Bengal Slices Bengal Slices (re-release)
(3.33)
A unique Latakia based crumble cake made with yellow and black Virginias, some of the most delectable Orientals available and a touch of unflavored black cavendish.
Notes: A recreation of the original Bengal Slices.
Details
| Brand | Bengal Slices |
| Blended By | Russ Ouellette |
| Manufactured By | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Licorice |
| Cut | Krumble Kake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.33 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 39 of 39 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2023 | Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Tin note of fermented fruity, anise and smoky. Tobacco is a Krumble Kake of black, brown and tan. Moisture content is great. Rubs out easily. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. Flavoring is mild to medium, with notes of Anise or Licorice. I'm leaning toward Anise because sweetness (I detect more than a natural amount) and the lack of bitterness (or I detect a "normal" amount). Regardless, the flavoring gradually drops to the background by the 1/2 way point and remains a faint reminder. Taste is medium to full and very consistent, with complex notes of floral, sweet, anise, smoky, musty vegetation/hay, toast, spicy, wood, spices, savory, orange peel/zest, rich earth, mildly bitter, mild fermented sour, lemon grass, a tart and tangy citrusy herbal incense background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Latakia is leading with strong support from the Flavoring, Oriental/Turkish and Virginia. Black Cavendish gives minor support. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.
Pipe Used:
James Upshall Smooth Acorn (4) (P) (FH)
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2021 | Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
My wife gifted this because of the brand name, reminded her of Del-Boy Trotter having a Ruby Murray down at the “Star of Bengal.” Anyway, I really do not know what all the whinging, fuss, and objections are all about regarding the word licorice? That flavour is not dominant here, and not obtrusive. There is just a cool, pleasing brightness that is light, enjoyable, and distinctive. This is a great English type of blend. Discover for yourself; make up your own mind if it is open. There is nothing radical here. Just a refreshing English change of pace. And prepare it properly for the pipe. A little goes a long way. Lightly – LIGHTLY – rub out a quarter of one of the thick chunky flakes to get what others have called a small limestone-pebble consistency. Load these pebbles of tobacco like a cube cut, using gravity fill only. Do not press this tobacco tightly into your bowl. It will expand as it burns. After lighting, tamp sparingly and very softly and gently. Champion!
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tin a week old.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 08, 2018 | Medium | Strong | Extra Full | Pleasant |
Wow! The only other latakia mixture with a heavy anise topping that I knew of, was count pulaski by altadis. This stuff is even better! A very heavy latakia mixture, almost pure black flakes, with a reasonably strong anise topping. This is very incense-y and smoky. It has a very deep taste, and a rich pleasant room note (for a smoker) that most anyone would enjoy who likes latakia.
Tin presentation might put you off because it is so dense it looks like the tin is underfilled. But of course it is not. This is a top notch blend.
Be sure to try this if you enjoyed dunhill's nightcap but couldn't stomach the horrible aftertaste of that blend.
Tin presentation might put you off because it is so dense it looks like the tin is underfilled. But of course it is not. This is a top notch blend.
Be sure to try this if you enjoyed dunhill's nightcap but couldn't stomach the horrible aftertaste of that blend.
Pipe Used:
Grabow
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 30, 2023 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The Latakia here is the star with its musty campfire taste. A sweet char I’ve only seen made sweeter in the SPC Plum Pudding Bourbon which, given Russ’s involvement in both, only makes sense. There is the suggestion of a licorice casing which I do not taste. The unsweetened Black Cavendish mellows out the lat but, even so, this is a stronger overall smoke than the also excellent Bengal Slices White. We have so many excellent English/Balkan blends these days. The old classics (the ones being made) have serious competitors. 4 out of 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
IMP Meerschaum
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 14, 2023 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Bengal slices is what most people would call an English crossover blend. Smoky-sweet is what characterizes the flavour profile. You get the Latakia and you get the flavour of the anise/licorice as a condiment with it.
No bite. The only downside to it is that it costs a bit more than some other tobaccos, but honestly, it is worth the price, much like Plum Pudding (which fortunately it isn't as expensive as).
If you like Plum Pudding - Bourbon Barrel Aged, the old Frog Morton's Cellar, then you'll also love Bengal Slices.
No bite. The only downside to it is that it costs a bit more than some other tobaccos, but honestly, it is worth the price, much like Plum Pudding (which fortunately it isn't as expensive as).
If you like Plum Pudding - Bourbon Barrel Aged, the old Frog Morton's Cellar, then you'll also love Bengal Slices.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 20, 2023 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
20230412 edit: tasting this back to back with other Latakia blends all day long, I'm definitely getting a lot of sweet anise in the smoke. Almost reminding me of war horse, plus smokiness, minus all the nicotine. Think i have to upgrade this to 4 stars.
I struggle to taste anything but Latakia in any Latakia blend, but this one seems to be one of the best so far. Relatively sweet and smooth, the campfire flavor doesn't simply punch me in the face. I'll keep this around for when i want to smoke a moderately adulterated campfire, but I'm starting to think I'll have to blend my own with something like 1 percent Latakia to properly appreciate it. Don't get me wrong, this is very good. It has some pleasant notes beyond pure Latakia, but that's mainly what I'm tasting.
I struggle to taste anything but Latakia in any Latakia blend, but this one seems to be one of the best so far. Relatively sweet and smooth, the campfire flavor doesn't simply punch me in the face. I'll keep this around for when i want to smoke a moderately adulterated campfire, but I'm starting to think I'll have to blend my own with something like 1 percent Latakia to properly appreciate it. Don't get me wrong, this is very good. It has some pleasant notes beyond pure Latakia, but that's mainly what I'm tasting.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 13, 2023 | Mild | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
https://youtu.be/zh_k4vAEEOw?feature=shared
Though it is often mentioned that this is a remaster of the original, this blend most definitely stands alone. The flavor profile for this blend is unique and although I personally would have appreciated it to be a little more Oriental forward, it still tastes sublime.
Though it is often mentioned that this is a remaster of the original, this blend most definitely stands alone. The flavor profile for this blend is unique and although I personally would have appreciated it to be a little more Oriental forward, it still tastes sublime.
Pipe Used:
Master craft and Peterson systems
PurchasedFrom:
The Country Squire
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 11, 2023 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
First tin whiff is leather and shoe polish. Crumbles easy enough. a few relights. Latakia is the main flavor up front, although not alone. sweet and citrus Virginia comes through with smokey and spice from the orientals. The faint taste of my childhood candy of sweet snaps came to mind. Flavoring of licorice is clearly in the taste profile. I assume the black cavendish keeps everything in check. I like the Snaps and Latakia mixing together with no surprises. Mild to medium strength with a full flavor and nice after taste. I would buy again in a "snap", when on sale.
Pipe Used:
Briars
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 10, 2023 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Bengal Slices (the re-release version) really surprised me as the flavor and aroma of the smoke is very similar to Dunhill's "The Aperitif" which is no longer in production. I really loved that mixture and I have strong positive feelings about this blend as well.
I am of the opinion that, as pipe tobacco smokers, we are living in a golden era. The existence and easy availability of this product is only further evidence of this opinion. Top Notch- Highly recommended.
I am of the opinion that, as pipe tobacco smokers, we are living in a golden era. The existence and easy availability of this product is only further evidence of this opinion. Top Notch- Highly recommended.
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