If you’ve read the other reviews on SLABS on this site, you’ll know we’re big fans. The spiel on the back of the packet says “huge thick chunky slices…” and these snack providers from Cheshire aren’t lying.
They’re certainly the thickest crisps I’ve ever had and most of the individual crisps in the packet are simply mahoosive! As a result of that, and being lovingly cooked in olive oil, you get an almighty crunch from an almighty crisp.
 
These Salt & Malt Vinegar variety are a fine accompaniment to the range. For a devil like me, I would probably have wanted more of a sour acid kick so I have to chomp away with a screwed up face. But I desire that from all S&V crisps so it’s not a criticism at all and I enjoy the maltiness of the vinegar flavour that these provide.
 
I do have one criticism though…they’re so moreish there’s just not enough in the bag 40 gram bag! 200 gram bags of Slabs, where you at?!!

We have a rule here at crisp nation - that the three classics flavours have a maximum of 7/10.. so these get a high 6/10

​
 
Ridge Cut crisps, of which (The Real) McCoy’s are, will always be the bastions of snack flavour because their grooves help hold the salt that make up a large constituent of the taste of most crispy treats.
That’s not to say all such cuts of crisp are created equally though (just like any other type of crisp for that matter - hence the need for this entire blog site), but McCoys do it as well as anyone, if not better, aided by their great thickness and general large size of individual crisp.
 
Really we could include the above statement alongside any McCoy’s crisp review, but let’s talk about their take on that old classic, Salt & Vinegar, or Salt &Malt Vinegar as is their flavour (and they do list barley malt vinegar extract in their ingredients). Although when I’m feeling the need for a meaty hit I gravitate towards Flame Grilled Steak, S&V is probably my favourite flavour of McCoy’s and with good reason. Eat more than a few in quick succession and the sharp tang initially experienced becomes more of a burn. Plough on and suddenly you’re napalming your own mouth. Now, I’m no Marquis de Sade but I tell you what… I like it! I want to feel like my tongue is being stripped by acid; I want to be inhaling pickle-esque fumes seconds after each mouthful. Does that make me a crisp pervert?! Possibly. But given this particular product’s popularity it probably makes me one of a majority of snack devourers with a not-so dark secret.

Another from the SLABS range, and I'd like to point out something else that they've done really well and it's something that may be small but makes a big difference.

The pack opens from the sides! How many times have we seen people struggling to open a bag of crisps from the top and they end up spilling all over the floor wasting good crisps? Well it just doesn't happen with SLABS, it's a nice smooth transaction.

Onto the crisp... we still have the massive thick crunch of this beastly crisp which I'm happy to say still hits the spot. The flavouring is a perfect mature cheddar - not overly intense so that its sickly but a good well rounded flavour. Cheese & Onion can often be the last ones left in the pack, sure they're the smelliest of the crisps but sometime it's totally worth it and there's many a crisp-a-holic out there that would swear by this flavour. Those people will be very happy with this crisp.

8/10

Now here's an interesting new range from Cheshire, SLABS. 

They've been pretty brave and gone for a style that's totally different, which you have to admire.

The potatoes they use are HUMUNGOUS and the 'slabs' are named so because they're so darn thick. The crunch is off the charts!

They're cooked in a nice olive oil but aren't overly greasy. To me the only crisp I can compare them to is potatoe sticks, the super crunchy little crisp sticks you get alot in Germany, and in the own brand ranges of supermarkets.

SLABS really hit the spot.

8/10

Here's an interesting new crisp from the makers of the well respected pork crackling makers. A very British affair it seems. 

Looking at Mr Trotter, you'd expect a pretty porky flavouring! And well it's not far off but most definitely vegetarian friendly.

The seasoning has a smokey, salty tang and is pretty good. I'm a little dissapointed with the crunch levels as the thickness of the crisp is actually quite good. It's also a little dry - give it a little more time in the fryer and sure it'll be a bit more greasy but that will make it go down better and you'll get a nice healthy crunch.

Looking forward to the rest of the range all the same.

5/10

Burts seem to be dead set on taking over the Pub-crisp market, first by having two collaborations with Guiness:

http://www.crispnation.com/reviews/burts-guinness

http://www.crispnation.com/reviews/burts-guiness-rich-beef-chilli

And now - a collaboration with the well know Hobgoblin Ale of Wychwood Brewery!

Here we have a smokey spit-roasted steak.. which has a distinctly Ale-like tinge to it. Burts always give good crunch with little to no grease so have delivered here and the flavouring although maybe slightly subtle is actually really moreish.. a real smoke.. slightly sweet bbq tang.. finished off with a hint of Ale.

Luvly juvly.

8/10

Crisp Nation aficionados will notice that Cheetos have never made it into the ULTIMATE CRISP LIST.

Well that's for a good reason - they've always been imported from the US or other european countries but i'm happy to announce that they have now graced our shores. I always enjoy them when in the states so it's great to see they've seen the worth of coming over here.

Sure these are a massively processed creamy cheese that's definitely bad for you but damn are they tasty - and with that well known cheetos (or nik-naks) crunch from the nobbly corn snack.

Welcome Cheetos, welcome.

7/10

Next up in the Ten Acre range and it's a flavour that could easily have been associated with a pretty trashy brand... A lovely cheap chinese sweet & sour sauce is definitely not the classiest of images and I wouldn't put it past someone like pot noodle to be championing a flavour like this.

All that said, I do love my sweet and sour balls and I have high hopes for that flavour but imagined it would be so intense and impossible to finish.

I really am so impressed, the flavour is perfect but not greasy and totally moreish. These are pretty darn good. Sure they're sweet - but in a sickly way. 

YUM YUM YUM 

9/10

It's beginning to look a lot like... seasonal editions! What a time to be alive!

Yes it's that time of year where crisp companies are fighting for shelf space to be crowned king of the christmas party snack table.

And I have to say that although pigs in blankets have been done before and although pringles more extreme flavours have been pretty sickly - these are pretty darn good. I'm seriously impressed!

Straight away you can tell - they're definitely not going to be veggie friendly.. They're just way too porky!

The flavour has bacon down... smoky, salty and moreish. Exactly what i'd expect from a crisp re-enactment of my favourite part of the christmas meal.

Top dollar.

9/10