

@Geraldo: If you plan on keeping it for a while (and with 20 odd other snuffs to go through it sounds like you do) I’d move it to an airtight container pronto. The freshness and moistness will dissipate fairly quickly in an opened Wilsons tin. And as cstokes4 says, the tins corrode fairly rapidly if they have moist snuff in.

I agree with BradMajors: Brunswick (and Princes) snuff is great from a fresh tin fresh from Wilsons - just make sure you use it fast. It doesn’t improve with age, and will rot the tin. As for tubs and tins. I’m sure it’s even fresher from a half pound tub, and will keep longer, but it won’t keep forever if you’re an infrequent Brunswick snuffer (like me!).

O.K. you guys made me anxious enough that I moved the roughly 25g of Brunswick I have from the tin to a small airtight glass jar. The Wilson’s tins aren’t good, as far as design goes - the slip cover isn’t that secure and due to the geometry, it is easy to spill snuff when the tin is full. I wish they would go to screwtop tins like Toque. Mind you, all my Toque tins are 10g ones, so I cannot comment on the integrity of the 25g containers. I am at a loss that Wilson’s wouldn’t have a perfect tin by this point, given that they have been at this for hundreds of years. I did examine the Brunswick tin very carefully (with my hand scope - I have a degree in metallurgical engineering…and I am a bit nerdy) and I didn’t find any evidence of corrosion. Frankly, if the tin coating is intact, nothing in snuff could be aggressive enough to cause corrosion. I would suggest an intact tin coating could easily last for many, many years regardless of the moisture level of the snuff. I suspect that “rusty tins” are due to defective tin coatings, which is a manufacturing quality failure. Anyway, I now have a tiny glass jar mostly filled with coarse, moist, black stuff. It doesn’t look appetizing, actually. But it still smells nice!

Just to reiterate; Be careful not to let it dry out. It will dry very quickly from a snuff box in use. Rehydrating is fine, but store it as it is (wet). Are you not getting the delightful citron spice scent? That’s odd, that’s my favorite part.

does anyone have a fresh sample of brunswick before i order a tube from wilsons? Ill pay any fees through paypal. I have a small tin but its been dry from day one…

@Geraldo: Is it possible that the action of removing and replacing the lid scrapes off some of the tin coating ? I’m no metallurgical expert but I’ve had several Wilsons tins corrode on me and it’s always the dark course moist ones. I’ve had one tin that corroded so badly it was impossible to open it without destroying the tin and losing most of the contents. Toque tins have their fans but I’m not one of them - I’ve always decanted Toque into something more sensible. The metal is too soft and I always have trouble with the threads. Ironically, Wilsons also supply Fribourg and Treyer snuffs which come in the best tins around.

Agreed Brad!

@BradMajors - I agree it is possible to scrape the tin coating off, although a half-ways decent tin plate would withstand hundreds of such actions. Technically, tin on tin abrasion should be miniscule and due to microscopic hardness variation (where the tin plate in one spot is marginally harder than another spot). Sorry to hear about your bad experiences with snuff tin corrosion! For the Toque tins - the 10 g tins have worked flawlessly for me. Haven’t tried out the 25 g tins yet - I have read other reports here that they didn’t perform as well as people hoped. At some point I will order some small, tin-plated, screw top steel tins to try out. I find the F&T tins have the wrong geometry to carry around. Small flat containers fit in a pocket, while those tubes don’t seem to, at least for me. I washed out the empty Wilsons Brunswick tin, and it STILL smells strongly (and good). I don’t like Brunswick as much as Strasbourg, but it is still definitely a keeper.

I’ve had them corroded ones before they were opened for the first time. No signs of corrosion on the outside at all, but inside rusty as a old beached ship. Brunswick, Burgundy, Princes and Best Dark are all trouble makers for those tins. The reason F&T is in an awkward tube shape is to reduce surface area of snuff to air exposure. They aren’t really designed to be pinched from. They are not immune from corrosion though.

I have my Brunswick in a 100g crock that fits a sponge in the lid that cinches shut with a plastic seal. I don’t have very much in there but it likes the air. Some dry old Princes got tossed in never to be seen again. I like the Brunswick in the mornings. The citron is enough to get it in me to fill nose and the geranium pisses me off so much that I am up and adam ready to rip a chicken’s head off for breakfast,

Favoring the WoS Best Dark over the Brunswick lately. As for the tin degradation, don’t care about the “whys” and “wherefores”, it surely does occur! As noted by Xander and others, the tins of of both Best Dark and Brunswick I’ve received recently were seriously corroded. Immediately decant to plastic smashbox and all is good. Hmmmm… ripping chicken heads eh? Good Snuff!! (-;

I love Brunswick too. But I use a snuff box for my snuff, and never in my entire life bought a tin-tin for snuff! In my Icelandic silver box, it sits perfectly and fresh for at least a week or more. I have kept a W&S one pound container of Brunswick for a couple of years, and it’s still perfect

Thanks to Whalen, I was fortunate to be able to try Brunswick, and have since fallen in love with the darker, moist snuffs. I absolutely love the aroma of Brunswick…it’s got a wonderful citrus aroma to me.