The Vapor Rater

It seems that there are as many vaping blogs, forums and discussion boards as there are e-juice flavors and mixes.  I like to visit different sites and browse the e-juice menus and poke around the site.  When I run across a blog, I usually scan the titles of the posts and maybe, just maybe read an article or two.  Somewhere along the line, I came across The Vapor Rater.  This is probably the only blog on the entire internet that I read word for word, every post. I am not just talking about vaping and e-juice blogs, I am talking about every subject under the sun.  This is the only blog that has captured my complete attention.

"The Vapor Rater" is a classicly trained chef, vaper and a connoisseur of fine e-liquids.  He has spent years in professional kitchens studying under world renowned chefs and developing a palate that lends itself to both cooking and reviewing e-juice.  In addition, he is an excellent writer.  His e-juice reviews are very discriptive and detailed.  They are very interesting to read and leave you either wanting to buy a particular e-juice, or knowing its not really something you would personally enjoy.

"The Vapor Rater" is consistent.  He uses the same equipment for testing each liquid and lets the liquid step for a minimum of two to three weeks before writing a review on it.  He may sample it before its ready, but he gives each a fair shot, allowing each to steep and develop its full flavor.

The Vapor Rater's reviews are grouped into categories such as Fruit, Candy, Tobacco, Mint etc.  Each juice is then reviewed using a 5 star system and receives a rating in each of the following 4 categories: Accuracy of Flavor, Flavor Density, Throat Hit, and Vapor Production.  The PG/VG ratio is also noted if known.

The Vapor Rater purchases most of the juices he reviews, paying for them out of his own pocket.  On occasion, someone sends him a sample or two to review.  In either case, he does his best to give an unbiased opinion about the juice.

Each review is several paragraphs long followed by his star ratings. When writing about Hurricane Vapor Toasted Amber Tobacco, he begins by reminding us that  "With new vendors sprouting up like weeds on a seemingly daily basis, finding reputable vendors that are mixing high quality, complex flavorful e-liquid is becoming more of a challenge. Each and every time we throw down our hard earned cash, for juice from a vendor we know little to nothing about, we might as well be letting it ride on the roulette table...there's enough quality juice out there that you could conceivably win big, but it's just as likely that you'll end up a loser, holding a weak, uninteresting, one dimensional bottle of juice that you simply don't care for. That line of thinking was always the inspiration behind this website, making sure you had at least an idea of what to expect before making a purchase." 

After explaining why he chose to review this particular flavor, the chef in him comes out. "The Toasted Amber Tobacco opens with a light sweetness that is graceful and complex, not easily identifiable as honey or maple, for example, just a general sweet, natural clean flavor. A nuttiness begins to enter the profile at the very top of the exhale adding a savory note along with a full, rich, remarkably smooth tobacco component. The tobacco used by Hurricane is exceptional in that it conveys the full scope of the rich, bold notes that a high quality tobacco flavor can encompass, while managing to keep the the bold, in-your-face potency that many blended tobacco flavors are built around, well in check. This masterful blend allows the sweet and nutty elements of the composition to persist through the exhale and into the long, well balanced finish that is the highlight of this juice. While I've tasted quite a few magnificent tobacco flavors recently, the flavor of the Toasted Amber stands alone in that it is soft, mild and mellow, yet full-bodied, complex, and rich with the flavor of natural tobacco highlighted by a savory, nutty sweetness with an intensely satisfying bread-y note."

This is good, well written information. It reminds me of the judges on the Food Network series Chopped discussing each contestants dish before deciding who gets to stay and who has to go.

Writing about Steam Monkey Nanner Bear, The Vapor Rater says, " The vape opens with a mildly sweet, candied style banana flavor that is quickly met by a mellow tobacco note, that if I had to guess, I would call Perique tobacco. The exhale brings the banana and tobacco together with a very light hint of coconut that adds a creamy, full mouthfeel to the vapor, but not an abundance of coconut flavor. Alongside the light coconut is a very realistic graham cracker/cookie/bread-y note that provides a good deal of the backbone and structure of this juice with a savory, dry, nutty note, while also contributing a good portion of the light honey-like sweetness in the overall profile. This particular flavor is reminiscent of some of the better banana nut bread e-liquids I've previously vaped. As if all that weren't enough, there is a subtle, earthy, bottom herbal tone that persists throughout the entirety of the vape, but my repeated attempts at identifying exactly what it is, have proven to be futile. Whatever it is, it's a large part of why I enjoy this juice so much, it's subtle but defining. The final component in the profile, or at least the final component that I am able to identify, is a light cooling note on the finish, similar to menthol or koolada, although I have been assured that neither are used in this juice. I suspect that cooling note is an aftereffect from the mysterious herbal component, and even have some suspicions about what it could be, but in this case, it's better to just sit back and enjoy the smooth, unique, and decidedly complex flavors without giving it too much thought."

Reviews like this are both interesting to read and informative.  Here's a link to an A to Z list of all Vapr Rater Reviews todate.  Whether you are looking to find yet another liquid or just wanting something good to read,  TheVaporRater.com is the place.  Make sure to bookmark it!!!