REVIEWS
REVIEW BY BENEDICT ‘NED’ JONES
KAPKA’S
THE BARBER
LAST WORD
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Minimal
Throat hit: Mild RED DEATH
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild, with cooling DRUNKEN PUDDING
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Minimal
Throat hit: Mild
‘Last Word’ is described as a pistachio
pudding-styled vape. This is quite a
sophisticated profile to aim for, so have
Kapka’s Flava done it justice? The top
note here is a strong nut mix. If I wasn’t
aware that this was a pistachio vape, I
might not have picked it out, but there
is a distinct nutty flavour permeating
through the blend. This brings a nice
dark sweetness to the profile, along
with an almost salty accent, which I
have personally not experienced before
in the context of an e-liquid. The nutty
top notes are supported by a satisfying
but light pudding base which adds a
nice dense mouth-feel to the mix, whilst
amplifying the overall sweetness on
offer. The pudding base also imparts
some subtle eggy notes, which further
compliment the rich top notes. This is
an interesting dessert e-liquid, ideal for
a vaper looking for something that’s a
bit different. This is a simpler fruit profile from
Kapka’s Flava. Billed as a mix of
strawberry, raspberry and coolant, if
executed properly this should be a light
and refreshing vape. In a similar vein
to Cold Blood, the top note here is a
hybrid ripe/candy strawberry. It brings
the same bright sweetness to this mix
but features more prominently as it
competes with less ingredients. This
is complemented superbly with a more
subtle candied raspberry. This element
brings a solid tartness to the mix, and
further enhances the brightness of
the strawberry component. The mix
is finished with a moderately strong
coolant which does not interfere with
the flavour profile whatsoever. The
result is a basic but very pleasant fruit
vape, which should be a crowd pleaser. Kapka’s Flava describe ‘Drunken
Pudding’ as a creamy pudding with
a dash of rum and light biscuit finish.
Alcohol inspired flavours are notoriously
hard to balance, so when they work, it’s
a sign of great mixology. The top note
here is a warm, rich vanilla that brings a
pleasant sweetness to the blend. This is
supported by a dense, creamy pudding
base that adds substantial body to the
mix, along with a luxurious mouth-feel.
Alone this would already be a fantastic
desert vape, but the additional accents
make for a rather unique profile. The
rum is subtle but brings a dark boozy
sweetness to the pudding, without
overpowering other elements. As
described by the manufacturer, the
biscuit finish is light, but imparts texture
with its mellow bakery notes. This is a
very well balanced and unique desert
blend.
THORN
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate.
Throat hit: Mild, with cooling GOOD JUJU
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Minimal
Throat hit: Mild COLD BLOOD
VG/PG ratio: 70/30
Additional sweetener: Moderate
Throat hit: Mild, with cooling
‘Thorn’ has been a rather popular
flavour in the German vaping community
for some time now. Described as a
blend of dragon fruit, pomegranate,
blueberry, green tea and coolant,
this is another unconventional profile
from the mixologists at Kapka’s Flava.
Pomegranate and blueberry seem to
be the most prominent elements of the
mix. This is a classic pairing that works
fantastically in this case, with a blend
of sweet, sour and earthy notes. The
dragon fruit component is more subdued
but does help tie the rest of the profile
together with its tropical sweetness. The
green tea notes are quite present and
work very nicely with the fruit top notes,
without dominating the profile. Instead
this just serves to make Thorn all the
more unique. The mix is finished with
a moderately strong blast of coolant,
imitating the sensation of drinking a
freshly made iced beverage. Cheesecake profiles are usually among
the heaviest of dessert e-liquids, but
this is not the case here. Instead, the
fruit toppings take centre stage. A
baked blackcurrant is most prominent,
it brings a good helping of sweetness
to the profile, along with some hints of
its natural earthiness. This is contrasted
well by a natural lemon which provides
a pleasant hint of zesty sharpness,
along with a light sweetness that runs
counter to the heavier blackcurrant.
The cheesecake element of Good
Juju is actually rather subtle. Although
you can taste a mild dairy background
note and biscuit base, it is more of an
accent than anything else. The result is
a mellow desert vape which is very light.
Good Juju may be a great option for
those who are usually put off by heavier
desert vapes. Described as a blend of strawberry, red
apple, cranberry and black tea with a
cooling finish, ‘Cold Blood’ is at the very
least an unconventional e-liquid profile.
Ripe strawberry is the top note here.
It’s somewhere between an authentic
strawberry and a more candied take,
bringing a vibrant sweetness and some
juicy notes to the mix. This is contrasted
nicely with a startlingly authentic red
apple flavour that cuts through the
strawberry with some sharper notes.
Cranberry is much less prominent in
the mix but is certainly noticeable and
brings a welcome tartness to this fruit
medley. A subtle black tea accent lurks
in the background and does a great job
of separating Cold Blood from other fruit
medley e-liquids which its dark, earthy
flavour. A moderately strong coolant
finishes the profile and ensures a light
and refreshing vape every time. A must
try for fruit fans.
178 | VM21