What's new

Bootlegger's Aftershave Reviews

proxy.php


Now that I have compiled all the ingredients and commenced blending, I will regularly be posting Bootlegger's Aftershave reviews on this thread. Acquiring the ingredients and transporting to my home in Western Australia has been an 18 month exercise, due to travel restrictions, the existing ban on airfreight for alcohol-based products (unless you pay a small fortune for a special licence), and the scarcity of some products for the very reasons above.

My thanks to @OkieStubble for your encouragement to post the reviews, and to the members of the B&B community who assisted in the development of the blends.

First cab off the rank will be the Original Bay Rum.
 
Review - Bootlegger's Original Bay Rum


proxy.php


Background

Bootlegger's Aftershaves are a product of the good members of the Badger and Blade Forum community, with the initiative spearheaded by @OkieStubble, who I am delighted to see has joined our Aussie Forum (Paste and Cut).
The Bootlegger's concept is to blend together a combination of drug-store aftershaves to produce a derivative product, hopefully with synergy such the blend results in a final product that is superior to the sum of its parts.

Recipe
  • 1 part Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum
  • 1 part Master Bay Rum
  • 1 part Superior 70 Alcoholado Bay Rum
Scent and Performance

It seems clear to me that much thought went into this blend. The Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum has a very robust scent, with cloves and spices doing the heavy hitting. Conversely, the Master and Superior 70 Bay Rums are fresher and lighter, with the Master having a slight sweetness, and the Superior 70 having a very pure bay leaf note. This results in a very satisfying blend that is versatile and can be used in warmer weather, whilst remaining faithful to the Bay Rum genre. I would rate the scent of this blend as having medium longevity as an aftershave splash.

The blending philosophy carries through with face feel and performance. The Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum is again robust, giving a resounding sting upon application, but can be a little drying. The Superior 70, whilst high in alcohol, seems to have a mitigating effect, and this is further enhanced by the Master Bay Rum, which contains substantial glycerin. On its own, I find the glycerin in the Master Bay Rum a little cloying, but the Bootlegger's blend thins this out, such that there is an initiative feeling of lubricity, which immediately dissipates leaving no residual stickiness. Nicely done indeed.

Summary

Outstanding work from @OkieStubble and the assisting B&B community members. The Bootlegger's Original Bay Rum blend satisfies the Bootlegger's prime directive - a product that is superior to the sum of its parts. The scent is beautifully balanced, and the face feel is refreshing, whilst having a moisturising effect without any residual sticky feeling. It has shot to the top of my Bay Rum aftershave list as equal favourite alongside DR Harris.
 
Review - Bootlegger's Perfecto Virginia

proxy.php


Bootlegger's Aftershaves are a product of the good members of the Badger and Blade Forum community, with the initiative spearheaded by @OkieStubble, who I am delighted to see has joined our Aussie Forum.
The Bootlegger's concept is to blend together a combination of drug-store aftershaves to produce a derivative product, hopefully with synergy such that the blend results in a final product that is superior to the sum of its parts.

Recipe
  • 1 part Master Bay Rum
  • 1 part Superior 70 Alcoholado Bay Rum
  • 1 part Vitos Colonia Tobacco
Note: Vitos have recently changed their bottle and label, but there is no mistaking the colour and scent.

Scent and Performance

As noted in the Bootlegger's Original Bay Rum review, the Master and Superior 70 Bay Rums are fresh and light styles, with the Master having a slight sweetness, and the Superior 70 having a very pure bay leaf note. The addition of the Vitos Tobacco gives the scent depth and warmth, with a touch of sweetness. It is a very masculine scent with a touch of sophistication, with the Bay Rum notes interplaying well with the Tobacco notes. Again, this is a very versatile blend that can easily be used in warm weather. I would rate the scent of this blend as having medium-high longevity as an aftershave splash.

The face feel and performance is very good. It has a refreshing rather than savage sting upon application, and the glycerin in the Master Bay Rum provides a nice moisturising effect upon dry down.

Summary

I knew I would like this blend, as I already am a fan of the Vitos Tobacco splash. Bootlegger's Perfecto Virginia has become my equal favourite Bootlegger's blend alongside El Dorado.
It makes me think of holidays, which can't be a bad thing! Outstanding work from @OkieStubble and the assisting B&B community members. You've kicked another goal with this one, Rob :thumbup: .
 
Just saw this! :a14: Well done, @Norman Gunston!

edit: The Clubman SR and Vanilla appear to be in Myrsol bottles ... :a39:

AA
Well spotted, Sir! They seem to benefit from being in glass rather than plastic. I have also done some Bootlegger's Blends using Myrsol bottles - they are just so damn cool. I attach a photo showing the flipside of the Myrsol Bottle featured in the review above.

proxy.php
 
Last edited:

OkieStubble

Dirty Donuts are so Good.
Great review @Norman Gunston Of the lighter tobacco version of Bootlegger's Perfecto Virginia. It's rare to see a Perfecto review since the Vito's is impossible to come by here. But if anyone can get access to it, It is well worth the trouble.

Looking forward to your review of the darker tobacco version in the Perfecto Maduro. :)
 
Review - Bootlegger's Green Freeze

proxy.php


Bootlegger's Aftershaves are a product of the good members of the Badger and Blade Forum community, with the initiative spearheaded by @OkieStubble, who I am delighted to see has joined our Aussie Forum.
The Bootlegger's concept is to blend together a combination of drug-store aftershaves to produce a derivative product, hopefully with synergy such that the blend results in a final product that is superior to the sum of its parts.

Recipe

  • 1 part Jeris Osage Rub
  • 1 part Mennen Skin Bracer Original

Scent and Performance

I have been using this aftershave daily for a little over a week now. The blend is more linear than the other Bootlegger's blends I have tried. It opens with a medicinal blast of menthol and eucalyptus from the Osage Rub. Comparing the Osage rub to, say, Proraso Green, it is more medicinal and has a much stronger menthol effect. What is very enjoyable after this opening is, as the menthol takes hold and invigorates your face, the scent mellows as the Skin Bracer comes to the fore. The sharp notes of the Osage Rub slowly merge into a warm welcoming vanilla scent.

The face feel and performance is very good. It is very refreshing and cooling, without too much sting upon application. Good all year round, but great in hot weather.

Summary

This is a blend that I was initially not sure on, but it has grown on me with use, and I now really enjoy it. Very refreshing, with a lovely vanilla dry down.
 
Review - Bootlegger's Green Freeze



Bootlegger's Aftershaves are a product of the good members of the Badger and Blade Forum community, with the initiative spearheaded by @OkieStubble, who I am delighted to see has joined our Aussie Forum.
The Bootlegger's concept is to blend together a combination of drug-store aftershaves to produce a derivative product, hopefully with synergy such that the blend results in a final product that is superior to the sum of its parts.

Recipe

  • 1 part Jeris Osage Rub
  • 1 part Mennen Skin Bracer Original.....

Thanks, Norman. Need to mix some of this up this summer. I've liked Skin Bracer for years, but didn't really care for medicinal zingof Osage Rub.
 
Review - Bootlegger's Arctic Lime


proxy.php


Background

Bootlegger's Aftershaves are a product of the good members of the Badger and Blade Forum community, with the initiative spearheaded by @OkieStubble, who I am delighted to see has joined our Aussie Forum.
The Bootlegger's concept is to blend together a combination of drug-store aftershaves to produce a derivative product, hopefully with synergy such the blend results in a final product that is superior to the sum of its parts.

Recipe
  • 1 part Jeris Osage Rub
  • 1 part Pinaud Lime Sec cologne
Scent and Performance

For me, this "green" variant blends together more homogeneously than Green Freeze. The Pinaud Lime Sec cologne is sweet and vibrant, and matches really well with the more austere medicinal notes of the Osage Rub, resulting in a nicely balanced scent. I would rate the scent of this blend as having medium longevity as an aftershave splash.

The face feel is very good with this blend. It is a very refreshing aftershave, with a nice alcohol bite and a good menthol hit.

Summary

More great work from @OkieStubble. Arctic Lime is perfect for hot weather, or anytime you feel like a refreshing pick me up.
 
And I thought I fell down a rabbit hole my first few years of wetshaving. I'm just a piker compared to the OP. The Arctic Lime is tempting, but I'll force myself to pass. In my early days, I was all for trying anything bay rum, I tried the original Bootleggers. It was just ok. I also tried each individually. I found Master's too sticky, and didn't like the scent of VIBR. 10 years ago, I was able to pick up a bunch of bottles of Superior 70 at a local pharmacy for under $4 a bottle. I still use S70 as an aftershave occasionally, but it's great for skin irritations on other parts of the body, like itching and bug bites.
 
Top Bottom