Bengal Slices Pipe Tobacco Tin

So, I did only finish my first bowl but, I'm confused about what the fuss is all about. Most of the time with pipe tobacco the hype is legit. This is undeniably quality tobacco and the crumble cake is beautiful but, it's boring. I don't get much from this. None of the strength, depth, or flavor that everybody is talking about. I hope the rest of the tin proves me wrong.

Will purchase again.

Have not smoked my pipe in twenty years or so. Just starting again. This tobacco is quite heavy with wonderful flavor. Burns very slowly down to fine ash. Newcomers should stay away from it.

Many times people explain the smell of tobaccos as being something you wouldn't assume is 'good' but it somehow it is good. This is another one of those times. I love the chemical kind of smell this stuff has. It's silly but I like opening the container and just smelling it. The process of preparing some to be smoked is almost as enjoyable as smoking it. Don't be tempted in breaking it all up to put in a mason jar. Breaking some up each time before smoking and getting that wonderful aroma flowing... mmm. I don't pack it tight, it's on the tough side to light. I leave it a little loose and just gently tamp it as I go through the bowl.

One of the great blends I've tried. Rich and spicy. Smooth and cool burning. Out of the tin, the signature aroma is that of fennel. The Orientals make their presence felt throughout----this is not your ordinary English. The cake is around the same consistency as Plum Pudding It is going to stay in the top tier of my rotation.

Great flavor...it's made the rotation!

I tossed a tin into my last order on a whim. This blend is really smooth, and while you get a nice Latakia it's not the Lat bomb I expected. The anise topping does amazing things in this blend. Definitely one that will be in my rotation.

I want to thank Russ Ouellette for bringing this wonderful tobacco back for us. Much appreciated. If you don't know the story, look it up, it's fascinating. Bengal Slices truly is a unique tobacco. Much has been said about it's extraordinaire smooth and creamy nature and clean taste. The taste is so well blended it's practically in a league of its own. It has the richest Latakia, smokey and full flavored, but it's very mellow and toothless. It has flavorful orientals that add complexity rarely had in a blend (Yenidje?). And, then there's the top note...I don't really know if it's licorice or anise and I don't really care, as long as they never change it. It makes this smoke nice and cool without taking any of its flavors and complexity away. In fact, the Bengal Slices experience made me reevaluate what is five-star taste and strength and when exactly can it be said to have five-star room note? Taste and aroma are always so subjective anyway. But, this one blend (actually it's not a blend, but rather a sliced crumble cake) puts rating systems to the test and turns them upside down. Almost everyone I know says it has a great room note, something rarely bestowed on a Latakia forward tobacco. And, Bengal Slices proves that a tobacco doesn't have to taste like baked goods or candy to have unbelievable flavor; it's frequently given high marks for taste. This is not an uber-strong tobacco either, in fact, I find it mellow enough to smoke any time of day in spite of being Latakia heavy. Bengal Slices is just mesmerizing, defying similar blends as simply ho-hum. The closest I've had was another RO called Fusilier's Ration, and even it can't hold up next to Bengal Slices. The original slices were made ages ago by Sobranie...and although Balkan Sobranie has it's well-earned reputation, IMO Bengal Slices is better still.

For an English fan, the tobacco is fantastic. I enjoyed the Bengal Slices in the 80s. I’m glad Standard Tobacco of PA brought the blend back. The unsurpassed customer service and ease of doing business at TobaccoPipes.com rounded out a great experience. Five Stars gents. I’m glad you’re out there.