Deathstar, and Happy Star Wars Day!

Happy May the Fourth, or if you prefer, Happy Star Wars Day! Consider this my regular Monday post, it is just early for the holiday.

I saved Deathstar for this very occasion. I had been staring at it most of the month of April as I wrote review after review, just waiting to dip into this one for this very sacred nerd holiday. This rosin gets double nerd points not only because of its name, but for the grower and extractor. If you know, you know. Shout out to the team at Kalikori. I had the pleasure of meeting them recently. They are the friendliest people, and they grow and extract some of the best cannabis around.

Before I get into Deathstar, I would also like to talk about my new dab rig. Back in the Fall I bought for myself a Puffco Proxy. I had tried my friend’s Proxy, and it provided such a clean hit, plus it was so convenient to use and to clean, that I felt like I needed the upgrade. I know Puffco does not need my endorsement, and this has not been sponsored by Puffco in any way, but they have my endorsement nonetheless. The Proxy (whom we named Proxanne) is an excellent e-rig. Even with the base glass that it comes with – a Sherlock-style pipe – it provides a smooth hit. The atomizer chamber is easy to load, and the multi-temperature settings are easy to navigate with the single button. But the most impressive aspect of the Proxy is that it is modular. You can move the rubberized core unit from glass to glass, so you can upgrade the experience without having to buy a whole new rig. Many that are water bubblers, one of which is what I recently added to my collection. I bought a Ripple, and I was shocked at how much it improved an already fantastic dab hit. I used ice-cold water and let it sit on an ice pack in between dabs (because I couldn’t find our water bottle ice cube tray). I have dabbed more than just the Deathstar with my new Ripple (which we named Gary after Spongebob Squarepants’ pet snail), so I can say with confidence that it makes the hits dangerously smooth. Ironically, Gary also kind of looks like the Deathstar when it is firing its planet-destroying primary weapon.

Deathstar absolutely met my high expectations for Kalikori. The first part of the aroma that hits your nose is that broad citrus tone common to rosins that are high in Myrcene. It is not lemon or orange, it is just citrus. Just as that initial citrus begins to fade, the earthier and somewhat pungent smell from Deathstar’s parent Sour Diesel moves in. Diesel or gas aromas in cannabis seem to typically come from the dissonance between a rich or earthy tone and a bright or citrus tone. The contrast gives the aroma that distinct pungence that feels light and also heavy. Some diesel or gas strains lean toward a more chemical version of this aroma, and some lean more toward an organic version where you can differentiate between the high and low tones of the aroma. Deathstar is the latter.

It is a beautiful looking rosin. It has a light golden color, and a texture that is between buttery and waxy. The texture is perfect for just about any kind of dab rig. It is just a little sticky and very soft. It sticks to the spoon enough to get it to the rig, but almost falls right off of the spoon when it needs to.

The hits were so very clean and easy, and while I give some of that credit to Proxanne and Gary, it is clear that this Deathstar has those qualities itself as well. The vapor has a creamy texture, both smooth and buttery. The flavor is almost a direct translation of the aroma. The only minor distinction is that the pungent aroma seems better described as a funky flavor. Otherwise, the citrus and diesel notes carry over very well. Rarely does a strain’s aroma and flavor match this closely. They are usually very similar, but this one is distinctly more similar than the average concentrate.

The high produces a feeling of lightness. Both the head and body at first feel calm, and later on a bit sleepy. It is a happy high with some fuzziness around the edges, but is very heavy and stoney if you take big rips instead of little sips. This is where its strength really lies. Just like its namesake, it is most effective when it is not being subtle. Be warned, I got fairly noticeable dry mouth and felt very thirsty quite quickly. Otherwise I have no complaints. Deathstar is an excellent strain, and this rosin is just fantastic quality. If you’re seeking something that has the power to destroy plants, or even whole systems, look no further than this offering from Kalikori.