MackTown Diesel Hashish by Spirit Extracts
We are quick to lavish praise upon the star; the one unafraid to go it alone. However, greater impact is often made when a mastermind of brain power is set upon a concept and it is the pursued tirelessly. Such is the case with MackTown Diesel, a collaboration between a dedicated farmer and a team of unstoppable resin collectors. What has been produced is mind-bending Hashish with the most glorious flavor.
MackTown Diesel was bred by Graham of Graham’s Brand based out of Humboldt, CA. An AK-47 and Sour Diesel cross, this high yielding Sativa produces lanky-but-chunky buds with an impressive 28.6% THC content. MackTown Diesel was grown indoor in a no-spray, hydroponic environment. It was dried and cured for two and a half weeks before being carefully handed off to Thomas (IG: @solventlessmind) and Amber (IG:@shesbubbly) of Spirit Extracts. The duo washes their high quality material by hand, assuring higher yield and better quality of the resulting resin. Graham’s top choice flowers along with Spirit Extracts’ unique approach to hashmaking has been a positive collaboration which has accumulated a few plaudits including:
- 2015 San Jose 420 Hempcon Dab Cup – Best Nonsolvent – La Tabula Rasa Rosin
- 2016 Trim Scene Competition – People’s Choice – MacTown Diesel
I would expect that such a high degree of skill, care and talent would have been discovered and nurtured by a dedicated mentor. However, in the spirit of DIY learning, Thomas learned how to make bubblehash from watching on YouTube the videos of pioneer Marc “Bubbleman” Richardson. An avid Butane Hash Oil maker for 11 years, Thomas made the switch to bubblehash when he came to the realization that he could make cleaner, better medicine that had powerful and pleasurable effects. Besides making bubblehash, Spirit Extracts produces rosin, isolated terpenes, capsules and a line of edibles which is forthcoming. For months, I have visually appreciated their creations. Honored with the opportunity to finally write about it, I looked forward to an amazing adventure.
It is summer in the Bay and, quite unusually, the weather is very hot. I get a call from my beautiful model friend Sarah Jain (IG:@sarahjain420) and we arrange to hit the beach. I am very eager as I have only enjoyed the sand a few times since moving from South Beach, Florida, two years ago. Besides, from her Instagram page, I can tell that Sarah Jain really knows how to enjoy fun in the sun. Driving to the beach is a white knuckle ride as Highway 1 clings to the edge of the Marin Headlands and precariously dangles off of the west coast of California. I have a vague notion of where I am headed and, without cell service, all I have is hope. I am running late and nervous that I will miss the opportunity to sunbathe and enjoy the Hashish in this most anticipated environment. Somehow, like a lone fishing line in a pond, she manages to snag my attention by jumping up and down on the side of the road. She and her friend Juliette (IG:@juliettefaer) had gone down without me and now, having come back to guide me, were antsy to get back to watching whales.
I hastily gather my things, making sure to pick up my rig, food, towels and purse. Totally encumbered by the multitude of bags and hindered by my flat soled sandals, I make my way gingerly behind the two of them. The small path winds along the cliff, crowded over by prickly and snagging bushes, wildflowers and loose gravel. The Pacific Ocean pulls my eyes to stare into the distance, but the danger beneath my feet keeps me concentrated on not dying.
Climbing over sharp rocks and avoiding a treacherous ravine has been almost too much for me to handle and I am grumpy by the time we finish our half mile trek. I am completely sober as the trip here was nerve-wracking and I really could use some THC. I can hear the water pounding into the sand and, though I cannot yet see the water, the sound alone is beginning to lift my spirits. Sarah Jain offers encouragement as she nimbly skirts the boulders standing in our way. Squeezing through a narrow passage, we emerge on a strip of rocky sand about 200 feet long. Bluish-black rocks standing 30 feet tall jut into the ocean in utter defiance of the thundering waves.
As the sun blasts down upon us, we consider whether the blistering heat will dampen our good times as we have no protective canopy. In any case, we are here, so we have to make the best of it. And how bad could it be? South Beach, my beach haunt for 13 years, is top optional, but this secluded beach is a favorite of nudists.
So, when in Rome…
We slide off our suits and bask in the loving glare of the sunlight. Dabs in nature are great, but naked dabs on the beach will be insane.
We set up our blanket on the craggy rocks and begin to take out our various concentrates and flowers. Having been honored as a High Times Cannabis Cup Solvent Judge a few weeks back, Sarah Jain has lots of delicious OGs that she wants to share. Juliette has some flowers, and I have the MackTown Diesel. We have all brought a variety of fruits to enjoy as well. Taking out her Silika glass dab rig, Sarah Jain wastes no time firing it up. I look around at the few other sun worshippers and they seem not to care that we have lit a butane torch out in the open. Sarah Jain explains to me that she never goes to any beaches in California that are not 420 friendly. That’s my kind of woman. After taking a bite of a juicy strawberry, she scoops a hefty dab of OG cake batter and takes a long pull. Her lips turn up at the corners and as exhales, she proclaims that the OG is so much sweeter with the flavor of strawberries lingering in her mouth. I have not matched foods with concentrates before. I had brought the cherries and blackberries to enjoy while we lounged on the sand, but Sarah Jain assures me my experience will be all the better for it.
I am dying to take a dab and I reach under my towel to retrieve the jars that I have kept hidden from the unrelenting sun. In the split second that I turn away, I hear a roar of exclamation – a whale has been spotted blowing air out of his spout. I quickly turn over, peering at the undulating blue sea. Before long, a large, dark figure emerges from the water and in a grand gesture flops into the water. This is my very first time seeing whales in the wild and I am mesmerized. What follows is 15 straight minutes of oohs and has as the newbies like me and the locals alike delight in the show of playful dolphins and whales unfolding before us.
The whales take a breather (no pun intended) and we refocus on our dabs. I would love to have some of her OGs, but I know the MackTown Diesel Hashish just might be even better. As I wait for my turn to use the torch, the whales begin their show again. It is like they can feel our admiration and appreciation. A man walks up to us asking for a light and he mentions that someone says we are smoking a bong. He goes on to compliment us in a decidedly non-creepy way and exclaims that we are the beach’s good luck charm because they have never seen the whales behave in such a fashion. I wonder if the whales can feel us coming into communion with everything around us.
I am still holding the jar of Hashish in my hand from 20 minutes before and I worry that excessive warmth may have ruined the look. I glance down and the oily balls of resin wrench my attention from the spectacular scene out in the ocean. Gazing into the small jar, I marvel at how the globes of the trichome heads look absolutely perfect. It is not lost on me that in the presence of whales skyhopping and breaching, I hold in my hand what looks like the most precious caviar.
Originally published in Weed World Magazine 124
