Sir Walter Scott Pontefract Priory Snuff 15g
Sir Walter Scott Pontefract Priory Snuff 15g
The base tobacco for this snuff is Black Cavendish blended with flue cured Burley, Zimbabwe and Bright Leaf Virginia, sauced with a syrup made by simmering liquorice roots in Muscovado sugar and cased with an extract of liquorice roots suspended in alcohol for six months.
Decoctions of the liquorice shrub Glycyrrhiza glabra, had been the universal cure-all for pulmonary complaints since antiquity. It was first brought to Britain in the early 12th century by Spanish monks from the Cluniac monastery in Sahagan visiting their brethren at the newly founded priory at Pontefract. The plants thrived and were soon established in the herb gardens of other monastic houses in Yorkshire.
The origin of the sweet loved by children dates from the 1700's, when George Dunhill, an apothecary in Pontefract, added sugar to a decoction of liquorice root to create a form of cough lozenge. In rural Yorkshire and Lancashire, liquorice is always referred to as "Spanish".
NB: As with any natural tobacco product, artisan nasal snuff can be susceptible to mould if it is not stored correctly. All of our snuffs are heat treated before packing to ensure an indefinite shelf-life whilst in the original, unopened containers. Our snuffs are traditionally made without chemical preservatives and we recommend that once opened the snuffs should be kept in the tightly closed brand container and stored in a refrigerator. Only decant using a clean, dry implement.12 in stock
On that quest for licorice? These guys do it again . I'm getting really nice sweet sugar richness that SWS do.
Deceptively simple formula here that is incredible in it's execution. Potently smoky. Perhaps a bit too smoky for me. Rich, deep, dark and smooth blend with a just hint of smooth licorice to sweeten. Moist, medium grind, easy to take. Strong vitamin N. Incredible. There simply aren't enough cavendish blends. Fans of smoky schmalzlers might want to check this out.
An outstanding snuff. Full of natural liquorice in a perfectly blended dark and rich base flour. The price reflects the time and quality of ingredients invested in this snuff. Moist, medium grind with respectable amount of nicotine. Follow the storage directions to the letter, i.e. fridge and original or airtight container to prevent mould developing. A+++
I can't say enough about Pontefract Priory. It is delicious. The tin aroma is mildly sweet with a faint but definite licorice whiff. Usually when something has anise or licorice ingredients, it is delivered with a heavy hand that is clumsy and one dimensional. Not so with Pontefract. SWS has a delicate approach that marries the flavors and scents with the tobacco. The licorice is exactly to my liking. But licorice is not the only component here. It has a slight smokiness. Nice nicotine hit. Lovely moist grind. I could use this snuff all day but don't want to risk burning myself out on it. Its that good. Pontefract Priory is terrific. I am a big fan of most of the SWS snuffs but this one is near or at the top -- tough call!!
Licorice. Long considered a "love it or hate it" scent and flavor, often due to confusing anise with licorice. They aren't the same.
This snuff is exemplary in "explaining" that difference. The tobacco bill is amazing and of the highest quality. The mastery of cavendish and raw sugar along with the licorice root's finicky nature show a level of craftsmanship not often seen. It's cheaper and easier to substitute anise seeds/pods for true licorice, and this snuff makes that difference glaringly apparent. It's a naturally bitter substance that has been tamed, enhanced and sweetened into a snuff that is sweet and pleasant, but is does not fall into the dessert category in my opinion.
It is delicious. All day. Every day. It's at the top of my short list.