Sampling galore, a newbie's journey

[Fenway75]

So I'm new to vaping, and have been placing short reviews of liquids I'm sampling in various 'General e-liquid Discussion' threads, and thought it would be good to compile them all here. I'll start with the Vapor Chef; I ordered eight sample-size bottles and got a ninth as a freebie in the package. I'll post my initial thoughts and revisit them in a month or so after letting the juices steep.

All flavors sampled with a Vision Spinner II and Kanger Evod 2 at 2.0 ohms:

Butter Beer - VERY smooth and mellow. Not nearly as cloyingly sweet as I expected, if it continues to please after steeping I can see this one making the 'reorder' list.

Blue Jazzberry - Also surprisingly understated; I was a bit afraid of being punched in the face with blue raspberry (think of the overpowering slushy flavor), but it's done nicely. I don't think this will make it into the rotation, but it's definitely not bad.

Frosty Apple - This is a nice palate cleanser. The apple is sweet and smooth, and the 'frost' of the menthol is nicely understated. This might be a good one for times when olfactory exhaustion are approaching.

Apple Bourbon Tobacco - This one is LOVELY. The apple is the strongest note, with the bourbon and tobacco serving as smooth counterparts. An excellent vape to go with a manhattan in the evenings, or with coffee in the morning to give a touch of sweetness. This is also a strong contender for reorders if steeping continues to enhance it.


Honey Pearry - Very nice, much more subtle than I expected. I thought the honeydew was going to be the most forward flavor, but they all meld together very nicely. The pear notes give it an interesting crispness that will make it a very enjoyable warm day road-trip kind of vape.

Funky Monkey - Very banana-forward straight out of the bottle. The chocolate is there, lurking in the wings, and the nuts are somewhere in the building. It's a good dessert vape, but I have to say the Five Pawns Grandmaster is a much more flavorful and complex vape if you're looking for a peanut/banana mix. With the cost factored in, though, this is a more than agreeable vape.

Honey Nut Tobacco - This one was disappointing. I was hoping for a more tobacco-forward flavor with a honey touch, and it's the other way around. The honey really smacks you in the face, and is so 'honey-ish' it has a borderline unpleasant aftertaste (my first thought, no kidding, was urine). Hoping this smooths out with a bit of steeping.

Slartibartfast - This one is described as "the smell when the tin of cherry tobacco was opened to scoop out some for my grandfather," and it's dead on. Despite my relentlessly juvenile brain's insistence on translating this name to "SlartleBartleFartle" in my head, vaping this makes me want to dress in corduroy and impart knowledge to today's youth. A fantastic evening vape, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it holds up to a nice bourbon or scotch.

Some 'Mores - The graham and marshmallow are the dominant flavors here; smooth and subtle, could use a touch more chocolate. Overall, though, a pleasant dessert-style vape.

 

[Fenway75]

...and now on to Five Pawns. I ordered the sampler packs of their Mixology and Signature lines. As always, tested on a Vision Spinner II with a Kanger Evod 2 at 2.0 ohms.
Signature Series:

Grandmaster - Delicious. The flavor is more crushed peanuts than peanut butter, the banana isn't overpowering, and the caramel is very subtle, being tasted more on the back end. This one projects to be delightful after a few weeks of sitting.

Gambit - This too is delicious, very subtle and nuanced. The apple is sweet and mellowed out nicely by the vanilla. Not cloyingly sweet, this is a candidate for long-term vaping such as road trips and study sessions when I don't want to change tanks often.

Queenside - Surprisingly good. I had expected to not like this one as much, but it's growing on me. The orange/vanilla combo could have come out too 'creamsicle' for my taste, but they mixed it just right IMHO. This one too should benefit from some time on the shelf.

Bowden's Mate - This one is...ok. The chocolate/mint combo works, but it's missing something I can't put my finger on. Letting it steep before making a final pronouncement, it's a candidate for a nice dessert vape if it benefits from time on the shelf.

Absolute Pin - Initially I'm not a fan. The cinnamon hits hard, and is followed up by a flick on the tip of the nose from the absinthe. The advertised caramel and irish cream are nowhere to be found. This one, like a couple still to be mentioned, is very susceptible to burning at mid-voltage. Hoping a good steep brings the complexity out of this one.

Mixology Line:

Castle Long - I am surprised at how much I like this one, as I'm usually not a fan of coconut. I think steeping will bring this one from 'nice' to 'delightful.'

Sixty-Four - This one is 'beige' to me. I get the dill and a bit of cucumber, but none of the mint or lemon zest. Hoping a steep will bring the flavors out on this one.

Fifth Rank - This one hits a bit hard for my taste. The lime is nice, but like others it's very susceptible to burning. It leaves a bit of a sting at the back of the throat I find unpleasant. Will let this one steep a week longer than the rest before the next trial, as the flavor mix is so intriguing I WANT it to work better than it is for me.

Perpetual Check - Much more subtle than expected given the rest of the mixology line's initial results. Blackcurrant and cinnamon mix nicely, not getting lemon or barley yet but fig is there.

Lucena - Peach forward, not overly sweet – not picking up the spiced rum yet, may mellow out and let it forward with steeping. Very pleasant out of the bottle.

Overall I think the entire collection will benefit from some steeping, and I'm learning that the mixology line especially is very sensitive to voltage changes with a 2.0 ohm bottom-coil tank.

 

[Fenway75]

...and finally, a couple of randoms:

Mountain Oak Vapors:

Coffee & Cream - This one is an instant re-order. Smooth, just sweet enough, and the coffee note isn't at all harsh. Fantastic in the morning with my coffee, standing on the porch.

Smoky Mountain 555 - An overall agreeable tobacco flavor. The roasted nut aspect does some interesting things; it's sometimes nutty in the sense of almonds or hazelnut, other times it's more spicy. This one reacts very specifically to different 'pairings,' and while pleasant likely won't make the regular rotation. The search for a good tobacco blend begins....

Neckbeard Juices:

Nectar - This is the first juice I ever purchased, and is an instant re-order. Just delicious. Caramel, vanilla and a hint of tobacco all blend together in a sweet but not too sweet delight. This one finds its way onto my Spinner every morning regardless of what else I pair with my coffee.

Ruthless:

EZ-DUZ-IT on Ice - Also an instant re-order, a very nice watermelon strawberry blend with just the right amount of menthol. This one is an excellent palate cleanser and does well on long road trips and long days at the computer when the sweeter blends become too cloying.

 

[Fenway75]

Picked up two new flavors from my local B&M, was impressed enough in-store that I bought them and took them home to test. Sampled on a Vision Spinner II with Kanger Aerotank (Strawberry Blonde) and Elego BCC (Lime Cola). Both juices are at 12 mg, and I can't find the PG/VG ratio anywhere online.

Strawberry Blonde - With all I've heard about Suicide Bunny's Mothers Milk, and having sampled both at my B&M, I prefer this one. The strawberry and cream mix perfectly into a strawberry milk flavor without the cloying sweetness you get from syrup. Imagine strawberry Nesquik like you had as a kid, but without that chemical aftertaste. The cream element almost has a cake-like quality to it rather than just being milky. This one is a strong contender to be added to the re-buy rotation.

Lime Cola - Exactly as described. You know those newfangled soda machines in the high-end burger joints, where you choose you base soda and then add 'flavor shots'? THIS. Coke with lime, only just like the Strawberry Blonde there's no chemical note. The lime is subtle, and the cola flavoring is surprisingly.....effervescent. That's the best word I can think of - it really gives the impression of a carbonated 'feel' somehow. I think this one will steep beautifully, and suspect I'll be trying it every two weeks impatiently, waiting for that 'sweet spot.'

All in all, CRFT has impressed me. They have two more flavors my B&M doesn't carry: Trail Mix, which apparently is a fruit/nut mix with a hint of cream (think trail mix with yogurt-covered raisins) and Gravel Pit, described as "southern peach and tropical guava." I am impressed enough with the first two that I'll be keeping a weather eye out for a local source of the remaining two.

 

[Pilot]

Wow great reviews buddy keep it up!!!!

 

[Fenway75]

...and now a few I picked up at a B&M while traveling.

Baker-White's Citrus Summit - Advertised as "like the dew off a mountain" (wink, wink, nudge nudge), a pleasantly citrusy flavor that comes close to the original. Not overly sweet, which is often the complaint I have when drinking the actual 'dew off a mountain,' especially now that I can actually taste things. Mountain Dew remains my favorite soda, however, so I'm especially critical. With that in mind, I want to give this one some time to steep, because the citrus note hits REALLY hard at the back of the throat. It's a bit unpleasant, and disappointing - it's like they added a touch of unneeded menthol or too much citrus acid to give it a kick or in an attempt to recreate that carbonated feel.

Baker-White's Voltage - also cleverly marketed without saying a brand name, this is supposed to imitate Red Bull or something similar. It came close when I tasted at the juice bar, so I bought a small bottle, and......I truly hope steeping brings SOME kind of flavor out of this. All I'm getting is confectioner's sugar with a distant hint of some form of fruit flavoring. My mind keeps going back to the stick of gum you'd get with a pack of baseball cards; you'd get the powdered sugar and a touch of fruit, then three minutes later you're chewing on a vaguely sweet lump of resin. If steeping doesn't improve this one I'm not even going to consider PIF'ing it, straight down the toilet it'll go.

Knoxville Vapors' Juicy Fruit - "Just like the gum!" says the add, and they're pretty close. It's a bit overly sweet, so again - hoping a good steep improves this one. The sweet note also feels/tastes a bit chemicial, as if they used Sweet & Low. Disappointing given the sweet flavors so many other vendors have absolutely nailed without getting that saccharine 'sting.'

 

[Fenway75]

Ahlusion has arrived! All bottles were opened and allowed to air for an hour, then closed and shaken before being put into tanks. Tested on a Vision Spinner II with Kanger Evod 2's, all liquids 12mg at 50/50 PG/VG.

Boba Tea - This one is very subtle. I like the hint of sweetness without it being overpowering. Having never tasted actual boba tea, I can't comment on how close it is to the real thing, but this vapes nicely and would be a good choice to fill your tank for a road trip or long session at the desk. The flavor kind of sneaks up on you rather than punching you in the face, and doesn't linger like a lot of the sweeter flavors I've tried. It can be overpowered by stronger tastes if you're pairing it with your morning cuppa joe or eating, but overall a very agreeable vape.

Cafe Au Lait - Ahlusion absolutely NAILED this flavor. You get the coffee base, the steamed milk, and no sweetness. It's just delightful, and perfect in the morning to go with your first cup. I'm a coffee junkie, and I get the distinct impression they strove to mimic a french roast for this one, and hit it just right. This one will be making the morning rotation along with my existing favorite coffee vape (Mountain Oak Coffee & Cream), and the Kona Kick discussed below.

Chai Latte - I'm getting the chai, not so much the latte. The spices are there, and blended well, but there's no creamy note I can detect yet. Hoping a good steep will mellow out the chai spice blend and let the cream come through.

Cherry Cola - Oh Ahlusion, this gives me a sad. I have heard so many good reviews of this, and love me some cherry cola, that I was really excited to try this juice. Unfortunately, I'm getting a taste like cola served in a glass recently washed with cherry-scented soap and poorly rinsed. I'm going to switch tanks and hope I had a dirty wick/coil, or maybe a good steep will help this one. I'm not giving up on you, Ahlusion Cherry Cola!

Kona Kick - Instant re-order. This one hits the advertised flavor perfectly; a dark cup of black Kona Coffee, steaming and delicious on a cold morning. If you like your coffee black, strong and filling the room with that delicious 'time to get off your ..., bubba' aroma, this is the vape for you.

 

[Fenway75]

Three new flavors from Mountain Oak Vapors!

Tropical Sunrise - This one surprised me; I am usually not a fan of super-fruity flavors, but the pineapple/coconut blend in this is just perfect. The subheading on the bottle is "Pina Colada," and they hit it dead-on. This vape makes me want to be sitting by a resort pool wearing mirrored sunglasses, sipping out of a coconut shell and surreptitiously checking out all of the skin on display.

Red Drop - Advertised as a raspberry limeade. Very expertly blended, the lime lingers in the back rather than stepping forward and flicking the tip of the nose in order to cause tears. The raspberry smooths the blend out beautifully, bringing the sweetness out of the lime so the citrus kick hits hear the end of the exhale with no sting to the throat. Another surprisingly good fruit blend, I might be a convert to the fruitier vapes if Mountain Oak keeps this up!

Southern Gentleman - Bought this one on the advice of more than a few members. Thank you, members! This is a delightfully smooth tobacco extract, giving the impression I just walked into the room after my father had finished a pipe back in the day. Just like the Vapor Chef's Slartibartifast (SlartleBartleFartle teeheeeheeeheee), this one evokes a strong nostalgia for the old tobacco stores with the big glass jars, and sitting on a porch in the fall, enjoying a leisurely smoke while the world rushes by.

 

[Fenway75]

Adding a thought to one I let steep:

Ruthless Rise on Ice - This is a mango/lychee menthol, when I first bought it the menthol was PAH-REE-dominant, almost to the point of giving painful throat hits. Let it steep for a month and gave it another shot today, and what a difference! The lychee is now the dominant note, with the mango lurking somewhere in the room and the menthol there just enough to give it a nice palate-cleansing feel. This one will become a staple on the nights I'm indulging in darker ales and such, I think the lighter menthol note along with the lychee sweetness will give a nice counterpart as well as cleaning the palate if I decide to switch brews. Ruthless continues to impress with their fruit/menthol blends.

On a side note, I find it interesting that the EZ-DUZ-IT on Ice didn't need a steep at all, while the Rise on Ice needed a solid four weeks to let the flavors come together correctly. It makes me wonder if they used a different menthol additive....or different menthol levels....or it's just a function of the kind of fruit in the blend. Any flavor scientists willing to provide some insight will be rewarded with many 'likes' and my undying admiration!

 

[Fenway75]

Post-resting update time! I've let the juices from the Vapor Chef and Five Pawns sit for a month, now it's time to revisit them. Initial thoughts posted and then the update below in italics.

First, the Vapor Chef:

Butter Beer - VERY smooth and mellow. Not nearly as cloyingly sweet as I expected, if it continues to please after steeping I can see this one making the 'reorder' list.

I still like it, but I don't LOVE it. The butterscotch is nice, the caramel is coming through, but I already have at least three dessert-style vapes with caramel notes in them in my rotation, so I don't see this one making the permanent list. That aside, it is, for butterscotch lovers, a most delicious vape. Thumbs-up!

Blue Jazzberry - Also surprisingly understated; I was a bit afraid of being punched in the face with blue raspberry (think of the overpowering slushy flavor), but it's done nicely. I don't think this will make it into the rotation, but it's definitely not bad.

This one smoothed out very nicely, almost making me reconsider my non-reorder decision. In the end, it's just too one-note for me. I love raspberry, but there are flavors out there that mix it in so well that I don't see a need for a standalone raspberry-only juice. Thumbs sideways.

Frosty Apple - This is a nice palate cleanser. The apple is sweet and smooth, and the 'frost' of the menthol is nicely understated. This might be a good one for times when olfactory exhaustion are approaching.

The menthol has mellowed even more, making this a perfect 'fresh note' palate cleanser for days I go heavy on coffee and dessert flavors. A tank of this and I'm ready to get right back to the more complex and 'darker' flavors with renewed vigor. DEFINITE thumbs-up and reorder!

Apple Bourbon Tobacco - This one is LOVELY. The apple is the strongest note, with the bourbon and tobacco serving as smooth counterparts. An excellent vape to go with a manhattan in the evenings, or with coffee in the morning to give a touch of sweetness. This is also a strong contender for reorders if steeping continues to enhance it.

The tobacco note took a backseat after resting a while, making this more of an apple bourbon pipe blend than the apple-bourbon dipped cigar it seemed like at first tasting. The apple has a nice bite that goes with the smooth note of the bourbon just perfectly. Immediate re-order; I have 36 mL sitting on my desktop! Two thumbs up.

Honey Pearry - Very nice, much more subtle than I expected. I thought the honeydew was going to be the most forward flavor, but they all meld together very nicely. The pear notes give it an interesting crispness that will make it a very enjoyable warm day road-trip kind of vape.

Man, did this flavor ever grow on me! This is easily an all-day vape for me, and I like to switch flavors more often than celebutantes switch athlete husbands. The honeydew sweetness is there, but it's now letting the crispness of the pear come forward even more, and it's just fantastic. This one also resides on my desktop in 36mL of glory. Two thumbs up.

Funky Monkey - Very banana-forward straight out of the bottle. The chocolate is there, lurking in the wings, and the nuts are somewhere in the building. It's a good dessert vape, but I have to say the Five Pawns Grandmaster is a much more flavorful and complex vape if you're looking for a peanut/banana mix. With the cost factored in, though, this is a more than agreeable vape.

Resting has helped the flavors blend, but still not enough to rival Grandmaster. This one is like an in-betweener relationship; you have nice times together, the kisses are nice...cuddling is nice...her family is nice....everything is just.....nice, when you're looking for passion. Thumbs sideways.

Honey Nut Tobacco - This one was disappointing. I was hoping for a more tobacco-forward flavor with a honey touch, and it's the other way around. The honey really smacks you in the face, and is so 'honey-ish' it has a borderline unpleasant aftertaste (my first thought, no kidding, was urine). Hoping this smooths out with a bit of steeping.

Two things rescued this liquid - resting and mixing it 50/50 with Mountain Oak Vapors' Southern Gentleman. The mix brought the tobacco flavor to the fore, and resting has taken some of the edge off the honey. I still get no nutty notes at ALL. Thumbs down - I'm going to 50/50 this with Southern Gentleman until the sample bottle is gone and call it a miss.

Slartibartfast - This one is described as "the smell when the tin of cherry tobacco was opened to scoop out some for my grandfather," and it's dead on. Despite my relentlessly juvenile brain's insistence on translating this name to "SlartleBartleFartle" in my head, vaping this makes me want to dress in corduroy and impart knowledge to today's youth. A fantastic evening vape, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it holds up to a nice bourbon or scotch.

This one will always, ALWAYS, be in my rotation. It has joined Honey Pearry and Apple Bourbon Tobacco on my desktop in 36 mL of glory. Everything I liked about it initially only got better with time. Two thumbs up.

Some 'Mores - The graham and marshmallow are the dominant flavors here; smooth and subtle, could use a touch more chocolate. Overall, though, a pleasant dessert-style vape.

This one was interesting after resting - the marshmallow note got subtler while the graham came out more, but I'm still not getting enough chocolate for my palate. Some will like this one, I'm not going to re-order. Thumbs sideways.

 

[Fenway75]

Updates to the Five Pawns line:

Signature Series:

Grandmaster - Delicious. The flavor is more crushed peanuts than peanut butter, the banana isn't overpowering, and the caramel is very subtle, being tasted more on the back end. This one projects to be delightful after a few weeks of sitting.

Yep. YEP. Instant re-order. This is one that makes me not CARE about the cost. It's just perfect. I am a huge peanut butter fan, and this one absolutely nails it. The caramel has come out more with time. This feels like the perfect dessert, hand crafted just for me by a master pastry chef at a high-end restaurant. Two thumbs up.

Gambit - This too is delicious, very subtle and nuanced. The apple is sweet and mellowed out nicely by the vanilla. Not cloyingly sweet, this is a candidate for long-term vaping such as road trips and study sessions when I don't want to change tanks often.

This one also mellowed out beautifully, letting the various notes come through. The apple is just subtle enough, the french vanilla and whipped cream somehow find a way to come out separately, and it all blends together perfectly. This one will be re-ordered again, most likely in the fall so I can have a warm apple pie a la mode after any meal I want. Two thumbs up.

Queenside - Surprisingly good. I had expected to not like this one as much, but it's growing on me. The orange/vanilla combo could have come out too 'creamsicle' for my taste, but they mixed it just right IMHO. This one too should benefit from some time on the shelf.

I continue to be amazed at how much I enjoy this flavor. The vanilla is now almost more dominant than the blood orange; it's like having fresh blood oranges with homemade whipped cream, with a dash of vanilla in the cream. It's just fantastic. Two thumbs up.

Bowden's Mate - This one is...ok. The chocolate/mint combo works, but it's missing something I can't put my finger on. Letting it steep before making a final pronouncement, it's a candidate for a nice dessert vape if it benefits from time on the shelf.

After resting, this one has blended nicely. The mint hits first, then the chocolate smooths it out. It actually leaves a lingering chill from the mint, much like eating a York Peppermint Patty. Because I can only eat about one of those things a year, I won't be re-ordering this, but it's a very pleasant dessert flavor and surprisingly well mixed. Thumbs up.

Absolute Pin - Initially I'm not a fan. The cinnamon hits hard, and is followed up by a flick on the tip of the nose from the absinthe. The advertised caramel and irish cream are nowhere to be found. This one, like a couple still to be mentioned, is very susceptible to burning at mid-voltage. Hoping a good steep brings the complexity out of this one.

This one has sweetened considerably, and the cinnamon has mellowed, but it's still not for me. I can't detect the irish cream or caramel at all, it's just a sweetened cinnamon with an absinthe note on the exhale. It's sort of like doing a shot of Fireball cinnamon whiskey, then putting a few sugar crystals on your tongue, then doing a shot of Jagermeister. It's not bad, per se, just....odd. Thumbs down.

Mixology Line:

Castle Long - I am surprised at how much I like this one, as I'm usually not a fan of coconut. I think steeping will bring this one from 'nice' to 'delightful.'

Oh my. Now I REALLY want to try the Castle Long Reserve. This one has blended beautifully, with the bourbon coming forward and the coconut mellowing, and the vanilla just hiding and sweetening it all just enough. Definitely a re-order. Two thumbs up.

Sixty-Four - This one is 'beige' to me. I get the dill and a bit of cucumber, but none of the mint or lemon zest. Hoping a steep will bring the flavors out on this one.

This juice makes me feel bad about myself, and curse my pedestrian upbringing. I'm getting the dill, and a touch of citrus, and the word that keeps coming to mind is 'fresh.' Unfortunately, I feel like my palate isn't ready for this kind of delicate blending of already soft flavors; it just kind of reminds me I wasn't having brunch at the Plaza wearing a blazer with my exclusive private school's logo on the breast pocket in my preteen years. Because of that, I'm going to give it the 1% treatment and ignore it. Thumbs down.

Fifth Rank - This one hits a bit hard for my taste. The lime is nice, but like others it's very susceptible to burning. It leaves a bit of a sting at the back of the throat I find unpleasant. Will let this one steep a week longer than the rest before the next trial, as the flavor mix is so intriguing I WANT it to work better than it is for me.

This one is the biggest surprise of the bunch. At first taste it was like having raw lime juice poured down my throat after a night of drinking and smoking too many analogs, and now it's very mellow. The lime is still forward, but now accompanied by the advertised champagne notes. I'm still not getting vanilla or almond, but it's a very refreshing vape and a good palate cleanser. I can see ordering this in the summer every now and again. A very surprised thumbs up.

Perpetual Check - Much more subtle than expected given the rest of the mixology line's initial results. Blackcurrant and cinnamon mix nicely, not getting lemon or barley yet but fig is there.

Um....it's not....bad? It's not....good? I don't know. I get the blackcurrant, the cinnamon is now extremely subtle, and there's a sweetness there that could be fig...I guess? This juice just confuses my tongue, and so I give it a thumbs down.

Lucena - Peach forward, not overly sweet – not picking up the spiced rum yet, may mellow out and let it forward with steeping. Very pleasant out of the bottle.

Oh, what a difference a month made for this liquid! The rum has come forward and announced itself, the peach is still just there enough to mellow the spice and compliment it, and there's a hard-to-define 'darker' note that might be the hazelnut. Overall, this is a fantastic 'lunch dessert' vape, and may well find its way into my cart when I order the Castle Long and Grandmaster.

 

[Hadryhud]

love these reviews - keep going!

 

[Fenway75]

Glad folks are reading and enjoying these!

Three new flavors, all from Highbrow Vapors, tested on a Vamo V5 with HH.357 atty.

Grandpa Dave's Pomegranate: I took a chance on this one, loving pomegranate but always wary of the commercial pomegranate juices from concentrate and their sickly-sweet taste. This flavor is a hard one to get right for me, as I spent a couple of years in South Asia enjoying the HELL out of some fresh pomegranate with nearly every breakfast. That said - KUDOS to Highbrow vapors! This flavor is subtle and delicious, with none of the 'from concentrate' chemical overtone I get from the resounding majority of American pomegranate products. If this one is as good a month from now as it is FOOB, it will be an instant re-order.

Blackberry Limoncello: This one was another delight. The blackberry comes out first, with the limoncello waiting to freshen the palate on the exhale, cleaning it for the next sweet/tart hit. I can see this one very easily morphing to an extended (I don't do all-day) vape, especially in the spring and summer. There is no sweetness beyond the natural fruit tastes, which is quite a feat considering limoncello is exceptionally sweet. We're two for two from Highbrow!

Eggnog: Oops, I spoke too soon. At least I know two things: one, Highbrow isn't infallible and two, I'm not a blind fanboy. The predominant taste I get from this liquid is.....soap. It tastes like a spicy SOAP. Or a bar of Dove with a light sprinkling of nutmeg. I'm going to let this rest a month before passing final judgement, but it's not looking hopeful for Highbrow's Eggnog.

 

[Fenway75]

Four new flavors from the Vapor Chef!

Peach Tea: Exactly as advertised. Imagine a Snapple Peach Tea, only....better. The peach comes first, and is just 'there' enough to taste sweet, and then the tea comes through on the exhale. It really is like taking a sip of a nice glass of iced tea infused with peach.

Pina Guavada: Advertised as guava, pineapple and a light hit of coconut. I get the pineapple first, a definite hint of coconut, and......something sweet and smooth that could well be guava - not sure my palate is sophisticated enough to tell for sure. It's sweet, just tart enough from the pineapple, and mellowed out by the guava (?) note delightfully. This one is a clear competitor to Mountain Oak's Tropical Sunrise.

Nutty Caramel Apple: This is probably one of my favorite Vapor Chef flavors as of right NOW. You get the peanut, then the caramel, then the apple; it's like biting into a caramel apple that's been rolled in crushed peanuts, in order! None of the flavors are overpowering, each of them comes in at just the right strength and at just the right time. This liquid makes me nostalgic for the fair, vaping it makes me hear the calliope music and look around for a stuffed animal to win.

Fluffy Cake: This came as a 'bonus flavor,' like the Vapor Chef normally sends with orders, and it's much appreciated. Advertised as a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, and it NAILS it. The cake is rich and sweet, and the cream cheese note give just the right note of sour/tart to cut through the richness of the cake. I can see this one becoming a regular dessert vape.

 

[Fenway75]

My second Ahlusion order has shipped! Looking forward to trying six new flavors from them:

Lemon Cream
Lime Cream
Mango Lassi
Ole!
Watermelon Jubelance (menthol added)
W&A Sasparilla

 

[Fenway75]

Some updates to a B&M purchase while traveling....

Baker-White's Citrus Summit - Advertised as "like the dew off a mountain" (wink, wink, nudge nudge), a pleasantly citrusy flavor that comes close to the original. Not overly sweet, which is often the complaint I have when drinking the actual 'dew off a mountain,' especially now that I can actually taste things. Mountain Dew remains my favorite soda, however, so I'm especially critical. With that in mind, I want to give this one some time to steep, because the citrus note hits REALLY hard at the back of the throat. It's a bit unpleasant, and disappointing - it's like they added a touch of unneeded menthol or too much citrus acid to give it a kick or in an attempt to recreate that carbonated feel.

Time has saved this liquid from the fate its fellow purchases suffered (detailed below). The harsher note has mellowed considerably, and now it's just refreshing, not overly citrusy or sharp. There's still that weird note where they tried for effervescence (or just used less than awesome citrus additives), but overall it's very pleasant and does the trick when I've been vaping sweeter and heavier flavors a lot. It also does an excellent job 'flushing' my HH.357 atty's when I've been sampling. I won't be re-buying this, but I'm not disappointed to have spent the money. Thumbs sideways.

Baker-White's Voltage - also cleverly marketed without saying a brand name, this is supposed to imitate Red Bull or something similar. It came close when I tasted at the juice bar, so I bought a small bottle, and......I truly hope steeping brings SOME kind of flavor out of this. All I'm getting is confectioner's sugar with a distant hint of some form of fruit flavoring. My mind keeps going back to the stick of gum you'd get with a pack of baseball cards; you'd get the powdered sugar and a touch of fruit, then three minutes later you're chewing on a vaguely sweet lump of resin. If steeping doesn't improve this one I'm not even going to consider PIF'ing it, straight down the toilet it'll go.

There was no helping this juice. It went straight down the toilet, as I didn't want my sink clogging from whatever overbearing sweetener they used for about 80% or so of this mixture. Just incredibly disappointing.

Knoxville Vapors' Juicy Fruit - "Just like the gum!" says the add, and they're pretty close. It's a bit overly sweet, so again - hoping a good steep improves this one. The sweet note also feels/tastes a bit chemicial, as if they used Sweet & Low. Disappointing given the sweet flavors so many other vendors have absolutely nailed without getting that saccharine 'sting.'

....much like the gum it imitates, the flavor of this liquid simply didn't last. After letting it rest three weeks I tried it again, and got nothing but a vague sweetness. All the 'juicy' as well as the 'fruit' was gone; I could barely tell it was anything but....sweetish. Just like the Voltage, this one went down the toilet to avoid harming my sinks.

 

[Fenway75]

Six new flavors from Ahlusion! Tested on a Vamo V5 and HH.357 dripper.

W&A Sasparilla: This one had me nervous, as the cherry cola I'd already sampled from them had a distinctly soapy flavor I'm hoping goes away as the juice rests and blends. However, the sasparilla is excellent FOOB. Crisp, with a definite effervescent 'feel' to it, no small feat considering it's vapor. The sasparilla flavor too is well done, without any of the heavy-handed sugar treatment many root beer flavors (drinks AND vapor) tend to resort to. Initial thumbs up, with high hopes for an even better experience once it rests a month or so.

Lemon Cream: Very, VERY light and subtle. Think of a lightly lemon-flavored cream pie. Getting more flavor on the exhale than the inhale, Fantastic vapor production but light throat hit. Operative word here is 'light,' and in a good way.
Lime Cream: Very, VERY light and subtle. Think of a lightly lime-flavored cream pie. Getting more flavor on the exhale than the inhale, Fantastic vapor production but light throat hit. Operative word here is 'light,' and in a good way. Noticing the cut/paste job? That's because Ahlusion found a good formula for a citrus and cream mix, and didn't mess with it - kudos for THAT. Many other companies would have played with the ratios and tried to make each one 'unique,' and probably screwed it up royally. Instead, Ahlusion appears to have figured out the right mix and stuck to it, which I applaud. The lemon and lime creams, while very similar in their subtlety, are undeniably unique and can't be mistaken for one another. Thumbs-up to both of these.

Mango Lassi: Very nice. Mango is light, the cream blends nicely. It TASTES exotic, like you'd have to travel to experience it. Brings me back to some very enjoyable travels, and makes me REALLY look forward to Thailand.

Watermelon Jubelance with 'flurries' level of menthol (the second one on the scale): YES. We have a replacement for EZ-DUZ-IT on Ice (another watermelon/menthol, but pricey and hard to find away from my local B&M which charges nearly $1.00/mL for bottles that are six months old or more)! Watermelon is subtle and natural, 'Flurries' is just the right amount of menthol for it. Delicious, refreshing, perfect summer BBQing vape. Immediate two thumbs-up and plan on a reorder.

Ole!: Advertised as a sangria flavor (without the alcohol). Sweet without any of the red wine tannins or cognac kick I associate with sangria. This is just....sweet. Too many fruits to isolate any one. Not bad, just....sweet. Thumbs sideways for the moment, hoping a rest will bring out some of the flavor.

 

[10x sugar]

Outstanding! More please!

 

[Fenway75]

Outstanding! More please!

Thanks for reading and enjoying! There will be a bit of a delay, I have a few from Ahlusion that will hit the one-month resting mark next week that I'll revisit, and then the waiting begins. I do have an order in at Lucky 7, but.......who knows. After next week it'll be a while, as I have a lot of liquids resting that will need follow-on reviews and I want to keep the spending down, so no new flavors for a short while.

 

[lufkindog]

Really enjoying your juice review...