Author: raymond padilla

Vaping Diaries #339: Founder’s Favorites Interview

Founder’s Favorites was the last interview RPadholic N8R and I shot at ECC 2015, but it was also the biggest e-liquid surprise I had all show. I learned about the company through POET Michelle, who was very impressed with the Founder’s Favorites crew’s juices and professionalism. When Nate and I stopped by the booth to try the e-liquids, we were similarly floored. When I learned about the company’s concept and how they came up with these flavors, I was floored. In the ECC 2015 interview below, Founder’s Favorites CEO Samad Lakhani talks about his company and how the six Los Angeles Edition flavors came to be.

In order to differentiate its juices from the ever-growing e-liquid market, Founder’s Favorite decided to base its six LA Edition juices on foods from actual Los Angeles eateries. As a huge fan of The Pie Hole, I was thrilled to see that the company has a juice based on the restaurant’s Earl Grey Pie. Samad also told me about Cookie Butter (based on the Trader Joe’s favorite) and Affogato (from Culina at The Four Seasons Beverly Hills). The Founder’s Favorites crew spent months eating at various Los Angeles restaurants to come up with ideas for e-liquids. After flavors were picked, they spent months focus testing the flavors at various trade shows and finalized the six LA Edition flavors. As an Angeleno with a sweet tooth, I love the Founder’s Favorites concept and appreciate the e-liquids.

If all goes well, Founder’s Favorites will tackle New York next. If the team comes up with an authentic cannoli vape, I will love them forever. To learn more about Founder’s Favorites, check out my ECC 2015 chat with Samad below.

Notes: I completely flubbed the company’s name thrice in the interview. Also, my voice was close to shot after four days of filming. I apologize to Samad for my error (but not-so-secretly blame N8R for not correcting me…ha).

Vaping Diaries #338: Cafe Racer E-Liquid Interview

My colleague Charles from Blue Orb Vapor grabbed me at ECC 2015 because he thought that I’d enjoy a certain Cafe Racer e-liquid. He knows that I enjoy tobacco vapes and am a fan of the history of RY4 e-liquids. With that in mind, he introduced me to Cafe Racer’s Lucky 13. This juice is a blend of vanilla, caramel, tobacco, and almond. The profile is similar to other Western RY4s, but the almond gives it a unique twist. I was glad that Charles introduced me to Cafe Racer and Lucky 13, because the juice’s novel spin on the tried-and-true RY4 formula intrigued by tastebuds.

RPadholic N8R, on the other hand, was taken by Cafe Racer’s Peach Guzzi. Another unique blend, this juice mixes peach, blueberry, and custard flavors, touched with a bit of green tea. While it certainly has a lot of fruit notes, I wouldn’t classify Peach Guzzi as a fruit vape. It’s more complex than that. Even though I’m generally bored with fruit vapes, I enjoyed Peach Guzzi as well (thought not as much as N8R).

In the interview below, Charles told me about the Cafe Racer style of e-liquids. He was quick to point out that while a lot of juice companies claim complexity and premium flavors, Cafe Racer truly makes complex e-liquids made from premium ingredients. I certainly enjoyed the two Cafe Racer launch flavors and was intrigued by the latest addition, Yogurt Bomb. Like the company’s other juices, this is a multi-flavor blast. It combines yogurt, berries, orange, almonds, honey, and bavarian cream. Charles pointed out that the yogurt in this flavor is on the soft side and isn’t as in-your-face as competing yogurt e-liquids.

To learn more about Cafe Racer, kindly check out my ECC 2015 chat with Blue Orb Vapor Charles below. Based off of the three flavors I tried at the show, I’m definitely keeping my eye on this company.

Vaping Diaries #337: The Vape Kit Coil and Cloud Interview

In late 2014, The Vape Kit made a big splash with its complete and convenient tool kit. Expanding on that product’s success, the company released the Coil and Cloud (stylized Coil/Cloud) line of vaping e-liquids at ECC 2015. I caught up with The Vape Kit co-owners Aleks Blagojevich and Rush Hall to learn more about the juice line and to get a tease of version two of the tool kit.

The Coil and Cloud line has launched with two flavors. First up is Spectrum, which is aimed towards vapers that enjoy fruity vapes. It’s a rainbow sherbet, with a touch of yogurt-like creaminess to round out the flavor. The second Coil and Cloud launch flavor is Moonstruck (rumor has it that Rush is a big fan of the Cher movie). Aimed towards vapers that enjoy savory flavors, Moonstruck is a rich blend of butterscotch, caramel, and banana. As a huge fan of bananas Foster, I’m looking forward to vaping more of this e-liquid. The Vape Kit crew said to expect additional Coil and Cloud flavors before the end of the year.

As a special treat to ECC 2015 attendees, The Vape Kit enlisted master builder Vaping Drew to build Clapton coils for its customers. This was a nice way for the crew to let customers appreciate the full flavor of the Coil and Cloud juices. I am not ashamed to say that I took advantage of this service, since Claptons are beyond my skill (and I also refuse to make my own because I believe that they should be called Hendrix coils).

Of course, vapers want to know when The Vape Kit v2 will be out and what improvements will be made. Aleks and Rush gave a few hints on what people can expect from the new tool kit and when they can expect it.

To learn more about the Coil and Cloud juice line and what The Vape Kit is up to, check out my ECC 2015 chat with Aleks and Rush below.

Vaping Diaries #336: Dr. Juice Vapor Liquid Interview (ECC 2015)

To be completely honest, Dr. Juice Vapor Liquid first caught my eye at ECC 2015 because of the crew’s t-shirts. While most of the exhibitors at the show were sticking to their cotton shirts, the Dr. Juice crew were cool as the other side of the pillow thanks to their synthetic tees. When RPadholic N8R learned that these cats are from Pittsburgh (Nate’s hometown), we had to chat with them more. When N8R and I learned that Dr. Juice makes delicious vaping e-liquids, we knew that we had to get the company for an interview.

In the ECC 2015 video interview below, Dr. Juice Vapor Liquid co-owner Jeremy Fuss talks about how the company got started. Originally, the juice was meant to be a fundraiser so that the boys could open up their own vape shop. The popularity of the flavors made it so that the gang dropped the vape shop idea and is now focusing their efforts on Dr. Juice Vapor Liquid.

Jeremy also described three of the company’s unique juices. N8R’s favorite was Crunchberry. Unlike most cereal e-liquids on the market. Dr. Juice’s is an original concoction made up of 12 ingredients. Most cereal flavors out there use a common base that may or may not be complemented by lemon. My favorite was Delish, which blends Oreo cookie, sugar cookie, and custard. Again, there are many cookies-and-cream juices out there, but Delish is more layered and complex than most of the ones I’ve tried. Lastly, Jeremy described Headless Horseman, which is a seasonal flavor that melds pumpkin and custard. If you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes then you definitely want to check out this flavor.

To learn more about Dr. Juice Vapor Liquid and for a tease on what’s coming next from the company, check out my ECC 2015 with Jeremy below.

Vaping Diaries #335: Cartel Mods Scatola & Xanic Blanc Interview

It’s always excellent catching up with Cartel Mods main man Gino Litonjua. He was one of the first people in the vaping business that I interviewed (way back at ECC 2013) and watching his company grow has been lots of fun. At ECC 2015, Gino told me about the Scatola Box Mod and the Xanic Blanc line of vaping e-liquids. As with all the Cartel Mods products I’ve seen over the last few years, the Scatola and Xanic Blanc are different and classy.

Let’s start with the juice. Xanic Blanc has launched with three flavors that are atypical for a Southern California vaping company. Crema is a mix of orange, cream, and yogurt that playfully blends sweet, savory, and tangy notes. Lusso is a mix of honeydew melon and milk, touched by a slight bit of menthol — definitely one of the more unique flavors I’ve tried this year. Lastly, Biancco is a creamy strawberry funnel cake. I’ve vaped a bunch of all three flavors and enjoy them all, but I’m still trying to figure out which one I like best. It changes by the hour. Ha!

On the hardware side, Cartel Mods is currently taking pre-orders for the Scatola Box Mod. Made from a unique hybrid resin body, the Scatola mimics the look of stabilized wood, but is more durable and doesn’t have issues with humidity. The box mod is accented by 304 stainless steel and uses Delrin insulators. The Scatola box run in parallel, allowing vapers ample battery life. At the show, Cartel Mods had several finishes on display and several of them looked brilliant.

Check out my ECC 2015 chat with Gino below to learn more about the Xanic Blan e-liquid line and the Scatola Box Mod, as well as what he’s working on next. (Hint: Expect a regulated device from Cartel Mods in the near future!)

Vaping Diaries #334: Sweet Nectar Juice Interview (ECC 2015)

A relatively new vaping e-liquid company, my buddy Chris introduced me to Sweet Nectar at ECC 2015. A few of the company’s juices surprised RPadholic N8R and me. N8R was enamored with Home Grown, a melange of pineapple, watermelon, and blueberry. Even though I find most fruit vapes banal, Home Grown’s atypical blend and texture worked for me. My personal favorite was Cookie Butter, which is Sweet Nectar’s first savory flavor. The company describes it as, “a great inhale that taste like fresh baked cookies and a snickerdoodle exhale.” In the interview below, Sweet Nectar owner Alex Hards talks about the company’s history, a few of its flavors, and the upcoming Select Line of juices.

Vapers looking for a good deal should definitely consider Sweet Nectar. The company’s 15ml bottles retail for $7.50, as opposed to the $12 price point used by most of its competitors. Even though the price is low, Sweet Nectar uses PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, which are more expensive than and superior to the LDPE (low-density polyethylene) used by many juice companies. The upcoming Select Line will use glass bottles. Alex talks about the first flavor in the Sweet Nectar Select Line in the interview.

It’s going to be fun watching Sweet Nectar invade the retail scene. From what I understand, the company’s wholesale prices will appeal to store owners, while consumers will be attracted to the retail pricing. Sweet Nectar has a good variety of flavors and should have at least one that will tickle your fancy. For discerning vapers and those that insist on glass bottles, the Select Line should be an interesting choice. I’m looking forward to seeing the bottles and price point for that line of Sweet Nectar products. To learn more about the company, a few of its flavors, and the upcoming Select Line then check out my ECC 2015 chat with Alex below.

Vaping Diaries #333: Jay-Bo Talks Wismec at ECC 2015

Thousands of vapers know Jay Bo from his Tobh Mods and Jay Bo Designs products, like the Tobh Atomizer and Bambino Atty. Vapers that follow the business know that Jay Bo’s designs have been mercilessly copied by several Chinese e-cigarette companies. With that in mind, many people at ECC 2015 were surprised to learn that Jay Bo is now the senior designer for a Chinese vaping company. In the interview below, Jay Bo talks about his role as Wismec senior designer and what he hopes to accomplish with the company.

Fans of Jay Bo’s enthusiast vaper products shouldn’t have anything to worry about. He’s still designing products aimed at that segment of the vaping market. With Wismec, his designs will hit a larger portion of the market. Wismec will be using its considerable manufacturing resources to bring Jay Bo products to beginning, intermediate, and advanced vapers. On the flip side, Jay Bo will be helping out on products that won’t have his personal brand on them, but will certainly be influenced by his style. On paper, it seems like a win-win situation for both parties. Jay Bo gets tremendous resources and reach, while Wismec gets one of the most celebrated designers in the vaping business.

There are a few side notes to this piece. First is a confession — I desperately wanted to title this article “Jay Bo Goes to China (Wismec)” or “Big Jay Bo in Little China (Wismec).” Thanks to that handy disclaimer, I can fess up to things. Also, the interview may or may not have a crash appearance by Brett Reed from Praxis Vapors.

Anyway, this is a potentially huge development for both Jay Bo and Wismec. To learn all about the relationship and to get an update on Jay Bo’s ever-evolving facial hair, kindly check out the ECC 2015 interview below.

Vaping Diaries #332: Propaganda E-Liquid Interview (ECC 2015)

In a very short time, Propaganda E-Liquid has become a fairly large e-liquid company. I recall first seeing the company at an OC Vapers Meet event, where the crew had a small display table. At ECC 2014, Propaganda E-Liquid had a relatively modest 10 x 20 booth. At ECC 2015, the company had a huge display, including a two-story staging area, ample seating areas, and multiple kiosks. In the interview below, Propaganda E-Liquid CEO Nicholas DeNuccio talks about how the company got started, the company’s explosive growth, three of his most popular flavors, and what’s coming next.

Propaganda E-Liquid kicked things off with Illuminati, a refreshing blend of blood orange, pineapple, and strawberry. Nick made this flavor while he was still working at a vape shop and used customer feedback to make this juice the foundation of the company’s launch. Vapers that are partial to candy flavors will want to check out Subliminal, which is a sweet and sour Razzmatazz flavor. The newest flavor in the Propaganda E-Liquid lineup is Treason, a sweet lemon pudding topped with whipped cream. While the company started off with fruit and candy e-liquids, it has been rounding out its lineup with savory dessert flavors.

Propaganda E-Liquid currently has five flavors on tap. Nick mentioned that a sixth flavor is on the way. I’d expect the new flavor to hit some time before the end of the year.

On a macro level, Propaganda E-Liquid is a fantastic example of why I enjoy covering the vaping business. It’s a new and exciting space that’s changing rapidly. It’s very cool to see a company like Propaganda E-Liquid grow at such a remarkable rate. Being able to watch companies like Nick’s develop and flourish is a nifty privilege. If you want to learn more about Propaganda E-Liquid and its juice, check out the clip with Nick below.

Vaping Diaries #331: Epistle Eliquid Interview (ECC 2015)

Epistle Eliquid launched at ECC 2015 with two juice flavors and a very cool mission. In addition to offering tasty juice, the company aims to educate consumers through its packaging. A portion of the company’s sales will go to the excellent NotBlowingSmoke.org. If you’re not familiar with the organization, it does a fantastic job of educating consumers about vaping issues in a very clear and concise way. In my opinion, NotBlowingSmoke.org does the best job of informing vapers about laws that could potentially change their lifestyle. It’s very, very cool that Epistle Eliquid has partnered up with the fantastic organization. In the interview below, Epistle Eliquid co-owner Nickelson Ballon talks about the company’s two launch flavors, the company’s mission, and teaming up with NotBlowingSmoke.org.

As I mentioned, Epistle Eliquid has kicked things off with two flavors. First up is Mango Lassi, based on the the popular Indian confection. A mixture of sweet fruit and tangy yogurt, Mango Lassi is a delicious dessert blend. The second Epistle Eliquid launch flavor is Carrot Cake. This juice offers the sweet and savory spices in carrot cake, with an emphasis on the frosting. Out of the two launch flavors, I preferred Mango Lassi. I’m a fan of the Indian dish and not overly fond of the frosting on carrot cake.

Epistle Eliquid is off to a great start. The company’s ECC 2015 booth was almost always busy when I walked by. I love that a new e-liquid company is working to educate vapers and teaming with an excellent group like NotBlowingSmoke.org. A lot of my friends at the show enjoyed the two Epistle Eliquid launch flavors (though I seem to be in the minority, as most of them preferred Carrot Cake). If you want to learn more about Epistle Eliquid’s juices and efforts then check out my interview with Nickelson below.

Vaping Diaries #330: Surefire Vapor Castle Box Mod & Heir RDA Interview

Once known primarily for its made-in-the-USA high-end mechanical mods, Surefire Vapor is branching out into several different areas of vaping. At ECC 2015, the company had a number of new products. Recently, the company released a line of e-liquids, as well as pre-made coils and cotton. The Surefire Vapor goods that were getting the most attention at the show were the Castle Box Mod and Heir RDA. Both products have relatively low retail prices and offer great features. In the interview below, Surefire Vapor CEO Garry Rivera told me about the Castle Box Mod and Heir RDA.

The Castle Box Mod will retail for $100 and will be available in six different colors (I’m digging the pink and white models). It’s a 60-watt temperature-control box-mod that uses a proprietary chip. Vapers looking for a safe, simple, and elegant box mod should definitely give the Castle a look.

The Surefire Vapor product that really had me geeked out was the Heir RDA. Many people at ECC 2015 were calling it the “Kennedy Killer,” in reference to the popular bottom-airflow RDA. While the Heir RDA is indeed a bottom-airflow atomizer, the feature that grabbed me was its “direct-to-drip coil system.” Under the Heir RDA’s drip tip but above the deck is a hat-shaped piece of metal. The “hat” funnels juice into two slots that sit above the coils. This makes re-dripping super convenient and easy. It’s one of those clever designs that make you go, “That’s awesome! Why haven’t I seen that before?!?”

When Surefire Vapor first launched, it was one of the few American companies making high-end mods. The market has changed drastically over the years and it’s fun watching Surefire Vapor change with it. I’m curious to see how the Castle Box Mod and Heir RDA will sell. I’m already sold on the latter, but want to play with the former a bit more. To learn about both products, check out my interview with Garry.