Five Pawns: Mixology Sample Pack

In my previous review of the Five Pawns Signature sample pack i was somewhat pleased with the testing outcome although i had higher hopes for the Mixology selection which has finally been delivered. I won't be adding the usual information here because this review is basically an extention to the last - so if you haven't read my previous review on the Signature sample pack, have a quick read by clicking Here

For this review & for all blends i used an authentic SvoeMesto Kayfun 3.1 on the eVic Supreme with 28g Kanthal A1 Wire (8 Wraps) 1/1.2ohm @ 14-15.5 Watts with Organic Japanese Cotton.

Please note:

When making a review of vendor products, you usually get an idea after testing a few liquids the quality & dynamic of their production processes. Because of this i choose 5 liquids to review. If a vendor has more than 1 line of e-liquid (such as standard & premium) i will review 5 from each. Any e-liquids that say IN TESTING or AWAITING REVIEW/DELIVERY next to the title will be updated in due time. I like to take my time with a product which is usually a week but sometimes it could be more & sometimes less. These reviews are my own opinions & the score i give each is my own preference score. A rating of 7 for me might be a 10 for you. 10 for me is the perfect vape in flavour complexity, vapour production & throat hit on any & every device i try it on.

VENDORS:

If you would like any of your liquids reviewed, please contact me via the Vendor Contact link in the menu above.

Five Pawns Mixology Sample Pack:

Castle Long, Lucena, Sixty-Four, Fifth Rank, Perpetual Check.

Vendor: Five Pawns

Manufacturer: Five Pawns

Location: California, USA

Website: https://fivepawns.com/

Lab Tested/Certificates: UNDISCLOSED

Ratio Information: 50/50 PG/VG

Vendor Price: $23.50 - 5 x 4ml (20ml)

Nicotine Options: (mg) 0, 3, 6, 12 & 18.

LUCENA REVIEW: 12mg

Testing Period: 4 - 8 Hrs

Received: This item was gifted to me

Equipment: SvoeMesto Kayfun 3.1 on the eVic Supreme with 28g Kanthal A1 Wire (8 Wraps) 1/1.2ohm @ 14-15.5 Watts with Organic Japanese Cotton

The first in line for this review would be Lucena. Five Pawns's description for this blend is as follows: "Spiced rum mixed with a juicy, clingstone white peach, creating the flavor harmony of a fruit cobbler with a savory reduction sauce, garnished by freshly shaved hazelnut". Ok, well that made me dribble a little bit after reading & boy do these guys make splendid product descriptions. The aroma when i opened the bottle was intense with a variation of scent profiles which would match their description.

On inhale the Lucena became the most complex "fruity" gourmet type vapes that i've tried thus far. The mix between the rum (which i found had the same spiciness & flavour profile a dark, jamaican rum beverage has) & peach work together flawlessly with an overall mild sweetness. The peach is crisp & clean on the Kayfun & layered with an almost fresh, pure type hazelnut flavour which is more noticeable as a high note & was consistent during my short testing period. On every exhale i could taste an almost bourbon type flavour which really suprised me & the peachiness flavouring i found remained in my mouth. I didn't find this blend creamy in any way but every vape was fresh & full of flavour which didn't diminish in any way. Throat hit was perfect for me & the inherent spiciness of this blend i feel adds to the kick. Vapour production was good with a sweet & fruity carrying aroma - very pleasantly surprised & i would recommend Lucena to peach lovers looking for a change from a basic peach blend.   

Would I purchase Lucena?

Yes i would but that's because i am quite fond of peach blends & the fusion of rum tops it off for me.

Could Lucena be an all day vape?

Yes it could be for vapers that appreciate the flavour profile Lucena provides.

On a scale from 1 to 10 Lucena gets an 8

CASTLE LONG REVIEW: 12mg

Testing Period: 4 - 8 Hrs

Received: This item was gifted to me

Equipment: SvoeMesto Kayfun 3.1 on the eVic Supreme with 28g Kanthal A1 Wire (8 Wraps) 1/1.2ohm @ 14-15.5 Watts with Organic Japanese Cotton

I've seen so much review coverage regarding Castle Long & the Castle Long Reserve blends, but at the end of the day we (vapers) all taste things differently. Five Pawns's flavour description on this one again sounds tempting & is essentially a bourbon, coconut, almond, vanilla & brown sugar type mix. The aroma is almost sweet & i could definitely smell hints of the almond above the bourbon but that was about it.

On inhale, consistently i could taste 3 layers of flavouring, of those being a mildly sweet - jim beam type bourbon undertone which then develops in to a crisp almond flavour, which then transforms in to a creamy, almost velvety vanilla on the high notes. I couldn't taste the coconut but then i think the mix of the almond & coconut together is what makes me feel like i'm vaping an alcoholic macaroon which IMO is exactly what the Castle Long tastes like & is what i absolutely love about this blend. On exhale the bourbon undertones remain quite strong along with the mild sweetness. I found there was a slight creaminess left behind & the vanilla seemed to come through a little more by sticking to my taste buds. Castle Long for me became an instant favourite & goes in my top picks for one of the best blends on the market today & a blend i would happily hand my hard earned cash over for. Throat hit i found mild but extremely satisfying & vapour production was thick with a pleasant carrying aroma that smells a touch like (dare i say) vanilla ice cream.

Would I purchase Castle Long?

Yes without a doubt & i can't wait to try the reserve.

Could Castle Long be an all day vape?

Not for me! I found the Castle Long had somewhat relaxing properties & for that reason i would only use it in the evenings or while sipping on a good bourbon ;)

On a scale from 1 to 10 Castle Long gets a 9. It would be a clear 10 but i'm expecting the reserve will take that place.

PERPETUAL CHECK REVIEW: 12mg

Testing Period: 4 - 8 Hrs

Received: This item was gifted to me

Equipment: SvoeMesto Kayfun 3.1 on the eVic Supreme with 28g Kanthal A1 Wire (8 Wraps) 1/1.2ohm @ 14-15.5 Watts with Organic Japanese Cotton

Third in line for this review was Perpetual Check & from here on end the flavour profiles become slightly more complex & it's the reason i left this & the remaining two for last. Perpetual Check is based on blackcurrant liqueur, lemon, fig, barley & cinnamon flavour profiles. The aroma i find a little hard to describe although you do get the blackcurrant & slight hints of the lemon coming through pretty well.

On inhale i was instantly hit with the refreshing, citrusy aspects of the lemon along (of course) with the unmistakable taste of the blackcurrant which the best way i can describe it had an almost dense flavour profile & what i mean by that was that it wasn't just blackcurrant - the mix (im guessing) of the fig created an almost bold, unique flavour that leaves you with little to go on in identifying each layer singly. The spiciness i found to be an all rounder & slight flavour of the cinnamon comes through on the high notes which i found to be a nice touch & in no way overpowering which we all know cinnamon can easily take over a blend if not implemented (added) with caution. I'm not too sure where the barley comes in but then again it could be why i found the blackcurrant flavour mix so bold. I got no hints that would push me to categorized Perpetual Check as a liqueur/beverage gourmet blend & although i've never actually tried blackcurrant liqueur before i'm sure the alcohol side of it would have come through - but not with this blend & for me it's a plus because i think going down that route would've made it less appealing to the average vaper in general. Throat hit i found had a nice kick to it & the citrusy side of the blend helps it along perfectly. Vapour production was lovely with, again - a pleasant & fruity carrying aroma.

Would I purchase Perpetual Check?

No i wouldn't but that's not to say i didn't enjoy the testing period quite a bit.

Could Perpetual Check be an all day vape?

For the right vaper that's looking for that kind of flavour profile then i can imagine it could be.

On a scale from 1 to 10 Perpetual Check gets a 7

FIFTH RANK REVIEW: 12mg

Testing Period: 4 - 8 Hrs

Received: This item was gifted to me

Equipment: SvoeMesto Kayfun 3.1 on the eVic Supreme with 28g Kanthal A1 Wire (8 Wraps) 1/1.2ohm @ 14-15.5 Watts with Organic Japanese Cotton

Next in the review line is Fifth Rank & i was at split minds before even testing because one flavour i was immediately "put off" by was the horehound herb which i've had the displeasure of trying the actual herb before & found it so bitter that i wanted to vomit - & it smells! But i'm always up for trying something new especially when it comes to e-liquids. Fifth Rank's flavour profile (taken from the Five Pawns website) is a mix of horehound herb, sweet cream, vanilla, almond & a twist of lime. The aroma i found to be on par with a bavarian creme of sorts & i could smell both the almond & the lime instantly so from then on the testing started to look good.

On inhale what came through for me was a sweet & sour blend. I couldn't taste the horehound herb (thank god) although i'm almost certain that the sourness/bitterness is coming directly from the herb flavouring or extract. In terms of flavour what i tasted (for those of you that have tried it before) was an exact replication of a chinese almond cream dessert which tastes exactly the way it sounds. The almond, vanilla & cream i found worked together superbly & the flavour ratios (whatever they may be) for this blend are precise & compliment eachother perfectly. The citrusy high notes i personally felt were not really needed because it took my mind away from the flavour profile i related it to which confused my palate a little & confusion = a purchase once & not again blend IMO. On exhale i found the sweetness comes through just that little bit more which is a bonus & i was left with a creamy, almond taste in my mouth - that alone IMO makes this blend very moreish. Throat hit i found quite mild & vapour production was just as good as the previous 3 (which would be obvious) with a distinct vanilla "type" carrying aroma that was nice.

Would I purchase Fifth Rank?

No i wouldn't, it's not my cup of tea & i'm not sure what kind of vaper i would recommend this blend to although it's well worth at least a try i think.

Could Fifth Rank be an all day vape?

I don't think so, i couldn't see myself vaping Fifth Rank "all day" even if i had a larger bottle. It would be a now & then vape for me.

On a scale from 1 to 10 Fifth Rank gets a 7

SIXTY-FOUR REVIEW: 12mg

Testing Period: a few minutes

Received: This item was gifted to me

Equipment: SvoeMesto Kayfun 3.1 on the eVic Supreme with 28g Kanthal A1 Wire (8 Wraps) 1/1.2ohm @ 14-15.5 Watts with Organic Japanese Cotton

The last blend in this review is the Sixty-Four & i'm not too sure where to start with this one. I'm not sure if it's a "serious" blend or one of those unusual blends manufacturers sometimes come out with as a kind of marketing strategy. Sixty-four is a grapefruit liqueur, cognac, cucumber, lemon zest, mint & dill blend & i can honestly say before i even filled my tank up that it sounded like a hideous vape! i mean - come on! what vaper would actually purchase that kind of flavour profile let alone enjoy it? - but so far with the sample pack, so good! The aroma on opening the bottle i found to be extremely clean & somewhat refreshing - it almost actually reminded me of a cocktail, not exactly a mojito which is what i think the Sixty-Four is kind of meant to represent but definitely a cocktail type aroma.

On Inhale it REALLY didn't appeal to me in the slightest & i couldn't vape it for more than a few minutes unfortunately. I found the blend a touch bitter & dry. The flavours were more or less layered & the most prolific flavour being the cognac - but a bitter cognac & i think the grapefruit along with the lemon caused it. There was a slight mintiness but only just slightly & compliments the blend overall. I couldn't taste the cucumber extract/flavouring but i did find the blend quite a clean, citrusy & borderline refreshing vape which IMO would be down to those kind of ingredients. The dill fades in just a little on the high notes & i really didn't like that. On exhale i was left with a slight creamy, minty cognac flavour in my mouth but again i found it a touch too bitter for my tastes. Throat hit i found mild & slightly cooling & vapour production was great with a carrying aroma that smells better than the blend itself. 

I feel that the Sixty-Four was a complete fail in regards to the sample pack profile although i can respect it as probably one of the most unusual gourmet blends i've tried (take that how you will) & of course - this is a sample pack with the intention of giving vapers a chance to sample the blends available & obviously not all blends will appeal to everyone & for me it was the Sixty-Four.

Would I purchase Sixty-Four?

Nooooo - I'd rather purchase a nice Lucena or Castle Long blend.

Could Sixty-Four be an all day vape?

Not for me. I couldn't even last 5 minutes but that's not to say there's not Sixty-Four vapers out there drying bottles on a daily!

On a scale from 1 to 10 Sixty-Four gets a 3

OVERALL OPINIONS:

After the testing i was actually very pleased that i reviewed the Signature SP first because without a doubt, the best was saved for last. I am absolutely blown away by some of the Mixology blends & compared to the Signature line (which wasn't bad in the slightest) is well worth every cent & then some. My favourite of all 5 being the Castle Long blend has pushed me to try the Castle Long Reserve & i can't wait & my least favourite being the Sixty-Four blend - ugh! The good news is that Five Pawns blends are available from quite a few reputable vendors internationally now compared to before so i HIGHLY recommend trying the Mixology line out & i can imagine current FP vapers swear by it. 

Once i get my hands on a bottle of the Reserve i'll update it in this review but bare with me.