Highbrow Vapor is a new vendor and very much a class act. Well, let me rephrase that. Highbrow excels at what capitalism is so good at---creating in the mind of the customer the
illusion of class and high-quality. Highbrow achieves this effect through an aesthetic and well-designed web site, using a graphic motif of hand-drawn art nouveau fonts and artwork showing the profile of 19th-century Victorian gentleman in a top hat (which is repeated on the bottles well-printed label).
The Highbrow web site contains ample information about the vendor and its limited line of artisan-crafted juices, with an entire page devoted to listing all the ingredients of each juice offered. Packaging of the shipment is exemplary, the best Ive ever seen. Inside the obligatory bubble wrap, the bottles are wrapped in brown butchers paper and tied with some kind of faux corn husk twine, with much the same care that one might package an expensive perfume or other high-end knick-knack type gift. This is, of course, meaningless in terms of the juice, but a very nice touch. The intention and overall effect of all this is to give the impression of tradition, status, excellence, and class privilege. Its so well-done that I was quite easily seduced.
Specs:
The 30ml bottle of Highbrowbacco RY4 I purchased for review is a pale-caramel-colored liquid (quite beautiful, actually) in an all-VG base (or, more technically 10/90 PG/VG, since the tobacco flavoring is made with an all-PG base) at 24mg nic strength. The juice was tested by dripping with a 1.5 ohm Joye 306 atty powered by a freshly-charged Hello 016 battery providing 4.2 volts for 11.7 watts, and also loaded into a 2.2 ohm X7 Micromizer carto powered by a Madvapes VV box providing 4.5 volts for 9.2 watts.
Ive been writing recently about the two forks of the RY4 stream: the classic RY4s of Chinese origin, which share a common flavor profile and are usually good quality blends, but more similar to each other than different; and the more creative but idiosyncratic American RY4s, which vary widely and wildly in terms of both flavor and quality.
Highbrowbacco RY4 is American through and through, and very good to boot.
The flavorings used are limited and high-quality---just tobacco, caramel, and vanilla. Nothing else that I can taste. What sets Highbrow RY4 apart, and a definite cut above most of its Chinese competitors and American cousins, is the complexity and sophistication of its tobacco base. As with
Mom&Pops and
Moondrops RY4s, I taste Tobacco Absolute here (which I love). But theres something else as well---a slight liquor-like tanginess, which is decidedly reminiscent of
QuickNic RY4, though more subtle. The combination is quite wonderful and dominant in the flavor profile, with the tobacco singing the melody while caramel and vanilla remain in the background to add harmonies. The juice has surprising sweetness that lingers after exhale, but its definitely not dessert sweet.
Im beginning to think that with
Mom&Pop, Moondrop, and now
Highbrow, were witnessing the birth of a new generation of RY4s that honor the lineage (meaning that they dont add extra ersatz flavors like chocolate or maple that can disrupt the RY4 flavor profile), but instead focus on extraordinary tobacco to push the flavor envelope in creative ways.
One curious note: On the ingredients page, each juice lists all the ingredients of each juice---bases, nic, and flavorings. Highbrowbacco RY4, however, lists only a single flavor ingredient, called tobacco flavoring. No caramel, no vanilla listed as flavorings---despite their clear presence in the juice. The other four Highbrowbacco tobacco blends follow suit, listing only tobacco as a flavoring. Im not sure what that means, but its the only odd thing I noticed in an otherwise superlative presentation of both the juice and vendor.
Friends, Im thrilled to report that (in my personal opinion, which counts for something, since I am, after all, the guy who does the rankings
) weve got a new Top 10 prizewinner here. Highbrow has produced a distinctive and delicious RY4. It may not be to everyones liking, since it is far from a classic RY4, but Highbrowbacco RY4 should please tobacco connoisseurs immensely.
HighbrowVapor is indeed a class act and a welcome new addition to the vaping marketplace. I look forward to sampling many of their other juices.
Big List Ranking:
#3
Category Groups:
Stronger Tobacco (less sweet), Liqueur, Distinctive (atypical)
link:
Highbrowbacco RY4
