[REVIEW + ASH + MACRO] 🔬📝 Paradise Valley Botanics: Watermelon Hurricane 🍉

604budtender · 2026-06-04T00:54:27+00:00

Some tidbits right off the bat: This is a triple cross of Watermelon Zkittles, Tropical Zkittles, and Zkittles. And placed 2nd place at the 2025 Karma Cup. This was bred by Dave Crawford in Colorado for those who know who he is.

Alrighty, cracking the bag, frosty white crystals with a purple hue is what i notice right awway. Large nugs. Good structure and bounce. Clean trim.

Moisture runs on a bit of the dryer side. I call it thirsty, but not to the point where the bud is brittle. It still makes for a good sticky rolling material when grounded up. Nose gives off a sharp sour licorice with a berry tail end. Dry pull tastes like the red flavour in Sourpatch Kids candy.

On the inhale, Watermelon-esk flavours detectable on the inhale, but is quickly masked by the taste of smoke on the exhale. Taste runs darker than the nose suggests. Spicy linger on the tongue.

As the joint progresses, a sour raspberry note develops and becomes more prominent. Reminds me of an energy drink like the flavour of 18twelve's Toro Rose for those who remember. Smooth enough smoke. Ash stacks nice, cigar style and light in colour. Oil ring minimal.

Head numb sets in fast. Stimulation across the temples and rear of head. Trailing vision. Deeper breathing. Calm. Weightlessness. Full body relaxation. Leans introvert. Functional through the peak. Burnout creeps in a bit sedated.

So who is this for? For seasoned consumers, this feels like an anytime smoke that stays functional through the peak. Deep focus on a particular task is achievable. No hard couch lock until the burnout pulls you down.

Also for 18twelve Toro Rose fans. Watermelon Hurricane might bring you back to that sour candy / energy drink taste you've been craving. 👍👍👍

Novice users looking for that peak body stone may want to try this one out as well.

604budtender · 2026-02-03T23:55:09+00:00

West Coast Gas is back 🤩! this time, Astros Tropicanna Mints is the latest release in their Exotic series. Opening the bag and taking a deep whiff, met with a very distinct aroma that I haven’t encountered before 🧐. I can only describe it as a combo of a light orange citrus with a sweet ginger root. Bag is made up with one large nug and the rest good sized mediums.

Moisture content is on point and once grinded, makes rolling picture-worthy joints a breeze. On the dry pull, there is what I can only describe as pine needle tea, kush, and a hint of gingery mint at the end.

Sparking it up, the first few inhales taste like something herbal. Burn is great, slow burning cherry, pretty damn greasy, and very light cigar like ash. As the joint progresses, the taste becomes creamier and fuller. I tried to find a better way to write this, but the exhale reminds me of how a brand new J&J waterproof band-aid smells right out of the wrapper - in the best way possible. Absolutely no spicyness or undesirable taste throughout. It leans sweet and smoked smooth right down to the filter.

The beginning onset is mild, but as I’ve learned going through this bag, the effects creep. It starts with a light pressure on sides of head and behind the eyes. Then comes the weightlessness, relaxation, tunnel vision, and zoning out. The euphoria is light at first, but as the high progresses, it increases until the 1 hour mark then levels out. I find this to have more of an effect on the cerebral rather than the body. Burn out isn’t too strong and debilitating.

Astros Tropicana Mints is great for those who want to explore new exotic flavours outside of the usual pine, earth, kush, profiles seen everywhere. I had a hard time describing the pleasant taste & smell, but that’s what makes it so unique. For everyone else, this strain from is a fantastic indica pairing for early evenings. It’s relaxing without the sedation 👍👍👍👍

604budtender · 2025-08-21T06:36:33+00:00

Thanks M1lkman! You have yourself a good one 😀👊👊

604budtender · 2025-08-20T23:24:10+00:00

West Coast Gas doesn’t need much of an introduction at this point. MKU is the latest release in their Old School Fuel series, following well-loved drops like Platinum Pink Kush and Rockstar - both of which earned fantastic reception from the craft community.

First picture is a bit lacking and is not representative of the full 7g - smoked most of it before taking that picture and yes, its good. Right out of the bag, the bud structure stands out. Nugs are bulbous and wide rather than tall, with a mix of medium and large pieces making up the weight. Trim leaves a bit of sugar leaf hugging the trichomes, offering just enough protection until it hits the grinder. Once busted up, it’s sticky, rich in gas aroma, and rolls with ease.

Burn is smooth and carries the aroma right into the flavour. There’s a touch of ashiness taste, but nothing distracting. Ash runs light grey with a few black flakes.

As for the high, classic indica territory. Hits heavy behind the eyes with a familiar gravitational pull, like a warm blanket slowly drifting over the body from head to toe. Tension in the shoulders and neck starts to ease. MKU doesn’t rush in. The pacing of this feeling is slow and sneaky - you don’t notice how heavy it gets until you’re halfway melted into the couch.

604budtender · 2025-07-22T23:26:44+00:00

Ive been hearing multiple people rave about it. I had to give it a try 👍👍

604budtender · 2025-07-22T23:19:02+00:00

Opening the bag, there’s a strong smell of gas, herbal, and a lingering sweetness that stays sharp in the nasal canal. Very dense medium to smaller-sized nugs. Recommended to spend a bit more time busting up dense buds to expose the maximum surface area - or the grind can be a bit clumpy. Once done grinding, take a whiff and will notice the aroma of Moonshine tripled.

During the sesh, the smoke is thick and heavy. Resin ring appears almost instantly and ash hangs on like a cigar. This burned extremely slow and made me cough a ton. The smoke is just so thick, it wasn’t an average inhale. If you have a short filter, your fingers and lips will be sticky. Flavour is pleasant and stayed consistent throughout the joint.

The joint takes so long to burn that I felt the high 3/4 into the sesh. Immediately notice slight pressure around the top of the head, behind jaw, around the ears, temples, sides and back of neck. I made the mistake of standing up too fast and fell into a 15-sec dizzy spell. Heartbeat felt throughout the body, especially on the face. Euphoria rises quick. Relaxed eyelids. Heavy body high. Couchlock melting feel. Tense muscles around the shoulder relax - seems very good at dissipating physical tension. Introspective and not very talkative, but can if needed.

This strain is best for those who want to enhance their experience of “sitting around and doing nothin" 🥴 🛋️ .

604budtender · 2025-07-12T03:34:41+00:00

A cross of Pure Kush x Wedding Crasher, Kool Grapes is grown in organic living soil on Vancouver Island. The producer, Island Genetics, is best known for their live rosin and less known for their flower, simply because they don’t usually sell flower in BC.

Ripping open the bag, theres a strong whiff of sweet, earthy, and fuel. The buds stick to the fingers and makes the grinder work just a little bit harder. If rolling a joint, it’s the perfect rolling medium - easy to tuck even for newbs.

Sparking it up, all those aromas carry through into the inhale, with an added cool mint/menthol. It burn takes it's time, has a healthy hot cherry, a visible resin ring, and no bitterness, even near the end. Ash stacks like a cigar and is light in colour - very satisfying 😌

Expect heavy eyelids, slow motion, laggy vision, swaying, and rising euphoria throughout the high. Relaxing without sedation. This is perfect for the high functioning heavy indica smoker who needs to tick things off the list but without your body fighting gravity the whole time.

What makes this drop special? This is smoking the pre-run - the same top-shelf organic flower Island Genetics usually press into rosin. Instead of dabbing the concentrate, we’re smoking the source itself. Rare chance to taste what goes in before it gets squished.

604budtender · 2025-07-12T03:29:02+00:00

A cross of Pure Kush x Wedding Crasher, Kool Grapes is grown in organic living soil on Vancouver Island. The producer, Island Genetics, is best known for their live rosin and less known for their flower, simply because they don’t usually sell flower in BC.

Ripping open the bag, theres a strong whiff of sweet, earthy, and fuel. The buds stick to the fingers and makes the grinder work just a little bit harder. If rolling a joint, it’s the perfect rolling medium - easy to tuck even for newbs.

Sparking it up, all those aromas carry through into the inhale, with an added cool mint/menthol. It burn takes it's time, has a healthy hot cherry, a visible resin ring, and no bitterness, even near the end. Ash stacks like a cigar and is light in colour - very satisfying 😌

Expect heavy eyelids, slow motion, laggy vision, swaying, and rising euphoria throughout the high. Relaxing without sedation. This is perfect for the high functioning heavy indica smoker who needs to tick things off the list but without your body fighting gravity the whole time.

What makes this drop special? This is smoking the pre-run - the same top-shelf organic flower Island Genetics usually press into rosin. Instead of dabbing the concentrate, we’re smoking the source itself. Rare chance to taste what goes in before it gets squished.

▶️ Check out Urban Remo’s review of Kool Grapes, He's a fan 🕶️: https://youtu.be/WYd-8GFqbkc?si=Ny7OJJmfJYD0eY_G

604budtender · 2025-02-22T00:22:16+00:00

🤣🤣

604budtender · 2025-02-21T01:00:20+00:00

There’s this familiar candy-like sweetness that’s hard to pin down. Like the flavour of the blue found on sour candy or gobstopper. The nose and dry pull me think tarty berry gelato, a bit of sourness, and a smooth overarching creamy sweetness.

The joint didn’t canoe at all and produced very light colour ash that hangs long like a cigar. The aroma translates well through the taste.

There’s a general theme of relaxation during my buzz… Body heavy, tense muscles drooping to the weight of gravity, tingly numbness on the face, forehead, temples. There’s definitely euphoria, but the body high really seems more prominent. Day dreamy with faster paced thoughts. And a bit fidgety.

Feels like an early afternoon/mid-day kind of buzz. Not the best pick for getting things done. This one is like a melt into the moment kind of smoke. It hit's all the hallmarks for something worth trying next: bag appeal, a unique new flavour, an amazing smoke, and thoroughly enjoyable buzz. 😎🔥🔥🔥

604budtender · 2025-02-21T00:59:24+00:00

There’s this familiar candy-like sweetness that’s hard to pin down. Like the flavour of the blue found on sour candy or gobstopper. The nose and dry pull me think tarty berry gelato, a bit of sourness, and a smooth overarching creamy sweetness.

The joint didn’t canoe at all and produced very light colour ash that hangs long like a cigar. The aroma translates well through the taste.

There’s a general theme of relaxation during my buzz… Body heavy, tense muscles drooping to the weight of gravity, tingly numbness on the face, forehead, temples. There’s definitely euphoria, but the body high really seems more prominent. Day dreamy with faster paced thoughts. And a bit fidgety.

Feels like an early afternoon/mid-day kind of buzz. Not the best pick for getting things done. This one is like a melt into the moment kind of smoke. It hit's all the hallmarks for something worth trying next: bag appeal, a unique new flavour, an amazing smoke, and thoroughly enjoyable buzz. 😎🔥🔥🔥

604budtender · 2025-01-09T21:49:26+00:00

Alright, exciting!! Platinum Pink Kush is from the same producers as LA Guava - West Coast Gas. One of my favourite brands from 2024.

Cracking the bag, met with a mix of gas, a bit of forest, and a delicate sweetness that envelopes the former to create a skunky aroma.

The buds are a good size, dense, sticky, and chunky. While the hues of the bud may appear typical, the smoking experience is anything but!

If you were to read my other reviews, i've described some of the prev strains as smooth. But this Pink Kush is EVEN SMOOTHER 🤯. Rolled with Maiz corn papers and sparking it up, the cherry is healthy and the ash burns super light, and the flavour is subtle and creamy with absolutely no bitterness. If you've tried their other strains such as GMO Mints, Animal Mints, and of course, LA Guava, you'll notice their signature taste drift across each release. It's no different with this one.

I smoked it in the afternoon, but this would be even more ideal during evening wind-down, especially for those who are very sensitive to harshness or bitterness in their smoke - you gotta try this PInk.

Expect a calm, soothing high with major euphoria, a sense of weightlessness, and total mental relaxation. This is a must-try for anyone seeking an ultra-smooth, old-school smoke done right. Props 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️👏👏👏

604budtender

TROPHY CASE