So this is the first ever “themed” juice battle. After a great recommendation from a Reddit user a couple weeks ago, I decided to start mixing it up a little bit with some themed battles – and what better way to kick things off than with a good ol’ tobacco battle?

So before getting down and dirty, I want to take a moment to go over some of the criteria that I use in determining a good tobacco vape.

Taste. A tobacco vape should taste like tobacco. Pretty simple, but it is easy to blur the lines between a great vape that is classified as a tobacco but doesn’t necessarily taste like one (Boba’s Bounty) and a true tobacco flavored vape. So while I am happy to uncover any juice that vapes great, what I am really looking for here is good tobacco flavor. I want to be able to taste the brown and green tobacco notes – woody, earthy, nutty and peppery. My ideal tobacco is also neutral enough so that it can be vaped over a long period of time without getting worn down on it.

True to Description. Probably one of the most misleading aspects of tobacco vapes are the names and descriptions. If you call your juice USA Tobacco, Marlboro Tobacco, Camel Tobacco, etc, there had better be some kind of similarity between your juice and a Marlboro cigarette. Unfortunately with a lot of tobacco vapes out there, vendors use these names to make sales, but they really don’t have any similarity whatsoever. So this is a HUGE factor for me when I’m evaluating tobaccos.

Overall Vape. As with any juice I evaluate, I am looking for a complete vape. My ideal juice has a solid throat hit even at medium to low nicotine levels, and a sufficient amount of vapor regardless of the blend.

So with that in mind, I selected 10 tobaccos for this weeks battle and vaped them all week long last week. Some of these I have had for a while, and some I just recently picked up. Some of these I have vaped with some regularity in the past and some I had never vaped before. I paid for all of these with my own money, so this is completely unbiased and based solely on my criteria I laid out above and how each juice did after a week of vaping.

There were definitely some clear winners that I kept coming back to, and some clear losers that just weren’t that great. With all that out of the way, let’s get on with the battle….

#10 Mt. Baker Vapor USA Blend Tobacco

Coming in at dead last in the Tobacco Battle was MBV’s USA Blend Tobacco. Here’s what they say about it:

This USA Blend Tobacco flavor freatures a rich and smooth tobacco flavor.

It’s actually fucked up how such a short description can have so many things wrong with it – not even counting grammatical errors.

First off, the name. When I think of USA Tobacco, I’m pretty much thinking of a Marlboro Light. It’s one of the most popular USA cigarettes and just about anyone who has ever smoked has likely had a pack of these at one point or another.

MBV’s USA Blend Tobacco tastes nothing like a cigarette. It doesn’t even remotely taste like tobacco at all. To me, it has an extremely faint scotch tape aroma and flavor to it, which in my opinion is a very far cry from a good ol’ cancer stick.

The fact that they actually say it is “rich” is shocking. This is truly one of the lightest tasting juices I have tried, and there probably couldn’t possibly be any less richness than there already is.

Additionally, it doesn’t hit that great either. The throat hit is just OK, and same with the vapor.

Overall, this was by far the worst of the bunch. It had basically no flavor at all, and the flavor it did have wasn’t good and didn’t resemble tobacco in any way. Considering how big of a vendor MBV is, and the amount of juice they sell, it really makes me wonder how many people have gotten ripped off on this particular juice expecting something that has at least some similarity to a cigarette and ending up with a bottle of juice that is bordering on unvapable. Pretty sad.

I would label this one as completely misleading, not true to description at all, and it should be completely avoided. A big stinker.

Read the full review

#9 Yaeliq – Camel Tobacco

Coming in at #9 this week was Yaeliq’s Camel Tobacco. I have had some really bad experiences with Yaeliq tobaccos being either tasteless or just plain bad, and I was really hoping that Camel tobacco would be a turning point. Here’s what Yaeliq says about it:

One of the most sellers Tobacco flavors in israel-recomanded for all day vape

First off, it’s important to address the huge elephant in the room on this one – it doesn’t taste like Camel tobacco.

I’m sure that isn’t a huge revelation for most readers, as these types of juices never usually live up to the hype, but I just want to be totally clear on that.

With that out of the way, Yaeliq’s Camel wasn’t a completely horrible vape. It was actually miles ahead of MBV’s USA Tobacco.

It has kind of a peppery, woody taste to it. Maybe very loosely related to a cuban tobacco kind of flavor. It has quite a bit more flavor than a lot of other Yaeliq tobaccos I tried, so in that respect I was happy.

I didn’t find the flavor to be something that I particularly loved, although it is quite vapable. This is not one of those juices where you are going to fall in love with the flavor and be reordering it every month. This is a one and done juice.

As cheap tobaccos go, this one is right in with the rest of the pack. Far better than MBV’s USA blend, but not a hell of a lot else. I found it to be pretty forgettable. On the plus side, it vaped really well at 50/50, 18mg, so it isn’t a total wash.

If you are going to bother with this one at all, please get it in a sample size first before going in on a huge bottle.

I wouldn’t recommend it, but you could do a lot worse.

Read the full review

#8 Azure Vaping Robacco

Next up at #8 is Robacco from Azure Vaping. I have had this bottle around for a long time and have vaped it on and off over the past year with no real regularity. I finally did manage to dig up a description of it, and here’s what they say:

Our own formulation, this is a cigarette tobacco flavor. Earthy with a distinct dry finish.

I really didn’t find this vape having any similarity to a cigarette tobacco at all. To me, it was more like a cherry flavored pipe tobacco. I notice some distinct pipe tobacco notes in it, and a kind of bitterness that you would tend to find in that type of tobacco.

The overall flavor is actually quite complex and interesting and I quite liked it a lot. This was actually probably the first ejuice I ever bought where I could actually find some real similarity to actual tobacco – just not cigarette tobacco.

What I really disliked about this juice is that the vape didn’t seem balanced to me. I am vaping this one in an 80/20 PG/VG blend, and while I realize the vapor production is going to be markedly lower in such a blend, I have had other 80/20’s from this same vendor that produce a lot more vapor.

To me, it vapes just like a dripper with the airhole not aligned with the coil. It hits fairly hard, but it feels like you aren’t getting nearly the amount of vapor you should, and as such it really leaves me wanting more.

This juice is pretty much in the 8th spot this week because it simply doesn’t vape that well. Flavor wise, it is actually quite nice.

Not really recommended, but if you are going to try I would recommend going with the 100% VG option.

Read the full review

#7 Velvet Cloud Vapor: Blue Beard Tobacco

This was my first ever juice from VCV and I was super excited to try it. I had heard a lot of good things about their tobacco flavors before, and this just turned out to be a perfect opportunity to throw one right into the mix. Here’s what they say about it:

An artisanal mix of Virginia and honey cured tobacco, blackberries, and blueberry essence.

When I first tried this one, I was actually blown away by how good it is. You can clearly taste all the notes they describe – tobacco (earthy, nutty), blueberries and blackberries. So I think they did an excellent job of blending this one.

But boy what a difference a day makes.

After I started loving this juice right off the bat, I vaped it exclusively for about 24 hours. By the end of it, it was actually starting to nauseate me, and now if I try to go back to it, just the smell in the bottle makes me a little green.

For whatever reason, I just got burned out on this one super fast.

I think it is because the flavor is just SO strong and thick, it ends up rubbing me the wrong way.

Don’t get me wrong – I think it is an exceptional quality juice. The flavors were all present as described. The tobacco tasted like real, natural tobacco, and it vaped incredibly well. Even at 12mg, I was getting amazing throat hit and vapor out of this juice.

The fact of the matter is, I think the flavor is just too thick to be able to vape this with any regularity. The only exception I can really see is that maybe it would be a good juice for using with a much weaker device like an eGo or a cigalike, because they can’t deliver the same level of a hit that I am used to taking – so maybe the smaller doses would be better.

I think if this one was about 30% less flavoring it might be more spot on.

I would recommend this to try and vape occasionally, but don’t get a big bottle of it because there’s a good chance you won’t make it through.

Read the full review

#6 Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco: Cognac Infused Tobacco

As you can see, this bottle took a rocky trip through my laundry cycle, but still managed to come out perfectly vapable and delicious. It wouldn’t be a true tobacco battle without a juice from NET, and this week I decided to go with Cognac Infused Tobacco. Here’s what they say about it:

Luxuriously rich top-shelf cognac is infused with this mild cigar made of a 5-year aged Connecticut wrapper and 3-year aged Dominican binder and filler for a well-flavored, mild to medium-bodied tobacco vape.

If I was judging on taste alone, Cognac Infused could have easily won this battle. The flavor is just amazing. It is a light and smooth nutty tobacco flavor – similar to a lot of other NET juices. In addition, it is cut nicely with the acidity of the cognac which really elevates the flavor of this vape to the next level. As I mentioned in the original review, I tasted a lot of the NET juices at once when I first received them, and this was the one that really stuck out to me.

Unfortunately, it just doesn’t hit that well. There’s really no “edge” to it at all, and as such, I can’t really recommend this one. I’m already vaping it at 70% PG, and at 12 mg, it vapes like a 0mg juice. So it is pretty damn poor.

I feel terrible to have to say it, but I really can’t recommend this one despite the fact that it tastes really fucking good.

Read the full review

#5 Goodejuice: Natural Perique Tobacco

I’ve been waiting for a really long time to review this one. Natural Perique was one of the first “true NETs” I ever tried. Here’s what they say about it:

Considered the “caviar” of Tobaccos. This is Naturally Extracted 100% Perique Tobacco from St. James Parish, Louisiana. We’ve managed to capture the true essence and flavor of this tobacco for your vaping enjoyment. No other additives, just straight up Perique Flavor, brewed the Goodejuice way! This flavor is only available in a 50/50 PG/VG mix due to the extraction process.

Taste-wise, this is a spot on NET. It tastes exactly what I now expect a good NET to taste like, and it is largely the standard by which I judge other NET tobaccos. It actually tastes quite a bit like NET’s Cognac Infused, except obviously without the Cognac, and the tobacco flavor is more pronounced.

This is another medium bodied tobacco that is extremely earthy and nutty. It’s a dry vape and doesn’t have any sweetness, so for me, it really feels like I’m smoking when I vape this juice, which I absolutely love.

Unfortunately, this one also doesn’t hit particularly well at 12mg. It is slightly better than Cognac Infused – enough so to usurp it in this week’s battle, but still leaves me wanting more.

If I were to get this again, I would try it in a much higher PG concentration, and higher nicotine. I think if you were to get it at 24mg, it would probably be a really nice vape.

Read the full review

#4 Halo: Captain Jack

Coming in at #4 this week was Captain Jack by Halo. Here’s what they say about it:

Captain Jack E-liquid is a premium tobacco e-liquid blend named after Calico Jack, a famous 18th century English pirate. Like Calico Jack, this e-liquid is somewhat harsh with a reckless throat hit even at lower nicotine levels. This unique e-liquid blend has a distinct pipe tobacco feel that is not for the faint of heart. Its raw flavor is a great match for those seeking a dry tobacco e-liquid blend with very little sweetness.

I’ve had this juice for quite a while now. I actually bought it because they describe it as a harsh hitter – which I am a sucker for. My first impression of this juice was not a good one. I actually was extremely put off by the flavor and had to let it steep for a week with the cap off.

Even after steeping, it didn’t taste much different – however, I started to slowly come around to the flavor and now I quite like it.

I think this juice tastes a lot like how raw molasses smells. It’s sour, dark and bitter. I didn’t get a heavy “tobacco” impression from it. I think it’s in the ballpark, but more out in left field rather than around the plate. It definitely does give off a pipe-tobacco kind of vibe.

It also vapes extremely well. At 18mg, it hits plenty hard for me and it puts out nice vapor. I feel this one is a really “complete” vape.

The only trouble area I have in recommending it is that it really is kind of an acquired taste. It has a very pronounced flavor that you’re either going to love or you’re going to hate. I hated it at first but quickly came to love it. I don’t vape this one all the time, but it is a nice change of pace juice to have around, and it really hits well – so this would be perfect for a night out drinking.

Read the full review

#3 Mountain Oak Vapor: Hey Jack

Our second runner up this week is Hey Jack from Mountain Oak Vapor. I have had mixed success with them in the past, and I was hoping their gold label Tennessee NET juice would be a good contender in this week’s battle. Here’s what they say about it:

HEY JACK™ is a naturally extracted tobacco flavor that contains a High VG. It uses 100% Natural & Organic Flavorings. HEY JACK™ is a medium bodied Maple Cavendish tobacco that has been extracted in house. It is a slightly sweet and mellow vape. Easily enjoyable all day, but perhaps it goes even better with a cup of sweet tea.

Overall, I think this is a very solid tobacco vape. It is a darker and less mild tobacco than some of the previous juices in this week’s battle. It’s more on the rich side, but it has a dry and slightly bitter finish- similar to what you would get with a cup of black coffee. For a NET, the tobacco notes are quite different than what I normally expect from a true NET, but not in a bad way. I found they were more rich and complex, while Perique and Cognac Infused were on the lighter, nuttier side.

Vape wise, Hey Jack hits fantastically at 18mg and puts out a nice amount of vapor, making this a very balanced juice.

I am pretty confident in recommending this to just about anyone, as it really has more of a neutral flavor that should have broad appeal amongst those looking for tobacco eliquids.

Buy this one with confidence and get a fat bottle.

Read the full review

#2 Heather’s Heavenly Vapes: Legend

This week’s runner up is another juice I have been wanting to review for a long time – Legend, by Heather’s Heavenly Vapes. Here’s what they say about it:

New name, same great taste. After many reviews, we have decided to change the description of this flavor. Legend is an extracted pipe tobacco which is quickly gaining fame with vapers new and old. Many customers who do not like tobacco vapes, rave about Legend. It has qualities that go well beyond traditional tobacco vapes. For many, Legend has become that elusive all day vape that vapers are searching for. It has certainly become a Legend of it’s own. This flavor is part of our Purity line. All flavor ingredients in our Purity line are propylene glycol (PG) free which is why we can offer this particular vape in your favorite PG/VG ratio including 100% organic VG if desired.

This is one of the few juices I have EVER ordered a second bottle of. It has a deep, rich and slightly sour flavor to it that is bursting with a variety of different notes. This is an extremely complex juice, and the taste can vary wildly every time you try it, and particularly with different atomizers.

To me, it’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it tastes like. It really has it’s own flavor profile that is almost completely unique to HHV. It is similar to Serendipity, but more sweet and more sour.

Vape wise, it is near perfect. Perfect throat hit, perfect vapor, perfect all around vaping experience.

The only thing keeping HHV from claiming the top spot was that I just didn’t find that the tobacco was as prominent as it was in this week’s winner. I really like this juice a lot, even as a tobacco vape, but there are a lot of things going on in it besides just the tobacco – so if your a true purist, you might take issue with this one.

Overall, though, I can confidently recommend this to ANYONE. There’s something there for everybody, and this juice absolutely will have broad appeal. Every vaper should try it at least once.

Read the full review

#1 Ahlusion: Blue Grass Burley

The winner of our first ever Tobacco battle is Blue Grass Burley by Ahlusion. Here’s what they say about it:

This is our take on naturally grown air-cured Kentucky Burley tobacco. Our Blue Grass Burley is a warm, rich vape without the harmful ingredients and burnt aftertaste of the chemicals which mask the true taste of tobacco. Absolutely no artificial flavors or sweeteners added.

This is the first and only tobacco juice I have ever tried from Ahlusion. It is a naturally extracted blend, and I found it to be totally unique from anything else I’ve ever tried.

Much like Captain Jack, I was kind of horrified by the flavor of it at first – so much so that I let it steep for quite a while before trying it again.

Just like Captain Jack, this one is really an acquired taste too.

It has the earthy and woody Burly tobacco notes as described. It is also not sweet whatsoever, as described. I found a very strong bitterness to it – much stronger than on pretty much any other juice I have ever tried. It’s also peppery, but not in the same way as Cuban tobacco – a much richer, darker pepperyness.

Vape wise, it hits brilliantly at 18mg, and I want to note that they suggest this in a 30/70 blend, but I went ahead and got it in a 50/50 blend and I think it vapes absolutely PERFECT at 50/50.

While I really don’t think this juice will have broad appeal like others in the top 5 this week, I think that Ahlusion did an amazing job with the flavor. It tastes totally natural, and the flavor is extremely complex – unlike virtually any other juice I have ever tried.

They pretty much win this week for the sheer quality and originality of this juice. This really isn’t one for the mainstream, but for true tobacco connoisseurs.

Anyone interested in trying real, authentic tobacco flavors should give this one a shot – just be warned that it is likely not going to be what you’re expecting, so you may want to get a small bottle to test out first.

Read the full review

The Bottom Line

This week was probably the most fun I’ve had so far the entire time running this site. I really enjoyed evaluating this group of tobaccos, and there were some really good juices in contention. The only clear loser was MBV’s USA Blend tobacco. The other blends all had merit in one way or another. It was also particularly difficult to choose a winner. While Hey Jack was a very good quality NET that I think would have broad appeal, there wasn’t really enough “wow factor” with it to put it over the top. While Legend is an extremely complex juice that vapes amazing and probably have the broadest appeal of all the juices in this week’s countdown, I just didn’t feel the tobacco essence was prominent enough to push it into first place in a Tobacco Battle. While Blue Grass Burley is more of an acquired taste and doesn’t necessarily have the broad appeal the other top two juices do, it is really an amazing work of art – the way they were able to really extract every bit of flavor from an actually burley tobacco and bring it to life as a vapor. Very impressive indeed.

This week is back to business as usual, and I’ve got a bunch of new juices already in the pipeline for review.

I do plan on doing more themed battles in the coming weeks as well as more tobacco battles- we’ve only scratched the surface here so far.

If you have any suggestions for juice battle themes, please leave a comment and let me know.

If you want to see your favorite juice in an upcoming battle, make sure to contact your vendor and tell them!

Until next time!