Raymond Padilla

Vaping Diaries #241: Witchers Brew Jourele Macalino & Harold Fong Interview (ECC 2014)

As a huge fan of naturally-extracted tobacco e-liquids, I was looking forward to chatting with Witchers Brew at ECC 2014. My buddy Jessie from Vapors.com stopped by the booth and told me that it was a “must see.” Company president Jourele Macalino told me how Witchers Brew got started, its launch at ECC 2013, its current lineup, what kind of naturally-extracted tobaccos the company uses, and the freshly launched Moondust e-liquid. Chief financial officer Harold Fong popped in to talk about the next e-liquid Witchers Brew is working on.

According to the company’s Facebook page, “Our ingredients are custom made to our specifications and one of a kind. None of our extracts are available on the market.” While I wasn’t able to get the precise details on Witchers Brew’s naturally-extracted tobaccos (heat extract, soak, CO2 extract, etc.), I was happy to get to know a local NET vendor. If you’re familiar with the Southern California vape scene then you know that fruit e-liquids dominated 2013, while dessert juices became more popular this year. As a NET fan, there aren’t many local companies for me to enjoy (and pester).

I’ll be reviewing some Witchers Brew e-liquids in the near future. While my review will focus on flavor, I will be mindful of the company’s claim that its juices aren’t as harsh on coils as other naturally-extracted tobacco e-liquids. For now, please check out the video above to learn more about Witchers Brew and the e-liquids the company offers.

Vaping Diaries #240: Convict Vapors Brian Grow Interview (ECC 2014)

There is a lot to love about Convict Vapors. The company offers high-performance and high-quality vaping hardware that’s made in the USA and backed by an extremely generous one-year warranty. Convict Vapors hybrids are stylish and made from top-notch materials too. Lastly, the company does a lot of charitable work, employing convicts, donating mods and money to veterans, and more.

Several months ago, Alex from Vape Maps suggested that I contact Convict Vapors to learn more about the company and help vapers learn about its products. At ECC 2014, I finally caught up with Convict Vapors owner and head of product development Brian Grow. He spoke about how his company operates, how his products emphasize performance, the build quality behind his products, the one-year warranty he offers, and more. In addition to The Convict genesis hybrid (Convict Vapors’ first product), Brian talks about The Warden 26650 hybrid dripper, The Service Hybrid, and some upcoming atomizers.

In a very short time, Convict Vapors has grown into a top American vaping company. I’m really impressed by the product quality and design, while I find the company’s warranty policy extraordinary (to the point where I’m thinking, “Wow! These guys are too generous.). Check out the video above to hear the Convict Vapors story, learn about its current products, and hear about what’s coming next.

Vaping Diaries #239: Boilermaker Vapor Jeff Brookes Interview (ECC 2014)

My chat with Boilermaker Vapor co-owner Jeff Brookes is one of my favorite ECC 2014 interviews, and there’s a story behind it. See, I bumped into the fabulous James and Stephanie from Bay City Vapor at the show, and they suggested that I check out Boilermaker Vapor’s booth. I’m so grateful for that suggestion, because it lead me to discover some really unique e-liquid and meet some really cool people. Boilermaker Vapor’s juices are complex and layered, using multiple ingredients to achieve some truly standout flavors. I’m a huge fan of complex e-liquids and the company’s flavor blends seem like they’re totally in my wheelhouse. Then there’s Jeff Brookes, who was one of the most excellent people I met all show. When you combine great products and great people, it was an absolute pleasure filming this Boilermaker Vapor video.

Now let’s talk about some of the company’s flavors. Vise was the big hit of the show for Boilermaker Vapor. This juice combines watermelon, honeydew, lychee, and pomegranate. As fruit vapes are quite popular in Southern California, it wasn’t surprising that so many people liked Vise. As for me, I was most intrigued by Forge. Yes, the name reminds me of one of the lamest X-Men ever, but the juice is a unique mix of fruits and savory notes. Forge features pear and pineapple on the fruit side, as well as caramel and vanilla bourbon on the savory side.

Check out the interview above to learn how Boilermaker Vapor got started, hear about the company’s four launch flavors, and learn about the next addition to the Boilermaker Vapor lineup.

Vaping Diaries #238: Paratus Mods AD-1 Eric Lunn Interview (ECC 2014)

One of my favorite things about trade shows like ECC 2014 is meeting companies that I’ve never been exposed to, like Paratus Mods. Based in San Jose, the company was on a mission to release an inexpensive, made-in-the-USA, all-in-one vaping device. The end result was the AD-1 (Auto Dripper 1). This hybrid mod has several unique features. Aesthetically, it uses a sleeve system that lets you customize the look. Various sleeves are available, including copper, a very cool nylon, and a clear model. At the top of the Paratus Mods AD-1 is an auto-dripping atomizer that works similarly to the excellent Vapour Art Spheroid. The top portion of the atomizer uses filler to hold the juice, while the deck has the wick and coils that turn it into vapor. Since it’s a hybrid system, the Paratus Mods AD-1 has minimal voltage loss. Whether you’re a high-ohm flavor guy or a sub-ohm cloud chaser, the Paratus Mods AD-1 should be able to handle any build you throw at it, thanks to its PEEK insulators.

Check out the ECC 2014 video interview above with Paratus Mods co-owner Eric Lunn. He talks about the various features of the AD-1 and teases the upcoming Submariner mod, which I found out does not have little wings on its ankles.

Vaping Diaries #237: Lost Art Liquids Brian Worthy Interview (ECC 2014)

When I first chatted with Lost Art Liquids, the company had just started with a humble launch. A few months later, the company has blown up. Originally, Lost Art Liquids went with a classy and understated style. These days, the company uses imagery and labels that are loud and cartoony. Lost Art Liquids has come a long, long way and it has been fun watching the company evolve. At ECC 2014, I chatted with Lost Art Liquids co-founder Brian Worthy about the drastic changes his company has undergone. He also spoke about his current flavor lineup and a new flavor that he was testing at the show.

Naturally, I had to ask Brian about the controversy surrounding his Kaptain Peanut Butter e-liquid. The original bottles used images straight off of a Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch box. From what I was told, this didn’t sit too well with someone over at Mod Envy. Apparently, one of the show’s hosts accused Lost Art Liquids of advertising to kids with the label and called for vapers to boycott the company. Having someone with thousands of viewers calling on people to boycott your company is a scary thing, but it ended up being a bid deal for Lost Art Liquids. Brian said that the controversy actually increased his business, helping his juices go from three stores to 50 in a matter of days.

Check out the clip above to hear about the evolution of Lost Art Liquids and the upcoming new flavor the combines kiwi, strawberry, and Pop Rocks.

Vaping Diaries #236: Cartel Mods Gino Litonjua Interview (ECC 2014)

Cartel Mods is one of my favorite American hardware manufacturers in the vaping business. From the first time I saw Cartel Mods hardware, I was enamored by the company’s build quality and workmanship. At ECC 2013, I met the company’s main man — Gino Litonjua — for the first time. I’ve chatted with him a few times on camera since then and it was nice to celebrate our “on-camera vaping anniversary” (that’s a real thing) at ECC 2014.

Cartel Mods had a lively booth at the show, with a “Wheel of Fortune” game where contestants could win a Cartel Mods mechanical mod or atomizer for only $10. The company also released a brass version of its Cartel Boss 26650 mod at ECC 2014. Also on display, was the Stillare v3 — Cartel Mods’ first tri-coil atomizer. Gino gave a great explanation of the benefits of tri-coil atomizers and how the Stillare v3 offers a great blend of intense flavor and heavy vapor.

Lastly, Gino spoke about a new laser-engraving process that Cartel Mods will be using in products released later this year. By manipulating the machine settings, he was able to achieve engravings of different colors. The winner right now seems to be the red engraving.

To learn more about what Cartel Mods is up to, watch the ECC 2014 video interview above.

Vaping Diaries #235: OneUp Vapor Dustin Chang Interview (ECC 2014)

OneUp Vapor is one of the most popular e-liquid brands at one of the vape shops I frequent (the excellent Vape Source in Koreatown). Whenever I drop by, I almost always see someone pick up a bottle of OneUp Vapor’s Jamba Drink e-liquid. At ECC 2014, I dropped by the company’s booth and chatting with sales & marketing exec Dustin Chang. He told me how the company got started and spoke about the OneUp Vapor style of making e-liquids. Dustin also went over several of the company’s flavors and gave details on two upcoming OneUp Vapor e-liquids.

At the show, the company launched its newest flavor — Strawberry Churros and Ice Cream. OneUp Vapor’s Churros and Ice Cream is already a hit and I’m sure that adding strawberry to the mix will delight vapers looking for a fruity dessert e-liquid. Check out the video above to learn more about OneUp Vapor, hear more about some of its popular flavors, and see what’s coming next.

Vaping Diaries #234: Vaping Utopia Kavish Mehta Interview (ECC 2014)

Vaping Utopia e-liquids are a great choice for vapers that love to blow clouds and/or enjoy subtle flavors. As someone that normally dislikes juices with artificial and overpowering qualities, I enjoyed several Vaping Utopia flavors. At ECC 2014, I caught up with company owner Kavish Mehta to get an update on utopian happenings. First up, due to customer demand, he’s switching from the stylish glass bottles to plastic bottles that are more functional. Vaping Utopia also had special edition bottles of its popular mango e-liquid, Shangri La, available at ECC 2014.

Lastly — and most importantly — Kavish gave me a “world exclusive” (Geoff Keighley™) on four of the flavors Vaping Utopia has in development. Two of them are fruit flavors. Kavish seems really confident that his strawberry-guava blend will be a winner and also has high hopes for the lime-coconut e-liquid. Since 2014 has mostly been about savory dessert e-liquids for me (with a healthy dose of naturally-extracted tobaccos, of course), I was excited about Vaping Utopia’s dessert flavors. On that front, Kavish has a tres-leches banana-coconut medley that sounds amazing, as well as vanilla Dole whip with organic honey.

While I’d love for all four of those flavors to be released, Vaping Utopia is currently committed to launching two of them. So leave a comment below and pester the company on social media about the in-development flavors you’d like to see. If you’re undecided, do me a favor and vote for the dessert flavors.

Vaping Diaries #233: Innokin Paul Aaron Hare Interview (ECC 2014)

One of the most interesting booths I visited at ECC 2014 was Innokin’s. The company had a wide variety of vaping products geared towards all sorts of vapers. Thankfully, Innokin chief marketing officer Paul Aaron Hare was on hand to walk me through them. The venerable iTaste SVD is getting updated through a partnership with the excellent Evolv Vapor. The iTaste SVD 2 uses a custom chip called the DNA Experience. One of my favorite things about Innokin is that the company isn’t afraid to take design risks, as seen in the iTaste 134 and iTaste VTR. That tradition continues with the Arachnid and Clockwork mods (both prototypes) displayed at the show. RPadholic N8R and I were both smitten with Innokin’s copper mod, codenamed Torch. This beauty features a Statue of Liberty engraving, which totally appealed to the New Yorker in me. The 134 series is going mechanical, with the 134 MX-M and 134 MX-Z models. Lastly, Innokin had a new rebuildable atomizer called the Exthermal, which resembles a beehive or a ray gun, depending on your point of view.

Innokin has long been my favorite vaping company out of China and it’s continuing to broaden its reach. The company has always excelled with beginner and intermediate devices. Its variable-voltage and variable-wattage devices have been strong too. It’s great to see the company branching out with mechanical mods and rebuildable atomizers, both of which should appeal to advanced vapers. Throughout the entire product line, Innokin offers relatively low prices and solid build quality. While so many Chinese vaping companies pump out clones, it’s great to see a company like Innokin working on original products that are great for all sorts of vapers. Be sure to check out the video above to see Innokin’s latest and greatest, as described by the company’s chief marketing officer, Paul Aaron Hare.

Vaping Diaries #232: D2 E-Liquid Dillon Dygert Interview (ECC 2014)

As a fan of complex dessert e-liquids, I was happy to meet D2 E-Liquid (pronounced D-Squared) president Dillon Dygert at a recent United Vapers event. The company currently specializes in bakery and dessert juices with a lot of layers. After chatting with Dillon at ECC 2014, I was even more impressed by D2 E-Liquid. I love how the company emphasizes safety; throughout the D2 E-Liquid juice-making process, all the ingredients touch glass. It’s more expensive to produce e-liquid this way, but ensuring that all the ingredients stay in contact with glass (and never touch plastic) prevents contaminants from seeping into the juice. This pricey process delivers purity of flavor and a higher level of safety.

As for the juices themselves, D2 E-Liquid started with two flavors and released one shortly thereafter. At ECC 2014, the company launched a new flavor. Watch the video above to learn all about D2 E-Liquid’s four flavors, how the company got started, how it produces its juice, and more.