I’m only one man and can only smoke so much but in keeping with the public journaling theme I wanted a place to record the cultivars and cultivators that leave lasting impressions and as such are deserving of a bit of extra recognition IMO.
This is not by any means a fully comprehensive list. For starters, as stated, I’m a moderate smoker at most and I like to smoke at least 7-14grams of any given strain before forming an opinion about it. As such, there will inevitably be fire bud that isn’t on this list. Don’t freak, just shoot me a message with a recommendation!
There are also many factors that go into producing a quality finished product, including genetics selection, growing conditions, harvest timing, trim quality, curing process, shipping/dispensary storage, and lag between harvest and consumption. Obviously not all of these factors are in control of the farmers, such as how a given dispo stores their inventory and for how long.
All of these caveats aside, below are a some strains and growers that really opened my eyes, for different reasons (detailed), and as such, are all genetics and farms that I would return to in a heart beat and confidently recommend to my closest friends, which now includes you!
This list will be continually updated over time as I continue to work my way through the wonderful world of recreational market cannabis.
***Updated: 12/22/2023***
The Divine Nine
Think of this as a “all time best” list. It’s an open class of genetics that includes sativa-leaning, indica-leaning, and every type of hybrid in between. Fruity, earthy, skunky, gassy, all sensory experiences welcome. 100% flower. Mostly Oregon-grown.
| # | Cultivar | Cultivator | TL;DR | More |
| 1 | Tropicana Cookies | Focus North Gardens | The most tropicana-y of all the tropicanas, pure candy tangie with yeasty bready base notes. | Soon! |
| 2 | Sirius Black | Oregon Breeders Group | The deepest darkest purple purps you’ve ever peeped. Sweet over-ripened berries and grapes fit for the gods. | Soon! |
| 3 | Huckleberry Web | Deep Creek Gardens | This is award-winning 1:2 CBD:THC strain is a cross of Charlotte’s Web and Oregon Hucklebery #5 and it’s a big berry flavor bomb. | Read Here |
| 4 | Tang Breath | Fox Hollow Flora | Funky sweet sweaty tang this one combines sweetness of Tangie with a bit of rank for a truly unique terpene profile. | Read Here |
| 5 | Ice Cream Cake | Herbal Dynamics | Best of all the “cakes” I’ve tried to date. If you like cream or are a big Gelato smoker this one is for you. | Read Here |
| 6 | Soul Train | Eugreen | Big hitter, heavy on soil, earth, peppercorns, and dank gym sock. If you like dirt and funk this one slaps. | Read Here |
| 7 | MAC #1 | Evan’s Creek | There is a reason you see MAC everywhere. Evan’s Creek is the best iteration I’ve had to date. | Read Here |
| 8 | Colorado Sunshine | Focus North Gardens | I don’t always smoke brighter sativa-leaning genetics and I’ve only been to CO twice but the bright freshness this strain imparts is simply refreshing AF. | Read Here |
| 9 | Cold Snap | Focus North Gardens | Well balanced combination of familiar smooth smoking classic Biscotti with the sharpness of The Menthol. | Soon! |
Over time I intend to add more refined lists to this page of favorites with the ultimate aim of having sections for subsets like fruity strains, GMOs, gassiest fuels, best balanced, most productive, most sedating, etc.
It’ll be a lot of work but someone’s got to do it! Stay tuned!