Snuff Reviews - Page 26

I find the geranium scent in Morlaix to be quite strong but it is nicely offset by various other flavourings. There is a touch of perfume in there and something in the background which is almost earthy. The flavour, while quite long lasting, does not linger as long as it does with some F&T snuffs but this is no problem at all. Mid brown in colour and medium in grind and moisture level, like most F&T snuffs Morlaix is easy to take and very rewarding.

Sandalwood, rose, musk, geranium, bourbon and tonquin are the flavourings quoted for Macouba. The sandalwood is muted, allowing the rose and geranium to come through more strongly though the rose is not as strong as in other snuffs of this type (Railroad Mills Maccoboy for instance). While not my favourite F&T snuff this is still one that I like to have on hand.

Of fine mill, a mid to dark brown colour and medium moisture, this is probably the most perfumed Kendal Brown on the market today as well as being the most finely ground. In spite of the fine grind it is moist enough to make it easy to take. The predominant scents are violet and geranium, with enough citrus to give a pleasant bite. While I tend to prefer the more robust KBs from Samuel Gawith this one will always have a place in my snuff stash.

Very pale, very fine, very tasty! Hard to choose between this one, Wilson's IHT No 22, Samuel Gawith's Irish D and the Frederick Tranter's IHT No 22. Nicely toasted with some wonderful lingering nuttiness. Long after taking a pinch you continue to get occasional reprises of the flavour. It's as fine and dry as one would expect of a high dry toast so some care is needed in use. It's well worth acquiring the necessary snuffing skills to really appreciate this excellent snuff.

Behold the king of sandalwood snuffs! Even if sandalwood isn't the only flavouring in French Carotte, it is the dominant scent and it is better done in this snuff than in most of not all other sandalwood flavoured snuffs. There is also an underlying perfume which is very agreeable. Mid-brown, medium-fine and medium moist, this is another F&T snuff which is easy on the nose.

If I had to choose my favourite Fribourg and Treyer snuff I would fail as to choose between the Dr J R Justice Mixture and the High Dry Toast would present me with a terrible dilemma. Fortunately I don't have to choose! The Dr J R Justice Mixture presents one of the rare occasions when the sum of two parts becomes something on an altogether higher plane. While I love both Bordeaux and Morlaix (a 50:50 mix makes up the Dr J R Justice Mixture) the blend of the two is streets ahead of either. It is still a rich mid brown, of medium grind and moisture and it still has gives the same delicate burn but the flavour is so delightfully complex that is almost defies description. Not only that but scent lingers for hours in the nose, even overnight if used as a nightcap snuff. To some that would be less than ideal but to me it is supremely satisfying.

I've seen the flavourings in this superb snuff listed as citrus, violet, geranium, may blossom, tonquin and musk and who am I to dispute that? The flavour is not only excellent but also long lasting and it develops nicely in the nose. In colour Bordeaux is a rich mid-brown, the grind is medium and the moisture level is also medium, making this an easy snuff to take.

Princes Special is another interesting and complex snuff from F&T. In fact out of all the F&T snuffs this is without a doubt my third favourite (after HDT and Dr JR Justice in joint first place). It is very dark brown, fairly coarse, fairly moist and has a very nice yet subtle bite to it. Flavourings include rose (but not as strong as in the Macouba), sandalwood (but not as strong as in the French Carotte), musk, geranium and bourbon. What an excellent blend those flavourings produce!

'"Oranges and Lemons" say the bells of Saint Clement's' says the old nursery rhyme. In reference to a church in England. There is also an orange & lemon non-alcoholic cocktail by this name, so you can take a guess as to what the flavor of Toque St. Clements is. (I do not think the name refers to the fruit, Clementine as some have suggested.) In either case, this is a citrus flavored snuff, and I love citrus fruits and citrus snuffs! First off, the grind is typical of most Toque snuffs, which is medium fine. However the moisture content also typical of Toque is pretty high, making this suitable for the advanced beginner. The orange flavor is stronger than that of the lemon, but both are distinguishable. It almost reminds me of orangeade which I have not had since childhood. Having said all of that, the flavor is not overbearing, it reamains in the background even with a large pinch. I would buy this one again. I have heard, though not experienced, that this snuff will quickly lose its flavoring under certain conditions. Mine is a few months old and still has a good scent, but a word of warning to keep your tins closed.