Interviews Archives - Page 13 of 25

Vaping Diaries #246: Empire Glassworks Phillip Vuong Interview (ECC 2014)

If you’re a vaper that’s into comic books, videogames, science-fiction, or fantasy then you need to check out Empire Glassworks. The company makes a variety of glass atomizer caps and drip tips that feature all sorts of characters from pop-culture. Whether it’s Master Chief from Halo, R2D2 from Star Wars, Pikachu from Pokemon, or Cartman from South Park, Empire Glassworks will help you nerd out your vaping setup (and I mean that in the coolest possible way).

At ECC 2014, I chatted with Empire Glassworks CEO Phillip Vuong about how his company got started and some of the products he offers. While he has a number of great atomizer caps available now, he has more coming for the popular Cartel Mods Stillare and Tobh atomizers in the near future. Watch my chat with Phillip to learn more about his company, as well as to see several of his awesome glass atomizer caps and drip tips.

Vaping Diaries #245: High Roller Sweets Nick Bautista Interview (ECC 2014)

High Roller Sweets e-liquids immediately catch your eye with their packaging. The juices come in glass bottles shaped like dice. The bottles are placed in a round box lined with uncirculated money. Inside the bottles are rich and sweet flavors, with complex recipes. CEO Nick Bautista’s background includes formulating ice cream and yogurt flavors. His experience — along with an ardent passion for gambling — helped shape High Roller Sweets into the company it is today. At ECC 2014, I spend some time with Nick to get to know more about him, his company, and e-liquids.

There are a few pleasantly atypical things about High Roller Sweets e-liquids. While most “large” bottles found in vape shops are 30 milliliters, Nick opted to go with 35 milliliters in order to stand out from the crowd. While most e-liquids come in nicotine increments of six milligrams, Nick opted to go with increments of five milligrams, kind of like how you’d bet in a casino — 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. From what I gathered, Nick tries to add an edge to his juices by putting in extra ingredients. Take the customary RY4 formula of tobacco, vanilla, and caramel. The High Roller Sweets version (Roulette) of this hugely popular juice takes those three ingredients and adds two more to the mix — butterscotch and custard. While High Roller Sweets certainly isn’t for everyone (no e-liquid company is), you have to appreciate the company’s efforts to stand out.

Check out my ECC 2014 interview with Nick Bautista to learn more about High Roller Sweets and see what the company’s next flavor will be.

Vaping Diaries #244: 2Puffs Arnel Ang & Charles Tan Interview (ECC 2014)

It’s always a pleasure catching up with the 2Puffs guys. Partners Arnel Ang and Charles Tan are really cool people that make some sweet vaping products. At ECC 2014, I chatted with them about the Munstro v2 mechanical mod, the Quicksilver rebuildable dripping atomizer, and the latest 2Puffs drip tips. When I caught up with Charles and Arnel earlier in the year at Vapers Exhibit, the original Munstro was about to launch. Since then, the mod has become a smashing success. The updated version comes with new tube colors — including a sexy white one — and a bad-ass vaping bag.

Some of the latest 2Puffs drip tips use quartz glass. As glass is, by far, my favorite drip tip material, I was happy to see that from the company. The drip tips are just the start. 2Puffs has been experimenting with quartz glass and hopes to be able to make a sleeve out of it for the next version of the Munstro. That…would…be…awesome! A mechanical mod with a glass sleeve sounds brilliant and I hope 2Puffs is able to pull it off. It would also be cool to see a quartz glass cap for the Quicksilver atomizer.

Check out the ECC 2014 interview above to listen to what’s new and what’s next from 2Puffs.

Vaping Diaries #243: Bare Naked Elaine Ruggieri & Chris Strawn Interview (ECC 2014)

Bare Naked takes a unique and all-natural approach to vaping e-liquids. While several companies list their juices as “All VG,” (vegetable glycerin) in many cases that’s simply not true, as most flavoring ingredients contain PG (propylene glycol). Bare Naked confidently makes the claim that its juice are actually all VG. It uses pure vegetable glycerin, natural flavoring extracts, and (optionally) nicotine for all of its e-liquids. Whether you’re searching for an all-natural vape or are one of the many people allergic to PG, Bare Naked has some compelling e-liquids for you.

In addition to attracting vapers that want natural e-liquid, Bare Naked has become attractive to cloud chasers as well. Since vegetable glycerin is the component in e-liquid that produces big vapor, cloud chasers have developed an affinity for Bare Naked.

At ECC 2014, I caught up with owners Elaine Ruggieri and Chris Strawn — they own the company and were not actually bare naked during the interview — to learn more about Bare Naked. They spoke about the natural approach to making e-liquids, some of the company’s popular flavors, and what’s coming next.

Check out the interview with Elaine and Chris to learn more about what Bare Naked does and what the company offers. There’s a good chance that you’ll even learn a fancy new word!

Vaping Diaries #242: Blow Angel Mod and Goodfellas Vapors at ECC 2014

Known for its beginner vaping products, Blow aims to reach enthusiasts vapers in a major way with the Angel Mod. Designed in Belgium, made from 99.9-percent pure Japanese copper, and assembled in America, the Angel Mod is one of the most striking mechanicals I’ve ever seen. The engravings were done by renowned tattoo artist Steve Soto and they’re absolutely gorgeous. Getting past its fantastic aesthetics, the Angel Mod features a magnetized switch and a polymer lining inside the tube. The latter feature helps keep the battery cool while you’re vaping. When you put it all together, the Angel Mod appears to be a brilliant vaping device that offers top-notch performance and stunning looks.

In the video above, I chat with designer Anand Gupta and artist Steve Soto about the Angel Mod. Steve has more plans for vaping beyond the Angel Mod. He recently started an e-liquid company called Goodfellas Vapors. The company has launched with three flavors and uses bottles with a unique twist-and-drip cap (similar to a glue bottle).

While I don’t know how well the Angel Mod works (yet), I can confidently say that it’s one of the most beautiful mechanical mods I’ve seen all year. Check out my ECC 2014 interview with Anand and Steve to learn more about the Angel Mod, as well as the juice Steve has cooking with Goodfellas Vapors.

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.