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!!!

REVIEW: NEW Thunder Ultra Brandy Alexander

As predicted, I've been woefully busy (with moving, busy season at work... uh... life).  So this is coming much later than intended...  BUT I'm making time for it because I know it's important to other members in the snus community.  So you know flavors aren't my thing when it comes to snus...  this one isn't going to have me eating my words... but, it's definitely one I can appreciate, and will even add to my ordering rotation from time to time.  So without further adieu, here comes the long-promised Brandy Alexander Review.

Appearance: 8/10 WOW, that's a loud can.  One thing the image won't show is the fact that the label is mirrored, and almost appears chrome.  That, and the smaller catch lid are the only points I'm docking here... because otherwise, it's pretty bad ass.  Black can, silver/shiny label (loud or not, it's well done)... and typical "THUNDER" in edgy fonts.  All in all, far from the worst looking snus can on the market.
Aroma: 9/10 OH so sweet, OH so potent!  It smells of brandy (alcohol), chocolate, tobacco... lots of non traditional snus smells here, and the fact that a purist like me isn't ripping it apart for such speaks volumes on how I feel about it (er... for the idiots out there, that means I like it).
Mouth Feel: 9/10 Hey, it's an original portion... meaning it's moist, and comfortable. Material is nice... just the right amount of slack.
Flavor: 10/10  Okay, a 10/10 on a flavored snus... setting my bias aside, this one is done very well.  Much like the smell...  chocolate and brandy-wine are right up front.  It's got a nice creamy note to it, and (I can't believe I'm saying this) a pleasant sweetness--and I HATE sweet snus.  That said... in this instance it works, in fact it needs it.  There are also wafts of vanilla happening, some caramel... you know, for all my gourmet-ing (and boozing), I've never had a Brandy Alexander... but from what I've read, this sounds like a fair (if not spot on) representation.
Nic Hit: 6.5/10 This is the only "needs improvement" category for this snus... not that it's lacking in nicotine (much the opposite)... OMFG is it strong!  So much so, that I find myself capped at 20-30 min with ONE portion.  This is a high octane snus that hits hard out of the gate, and honestly in my one can I wasn't able to keep one in long enough to see if/when the nicotine hit starts to fade.
Drip: 8/10 For as moist as this snus is (and it's way up there), I didn't have much issue with drip.  That might be due to the fact that I could only keep them in for a short time (when I'm often 1hr+ with other snuses).
Overall: 9/10 I'm rounding this one up to minimize the subjective factor. In all fairness, this is a well done flavored snus, that is very unique (i.e. not mint or fruit).  Honestly, I like it.  I would like it more as a candy (think Werther's Originals)... but it's a great way to change up the snus routine for me, and I could see it being a regular for many.

Since this flavor has come and gone in the past, I'd encourage you to order it, as I'm sure sales will be the deciding factor on whether or not it's here in the future--and honestly, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if this one stuck around.  So.... go buy some!

 '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!