Today, we’re going to be doing a nicotine pouch review! The one we’re talking about today, Velo Ice Cool, is without a doubt one of the most popular ones out there so I felt like it was time to sit down and do a review of this one. I’ve had this flavor in a lot of iterations, names, and strengths, so I’ve become quite familiar with BAT’s “Ice Cool” flavor. This one originally launched as Lyft Ice Cool back in 2018, but was rebranded to Velo a few years ago. But, it’s the same products as that one, just with a new name. So, why don’t we check this one out? Throw in a portion and let’s do a review!
Opening up the catch lid, you’ll notice it’s on a little hinge. The can is white on top, but translucent around the sides so you can see the pouches through the can. Pretty neat. The flavor for this one says “a fresh and ice-cold mint flavor”. Each can weighs 14 grams and has 20 pouches, for 0.7 gram pouches. The nicotine content on the bottom of the can says 10mg/pouch. In total that’s 14.28mg/g, but ultimately what matters is the nicotine per pouch, because that’s what you actually experience.
Opening up the can, a sharp, icy, focused aroma of peppermint jumps out at you. I notice some menthol in the mix, and a subdued sweet presence to this one. The pouches are slim, soft, and moderately moist. Under the lip I feel a slight burn when I put one in, and then a gentle cooling sensation. In the flavor profile, it’s a pretty straightforward, present taste of peppermint. It’s a bold flavor, but not overly sweet which is nice. There’s a little menthol kicking around in the back, but it’s not too over the top. The nicotine kick on this one is pretty strong. Though it’s only 10mg/pouch, to me it feels to be closer to the strong level. The flavor hangs out a good 40-45, on average.
When you think about Swedish Snusexpress, there’s one brand that always comes to mind: General. General is, without a doubt, the most well known snus brand out there. And, for good cause! Every can packs an incredible high product quality and showcases the true heritage and history of Swedish Snus with every portion. The side of the can even bears the moniker “The Original Swedish Snus” to denote it’s important place in the history of snus. But what makes this one so great, and so popular? Well, today we’re going to dive in and check it out!
Popping off the top lid you’ll find this one has a standard catch lid for discarding your used portions if you aren’t near a trash receptacle. According to the details here on SnusExpress.com, this one is “an iconic and popular original portion snus from General with a traditional snus flavor of spicy tobacco topped by a touch of bergamot.” This bottom of the can notes that this one has a can weight of 24 grams. I counted 24 portions in the can, meaning each portion weighs 1 gram each. The nicotine strength sits at 8mg/g (0.8%), which is an easy 8mg per portion.
When I first got into snus, I wasn’t the biggest fan of General. But it quickly grew on me, and became one that I use every day. With every pouch, you can really feel and taste the quality in this one. In the aroma I notice a rich, dark tobacco character complimented by tart notes of bergamot. It has a slight hay-like quality to it, and smells fantastic. Each pouch is nice and plump, with just enough moisture that you get a quick release of flavor, but not a super heavy drip. The flavor is top notch. Bergamot is a great compliment to tobacco, accentuating the dark, rich tobacco character. The bergamot is tart, but not overbearing. I pick up a subtle saltiness to it, along with spicy notes of pepper.