Nothing out there is like old Johnson Creek. It’s like they used to use organic bakery extracts for flavoring (definately could sense it from Vanda) and possibly even Artificial Smoke extract. Most other companies use TFA and the like, or Capella, and those flavorings have always struck me as a little artificial compared to JC’s old juices. JC’s old juices actually tasted like “real” tobacco or “real” food extracts, which is why some folks hated their flavors, but I loved them for being the unsweetest liquids on the market, I loved their Customer Service (better than Walmart!), and JC’s juices tasted “real.”
They didn’t sell out to big tobacco. They simply partnered with a small-time Cigar Company to have their products stocked at Discount Tobacco stores, which I thought was a great move for them. They’re flavors reformulated like 4 years after that because their flavor supplier was afraid of the FDA.
Oh, and they made juices for Blu like back from 2008-2010. Those flavors were also nothing like JC’s bottled versions so I don’t see how it could have stopped JC from making their same old recipies.
It was really the reformulation change. They explained it in great detail. Vapers had a fit, but I found a few of them to still be better than many out there. Just, vapers botcotted them after that. JC hated the change too and admitted they had not much time to work things out.
Berkley was the grandfather of true vaping in the USA. Let’s hope they bounce back, I never wanted this company to close.
However, they did too many weird things. Everyone loved the original Vea and the fancy tins and it all appealed to “professionals”, “older people”, and folks that loved brand loyalty.
Then they stopped making it such a “this is Johnson Creek all way” thing and started selling Ego Batteries and outdated Kanger Mods. They should have always stuck to what made them “them” in their highlight days.
I honestly trust that they’re being truthfull about the difficulties they’ve faced. I’ve talked to a lot if the JC people very personally. But the FDA screwed up one of America’s best companies and business models.
My only hope is that *maybe* this is a ploy to showcase to the FDA how much damage their rules are doing to the most upstanding companies.
For anyone looking for JC replacements, you’re out of luck. Nothing compares. However, Ripe Vapes vapes very much like JC does, you get the sense that natural oils an flavorings are used.
If you’re looking for a company with a business model as great as JC, Cue all the way. I think Veppo are good on refund issues too.
About the closest thing I can think of is too is Blue, they now sell bottled flavors and their Tobacco is just like old Johnson Creek, like a mix of Silverthorn and maybe Domestic. Their Carolina Bold is a little akin to Genuine 22.
For a Vanda replacement, the Cue pods are rather spot on, but Charlie Noble’s Custard is fantastic. Different from Vanda but equal in having a rather natural taste.
Overall, JC had “mature” flavors that appealed to older/mature vapers like me that want notes of organic flavors that aren’t sweet but feel realistic. They helped me stop smoking many times.
