Got mine today as well and gave it a thorough cleaning as I do all my attys regardless. Mine was already probably clean enough to vape out of the package but the drip tip was another story completely. I ran 4 q-tips through it and turned them all black before it was finally clean. Maybe that's where the taste you're getting is coming from?
Mine was clean, but a ran it through the ultrasonic anyway. No reason not to be cautious.