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Since I could not resist a few drops of each of the new MVJ pipe liquids, I figured I might share some of my first impressions with all of you. For those not familiar, MVJ creates NET juices made from straight tobacco macerations. Which means tobacco steeped in a solvent (typically vg/pg or alcohol) either with the help of very low heat for a day or two or three, or at room temperature for up to a month or more. The resulting "extract" is then mixed into a juice just like any other "flavoring". The resulting liquid, has a flavor profile that should match how a particular tobacco would smell in the tin/pouch or straight from the humidor. Since we're never actually burning the tobacco leaves in the process, It's nearly impossible IMO to replicate the exact flavors experienced when smoking. These selections, as well as many other MVJ tobacco offerings are meant to be an exact representation of the pipe tobacco or cigar they are made from. There are no added flavorings (to my knowledge). So if you like a straight tobacco vape, these might be worth a try.
If you've stayed with me thus far, let's move on to the juice!
I ordered all of these selections at MVJ standard flavor strength, 60pg/40vg 6mg. Since I am a low nic user, I won't be speaking much to throat hit on any of these. I prefer my NET liquids at a lower VG ratio, as I feel the sweetness from this component can interfere with the delicate and often subtle flavors present in the tobacco extracts. Higher VG also means a longer steep time as the extracts can't leech into VG as quickly as PG. These all need at least a week or so to begin to develop fully, but as I said I'm too damn impatient, so what you're reading are my first impressions ONLY. I'm not going to go into what these liquids SHOULD taste like, because if you've never smoked a particular pipe tobacco or cigar, it's impossible to expect anyone to have a reference point for that flavor. That's like telling someone they should taste quince even though they've never had one.
Dripping these all in 510 attys btw…each liquid is a beautiful amber color that's crystal clear. And for you veterans, totally free of floaters!
ASHTON ARTISAN'S BLEND - I smoked this pipe blend daily for a good while, and was most excited to try this one. What I'm getting right off the bat is a smokey/spicy combination from Latakia/oriental component, that definitely leans toward the oriental being dominant. I always tell people that Oriental provides a very subtle "incense" like spice to a tobacco blend, and that's exactly what I'm getting. There's a touch of sweet on the back end of the inhale, but I'm still going to attribute that to the VG. The exhale and room note is slightly smokey/earthy with a hint of sweet. If this one doesn't develop any further flavor wise I'd be happy. My hope is that it just intensifies with a good steep.
DUNHILL EARLY MORNING PIPE - Though this blend is comprised of similar tobaccos as Artisan's, the inhale reveals a much darker and earthier flavor. The incense takes a back seat to more leathery and woody notes. The exhale is much of the same, but slightly more intense. Oddly the room note is not as prominent as it was with Artisan's, but there is a noticeable lingering of flavors on the tongue. Definitely a more "rustic" sensibility to this flavor. Pipe smokers often describe Latakia as having a "campfire" quality, and this juice certainly retains that. As the name implies, this is a blend meant to kick start the palette. With some additional steep time, I'm sure it will.
DREW ESTATE TOASTED BLACK CAVENDISH - The sweetest of the three for sure, this juice is picking up some additional flavoring from something the tobaccos were "cased" or flavored with. Like a sweet toasty marshmallow. There's very little tobacco flavor, on inhale and even less on the exhale, but the room note has a good amount of vanilla going on. This one's much less of a pure tobacco vape, but still a solid juice in it's own. It's been my experience that flavored tobaccos lose the essence of the leaf as the added flavorings assimilate into the liquid very quickly. A long steep will be the true test for this one.
All in all, these are some strong offerings that IMO rival NET.com in the "true tobacco" NET liquids category. I'll give these a chance to relax a bit, and then dive in again for a more in depth review of each separately. My only gripe, and not related to the juice at all, is that Diane packs all of her orders in real popcorn. Even though the bottles are bagged separately, the oils and the smell permeates the plastic bottles and needs to be wiped off/aired out before storage. cute idea, but I'd prefer less of the movie theater on my juice.
Since I could not resist a few drops of each of the new MVJ pipe liquids, I figured I might share some of my first impressions with all of you. For those not familiar, MVJ creates NET juices made from straight tobacco macerations. Which means tobacco steeped in a solvent (typically vg/pg or alcohol) either with the help of very low heat for a day or two or three, or at room temperature for up to a month or more. The resulting "extract" is then mixed into a juice just like any other "flavoring". The resulting liquid, has a flavor profile that should match how a particular tobacco would smell in the tin/pouch or straight from the humidor. Since we're never actually burning the tobacco leaves in the process, It's nearly impossible IMO to replicate the exact flavors experienced when smoking. These selections, as well as many other MVJ tobacco offerings are meant to be an exact representation of the pipe tobacco or cigar they are made from. There are no added flavorings (to my knowledge). So if you like a straight tobacco vape, these might be worth a try.
If you've stayed with me thus far, let's move on to the juice!
I ordered all of these selections at MVJ standard flavor strength, 60pg/40vg 6mg. Since I am a low nic user, I won't be speaking much to throat hit on any of these. I prefer my NET liquids at a lower VG ratio, as I feel the sweetness from this component can interfere with the delicate and often subtle flavors present in the tobacco extracts. Higher VG also means a longer steep time as the extracts can't leech into VG as quickly as PG. These all need at least a week or so to begin to develop fully, but as I said I'm too damn impatient, so what you're reading are my first impressions ONLY. I'm not going to go into what these liquids SHOULD taste like, because if you've never smoked a particular pipe tobacco or cigar, it's impossible to expect anyone to have a reference point for that flavor. That's like telling someone they should taste quince even though they've never had one.
Dripping these all in 510 attys btw…each liquid is a beautiful amber color that's crystal clear. And for you veterans, totally free of floaters!
ASHTON ARTISAN'S BLEND - I smoked this pipe blend daily for a good while, and was most excited to try this one. What I'm getting right off the bat is a smokey/spicy combination from Latakia/oriental component, that definitely leans toward the oriental being dominant. I always tell people that Oriental provides a very subtle "incense" like spice to a tobacco blend, and that's exactly what I'm getting. There's a touch of sweet on the back end of the inhale, but I'm still going to attribute that to the VG. The exhale and room note is slightly smokey/earthy with a hint of sweet. If this one doesn't develop any further flavor wise I'd be happy. My hope is that it just intensifies with a good steep.
DUNHILL EARLY MORNING PIPE - Though this blend is comprised of similar tobaccos as Artisan's, the inhale reveals a much darker and earthier flavor. The incense takes a back seat to more leathery and woody notes. The exhale is much of the same, but slightly more intense. Oddly the room note is not as prominent as it was with Artisan's, but there is a noticeable lingering of flavors on the tongue. Definitely a more "rustic" sensibility to this flavor. Pipe smokers often describe Latakia as having a "campfire" quality, and this juice certainly retains that. As the name implies, this is a blend meant to kick start the palette. With some additional steep time, I'm sure it will.
DREW ESTATE TOASTED BLACK CAVENDISH - The sweetest of the three for sure, this juice is picking up some additional flavoring from something the tobaccos were "cased" or flavored with. Like a sweet toasty marshmallow. There's very little tobacco flavor, on inhale and even less on the exhale, but the room note has a good amount of vanilla going on. This one's much less of a pure tobacco vape, but still a solid juice in it's own. It's been my experience that flavored tobaccos lose the essence of the leaf as the added flavorings assimilate into the liquid very quickly. A long steep will be the true test for this one.
All in all, these are some strong offerings that IMO rival NET.com in the "true tobacco" NET liquids category. I'll give these a chance to relax a bit, and then dive in again for a more in depth review of each separately. My only gripe, and not related to the juice at all, is that Diane packs all of her orders in real popcorn. Even though the bottles are bagged separately, the oils and the smell permeates the plastic bottles and needs to be wiped off/aired out before storage. cute idea, but I'd prefer less of the movie theater on my juice.
