The Really Big RY4 Roundup (long)

[billherbst]

are you planning to do an updated ranking list at some point? last one i could find was feb 4?

Yes, that was the last time I ranked The Big List. RIP. Buried in the thread around that time are posts explaining my reasons for stopping, but I'll reiterate them briefly here.

First of all, ranking lists are, by their very nature, sort of bogus. Why is one whatever ranked higher or lower than another whatever? Who says? By what criteria? Etc.

On the other hand, many people love rankings. Gives them something to talk (argue) about over the water cooler during coffee breaks on Monday morning. "Top 100 Heavy Metal Ballads of All Time from Iceland." Lists like that spark controversy, which is fine unless you're the person doing the rankings, which I was. You end up catching all sorts of undeserved praise and equally undeserved blame. Well, praise and blame are two social judgments I can live without, thank you. They either give you a swelled head or beat the crap out of you. Usually both.

Also, the list began with 20-something RY4s in June 2011. By February 2012, it had grown to almost triple that size. Can you imagine how hard it is to determine where to put new juices in the rankings? Is the new RY4 just reviewed better than #47? Worse than #52? Similar to #28? Because different RY4s naturally group into separate categories, a single overall ranking list became progressively more nightmarish to determine.

Beyond that, the issue of criteria for evaluation was unresolved. Were the rankings based on my personal preferences or on my perception and judgment of the vaping community's reaction as a whole? That gave me fits, and the larger the list grew, the worse it got.

There are two questions I ask myself repeatedly about my "job" maintaining this thread: 1. How much money am I willing to spend for the thread? and 2. How crazy am I willing to make myself to keep the thread going?

The answer to #1 changes over time, but the answer to #2 is not crazy at all. I'm not willing to sacrifice one ounce of my sanity or peace of mind for this thread. The rankings were making me crazy, so I stopped doing them. Simple as that.

My current personal top 10 list---which is included with each subsequent post updating The Big List---is the small bone I tossed to the folks who want to see rankings.

 

[On Target]

I received my order of Dulce de Leche from BWB today and promptly mixed 30% BWB Hunter's Blend Limited Edition, 30% Dulce de Leche and 40% BWB Vanilla Bean into an empty 15 ml bottle, shook vigorously, and then loaded up a fresh Boge LR carto. After a few "break in" puffs, I can say I have found my new favorite RY4. I dare say that this concoction almost tastes better than the original BWB RY4, at least to my taste buds. The tobacco is a bit stronger than the original and the vanilla bean is not quite the same, nor is the caramel. But to me, it is wonderful. YMMV.

Wait a minute, what am I saying? Nothing compares to the original BWB RY4. But, to me this is a GREAT substitute and is not quite like any RY4 I have sampled up to this point (only tried maybe a dozen so far).

I no longer have to check the BWB web site every day to see if the new version is available. I am quite content with this combination until Don's next masterpiece comes out.

 

[On Target]

i understand you dont like to recommend juices, but i also know there is some discrepancy between the big ranking list and your own personal preference, i just thought id ask your opinion b4 buying all of them hehe which is my only other alternative
ill probly go with primevaping pv4, sweet vapes, and revolver for the vanilla rich ones as they are higher ranked. i guess i can give the quicknic some time and see if it improves, but highbrow didnt for me so im not gettin my hopes up, prolly have to hit the classies with it.
speakin of rankings, are you planning to do an updated ranking list at some point? last one i could find was feb 4?

Bahammut, Quic Nic's tobacco base is different. No doubt about that. It is one of my favorite RY4's but I have to turn down the voltage while vaping it. If not, the taste is not so appealing to me either. If I keep it around 3.6 - 3.8 volts on either my Provari or on a Ego C Twist, it makes the taste much more rounded. Over 4 volts and the tobacco base is much too strong for me.

 

[lannister]

lmao so true. but even he said its too much hehe

Yes, but I did order it twice, just the second time with no "extra" flavor.

 

[passerbyeus]

So Biil your right again RW Vapors RY4 is darn good, it reminds me of crystal clear but sweeter and not so sagey lol

 

[scarf-ace]

I haven't vaped any Red Pirate for a long time, but I still have half of my original 18ml bottle bought way back in Feb 2011. I think I'll do a little DIY experimenting with it---a chewing tobacco RY4 sounds interesting, to say the least.

I'd forgotten when I ordered Red Pirate that it was a chewing tobacco flavour. I've never chewed in my life so I don't know what it is supposed to taste like. It is a very smooth, slightly sweet cereal-y flavour which I find very pleasant. I bet it would make a terrific base for DIY.

 

[billherbst]

So Biil your right again RW Vapors RY4 is darn good, it reminds me of crystal clear but sweeter and not so sagey lol

passer,

Thank Cool_Breeze for RWVapors RY4. He sent it to me.

As I was testing it and then writing the review, I kept asking myself why I liked this new RY4 so much. The answer I kept coming up with was simplicity and harmony of ingredients.

I've sampled some darn good RY4s recently (for instance, Vapor..... RY4 out-Jantys Janty, in my opinion), but RWVapors is the single best RY4 I've had in a heck of a long time, bar none. It went right to #1 on my personal top 10 RY4 list. We'll see how that holds up over time.

Thanks, Cool!

 

[passerbyeus]

Yes thanks Cool, the RWV RY4 is like a classic and custom mixed into one, I got 15ml yesterday around 4pm and now down to about 5 . I will probably get another bottle and let it steep to see what happens next. I do enjoy it but MOV CCRY4 is still my top, but when I think about it they are both so different its possible it could be right next to it. I could love two RY4s at once right?, is that cheating to have more than one love affair with two different RY4s? what would the vendors say???? will they just turn their noses up when I make a order??? will they write cheater on my package??? gosh I hope I am doing the right thing ....

passer,

Thank Cool_Breeze for RWVapors RY4. He sent it to me.

As I was testing it and then writing the review, I kept asking myself why I liked this new RY4 so much. The answer I kept coming up with was simplicity and harmony of ingredients.

I've sampled some darn good RY4s recently (for instance, Vapor..... RY4 out-Jantys Janty, in my opinion), but RWVapors is the single best RY4 I've had in a heck of a long time, bar none. It went right to #1 on my personal top 10 RY4 list. We'll see how that holds up over time.

Thanks, Cool!

 

[billherbst]

passer,

Polygamy is permitted in RY4 Land. Heck, for that matter, fidelity or exclusivity of any kind is not required in Juice World. It's Free Love, Baby! Well, maybe not quite "free," but you know what I mean.

 

[ogredog]

Yes thanks Cool, the RWV RY4 is like a classic and custom mixed into one, I got 15ml yesterday around 4pm and now down to about 5 . I will probably get another bottle and let it steep to see what happens next. I do enjoy it but MOV CCRY4 is still my top, but when I think about it they are both so different its possible it could be right next to it. I could love two RY4s at once right?, is that cheating to have more than one love affair with two different RY4s? what would the vendors say???? will they just turn their noses up when I make a order??? will they write cheater on my package??? gosh I hope I am doing the right thing ....

See....hey what am I supposed to send u if you keep buying everything lol

 

[lannister]

passer,

Polygamy is permitted in RY4 Land. Heck, for that matter, fidelity or exclusivity of any kind is not required in Juice World. It's Free Love, Baby! Well, maybe not quite "free," but you know what I mean.

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE! lol sorry had to......

 

[billherbst]

specs: thehangdude sent me a 5ml bottle containing about 3mls of Double Happy RY4 (thanks, Dude!) from MountOlympusVapors. In contrast to MtOly’s standard RY4, which is just a shade darker than rosé table wine (but not burgundy opaque), this liquid is a light golden color. Nic strength as received was 18mg, but I added six drops of 100mg nic to kick it up 24mg, where I like it. Base blend is 70/30 PG/VG. Testing was done using a Boge LR2.3 ohm carto powered by a Vector VV set to 4.5 volts, providing 8.8 watts.

Erin, the owner and juice-mistress of MtOlympusVapors, began by making juices for herself and friends, then opened her retail web store earlier in 2012, with a substantial line of juices that is expanding rapidly. Double Happy is MtOly's second and newer RY4. I reviewed the other one---called just “RY4”---back on June 27th in post #1992. (I liked it and gave it a grade of B+.)

Here is Erin’s blurb for Double Happy RY4 on the Mt.Oly site: “We had a lot of requests for a more traditional, Chinese-style RY4, so this is what we came up with - Double Happy RY4 - caramel, vanilla and double tobacco flavoring.”

OK, so right off the bat we know that this is intended to be a classic rather than custom RY4, with a brighter profile of balanced, blended flavors, using only the three basic ingredients---tobacco, caramel, and vanilla---no nuts, cotton candy, what have you.

How is it? Exactly as described. Classic Chinese sparkling profile, but with a stronger kick, with the well-blended caramel and vanilla supporting the doubled tobacco, which is middle-of-the-road (as it should be in a classic RY4), but punchier. The double tobacco keeps the effervescent brightness in check. After all, this isn't Giggly RY4, just Double Happy. Fans of classic RY4s are likely to be pleased, especially tobacco lovers.

Personally, I’d give a slight edge to MtOly’s other RY4, which is distinctly custom and has a richer caramel, but that’s why MtOly offers two different versions---to please a wider range of palates. What I most like about Double Happy RY4 is the absence of anything I don’t like about it. That may seem like I'm "damning with faint praise," but I'm not. What ruins juices for me is usually not a lack of pleasing flavors, but rather the presence of flavors I don’t like, weird overtones, etc. Ain’t no weirdness with Double Happy, just the good flavor we hope for in a classic RY4.

MtOlympus Double Happy RY4 grade: a nice, solid B

link to purchase: MtOlympus Double Happy RY4

 

[billherbst]

specs: thehangdude sent me a 30ml bottle containing about 12mls of RY4 (thanks, Dude!) from ApolloEcigs. The liquid is a light yellow color, 18mg nic, but I added twelve drops of 100mg nic to kick it up 24mg. Base blend is 60/40 PG/VG. Testing was done using a Boge LR2.3 ohm carto powered by a Vector VV set to 4.3 volts, providing 8.0 watts.

(the hangdude reviewed Apollo RY4 on July 29th in post #2246.)

Apollo has reduced their line-up of eliquids from more than 100 previously to now offer only 19, or, as they state, “the best of the best.” The all-new liquids are 100% made in USA---developed/tested in the U.S., and mixed/packaged/warehoused here as well. Apollo didn’t state the source origins of their flavorings or nic, however. Perhaps those are all-USA also, since USA-made juice seems to be such an important criteria to Apollo.

Every Thursday I spend 90 minutes on the phone talking to one of my most longstanding friends who happens to be suffering from a serious and painful chronic illness. We talk about life, getting old, being damaged, etc. Today I vaped Apollo RY4 during the entire conversation. And I don’t do that unless a juice really pleases me, which Apollo RY4 does.

This is a juice that lives in the gray zone between classic and custom. The flavor profile is classic, but the impact is custom. Unlike very bright classic Chinese RY4s, Apollo RY4 is calm and matter-of-fact, but, unlike custom RY4s that push the flavor envelope, Apollo RY4 stays with the classic mix of flavors.

The word that comes to mind most for me with this juice is restrained. Not subtle, since the flavors are definite, but restrained---held back considerably from maximum richness. It speaks softly rather than shouting, but in a clear and pleasing voice. People who love in-your-face, over-the-top flavors won’t like this RY4. On the other hand, people who appreciate RY4s that are carefully crafted and “adult” should enjoy it, and those looking for a juice they can vape a lot of without its becoming tiresome---the proverbial all-day vape---should love Apollo RY4.

Does Apollo RY4 have enough flavor? Oh yes, easily. Is this particular combination of tobacco, caramel, and vanilla flavorings tasty together? You bet. In fact, it’s delicious. Flavorings here are well-blended rather than distinctive, but the overall effect is wonderful. Almost soothing. I am definitely not an all-day-vape kind of guy, but I could vape Apollo RY4 for hours without even thinking about picking up another juice.

Apollo RY4 is not identical to the RWVapors RY4 I reviewed a couple days ago (Apollo has a brighter caramel and slightly more vanilla), but both are superlative RY4s, among the most satisfying I’ve ever had. I can’t guarantee that any particular vaper will like it, but Apollo RY4 will definitely get a high spot on my personal Top 10 RY4 list.

Apollo RY4 grade: A

link to purchase: Apollo E-Liquids/RY4

 

[On Target]

Dang you Bill (and Hangdude), now I have to open up my wallet again.

 

[ogredog]

Am I the last to know about this? When I got my order from hellavapor this wasn't available.

HellaVapor — Cherry Cherry Bang Bang
I wanna try that. That's just weird

 

[passerbyeus]

Not sure what is up with all the new RY4s being really good..I have never seen so many A's going around, even I have to say its such a proud moment for the US hahaha we accept this gold medal for all the vendors out there



Thats kinda of like the Zombie RY4 I tried with berry which was not bad but yes it was weird....

Am I the last to know about this? When I got my order from hellavapor this wasn't available.

HellaVapor — Cherry Cherry Bang Bang
I wanna try that. That's just weird

 

[billherbst]

Not sure what is up with all the new RY4s being really good..I have never seen so many A's going around

I know, it's shocking. All I can say is try 'em and see what you think. Dr. Vapenstein felt that RWVapors RY4 was pedestrian at best, but that was almost two years ago, when RWVapors was still VaporsEtc.. If it turns out that I've lost my mind, you can send the boys with the white coats to lock me up in the padded cell. LOL. They'll have to pick up thehangdude too while they're at it, because he and I are agreeing about an awful lot these days...

The other consideration is that I'm not buying RY4s at random anymore like there's no tomorrow. These days the only new (to me) RY4s I review have been mailed to me by other thread folks, so perhaps I'm getting the pick of the litter, so to speak.

 

[scarf-ace]

Bill have you had time to experiment with Red Pirate? I ask because I am enjoying it more and more and have demolished half of my 12ml bottle. That toasty, cereal-ish flavour is just marvelous. I think it would make an excellent base for an RY4.

 

[billherbst]

Bill have you had time to experiment with Red Pirate? I ask because I am enjoying it more and more and have demolished half of my 12ml bottle. That toasty, cereal-ish flavour is just marvelous. I think it would make an excellent base for an RY4.

I haven't yet, but I intend to. What I did do is spend some time going through my juice dungeon and re-trying stuff that had been condemned to purgatory. I found a full 30ml bottle I made way back at the beginning of my vaping days in late 2010, when I still liked FSUSA juices (LOL). The bottle is a concoction of three juices I assumed had long passed into oblivion for me: WyattEarp, RY4, and RY5 (mixed 2:1:1). Heck, I hadn't vaped that mix in at least 18 months. Anyway, I gave it a quick atty-drip, and darned if it wasn't interesting---the spiciness of WyattEarp, dark caramel of RY4, and chocolate of RY5 actually worked quite well together. So, I loaded up an Ultimate CE2 clearo and have been vaping it for much of the afternoon, along with some diy-modified House Blend from CopperCreek and some straight Organic Cake Batter from Vaperite.

Yesterday I was checking out the goodies on Ahlusion and Alice in Vapeland and was sorely tempted to order some highly-recommended juices or maybe a sampler pack, but--once again---I didn't. That's how it goes these days. I shop but don't buy. Now I'm happy that I passed. The tenor of the times seems to be to dig up some relics from my past and see what magic a little diy creativity might do to rejuvenate them.

I'll make some Red Pirate stew real soon. If my RYO4 is good, RP4 might be interesting too. Or it might be complete swill, since I never know in advance. But then, rolling the dice is part of the fun.

 

[NandyDC]

Due to the recent Bill's reviews I decided to go with Crystaleliquid and RWvapors and I'm so glad I did it. Both juices are so good.
I ordered Crystal RY4 and RY4 Double Tobacco and from RWvapors, RY4 and RY4 Boosted and Sweetened. All 50/50 PG/VG. I think that the Crystal is more classic than the RW just for the well blended and that I can't distinguish each flavor. Love the tobacco used in the Crystal juice obviously more noticeable on the Double Tobacco one, very similar to the used with Halo Tribeca and TPA RY4 Double while the tobacco used with the RW is on the side of Halo Freedom Juice and TW Tobacco Americano, maybe Tobacco Absolute base. I see me buying more Crystal RY4 Double Tobacco and RW RY4.

The funny thing is that I ordered all in 30ml size except for the Crystal Double Tobacco that I ordered in 10 ml size and it is the one I like more. I was afraid of the extra tobacco but I was wrong so a new order is imperative .