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Reviews Skunk Magazine

Xiaolin Cannagar

By Warren Bobrow @warrenbobrow

From the very moment that the outer packaging, deeply reminiscent of luxury Chinese incense with lustrous gold leaf on the outside of the box. This brings your attention to the strikingly handsome red lettering, and then the box opens to reveal the polished glass inner tube. From here, an almost mystical experience fills the room and your head. The box, upon examination in cannabis, nerd-speak reads several very important statements about the contents and the provenance of the flowers held within. The first and foremost is the name of this ultra-luxury cannagar. That is, quite simply, Made in Xiaolin. Turning the smooth paper packaging, in the shape of an octagon, and twisting it in a circle, reveals more pertinent information. Rolled Proper comes into view. This statement provides the quality framework for what rests within. The lettering states the name again, Made in Xiaolin. Pure luxury. Drilling down deeper, more information reveals itself with every twist of the wrist. Ring Gauge, in this case, the cannagar resting in my hand is a #40. Then, in block letters it reads information on the lit time, and in this case it is at least three hours! The flower is equally as important with the strain listed, making up this cannagar as Electric Lemon G flower and Electric Lemon G, Live Resin in the carefully chosen mix.

**Xiaolin doesn’t grow their own flowers, nor do they extract their own concentrates. 

Part of the art of a cannagar is the procurement of the finest raw materials depending on the harvest at the time. Crafted together to create a true work of living art. In my case, it’s ten grams of the most exceptionally well- propagated flower and two grams of the concentrate of the ‘chef’s’ choice. This amalgamation of raw materials comprises the cannagar. Glowing from within the inner glass tube, and the inner glow from the gold leaf wrapper. The cannagar is sealed from humidity and uncontrolled aging, with a secure, screw down closure for ease of access. Each ultra-high-end cannagar comes emblazoned with more of the luxury red and gold lettering that signifies elegance.

It reads Rolled Proper in gold and the lettering is carefully set handsomely upon the deeply colored, handsome red background. The packaging alone is representative of success, entrepreneurship and utter quality. It is safe to say that the packaging for this cannagar shows quite clearly the care and concern that goes into the assembly of each cannagar, as if it was the only cannagar made during the day. This is the quality quotient. When a product is created, not just to please the artist, but to offer a sense of self and luxury to the person fortunate enough to afford such opulence. If you are at the top of your game and want the very best cannagar that your hard-earned money can buy, find yourself one of these. It’s worth the effort because you are absolutely going to make it your business to find a Xiaolin Cannagar. As in the search for the Holy Grail, this is your quest. The Xiaolin Cannagar is a thing that exemplifies quality over quantity. It unlocks intellectualism and it makes you believe, deeply inside your CHI, that the enjoyment of this cannagar truly makes you one of the luckiest in the land. And the cost of this luxury?  Anywhere between $ 200 and $ 420 dollars in the USA depending on where you go. 

There is a scent that fills the room, and it is of perfectly aged flowers of the finest quality. Woven into a mixture of cannabis concentrate and freshly dried and then cured flowers. Good health comes into focus, because the experience of enjoying a Xiaolin Cannagar is not one to be rushed. Perhaps it’s the quality of the ingredients that bring the focus into view. First of all, the Xiaolin Cannagar is not a budget expenditure. The cannagar that I was fortunate to enjoy (via Carrier Pigeon), was assembled using absolutely the finest parts available in the marketplace. The outer wrapper is spun with SHINE gold leaf wrappers to form perfectly around the completely hand-crafted cannagar that will greatly exceed your expectations.

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Articles Reviews Tasting Notes

A Golden State Mini-Prerolls: Strikingly potent Gourmet Cannabis

Have you ever started smoking your typical one gram joint only to get so high that you cannot finish it? Or you’ve put that joint out, but the cannabis smoke that has drawn through the joint, making it sour tasting. Just smoked cannabis has a distinctive bouquet. It is not always a pleasurable scent reminiscent of used bong water. Not pleasant at all to me.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could encapsulate your favorite high-test cannabis strains in a miniature, hand-held easy to maneuver package that is not at all overpowering? What if your “sesh” was just the right size to enjoy but not be wasteful?

There are a multitude of mini-prerolls on the market these days. If you haven’t noticed them yet there is a reason. The larger sized prerolls just dominate the dispensary market, but not for long in my opinion. The convenience to the consumer is profound with each mini-preroll weighing in at about .52 of a gram. For the purpose of this article, each mini of the brand, offers a very personal experience. They are just the perfect size for your own sesh, which I must say is not overwhelming. You will get really high. It’s just enough and not too much.

It’s a nice touch to offer a mini-preroll that is weighed slightly overweight as well. As a person fairly familiar with the cannabis business, it’s nice to get a little bit extra when the quality is already so elevated.

Silver Cloud, Indica:

It’s refreshing to find an Indica strain that doesn’t bury me into the couch after only a couple drags. A Golden State has developed this cultivar to stimulate the mind, while relaxing the body. It’s quite uncanny how they do this. I also had a heightened appetite, something that hardly happens to me under any circumstance. I didn’t eat the entire chicken pot pie, only 9/10ths of it. The Silver Cloud is evocative with notes of citrus oil and cedar on the nose leading into dollops of pine sap and turned soil. It’s crystalline in the head, I was thinking clearly yet my body became very relaxed. Nice work!

Night Sky, Indica:

This strain is the night train to a place not yet discovered. My brain is sedated, and my body is relaxed and comfortable. There isn’t anything out of place and my dream-state is set way off in the background, yet I’m comfortable and peaceful all at the same time. This is cannabis for the late day and late evening. The flavors are of coconut meat, snipped French herbs and candied walnuts. Hints of earth and vanilla bean comes into view then works her magic around my palate up and into my brain. Night Sky is the Milky Way Galaxy…Without any sticky chocolate on your fingers.

Woods, Sativa:

The first thing I tasted was orange zest surrounding gobs of pine sap. The kind of sap that coats your windshield. If you were to lick that sap, it would taste just like the first hit of Woods. I’ve often described California cannabis as having fruit salad notes. This one is the diametric opposite to fruity. It’s a walk in the Redwood forest, surrounded by pine needles and shovelfuls of crushed minerals coated in pristine sea salt. This strain grabs your attention and draws you into a heightened state of intellect. It’s possible that the rabbit hole that you fall down will take you to into the study of Venetian glass. Well not really, this strain is brain food for that perfect refresher to your mindfulness. Smoking a mini-preroll of Woods is a vacation for your mind. If you want more of a buzz, smoke another one. This stuff really works her magic on my brain, or what little remains of my brain at the end of the day.

A Golden State is consistently offering the finest quality herbs in both flower and pre-roll formats. Each strain harvested from their own individually developed cultivars offering candor and intensity for the acutely aware connoisseur.

Make sure to check out: www.agoldenstate.com/

WARREN BOBROW

Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow

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Articles Reviews

A Golden State: Three New Strains for Epicure Experiences

Lake Shasta Snowmelt is what powers the textured and redolent cannabis from A Golden State in Northern California. This pure and pristine water source acts to give A Golden State cannabis the unique terroir that adds a certain taste of the place. I wanted to test my theory that A Golden State is unlike any cannabis I’ve enjoyed before by smoking it through two brand new smoking implements to me, namely the Session Bong and the other, a Higher Standards Beaker.

I also used my Stonedware “Purse-Pipe” with splendid results. You don’t need a deep lungful of weed smoke for an abundantly pleasurable smoking experience!

I procured three selections along with some lovely Indica-based, mini-joints that I hope to review in the coming weeks. The flavors are as follows: Lava Flower, Honey Flower and Silver Cloud.  https://www.agoldenstate.com/

Each of these ultra-luxury strains come packaged in eighth-ounce sized glass jars that are painted creamy white with their name, A Golden State penned in gold. There is a round sticker on top of the jar showing the individual strain name. Each sticker is printed in bright Pantone-type color. It’s really impressive to see up close, much care goes into the design of the packaging. This is a brilliant way to be recognized in on the shelf, their labels and micro-stories printed on the boxes really stand out. Each one subtly hinged on art-school worthy color palates that soothe and entice the consumer into a purchase. The consumer, intrigued by all these pigments, will find that A Golden State does more than just look good, the hand-tended cannabis smokes just as exquisitely.

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The Way to Bliss is Time Enough

420Waldos:  Why is a very important wristwatch for a very important time, and date so intriguing? And what is that time again? It is of course, 4:20 pm on 4/20. And what is it about this wristwatch that makes it irresistible? Tucked into that magic time, 4:20 is a little cannabis leaf. A smile ensues, followed by a belly laugh. But it’s not just serious fun watching the seconds tick by, it’s the importance of time itself, and the minutes and hours that move, like clockwork towards 4:20.

Here are the group of people who created the historically relevant name of 4:20 and they all have a verifiable and deeply fascinating back-story that involves a clandestine meeting. What time? That time of course, the most famous stoner time in the world. Four Twenty….
The day of that time of 4:20 is 4/20 of course. This rigorously documented history is true to the plant and with every sale of the 4:20 Waldo wristwatch,

(a fascinating story, click to the link, please read…) a portion of the proceeds goes towards the quest of the national legalization of cannabis.

As I gaze wistfully at this very special wristwatch on my wrist, as the hands of time gracefully move ever so much closer to that infamous little green cannabis leaf, I smile. That distinctive green cannabis leaf is of course located precisely at 4:20. I can take pause in knowing that this time is very special for everyone who knows the deeply inner meaning of 4:20 on 4/20. Not even my own Swiss wristwatch gently reminds me of 4:20 during the day, or night…

Fortunately, 4:20 comes twice a day. I can rest assured that the quality in this little glow in the dark- wristwatch will bring a smile to the wearer often and a fun conversation to all others. A win/win, good job to the history of 4:20 Waldo… on 4/20!

Introducing the North Coast Co.

Republic of North Coast “Box Pressed” Cannabis Cigars

Brilliance from the far north. One puff at a time.

North Coast Cannabis Co. Cannabis driven brilliance from “up north” and quite far away…

www.northcoast.co

There is an East Coast, there is a West Coast, but did you know that there is a North Coast? Well friends, there is a North Coast and it’s located up north in Michigan. What are they growing up in these northern climes? Some of the best cannabis in the country that you haven’t smoked yet is happening, right now in Detroit.

I was immediately charmed by the names of the blunts, cannarillos and joints. Each hand rolled version is carefully constructed from the finest locally grown artisanal herbs to offer the finest terroir of the place.

@fatheadfarms Banana Mac x Strawberries and Cream Donut- soft across the palate with bursts of beguiling fruit flavors. Comes on slowly but don’t let this subtle sweetness fool you, this is high test weed for sure. No beginners allowed!

@organic_mechanic78
It shouldn’t take too long to decide what blend is your favorite. Mine is the Organic Mechanic78 in a plethora of Candy rain donut. It weaves a story from that fog between your ears. Of course, that would be your brain. Stoned again. What?

@kentargal
@hash.freak
GMO and Key Lime Pie donut
Delicate Kentargal is not, but don’t let that strange name fool you. There is serious power in each metered draw. Each thrust into your lungs mesmerizes the body and sequesters your mind into droplets of stone fruit jam and oily citrus skin. Magnificent effort that took several hours from my mind and deposited them into the future tense.

@trichome_heavy
Katana Kush blunt
There are ways to an end and the trichome heavy Katana Kush blunt reminds me of each one. It’s hard to remain focused with this blunt. The mind just gets wiped away, without smothering the personality. Take a hit, or five. You’ll get pasted all over your couch. Enjoyable work this represents.

@pure_clouds
Bahama mama blunt
Pure Clouds offers remarkable aromatics of baby skunk, citrus, pine needle oil and crushed stones. Then of course there is the stone. Where did my brain go? Into the pure clouds of your intimate memories.

Read More Here At Skunk Magazine!

Thank you.  WB.

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Articles Reviews

Hydrology 9 NX and Artisan Canna Cigars

Why smoke cannabis from a joint when you can experience the very essence of the smoking experience with a Hydrology 9/Cloudious 9 Vaporizer.

I was fortunate to have used the prior incarnation of the Cloudious 9 and it served me well for a couple of years. It came to me, resembling a hand-held “Light Sword” from Star Wars and this early device did most things right. What it didn’t do well was the loading process, water sometimes got into the chamber, because the smoking chamber was located on the bottom of the chamber. Not a great design for a device that was quite expensive, and I had a couple of them. Aside from the funky light show, I had hoped for more at the time. Fast forward to the present, the next incarnation of the Cloudious 9.

The Hydrology 9 is the newest and coolest Cloudious 9 yet. NX is the sub-set/name and this completely redesigned vaporizer bong/dab rig is right at home with my fine flowers and ultra-luxe-concentrates. The learning curve is quite short, as this entire device is quite easy to learn how to use.

The NX is a water cooled- vaporizing vessel for both flower and even your super-critical concentrates.

I am extremely happy with the performance of my NX. The smoking experience is cool and robust, each vaporized hit of the flower is cooled by the liquid that you pour into the chamber.  I used Evian mineral water, you can use regular tap water, it’s up to you.

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Articles Reviews

Some vastly different Cannagars Yet all Are Absolutely Brilliant

WARREN BOBROW

I’ve decided that writing about cannagars has become a full time vocation. There are so many varieties and brands- and of course styles. The names of the ones I’ve tried and loved flash around my brain. They are all memorable. Some got me really stoned.

It wasn’t so long ago that I discovered cannagars. I have a feeling it was a cannagar from the the now making it in a really big way- Artisan Cannagar folks. I was doing a story in the Los Angeles area during my Forbes writing experiences and my meeting with Artisan was a fortuitous glimpse into my future. I didn’t know it at the time but smoking this first cannagar would serve as more than a mere metaphor for the coming years. I’m proud to announce that I survived smoking that cannagar because I didn’t smoke it all in one sitting. It lasted nearly a month. Lightweight? Me? Nah., I like to savor my cannagars and not get too wasted because smoking a cannagar is a commitment of more than time. A cannagar is potent stuff! Make no mistake. This is the top of the house, containing many grams of high quality cannabis and usually some kind of cannabis concentrate, like a live resin or THCa diamonds. One of my pro-tips is the easy purchase of a cigar cutter. I’ve been taking slices off particularly large cannagars and smoking them in human sized pieces. I know that is not quite the process when you’re just one person imbibing a cannagar.

Well, first of all… I have no one to smoke these multi-gram vacations with. And then I haven’t shared anything with anyone in a long, long time…Too bad. So, I enjoy metered slices of the cannagar experience, each in themselves a mini-vacation, rather than a full on Towlie involvement. Please do not ash your cannagar when you do smoke it. Just don’t do it.

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Articles Reviews Tasting Notes

Rythm: The Finest Cannabis in New Jersey

WARREN BOBROW

I can consider myself very lucky to be able to have a medical reason to enjoy cannabis in New Jersey. Yes, cannabis has just been made legal in our state, but that doesn’t mean you can buy it yet. The NJMMP has been very good to me, thank you. The pressure in my eyes thanks this program so I don’t have to use drops to alleviate my pressure. Medical cannabis reduces my symptoms and I’m generally easier to be around because of the way it helps me feel.

The medical cannabis program here in New Jersey has gotten much better for the consumer in regard to the overall quality of the weed. The cannabis was underwhelming for several years- to say the very least, but now there are many bright spots in the room that need discussing and celebrating. Usually I’m reviewing West Coast herb, so it’s refreshing to taste something from my backyard so to speak. They re-tune my palate and most importantly my head.

This is hard to explain, but even in regard to medical strains of indoor cannabis, there are nuances and various quality levels. Sure, the cannabis in New Jersey is still fiercely expensive, but I can tell you that quality is speaking volumes. And I made some new discoveries in the legal realm of medical cannabis in New Jersey. That’s good for the consumer who wants to smoke the good stuff.

Rise is the “storefront” dispensary located on the fringes of faded-industrial revolution, Paterson, New Jersey. My Pro-Tip disregard your gps and find Route 20. They are on Route 20 just next to a parking lot for about ten cars. It never gets too busy in there so be patient with the lot. They are cognizant of COVID, please remember your mask!  They sanitized my hands before I entered, checked my temperature, processed my card and sent me inside. Calling me by name was truly impressive customer service. They made me feel cared for. This level of watchfulness is job one at Rise, I hope they saw my smile under my mask.

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Reviews

A brief overview of mini-prerolls

WARREN BOBROW

It’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of sharing a joint with friends. Here in New Jersey, smoking cannabis in public is generally frowned upon. Dozens of people are arrested and incarcerated for the simple act of smoking a joint. With COVID deeply engrained into my sense of wellness and safety, it’s been many months since I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a sesh with others. We just don’t share fat doobs anymore and that’s probably for the best.

Which leads me to the next part of the equation. I cannot smoke an entire spliff of high end cannabis by myself. I’ll just get too wasted. I’m in this thing for the long haul, as in all day. I use cannabis like others snack during the day. That is, all the time. And with the average weight of pre-rolls coming in at least one gram in weight, smoking an entire joint is just too much for me. I don’t need to get that stoned, not if I have writing to do, or I’ll have a Towlie moment and fall down the long internet rabbit hole. I’ll forget to return that phone call or who I was just talking to…

Because I just wandered off.  Just like Towlie.

What I’m seeking is something different. A nice, well-rolled joint, but not a gram full. I’m far from a light-weight, having enjoyed the profound intellectualism of cannabis for about forty-eight years and counting.

I wouldn’t say I’ve just discovered mini-joints; they’ve been around for a while, it’s all we rolled back in the 1970’s. (Because I always had really good weed, just not very much of it!)

The quality level is really good in the world of mini-pre-rolls, if not better than smoking a full sized joint. Especially if you cannot smoke an entire joint in one sitting.

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https://www.skunkmagazine.com/an-brief-overview-of-mini-prerolls/

Big Rootz – World class super soil.
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Articles Reviews

Xiaolin Cannagars: A Mindful Experience

Xiaolin Cannagar

To become an authentic Shaolin Monk takes a lifetime of deep study. A Shaolin Monk practices certain ancient forms of Chinese Martial Arts for their entire life. Being one with nature is the ultimate ambition of the Shaolin Monk

The same holds true for the quest of supreme fineness. Each wispy inhalation, cajoled into a much different format than the pure training of martial arts.

That is, quite succinctly, the art of a Xiaolin Cannagar. I’ve had the good providence to imbibe several of these hand-crafted cannagar gems over the past few years, made by and smoked with profound mindfulness, by the master cannagar craftsman himself, Christopher Louie.

But first, what goes into a cannagar from Xiaolin?

That arrangement would be the tangle of ultra-exclusive herbs and ample drippings of exotic cannabis concentrates. Pressed, aged and pressed again into very specific stylistic forms, the shape is similar to a cigar.  But unlike the Puro Co, prepared with a shell of tobacco, the Xiaolin cannagar has no tobacco. It is comprised of the finest craft cannabis available in Colorado. These élite cultivars are nurtured in exceedingly small aggregates for a very selective few.

Then of course there are the cannabis concentrates.

Xiaolin Cannagars are not only built with the most wonderful cannabis flower, they are gushing with lushly scented and deeply persuasive cannabis concentrates. These carefully applied concentrates take the cannabis aficionado to another level. Pressed, aged in a humidity controlled setting and carefully hand-wrapped in a variety of casings, like rice paper, gold leaf foil (smokable) or combinations of handmade rolling paper that look like hundred-dollar bills. You can even get organically raised rose petals if you desire.

Each cannagar arrives formed by hand to exemplify these rare objects of desire. And they don’t come cheaply, so start saving your codder now.

If you find yourself in Colorado, make it your business to seek out a couple Xiaolin Cannagars for yourself and some more for your trusted friends.

But first you must find the time to smoke these beautiful creations that stem from genuinely creative minds, as each cannagar smokes for a minimum of one full hour and up to several hours depending on the size of the cannabis cigar or how much you can smoke in a sesh.

Xiaolin Cannagars will change your impression of what actually connotes gourmet craft cannabis. It’s the really good stuff!

Pro Tip?

Get yourself a sharp cigar cutter.

Read more here at Skunk Magazine! https://www.skunkmagazine.com/xiaolin-cannagars-a-mindful-experience//

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Tasting Notes

St. Ides Cannabis: Seriously Potent Cannabis With a Famous Name

St. Ides, the posterchild for the Soul Train era in the 70’s, touted itself as a potent, easy to consume beverage. St. Ides, the drink- is a malt liquor manufactured by the Pabst Brewing Company. The beverage contains 8.2% alcohol by volume, which is stronger than many high-alcohol malt liquors. At least that’s what their Wiki reads.

Now, enter ultra-high quality St. Ides Cannabis products. The labeling resembles the logo from the 1970’s, right down to the zig, zag “I” for Ides. If this logo looks familiar to you, this would be the same “I” that resides on the infamous 40 oz. cans of St. Ides Malt Liquor. These cans are ubiquitous in places where good friends meet to drink away the days and nights, against the sizzling heat of the summer.

Wouldn’t it be nice not to be forced to drink high gravity alcohol to have a nice time you’re your kind and generous friends?

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