Packet #17 - King Jackets

Aren't pubs great. You can get all sorts in them. Beer, spirits, wine, music, quizzes, darts, pool, snacks. That's right, snacks. It's always a interesting seeing what different snacks you can get in pubs these days. King seem to have a few different types of crisps only available in the pub. There's the King "Pub" crisps, Luxury crisps and  now, Jackets crisps. 

I'm a big fan of the King range and this was the first time tasting Jackets. I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Some may think that all cheese and onion crisps taste the same. They're wrong. To the connoisseur the slightest change in flavour makes all the difference. 

This is where Jackets come into their own. Just a hint stronger than your regular King with the consumer feeling the full flavour of the cheese and indeed the onion. The crunch is mightier than you are used to due to the jacketed outline of the crisp which also adds it's own little kick to the flavour.

I don't often need an excuse to go to the pub but Jackets have just given me a great one. So next time your mates ask you to pick them up something to eat at the bar go for King Jackets, a perfect mid session snack.

Deano.

Packet #16 - Banshee Bones

It's been a mixed bag of results with the old school crisps so far. Meanies are still great, Hot Lips are not. However I was still cautiously optimistic when I purchased Banshee Bones. There's just something about crisps when you make them a funny shape, it almost as if the flavour is forgotten about. Fear not that's what we're here for.

Despite being baked, Perri seem to have retained the "screaming" salt & vinegar flavour of old. Sometimes with salt & vinegar crisps the vinegar can be over-powering and destroy the enjoyment. BB have the balance just right and it doesn't really matter that you've no idea what shape the crisps are. I suppose if you think about it, no one actually knows what real Banshee bones look like so Perri can shape them as they like. Good work Perri!

So if you're having a terrible Tuesday and need some S&V to pick you up, why not treat yourself to some reasonably priced (.35c) Banshees Bones.

Deano.

Packet #15 - Roysters T-Bone Steak

It's a rare and joyous occasion when me and my fellow crisp blogger, Deano, get together and review crisps at the same time. But it happened! Last Friday evening. When our friend informed us that he had some crisps available for consumption. But! He warned us, eat quickly, because they go out of date in half an hour (it was 23:30).

So we went for it. Roysters T-Bone Steak, were a crisp that neither of us were familiar with. We were told they had been bought in Tesco as part of a 12 pack, for only €1.09! That's less than 10c a pack!

Surely these cheap, almost out of date crisps would be a disaster. Well, we were both happily surprised when these crisps turned out to be completely delicious. Proper good fun, made by the same people who make Nik Naks and Discos. Indeed the texture really reminded me of Disco's, but with "bubbles" in the texture to keep you excited.

Flavour wise they hit all the right notes, not so intense but definitely packing a meaty punch. These lads did leave the fingers smelling for a few hours after, but think of the smell as a happy reminder of these spectacular crisps. 

Yes, they are cheap, yes you might be nervous about having a big 12 bag variety pack taking up space in your cupboard, but don't be! These crisps are what this blog is here for! Buy Roysters! They're a little gem!

Mark

Packet #14 - Tayto Smokey Bacon

14. Cruyff. Ginola. Modric. Henry. Will Tayto Smokey Bacon live up to these footballing genius' ?

Smokey Bacon crisps were always the first to go in my house when "variety" bags were bought. Those two packets were like gold dust after my parents got home after a Saturday grocery shop. They were that delicious.

These days Tayto honour the flavour tremendously well, everything about the crisp is perfect. Lovely flavour perfect texture. Yet things have changed, the foil wrapping has taken over from a cheap plastic style, but this works well, keeping the crisps inside nice and fresh.

I've heard some people look down upon this flavour, when compared to the legendary Tayto Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar flavours. These people clearly need to have a good look at there lives, Tayto Smokey Bacon are an absolute joy whether you're six or 66. Long Live My Smokey Bacon!

Mark.

Packet #13 - Snax

Another pack from the Tayto stable. I'm sending a fair bit of business there way it would seem. Snax, the potato puffs, as they like to call themselves. Often found in multi packs around my house as not too many would eat them.

Snax were always a little lighter than your average crisp. Always a decent crunch and a nice mild cheese and onion flavour. Now however, Tayto seem to have brought it a step further into the light market. Not as puffy as they once were, there's a strange condensed flavour seeping out of each crisp. Still a decent crunch mind. Perhaps it has something to do with them being less than 100 calories a bag.

This seems to be happening a lot to certain products these days, now we're in a much more health conscious world. It doesn't really fool anyone and it's definitely not helping the flavour. Anyway these new low calorie crisps wont be finding their way into my shopping basket anytime soon. Adios Snax.


Deano.

Packet #12 - Chipsticks

Another old classic here. I asked my good friend Sprouts to treat me when he was going to the shop last Saturday. And treat me he did, to a lovely pack of Chipsticks. I hadn't had a pack in years.

The thing about Chipsticks is they're packed full of flavour and also provide a satisfying crunch.They do what all good corn based crisps do, stick to the roof of your mouth. The salt and vinegar flavour carries through strongly. I was never a big fan of salt and vinegar but I always liked Chipsticks. I'm glad they haven't changed.

A forgotten gem in my eyes. I'll definitely be purchasing this delightful selection from Tayto in the near future.

Deano.

Packet #11 - Hot Lips

Whenever you talk with your mates about crisps you used to eat as a kid, Hot Lips always come up. So when I came across them in a local shop last week I had to buy a pack to see if they brought back any memories.

The packaging looks enticing. With the promising sounding flavour of Nice 'N' Spicy and the little devil in the foreground, you expect a treat. What a shame it was when biting into the crisps only to note a distinct lack of flavour. Not very spicy at all, a slight tinge of spice. I suppose I have to consider that these crisps are aimed at children so they shouldn't be too spicy but come on, to lack any is inexcusable.

There's much better variety of corn based crisps available. Good for a bit of nostalgia but they wont be hitting my lunch box any time in the distant future.

Deano.