Piescream One of a Kind Pre-Rolls by Mercy Grown
94 Points
This is now my THIRD review of a One of a Kind product and its unlikely to be my last.
Please don't ignore the massive glaring Bat Signal l'm throwing up, urging you to try these products. You'd be amazed at how many times I'm smoking a preroll and find myself comparing it directly against the joints and blunts from Ooak. They're that good.
You can tell the team behind this company, led by CEO Brandon Levine up in Sonoma County, knows how to create a truly special smoke because they live and breathe this stuff: top-tier genetics, small batches, easy cigarette-style rolls that smoke flawlessly, and often some pretty crazy collaborations providing premium concentrate for their infusions (e.g. Have Hash, Globs, etc.). It truly feels like the sort of brand Budist itself would build, designed to appeal to those obsessed with quality.
While I've loved their infused line, this is the first non-infused Ooak I'ye reviewed - and (spoiler alert) they haven't missed a step.
Aroma-wise, once you rip through the mylar and crack the plastic tube, you'll find yourself smacked in the face with potency. It smells like the wall of candles you'll find for sale at Target or a craft store like Michaels. It's certainly also nutty and sweet, like a pie or gelato shop, with a hint of fresh berries. The scent doesn't hang around too long but is positively heavenly. The dry hit delivered is night-and-day...think more that chemmy, gassy, plastic-y smell you get from cultivars like Permanent Marker. This flavor remains prominent, including after you spark it up.
Personally, I love these cig-style joints. Is it wrong to say they make me feel...cooler? Eat your heart out Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western. The burn on these is truly best-in-class - comically even and as slow as molasses. We're talking easily ~15-20 minutes for a single-gram joint and they give you 2x per pack.
The only downfall is that it's a *little* harsh, so some mild coughing is to be expected. The wood tip is a classy touch but also does slightly impact the intensity of the flavor, limiting how long it lingers on your palate.
Effects are primarily deep relaxation, an herbal antidepressant stacked with a nice buzz of uplifting energy. I'm feeling it tingling in my face, while my hands seem to be moving faster than ever when logging my notes. Look, none of this is surprising if you've had their products before. When you've got Mean Gene's historic genetics in play, a Wedding Pie x Cherry Limeade hybrid, you're destined to have a blast. This just took home first place "MVP" honors at the Budist x MJBiz MJBowl for non-infused California pre-rolls. Smoke it and see why.
Album Pairing: Balance // Eternal Realm by Danny Janklow + Elevation Band
I recently discovered these guys at Lou Lou's, the jazz club located inside of San Diego's Lafayette Hotel and they've remained in heavy rotation around the house. This is their newest album, which dropped only a few months ago, and it features absolutely blistering saxophone work by Danny J himself. The man is a virtuoso, also firing up the flute (and wind synth, when live) to craft a sooth soundscape of vibey moodiness.
What could be better than pairing these jazz tunes with one of OoaK's jazz cigarettes and slinking around your living room this holiday season with a fresh hot toddy?
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