NEWS: General Harvest Special Blend

 

 

Aside from the slightly butched up (improved?) label, this appears to be virtually identical to the previous iteration... which I couldn't be happier about (having procured 3 rolls).  

REVIEW: General Harvest Limited Edition

 

Wow... a whole lotta hype surrounding this one.  I decided to take my sweet ass time (clocking in about a half a roll of each) just to make sure I did it justice. First thing you'll notice, I didn't specify white or original portion... because as persnickety as I am, the difference is truly just format.  Do you want the extra moisture or not? Personally, I (ever so) slightly prefer the white... because when I use portions, it's typically with discretion in mind.  The original delivers flavor faster (but drips faster) and arguably offers a little more comfort initially.  If I had my choice in format, it would be loose... in fact I dissected an entire can of each to scratch that itch (no discernable difference in taste)--yeah I'm a psycho.      

Appearance: 9/10 It's a fibrous cream label atop a plastic silver or gold can.  Gloss metallic and embossing really stand out.  It's clean, it's simple... I really like it.  Maybe it's the 'Merican in me... but I want a darker color scheme for 10/10. 
Aroma: 10/10 OMG, tobacco!!!!  Fresh earthy tobacco, with hints of straw, fallen leaves and oak.  There's faint tar and leather notes with chocolate and nuttiness buried even deeper in the background.  
Mouth Feel: 10/10 The portion material is spot on.  Gone are the days of dry and irritating white (or original) portions... now they're soft and sleek.  Oh, so comfy!
Flavor: 10/10  Surprise, surprise... everything present in the aroma is delivered in the taste.  Glorious wonderful tobacco (see above) and salt.  Additionally, there's a slight creaminess and a fair amount of spiciness.  This spiciness is often described as pepper (or horseradish) and that's accurate for the sensation, but know that it presents without the accompanying/associated flavors (i.e. black pepper is very distinct and there's none of that).  But I digress... this IS what snus should taste like.    
Nic Hit: 10/10 Regular strength, which is my preference these days.  Lasts upwards of an hour.
Drip: 9/10 This is a fairly drip resistant pouch.  That said, once it gets moist enough, it will allow some (mud)slide.  Again, a little quicker with the original.
Overall: 9.6/10 This is a phenomenal product where tobacco is the star!  I would seat this one squarely between Ettan and Grov in terms a flavor.  If you like either, I wouldn't hesitate to buy these by the roll.  Love, love,  love this shit...  definitely lives up to the hype!  Tobacco, salt and water...  just as the snus gods intended.  I sincerely hope this begets the start of a Renaissance in tobacco flavored tobacco... it's a welcomed departure from the koolaid or mouthwash flavored drivel they keep shoving down our throats en masse.  Fucking love it!     

REVIEW: Knox Red White Limited Edition

Considering I came back for a Skruf product, the release of this limited edition Knox seems serendipitous. It's billed as "tobacco with hints of red berry".  Being a huge fan of Skruf Tranbar, I was beyond excited to get my hands on this snus.  Ended up snagging rolls of it (and the new General Harvest products) despite having a fridge/freezer full of my favorites.  Thanks to a lifetime of supply chain management, my brain broke a little at the thought of running my inventory this long...  but sometimes exceptions must be made!    

Appearance: 8/10 It's an embossed metallic red label, on a plastic silver can.  The little dots remind me of a sparkling wine or craft hard seltzer product.  Not fantastic, but certainly not embarrassing either.  
Aroma: 8/10  After a big whiff, the first thing that comes to mind is Skoal Berry.  Mind you, that's a product I haven't tried in well over a decade, but this is what I remember it smelling like.  That's not a bad thing.  Despite being too sweet, it was one of my favorite Skoal flavors.  For those unfamiliar, it's largely (artificial) strawberry and raspberry.  Also, there's some similarity to Skruf Tranbar here too. 
Mouth Feel: 10/10 Again, Skruf has come a long way with their portion material.  Gone are the days of dry and irritating white portions... now they're soft and sleek.  Oh, so comfy!
Flavor: 9/10  As would be expected, much of what's present on the nose hits the tongue... only the flavor is markedly (mercifully?) less sweet.  It's berry forward... strawberry, raspberry and cranberry... the profile is tart, but well balanced, followed by tobacco and salt.  It's excellent.    
Nic Hit: 10/10 Regular strength, which is my preference these days.  Lasts upwards of an hour.
Drip: 9/10 This is a fairly drip resistant pouch.  That said, once it gets moist enough, it will allow some (mud)slide.
Overall: 9/10 An absolutely delicious limited release.  If given a slot on their permanent roster, I would probably opt for Skruf Tranbar over this (I see the artificial strawberry notes wearing on me)... but it's a really fun as a one off.  Zero buyer's remorse. 

A seven (7) year hiatus?

It's been a very, very long time. 7 years... that's some next level slacker shit, to be sure. I've been snusing since 2004... wrote about the experience for a few years, but fizzled out quickly. Why? Well, there's not been a lot for me to talk about. I love tobacco. Moreover, I love tobacco flavored tobacco. During my initial run, I managed to quickly cover all the products that meet this criteria. Sadly, that list is even shorter today than it was 7 years ago. So why am I back? Erm... my therapist says I need a creative outlet (yes, I'm fucking serious). I won't even pretend my motivation is much more altruistic than that. I mean, if I help someone make the switch to snus (from cigs, vape, nic pouches or dip), I'll call it a win, or if I help someone learn to appreciate snus in it's pure (not mouthwash or koolaid flavored) form, even more so... but admittedly, I write primarily for my own amusement. Given there's not a lot I'm interested in reviewing (I do have a few on deck), I will likely be focusing on flavor posts (all puns intended). How, when and why I use snus... helpful hints, tips and tricks... pairings... if it's snus related, it's fair game. Happy snusing!

So... where the hell have you been?

I'm glad you asked... well, it's been more than a year since my last snus order... so I haven't had anything new to say about snus.  I've been quietly choking to death on General portions... because I refuse to order from Sweden for $3.50+ per can when I can buy domestically for $1 or less (even if I'm not a fan of the taste).  That said, the dreaded Speedway General Snus Sale of 2014 is finally over.  Today the price jumped from $1.99 (with a $1 off your next can coupon), to $4.49 (two cans had coupons, two didn't). So... I'm super excited to be pulling the trigger on some yummy loose snus again.  Just so happens that buysnus has got a special on brands I love (Ettan & Roda Lacket)... so that's where my money's going... and I may snag a can or two of something else, assuming I find something else interesting.  I'm mainly surfacing again for Kardus hype (yes, it's that season... and I haven't heard no yet... maybe this is the year it comes back?).   We shall see... (fingers crossed and stuff).

NEWS: Snus on Sale

So I disappeared off the face of the earth (again), and you can thank Speedway stores (and General) for that.  Now you know General isn't my favorite...  but sometimes my miserliness wins in the battle of taste... yeah, my gums may taste like Earl Grey tea, but I'm saving so much money!!! 

Anyway they've had General on sale for $2.00 off, and General's been throwing $1.50 off coupons in almost every can...  this equates to snus in the neighborhood of $0.79 per can.... less than a fucking dollar for a can of snus.  Speedway is the largest convenience store chain in my area (Cols, OH), pretty sure they're in Michigan too. Anyway, I thought the sale would be brief, I thought I'd be ordering from Sweden again soon... but I just realized today that this has been going on for months... and I better pass on the info (just in case you can take advantage of it too).  My advice, if you're going for General domestically, beware of the rectangle cans.  They contain sickeningly sweet American-style "snus"... now I'm sure they're better quality, but the taste is just as bad (in my book).  Luckily they also offer original and white portions (in the round cans) and this is the real deal... at one hell of a deal.  I'll probably continue to lay low for as long as this lasts, 'cause honestly, I don't have anything to say about General that I haven't already.  

'til next time.... happy snusing!

REVIEW: What's next?

So, with the announcement that no Kardus will appear this year... well it kinda leaves me at a loss for upcoming products to review.  There have been plenty of new flavors floating around, but none that strike my fancy... so it will likely mean a lull in reviews (pending the announcement of a predominately tobacco flavored tobacco).  That said, I did promise a "los-off" (of RL, GB Prima Fint, and Ettan), and I have ordered accordingly, and will be cutting as soon as they land.  If a surprise flavor lands in my order, I'll review it too (even if it's the mint/koolaid stuff).  I'll also work towards a few more "TASTE" pairings in the near future.

NEWS: Kardus Follow Up

*sigh* So, it's confirmed from an irrefutable source....  Direct from Swedish Match:

"Hi.
Thank you for contacting us.
Swedish Match will not bear any Kardus this year.
Sincerely
Consumer Contact / Sara"

BAD NEWS: Kardus Superior Blend 2013

Well guys, I have it from a very reliable source that Swedish Match will not be producing a Kardus Superior Blend for 2013.  That's right... no Kardus this year (hence the sad cat). It's honestly not that surprising as expensive as it's become--over $7/g gram BEFORE shipping cost... sadly much of that cost is in packaging (another reason I think it fails to take off)--note my comments on cost being the reason for this year's lack of yumminess is just speculation, but I'm willing to bet it's pretty accurate.

Anyway, if you've been following my blog, you know I'm a hopeless fanboy of the old Kardus Premium Blend (may it rest in peace)...  and always look forward to the annual release of the Superior blend...  if for no other reason than to have something that vaguely resembles my first snus-love... and for that, I'm willing to pay virtually any price (and pay through the teeth for a silly box) in order to treat myself once a year.  That said, I really wish Swedish Match would revisit the Kardus Premium Blend (an everyday top shelf snus in reasonable packaging)... which I think would do well at as much as 2x the cost of other "premium" brands like General, Skruf etc. But keep reading, as it doesn't sound like that's going to happen anytime soon...

My source did add a bit of sweet to offset this bitter news... and that's to expect something special/exciting from Swedish Match early 2014.  No idea what it will be, aside from knowing it won't be part of the Kardus lineup.

I feel a little special (and not the typical short-bus special), because to my knowledge, I'm the first to report any info on the topic.  Does this mean Snustastings is now a legitimate Snus News resource?  Um... I wouldn't count on it folks *grins*  EDIT, scratch that... I hear Chad over at Snubie beat me to this with a video last night (I missed it).  I'm more than happy to leave the "firsts" to the professionals *grins* Now I can just go back to being my usual short-bus special!

'Til next time...  Happy Snusing!!!

NEWS: Ermahgerd!!! The return of "free cans"

So I got an order in yesterday (almost 3 months to the date, damn I'm good at predicting these things, huh?) AND as the title implies, I got an awesome surprise....  2 free/sample/surprise/gift cans of Oden's Creamy Wintergreen Extreme.  Now, I re-gifted them (immediately)...  you know how I feel about mint/sweet snus--so don't expect me to review them (read: pick 'em apart).  That said... it's been YEARS since I've had a surprise variety show up in with my snus order and I couldn't be more happy about it (even if it's only to give them away).   For what it's worth, they did go to a good home...  I have a buddy in the office that does Grizzly Wintergreen (and has been flirting with switching to snus)... so I'm sure he'll find it a very nice change of pace.  In keeping with my "mission" (not being a tool for tobacco or tobacco distributors)... I'm not going to say which snus shop made my day... BUT if you read between the lines (hint: in my order was a a roll of General Licorice Classic that I only paid for 7 cans of) you'll know which I typically use *grins*

Well... just wanted to share some pleasant news (and keep some momentum going with my posts).

'Til next time....  HAPPY SNUSING!!!

NEWS: Having fun breaking promises (alternative title: what did you expect?)

Howdy snus tasters... long time no post, right?  In fact, this has probably been the longest lull since I started this little misadventure.  Well... things have been picking up for me both at work and in my personal life, so my opportunities and motivation to write have been waning.  That said, I do have a few promises that I intend to break... namely, reviewing my homemade snus (while it is very tasty, I want to spend some more time perfecting it), AND getting around to my last batch of mini portions (that mint catch and mocca stuff I got for the little redhead)...  yeah, it went too quick, and the chance to review has long since passed.  So, sorry!!!  *grins*  But what did you expect?  I DO hate minty snus with a passion, so it only makes sense that I'd slack off when it comes to writing about them.  Well... so as to not COMPLETELY break my promise... my (highly biased) summary on those is... "minty.... ick!" :P  I can also add the domestically available General Mint White, and General Mint (er... American?  well the shit in the rectangular can)--and I'll take it a step further and say "sickeningly sweet, gag-a-maggot... ick" for this one... not quite as bad as camel/marlboro... but still too close for my comfort... only use as a last resort.  Yeah, picked both of those up out of necessity when I needed some portions on my recent vacation.  Which leads me to my next point... don't be cheap, keep some good portions on hand just in case *nods*

That said, fresh reviews of Ettan Los and RL Los are STILL on the way...  also to be accompanied by an editorial-type comparison of my (now) three favorite Swedish Match loose snuses (those two and GB Prima Fint).  Since I've spent so much time (re)familiarizing myself with these... you can expect volumes on the subject.

I've been tap dancing around the subject (with the elegance of a bull in a china shop), but as much as I've enjoyed my los kick.... I've missed the convenience of portions too much. So I pulled the trigger on an order today (what prompted me to write this little teaser).  A certain snus site is doing buy2/get1 on rolls of my new favorite Grov Stark Portions... so... being the thrifty/miserly fuck that I am, couldn't pass it up...  I know, I know... already reviewed that one (still my most popular post)... but I did manage to sneak a can of N&J Cactus Spike, AND Thunder Brandy Alexander on with it.  The Brandy Alexander comes highly recommended by another reviewer (his favorite, one that's had shaky availability at best)... knowing all too well the pain of losing a beloved favorite snus, I'm more than happy to support his cause and pitch in (even if it's just the one can).... and I'll encourage my readers to do the same (both here and in the review).   So, that's a little taste of what to expect in the next week/10 days.

Til then, Happy Snusing!!!

NEWS: Cool retro cans for Ettan and Grov Loose

Of course, days after my order lands... Swedish Match decides to make their old school (1967) cans available for a limited time.  They look fantastic, and will be great for the collector.  Find them at your favorite snus vendor!!!

NEWS: less reviews coming soon!

I'm going through the joy of a move (end of July), and going to have to be thrifty with my snus habit as a result.  So I'm taking advantage of a certain Midsommar sale (yay 40% off), and buying los favorites.  RL, Ettan, and GB Prima Fint. Given the stock I already have, this is going to put me upwards of 3 months (likely more) from my next order.  So, just a warning... things are going to be a little more quiet on the review front for the foreseeable future.  Looks like I'll have to try a little harder with those editorials, and taste pieces to supplement content.  That said, the little lady and I have yet to get to the latest mini's (Catch Eucalyptus and Mocca Mint), and I'll be able to give a fresh review of Ettan and Roda Lacket los... OH, and I'm finally ready to give a review of my homemade snus (the latest result is good enough to talk about here... FINALLY).    So I guess that's still 5 more reviews before summer is out... hopefully about the time this year's vintage of Kardus is available (can't wait for that).  Meh, that's it for now.  Til next time, happy snusing!!!  

IMHO: Snus War--Sweden vs. the EU (dictating snus)

About two weeks ago, I went on a rant about the "nanny state" bullshit the US govt shoves down our throats... you know, the post culminating in "suck my balls", regarding the pact act?  Well, if any of you pay attention to the news ticker on this site, you probably have an idea of what's going on.  If not, here comes my (very abbreviated, and HIGHLY interpretative) version.  The EU is not only continuing it's union wide ban on our favorite tobacco product, but is also getting ready to pass a new anti tobacco initiative that has serious implications on snus as we know it.  At the core of this initiative are three main points:

1.) Packaging/marketing... they want to make all tobacco products look the same.  Simple, plain labels etc... the reason being, they don't want tobacco products being bought because they're "pretty", "shiny", or look unique.  In other words, the powers that be are under the assumption that their subjects (hey, that's how they're being treated), are too stupid to realize the implications of a tobacco product if it's in a pretty package.  As far as practical application is concerned... this point poses the least threat to our snus.  That said, if I were a European, I'd be pretty fucking insulted right now... I mean, your government must think you are ALL a bunch of full blown, short-bus-riding, retards (read: window-lickers, simpletons, mentally hadicapped, idiots), to say to you "Er.... we don't think you're bright enough to associate the risks of tobacco, with tobacco... IF that tobacco is... uh... in a pretty package".  Really? I'm so glad the govt cares...  O.o  ***EDIT*** It seems this has been scratched from the bill since my last reading (in other words, big tobacco lobbyist's won... imagine that)

2.) Flavoring... this point pretty much follows the first one.  But instead of being about a pretty package, it's about the flavor profile of the snus.  So the EU says "Er...  we don't think you are bright enough to associate the risks of tobacco, with tobacco... IF that tobacco doesn't... uh... taste like tobacco".  Yet another insult to the people's intelligence.  If you've been following my blog, you know I'm not a fan of flavors... in fact, a tiny selfish part of me (read: my inner douchebag) wants to support this in expectation of all the yummy unflavored snus that would surely be produced to fill the MASSIVE void this would leave in current offerings.  But... that damn pesky thing called integrity won't allow me to.  The fact is, flavors are popular with the majority, and in this instance... the logic is flawed.  Flavors alone do not make tobacco more risky, maybe more accessible to some... so I guess the point is to narrow the audience.  That said, I can see merit in the argument that flavors (i.e. strawberry, candy-like, bubblegum etc) might attract kids... but guess what?  The government has absolutely no business policing that... it's up to the child's parents/guardians to make sure they don't use tobacco.  This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, people expecting the govt to enact laws so they don't have to parent their children.  Let's look at the flip-side of that coin (narrowing the audience)... say a would be ex smoker, that finds unflavored tobacco unpalatable, had a mint snus brand they could tolerate.  So... losing that mint brand they opt to go back on the cancer sticks, assuming 99x more risk.   Regardless of how you look at it, this point too is supremely insulting, and just plain rubbish.

3.)  Tobacco products must contain (at least) 85%  tobacco.  This one right here... this would be the end of snus as we know it.  Because your typical snus is upwards of 50% water.  Now, I do get this in regards to cigarettes... where fillers and chemical additives run rampant... but snus?  It has absolutely no application, unless they intend to ban... fucking... water.... ehem... fucking... water. *sigh*

I feel for the Europeans (especially the Swedes)... who's freedoms and liberties are being squashed under the heel of a nanny state...  I mean, of course I do... I'm a goddamn American, and at this point in the game you'd think we'd invented the shit.  But we're all apparently dumbasses, incapable of making such decisions on our own. While I realize that tobacco (more specifically THE SMOKING of tobacco) is a major public health concern... of epic proportions... that needs to be addressed... (read: however misguided, there is some point to all this), but this is the kind of bullshit that happens when you allow a government do our job for us.  A solution, a true, PROVEN solution, like the significantly reduced-harm alternative of Swedish Snus, gets fucked over in the name of public health (ironically at the expense of public health).  Why?  Because the govt has it right... by and large the majority is too fucking stupid to solve their own problems, and instead of letting natural selection (read: Darwinism) cull that dim-witted herd, we end up allowing our governments to protect them (in the name of public interests).  The result?  The human race fails to evolve... this kind of stupidity is perpetuated... and the thinking, intellectually superior minority (read: me... :P okay, AND my readers) get held down by the masses.  A shit state of affairs my friend...  shit state indeed.

Lucky for me I've come a long way in my "homemade snus" project in case this does happen... further strengthening my resolve to add growing my own tobacco to my victory garden next year.

For what's it worth, I'll be hoping for the best for my friends in Europe and Sweden... maybe just maybe there are enough enlightened folks with a voice to make a difference for you.  We can only hope!  Instead of my usual "Happy Snusing", I'm leaving you with... Enjoy it while it lasts! :(

Meh, here's another piece of political satire to help lighten (my obviously shitty) mood.

NEWS: Gotland's Summer Snus (wild strawberry)

Is up and available for sale.... limited time, so if you're going to get it, scamper off to your favorite snus vendor and get it while the getting is good!  I'm a fan of seasonal's... for sure, having had this in years past... (and considering my current, ample, personal snus inventory), I can say not to expect a review this time around.  That said, I'll tell you what I can from memory (of last year's batch).  Mainly, if you do go for this one, it should be because you love strawberries.  This is another that's honestly a little too sweet for my taste, but the strawberry flavor was fantastic, and (like with many seasonal's) a great change of pace.  A perfect follow up to any cookout, strawberry shortcake or a stiff daiquiri *grins*.  A fun summer snus.   Happy Snusing!

NEWS: More reviews coming soon!

Here's a teaser on my latest snus order...  expect reviews to begin trickling in next week.

CatchDry Eucalyptus White Mini Portion

General Classic Licorice Portion

Göteborgs Prima Fint loose

Göteborgs Rapé Summer Edition 2013 Havtorn

Mocca Mint Mini Portion

nord66° Nordic Breeze Strong Portion

nord66° Strong White Portion

I'm really excited about getting all of these on my gums *grins*  With the new Skruf line... opted to not try the chili flavor... don't get me wrong, Adam IS a pepper head (of epic proportions), but for whatever reason, mixing that sensation with snus just doesn't sound up my alley (more like gag a maggot), I could be wrong... and may revisit after favorable reviews by someone else brave enough to test those waters.  Anyway, the mini's are for my little lady, but I'll make sure to steal a portion or two of each to give you a review... or maybe I can talk her into reviewing?  Prima Fint is one I haven't had in a very very very long time (like 06 or earlier), so I'm looking forward to giving it a closer look... based on what snus girl had to say about it, I'm expecting a new favorite.  Regardless, a few flavors in the bunch (so stepping outside my comfort zone a bit)... especially with the GB summer edition, but it's promised not be too sweet, so I've got high hopes for it too.   Til next time, happy snusing!

NEWS: Pics added... FINALLY

As promised (a month ago or so)... some pics have been added to (some) previous posts.  See, I'm not a total half-assed-slacker... now am I?

NEWS: Not news

just a mysterious blogger experiment...  Ooooo!

NEWS: Upgraded look and functionality

So I googled up (read: pirated... arg!) a slick back drop... did some reformatting... added labels and links.  The result (I hope) is a more aesthetically pleasing, easier to browse/navigate Snus Tastings.  For the moment, adding photos to my posts eludes me (read: user error, or more concisely user laziness)... but I will remedy it in due course.  If you see any improvements... let me know, and I'll certainly consider and or accommodate them.   Disclaimer... the bit about "pirating" is a joke, admittedly in poor (read: my) taste, if you happen to be the owner of this fine piece of art (or any others appearing here) and are offended by it's use... just let me know, and I'll happily take it down.  Same goes for the links.

NEWS: Coming soon!!! General Classic Licorice Portion

Buysnus has this listed as shipping Monday. Now, you know I'm not a fan of flavors... BUT anise is one that I will make an exception for. Especially if it's not sweetened--which from the "Classic" moniker I gleam this one won't be (the word Classic is used to describe their savory/unsweetened mint). I can't wait to get my hands on this, if fact, for the first time in ages I'm a little sad about carrying such a large inventory in my refrigerator :P Well... I'll just make sure to have a nice absinthe lined up to pair this with when I'm ready to re-order (and get this little piece of hotness in). Needless to say, very excited about this one... be looking for a review soonTM.