Since the year is wrapping up, I thought it would be a great time to look back and think about the many juices I vaped in 2013. Below is a list of the top 10 e-liquids of 2013, but there are several things I’d like you to keep in mind. While most of the juices on the list are 2013 releases, there are some older releases that are simply new to my tastebuds. Obviously this list is completely subjective. The e-liquids I enjoy the most are made with naturally-extracted tobacco or are complex blends. Just because I’m enamored with these juices doesn’t mean that they’ll be instant hits for you. Lastly, I’d love to hear about your top 10 e-liquids of 2013 (or however many you’d like to post). Kindly take a moment and share your favorite juices of the year in the comments section. Now onto the list!
- Sahara Blend (Ahlusion) — This a brilliant mix of Turkish and Virginia tobaccos. What I love about this juice is that there’s so much going on. It’s sweet, spicy, and dry all at the same time. While I’ve had Turkish blends that have similar qualities to this juice, none of them can match Sahara Blend’s complexity. The excellent flavor and complexity have it first on my top 10 e-liquids of 2013 list. After vaping my review bottle (review will be filmed soon!), I’ve ordered a few 60ml refills. That’s how much I enjoy this one.
- Honey Cured (Ahlusion) — This juice is a masterful blend of bold tobacco and bright honey sweetness. As with the other Ahlusion aromatics, the tobacco is authentic and stronger than what most companies offer. The honey sweetness is strong and true, and perfectly complemented by the flavorful tobacco. I’m always amazed by the stellar balance Ahlusion achieves with so many of its juices. This is a sterling example of that. Full review here.
- Gambit (Five Pawns) — There are a ton of apple pie e-liquids on the market, but this is the most remarkable one that I’ve vaped. The complexity is off the charts. You can taste the apple, vanilla, crust, and cream. I haven’t had an apple pie juice this good and it would take an extraordinary blend to top it — Gambit (the Five Pawns juice, not the pansy Cajun Marvel superhero) is just amazing stuff. Full review here.
- Castle Long Reserve (Five Pawns) — A limited-edition release, I was lucky enough to get two bottles of the first batch of this juice. It’s stellar. Like Gambit, the complexity is amazing. You can make out the coconut, toasted almond, and vanilla flavors, as well as a touch of oak. I’ve heard from several friends that the second release of this juice is a tad different and not quite as good. That means that I’ll savor every last drop of the original Castle Long Reserve that I have left. Full review here.
- Lychee (Bamskilicious) — This juice was given a shout-out by Ricky from Dr. Mike’s Rad Vapors during our Vapetoberfest 2013 interview. I bought a 10ml at a local shop to try it out…and have probably picked up around 200ml since then. As an Asian-American, I’ve consumed a lot of lychee (both canned and fresh). It’s one of my favorite fruits in the world and this juice replicates the flavor of canned lychee perfectly. In fact, I’m vaping some in my Russian atomizer as I type this.
- Gold Member (Ahlusion) — It took a month of steeping for it to become great, but this dessert juice ended up being exactly what I wanted. A few years ago, salted caramel desserts were the rage in Los Angeles. This juice lets me enjoy that outstanding flavor without the calories. That’s a complete win! Full review here.
- Banyan Tree (The Vape Tree) — This company was started by a fine gentlemen that I met on ECF. Initially, this was my second-favorite juice of his, but now I like it best. The flavor is unique and complex — a rich bakery-type vape complemented nicely by tobacco. The sweetness of the multiple dessert flavors is wonderfully cut by the earthiness of the tobacco. Full review here.
- Americano Ciambella (P.O.E.T.) — Another complex vape, I was intrigued by this juice’s description when I chatted with POET CEO Randy Freer at ECC 2013. Maple is the dominant flavor, and it’s complemented by coffee and subtle tobacco notes. Randy described it as his morning drive — eating a maple bar, drinking a cup of coffee, and smoking a cigarette on the way to work. While I rarely drive, the combination, complexity, and wonderfully subtle background notes made this one a winner for me.
- Grant’s Vanilla Custard — To be completely honest, I didn’t want to love this juice. Through no fault of the creator, it’s ridiculously overhyped. Some of the reasons are that it’s difficult to obtain and opportunistic people flip bottles of it for double the cost (or more). While I abhor the “flipper” aspect of this juice (again, not the creator’s fault), I’ve come to really enjoy this excellent custard e-liquid. It’s sweet and rich, with the perfect amount of eggy flavor (for me). While I maintain that it’s overhyped, there’s a reason why this is the vanilla custard juice that all other vanilla custard juices are compared to. And yeah, I’ve gone through 100ml of this stuff and have 200ml steeping.
- Pinoy Punch (The Vape Tree) — This one got me attention with its awesome name and kept it with its use of mangosteen. Another one of my favorite fruits, mangosteen is awesome and rarely found in e-liquids. This blend also uses other tropical fruits and has a thick texture that I really enjoyed. But, it’s the mangosteen that made this one of my top 10 e-liquids of 2013. Full review here.
Now it’s your turn! Kindly share your top 10 e-liquids of 2013 in the comments section when you have a chance. I’d love to see your picks. I’m hoping to see some juices I’ve never heard of or haven’t considered. Perhaps I’ll review some of your picks in 2014. Fire away (please)! If you’re interested in my vaping gear picks, then check out my top 10 vaping devices of 2013 list.
