Five Pawns: American Premium and E-liquids of Rare Quality

Five Pawns is not a brand like any other. Founded in California in 2012, it was the first to treat e-liquid as a luxury product, with complex recipes, premium ingredients and beautifully considered packaging. Castle Long, Grandmaster and Gambit have become global references. More than ten years on, Five Pawns is still the benchmark for high-end e-liquid. Here is everything worth knowing.

The Five Pawns story

Five Pawns was founded in 2012 in Irvine, California, by Rodney Jerabek. The idea was simple but bold: create e-liquids with the same rigour as a fine wine or an exceptional spirit. Every recipe is the result of several months of development, with dozens of versions tasted before the final product is signed off.

The name "Five Pawns" is a nod to chess: the five pawns of the original range, each named after the game (Gambit, Grandmaster, Castle Long, Queenside, Bowden's Mate). That strategy-game theme runs through the brand's whole identity, from the packaging to the names of the recipes.

Today Five Pawns is distributed in more than 50 countries and has won numerous international awards. The brand has widened its catalogue with several ranges while holding on to its premium positioning.

The Five Pawns ranges

Five Pawns has developed several collections over the years, each with its own identity:

The Signature range — The original five

These are the recipes that launched Five Pawns and defined the premium end of the e-liquid market. Five recipes, five pawns, five masterpieces. Available in 50 ml.

Castle Long — Bourbon, coconut, toasted almonds, vanilla

Castle Long is THE Five Pawns best-seller and one of the most famous e-liquids in the world. A complex blend of Kentucky bourbon whiskey, coconut, toasted almonds, brown sugar and vanilla. Every puff reveals another layer of flavour. This is the liquid that converted thousands of vapers to premium.

Grandmaster — Banana, peanut butter, caramel

Grandmaster is the second pillar of Five Pawns. The refined flavour of ripe banana cream folded into a delicious peanut butter, all draped in velvety caramel. Essential for anyone who loves rich, original dessert liquids.

Gambit — Apple, caramel, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream

Gambit plays the comfort card. A gentle blend of ripe apple and rich caramel, topped with delicious vanilla ice cream and a hint of whipped cream. Apple pie, the Five Pawns way.

Queenside — Blood orange, vanilla cream

Queenside is the most delicate of the range. A blood orange blended into a vanilla cream for a soft, perfectly balanced liquid. A unique fruity-creamy profile, ideal if you are after something less sweet.

Bowden's Mate — Chocolate, mint, vanilla

Bowden's Mate is the boldest of the five. A blend of chocolate and fresh mint, softened by a subtle note of vanilla. A liquid inspired by After Eight chocolates, at once smooth and refreshing.

• Castle Long 50 ml — Bourbon, coconut, almonds, vanilla — The outright masterpiece
• Grandmaster 50 ml — Banana, peanut, caramel — The legendary dessert
• Gambit 50 ml — Apple, caramel, vanilla — The comforting pie
• Queenside 50 ml — Blood orange, cream — The delicate one
• Bowden's Mate 50 ml — Chocolate, mint, vanilla — The refreshing one

The Tobacco range — Refined tobaccos

Five Pawns has applied its premium craft to tobacco, with three recipes that have won over lovers of classic, sophisticated flavours.

Royal Tobacco — Cuban tobacco, exotic fruits

Royal Tobacco serves up a generous, spiced Cuban tobacco lifted by a touch of exotic fruit. Rich and complex, like a cigar with real character.

Kingside Tobacco — Burley tobacco, barley, hops

Kingside Tobacco offers a Burley tobacco with soft notes of barley and hops, lifted by a heady hit of red berries. Original and perfectly balanced.

Elo Tobacco — Brazilian tobacco, citrus

Elo Tobacco puts Brazilian tobacco leaves at the centre, with a hint of citrus, for a rich, soft, earthy flavour.

• Royal Tobacco 50 ml — Cuban tobacco, exotic fruits — The refined cigar
• Kingside Tobacco 50 ml — Burley tobacco, barley, hops — The original
• Elo Tobacco 50 ml — Brazilian tobacco, citrus — The earthy one

Castle Long Reserve — The legend, barrel-aged

Castle Long Reserve is the ultimate version of Castle Long. Same recipe, but aged for several weeks in oak barrels for even deeper, more intense flavours. This is the cognac of e-liquids.

Five Pawns has spun this version into several variants:

• Castle Long Reserve 50 ml — The barrel-aged version — The ultimate classic
• Castle Long Reserve Custard 50 ml — Enriched with custard cream
• Castle Long Reserve Chocolate 50 ml — Enriched with silky chocolate

The other ranges

Five Pawns has widened its world with several complementary collections:

• Salted Caramel District One21 50 ml — Praline, cream, salted butter caramel
• Dillinger Villain Vapors 50 ml — Caramel, vanilla ice cream, confectioner's custard
• Cowboy Villain Vapors 50 ml — Mild tobacco, custard, vanilla, caramel
• Strawberries & Cream Plume Room 100 ml — Strawberries, silky cream — The large format
• Sweet Gambit 50 ml — Apple pie, buttery crust, whipped cream

Our Five Pawns top 5

If the brand is new to you, here are our five recommendations based on sales and customer feedback:

How should you vape Five Pawns?

Five Pawns e-liquids are designed for direct lung (DL) vaping. Their aromatic complexity comes through best with:

• A quality sub-ohm kit or tank
• Moderate power (40-70W) so the subtle flavours are not scorched
• A decent steep: Five Pawns liquids gain depth after a few days' rest

Like Five Pawns? Try these too...

If American premium is your thing, these brands should be right up your street:

• Moonshiners — High-end French desserts, crafted in Nantes
• Biggy Bear — Generous, flavour-packed desserts made in France
• Cloud Vapor — Premium e-liquids with elaborate flavours
• Millésime — Refined e-liquids for connoisseurs

FAQ

Where is Five Pawns made?

Five Pawns is an American brand founded in 2012 in Irvine, California. All its e-liquids are formulated and produced in the United States.

Which Five Pawns is the best?

Castle Long is the undisputed best-seller and our number one pick. Its bourbon-coconut-almond-vanilla blend is widely regarded as one of the finest dessert e-liquids in the world. For purists, Castle Long Reserve (aged in oak barrels) takes the experience further still.

Why is Five Pawns more expensive?

Five Pawns uses higher-grade ingredients and every recipe goes through several months of development. Castle Long Reserve is then aged in oak barrels, which lengthens the process further. That is the price of excellence and aromatic complexity.

Do Five Pawns e-liquids contain nicotine?

No, they are sold at 0 mg nicotine. To add nicotine, use an Unicorn Boost (20 mg nicotine booster).

In short

Five Pawns invented the premium e-liquid and keeps pushing at what is possible. From the legendary Castle Long to the refined tobaccos and the barrel-aged Reserve variants, every recipe is an exercise in patience and precision. This is a brand for anyone after something beyond the everyday, for anyone who wants to understand why vaping can be an art. All that is left is to taste it.