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
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 51 - 60 of 72 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 04, 2020 | Medium | Medium | Full | Pleasant |
I'm old enough to have smoked the last generation of Bengal Slices. There were two versions, the regular one and an aromatic one (same tin, just had an "aromatic" sticker on the corner). The regular Bengal Slices was very similar to Balkan Sobranie White, these two tobaccos were my mainstays for many years until they became unavailable and I moved to McConnell's Oriental and Dunhill Durbar.
Bengal Slices had more sweetness and less saltiness, and more of a BBQ flavor, which at the time I chalked up to the extra sugar as it burned, and was much more creamy than Balkan Sobranie which I chalked up to all the cavendish. The aromatic version of Bengal Slices had a very strong lakeland type soapy perfumey note that would ruin a pipe as bad as Erinmore, when I heard Bengal Slices was no longer made I went around to all the tobacconists in my city and bought out their stock, and accidentally acquired several tins of the aromatic version. I smoked them, grudgingly, using an Ashton I thought I could part with if necessary.
What is in this tin is neither Bengal Slices nor Bengal Slices "Aromatic".
It's definitely reminiscent of the old Bengal Slices, it has that sweet creamy Balkan Sobranie flavor, but has an aromatic component, yet not the same one as Bengal Slices Aromatic. Just to be on the safe side I hauled out my old Ashton Bengal Slices Aromatic pipe, which still smelled of latakia and soap and perfume, to give this new blend a try.
After smoking a tin of this it seems to have dispelled the lakeland from my old Bengal Slices Ashton. I smoked a bowl or two of this in another briar and fortunately, it doesn't ghost a pipe as badly as the old Bengal Slices Aromatic did, and with a few weeks of airing out the anise smell dissipates quite a bit and its a pretty good smoke. It's just not Bengal Slices, at least not the version I fell in love with.
Bengal Slices had more sweetness and less saltiness, and more of a BBQ flavor, which at the time I chalked up to the extra sugar as it burned, and was much more creamy than Balkan Sobranie which I chalked up to all the cavendish. The aromatic version of Bengal Slices had a very strong lakeland type soapy perfumey note that would ruin a pipe as bad as Erinmore, when I heard Bengal Slices was no longer made I went around to all the tobacconists in my city and bought out their stock, and accidentally acquired several tins of the aromatic version. I smoked them, grudgingly, using an Ashton I thought I could part with if necessary.
What is in this tin is neither Bengal Slices nor Bengal Slices "Aromatic".
It's definitely reminiscent of the old Bengal Slices, it has that sweet creamy Balkan Sobranie flavor, but has an aromatic component, yet not the same one as Bengal Slices Aromatic. Just to be on the safe side I hauled out my old Ashton Bengal Slices Aromatic pipe, which still smelled of latakia and soap and perfume, to give this new blend a try.
After smoking a tin of this it seems to have dispelled the lakeland from my old Bengal Slices Ashton. I smoked a bowl or two of this in another briar and fortunately, it doesn't ghost a pipe as badly as the old Bengal Slices Aromatic did, and with a few weeks of airing out the anise smell dissipates quite a bit and its a pretty good smoke. It's just not Bengal Slices, at least not the version I fell in love with.
Pipe Used:
Ashton 2x bulldog
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 18, 2019 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
for 25 yrs now ive smoked flake cut vapers of one form or another-mostly Samuel Gawith when I can keep it in stock--. on a lark I opened this old tin--not so old it has an addiction warning--and it instantly reminded me of Balkan sobranie of my youth. those with better memories may well detect sizable differences---I now taste the virginia and latakia very prominently--a weight and pungency I have not tasted in the Gawith and similar. I thoroughly enjoy this--but it is a little heavy for me now---at my age I prefer the gentler Gawith vapers.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 14, 2019 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Wife says, “perfumey. “Whatiya mean, perfumey’?” “I dunno...like, after shave.” Hmm.
“Not like the others (which are) leather, organic.”
Ok. “Is that bad?” “No...just different.” Ok.
“How does it taste?” “Wonderfully mellow.”
“Not like the others (which are) leather, organic.”
Ok. “Is that bad?” “No...just different.” Ok.
“How does it taste?” “Wonderfully mellow.”
Pipe Used:
Dr. Grabow Omega (vintage -35 years old).
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 03, 2023 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I wasn't too keen on this when I first opened the tin. The topping was a bit strong for my tastes, and it had that playdo aroma in common with War Horse. Not nearly as strong, but still there.
So after popping the tin, I put it aside for a year or two. Well, the rest was as good as a change, and what it turned into was a very good English in a sort of crumble cake-bar.
A good dose of Latakia. This is way too strong aroma wise for Orientals to be detected, and I am even taking on trust that the other tobaccos are Virginias. It's not subtle. It's sweet from the Cavendish, but not cloying
Left for awhile it burns a treat. But when reasonably dry it will bite a bit.
I enjoyed this a lot, and suitably aged, this is an English that would not be a stranger to smokers of this type a generation or three ago. My father never smoked it to my knowledge but I can imagine that it would have been in his wheelhouse.
Very nice.
So after popping the tin, I put it aside for a year or two. Well, the rest was as good as a change, and what it turned into was a very good English in a sort of crumble cake-bar.
A good dose of Latakia. This is way too strong aroma wise for Orientals to be detected, and I am even taking on trust that the other tobaccos are Virginias. It's not subtle. It's sweet from the Cavendish, but not cloying
Left for awhile it burns a treat. But when reasonably dry it will bite a bit.
I enjoyed this a lot, and suitably aged, this is an English that would not be a stranger to smokers of this type a generation or three ago. My father never smoked it to my knowledge but I can imagine that it would have been in his wheelhouse.
Very nice.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Ive been avoiding this one because of its licorice casing. I can smell it a little in the tin, but it’s really light. I’m not a big fan of Krumble Kakes, or licorice, but it was good, and worth the experience.
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 11, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a hard pass for me. I just do not get this blend at all. The liquorice flavor is very noticable but seems forced to me. This mixed with the smoky Latakia and the sourness of the orientals just does not taste good to me at all. Beyond the confusing flavors I found it to be too muted as well.
For me this burned very hot and needed alot relights.
For me this burned very hot and needed alot relights.
target="_blank"
