KeithThis is a special edition of Hardcore Review Time – as I normally would vape a brand of vape (and only that brand) for up to an entire month max. However, this time around, I decided to do 2 months straight of only one brand. That’s right – I did not pick up my favorite brands or flavors at all over a 2 month period. And let me tell you – it was not as difficult as it sounds!
At first, I was planning to do 2 separate reviews of Chef’s Choice Vapes – but my wife and I just had our first child in February đ – and quite frankly, I never had the chance to go pick up any other flavors (anyone with kids can attest to this!) And you know what? It worked out pretty well!
BACKGROUND
(I will include this background in all my reviews) I think it’s important that we get context on the type of reviewer I am. I was a half a pack smoker for over 20 years. A couple of years ago, I switched to vape and have not turned back. While I was a smoker, I was a light menthol smoker (i.e. Vogue Menthols / Matinee Slim Menthol Lights).
I’m generally not a fan of cream/pastry flavors, and until recently, I ALWAYS mixed menthol into any vape flavors. I’m also a huge fan of fruity flavors, but not flavors that would over power my taste buds.
A close friend of mine owns one of Toronto’s premium vape stores (he was the one who helped me quit smoking), so I have my fair exposure to all of the ultra-high-end mod gear and premium juices. That said, I find myself vaping with 6 Crown I / III devices on a variety of mods.
Hopefully this background helps you have an idea of my flavor palate as well as preferences – which will bias my review.
METHODOLOGY
The reason I chose to do these immersive and lengthy reviews is because I’m guilty of going into a store, trying a juice and thinking I LOVED it… only to return home to realize I didn’t really enjoy the flavor and got sick of it after the first day. This pretty much happens to me EVERY SINGLE TIME and which has led to my massive shelf of nearly full bottles.
So, what I have decided going forward is that I will vape the juices regardless if I like them on first try, and will try to do so extensively and let the juices that I truly love grow on me. And let me tell you, it’s worked tremendously well.
For this review, I used 6 separate devices for the 6 bottles (either Crown I or III) on Sigelei 213 or similar mods.
For the past 63 days (and for the next few) I have solely vaped Chef’s Choice Vapes juices. Aside from looking at the names on the labels of the bottles, I did not do any research on what was in the flavors – I figured I’d just let my tastebuds get to work (kinda like a blind taste test).
So, as I’m typing up this review, it will be the first time I know what’s really in the juice flavors (this should be exciting for me, lol)
OVERALL
First off, I must say I was blown away by the selection, the interesting melange of flavors, and the hilarious names. The flavors went from fruity, to menthol, to pastry, and just about everything in between. I’ve never tried to sample so many flavors at a time – and it was quite refreshing. So I decided to try 4 flavors per rotation and then cycle every few days. And when I found a flavor I didn’t like, I rotated it out, but would eventually get back to it eventually. And as you can imagine, some flavors that I LOVED at first vape, I wasn’t as impressed with after a week with it, while others which I disliked turned out to by my favorite. Ultimately, I’d say that I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors – I’ve a couple that I’ll add to my rotation and I absolutely look forward to trying more of their flavors.
The TL:DR – I will be ordering bottles of the following juices
- Berry Bliss
- Fuzion
- Pucker
- Screech
- Sup Mang
FLAVOR REVIEWS
Flavor: Actual Oranges
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/actual-oranges/
Description: A realistic fresh orange flavour. As refreshing as it is addictive, this flavour was developed to emulate the feel of eating an (actual) orange.. You can almost feel the flesh in your mouth!
If you enjoy eating oranges as a snack, this flavour will appeal to you. A nice contrast to other orange flavours that can be loaded with sweeteners & creams, this one captures the true essence of biting into a fresh orange â right down to the flesh.
Review: As I mentioned, I love fruity flavors. At the same time, I tend to like complex flavors – like orange with a touch of cream, or menthol, or vanilla, or something. So, when I tried this flavor for the first time I had mixed feelings: on one hand, the orangeness of it was TRULY ON POINT. Yes, at the same time, it felt like I got bored of it pretty quickly. So, after a couple of days of vaping this flavor, I had put it to the back of the 19-flavor rotation. Well, once I hit it again, about a month later, I gave it a longer try, and of course, it turned into an all-day-vape for me. And now, I’m vaping it as I type this review.
All-in-all, it’s a real-easy vape and it’s truly very orangey. The question is, can you handle all that orange?
My rating: 8/10 Very enjoyable orange-flavor for citrus lovers.
Flavor: Berry Bliss
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/berry-bliss/
Description: A cool berry blend. Blackberry & Blueberry pair with a touch of pomegranate and the slightest hint of menthol to emulate a refreshing frozen treat on a hot summer day.
An instant favourite that is hard to set down. Even if you donât enjoy âcoolâ flavours, this one will not disappoint. The cooling is such a subtle effect that it blends right into the flavour to create an addicting blend of berries thatâs ADV material no matter what your preferences are.
Review: Ooh la la, la-la-la-la! Keep in mind I don’t read the descriptions (purposely) of the flavors prior to tasting them, so for this flavor, all I know is that the picture had some interesting fruits: pomegranate, blueberries, and blackberries. But man, was I surprised by the subtle menthol flavor (and if you look carefully, there’s actually a mint-leaf in the picture – but I didn’t notice it before vaping). Being a former menthol smoker and fruit-lover – this flavor was ON POINT. The pomegranate was awesome and the berries were a nice sweet balance. But it was the subtle menthol that really took it over the top for me. This bottle went so fast I had to make it a point to save some for rainy days (and being a new father – that seemed to happen quite often!)
My rating: 9/10 This one is a keeper. For lovers of complex flavors where you truly need to think about you’re vaping while loving the heck out of it.
Flavor: Blue Crack
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/blue-crack-2/
Description: A mildly sweet blend of blueberry and grape with several supporting undertones. A nostalgic candy flavour.
Review: The name is hilarious – the photo was apropos. And you know what? This was indeed addictive. And am I surprised that there’s not menthol in the actual flavor profile as it tasted kinda cool (or was I just hallucinating this with the blue-ness?) The flavor reminded me of that blue Freezie I would have when I was kid – and it was absolutely nostalgic. Easy vape, goes down nice, and quite tasty.
My rating: 8/10 Highly recommended for lovers of blue-colored candies, Popsicles, and Freezies. Oh, and if you like crack.
Flavor: Drapple Sauce
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/drapple-sauce/
Description: A tasteful blend of apples and dragonfruit with a hint of cinnamon & glazed donut. This one is reminiscent of a nice homemade apple sauce showing off itâs dessert side. Unique flavour!
Unlike most apple flavours, this one is not a bakery or pastry type profile. Itâs best categorized as a dessert flavour, if only for itâs cake-like smoothness. A light hint of cinnamon lurks in the background to add a mysterious depth to this juice thatâs unmatched in similar juices that weâve tried.
Review: I don’t like dessert flavors (pastries, custards, etc.) and so when I saw donut on the picture, I knew I was in for a rough time. On top of that, I don’t like cinnamon either. And when you open the bottle, you can really, really taste smell the entire flavor profile: donuts, apples, and cinnamon – which really made me not want to try it. But, this ain’t no ordinary review. So, over the past 2 months, I’ve vaped about 1/2 of the bottle. Here’s the low-down: it’s very sweet, and very true to the description. So if you like the aforementioned flavors – you’ll likely love this flavor. But me? I prefer menthol fruits. That said, it was a nice change once in a while in-between my fruit-binges.
My rating: 6/10 This is a biased rating as I don’t like donuts or cinnamon – so please keep that in mind.
Flavor: Frosty Dragonberry
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/frosty-dragonberry/
Description: A creamy fruit blend starring dragonfruit & peach, with a cool berry finish. The unique depth of this flavour will keep you coming back for more!
This is a real masterpiece. On the inhale you are hit with a fruity blend with just the slightest hint of cream & koolada. On the exhale, an intricate blend of berries comes to life to leave a lingering sweetness and pull you back in.
Review: How can you NOT like a flavor with such a cool design? đ Menthol, fruits, and dragons – yum yum. and yes, the flavor was as awesome as the name. What’s really unique about this flavor is that inhale and the exhale are very different experiences – fruity on the inhale, cool on the exhale. Dragonfruit, peaches, and berries are also a pretty slick combination. All-in-all, I’d recommend this flavor for people who enjoy menthol fruit flavors.
My rating: 8/10 Very enjoyable and I can absolutely see this being the favorite for many people.
Flavor: Funnel Fantasy
Link:Â https://ccvapes.ca/home/product/funnel-fantasy/
Description: Deep fried carnival funnel cake topped with a creamy peanut butter ice cream and the slightest drizzle of caramel.
Review: I assumed that the funnel in this fantasy was referring to the cake – and I wasn’t thrilled to give it a try. On opening the bottle, it was quite pungent which further made me not want to try it. But of course I did. And after the first day, I made it through 5ml (1 tank) of this flavor. The peanut butter and creamy mix is quite tasty and the “thickness” of the flavor makes you actually feel like you’re having desert if that makes sense. I put this flavor away after the first day and came back to it twice – ultimately, it’s a great flavor for peanut butter and creamy flavor lovers, but ultimately, not something I enjoy.
My rating: 6/10 Just not my kind of flavor
Flavor: Fuzion
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/fuzion/
Description: Pomegranate, cranberry and grape are the main players at this party. A smooth fusion of flavours thatâs sure to entertain your tastebuds.
We took some of our favourite flavours and fused them together in the lab to create something thatâs out of this world. Short on ideas for names, we decided to call it what it is and keep it simple. An enjoyable fruit fusion with an interesting kick!
Review: At first, I couldn’t quite taste the difference between this flavor and Berry Bliss – pomegranate and berries – I’ll never say no to that. But upon trying them side by side over the course of two months, you can absolutely taste a difference between the two, and frankly, it’s quite difficult to choose one over the other. Ultimately, I’ll say that key difference is the subtle menthol in Berry Bliss – and this is just a wonderful juice for fruit lovers. The pomegranate (a personal favorite) is absolutely delicious and the cranberries add a hint of tartness – and the grape? sweeeeeeet.
My rating: 9/10 Hit me up again and again!
Flavor: Irish Dream
Description: Irish cream shines through a decadant blend of fresh creams alongside a gourmet serving of belgium waffles. A delicious full-flavoured dessert profile.
Whether itâs to wind down and end the day, or paired with your morning cup of coffee, this versatile juice is loaded with flavour. A real treat for the dessert lovers, you are immediately hit with a rush of warm irish cream, followed by a syrupy sweet bite of gourmet waffles. Riding the line between breakfast and dessert flavours but leaning a little more toward the dessert world.
Review: OK, I have no idea how they did this. Really, it tastes just like Bailey’s. Seriously. Chef’s Choice vape’s dessert flavors are all very strong on the inhale – and it’s a great thing if you really want the feeling of almost eating dessert. The best way I can describe it is that it feels syrupy. And I realize that there’s no alcohol in the flavor (now I’m thinking what it would be like to vape alcohol-infused juices) but somehow it feels like you’re vape-drinking (perhaps because of how on-point the flavor is). Ultimately, I’m not an Bailey’s fan, but my wife certainly loved it everytime I vaped it around her đ
My rating: 7/10 For Bailey’s lovers – this is a guarantee favorite. Incidentally, I like my Scotch neat.
Flavor: Peach Breeze
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/peachy-breeze/
Description: A refreshingly crisp summer lemonade infused with white peach.
Review: I know I’ve mentioned I love fruity flavors – however, one fruit I don’t enjoy is the peach. I don’t like the fruit, the fuzzy candy, the juice, and just about any other rendition of this hairy monster. Thus, I figured this wouldn’t be a flavor I’d enjoy. And of course, I was pleasantly surprised yet again. First off, this juice just smells REFRESHING. Like, hot damn, this is a great flavor to wake up to. And after reading the description – I now know why. This is a lemonade! And a wonderful one at that. The lemonade gives it a nice punch and this is absolutely one of the best flavors in the morning, especially for that long, grueling drive to work when you’re stuck in traffic.
My rating: 8.5/10 I love lemonade, and this is an awesome twist on it.
Flavor: Pucker
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/pucker/
Description: A tart raspberry blend supported by a handful of fresh blueberries and some other carefully selected fruit notes.
Review: I’m sure you’re tired of me telling you how much I love fruit flavors and that this is one of the ones I love. And you know what? I’m going to do it anyway. The raspberry has a wonderful tartness to it that balances well with the blueberries. And like the other similar fruit flavors from Chef’s Choice Vapes- there are subtle differences between each of them. But Pucker is definitely my favorite. This was the first bottle that I went through of all the juices, and frankly, I can vape this all year long. It’s just that awesome.
And I need to be clear – it takes a lot more than just mashing up fruit flavors for me to enjoy a juice – but they just did such an amazing job at putting them together.
My rating: 9.5/10 Straight up one of the best juices I’ve ever had (and I vape a lot!)
Flavor: Rhuberry Crisp
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/rhuberry-crisp/
Description: Strawberry rhubarb crisp! Need I say more??
Review: I’m pretty certain I haven’t tried a rhubarb flavor before so I was quite excited to try this one. And it did not disappoint. The strawberry rhubarb is tart enough to balance off the pastry profile and it just ultimately works. That and it also smells wonderful. I just picked it a few times in between writing this just to smell it. Think they can make some air freshener out of this?
My rating: 8.5/10 Refreshing dessert – incredibly difficult to accomplish!
Flavor: Screech
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/screech/
Description: A delicious concoction of juicy peaches and fresh pineapple blended with a touch of guava. This tasty blend will not let you down!
Review: All I’ve been vaping for the past few days is Screech. Now, it doesn’t taste like rum, but it certainly tastes like a cocktail of flavors that would go very well with Newfoundland Screech đ We have a few very strong-flavored fruits here – yet somehow it all works together – nothing overpowers each other. The pineapple is obvious and pronounced on the inhale, whereas the guava (yum) and the peach are intricately intertwined on the exhale. Perhaps it’s because I’m longing for the Caribbean too much, but this flavor certainly reminds me of cocktail with an umbrella while lying on the beach: I can’t really ever get enough of it.
My rating: 9/10 Tasty, refreshing, complex, and delicious – I’d absolutely vape this all day long.
Flavor: Silk Sheets
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/silk-sheets/
Description: Coconut cream pie. So silky smooth itâll remind you of sliding into a nice satin bedspread! The slightest hint of banana lurks in the background to add a delicious depth to this delicate cream pie.
This dessert juice boasts the perfect balance of flavour & smoothness to make it an ideal ADV. Its not as heavy as some other dessert flavours, allowing it to be enjoyed for long periods of time without fatiguing the palette (yes â we are pulling out some fancy french words for this one).
Review: I’m HUGE fan of coconuts but I have yet to find a coconut flavor I enjoy – and that’s no different here. The cream and dessert flavours are a little too overpowering for me and I couldn’t really taste the coconut. On the first week of vaping the flavor it tasted just a bit too creamy and the banana and coconut flavors were nowhere to bound. But coming back to this flavor on weeks 3 and 6, the coconut was more apparent and the banana was nice inclusion. Ultimately, although the flavor tasted better through time (likely due to steeping), this flavor is not for me.
My rating: 6/10 Would like to taste the coconut a bit more.
Flavor: Strawgurt
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/strawgurt/
Description: A rich greek yogurt tastefully infused with strawberries and blueberries.
Review: Now this is a flavor I thought there was no chance of me enjoying. I’m not a fan of yogurts (maybe it’s because the photo resembles what my wife eats every morning) and certainly expected to not enjoy this. Perhaps because I was expecting the sour milk experience when tasting this flavor. And on week 1 that was certainly the case – especially when the flavor was put side-by-side with Berry Bliss and Pucker which are a perfect match for my palate. But coming back to this flavor over the weeks, it grew on me and has become one of my preferred mid-afternoon vapes. When I needed a boost after a long day, Strawgurt was nice treat. It’s a strawberry cream that doesn’t taste like your generic strawberry cream, and the complexiy of the flavor is a certainly much appreciated.
My rating: 7/10 Not your everyday strawberry cream flavor.
Flavor: Strawn Out
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/strawn-out/
Description: A juicy strawberry banana kiwi smoothie blended to perfection.
Review: I dreaded vaping this flavor simply because I was concerned about the mix of banana with kiwi and strawberry – I just couldn’t imagine that mixing well together and tasting good. That said, I was incredibly surprised and Strawn Out has been one of the flavors that I’ve been coming back to again and again. What’s really interesting about this flavor is that the flavors are all very pronounced yet at the same time, you can actually taste each of the fruits. You can certainly smell the banana and the kiwi upon opening the bottle (which is quite refreshing) but it’s on the inhale where you can taste all the magic together: it starts with banana which quickly makes way to the strawberry – and ultimately transfers to the kiwi flavor throughout the vape and especially towards the exhale. The complexity and flavor is on-point, and I’d absolutely recommend this flavor to anyone who enjoys this melange of fruits and who would enjoy a smoothie made with these fruits.
My rating: 8.5/10 A strawberry-banana-based flavor that will surprise you with the kiwi finish.
Flavor: Unicorn Tits
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/unicorn-tits/
Description: âBanana cream breadâ A cross between banana cream pie, and, you guessed it, banana bread. Nice and creamy with a mellow bread finish, the banana really shines through but is not overpowering.
Every juice line must have at least one flavour named after a mythical creature. Ours was actually inspired by a leaked recipe from another line-up that we wonât mention here. We found that something was off, so over the course of development it evolved into a more banana-bread style flavour. These days this juice does not resemble itâs first rendition anymore, but has taken on a whole new world of flavour!
Review: Come on – with a name like Unicorn Tits, you know I was really looking forward to tasting this flavor, lol. Regrettably, the flavor just doesn’t fit my palate – I don’t enjoy banana bread and haven’t tasted a banana cream pie before (That said, the mix of the banana and cream was on-point). The flavor is well-balanced and enjoyable even for someone like me who absolutely does not enjoy dessert flavors. For banana-bread lovers, this one’s for you.
My rating: 7.5/10 This is a biased review as I don’t enjoy banana bread or dessert flavors, but it’s pleasant even for me – so I’d imagine anyone who actually likes banana bread would love this.
Flavor: Vanilla Crunch
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/vanilla-crunch/
Description: Fluffy vanilla cake batter smeared onto a thick-cut graham cracker!
Review: This flavor was destined to be a flop for me – as I’m not a fan of desserts, graham crackers, or vanilla. So please take everything I say with a grain of salt. All that being said, the vanilla on this flavor was VERY enjoyable – and their description is very appropriate. I wasn’t sure how to describe the experience aside from “fluffy” – which is exactly on the description! (keep in mind, I don’t read the descriptions when I taste so that it doesn’t influence my experience). What’s even more interesting is that the vanilla is very complex – that is, the entire vape is distinctly vanilla, yet it seems to change throughout the draw and exhale – quite interesting. Ultimately, this flavor is very vanilla (including very different notes and textures of vanilla, and very cakey. Neither of which are for me.
My rating: 6/10 Incredibly biased review – so please don’t take my score as a measurement of your enjoyment. I just don’t like vanilla, desserts, or cake flavors. That said, if you want a unique experience with vanilla cake, this flavor is for you.
Flavor: Velvet Melons
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/velvet-melons/
Description: An intricate blend of melons including honeydew and watermelon supported by an underlying cheesecake note to give it a velvety smooth inhale. The best balance of fresh fruit & dessert youâll ever find!
This is one smooth vape. Riding the border of fruit and dessert flavours, the melons blend beautifully to create a totally unique fruit flavour while the supporting cheesecake smooths everything out and gives it a touch of savoury sweetness.
Review: Velvet Melons – sounds smooth to me! But when I saw the picture, I was confused – I don’t think I’ve ever tried a watermelon cheesecake, and I shudder at the thought of it! OK, maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic – but the thought of watermelon cheesecake is really interesting. And the flavor… the FLAVOUR… absolutely lived up to the name. Man, was this vape smooooooooth. It was such an awesome melon juice with a hint of cake (just the way I like it). The melons (much more honeydew than watermelon) were sweet, delectable, and not overbearing. The aroma, draw, and exhale were similar in tone but with small differences that allowed the flavor to be complex. Ultimately, a very enjoyable, easy vape for melon lovers.
My rating: 8/10 Sweet, smooth, and aromatic. It’s made for you if you like honeydew.
Flavor: Watermelon Twizt
Link: http://ccvapes.ca/home/product/watamelon-twizt/
Description: A complex watermelon flavour with fruity background notes. Just the right amount of sweetness. Has been described as tasting similar to a watermelon bubblegum.
A local favourite, our line just wouldnât be complete without our take on a fresh, juicy watermelon flavour. We kept the watermelon realistic and strayed away from artificial, candy-like renditions of it, but still managed to achieve a little bit of a candy vibe with the supporting fruit flavours.
Review: I love, love, love, love watermelons. I love those sour watermelon candies, watermelon Popsickles, and of course the fruit as well. I can have watermelon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and second dinner). So, as you can imagine, I was damned excited to try this flavor. And, regrettably, I was disappointed. What I couldn’t get was WHY I was disappointed. The flavor is complex and not just a boring watermelon + nicotine mix. It’s aromatic. The inhale and exhale are interestingly different. I’ve come back to this flavor at least 7 times over the 2 months but I just couldn’t figure it out. Ultimately, I think it’s because it tastes like a watermelon candy and not the actual fruit.
That said, I had to dig deeper. I asked a couple of my best friends to give the juice I try… and they both LOVED it. And it was apparent on one of our Scotch nights that this was one of their favorite flavors as they both kept going back for Watermelon Twizt. Thus, my conclusion is that this is probably a very good watermelon flavor – however, the specific taste just does not resonate with me. It certainly resonated with the people around me.
My rating: 7/10 The specific flavor profile is not for me, but it was hit with my friends who vaped it hard. So we’ll balance my 6 with their 8s.
CONCLUSION
First off, c of my life (new dad syndrome). I was really excited to review their juices and am very glad that I did. A lot of surprises and quite a few juices that I’d highly recommend.
I’m definitely going to get more juice from them as they are truly, very tasty – and their prices are very reasonable.
If you’ve tried their juices, please give them feedback on the Chef’s Choice Vapes listing.
And checkout our website for an exclusive offer from them!