To say I was excited to be asked to review the Simply Leaf e-liquid tobacco NET range was an understatement!
They are of course the creation of the late great and legendary Les Pickin from the UK based Juice Cabin.
Les sadly and suddenly passed away last December, however the shop and his much loved line of vape juices are going from strength to strength.
The Juice Cabin was founded by Les and his mum back in 2015 and began as a business in his garage of all places!
Word on just how good Les’ e-liquids was spread like wildfire among the vaping community and of course via his YouTube videos. Such was the demand the Juice Cabin was born and the rest as they say, is history.
The business has remained in the family with Les’ cousin Ian now the director, and it was his wife Kate that eventually found me – I don’t do LinkedIn lol – to say I’m pleased she did is so very true as you’ll see with this vape juice review 😉
What Can We Expect From the Simply Leaf E-liquid Range?
Authentic tobacco flavours is the key here!
Looking at the samples I’ve been sent and I can see there’s a split between tobacco and tobacco with flavour additions and tweaks – more on that as we go on.
Juice Cabin’s Liam told me:
Something we are really proud to say is that all our NET’s are made in the UK.
We hand produce everything ourselves in our store based in Yorkshire.
Our HMRC contract states that we are the only UK company on record who actually import raw tobacco. leaves and then manufacture it to produce NET’s.
We are able to do this thanks to our import licence.
We use a process called Cold Maceration to produce our NET’s.
This allows us to extract the best flavour possible!
OK, I was sent 8 flavours from the Pure NET – Hybrid NET and Menthol NET ranges – thanks Ian, Kate and Liam – and as always freebies in no way sway my thoughts or opinions.
For the taste test I used the my go to MTL dripper the GeekVape Ammit MTL RDA freshly cleaned and wicked every time.
OK let’s see how these NET tobacco flavoured e-liquids taste.
Incidentally, NET stands for Naturally Extracted Tobacco and is a process reputed to give the most authentic flavour.
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Hybrid NET Range
First up three flavours from the Simply Leaf E-liquid Hybrid Net Range.
Juice cabin says:
Hybrids NETS consist mainly of our highly regarded pure NET flavours but with enhancements to give a little extra flavour.
On to the taste test!
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Maccas RY 4 – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Say:
Here’s a special flavour I [as in Les Pickins] created for Paul McCartney [aka YouTube reviewer Vape Don’t Smoke], it’s special RY4 blend of caramel, vanilla and a special naturally extrcted tobacco twist.
I Say:
I think many of us have tried a RY 4 tobacco flavoured vape juice at some time – I know in my early vaping days it was all I vaped!
The smell from the bottle is simply divine, a real whack of that toffee come caramel with the vanilla giving it an almost fudge like aroma.
I did think this one may be a little too sweet for me, but I needn’t have worried.
Sure the sweetness is there, but I’m getting a rich deep almost dark tobacco flavour on the inhale eased on the exhale by the perfect amount of sweetness.
There is a lingering sharp but very pleasant aftertaste that may just be my mind playing tricks, but it feels like dare I say a tot of whisky..?
It could just be the sharpness of the leaf mixing with the sugars, but man this is bloody delicious and ideal with a pint…or two…
Simply Leaf E-liquid – El Chapo – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Say:
El Chapo utilizes premium Mexican San Andres cigar tobacco with semi oriental and additional element of dark black honey.
I Say:
Another sweet smelling vape however the sweetness here is in the background with a darker rich tobacco the main aroma.
I do like a deep bodied cigar tobacco vape and on the inhale I was in vaping heaven.
OMG this is so bloody good!
I said this was rich and dark tobacco and it’s almost too overpowering and dry until that honey arrives.
It washes in and tames the richness to perfection – strong and robust and I bloody love it!
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Tobacco Scotch – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Say:
A beautiful blend of butterscotch and NET Canadian tobacco vape pure NET e-liquid.
I Say:
I’m a sucker for butterscotch and wow there’s an extremely strong smell of that sugary good stuff when the top’s whipped off.
Again this one suggests it may be far to sweet for my palate…however…
The tobacco creates a tang with the butterscotch giving this one an almost 3D vape if that makes sense…as in so many levels and depth…
The leaf and the sugar combine with a dryness underneath…very tasty indeed.
Once again this is perfect blending giving a very moreish ‘grown-up‘ vape.
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Pure NETS Range
Next up four flavours from the Simply Leaf E-liquid Pure Nets Range.
Just Cabin says:
Pure NETs are exactly as described, liquids that contain single variety or combinations of NET flavours with nothing else added.
Simply Leaf E-liquid – The Colonel – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Says:
The Colonel is an exquisite blend of three naturally extracted tobaccos from our range.
Based on a real, premium cigar, this e-liquid uses a combination of the following tobaccos:
- Dominican Ligero Criollo 98 for the filler flavour
- Ecuadorian Seco NET for the binder flavour
- Connecticut CT Fronto NET as the wrapper
All three combine to form an authentic cigar e-liquid.
I Say:
After that build up let’s hope I like it lol!
Despite all of those amazing tobacco varieties, the aroma from the bottle is a little low key – could be me of course.
Now this is another dry vape – just how I like it – and yeah I’m definitely getting the taste of a good cigar.
Again this one changes between inhale and exhale with a hint of nuttiness in the background.
The exhale is key here as the three tobacco combine creating the perfect cigar cocktail – very nice indeed especially after dinner.
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Nicotiana Rustica – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Says:
Nicotiana Rustica is organically grown and harvested by hand by the indigenous people of Argentina.
The leaves are then cured and tied into bundles so that the tobacco can be easily used for rolled cigarettes or ceremonial pipe use.
The bold flavour is closest to burley among the conventional tobaccos, but without the sour notes.
Flavour is very full, not sweet at all, but not too harsh.
I Say:
Well hello Nicotiana Rustica if the taste is good as your smell I’m a very happy tobacco vaping old bloke!
The smell is quite simply tobacco – yeah I know stating the beedin’ obvious – but man is this authentic!
It seriously smells like a freshly opened packet to the point I found myself sniffing this one for far too long lol.
This is another dry vape – almost bordering on eye scrunching dry – on the inhale.
However, as soon as it hits those taste buds and tonsils – wham – there it is – proper tobacco!
The exhale is pure tobacco loving heaven and as close to a milder ‘smoke‘ you’d struggle to find…
Not as light and mild as say Marlboro Lights, but certainly a gentle yet flavoursome vape.
I’ve been using this as my go to tobacco vape and bloody love it!
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Latakia Fire Cured – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Says:
Latakia Fire Cured NET e-liquid has a very strong and smoky flavour due to the fire cured tobacco leaf.
It’s a smooth vape with a very desirable flavour.
This particular NET pairs really well with scotch that has a peaty flavour, complimenting the smoky tones in the tobacco.
I Say:
Again not much of a smell from the bottle – but trust me who cares because the taste is absolutely delicious and then some!
The inhale is warming to say the least with deep dark depths to it – rather like the peat bogs they sort of mention lol.
The surprise for me was the hit at the back of the throat – a really nice tickle indeed.
The exhale brings it all together with that warmth to the fore and a slight dryness underneath.
I did indeed try this one with a late night glass of 14-year-old single malt Oban – and yup – a perfect pairing.
Simply Leaf E-liquid – American Virginia Flue Cured 2017 – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Says:
American Virginia Flue Cured 2017 NET e-liquid.
Because this tobacco leaf is commonly used in cigarettes, this NET e-liquid gives a genuine and authentic flavour, with a medium body and a slightly nutty taste.
This particular NET pairs really well with beers, cocktails or wine.
I Say:
A very familiar tobacco variety to both smokers and vapers and one I’m very familiar with.
Again not much going on with the aroma, but as I’ve said before, who cares if it tastes good right!
Sadly my tired old taste buds can’t find the nuttiness, but what I am getting is that genuine lit tobacco taste.
There’s a slight tang to this one too that hit my tonsils nicely.
The exhale is again where the magic happens.
I agree this is a medium bodied vape – not too strong but just enough flavour to give it a punch.
I have this one in my Caliburn G and actually got asked if I was smoking in the pub lol.
If you want a no nonsense authentic tobacco flavour – this one’s for you 😉
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Menthol NET Range
I did tell the folks at Juice Cabin I wasn’t keen on menthol flavours.
However Liam stuck one in the box lol.
So…let’s give it a go…
For the record there are a couple of menthol tobacco flavours I quite like – check the link 😉
OK, Juice Cabin says:
Our only menthol NET flavour is a deliciously smoky and minty experience, formulated to resemble now banned “crushball” ciggies.
Simply Leaf E-liquid – Menthol FreshBlast – 60ml 50:50 VG/PG
Juice Cabin Says:
Simply Leaf Menthol Freshblast has been painstakingly formulated to give NET vapers a delicious minty blast while still retaining the tobacco taste.
As demanded by our regular customers, Menthol Freshblast has been ‘designed’ to recreate the unmistakable taste of the now banned “crushball” cigarettes.
I Say:
No mistaking what flavoured tobacco vape juice this is from the smell – go me lol.
It is a gentle aroma for sure, however that does indeed change on the inhale.
The fresh mintiness is really bloody lovely – and remember I don’t do menthol vapes lol.
It tickles the tonsils nicely and whilst not quite a mad blast of arctic iciness it’s definitely fresh.
The exhale turns this more peppermint on my taste buds and very refreshing it is too.
Whilst this one wouldn’t be my first choice, it’s certainly perfect for the menthol lovers out there.
Indeed my mate down the pub who’s a total menthol vaper bloody loves it…
Final Review Verdict
Les’ legacy lives on with some of the most delicious and authentic tobacco flavoured e-liquids I’ve ever tasted.
I’m a massive fan of tobacco flavoured vape juice and the selection of Simply Leaf e-liquid I’ve tried are among the best I’ve ever tasted.
Truly authentic flavours, perfectly blended and with a flavour to suit most palates.
As I mentioned, there’s a choice of options from PG/VG to nicotine strengths and yeah for the e-liquid DIYers there’s concentrates too.
As you can see I was using the 50:50 mix and even on an MTL dripper the vapour was impressive.
Les was a much loved member of the vaping community and it’s fantastic to see Juice Cabin building on his legacy.
Even if tobacco flavours aren’t for you – the shop has plenty more to offer – go take a look 😉
So…are you a fan of the Juice Cabin Simply Leaf range of e-liquids?
Tempted to give them a try?
Please let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
