Natural Tobaccos - Part Deux

[Big Juicy]

Dude, that's awesome! I'll pick it up. I haven't had Stockholm or Managua yet, and I could handle 4ml of Paris. Not 30ml, but definately 4ml. That's like, 10 sessions of gunked coil lol.

For those who haven't had them yet, definately give them a try now. They are dirty birdies, but quite tasty and potent. Paris is a trip, and Lousiville is quite delicious and unique.

I stand by my claim...of all the retail NET I have tried, and I have sampled most of the top tier vendors...for my money W2V Louisville is the best retail nET on the market, period. A MUST TRY for anyone looking to make their bones and get "made" by La Cosa NETstra.

I coincidentally just polished off the last few drops of my stash this morning. It NEVER disappoints.

 

[Jerms]

I really like ceramic wick too, but the cost is hard to justify. For me, it's a little bit better than Ekowool...but probably not $7/foot better. Like several of you, I gave CelluCotton a try. I've tried various cotton wicks (cheesecloth, CVS organic, KGD, BioWick) and never loved any of them. The performance is great, but my tastebuds are pretty sensitive to the cotton taste. Rayon/CelluCotton is pretty fantastic for me. I've been using it for a few weeks on my drippers and Aquas, and it has been pretty fantastic. It's especially convenient for NET vaping since it's easy to re-wick like cotton, but doesn't impart the cotton flavor that bugs me.

I'm pretty sold on CelluCotton rayon too. Wicks better, seems to gunk a touch slower, and is more durable to heat. Great flavor too. It does seem to make juices sweeter, which hasn't been a big issue but I can see it pushing juices that are almost to sweet into too sweet territory. I have the delasco rayon balls coming which I've heard doesn't add the extra sweetness that CCr can and offers even better flavor. I'll let ya know what I think when I try it.

 

[Big Juicy]

Greetings NETizens! I've been vaping some W2V goodies for the last week or so. Of interest to NETizens are Campfire Coffee and Pure Smoke. I like the former, but man does it gunk the hell out of coils. The latter is unusual and interesting, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. For videogame nerds, I'm also vaping Rygar, one of three RY4s W2V makes. So far I like it better than Rockstar, but not as much as W2V's "regular" RY4.

Top of the morning to you Ray!

 

[Big Juicy]

Maybe next time you send BJ something, you can send him something that's actually GOOD!

I am open to trying HHV if PIF'd, I suppose. Maybe I will post to trade in the NET PIF/Trade forum. I respect a few of you way too much to not give it another go. I will, for now, not give them a cent based on consistency concerns and my experience with "Bronze approved" Dragon's Fire.

 

[vjc0628]

I am open to trying HHV if PIF'd, I suppose. Maybe I will post to trade in the NET PIF/Trade forum. I respect a few of you way too much to not give it another go. I will, for now, not give them a cent based on consistency concerns and my experience with "Bronze approved" Dragon's Fire.

Keep In mind dragon fire is far different then the others

I really didn't care for it either

I do love serendipity legend huntsman and maple eh these 4 are a must try

although huntsman and maple eh are very close I just cant yet decide which is winning

heavenly tobacco and shadow are good too only much less a tobacco impact

 

[Big Juicy]

All worth it IMO, Love this 3-Crown, leaves a spicy tobacco taste on my lips, not sweet and has that "real thing" feel to the vape. As annoyed as I am with NET.com service, will have to reorder from them when there sorted

3 Crowns is probably my #2 favorite retail cigar vape that I have tried. That stuff is excellent and I vaped a bunch more of it on a road trip this weekend.

I also gave an extended trial to MVJ 5 Cask. My first impressions were I really appreciated it. I do not love the alcohol cigars...for instance, NETCOM Bourbon and Cognac infused are REALLY great, but they wear on me as just not my thing. This was similar for me...VERY vapeable, I took down an entire tank happily, but in the end not my flavor profile. Also, despite ordering with extra extract, the flavor is a bit hollow to me....extremely well balanced with clear notes all the way across, but a bit too weak in flavor for what I want from a cigar. If I wanted an alcohol infused cigar I would rate this slightly below NETCOM - Cognac Infused which had a more pronounced sweetness from the cognac and more depth to the tobacco IMHO. I prefer the "authentic smoking experience" to the "true essence/representation" type of juice and this is the latter. A damn fine extraction, squeaky clean for an NET, and a juice I will recommend to others even...but not to my taste and still not robust enough for me.

 

[Mazinny]

Revisiting Devil Dog. Does anyone who has tried both, see similarities to MOV's Apache. Haven't vaped that in a few months, but if memory serves me correctly it is not too dissimilar. A little bolder for sure, but the aftertaste especially reminds me of Apache.

 

[billherbst]

3 Crowns is probably my #2 favorite retail cigar vape that I have tried. That stuff is excellent and I vaped a bunch more of it on a road trip this weekend.

I also gave an extended trial to MVJ 5 Cask. My first impressions were I really appreciated it. I do not love the alcohol cigars...for instance, NETCOM Bourbon and Cognac infused are REALLY great, but they wear on me as just not my thing. This was similar for me...VERY vapeable, I took down an entire tank happily, but in the end not my flavor profile. Also, despite ordering with extra extract, the flavor is a bit hollow to me....extremely well balanced with clear notes all the way across, but a bit too weak in flavor for what I want from a cigar. If I wanted an alcohol infused cigar I would rate this slightly below NETCOM - Cognac Infused which had a more pronounced sweetness from the cognac and more depth to the tobacco IMHO. I prefer the "authentic smoking experience" to the "true essence/representation" type of juice and this is the latter. A damn fine extraction, squeaky clean for an NET, and a juice I will recommend to others even...but not to my taste and still not robust enough for me.

BJ,

Your take on 5 Vegas Cask reflects my experience with most of the MVJ cigar NETs. They all strike me as very fine extractions, squeaky clean (relatively speaking), with a lovely clear "cigar-ness," but somehow slightly hollow, as if the flavor were "cigar-lite.". I base that mainly on comparisons to Want2Vape cigar NETs and my own home-brewed cigar extracts. W2V's are all bold and amazingly flavorful, but they achieve that by also being extreme gunkers. My homemade cigar extracts and the NET juices made from them fall somewhere between MVJ and W2V cigars---more flavorful than MVJ's, but cleaner performing than W2V's. That's an opinion, of course, but I'm pretty sure it's a well-informed opinion that reflects reality rather than merely a subjective belief.

This is not meant to suggest that my homemade cigar extracts are superior to either MVJ or W2V. That would be arrogant and altogether false. I think the cigar extracts and juices from all three sources reflect the intention of their respective makers. Diane went for clean performance at MVJ and succeeded admirably; Donelly at W2V went for intense flavor gusto and damn the gunking; I go for a balance between full flavor and decent performance.

I will puff out my chest a little and say that my personal favorite cigar vape of all time (and from any source) is my own Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Churchill Maduro. Yes, that's obviously subjective, and I'm probably biased, but the fact that I was able to produce a cigar extract that is so darn good still astonishes me. My Oliva Nub Cameroon is a close second. I've got nine other cigar extracts, all of which are good, but none of those can challenge my Dynamic Duo.

I have two new Rocky Patel cigars in all-PGA (Everclear) cold macerations right now (the sealed jars are on my kitchen windowsill nearing the end of their second week of "sun-tea" steeping), but I have no idea how those will turn out and won't know for another two weeks. My guess is that they'll be much closer to MVJ cigar NETs than my PG/VG heat-assisted water-bath cigar macerations are, but time will tell on that.

 

[Big Juicy]

Revisiting Devil Dog. Does anyone who has tried both, see similarities to MOV's Apache. Haven't vaped that in a few months, but if memory serves me correctly it is not too dissimilar. A little bolder for sure, but the aftertaste especially reminds me of Apache.

I have heard this MANY times but I personally do not find them very similar AT ALL. Never have. There is a kick, a spice, and a depth that DD! has and Apache does not. I also find Apache a bit more dry, or maybe "crisp" is a better word. Now, Apache and NETCOM Balkan...strikingly similar. I am not sure I could pass the Pepsi challenge on those 2 if I didn't have all my wits about me.

 

[Big Juicy]

BJ,

Your take on 5 Vegas Cask reflects my experience with most of the MVJ cigar NETs. They all strike me as very fine extractions, squeaky clean (relatively speaking), with a lovely clear "cigar-ness," but somehow slightly hollow, as if the flavor were "cigar-lite.". I base that mainly on comparisons to Want2Vape cigar NETs and my own home-brewed cigar extracts. W2V's are all bold and amazingly flavorful, but they achieve that by also being extreme gunkers. My homemade cigar extracts and the NET juices made from them fall somewhere between MVJ and W2V cigars---more flavorful than MVJ's, but cleaner performing than W2V's. That's an opinion, of course, but I'm pretty sure it's a well-informed opinion that reflects reality rather than merely a subjective belief.

This is not meant to suggest that my homemade cigar extracts are superior to either MVJ or W2V. That would be arrogant and altogether false. I think the cigar extracts and juices from all three sources reflect the intention of their respective makers. Diane went for clean performance at MVJ and succeeded admirably; Donelly at W2V went for intense flavor gusto and damn the gunking; I go for a balance between full flavor and decent performance.

I will puff out my chest a little and say that my personal favorite cigar vape of all time (and from any source) is my own Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Churchill Maduro. Yes, that's obviously subjective, and I'm probably biased, but the fact that I was able to produce a cigar extract that is so darn good still astonishes me. My Oliva Nub Cameroon is a close second. I've got nine other cigar extracts, all of which are good, but none of those can challenge my Dynamic Duo.

I have two new Rocky Patel cigars in all-PGA (Everclear) cold macerations right now (the sealed jars are on my kitchen windowsill nearing the end of their second week of "sun-tea" steeping), but I have no idea how those will turn out and won't know for another two weeks. My guess is that they'll be much closer to MVJ cigar NETs than my PG/VG heat-assisted water-bath cigar macerations are, but time will tell on that.

I agree on all fronts. That said, be as humble as you like, but I am currently considering whether your cigars unseat Managua as my top cigar ever. I need to spend more time with them, but I will tell you they are about as good as ANY cigar I have ever had. I will do a full review of the Rock and the Cameroon in due time...but damnit they are exceptional. A BAD way to put this, but one way to quantify to some of our newer members and seasoned alike is that I would GLADLY pay $1 per ml for your cigars. Think about that for a minute. This is coming from a guy who has never ever paid that, save for a stash of some BWB RY4 this year as a gift for a friend. I can't say enough about your cigars dude.

As for MVJ, I like Diane a great deal and I respect her immensely. I just want that robust tobacco experience and atties be damned. So it is very subjective of me, as what she has gone for with her juices and how they are executed based on her goals I can find little to no fault with at all and that is saying a lot! These would be OUTSTANDING and top shelf entry level NET's for vapers. I know a ton of casual NET vapers who are enchanted with Metropolitan. It seems lost on me. I enjoy it, I respect it, I even "get" it...but it isnt knocking me out in any way except the execution which isn't my particular style. I can only guess these casual NET vapers appreciate is accessibility and it is tasty in a way a non-NET enthusiast can really appreciate. I have vaped a great deal of Blue Danube and really like it, but ditto. The Ashton Artisans Blend is a very nice English, but I want that "authentic smoking experience" and this is not that (nor was it meant to be)...so I ain't hitting this when I have Bill's Magnum Opus, or johnni's Centary or Voodoo Queen, or Dustmight's Royal Cajun, or Boomer's Orlick Sun Slices, or FearTX Vintage Syrian (V2) ... or W2V Louisville...lying around that's for sure.

 

[billherbst]

Revisiting Devil Dog. Does anyone who has tried both, see similarities to MOV's Apache. Haven't vaped that in a few months, but if memory serves me correctly it is not too dissimilar. A little bolder for sure, but the aftertaste especially reminds me of Apache.

Ahlusion Devil Dog, MOV Apache, and W2V London are all prime examples of retail NETs made from Latakia-heavy English pipe blends.

I've extracted eight English pipe blends---some aromatic, some non-aromatic---each of which varies in the amount and presence of Latakia in the mix of tobaccos. My favorites balance a moderate amount of Latakia with Perique for smoky-spicy notes on top of the Virginias, Burleys, and Orientals that make up the central bases. Yum.

 

[Big Juicy]

All the fresh VB talk and I decided to bust the cap on my 6 week old bottle. I REMEMBER THIS! It has been a while. Glorious, wholly unique stuff. This would be a first ballot member of the NET Hall of Fame to be sure.

I also spent a large chunk of the weekend with Patriot. A good 6 hours straight overnight on the road from LA to Sacramento, and again some the next day. There is something really consistent and dependable about this juice. It can be relied upon and that is something special. If it was a baseball player it would be known as a "dirt dog." You always know what you are going to get out of Patriot and so over the course of a year it has won me over. It is especially nice after you take a few months off...then shack up with it exclusive for a couple days of vaping bliss.

 

[Dusty_D]

Revisiting Devil Dog. Does anyone who has tried both, see similarities to MOV's Apache. Haven't vaped that in a few months, but if memory serves me correctly it is not too dissimilar. A little bolder for sure, but the aftertaste especially reminds me of Apache.

The only similarities are that they are English blends and Heavy hitters on the Latakia front. BJ laid out the differences perfectly. They are not NETs you will soon forget if you've tried them. Both of them got a little too much for me to handle, as did Balkan.

I like to fill up a KFL and walk away for hours on end, and any one of those was too much to vape for that long. YMMV!

 

[Big Juicy]

All the fresh VB talk and I decided to bust the cap on my 6 week old bottle. I REMEMBER THIS! It has been a while. Glorious, wholly unique stuff. This would be a first ballot member of the NET Hall of Fame to be sure.

I also spent a large chunk of the weekend with Patriot. A good 6 hours straight overnight on the road from LA to Sacramento, and again some the next day. There is something really consistent and dependable about this juice. It can be relied upon and that is something special. If it was a baseball player it would be known as a "dirt dog." You always know what you are going to get out of Patriot and so over the course of a year it has won me over. It is especially nice after you take a few months off...then shack up with it exclusive for a couple days of vaping bliss.

It is always interesting to see what ends up in my bag on Friday nights as my juice cellar is at the office. This weekend...with the road trip on the calendar as well...I took these juices to get me to Sac town and back, and to last until work this morning:

NETCOM - 3 Crowns
MVJ - 5 Vegas Cask Strength
MVJ - Sutliff Private Stock, Metropolitan
Ahlusion - Caramel Wild Wood
Ahlusion - Maple Burley
GEJ - Patriot
Bill Herbst - American Spirit
johnni - Voodoo Queen

 

[AnthonyB]

This stuff is freaking EXCELLENT. I spent quite a bit of time with it yesterday. Today I finally finished off most of Scarfy's Dunhill Earl Morning. Anyone heard from Sasha lately?

Just occasionally I drop her a message from time to time. I have been vaping her Erinmore lately which she gave me last year during a catch up in Sydney.

The Erinmore is great. Plenty of bite and a deep grassy taste.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Big Juicy]

The Erin Moore was good. Not my thing, but really nice. Actually, I find The Plume Room - Honey Fig VERY similar for those of you who really liked Sasha's Erin Moore.

Tell Scarfy Uncle BJ says hi!

 

[Mazinny]

The only similarities are that they are English blends and Heavy hitters on the Latakia front. BJ laid out the differences perfectly. They are not NETs you will soon forget if you've tried them. Both of them got a little too much for me to handle, as did Balkan.

I like to fill up a KFL and walk away for hours on end, and any one of those was too much to vape for that long. YMMV!

I'm still new to this game. I started with NETs about a year ago, with MOV and HHV. When I dropped down to 12mg/ml, I dropped MOV as well. Until i started browsing this thread a couple of months ago, I had no idea which tobacco leaves tasted like what, still don't for that matter. I recently started ordering from Ahlusion and GeJ and a couple of others. Still learning !

When I tasted DD for the first time, it just tasted familiar is all. Couldn't tell from where thogh until this morning when I thought Apache ! If you all think it tastes nothing like, that's cool, I will take your word for it

 

[Big Juicy]

There is a similarity from the Latakia as Bill mentioned. I just meant I really see them as two totally different juices.

 

[Jerms]

I'm still new to this game. I started with NETs about a year ago, with MOV and HHV. When I dropped down to 12mg/ml, I dropped MOV as well. Until i started browsing this thread a couple of months ago, I had no idea which tobacco leaves tasted like what, still don't for that matter. I recently started ordering from Ahlusion and GeJ and a couple of others. Still learning !

When I tasted DD for the first time, it just tasted familiar is all. Couldn't tell from where thogh until this morning when I thought Apache ! If you all think it tastes nothing like, that's cool, I will take your word for it

They are very similar as a whole as they are made from similar leaves, the differences are more subtle. The differences become bigger and more noticable to those who have more experience with different English style blends. Being Latakia heavy English blends, Apache and DD are SMOKY. Latakia is an Oriental tobacco that is sun-dried and smoked over a smoldering fires of various woods and herbs, and the smokiness and spiciness is very distinctive and easy to pick out.

Basically, I think those two are more similar than different, but the differences make them quite distinct for seasoned English blend NET vapers.

 

[Dusty_D]

I'm still new to this game. I started with NETs about a year ago, with MOV and HHV. When I dropped down to 12mg/ml, I dropped MOV as well. Until i started browsing this thread a couple of months ago, I had no idea which tobacco leaves tasted like what, still don't for that matter. I recently started ordering from Ahlusion and GeJ and a couple of others. Still learning !

When I tasted DD for the first time, it just tasted familiar is all. Couldn't tell from where thogh until this morning when I thought Apache ! If you all think it tastes nothing like, that's cool, I will take your word for it

You know what's funny?, just when you think you're getting this stuff figured out, it'll throw you a curve ball.

I've been at this game for almost 2 years now, and I still sit around scratching my head every now and again wondering what the heck a particular juice is made up of. Then, one of the experts here will come along and break it down, and I'll go Ah HA!! Yes, that is what it is.. but hold on a minute now, what the hell was in that other juice that I thought I liked that had these same tobaccos.

Back to head scratching..

Enjoy the ride, because there's none other like it!