Ode to the Legends: To the Brands That Built Tradition
March 11, 2025
For most of us folks, dipping wasn’t just a ritual — it was a part of life. A familiar routine. The memory of a well-worn tin in the cupholder of your father’s truck. A trusted companion on long days and late nights. Something you could always count on — like an old truck that never lets you down or a handshake that still means something.
Black Buffalo was raised with that in mind. There’s no denying the legacy brands — Copenhagen, Skoal, and the others that came before us—set the bar high for what a good dip should be. The first pinch, the unmistakable smell, the way it feels when it’s packed just right — dipping wasn’t just tobacco, it was tradition.
Keeping Tradition Alive
Black Buffalo was built on that same foundation. We believe in progress without losing tradition. And we knew there were folks out there, like us, who wanted an authentic dip experience without the tobacco leaves or stems. Who still wanted something real and rooted in the past.
That’s why we spent years perfecting a product that doesn’t stray too far from our roots. We worked with generational tobacco farmers, took notes from the best, and put 25,000+ hours into craft a dip that walks, talks, and feels just like the real thing — because it is the real thing. Just without the tobacco leaf or stem.
Maybe for some, it’s just a can of dip. But for us, it’s a connection to something bigger. A connection to the long-standing tradition of men and women who don’t shy away from hard work. Who believe in crafting something genuine and authentic, even if it takes years to get it right. That’s why we dedicated ourselves to doing things the right way, not the easy way — so we could match the experience that the legends created.
A Word from Our Founder
Our CEO and co-founder, Mark Hanson, will be the first to tell you this: Black Buffalo wasn’t born in a boardroom. It was built from the ground up by dippers, for dippers. By folks who knew the makings of a great dip and didn’t settle for less when it came to making an alternative.
"I grew up on the classics—Copenhagen, Skoal, the brands that shaped the game. They were always in my back pocket, always part of my routine. When we started Black Buffalo, it wasn’t about reinventing the wheel—it was about keeping tradition alive in a way that made sense for the future. We’re not here to replace history. We’re here to honor it."
To Those Who Came Before Us
The legends paved the way, and we don’t take that lightly. We tip our hats to the brands that set the standard and shaped this culture of American dip. Without them, there’d be no Black Buffalo.
And to those who still believe in the power of a good tin of dip, who appreciate the value of hard work, and who live by the code of tradition — we see you. We respect you. That’s why we want to make sure your dip experience with Black Buffalo is a damn good one.
Cheers to the legends. And cheers to the road ahead.