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

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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.

I reach a minor dilemma when encountering not-traditional crisps as to whether they belong in the crisp section - but as I would gladly include mini cheddars in to a crisp section rather than them being a cracker, i'm going to these slide through also, especially as they describe themselves as crisps.

And you know what - they do a pretty good job of it too. Jacobs are more well known for their crackers but few people will know that they're the company who make Twiglets - a crisp so popular i'm surprised Jacob's haven't branched out further before.

The crackers are pretty crispy with a good crunch, and the vinegar flavouring has a nice sweetness to it.

Bravo!

7/10

Ritz doing crisps! And not just biscuits disguised as crisps, but flaky crunchy potato snacks.

And they're actually pretty good! Sure the flavour is a little full on and the vinegar quite sour, but all in all - I think they've done pretty well, if not for the full on flavouring - I think these could have been marketed at the healthy food market!

6/10

Next up in the corkers range is Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar and i'm starting to get a real taste for how good these potatoes are. So moreish, such a difference, such a great crunch.

Salt levels are good and the vinegar has less of a walkers tang and more of the favoured cidery sweetness which is welcome. 

Mostly i'm reeling from the taste of the potato.


As with all the classic flavours, the highest mark will be 7/10, but these are a well deserved mark. 

7/10

Really impressed with Mackie's here. They have done a classic  really well. 

The crunch is perfect, the potato is thick and the flavouring amount has really had some thought put into it. 

Salt amount is good and the vinegar is the perfect mixture of sweet and sour. It's got a great tang.


Salt & Vinegar lovers rejoice.

7/10

Cornish Crisp Company go for another classic.

These promote Ashes & Sparks, Clean Cornwall and Surfers Against Sewage.

First off you get a tang that you're not sure if is good or not, the vinegar here is quite sour. But after a couple of mouthfuls I am actually really enjoying them.

Sure the vinegar is intense, so you have to really be wanting salt and vinegar, but if that's what you're craving - it hits the spot.

The potato is great and the crunch is awesome. Some crisps have some skin on and they seem like a pretty natural crisp.

7/10

Fairly disappointing end to what has been a pretty promising range, loved the spicy sweet thai chilli, the warming beef & horseradish and the amazing cheddar & spring onion. Unfortunately it's another classic gone wrong story here..

Really impressed by these guys. They're new to the crisp scene after making a name for themselves in Juice & Jam. So I would have been a bit hesitant on tasting their first venture into crisps.

But these are great quality crisps, they've got a really nice crunch to them, quality on par with Kettle Chips which is really impressive for a newcomer.

The Salt and vinegar flavouring has been perfected are exactly what you want them to be, sour but not too sour vinegar with a sweet tang, and just the right amount of salt.

7/10