The Really Big RY4 Roundup (long)

[billherbst]

1. Fall Harvest RY4
2. Black Label RY4
3. Black Label RY4 – Day and Night

[Note: I initially reviewed Fall Harvest and Black Label in late January, but this new review considers all three of SpringVapor’s RY4s as a trio, on a continuum.]

The three 15ml bottles that SpringVapor sent me (at no charge) for review are 24mg nic strength, using a 50/50 PG/VG Blend. As 50/50 blends go, these are rather thick, but not so much that I anticipate any trouble with cartos or tanks. Color of the liquids varies, from medium tan-caramel for both Fall Harvest and Black Label to pale gold for Day and Night. Testing was done two ways: first, by dripping into a 1.5 ohm Joye LR306 atomizer powered by a Madvapes VV box set to 4.3 volts (unloaded), for a true wattage under load of 10.6 watts. That’s “hotter” than many vapers will choose, but these juices handle power well, and the extra oomph intensifies the flavors. Juices were also tested loaded into 2.0 ohm Boge single-coil cartomizers, which were vaped on a Buzz Pro at 4.5 volts, for a true loaded power of about 9.5 watts.

As more and more custom RY4s are created by the current generation of artisan juicemakers, the gulf between classic and custom RY4s is widening considerably. I might use the art form of dance as an analogy: Classic RY4s are like Ballet. Traditional, conservative, with strict forms and movements determined by precise rules to produce works that conform to an expected end result. Think Swan Lake. Custom RY4s are akin to so-called Modern Dance. Isadora Duncan, Mary Wigman, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, etc. Free-form, iconoclastic, with rules made to be broken, defying convention to produce works of eccentric genius that may bear little resemblance from one choreographer and dance company to the next.

In general (and this is true only as a generalization), the best classic RY4s are wonderfully blended, so that a single unified flavor emerges from the various flavoring components. The flavor profile tends to be bright, almost effervescent in the emphasis on treble notes. By contrast, many custom RY4s are characterized by strong differentiation of the individual flavorings, with each component intensified in the taste experience. The overall profile is often deep and “dark” (certainly in flavor, and sometimes in color as well), with bass notes predominant in the mix. Variation between custom RY4s from different vendors is extremely pronounced, since the tobacco-caramel-vanilla “rules” are routinely stretched and often broken by the addition of other flavorings that are rarely if ever used in classic RY4s.

Most vendors offer an RY4. Some vendors offer two different versions, usually one more classic and one custom formulation. Now, we see the beginnings of a new trend: vendors who offer a trio of RY4 choices. MomandPopVaporShop makes three versions: RY4, RY4v2, and RYO4. Now SpringVapor has added a third RY4 to its lineup of hand-crafted, made-to-order juices. All three are custom RY4s. Each pushes the flavor envelope, although my perception is that they move closer to classic with each successive version.

Fall Harvest Tobacco was SpringVapor’s original and most exotic RY4. Black Label RY4 came next, and it’s slightly more conservative, while Black Label RY4 – Day and Night is the newest and closest to what one might consider classic without losing its custom character. Brightness of the flavor profile increases with each subsequent generation. Fall Harvest is very dark, Black Label is brighter, while Day and Night is easily the brightest.

The palette of flavors is somewhat mysterious to me. Does it include tobacco, caramel, and vanilla? I presume so. But there are other flavors in each mix. Fall Harvest’s flavor profile especially is dominated by what my brain interprets as a very bold, potent hazelnut. If SpringVapor’s juicemaker told me what the additional flavors are, I’m sure I’d recognize them, but without some help, I’m just guessing. Fall Harvest is definitely not your father’s Oldsmobile. The additional flavors revel in their boldness and challenge the Big Three for the limelight. That’s less the case with Black Label, and least of all in Day and Night, where the extra flavors are used subtly, more as accents.

So, Fall Harvest is designed for those with an adventurous palate and a taste for the exotic, while Day and Night seems formulated to be more of a smoother all-day vape. Black Label is in the middle, still somewhat unusual, but less demanding.

If you’re a big fan of the Chinese RY4s---Janty, Dekang, Hangsen, Keemer---and you love that classic RY4 taste, you might not be thrilled with Spring Vapor’s RY4 offerings. As is equally true with juices such as Highbrow RY4 and Mom&Pop RYO4, Spring Vapor’s three RY4s blow the classic flavor profile right out of the water (or vapor, to keep the imagery straight). I’m not suggesting that you have to be weird to like these juices, however. Far from it. BackwoodsBrew RY4’s flavor profile bears no resemblance at all to a classic RY4, yet it’s overwhelmingly popular.

Are Spring Vapor’s three RY4s worthy of consideration? Absolutely. All three versions are very rich and intensely flavorful. The question will be whether your taste buds and palate happen to respond happily to the particular flavors SpringVapor has chosen for its three RY4 mixes.

To know that, you’ll have to try them and see.

[passerbyeus]

Thanks for the review once again. I may have to pass trying SpringVapor. I find I am just wasting money on RY4s like Highbrow, SpringVapor etc, because I tend to go more toward the classic, just not sure what it is maybe the tobacco used, and the ones I dislike the most are the so called EARTHY ones which is just a nice way of saying it taste like dirt hahaha

[mattymatt82]

wow, thanks for a wonderfull thread. I have been lurking here and reading thru this long thread for several weeks (a couple of pages a day). It made me go out and get a bottle of BWB RY4. I am letting it steep for now, it has a born on date of 3-7-12.

[passerbyeus]

cool mattymatt this is a great thread Bill and everyone here is very helpful with anyone on a quest for the perfect RY4 that you may be looking for...

[mattymatt82]

cool mattymatt this is a great thread Bill and everyone here is very helpful with anyone on a quest for the perfect RY4 that you may be looking for...

Thanks for the welcome. I have not been vaping very long, about one and a half months now. My first juices were from Totaly Wicked. One of them was RY4 and it was by far my fav of the three flavors I started with. I have also tried the 50 ml bottle of RY4 from Mad Vapes. I plan on trying the Dekang RY4 from Health Cabin soon!

[DJ_Kalee]

You've got to try Mister E's RY4 very good stuff.

[jteezy]

Bill awesome review once again. This is the ultimate review for me, because it's about 3 of my current favorite juices. I vape RY4 Day and Night well day and night lol and switch off between Fall Harvest and Black Label RY4 throughout the day. Like I said a few pages back Spring Vapor has become my favorite juice vendor. I really enjoyed your Gooey Butter Cake Throwdown as well. Keep the great reviews coming

[jteezy]

I finally got my hands on some Backwoods Brew RY4 to try. Bill in your opinion how long should I let it steep? THANKS

[billherbst]

I finally got my hands on some Backwoods Brew RY4 to try. Bill in your opinion how long should I let it steep? THANKS

jteezy,

Nine months, like a pregnancy. LOL. Just kidding. I imagine that opinions would vary widely, but most people seem to agree that BWB RY4 benefits from longer steeping, as the flavors continue to mature and bloom for a couple months. Nothing wrong with trying it fresh, however. If you like it, vape it right off. Just try not to kill the whole bottle in a week, as you might inadvertently miss out on all it can be.

[jteezy]

When i first started reading your reply i was like oh man 9 MONTHS...lol
Thanks I'm filling up a carto now.