GMO - Alchemy Studios DC
I’ve been grateful to know and work with Drue Downs at Alchemy Studios the last couple years, so when he asked me to check out his GMO grown in-house it was an instant yes. Even though I’m a bit biased towards the strain, getting to try an elite clone-only genetic from an elite competiton-winning grower is a no-brainer.
OG - Traditional
Hardcore enthusiasts have been arguing about OG Kush since time immemorial (1991), but almost 25 years later the debate has shifted back to who actually has fire OG. Traditional has been rolling out a whole lineup with a great variety of flavors and OG seems to be the centerpiece of the whole lineup, and I have some mixed feelings about this.
LemonZZZ - Dorsia
Dorsia’s store mostly focuses on sour, funk and gas, but he and I have spoken many times about how great it is when you can supply truly elite candy. Lokiños is a hybrid of Watermelon Zkittlez x Runtz, and this stuff has me excited like it’s 2022 again. Zkittlez x Runtz was always something I wanted to try from Seven Leaves, and when I opened this jar it impressed past three years of hype.
Khalifa Kush - Eugreen
Today, we see Khalifa Kush as just another celebrity brand, but before the brand and before the collaboration with Cookies for the rec market debut, the genetics birthed a legend. While this story is a bit more cultural mythology than documented fact, Khalifa Kush from Eugreen is smoke worthy of the legend and is an excellent value on Beast Coast Terps’ menu.
Zen Master - Harbor Headstash house cultivation
Last time I smoked Harbor Headstash, I noted that it was a super unique flavor profile, and that continues with his Zen Master. Xeno Seed Co has been making some frankly insane hybrids, and this is no exception. Zen Master is a hybrid of (Hi-Octane/Permanent Marker x Black Bubblegum), and even folks who’ve smoked a lot of Permanent Marker or bubblegum terps will find the flavor combination to be quite novel.
Wedding Fuel - JarCo.
By all accounts I should absolutely hate this strain considering I basically refuse to smoke MAC and have gone on record thinking Papaya is kind of mid. Maybe the mix of them sort of cancels out the traits I find mid or maybe this hybrid just has undeniable game.
Pop Smoke - Harbor Headstash house cultivation
As long as I’ve known Harbor Headstash, he’s been trying to grow his own fire flower, and after a few years of hard work, we’ve arrived at a menu ready batch of Pop Smoke. The genetics remind me of a lot of the things I was smoking in 2022 but with the benefit of being grown in the same state I live in.
Permanent Marker - Funk House Farm
If you’ve been reading this column for a while, you’ve seen a lot of positive press from Funk House Farm, with the biggest reason being the quality, consistency and price of their products is hard to beat. While this herb is of the same quality and price I’d expect, the provenance of this cut of Permanent Market tarnishes the experience.
Rambutan- Terpy Dabber house rosin Tier 1
Terpy Dabber’s house tier has been one of my favorite offerings as of late, and Rambutan is no exception. This strain is one of the fruitiest flavors around, as the name would suggest, and luckily that flavor is met with a similar level of potency.
Zimosa #2 - 710 Labs
I’ve been smoking a bit more 710 Labs this year, but I’ve been curious about their flower for a good long while after seeing countless gorgeous photos of the buds on Reddit. My expectations for Zimosa were high and low in different respects, and overall it kind of subverted those expectations in many categories.
Hash Burger - Eugreen
If you read some of my reviews from last year, unfortunately most of them are lost media, then you may remember me reviewing a few Hashplant hybrids and especially appreciating the sharp mojito terp. Beast Coast Terps in his expert curation selected this flavor out of the bunch and it has both enchanting terps and intense potency.
Yogurt Drip - Eugreen
California and Maine have been the real meta in the New York scene for the last couple of years, but this Yogurt Drip shows that Oregon still really has it going on. Beast Coast Terps got set up with the line on living soil flavors from some of the most well known cultivators in the state, one of which being Eugreen, which has a record of consistently great flower.
Mega Z Red - Super Dope (CA)
The mega disappointment continues but fortunately ends here with Mega Z Red. This one is the most frustrating to not meet my expectations because OZK is one of my favorite genetics of all time, and this one does not hit the heights I would expect from such a legendary genetic.
Mega Z Dark - Super Dope (CA)
Mega Z Dark was another one that I tried during the previous rosin saga, and unfortunately it’s another one that just doesn’t hold up. This performance is frankly more expected because washing Zoap is more an art than a science, and they didn’t exactly have it dialed in before.
Ether 41 - District Chiefer House Curation
If you’ve been following the waves of candy flavors the last few years, you’ve probably noticed Ether kicking around basically since Runtz came out. In a lot of ways, Ether is the ultimate sixth-man variety, and Ether 41 is a straight improvement over the things that made the original so special.
Mega Z Blue - Super Dope (CA)
Back a couple of years ago when Super Dope was at their peak popularity, Mega Z Blue was one of the most sought after flavors in the country. It was a strong translation of the tissue culture Z cut, and I’m sad to report this flavor just doesn’t hold up. Don’t get me wrong, this is still solid smoke with strong effects, but my standards for Z hybrids are higher than most casual smokers will get in their life, and this sample did not meet them.
Lemon Popperz - Super Dope (CA)
The last go-around with Super Dope’s Rosin, Lemon Popperz was the one that I couldn’t ever get my hands on. Probably because the wash numbers were quite low, there always seemed to be fewer jars of the Lemon Popperz per drop, and to that end I never tried Gelonade as rosin until earlier this year.
Biscotti - District Chiefer House Curation
Most hardcore enthusiasts, especially younger folks, are huge fans of Biscotti, and I’m no different. I’ve tried it a handful of times from brands like Doja and Connected, who, along with Berner who named the strain, paved the way for the strain to become a mainstay.
Duck Sauce - Ted’s Budz
Of all of the distros of popular sweet strains in the LA area, Ted’s Budz is possibly the most infamous, and their signature Duck Sauce is one I’ve been dying to try for years. They made waves about two years ago when they released this strain with a clear direct print bag meant to look like a duck sauce wrapper, and it’s one of the most successful strain branding campaigns.
Gummiez - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
Gummiez was a strain I first tried a few years ago when I believe Papermill Cannabis Co. tried his hand at growing it, and I remember enjoying the candy peach rings flavor to it. This version off of Shmu’s curation is quite different, starting with the cinnamon front note, but it retains a lot of the great effect features I love.