V2 Test - Rankings - RobME summary

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  • RobME
    Member
    • Jul 2008
    • 387

    V2 Test - Rankings - RobME summary

    I created my own separate thread for this, and I think the other guys should post in their own. This isn't a competition. We don't even have to agree. Although I expect some similarity of mutual consensus it doesn't matter if our individual opinions are wildly divergent.

    That said; I don't even believe it's fair to rank these in a numbered order of best to worst. They're different as types of foods can be different. Sometimes I want a meal and sometimes I want dessert. Which is better? It depends on what I'm craving. Sometimes it's sweet and sometimes it's salty. Neither is better, they're each appropriate at their own given time.

    Ah... but which flavors are worthy and which ones suck? :wink: You probably already know from reading what's already been opined. And even then, some have posted a desire to try (some flavors), where a given "reviewer" has expressed a dislike for it, and vis-versa. So what's the point?

    I think V2 already knows what they like and we're serving as a focus group for them. I think we (as snus enthusiasts) enable them to hone in on which new flavors the market might embrace. After all, this is SnusOn. We're like the Snus Elite. No, not me (or the other panelists - we just got lucky being chosen as known portion users). Everyone at SnusOn is the Snus elite. Why else would we be here. Yes, there are 'other' reasons to participate in this forum (or other forums), but it's the Snus that brought us here.

    I can't (won't) rank them top to bottom. To me these practically fall into categories; almost like food groups.

    The Fruit Group:
    Manderine - which btw is great w/coffee.
    Lemon - get past the first minute & this is terrific.
    Cream Mango - v. natural tasting, but finishes a little bitter.

    The Cake & Cookies Group:
    Sweet Clove - the surprise winner for me, (but it's really a tie).
    Spekulatius - I like this very much.
    Dark Vanilla - if it were sweeter this could've been my #1.

    The Meat, Fish & Spirits Group:
    Moonshine - the lone entry (counterpoint to Sweet Clove).

    The Junk Food Group:
    Banana - properly a fruit, but not in my tobacco.
    Ananas - wanted to like it, but just doesn't work for me.

    Some Final Thoughts: entirely my own...

    All of these trial flavors shared in the commonality of having a natural taste. That was surprising, 'cause V2 (Offroad) has a few pretty gnarly tasting full time offerings. Maybe we have something new (from them) to look forward to.

    To be fair, even my least favorite among them (Banana & Ananas), didn't taste of artifice. I think the banana was natural, but it's inherent flavor not a good combination with tobacco. Ananas was similar to the Dark Vanilla, in the sense of having the prime flavor masked. There wasn't enough of it to be properly tasted. The pineapple/ananas doesn't deserve to be in the Junk category at all. I just put in there because I didn't feel it to rank equally with the others. Truth is... it's not bad really. It's a bit sour, and smokey, but where's the pineapple? If I weren't expecting pineapple I might actually like it.

    Sagedil gave a perfect analogy for the flaws of the Dark Vanilla when he spoke of Bakers Chocolate. It doesn't taste of anything until you add sugar... and Bam! there's the chocolate. It's the same with vanilla extract, it having the primary vanilla essence but not the flavor we've come to expect until you add some sugar. I was disappointed with the Dark Vanilla. It possibly verges on excellence, but not yet. Not as it is.

    All of the others were really very good. Even better than very good. I'd buy cans of any of them regularly before most other snus that I've had, and I've had at least fifty different types. Mostly all of these deserve to be available full time. I hope V2 considers more than just a limited offering.

    Special mention to / for, the Sweet Clove. I won't gush here. I think we all already have. It's at the top of this hit parade. But... and I might be the only voice, the lone voice to say this, and I don't care what anyone else thinks... The Moonshine is GREAT!!! but it's like steak to the sweet clove dessert. I'd do either all day long, as long as I could alternate flavors; first one then the other.

    I made a big deal of the Lemon Dew, and I'd put that third (after the first minute of funkiness), it settles down to a nice, natural, laid-back refreshing flavor. The Manderine & Cream Mango are every bit as good as the Lemon. (a three way tie for third?). I like them all. Spekulatius is better than any Christmas snus I've ever had and it deserves to be offered more than once a year. That'll probably never happen, but if I were running V2... (no, that will never happen either).

    Right now I'm enjoying a Dark Vanilla portion. Enjoying? Yeah, now that I don't expect it to be sweet or vanilla tasting, I'm enjoying it for what it is... salty, smokey vanilla extract. It's not bad, (but not nearly as good as the others).

    So... that's my personal summation. Rankings? I'll leave it to the others to duke it out, or present their own ultimate opinions however they see fit. Nobody's right here, nobody's wrong. We can only be true to ourselves. Everyone (I think) has been honest and I think we've in part, done this for all.

    I haven't participated much here lately (life intrudes), and I have my own issues. I don't even like to post that much, unless I can say something meaningful or occasionally irreverent. I hope some of you have enjoyed reading my posts. If my writing (style) bored you or annoyed you... like PP says, "Bite Me", no... come to think of it bite Xobeloot instead. He'd probably enjoy it.

    That's all for now folks...

    Best,
    Rob
  • lxskllr
    Member
    • Sep 2007
    • 13435

    #2
    Well Written Rob. Nice summary :^)

    Comment

    • sagedil
      Member
      • Nov 2007
      • 7077

      #3
      Well done Rob. I am probably a week away from doing the same as really think I need to fully do another round of testing before i can really trust my conclusions. And there are a few, especially the Lemon and Moonshine, that I really do want to like better.

      But overall, think the two of us are mostly in agreement, at least so far for me.

      Comment

      • TBD
        Member
        • Jul 2008
        • 817

        #4
        Nice ARTICLE. How the hell are any of the rest of us (OK me) supposed to top that?

        Like sagedil, I need a couple more days to get my thoughts together.

        Comment

        • rickcharles606
          Member
          • Mar 2009
          • 2307

          #5
          That was very well written. Informative, easy to read....hard to follow, lol

          It also speaks to how well suited you all are to test these products. You've all been very thoughtful in your reviews, and I for one appreciate it, as my money doesn't grow on trees. Therefore, I cannot afford to try them all, just the ones I think will please me. You have all made that easier by writing concise reviews on the different flavors and types of Swedish snus.

          My kids college fund's appreciate it!! Oh and it keeps my wife off my ass too...lol

          Comment

          • mercvrivs
            Member
            • Sep 2008
            • 484

            #6
            Great post Rob!

            Comment

            • RobME
              Member
              • Jul 2008
              • 387

              #7
              Originally posted by lxskllr
              Well Written Rob. Nice summary :^)
              Thank you lxskllr, that means a lot coming from you!

              Originally posted by sagedil
              Well done Rob. I am probably a week away from doing the same as really think I need to fully do another round of testing before i can really trust my conclusions....
              Thanks sage, you're the ultimate arbiter and a pretty cool guy.

              Originally posted by TBD
              Nice ARTICLE. How the hell are any of the rest of us (OK me) supposed to top that?
              Well, I think you did. I've read your summary. You were honest and to the point. What can beat that? I just tell (long) stories.

              Originally posted by rickcharles606
              That was very well written. Informative, easy to read....hard to follow, lol
              Yeah, I am too loquacious. I appreciate the kind words though, and GL staying off the smokes. You know, snus is great, but so is snuff, and it's cheaper.

              Originally posted by mercvrivs
              Great post Rob!
              Thank you Mercvrivs. I really liked reading your reviews. They're thoughtful and well done!

              -------------------------------------------
              I haven't really finished any of these portions. When I'm done; I'll do an epilogue.

              Later,
              Rob

              Comment

              • TBD
                Member
                • Jul 2008
                • 817

                #8
                Originally posted by RobME

                Originally posted by TBD
                Nice ARTICLE. How the hell are any of the rest of us (OK me) supposed to top that?
                Well, I think you did. I've read your summary. You were honest and to the point. What can beat that? I just tell (long) stories.

                [
                Thank You for the compliment. I was kidding, just so you know. :lol:

                Comment

                • RobME
                  Member
                  • Jul 2008
                  • 387

                  #9
                  Originally posted by TBD
                  Originally posted by RobME

                  Originally posted by TBD
                  Nice ARTICLE. How the hell are any of the rest of us (OK me) supposed to top that?
                  Well, I think you did. I've read your summary. You were honest and to the point. What can beat that? I just tell (long) stories.

                  [
                  Thank You for the compliment. I was kidding, just so you know. :lol:
                  Oh! You mean, you didn't think I wrote a nice article? You were being insincere with me?

                  Comment

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