Shortbread Cookie (SSA) 2% (9-18-20) – Oh Nooo, another cookie ?? Think again. That’s what I thought going into this one, “Do we need another cookie” ?? Well, after trying this one, I think we DO. This review directly followed my review of SSA’s Raspberry Syrup, and I immediately wanted to mix the two of these. At 2%, this one was right on track, rich, full, buttery, and somehow, really captured the Shortbread aspect(s). Not sure how they did it, but it is clearly NOT a cookie, or biscuit, but lands smack, dab, in the middle of Shortbread city. One could say it is “similar” to Jungle Flavor’s biscuit, which presented almost as a pairing of INW Bicuit, and FA’s Cookie, but this one is much more than that. SSA apparently spent some time really nailing the shortbread aspect of this, and it shows. You almost get a grainy bakery in this one, coupled with some buttery goodness. Not topped out at 2%, and it felt great at this weight. Sweetness was almost mid level, with no real take-offs. Surely it could be push/pulled if needed, depending on your American vs. European bakery needs, but you might just find after testing it, that you wont. All in, this is an outstanding, and perhaps the best shortbread cookie (type) that I have tested. Didn’t really pick up any vanilla per se, and not 100% sure if I’m getting a smidge of almond or not, but possibly so. If you’re in the market for a great shortbread cookie, and/or love your bakeries, you’ll have to add this one to your list as well. Sorry guys, I’m trying to go critical on these flavors, but after 3 in, I’m having a hard time finding any faults thus far. I kept teetering on a rating, because you just can’t rate everything at the top, but I emptied an entire tester tank on this one as well, and was left with no negatives. A great bakery shortbread cookie here, with butter elements that just can’t be denied. 10/10.
Apple Strudel (SSA) 1.5% (9-18-20) – Sugar, and Spice, and everything Nice is what this one had. As far as the strudel portion, your take on a strudel will dictate what you think about it’s inclusion here. I got a solid bakery from this one, that paired perfectly with the sweet and full, slightly spiced apple. The apple(s) were of the “filing” type, and similar to FLV’s Apple Filling, but with less spice. There were some spice notes, but very low in the mix, and in no way obtrusive. At 1.5% it was very even, full, and satisfying with little to no concern of over or under flavoring. The bakery element did waver to and from a strudel-ish note, but was so evenly paired with the apple it was hard to nit pick it.
Sweetness was right about mid level, and expected in a desert type flavor. Pretty good one here, with not much to take off for. If anything might need to be boosted, it might be the strudel, but that would be a toss up. For a very natural tasting (not artificial) Apple Strudel that is mid sweet, and quite full at lower percentages, this one can get it done for you. Far better than most of the “Apple Pies” out there.
9.2/10.
You’re always one step ahead of me. Just visited ‘‘Chefs’’ to see if they have re-stocked VSO Strawberry ( they haven’t) and came across a new line they are selling. SSA. Never heard of them, I thought. I wonder what they are like? And here we are .How do you do it? Thanks for helping me spend more of my money, SD. They are relatively cheap for such highly rated flavours, so I can’t complain too much, lol. Cheers, as usual, you’re a star.
I’m sure I will. You’re a man of taste. Thanks. They have a lot of flavours. Their Strawberry (ripe) has already sold out in 10ml bottles.
Compote Cherry (SSA) .75% (9-19-20) – Let’s admit it, cherries are the DEVIL of DIY IMO. I have had, and been let down by MORE cherries than I can remember. We’ve all had them, the medicinal, soapy, perfumey, and just plain baddies. Is there reluctance every time I try one ?? Ummm, YES. Sniff tested all of these while trying to decide on the strengths to test as, as there was LITTLE to no info on them. Settled on 0.75% for this one, and … (suspense) … it worked out GREAT. NO of the aforementioned cherry issues were found here today. Whew, what a relief. At this testing weight, it was very full, BUT, with none of the ceiling hitting side effects, so I’m going to go with a 0.50-0.75% rec. on this one. As it stood, a very unique cherry, which just means, it tastes like none of the other ones I’ve tried, and the “compote” may be partially to blame for that. A compote is where whole fruit is cooked down in sugar/water, unlike a jam wherein the fruit is typically cut up. They DO taste different, and am trying to decide if the uniqueness of this one is the compote. The cherry was very broad spectrum, and didn’t reside in just one specific cherry, but I think the overwhelming profile leaned towards maraschino, but it’s more than just that. Didn’t really pick up on a black cherry, but let’s just leave it at a full bodied mara for now. There was this little peppy BURST that I got on every finish on this one, that was very interesting. Almost like a sharp little Fuji Apple kicker on the tail end, but I don’t want to pigeon hole it to that specific, but it’s LIKE that. Sweetness was a click or two above mid level (duh, compote), and it did not appear too high, for the flavor. The overall profile was exactly as it was named, with no change throughout the tank. Having been wacked (possible over flavoring on my part) by many cherries before, this one was a welcome relief on my quest FOR the cherry. I’m QUITE sure, if this one was overflavored there COULD be some issues, so GO LOW, and I suggest a 0.50-0.75% starting point. It might not carry ALL of your cherry weight in mixes, but it damn sure could, and I think I’m going to let @alfredpudding know about this, as his Cherry Bomb was utterly brilliant, and insanely good. What an impressive Cherry this was to try, and if you’ve been hurt by cherries before, you def. want to add this one to your list. Something feels unholy in giving a cherry a 10 out of 10, so for religious reasons, I will cap this off @ 9.9/10.
Crisp Waffle (SSA) 1.0% (9-19-20) – When smelling in the bottle, this reminded me of the original INW Waffle YC. Having never solo’d that one, I could not directly compare the two. Vaping this one, revealed a very rich, and full waffle, BUT, with no distinct butter or maple syrup, which was GREAT. That way you could use it in far more recipes, but alter with B and MS if/as needed. Outstanding. I wasn’t sure where to test this one, and it’s POSSIBLE that 1.0% may have pushed it too far, but read on, and you decide. At the testing weight it did not feel like it was hitting the ceiling, but the “toasted” or “burnt” notes that I was getting, along with a peanut were emerging on the back end of the vape. Now that’s not to say that they got in the way OF the waffle in any way, shape, or form, they did not, but they were present. I will probably have to re-test this lower at maybe 0.50%, just to see. Even with the very small (not offensive, but present) alternate notes, this one WAS indeed a super delicious waffle. It had some dark, rich undertones, which may have been from the burnt/toasted element, but overall it did not taste burnt, like burnt toast, but merely had some of it, in the finish. Belgian, American, Wheat ?? Hard to say, but it leaned mid to darker, and away from a lighter, and not towards a wheat, so we’ll settle on a mid-dark waffle. Sweetness was just below mid level, and despite looking HARD for any butter or maple syrup, it was not to be found here. There was a certain richness/fullness that almost implied butter was in there, but you couldn’t pick it out. Even at 1.0% with some of the burnt/peanut push at the end, it never left focus on the waffle, so your tastes will dictate the effect of them, and/or if lowering the rate would reduce them further. All in, for a naked waffle, with some impressive almost bakery grainy-ness, this one’s got it. I will amend this review if I get time to test lower, and at this testing weight, it feels good at 8.5/10 .
Ice Cream (SSA) 2.0% (9-20-20) – I had to finish TWO tester tanks on this one, to try and nail down what was going on here. First things first, probably the BEST Ice Cream flavor I have tried to date. Not vanilla, not chocolate, no pepper, no BA, none of the typical creamy aftertastes that most of the other players have, BUT (ain’t there always a BUT ?), it was fairly subdued. I smelled this one in the bottle, and knew I’d have to mix it higher, and I did. Even at 2.0%, it was still very laid back. You could say weaker, but it felt laid back. As it stood, a delicious sweet ice cream, with no offensive notes, no heavy creameries, and very neutral. Now, despite this being as great as it was, it would be easy to overpower this in a mix, so mixing wise, some caution would be need to be used. It reminded me of a Chic Fil A (for you US members) ice cream. Very natural tasting, sweetness was a tick above mid level, and had an absolutely clean finish. Because SSA has a Vanilla Ice Cream which I have not tested, am wondering if it was as good, but stronger, maybe a pairing of the two to solidify, and anchor the base might work. Minor take offs, but ONLY for it’s laid back nature, NOT the flavor profile. Two tank fulls, and haven’t found an off note yet. 8.0/10.
No cloying custard mouthfeel?
Nope, nadda, zip, zero.
Great, finally an ice cream I can maybe get along with. Thanks!
Irish Cream (SSA) 1.5% (9-20-20) – Having never vaped an Irish Cream, but had it in quite a few drinks before, I knew what I was in for. At 1.5% it felt fairly strong but not overpowering. I did not get any Whiskey from it, but I did get a fair amount of coffee, cream, some chocolate, and quite probably a vanilla cream in there. As a whole it was very good, and the coffee note remained throughout the vape. Almost a toffee coffee with some cream. Sweetness was lower than mid level, and despite having a cream element, it didn’t feel overly creamy. No bitter, or off-putting notes, and despite finishing the tank, I kept returning to my coffee with toffee and cream. It is very possible that IC’s may not fully be in my wheelhouse, but this was a good vape. Because the coffee element was present throughout the vape, it struck me as more of a coffee drink. All in, with the forward coffee element, feels good @ 7.0/10.
Oops reread post
@fidalgo_vapes it leaned that way, but it felt like it was more than that.
The cherry was very broad spectrum, and didn’t reside in just one specific cherry, but I think the overwhelming profile leaned towards maraschino, but it’s more than just that.
Oh sh#t! You know how long I’ve been wanting a shortbread cookie, a real shortbread cookie. Really? This does taste real? You can see I’m losing my composure. I haven’t finished testing my other flavors you made me buy. 
And I’m running out of room.
@SessionDrummer You’re going to have to put up your Shortbread Cookie notes on the other side. There’s only two mixers with notes and they’re atrocious. Not the notes, their opinions, lol. Could be the usage, Idk.
Houses of the Holy!! You actually found a useable Cherry? You are a superhero, man - I didn’t think it was possible.
Dammit, I knew I shoulda waited for more of your Sobucky / Super Aroma reviews before hitting Bull City. My 1st SSA flavors have just arrived at our apartment.
I picked up Raspberry Syrup, Chocolate D., and Sour Lime. I’ll let you know about the Sour Lime. Thanks for the advice, and thanks for doing all this work… It’s immensely helpful for thousands of anonymous D.I.Y. vapers…
@Session Drummer, just a quick out of topic question . Can you use vertical coils on a standard 2 post RDTA? If yes, how? Can you post a picture, please? Pictures speak louder than words. Thanks, mate.