OK, time for a little side-by-side comparison of twelve top-rated RY4s. Why twelve? No special reason, these are just the ones that called out to me from the A and A- groups of The Big RY4 Report Card. A thirteenth is missing:
Vapeking VK4, because I vaped all 5mls that had been sent to me from Australia by scarf-ace. That’s a shame, because I think VK4 is fantastic, but I’m all out, so tough luck. The twelve up for comparison are:
CrystalELiquid RY4 Double Tobacco
Dekang RY4
GoodEJuice GJ4
Halo Tribeca
Ikenvape RY4 Gold
Janty Elixir RY4
Mom&PopVaporShop RY4v2
RWVapors RY4
SmokelessImage Volt RY4
VaporBeast Holy Grail RY4
Vapor..... OuR-Y4
VaporTalk Dulcis
All the RY4s were loaded into filler cartos, either Boges or Smoktechs, and were vaped using a power-regulated Kicked Bolt set to its max output of 10 watts. Each carto was topped up to full saturation before vaping, and all these RY4s were/are well-steeped juices in the prime of their life-spans. Unless I mention nuts in a specific RY4, assume that there was no nuttiness, at least none I could discern.
Janty Elixir RY4
I start with Janty because it’s the original RY4, the great grand-daddy of all the upstart RY4 rug rats now scurrying about, hoping to grow up and make a name for themselves. Janty is their genetic forebear, to whom they owe a profound debt. What hits me first when I vape Janty RY4 is that it’s sweet without being sweet. The slight sourness counterbalances the sweetness, leaving the impression of sweetness without an actual sweet taste. The tobacco, caramel, and vanilla are incredibly well-balanced and blended (like most of the Classic RY4s that followed), which is wonderful or not, depending on your palate. No cotton candy. Synthetic tobacco that doesn’t stand out or call attention to itself.
Dekang RY4 (from HealthCabin)
Dekang is next. Why? Because it’s the most popular RY4 in the world. I’d guess that it outsells all other RY4s combined, because of numerous reasons: Dekang’s huge market share around the world, their low prices, and RY4 history (the mythic “lost” Dekang from 2008-2009 and mystique that was left in its wake). Compared to Janty RY4, the current Dekang formula is slightly darker (in taste, not color) and more caramelly, but still solidly within the Classic milieu. Like Janty, it’s not overly sweet, but it has a touch more tobacco flavor, which is a middle-of-the-road synthetic.
Ikenvape RY4 Gold
During its long development stage, IKV RY4 Gold was hyped as a replica of the lost Dekang formula. Well, opinions differ about the end result, primarily because of the pronounced nuttiness, which many old-timers swear was not present in the lost Dekang. The famous vanishing Dekang was also reputed by some who loved it to have spun sugar as a primary ingredient more than vanilla, making it a sweeter tobacco blend formula. Nonetheless, IKV RY4 Gold made quite a splash when it came out, and continues to be well-loved by many. I regard it as the first Custom RY4, since it throws out the brightness of the Classic RY4 recipe mix and goes for deep, dark, and caramel-rich instead. Very definitely with nuts. And a slightly more distinctive tobacco than Janty and Dekang, although still synthetic (as far as I know).
CrystalELiquid RY4 Double Tobacco
This is a Classic RY4 that’s formulated with NET (Naturally-Extracted Tobacco) in a double shot (meaning twice the percentage of tobacco flavoring in the mix). It’s a prime example of an RY4 with a stronger tobacco presence and terrific kick (which is related to, but not the same as, throat hit---kick is a term I use for flavor impact throughout the entire vape, both inhale and exhale). For my money, CEL RY4 2XT is great. Not too sweet, good balance between caramel and vanilla (which obviously take a back seat here), and a tobacco flavor that’s immensely pleasing.
GoodEJuice GJ4
Here we have another strong tobacco RY4 that uses in-house NET flavoring, but this leans more in the Custom direction, because of its darkness (in flavor, although it is a deep-caramel color). By comparison, CEL RY4 2XT has more distinct flavors, whereas GJ4 is blended so that the individual ingredients meld into a single overall flavor experience. Not sweet, but slightly caramel-rich.
Halo Tribeca
This is Halo’s take on a Classic RY4, and it’s darn good, as far as my palate goes. My first bottle required five months of steeping to get rid of the Halo “purity” base (which I don’t like), but now Halo has altered their base to remove what some of us taste as medicinal or bug spray-like, so ridiculously long steeping is no longer required. This is as good a Classic RY4 as anything coming out of China, where Classic RY4s are the norm.
Mom&PopVaporShop RY4v2
This is the middle of three RY4s offered by M&P. Closer to a Classic profile than their original RY4, but not nearly so extreme as their Custom RYO4. All three versions use NET. RY4v2 has the sweet-sour contrast of Janty, but with more lean toward sweetness, so that the end result is sweeter---not dessert-like, though, since the sourness cuts the sweetness some. All three primary ingredients (tobacco, caramel, vanilla) are flavorful and beautifully balanced, but still distinct. And the NET flavoring is a terrific tobacco. Very satisfying for those of use who love good tobacco vapes. If you like Janty but want slightly more distinct flavors and a bit more sweetness, RY4v2 should fill the bill.
RWVapors RY4
What distinguishes RWVapors’ offering is a wonderful subtlety. Athough it provides flavor that’s both ample and good, this is a quiet RY4---no shouting, and not in-your-face at all. Among RY4s, it’s the best example I know of less being more, in the sense of delicate restraint. Balanced and well-blended, Assuming you like the flavor profile, RWV RY4 is a great candidate for an all-day-vape, since the possibility of flavor blow-out through palate exhaustion is substantially reduced.
VaporBeast Holy Grail RY4
This Custom RY4 is characterized by a sweet-sour contrast---like Janty, the overt sweetness is neutralized---and a stronger tobacco presence. The tobacco is slightly unusual (I don’t know whether it’s synthetic or NET), and may not be to everyone’s liking, but my palate approves. This is not a middle-of-the-road RY4. No, it’s quite distinctive. Holy Grail RY4 is also the sneakiest RY4 in this group. It may not win you over at first. In fact, VB HG RY4 might seem a bit odd initially, but it keeps getting better the more you vape it, until you’re eventually hooked. That’s brilliant, assuming you get past the first two minutes.
Vapor..... OuR-Y4
This is a wonderful caramel-rich RY4 that skips back and forth between Classic and Custom. One minute my brain says, “Classic,” the next minute it counter with, “No, Custom.” And so it goes, back and forth. This is another RY4 that leaves the impression of sweetness without actually being very sweet. I’m not sure there’s a sour element, but the end result suggests that it might. The winning quality in OuR-Y4 is perfect balance in the harmony of flavors. Each flavor complements and supports the others.
VaporTalk Dulcis
Though I am not a fan of VaporTalk as a vendor---high prices, small bottles only, and almost always out of stock---I adore Dulcis and hope to never be without some in my juice stash. Dulcis is the Classic RY4 flavor profile with nuts added. It’s also sweeter than some, but the nuttiness steals some of the sweetness, enough to prevent Dulcis from being a straight Dessert-type RY4. Over my two years of vaping, Dulcis has occasionally fallen out of my Top 10 RY4s, but never very far or for very long, for the simple reason that it’s one of the most deliciously decadent RY4s ever made---mellow tobacco, rich caramel and vanilla, and those wonderful nuts. It’s out of stock today, seemingly as always.
SmokelessImage Volt RY4
As far as I know, SI Volt RY4 is the same juice as Bloog RY4, but I can’t confirm that for sure. They taste exactly the same to me. I mean
exactly. Given that both vendors out-source their eliquids, I assume they’re from the same Chinese manufacturer. Whatever the case may be about its origins and similarity to Bloog, SI Volt RY4 is my favorite Classic RY4. It’s also the one bonafide dessert-type RY4 in this group, with an infused sweetness that isn’t cloying or saccharine. That yummy sweetness elevates the other flavorings into nirvana. Like Dulcis, I never want to be without this RY4 in my stash. Unlike Dulcis, Smokeless Image Volt RY4 is readily available in 30ml bottles for a decent price. LOL.
, I never thought of trying the RY or GBC. The Altcigs definitely improve immensely flavor-wise with a long steep (2 months), otherwise I've found them too subtle on flavor but that could be my taste-buds.
