The Really Big RY4 Roundup (long)

[Zombitedesade]

Latest RY4 on test:

Pink Spot RY8

This blend is apparently new to the vendor, it's certianly new to the uk supplier of PS liquids (ecigwizard). It's sold as PS's version of RY4 rather then some mythical new beast which managed to skip the numbers 6 & 7 (5 belongs to FSUSA). I wondered before if this might simply be a RY4 with everything doubled (hence the 8), this still could be the case, but no actual documentation on the bottle or vendors site confirms this.

Onto the numbers then:
PInk Spot RY8. 50/50 VG/PG at 18mg
Tested on a mini reo 3.7 with a Cisco 510 atomiser at 1.8ohms

First impressions reveal an incredibly dark liquid for an Ry4 variant. This is from the same school as FSUSA mixes, dark browny orange, closer to a coffee mix then traditional Ry4 coloured blends.

The smell is one of incredibly strong vanilla. The strongest vanilla I've ever smelt. Usually a flavour concerned with being in the background, vanilla is not normally a taste or smell one gets prodmintely from an Ry4. Here, it is the ONLY smell one gets.

The taste of this RY4 is also, perhapes unsurprisingly given the smell, one of vanilla. Sickly, slightly burnt vanilla with an obnoxious metalic like aftertaste. There is the tiniest hint of some tobacco here too, but it's utterly downed by the bizarre decision PS made to have this mix so punchy with vanilla flavourings. stong, quite sweet, sickly burnt vanilla with an aftertaste that could almost be a burnt custard which has spent too long in a sauce pan upon an oven hob.

Actually, on reflection one of the worst RY4 blends I think I've ever vaped. It's akin to the FSUSA RY5, dark, off tasting vanilla juice which for me, has no place in the RY4 variant world. This is no more RY4 then an extreme vanilla blend would be. Massively disappointing all round, it's not even easy to recormend as a vanilla juice since the utterly foul metallic aftertaste will be all that stays with you longer after the exhale.

 

[billherbst]

Keemer is a Chinese ecig company (actually, the name is "Kemeir"---I have no idea why the name is altered for American vendors), a division of Sailebao (SLB). The ego-clone batteries and kits produced by SLB are called kGo because Keemer manufactures them. Get it? kGo, Keemer?

In the past, the vendor Good Prophets sold Keemer juices. They stopped for some reason a year or more ago, but are now re-introducing Keemer's all-VG line of tobacco juices. Currently, those are on sale at GP ($6.99 for 30mls) so I bought the two RYs available---RY3 and RY4.

My bottles of Keemer RY3 and RY4 contain golden-amber colored juices at 18mg nic strength, and quite thick (being undiluted VG). They were tested both by dripping into 1.5 ohm Joye atties and loaded into in Boge 2.0 cartos using Hello 016 batteries providing 4.1 volts.

For this review, I'm going to shelve the ongoing discussion of "original" RY4s versus today's RY4s. If I refer to "classic" RY4, I mean classic among RY4s in the marketplace now, not early RY4s that many people loved, but which are not available anymore.

The Chinese have been making eliquids longer than anyone else, because "electronic cigarettes" were invented in China. So, they have a leg up on the American vaping industry. And one specific product that the Chinese do extremely well is RY4. I've vaped some custom-made American RY4s that were so bad as to be almost comic---like some DIY concoction gone wrong---but I've never vaped a Chinese RY4 that I didn't like, whether it's Dekang, Hangsen, or now Keemer. They're all good, and---more important---they're all similar in ingredients and recipe mix ratios. The #1 ranked RY4 on the Big List (Janty RY4) is made in China, as are four more of the Top 10.

Although the Keemer RY3 and RY4 I purchased are all-VG juices, they are amply flavorful. Vapor production is very good, of course, befitting all-VG, and throat hit is right where we'd expect at 18mg---solid but not overwhelming.

What do they taste like? Well, a lot like Dekang and Hangsen. One easily discernible difference is that Dekang has a marked nuttiness (which I find wonderful), while Hangsen and Keemer have no nut flavor. Keemer RY4 has slightly more tobacco flavor than its two cousins. Not much more, just a smidgen.

What's the difference between Keemer RY4 and RY3? Sites that sell the entire RY-series (RY1, RY2, RY3, and RY4) usually state that the RY juices get sweeter as their numbers go up, RY1 being least sweet and RY4 the most. That's not my experience, however. I taste no appreciable difference in sweetness. With both the Hangsen and Keemer series, tobacco flavor diminishes slightly as the numbers go down, which paradoxically doesn't really reduce the tobacco as much as emphasize the caramel or vanilla. Keemer RY4 fits under the "Strong Tobacco" category, while the RY3 nestles into the "Caramel Rich" category. I actually prefer the RY3, but both very good "classic" RYs.

Interestingly, Hangsen RY4 pairs with Keemer RY3 in caramel emphasis. The inhale of Keemer RY3 has a wonderful caramel tone, while the exhale of the Hangsen RY4 is deeply caramelly. If we could put together those two halves into a single juice, we'd have an RY-something that would beat out even Dekang RY4.

Despite the obvious lineage kinship of all these juices, the most important variable for me is what I might call "satisfaction." Do you sit up and take notice when you vape one of them, or is it just another juice? This is where they differ. Judged by satisfaction, Dekang is definitely the winner, with a Top 10 ranking---#5. Next is Keemer RY3 at #10, followed by Keemer RY4 at #15. The Hangsen RY-series is the least impressive, grouped together with a composite ranking of #23. (If ranked alone, Hangsen RY4 would be just below Keemer RY4, about #18.)

I highly recommend both of these Keemer all-VG RYs. Value priced at $9.99 for 30mls from Good Prophets, the current sale price of $6.99 is even more attractive.

 

[billherbst]

Below is the most current update of the rankings and category groups. Please keep in mind that these rankings are just my opinion---your taste buds and nose may not sing to your brain like mine do to my brain.



RY4 Rankings (includes RY4-variants)



1. Janty RY4 Classic or Elixir

2. Ikenvape IKV RY4 Gold, PG Blend

3. VapeRite Organic VR4

4. PrimeVaping PV4

5. Health Cabin Dekang RY4
6. VaporTalk Dulcis

7. Bloog/Volt RY4
8. Want2Vape RY4

9. VaporStation VS4
10. Good Prophets Keemer RY3 VG

11. LiquidXpress Taboo
12. Esmoke4Life Riskee Yuice
13. ElixirLiquid RY4
14. Sweet-Vapes RY4
15. Good Prophets Keemer RY4 VG
16. BackwoodsBrew RY4
17. NiteLiteVapor Renegade RY4
18. CopperCreek Voodoo
19. ECBlend Ruyan 4 (lite recipe)
20. QuickNicVapor RY4


21. Vixen Vapors RY4

22. VapeRite RY4
23. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1-4
24. KalamazooVaporShop RY4

25. EliteVaporworks RY4
26. GoodEJuice RY4
27. TheVaporRoom Ginger's RY4
28. VapeDoctor RY4
29. GourmetVapor RY4
30. KickBassVapor RY4


31. TopShelf RY4
32. SmokeForPennys RY4
33. JooglerJuice Joogler's Blend
34. Want2Vape Rock Star
35. Copper Creek Twisted Tobacco
36. VaporStation RY4

37. High Caliber Our 4
38. VapeMasters R4
39. FreedomSmokeUSA RY4

40. HoneyvilleVapor RY4


41. AwesomeVapor RY4

42. Halo Tribeca

43. Mist-Stix RY4
44. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
45. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
46. AltSmoke RY4
47. BlueMistVaping RY4

48. FlavourArt oRYental 4




Category Groups



Stronger Tobacco (less sweet)

2. Ikenvape IKV RY4 Gold, PG Blend

5. Health Cabin Dekang RY4
6. VaporTalk Dulcis

9. VaporStation VS4
12. Esmoke4Life Riskee Yuice
14. Sweet-Vapes RY4

15. Good Prophets Keemer RY4 VG
16. BackwoodsBrew RY4
17. NiteLiteVapor Renegade RY4
22. VapeRite RY4
23. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1-4
27. TheVaporRoom Ginger's RY4


Dessert (more sweet)

1. Janty RY4 Elixir

7. Bloog/Volt RY4
20. QuickNicVapor RY4

21. Vixen Vapors RY4

23. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY4
24. KalamazooVaporShop RY4

26. GoodEJuice RY4
28. VapeDoctor RY4
30. KickBassVapor RY4

31. TopShelf RY4
32. SmokeForPennys RY4
35. Copper Creek Twisted Tobacco
37. High Caliber Our 4
44. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
45. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
xx. nHaler RY4 (unranked)



Nutty

2. Ikenvape IKV RY4 Gold, PG Blend

6. VaporTalk Dulcis

11. LiquidXpress Taboo

13. ElixirLiquid RY4

20. QuickNicVapor RY4

22. VapeRite RY4
24. KalamazooVaporShop RY4



Caramel Rich

3. VapeRite Organic VR4

4. PrimeVaping PV4

8. Want2Vape RY4

10. Good Prophets Keemer RY3 VG
11. LiquidXpress Taboo

18. CopperCreek Voodoo

21. Vixen Vapors RY4

25. EliteVaporworks RY4
26. GoodEJuice RY4
29. GourmetVapor RY4
30. KickBassVapor RY4

31. TopShelf RY4
35. Copper Creek Twisted Tobacco
44. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
45. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
xx. nHaler RY4 (unranked)


Vanilla Rich

4. PrimeVaping PV4

14. Sweet-Vapes RY4

16. BackwoodsBrew RY4
20. QuickNicVapor RY4

33. JooglerJuice Joogler's Blend
35. Copper Creek Twisted Tobacco
39. FreedomSmokeUSA RY4
44. VoidMist RY4 Version 3


Liqueur

16. BackwoodsBrew RY4
20. QuickNicVapor RY4

21. Vixen Vapors RY4


Balanced/Blended

1. Janty RY4 Elixir

4. PrimeVaping PV4

5. Health Cabin Dekang RY4
6. VaporTalk Dulcis

7. Bloog/Volt RY4
9. VaporStation VS4
13. ElixirLiquid RY4

15. Good Prophets Keemer RY4 VG
19. ECBlend Ruyan 4 (lite recipe)
22. VapeRite RY4
23. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1-4
24. KalamazooVaporShop RY4

25. EliteVaporworks RY4
26. GoodEJuice RY4
32. SmokeForPennys RY4
35. Copper Creek Twisted Tobacco
41. AwesomeVapor RY4

42. Halo Tribeca



Variants (non-typical)

3. VapeRite Organic VR4

16. BackwoodsBrew RY4
18. CopperCreek Voodoo

23. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1
27. TheVaporRoom Ginger's RY4
30. KickBassVapor RY4

33. JooglerJuice Joogler's Blend
34. Want2Vape Rock Star
35. Copper Creek Twisted Tobacco
37. High Caliber Our 4
39. FreedomSmokeUSA RY4

42. Halo Tribeca

44. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
45. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4


So-So (undistinguished)

43. Mist-Stix RY4
44. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
45. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
46. AltSmoke RY4


Bizarre (just plain weird)

47. BlueMistVaping RY4

48. FlavourArt oRYental 4



forthcoming reviews:

Moondrop RY42
Esciinc Toasted Tobacco Kick Juice
Value Vapor Dekang RY1
Value Vapor Dekang RY2
Value Vapor Dekang RY3

 

[thehangdude]

Since my favorite RY4 has taken a bit of a slide (from #1 down to #20), I decided to make my list of favorites. I know Bill won't mind. I have not tried many of the top RY4s. Some, due to price. Some I just haven't gotten around to. I am mainly a tobacco vaper, so my list may lean towards tobacco heavy blends. I doubt any two vapers would have the same top ten list. So YMMV.

1) Quicknic Juice: This is a bold blend dominated by caramel. The tobacco is from a combination of extracted, synthetic, and two different tobacco absolutes. If some RY4 blends could compare to a Seagrams 7 and 7up; mellow, sweet and smooth. Then Quicknic's RY4 would be a Jack Daniels and Coke. Sweet, but richer, grittier. Beck's to their Miller Lite. BBQ ribs to their grilled chicken breast. More of a real man's RY4.
The creator of this blend had never tried RY4 before. He was not looking to emulate DeKang's lost blend. He was looking for something he liked. This makes QNJ's RY4 quite different than any of the other RY4s. Rich, creamy caramel with a stout, woody tobacco and a hint of vanilla and hazelnut. At $15.55/30ml shipped (using 15off), this is a very affordable all-day blend.

2) Top Shelf Vapes: I really don't know what it is that makes me like this blend above so many others. I only know that I keep going back to it. The vapor production is amazing with only 40% VG. It is a slightly sweet tobacco blend. It is much like other RY4s, but has a background grape flavor added. The tobacco is dominate, but very smooth and slightly sweet. I could probably only vape this one juice and be satisfied, but what would be the fun of that? It is just a clean RY4 variant.
The one thing that concerns me about Top Shelf Vapes is that it is an off-shoot of Jersey Vapes, as a result of a "break-up" of members. Jersey Vapes left a number of orders unfilled, and as far as I know, never returned any of the moneys. After a similar problem here with OzarkFresh, I am a bit weary with this vendor. One bottle at a time for me. $15/30ml with $2.95 shipping.

3) NHaler Octane: High Voltage R Why Not is a true blue RY4. Sweet, but not dessert. Just a perfect blend of the three flavors. This is very much like BackwoodsBrew's RY4, but more. It has plenty of flavor. A smooth tobacco, complimented by a mellow caramel vanilla mix. Nothing to complain about except maybe the $20/30ml plus shipping price tag. I look forward to bill's review of this fine juice.

4) Crystal Clear Vaping: I have only had this blend for a couple days, but it is very good. It has a dominate tobacco, almost cigar-like. CCV's nicquids are 85% VG, so the vaper production is good. There is not much flavor going in. I usually do a primer hit, so I can even taste it on inhale. The caramel and vanilla blend nicely in the background. At $15/30ml with free shipping, the price is right with this RY4.

5) Kick Bass Vapor: Through steeping (over a month) KBV's RY4 has improved immensely. This caramel leaning tobacco has a spendid layer of their premium vanilla. It is almost like two different flavors, the vanilla and the caramel tobacco. I am not sure how doubling flavor would change their RY4, but it could use a flavor shot. I have heard that Kick Bass is having trouble acquiring one of the flavors, so they may change the recipe. Don't change it much boB, because this is a good solid RY4 blend. At $13.25/30ml and $2.50 shipping, Kick Bass Vapor nicquids are a great price.

6) Prime Vaping: PV4 is the only cake-like RY4 I have tried. It tastes more like Dulce de Leche to me than RY4. A rich vanilla dominates this blend, with caramel close behind. I do like this very much, but I don't really consider it an RY4. I feel like RY4 should be a tobacco-first blend. That is not to say that tobacco should be the strongest flavor, but I want to taste it. With shipping costs at $5.25, look for a sale (currently 20% off, no coupon needed).

7) Joogler Juice: Joogler's Blend is definately a variant RY4. It has what can be described as a floral undertone. Normally I would shy away from anything that has an odd taste, but for some reason, it works here. The floral is like honeysuckle, and in the background. It compliments the RY4 blend to me, and to many others as it appears to be their best seller.
This is a very good blend of flavors. It is worth a try, because he will send you a free bottle if you pay shipping. (search Joogler)

8) Backwoods Brew: I was very disappointed in BWB's RY4 until the third month. Now entering the fourth month with my BWB, I can take it or leave it. I like a bold flavor. Years of analogs, whiskey, and hot wings have dulled my taste buds. The subtle nuances sometimes evade me. If BWB had a double shot, then it might be perfect. I really like the smooth blend of their RY4. It has a great combination of nice clean flavors. If you can find this juice, use ECF10 code to get it at $15.85/30ml plus $3 shipping.

Ones I have tried that didn't make the list. These were either given away in PIF or will be soon. I would not buy these again, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't like them.
LiquidXpress Taboo
Halo Tribeca
Liberty Flights RY4 (pg)
Honeyville Vapor RY4
CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
E-Juice USA Ey4 (pg and vg)
Mom and Pops Vaper Shop RY4
Vapor God RY4
DIY Flavorshack RY4 and Caramel-Vanilla RY4

 

[B4DJ1N64N]

I found that Joyetech are now selling their own e-juices, RY4 are one of their flavor. I'm very curious, since Joyetech products are Janty's generics, how about the RY4? Are they the same?

 

[wigglr]

Thanks for all you do here... always great to read. I really, really appreciate it.

 

[passerbyeus]

I found that Joyetech are now selling their own e-juices, RY4 are one of their flavor. I'm very curious, since Joyetech products are Janty's generics, how about the RY4? Are they the same?



Order and tell us...

 

[billherbst]

This is so cool! The Really Big RY4 Round-Up now has three---count 'em, THREE---different ranking lists for RY4s and RY4-variants:

Bill's Big List of RY4s (with rankings and categories)---post #824, p. 83
Zombitedesade's UK RY4 List (with rankings and categories))---post #723, p. 73
thehangdude's Top 10 RY4s---post #825, p. 83


Take your pick.

 

[Southernbelle]

I just wanted to second zombitedesade's review on the Pink Spot RY8. Just, what he said to the letter. i got all the same reactions vaping on a DSE901 atty as well as in a KR808d-1 cartomizer. Although I like many of their juices, this one was just horrid. And they are advertised as ready to vape. But even after weeks of steeping, I come to the same conclusion.

 

[billherbst]

Southernbelle,

Thanks for posting. Always helpful to have a second opinion, yea or nay. The more the merrier.

Yes, zombite has a sophisticated and discriminating palate, and---even more important---the skillful ability to describe what he's tasting. We can repeat all day long that "taste is subjective" (and it's true), but it's still great to know folks on ECF whose palates are close enough to your own that their opinions serve as a trustworthy guide for juices that may be worth trying versus juices to pass on. Zombite's opinions are usually "spot on" (as the Brits say) for me, and apparently for you as well.

I don't mean to blow smoke up his (or your) posterior, it's just that I've read a considerable number of juice reviews in this sub-forum by reviewers whose opinions I wouldn't give a plug nickel for.

 

[thehangdude]

Yes, I too have read reviews that are too dry...

 

[billherbst]

Yes, I too have read reviews that are too dry...

hang,

ROTFLMAO.

 

[billherbst]

Moondrop is a new vendor in New York with a limited line of custom-formulated and hand-made juices. Their site has a quality I appreciate and find lacking in too many vendor sites---a wry and sophisticated sense of humor. Moondrop also goes to some lengths to explain that their juices are designed and mixed in a way that insures optimal freshness with no need for steeping. Further, they make their own macerated extract from Bulgarian tobaccos that are much heartier than typical "cigarette" tobacco.

The 10ml bottle of Moondrop RY42 I purchased for review is a 75/25 PG/VG blend at 18mg nic strength. The liquid is caramel colored liquid with oily yellow overtones (typical of juices made from Tobacco Absolute or other highly-concentrated natural tobacco extracts). Tasting for review was done in my typical fashion, both dripped into a Joye 1.5 ohm atty and loaded into a Boge 2.0 ohm carto powered by a Madvapes VV box running at 4.2 volts.

RY42 is an RY4-variant all the way. There's nothing remotely "classic RY4-like" about this juice (Moondrop says essentially the same thing in their web site description of RY42). With that noted, this is a very impressive juice that uses the basic RY4 ingredients to produce something very unique, very different, and darned good.

I don't vape RY4s for pleasure anymore. I did many months ago, before the Big RY4 Round-up thread existed, but writing all these reviews has killed RY4 for me as a daily juice. Oh, I still vape a lot of RY4s, but now exclusively to test, review, compare, and contrast them. My daily juices include two main types: more aggressive tobacco blends, and more traditional dessert formulations. Classic RY4s live in the nether world between those two categories. These days, I'm personally less interested in classic RY4s than I am in RY4-variants, and RY42 is the most interesting variant I've found to date. It has a real shot at making it into my daily herd of juices, as do Moondrop's Straight Up Tobacco and Straight Up Caramel. I like all three juices immensely.

The tobacco base in RY42 is somewhere between a cigar and a pipe tobacco taste. What I get is dark flavors with some spiciness. But that description misses something, a flavor tone that I can't identify. It's good, but I can't tell you what it is. The owner of Moondrop, who created RY42, wrote in an email exchange we had that his intention in formulating the extract he uses for his Straight Up tobacco juices was for an "earthy, very slightly floral, very slightly nutty" flavor. While RY42 uses a different natural extract than the Straight Up line, it's close enough to be in the same family. So, perhaps the combination of slightly floral and nutty is what I'm calling "spicy but undefined." Usually, "floral" is a turn-off for me, but I assure you---RY42 doesn't taste flowery or perfumey. It's hearty and solid. This is an unusual and distinctive tobacco, one that tobacco lovers are likely to enjoy. Those looking for a more middle-of-the-road tobacco flavor, typically used in most Chinese RY4s, will be taken aback.

Caramel waltzes with the tobacco, but the tobacco leads, like Fred Astaire, while the caramel follows, like Ginger Rogers. I can't pin down any distinct vanilla flavor, but it's there, adding grace to the dancing duo as a subtle musical background rather than an up front hoofer.

This RY4-variant wasn't created by a committee. It wasn't tested for a mass-market to make sure it didn't offend any potential customers. It's clearly not for everyone. But it suits me wonderfully.

I've been impressed often over the past five months of this thread. Janty RY4 impressed me immediately, as did the current formula of Dekang RY4. Some juices thrilled me initially but lost some luster over time, such as QuickNic RY4. Moondrop RY42 is different. Fresh from the mail, I wasn't altogether sure I liked it. Too exotic. Too odd. Too intense. But I liked it more with each succeeding day. Now, almost two weeks in, I love the stuff.

As a classic RY4, RY42 is almost laughably bad. As an RY4-variant at the edge of the envelope, it's downright brilliant.

Ranking: #9
Category Groups: Strong Tobacco, Variant

Link to order: RY42

Let me add the postscript of a shameless plug for the Moondrop Straight Up line of tobacco juices. I don't get a kickback for this (yeah, I wish…), but I like the three I've tried (Straight Up, Caramel, and Mulled Cider) more than enough to recommend the entire quintet:

Straight Up
Straight Up Menthol
Straight Up Caramel
Straight Up Mulled Cider
Straight Up Spice Island Clove

Moondrop web site: E Liquid

I'll wait to post the updated Big List Rankings and Categories until after my upcoming reviews of Dekang RY1, RY2, and RY3 from Value Vapor and Toasted Toffee Kick Juice from ESCI.

 

[Ceegary]

I do vape RY4s for pleasure, but I must say that now that I have over 10 of them I'm getting burnt out on trying new ones, (at least for a while). Haven't even revisited the HG's Dekang, though it could happen. Right now I'm back to trying out new (for me) straight bacco flavors. I have a new job which puts me on the road each day and I'm finding that when I'm out I like to camp with them. Straight up huh?

 

[billherbst]

Value Vapor sells authentic Dekang eliquids. The website states that Value Vapor's juices come straight from a Dekang factory in China, and are sold as-is, without mixing or re-bottling. I take them at their word.

The 10ml bottles of Dekang RY1, RY2, and RY3 I purchased from Value Vapor are all 18mg nic strength in an 80/20 PG/VG blend. The liquids are pale gold in color, with RY2 and RY3 indistinguishable to my eye, while RY1 is more pale, although not totally colorless. For comparison, I added one other juice to the testing: Dekang RY4 from Health Cabin, which is presumably the same juice I could have ordered from Value Vapor.

In taste testing four juices whose formulations presumably constitute a logical sequence of flavors, one of the difficulties is minimizing the variables that may skew the tasting. Controlling even a small percentage of those pesky variables is challenging, to say the least.

One way is to use a single atomizer and battery for all the testing. Drip four drops of the first juice into the clean atty, take a drag or two, maybe three, then unscrew the atty off the battery, thoroughly blow out any remaining juice into a kleenex, screw the atty back onto the battery, drip the second juice into the now mostly clean-again atty, take another drag or three. Rinse and repeat---a whole bunch of times.

What this does is to get rid of hardware and power variables. Same atty, same battery, same voltage, same wattage for every test. What is doesn't do is minimize the user variables. The time that elapses between tasting the first juice and the second is probably 30 seconds, a long enough period of time for memory lapsing to begin. By the time you toke the second juice, you're already losing the sense memory of what the first juice tasted like.

Another way is to line up four identical atomizers/cartos and batteries, one for each juice. Drip each juice into one of the four (or load four identical cartos), then go from one to another, tasting each. This minimizes user tasting error, because the lapse between respective tastings is only the time it takes to put down one PV and pick up another, approximately five seconds. What it doesn't do is account for the inherent differences between hardware devices. Each battery produces slightly different oomph in terms of voltage and amps, Each atty or carto produces slightly different flavors.

So, which testing/tasting technique did I use? Well, both, actually. Neither of them worked entirely to my satisfaction in helping me discern the differences in flavor among the four juices, but together they were almost good enough for me to muddle through. Barely. Or not quite, but maybe close enough for horseshoes.

Part of me wants to throw up my hands and shout, "Some chemist in a Dekang production facility in Szenzhen, China, knows precisely what the differences are between these four juices, but I sure as hell don't!" Another part of me wants to bluff my way through this review, writing as if I know what the hell I'm talking about. I think I'll use a 60/40 blend. 60% I don't know, 40% I might know a little. (The "I don't know" 60% produces better vapor, while the "I might know a little" 40% has better throat hit and flavor. LOL.)

How significant are the differences between the four RYs? The answer depends on one's perspective. If you're standing well outside the realm of RY4s, vaping, say, traditional dessert or fruit flavors, then the differences are effectively non-existent. All four might seem nearly identical. If you're inside the realm of RY4s, the differences become meaningful, if subtle. On the other hand, if you vaped nothing but these four RYs for a week or so, I'm fairly certain that the differences would become quite obvious and significant. So, vaping nothing but these four juices is indeed what it would take to truly discern and appreciate the differences, but I'm not willing to make that big a sacrifice just for the sake of a review.

So, in lieu of that, let me share what I think (guess) the differences are. Dekang RY4 is the current standard in the marketplace---rich, full-blown, a classic RY4 (even if it's not THE classic "lost" Dekang RY4). Each successive number backwards (meaning a lower number) strikes me as essentially a progressively leaner version of the RY4 standard.

Dekang RY3 has less tobacco kick than RY4, making it seem more caramel-rich, curiously enough. RY2 reduces the caramel back into balance with the leaner mix, and RY1 reduces the caramel and vanilla even more, making it seem that the juice has a stronger tobacco taste. To my obviously subjective palate, Dekang RY3 is the most sweet (but not dessert-sweet), followed by RY4, which is "average" sweet, then RY2, "moderately" sweet, and finally Dekang RY1, which still has some sweetness, but only minimally. RY1 is the closest to a straight tobacco blend, with only a whiff of RY4 left, more an implied memory or echo than a distinct taste. Judged from that perspective, RY1 is actually quite good.

Dekang RY4 gets my high approval as the current industry standard against which all other RY4s are measured. RY3, however, is my personal favorite, because of the de facto caramel emphasis. And finally, RY2 is my least favorite of the quartet, sort of like the ignored middle child. To me, it resembles the "leaner" Madvapes Dekang RY4 I bought a year ago and reviewed for the original list here.

The Dekang RY-series is akin to Star Wars. The original Star Wars movie was not the initial chapter in the saga (or, in Hollywood terms, franchise). Sequels were followed by "prequels" that filled in the earlier history. Similarly, RY4 was the "original" RY, the first one created. Much later, the lower-numbered RYs were subsequently made by reverse-engineering the RY4 formula.

How do they rank? Well, if you like classic RY4s, I don't see how you can go wrong with RY4 or RY3. Both are superlative. RY2 and RY1 get a much lower (composite) ranking right in the middle of the list, but that's still respectable.

ValueVapor.com, Discount Electronic Cigarettes and e-Liquid

 

[billherbst]

Below is the most current update of the rankings and category groups. Please keep in mind that these rankings are just my opinion---your taste buds and nose may not sing to your brain like mine do to my brain.

RY4 Rankings (includes RY4-variants)


1. Janty RY4 Elixir
2. Ikenvape IKV RY4 Gold, PG Blend

3. VapeRite Organic VR4
4. PrimeVaping PV4
5. HealthCabin Dekang RY4
6. VaporTalk Dulcis
7. Bloog/Volt RY4
8. Want2Vape RY4
9. Moondrop RY42

10. VaporStation VS4

11. ValueVapor Dekang RY3
12. GoodProphets Keemer RY3 VG
13. LiquidXpress Taboo
14. Esmoke4Life Riskee Yuice
15. ElixirLiquid RY4
16. Sweet-Vapes RY4
17. GoodProphets Keemer RY4 VG
18. BackwoodsBrew RY4
19. NiteLiteVapor Renegade RY4
20. CopperCreek Voodoo

21. ECBlend Ruyan 4 (lite recipe)
22. QuickNicVapor RY4
23. Vixen Vapors RY4
24. VapeRite RY4
25. ValueVapor Dekang RY1-2
26. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1-4
27. KalamazooVaporShop RY4

28. EliteVaporworks RY4
29. GoodEJuice RY4
30. TheVaporRoom Ginger's RY4

31. VapeDoctor RY4
32. GourmetVapor RY4
33. VaporStation RY4
34. KickBassVapor RY4
35. TopShelf RY4
36. SmokeForPennys RY4
37. JooglerJuice Joogler's Blend
38. Want2Vape Rock Star
39. CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
40. Halo Tribeca

41. HighCaliber Our 4
42. VapeMasters R4
43. FreedomSmokeUSA RY4
44. HoneyvilleVapor RY4
45. AwesomeVapor RY4

46. Mist-Stix RY4
47. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
48. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
49. AltSmoke RY4
50. BlueMistVaping RY4

51. FlavourArt oRYental 4




Category Groups


Stronger Tobacco (less sweet)

2. Ikenvape IKV RY4 Gold, PG Blend
5. HealthCabin Dekang RY4
6. VaporTalk Dulcis
9. Moondrop RY42
10. VaporStation VS4
14. Esmoke4Life Riskee Yuice
16. Sweet-Vapes RY4
17. GoodProphets Keemer RY4 VG
18. BackwoodsBrew RY4
19. NiteLiteVapor Renegade RY4
24. VapeRite RY4
26. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1-4
31. TheVaporRoom Ginger's RY4


Dessert (more sweet)
1. Janty RY4 Elixir
7. Bloog/Volt RY4
22. QuickNicVapor RY4
23. Vixen Vapors RY4

26. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY4
27. KalamazooVaporShop RY4

29. GoodEJuice RY4
31. VapeDoctor RY4
34. KickBassVapor RY4

34. TopShelf RY4
36. SmokeForPennys RY4
39. CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
41. HighCaliber Our 4
47. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
48. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
xx. nHaler RY4 (unranked)


Nutty

2. Ikenvape IKV RY4 Gold, PG Blend

6. VaporTalk Dulcis
13. LiquidXpress Taboo

14. ElixirLiquid RY4
22. QuickNicVapor RY4

24. VapeRite RY4
27. KalamazooVaporShop RY4


Caramel Rich

3. VapeRite Organic VR4

4. PrimeVaping PV4

8. Want2Vape RY4

9. Moondrop RY42
12. GoodProphets Keemer RY3 VG
13. LiquidXpress Taboo
20. CopperCreek Voodoo

23. Vixen Vapors RY4
28. EliteVaporworks RY4
29. GoodEJuice RY4
32. GourmetVapor RY4
34. KickBassVapor RY4
35. TopShelf RY4
39. CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
47. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
48. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
xx. nHaler RY4 (unranked)


Vanilla Rich

4. PrimeVaping PV4
16. Sweet-Vapes RY4
18. BackwoodsBrew RY4
22. QuickNicVapor RY4

37. JooglerJuice Joogler's Blend
39. CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
43. FreedomSmokeUSA RY4
47. VoidMist RY4 Version 3

Liqueur
18. BackwoodsBrew RY4
22. QuickNicVapor RY4

23. Vixen Vapors RY4


Balanced/Blended

1. Janty RY4 Elixir

4. PrimeVaping PV4
5. HealthCabin Dekang RY4
6. VaporTalk Dulcis

7. Bloog/Volt RY4
10. VaporStation VS4
15. ElixirLiquid RY4
17. GoodProphets Keemer RY4 VG
21. ECBlend Ruyan 4 (lite recipe)
24. VapeRite RY4
26. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1-4
27. KalamazooVaporShop RY4
28. EliteVaporworks RY4
29. GoodEJuice RY4
33. VaporStation RY4
36. SmokeForPennys RY4
39. CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
40. Halo Tribeca
45. AwesomeVapor RY4


Variants (non-typical)
3. VapeRite Organic VR4
9. Moondrop RY42
18. BackwoodsBrew RY4
20. CopperCreek Voodoo

26. Liberty-Flights Hangsen RY1
30. TheVaporRoom Ginger's RY4
34. KickBassVapor RY4
37. JooglerJuice Joogler's Blend
38. Want2Vape Rock Star
39. CopperCreek Twisted Tobacco
40. Halo Tribeca
41. HighCaliber Our 4
43. FreedomSmokeUSA RY4
47. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
48. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4


So-So (undistinguished)

46. Mist-Stix RY4
47. VoidMist RY4 (all 3 versions as a group)
48. Vapure VY4/Liberty-Flights LF4
49. AltSmoke RY4


Bizarre (just plain weird)
50. BlueMistVaping RY4

51. FlavourArt oRYental 4



forthcoming reviews:
Toasted Tobacco Kick Juice from ESCI

 

[Dream]

I recently rediscovered Ozarkfresh and posted the quote below in another thread in the GG sub-forum. I figured you'd find this mildly amusing..

"Having just dripped Ozark for the first time in months of neglect, i must now eat my previous words (my judgement). It is the tobacco which dominates.. It's a bit hearty and comfortably funky (what i consider "funk" in many Honey Horn type juices, others have called spicy… while i consider Oriental tobacco (like Casablanca) "spicy". I wouldn't dream of classifying this as RY4… Did my taste buds change this drastically? Was my judgment skewed so much by the bad customer service? WTF?? This is good!"

Yeah, I ramble a little, but there you go. I'm curious whether your Ozarkfresh has opened up as much as mine has. Either way, it's a shame that their customer service was so bad...(they seem to have closed down) this juice might have redeemed them a little bit.

 

[thehangdude]

I have saved some of the OzarkFresh RY4 also. I go back to it every now and then. It is a very good flavor. I wish someone could contact them and ask for the recipe. I would hate for it to be lost.

 

[billherbst]

I'm curious whether your Ozarkfresh has opened up as much as mine has. Either way, it's a shame that their customer service was so bad...(they seem to have closed down) this juice might have redeemed them a little bit.

I have saved some of the OzarkFresh RY4 also. I go back to it every now and then. It is a very good flavor. I wish someone could contact them and ask for the recipe. I would hate for it to be lost.

dream and hangdude,

Yes, I too revisit my stash of OzarkFresh Kentucky Burley RY4 from time to time. I drip a bit into an atty, take a couple of long draws, and think, "Damn, that's good! What a shame that the guy who made it was such a basket case. But then, that's part of the ways of the world, is it not? Sometimes the blessings of talent and/or brilliance are conferred upon otherwise wonderful people---folks you would be proud to call your friend. Other times, a big, heaping bowl of talent is doled out to people who are troubled or damaged or just plain jerks. Go figure.

What little I know of the owner of OzarkFresh (and that only from reading his posts on ECF before he skedaddled) inclines me to assume the latter diagnosis. To say that he came off as damaged goods would be kind.

hang, I'd give you very high odds that when the remaining stock of OzarkFresh RY4 is finally gone (I still have about 18mls left from the two 16ml bottles I bought before all the brouhaha started), that will be the end of it. Forever.

 

[washvap]

Where do you get the Janty RY4 elixir? Didn't see the post for that.