Back before tobacconists began to be stamped out, there was one that carried two types of Dr Rumney’s and I used them for a couple years. Time passed. Last year, I ordered some WoS from lil Brown, including the Dr Rumney’s that doesn’t exist. The scent memory it triggered was powerful, but Best SP brought me to the same place–it was the tobacco scent, not the menthol. The SPs do something special for me that’s hard to explain. It’s like a reminder of a better time. I’ve gone through a few ounces of Best SP, Tom Buck, SP 100, and Grand Cairo. I just picked three sealed tins from my last order off my shelf: Gold Label, Morlaix, and Strasbourg. I finally decanted them, reserving a few grams of each. I’m not sure the last two are considered SPs, but they are related, at least. I love the theme, and all its various expressions from Wilson’s. I enjoy SG No1 High Mill and Toque Original, but I find them different–in a good way–to the Wilson’s I have sampled. I’ve yet to try McChrystals SPs. There is just something refreshing and “clean” about the scents of these snuffs, be they simple or complex scents. I usually can’t identify more than bergamot in most of them, but I can tell the differences in them. I have a lot more Wilson’s SPs to try and I can’t wait. I remember wondering why they made so many snuffs in that style. Now I know. What SP would you recommend a new snuffer? What’s your favorite from WoS?
Tom Buck or Grand Cairo probably, from WoS. Outside of WoS I’m quite fond of J&H Wilson Top Mill no. 1 and Toque SP Extra.
I second the Toque SP Extra. Bergamont, something vaguely floral (lilac?), layed over their lovely musty, cigar-boxy base tobacco. Been getting back into my SPs, too, @TerrapinFlyer. Seem to get in the mood for them more this time of year. I also second WoS Best SP and SG SP No1 High Mill, though High Mill was dropped from SGs roster this year. I’ve been recommended Tom Buck by allot of people and somehow never got to it. Any comparisons, @cpmcdill? At any rate, that and McChrystals are both on the list this summer. Strangely enough, I’m getting really into SD Original lately (last month or so), enough so that whatever I carry out with me for the day, a tin of that is included. Medium bergamot with a menthol kick that so far doesn’t clog at all. It’s really refreshing. If I could get over the price per gram, I’d really stock up on it.
@Hitsuzen - It’s just a rather strong SP, and quite enjoyable for that. Some speculate that it’s pretty much the identical formula as Queens Extra Strong.
@cpmcdill Sounds delicious! Have any experience ordering direct from Sharrow Mills?
Thanks, guys. There is a tin of SP Extra that went awol in my house after I received it. I didn’t even open it. Toque Original is nice, though. I have not tried the other Wilson’s SP. I think I’d heard that it’s very hard to get it fresh in the States. I believe that Tom Buck is Queens Extra. It’s a bit much for me for all day–while most SPs could be all-day toots. That’s not to say it is cloying or persistent in the nose. Actually, I haven’t had Tom Buck in a while. I’ll do that tomorrow. I guess not a lot of others liked the High Mill if they discontinued it. The discontinuation of it makes me a bit sad. I liked the grind of that one as well as the mildness of its beautiful aroma. @Hitsuzen @cpmcdill Do you find JHWilson’s Top Mill similar to SG High Mill? I have heard it is. Can WoS still ship to USA? Mmmm…bulk SPs…Fresh bulk is said to be superior, but I wouldn’t know.
Edited to add: I started buying 5 or 10g tins of Wilson’s. My last order had the Gold Label, Morlaix, and Strasbourg that I had never tried and I went straight for the 25g. I have confidence enough to order an ounce if it’s a WoS SP. I still stick to 5g for trying their florals, though! My future problem will be deciding on 3-4 WoS SPs to stock in bulk. Maybe 5-6.
Oh, and Grand Cairo is one that needs to be reordered. The 10g tin has just a few pinches of mummy dust left and it is still delicious. I don’t know what it is, but I’m intrigued by the exotic, complex scent. It’s one that I hit repeatedly and then leave alone for a long period. Then one day it’s just the thing and I Hoover up a gram. Good snuff!
@Hitsuzen - I have not ordered direct from WoS. So far all my overseas snuffs have come from Mr. Snuff, and I have not had any issues with freshness.
@TerrapinFlyer - JH Wilson’s Top Mill is very different from SG High Mill. Top Mill has a very clean, clear, almost sparkly scent. SG High Mill has a murkier, mustier note to the tobacco. I’d say Top Mill is “cheerful yet superficial” compared to High Mill’s “melancholic yet deep.”
Irish HDT #20. Ive only ordered this one time, but it wasnt anything like #22 or HDT. I would call it an “SP” variant less the bergamot. Very silky with the standard Sharrow grind. Im wondering though if i got a mislabeled tin because it most certainly is not a toast.
@Chicago_CA Haha, that’s exactly what I thought about the #20, but I was assured by the knowledgeable folks on this forum that it is indeed meant to be an SP. I enjoy it, but my first pinch was a bit like getting water when expecting milk.
@SHbickel…yeah it’s nothing to write home about for sure and there’s better WOS SPs out there; i like Gold Label & Grand Cairo too, but they too imho lack a “crispness” that other SPs provide like a Toque SPx and i always detect a strong floral component that wasnt balanced with the citrus enough.Glad to hear im not crazy about the #20… i was starting to wonder : )
Or i can be totally wrong on those and WoS is just sending me random samples to mess with my mind.
Thanks, @cpmcdill. I need to try the Top Mill, then. I’m not sure where I read that they are similar. If you said they were, I still would have said I need to try the JHW–because I won’t be able to get the SG I like. Ha ha. @Chicago_CA I’d forgotten about the #20 “toasted SP.” That was on my mental list for a while. I’ll get to that one for the sake of completism. I think the lack of crispness, as you say, is why I don’t reach for Grand Cairo as often when in an SP mood. The Gold Label, however, I find very refreshing. I was afraid the Strasbourg would be “too much” for my personal definition of SP snuff. Though floral, I find the scent clean and it dissipates without leaving a grandma ghost in my nose. Anyone using McChrystal’s S’Nuff?
@TerrapinFlyer McChrystal’s S’Nuff is my favorite SP. I ordered direct from the mill so it was very fresh. Strong citrus plays the starring role. The tobacco base is straw and hay, somewhat sandy scented and it provides the perfect base to support the bright bergamot and lemon. (paraphrased from my Mr. Snuff review)
To be honest, I’ve never fully explored the WoS SPs so my comments here are from limited experience. I would suggest Tom Buck/QES and Grand Cairo, but also Best Dark. If you can find an outlet for them, M&W Mature Crumbled and M&W Jocks Choice have no direct WoS equivalent despite being made there, and are both worth trying. The nearest I’ve found to Jocks Choice is WoS Tangerine, so that might be worth a try.
Thanks, @50ft_trad, @SHbickel. I will be trying S’Nuff. It seems to get rave reviews. I have Best Dark and thought it would be perfect for me. I wanted to like it. Maybe that one needs a revisit.
Good luck in your exploration :-bd I find SPs are nice to come back to after spending time with the dessert snuffs and florals. It’s kind of like hitting a reset button. At the minute I have a tin of JHW SP No1 in front of me that’s just been rehydrated as it came to me far too dusty. Other gently scented snuff that give my nose a rest include GH and WoS Strawberry, WoS Thyme and Lemon, and Butterscotch. Toque Berwick Brown is the default snuff I usually come back to though. SG SP Scotch is another I want in bulk. I’m currently getting back into WoS again, but more of their fun snuffs. I’ve come to accept that the tins aren’t great, and sometimes I need to add a bit extra moisture, but the snuffs themselves are well worth exploring. There’s already over 15 snuff of theirs in the wishlist that I want to try next, but lack of funds and lack of spare storage jars, mean they’ll have to wait a while longer
Wilson’s tins don’t bother me, as I haven’t gotten one that I would consider dried out, yet. I just plan to decant when I open them. Something like Jockey Club I’d get in a 5g instead. I started on smoky scotches this morning, so I may need that “reset” with an SP soon.