Vapouround Magazine Canada VMC ISSUE 1 | Page 108

REVIEWS MISSIONLAB Pursuit MISSIONLAB Explore Sight Mango is a tough flavour to crack. Add in dessert elements and suddenly you’re looking at an uncommon profile that could be difficult to balance. Mango is front and centre here. It’s devoid of the potent floral off notes that are present in some other mango e-liquids. Instead it’s a light and refreshing portrayal which leans more towards a candied mango than the musky, natural variety. There’s some tartness to balance the sweetness, which ensures this doesn’t become funky or cloying. The dessert elements of Pursuit are accents rather than heavy hitters. A mild but creamy meringue brings some decadence to the mix without weighing it down. The almond note is quite subtle but does add some depth to the profile and brings the mango and cream notes together well. Pursuit is a very well-balanced mellow dessert vape that will please those who wish to avoid overly sweet blends. Strawberry cream-based e-liquids are a staple of the vaping world. Many brands seemingly test their mettle by offering their own twist on the profile, so how does MISSION XV’s rendition fare? Explore subverts the expectations that come with a traditional strawberry cream blend. A natural leaning strawberry is present but doesn’t dominate the mix by any means. Instead, a blend of creams and subtle bakery notes are the stars of this show. A rich, milky vanilla perme- ates through the profile. It’s sweet but not overly so and has a rather luxurious mouthfeel. This is complemented by some light bakery notes, which are rem- iniscent of butter cookie or shortbread, along with what seems to be a coconut accent. This is another mellow dessert blend from the MISSIONLAB line, and before I knew it, I’d vaped the whole bottle. Oops. Sight is described by the manufacturer as a blend of honeydew melon, cream and coolant. This is a pretty unconven- tional profile and from personal expe- rience I know that it’s difficult to add coolant to a cream-based blend without confusing the palate. The honeydew really shines here, it’s bright and has a pleasant tang. It’s somewhat candied but doesn’t have any artificial off notes. This is supported by a light cream base, similar to what’s found in Explore, albeit more reserved. This makes for a well-rounded dessert profile, but the choice to include coolant really sets Sight apart from other melon blends. The coolant doesn’t interfere at all with the flavour profile and is quite mild, lifting this already bright e-liquid and making it per- fect for scratching that dessert itch during the hotter months. Sight is unexpectedly my personal favourite of the very solid MISSIONLABS line up. #BABYCLOUDS RESPEK HUNNID K #BABYCLOUDS is billed as a nutty vanilla strawberry custard by Transistor. A classic flavour profile such as this requires great execution in order to stand out in a market full of dessert vapes, so how does Transistor’s offering measure up? In short, #BABYCLOUDS is an expertly blended e-liquid. Top notes of moderately sweet candied strawberry are complemented by a full-bodied vanilla custard that has a beautifully thick mouthfeel. There’s a subtle hint of nuttiness on the exhale which adds some depth to this otherwise simple mix. At a guess I would say this is walnut, though it’s a tough call because this element of the profile isn’t dominant. I’ve enjoyed #BABYCLOUDS so much that it’s found a home in my squonk rotation, which requires me to vape 8ml before swapping out to another flavour. This is an incredibly moreish vape for any dessert fans who are looking for a classic, decadent e-liquid. Cherry vapes are historically rather hit or miss. There’s a very real danger of venturing into cough medicine territory when trying to tame this fruit, but I’m glad to report that this isn’t the case with RESPEK. Described as a blend of cherry, cream and nuts, this mix is reminiscent of a bakewell tart. The maraschino cherry top note here is sweet whilst retaining a hint of natural bitterness, which is a welcome break from some other, more artificial cherry flavours on the market. Supporting notes of cream add some body to the profile, whilst a light almond aftertaste rounds out the mix, making for a delightful bakery profile that doesn’t become sickly or overbearing. RESPEK is among the best cherry e-liquids that I’ve tried and is likely to be an all day vape for bakery fans. Described as a caramelized peanut butter and pistachio blend by the manufacturer, HUNNID K is an ambitious e-liquid. Caramel is definitely the star of the show here, and it punches through the profile without lingering on the palate in an unpleasant way. It’s a bright, soft crack style caramel flavour that is rarely done well, so I’m quite impressed with Transistor on this front. These top notes are supported by a slightly earthy peanut butter flavour that only serves to make the blend even creamier, whilst giving it some more depth at the same time. I’m struggling to pick out the pistachio element of the mix, likely due to it blending in with the peanut butter. Nonetheless, this is a lovely dessert vape that I find myself going back to repeatedly! 108 | VMC