REVIEW BY BENEDICT ‘NED’ JONES
ICE CREAM
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild DESSERT KING
RASPBERRY DONUT
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild HIZENBOMB
BLUEBERRY BLAST
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild, with cooling
Based on a popular ice cream flavour
loved the world over, Strawberry
Cheesecake is a classic profile from The
King of Vapes team. With so many sweet
elements going into one mix, it would be
easy for this flavour to become cloying or
sickly. Happily, that’s not the case here.
The top note is a candied, almost syrupy
strawberry. It brings a pleasant sweetness
to the mix, without overpowering other
elements. This is supported by a dense
and satisfying dairy base, which has
notes of vanilla ice cream and a hint of
cheesecake tang. These creams do a
good job of bumping up the mouth-feel
and substance of the profile. Strawberry
Cheesecake is finished with a moderately
sweet biscuit accent which adds some
texture and authenticity to the mix. This is
a solid choice for dessert lovers. Doughnut vapes are notoriously difficult
to get right, so how does The King of
Vapes’ offering fare? The top note is a
potent raspberry jam. This has been
accomplished quite well, with a warm,
sweet raspberry that retains some of the
bright floral notes that you would expect in
an authentic conserve. This is supported
by a subtle vanilla which slightly rounds off
the raspberry and stops it from becoming
harsh, as is often found with this fruit. The
doughnut element is interesting to say
the least. It’s far from being a dominant
part of the mix, but it’s definitely present.
There’s a noticeable bakery base here,
which brings some texture to the profile
and there also seems to be a powdered
sugar note, which is quite authentic.
Overall, this comes across as more of a
cake than a doughnut, but this is hardly
a complaint. The Hizenbomb range is The King of
Vapes’ ode to the classic Heisenberg
profile that’s become a staple of UK
vaping. Blueberry Blast in particular seems
to aim squarely at the original flavour, so
how does it measure up? Unsurprisingly,
a bright and almost medicinal blueberry
dominates the mix here. This is a love it
or hate it top note, and exactly what you
might expect from this kind of profile.
The blueberry is complemented by some
more mysterious fruit flavours, akin to
fruity bubblegum. This helps to bolster
the sweetness of the mix, without making
things too candy like. A mild aniseed
accent adds intrigue, and without it this
could hardly be a Heisenberg mix. The
blend is finished with a moderately strong
menthol, which cuts through the sweeter
layers and keeps things light. A competent
take on a classic profile.
THE KING OF VAPES
BLACKCURRANT & LEMONADE
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild, with cooling ROOBY
SHERBET RASPBERRY
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild ICE KING
MENTHOL
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild, with cooling
Part of the original line-up, Blackcurrant
& Lemonade is a simpler blend from The
King of Vapes. Unlike some other mixed
fruit lemonade profiles, blackcurrant is
the most dominant element of this mix.
It brings a substantial dark sweetness
to the blend, along with a pleasant dose
of floral notes which are quite authentic
to a candied blackcurrant. This is
contrasted by a more reserved lemon
flavour, which cuts through the top note
nicely, without overpowering it. This is
more akin to a hard candy lemon than
a commercial or home style lemonade,
which isn’t an issue, since it contrasts
with the blackcurrant nicely. The mix
is finished with a mild menthol coolant
which works well with the profile and
prevents the potent blackcurrant note
from overstaying its welcome. Overall,
this comes across as more of a fruity
cough sweet than a lemonade, but it’s
pleasant nonetheless. Rooby is described as a raspberry sherbet
blend from the new King of Vapes sherbet
line-up. All too often, sherbet blends come
across as a muddled fruit concoction
that lacks authenticity, so how does
this compare to its real confectionery
counterpart? The top note here is a
bright candied raspberry. It brings plenty
of sweetness to the mix, without any of
the florals you might expect from the
natural fruit. This is spot on to the flavour
of a hard-boiled raspberry sweet. The
top note gives way to an explosive candy
citrus mix. This seems to be comprised of
both lemon and lime and is eerily true to a
real fizzy sherbet centre. This citrus blend
contrasts with the sweeter raspberry very
well and makes the profile much more
vivid than some other sherbet blends.
Those who enjoy candy vapes should
give this a try. Menthol, from The King of Vapes’ Ice King
range is a very simple and likely divisive
e-liquid. Those vapers with a hardcore
dedication to all things menthol should be
interested by this one. The top note is a
mildly sweet but intense spearmint. This
is certainly not for the faint of heart and
is in fact so strong that there seem to be
notes of wintergreen found here too. This
is backed up with a potent mentholated
finish that should please veterans of
colder vapes and will likely clear the
sinuses of anyone daring enough to try
it. Whether you’re trying to cool down in
hot climates or soothe yourself during flu
season, this is a solid if basic option.
VM21 | 179