Anyone like skoal key?

[nicodude]

Just wondering if anyone here likes/has heard of skoal key? I've never seen it in stores, but I just got a can in from northerner and its so/so, I'm not too thrilled with it, kinda reminds me of the straight but finer cut.

I can't see this as a popular flavor since I've never seen it at a B&M store, same thing with the skoal edge wintergreen. I've heard they discontinued both, not sure how long ago, but its still within date so IDK.

If theres already a thread about this feel free to merge mine into it, I did try searching but got 5 pages of irrelevance.

[c.nash]

They actually just discontinued this.
Along with Skoal EDGE Wintergreen, Skoal Vanilla, Skoal Citrus and Skoal Apple.

[c.nash]

Oh yea, and according to the Skoal reps I spoke to awhile back... Key changed flavors constantly. Basically when they are done running a flavor through the machine they ran blank tobacco through the machines to "clean it" and what came out was packaged and labeled as "key".

[resnor]

Skoal discoed Vanilla, Citrus, and Apple???

I may have to pick a couple of those up, just because they'll be gone.

[CreteCoater]

I used to chew it as a novelty if I would run onto it somewhere......then the novelty wore off. Interesting info Cnash.

[nicodude]

Damn that key sounds nasty now, just using it to clean the machines and then selling it. It's nothing special anyway, I wouldn't miss it. I don't think many people tried it though, seems it was mainly sold in the midwest, unless you ordered it online.

I was looking up apple/citrus and from what I've found I think they're only ditching the pouches, apple longcut is one of their more popular flavors, IMO they'd be crazy to discontinue it, I wasn't too happy with the cirtus by the end of the can, same with the peach, too artificial. I will miss the vanilla longcut though, not that I really dip much anymore.

[pirtek04]

That would explain the tin I have right now. Real shame, I have got my first ever can. It has a medium cut, doesn't pack real neat. But the flavour is intence. Its on its way to tasting like copenhagen. Thats the first thing I taste, then It has some kind of spicey peppery almost chilli taste comes over the top. I LOVE IT! Now it seems that will be my only tin. Its in the freezer. Don't know when it will come out again.

[Jwalker]

That makes absolutely no sense why would they discontinue the pouches that's fastest growing segment of the dip market. Not that I care I thought skoal peach was ok, vanilla is pretty good, berry blend and citrus should go or be redone in particular berry. Apple is definitely popular almost every store has it, I didn't know they made pouches for apple, I know vanilla and a few other brands don't have pouches.

[Ephemeris]

Oh yea, and according to the Skoal reps I spoke to awhile back... Key changed flavors constantly. Basically when they are done running a flavor through the machine they ran blank tobacco through the machines to "clean it" and what came out was packaged and labeled as "key".

They were telling you a tale, brother. Key had its own production line same as all the other flavors.

Key was actually a very, very old brand that was discontinued about fifty years ago. Back in the day, it was a pretty big competitor to Copenhagen (which is why they taste somewhat similar- the recipe for the modern Key is basically the same as the original product).

From what I understand, Altria needed to release something using the brand name or they were going to lose the rights to it. It was on the market just long enough for Altria to protect their trademark. I don't think it was ever seriously supposed to be a major brand.

[dpete]

Key was actually a very, very old brand that was discontinued about fifty years ago. Back in the day, it was a pretty big competitor to Copenhagen (which is why they taste somewhat similar- the recipe for the modern Key is basically the same as the original product).

Not too sure about that timeline. My stepfather turned me onto Key (then made IIRC by the United States Tobacco Co.) which had been his steady brand for years. This was in around 1987-89. Seems like Key had a very small distribution area in the midwest at that time. Was surprised to see it all these years later on Northerner but unfortunately always forgot to order it.

[Bigblue1]

100% agree with this statement, Key was definitely not over runs in a can. As a matter of fact, I think that statement is not only BS but stupid........

[olsongg]

I've been using Skoal Key since 1966 and have never had trouble finding
it until lately. This ticks me off as I've probably used thousands of cans [or plastics which is what the've come in for quite a few years]. I live in the midwest and know of many who only use KEY. I'm 71 and still
dip and the reason I think it may be discontinued is because all the youth I see are using Mint flavors or
whatever. I'll quit before I use that candy crap. Copenhagen, here I come, I guess.................

[lxskllr]

Welcome to SnusOn!

Nice having an old timer on board. I think you might have beat PP in age :^D

[Ephemeris]

Not too sure about that timeline. My stepfather turned me onto Key (then made IIRC by the United States Tobacco Co.) which had been his steady brand for years. This was in around 1987-89. Seems like Key had a very small distribution area in the midwest at that time. Was surprised to see it all these years later on Northerner but unfortunately always forgot to order it.

You're correct, I meant to say that it was delisted from their national distribution catalog. It was still available in the midwest but it wasn't offered for sale to most of the country. (Same with Viking and Seal snus).

Key is a really hard brand to research, I'm finding out. Can you recall if those late-80's cans said "Key" or "Skoal Key"? It seems that they were labeled "Key" for sale in Illinois but the other states got "Skoal Key". I'm trying to figure out when they completely did away with the plain old "Key" labels.

[dpete]

Key is a really hard brand to research, I'm finding out. Can you recall if those late-80's cans said "Key" or "Skoal Key"? It seems that they were labeled "Key" for sale in Illinois but the other states got "Skoal Key". I'm trying to figure out when they completely did away with the plain old "Key" labels.

I am certain that what I found in Iowa at that time was Key and not Skoal Key. I was not aware that it had been rebranded as Skoal Key until I ran across it on the Northerner site. Came in cardboard can with metal top that had "United States Tobacco Company" in raised lettering. The label design looked like it could have easily been designed in the '40's or '50's. It is a real shame it is gone completely now.