AIV impressions

[bleedingshrimp]

Ok. My first experience with AIV and I'm a bit underwhelmed. On the customer service and packaging side of things, they are simply outstanding and pretty untouched. As for the juices themselves...

AQM - 6 out of 10 - This flavor is accurate but I was expecting maybe a sweeter green tea and maybe a bit more of a fruit note. The vapor production is great and throat hit is surprisingly solid. The green tea flavor is just a bit too vegetal and a bit bitter for me. For me, it sounded great on paper, but in execution, I think I would have enjoyed a facsimile of green tea taste with more sweetness than the natural and unsweetened direction.

Zombie Apocalypse - 8 out of 10 - Really enjoyed this flavor. It went the quickest out of the sample tanks I filled. I thought they really nailed this one, BUT...the flavors are too mild. I was expecting to be sought out and destroyed by a strawberry fueled cupcake zombie. Instead, I found myself chasing a ghost. That being said, I could see myself getting this in a larger quantity.

White Rabbit - 8.5 out of 10 - Slightly sweet creamy coconut with a milky, spicy, nutty vibe going on. Very good and quite unique. Something I could vape on all day and enjoy. Will have to get more of this!

Twas Brillig - 7.8 out of 10 - This one was straight on blackberry for me. I really like the flavor that's there, and I wish there was more of it and more sweetness. Didn't quite get the crumble part. A delicious phantom of a flavor, but I would have liked it a bit less subtle. Damn my barbarian's palate.

Stark Winter - 8.5 out of 10 - Mmmm. Cinnamon and vanilla. Very well balanced with just the right minty flavor and sweetness. Hopefully after steeping the tobacco comes out more, but regardless an enjoyable and highly vapeable concoction. I'm assuming the Game of Thrones reference is intentional and, if so, a nice touch.

Cupcake City - 6 out of 10 - Hmm. Taste like you took the hulking strawberry zombie and chopped off his arms. Flavor not pronounced enough for me.

From what I've tried so far, these are genuinely clean and artfully done flavors made by some of the NICEST people on earth. That's why they will get future business from me and I will try more of their line. I can understand why women go insane over this company with the delicate and subtle flavors and 3 out of 5 is certainly far from shabby. AIV delivers a quality product, and I don't discredit them for not quite being able to deliver on the Justin Bieber-esque hype that has been built for them here, at least in the flavor department.

 

[MamaBird]

Try requesting extra flavor. That's what I do, and it definitely works for me!

 

[Couture]

Extra flavor is what I plan to do next time. I had the same experience with some of the flavors. Also going to try them in a tank with higher Ohms on the atty and see if that brings out more flavors.
I think part of it is due to the fact that my taste buds are still a bit dead from the analogs. Only been 21 days completely off the analogs for me.

 

[MamaBird]

Extra flavor is what I plan to do next time. I had the same experience with some of the flavors. Also going to try them in a tank with higher Ohms on the atty and see if that brings out more flavors.
I think part of it is due to the fact that my taste buds are still a bit dead from the analogs. Only been 21 days completely off the analogs for me.

Oh yeah...well in a few short weeks that will fly by...you will absolutely love them! But I still ask for extra flavor and I am 3 1/2 months into vaping. I think I just like that extra pop of flavor.

 

[Blix]

I got Twas and White Rabbit almost a week ago, both regular flavor, loved Twas right out of the bottle, blackberry with a sweeth cream-ish finish, awesome.

White Rabbit I didn't care for, too sweet and sirupy.

But in just 5-6 days of steeping WR changed to something really delightful, still sweet, but much more flavor, can't really say what it tastes like, but give it a good steep(if you haven't already) and you'll like it even more.
Can't wait for the three other AIV's coming(Bander, Zombie and LLC, all extra flavor)

 

[mariahpoo]

I got Twas and White Rabbit almost a week ago, both regular flavor, loved Twas right out of the bottle, blackberry with a sweeth cream-ish finish, awesome.

White Rabbit I didn't care for, too sweet and sirupy.

But in just 5-6 days of steeping WR changed to something really delightful, still sweet, but much more flavor, can't really say what it tastes like, but give it a good steep(if you haven't already) and you'll like it even more.
Can't wait for the three other AIV's coming(Bander, Zombie and LLC, all extra flavor)

This just goes to show just how different we can perceive a juice. I dont get much sweetness from WR. It is only the slightest bit sweet to me. I would actually like it a tade sweeter. Which I will request next time I buy.

 

[Blix]

This just goes to show just how different we can perceive a juice. I dont get much sweetness from WR. It is only the slightest bit sweet to me. I would actually like it a tade sweeter. Which I will request next time I buy.

Indeed.

Right now I'm vaping Halo HX3, which kinda taste like peanutbutter and jelly, with a hint of menthol on the exhale, now that's a weird combo. But I strangely like it.

 

[Kayo]

Ok. My first experience with AIV and I'm a bit underwhelmed. On the customer service and packaging side of things, they are simply outstanding and pretty untouched. As for the juices themselves...
Zombie Apocalypse - 8 out of 10 - Really enjoyed this flavor. It went the quickest out of the sample tanks I filled. I thought they really nailed this one, BUT...the flavors are too mild. I was expecting to be sought out and destroyed by a strawberry fueled cupcake zombie. Instead, I found myself chasing a ghost. That being said, I could see myself getting this in a larger quantity.

From what I've tried so far, these are genuinely clean and artfully done flavors made by some of the NICEST people on earth. That's why they will get future business from me and I will try more of their line. I can understand why women go insane over this company with the delicate and subtle flavors and 3 out of 5 is certainly far from shabby. AIV delivers a quality product, and I don't discredit them for not quite being able to deliver on the Justin Bieber-esque hype that has been built for them here, at least in the flavor department.

I agree with you on AiV's Zombie Apocalypse! That became my all day vape...I just started vaping and AiV was one of the first suppliers that I ordered from. I ordered a sampler and a 10ml bottle of ZA.

 

[billherbst]

Yes, whenever a juice vendor goes ballistic in the Nutso Popular category---getting swamped with orders and developing huge, rabid fan bases---one of the challenges is living up to all the hype. I'm fairly sure that this kind of Big Success, Big Responsibility thing affects each vendor differently. Some vendors become Masters of the Universe (in their own minds, at least), and undergo the ego-swelling that can accompany such success and social lionization, while others remain humble worker bees doing their level-headed best to create and provide the tastiest juices they can.

For those of us outside the inner circles, the hype can also provoke dramatic effects either way. Some vapers jump right on the bandwagon and scream to the rafters about such-and-such vendor's juices being the greatest thing since sliced bread, while other vapers are disappointed by the impossibly high expectations created by the popularity buzz.

I've sampled five AIV juices so far, and for me they vary from good to great. No clunkers, but not across-the-board amazing either. I'm very impressed with Berry Lil' Cheesecake, which has earned a spot alongside Highbrow Cheesecake Torte as co-winner of my personal Best Cheesecake Ever award. On the other hand, Cupcake City and B&W Cookie weren't as spectacular as the hype suggested. Both are pretty good in my opinion, but not head-and-shoulders above similar offerings from other artisan vendors or even my own DIY efforts.

Nonetheless, AIV ranks up there in my estimation as one of the best juice vendors going.

 

[aubergine]

billherbst, I've been seeing you around for years now. Our icons slink around in the same neighborhoods.
And yeah, I've seen so many vendors grab the scene for a few months and then sort of sink out of ECF headlines, presumably with an adequate collection of devotees. The juice, like the equipment, does keep getting better on the high end but it's good to keep one's wits.

I like Highbrow Cheesecake Torte, too, and several of theirs remain hard to beat for me. But awaiting my first AIV shipment and another from the elusive, SUPER-hyped Ahlusion.

Still chasin' the dragon...