Bengal Slices Bengal Slices (re-release)

A very Latkia forward blend. Smoky, with some slight citrus from the Virginia and sweetness from the Cavendish.

There is a slight anise/menthol flavor, which isn't distracting but becomes more apparent as the pipe heats up.

Definitely worth trying, though a bit pricey.

My thoughts on Bengal Slices. It took a charring light and then easily lit up. The first thing I noticed was the semisweet cavendish and the smokiness and campfire flavor of the Latakia. Then the piquant, sour, exotic Oriental tobacco came in, mixing with what had become a taste of dark fruit like plums or cherries. The Virginia tobacco presents a citrus and hay baseline underneath.

The room note is sharp, spicy with some Latikia smokiness to it, but it's still pleasant to me. Not something you could smoke around people who are sensitive to Latakia.

As I continue to smoke, I am amazed at how smooth, cool and balanced this blend is. Everything just jives, like a good song with all the elements playing their parts. Succinct. No dead weight. This is expertly blended! And the tobacco is of very high quality. It reminds me of Penzance, but with the added bonus of black cavendish to keep you on your toes.

Heading into the second half of the bowl, everything has calmed down and further melded into a beautiful melody. Still wonderfully balanced and engaging. There is an essence that I hardly noticed at first, that of salty ocean wind, that has grown stronger as the bowl wanes.

As I tamp occasionally, I am surprised at how fine the light gray ash is, like a fluffy powder.

It burns dry all the way down to the bottom and finished perfectly. What an amazing smoke this is! One of the best Krumble Kake English blends I've had, up there with Smokers' Haven and Penzance. What a wonderful experience! I can't wait to smoke more of this and get to know it better. 5/5

Tin note of dry fruit from the Virginia, bit of leather from the Latakia, and floral perfume from the Balkan leafs. Just a hint of cocoa.

First puffs bring the Latakia further out, but still on a delicate level. Alongside the Latakia are the floral Balkan tobaccos. Flavor is kept pretty much the same throughout the smoke.

Not a strong blend, just a friendly tasty and somewhat complex flavor. Comes in beautiful slices of kake, easily crumbled and packed, but does require a few relights. Deserves to be enjoyed in a medium or large bowl in order to let its character time and space to develop.

Masterful blend, highly recommended. I do hope that it'd be more affordable, so I'd buy it more often. But as is, I'll get it from time to time and smoke it irregularly as to not finish it too quickly.

Just got to sample the original from a friend tobacconist in Va. WOW! Nothing like it. I haven’t tried your new version yet but I’m keeping some of my sample to compare. I don’t smell anise. It has a unique sweet aroma that is very honey like. With a light floral like perfume scent. The initial light has the distinct Lakeland floral/soapy character. Totally unique. It smokes wonderful. Good Latakia, very smooth and balanced. Gets richer and a bit smokier near the end of the bowl. Wow. Just Wow. It makes you crave more. What blend comes to mind as a distant relative with a similar scent and flavor is Mac Barens Solent Mixture.

i did a rewrite on this review because I wasn’t really happy with it . I smoke outdoors so i really don’t get any room note experience from my smokes but Bengal Slices has a great incense like aroma I love ! The Latakia and Orientals are obviously responsible for most of that . The Latakia is heavy in this blend but it works . The Orientals are spicy and sour and sparkling. The Virginias and Cavendish add quite a bit of sweetness to contrast the funky Orientals and smokey Latakia quite wonderfully. The topping adds to the experience. This is one I smoke when i am in the mood for it and that comes around regularly! Great job , Russ ! Very unique blend .

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.

Not sure if the topping/casing for Bengal Slices is licorice or anise, they both taste the same so it really doesn't matter. For this review I'll refer to the flavoring as licorice. When it comes to flavored tobacco, licorice flavoring is one of my favorites. Sir Walter Raleigh is one of my go to tobaccos because of the very mild licorice flavoring. There's not a lot of tobacco blends that I'm aware of that have both Latakia and licorice flavor as components. Bengal Slices and Fusiliers Ration may be the only two. For me the combination of Latakia and licorice is a match made in heaven. As a matter of fact I use to take an eight oz bag of Esoterica’s Margate, a one and a half oz pouch of Sutliff’s Mixture #79, mix it all together and stuff it into a mason jar. That was my favorite smoke for a quite awhile. I guess without realizing it, I was kind of making my own version of Bengal Slices.

Now onto a discussion about Bengal Slices.

First opening the tin, licorice and Latakia comprises the initial tin note. Kind of a smoky licorice aroma. I received three wide slabs of dark brown with tan/yellow striped krumble kake slices. The slices were stuck together and somewhat flexible almost rubbery and a bit on the dry side. Peeling one of the slices off, I rubbed it out and filled my pipe. The Latakia is definitely a main player and for my taste the licorice flavor might be just a tad heavy. When I first start smoking it’s delicious, but then after awhile I get weary of it.

When discussing Bengal Slices, mentioning Fusilier’s Ration is almost a must. Fusilier’s Ration for me is a lighter version of Bengal Slices and I actually prefer it.

I have no complaints about the smoking mechanics of Bengal Slices. It is well behaved with no bite, bitterness or gurgle. Required no relights and stayed lit with a normal to slow cadence. If you enjoy a tobacco heavy on the Latakia and licorice flavor then Bengal Slices might be a good choice. If you prefer something a little lighter, then Fusilier’s Ration might be a better way to go.

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!

You can smell the licorice when you open the tin but there is the faintest taste of it if that, Otherwise it is a decent English blend. Very smooth and not overly complex. Recommended. 3.75