Abstrax Tech Signature Series: The Art of Flavor Creation

Discover the revolutionary Signature Series Process and how it sets a new gold standard for cannabis aroma precision. 

In a world where cannabis terpene blends often only undergo five revisions or less, our Abstrax Signature Series process demands an unprecedented level of precision and dedication that far exceeds the norm. 

As the world’s only licensed and official terpene profiles of legendary cannabis, our Signature Series profiles understandably take YEARS to perfect. In doing so, we’ve redefined what’s possible in chemical analysis and flavor experience. That means “good enough” is never good enough. If a profile isn’t perfect, you’ll never see it.

So… how exactly do we accomplish that?

Fair question. Let’s just say it’s no cakewalk. There are no shortcuts, no quick fixes, and getting these profiles just right can mean starting the entire process over from the beginning. Learn more about the Signature Series and the revolutionary process required to create such perfect cannabis profiles.

1 | Phenohunting Cultivar Selection

If the whole point of the Signature Series is to honor the cultivation efforts of breeders, then phenohunting is where it all starts. So, how do we know which cuts are authentic? We believe there’s no one more qualified to identify the REAL cultivar than the individuals who created it in the first place. 

In the case of Bacio Gelato, that was Mario Guzman. When creating our Jack Herer Signature Series profile, we collaborated with the original Jack Herer Group. We believe the original cultivator(s) has the most authority to definitively say which samples are authentic. Every terpene company has a Gelato or a Jack Herer, but only Abstrax has the real deal and not a pale imitation. 

Even with all of their expertise, this is a labor of love. Guzman phenohunted through thousands of seeds to find the perfect cut of his flower.

2 | Industry-Defying Analytics

This may only be the second step, but we’re already deviating from how every other terpene company might approach a product like this. Once we have the ideal cut, we analyze it for well over 500 compounds using our one-of-a-kind 2-dimensional gas chromatography instrumentation. This includes newly discovered prenylated cannasulfur compounds (PCSCs) and tropicannasulfur compounds (TCSCs).

On average, other companies only test for 30-40 common compounds. At Abstrax, we know advanced analytical testing is the only way to formulate the most authentic cannabis profiles. Anything less than that is guesswork. 

3 | Terpene Sourcing & Refinement

Another vital component of formulating the most authentic cannabis terpene profiles is, you guessed it, the terpenes. After verifying that our raw material is free of any hazards or safety concerns, we refine them with flavor, aroma, and experience in mind.

It’s easy to get hung up on purity and percentages, but the end consumer doesn’t care if your isolates are 95% or 99% pure. They care about how it tastes, how it smells, and how it makes them feel. That’s why we source and refine our isolated terpenes by how they smell and taste. 

4 | Initial Formulation

Once we’ve acquired the perfect sample, performed advanced analytical testing, and refined our terpenes for maximum flavor and aroma, we can start formulating. Using our gold-standard analytical data as a recipe, the original terpene profile from the authentic cannabis sample is recreated from scratch.

While we design the initial formulation to be as close to an exact match as possible, sometimes… something is still missing. This is where the “art” part of flavor creation comes into play.

5 | The Art of Optimization

The initial formulation is very technical, but optimizing it to truly taste and smell like the original sample is an art. That means we need artists — enter Flavorists. 

Flavorists are essentially flavor chemists, but that’s not the whole picture. These experts are a unique mashup of scientists and artists. They spend countless hours crafting the perfect formulation using different terpenes, much like a painter mixes and uses different paint colors. It’s not just taking raw data and converting it into a product. Our flavorists tell stories with that data. 

They perform 1-to-1 sensory comparisons between the original flower and the formulated terpene blend. They tweak and optimize the formulation to achieve the most faithful technical and artistic match of the original cannabis. 

6 | Internal Sensory Panel

After our flavorists have a formulation they’re happy with, they hand it off to our Internal Sensory Panel. This is where R&D formulations are taste-tested and scored by a team… and sometimes, this is where formulas go to die.

That might sound dramatic, but our Sensory Panel is ruthless. If something isn’t genuinely incredible, they won’t approve it. The number of formulas they’ve rejected will always FAR exceed the number they approve. And when it comes to the Signature Series, they’re particularly cutthroat. 

Honestly, we like having such a vicious Sensory Panel. It’s how we make sure we’ve worked out all of the kinks before presenting a formulation to the original breeder. Unlike other terpene companies that might only give a blend a handful of revisions, it’s not unusual for a Signature Series profile to go through well over a hundred revisions.

7 | The Drawing Board

So, what happens when a formula is deemed unworthy? It goes back to the drawing board. The Sensory Panel will provide detailed notes and feedback for reformulation, and then our flavorists start back at Step 5 and perform additional optimizations. 

The process of formulating, optimizing, and testing will continue until it’s just right. It’s this rigorous system of checks and balances that ensures only the best products make it through to the finish line.

8 | The Ultimate Approval

By this time, our team may have gone through the previous steps a hundred times or more. Once we feel confident about our creation, we’ll present it to the original cultivator for feedback and approval.

In the case of Bacio Gelato, our team met with Mario and spent time sampling joints and carts infused with our Signature Series formulation. In addition to testing the flavor, we also discussed the overall experience to make sure it aligned with the sensory experience of Bacio Gelato.

This was not a one-and-done process either. Mario had notes. So, our team returned to the lab, repeated the whole process, and it took OVER FOUR YEARS to get it right. It wasn’t until we discovered the missing cannabis flavorants highlighted in our Science of Exotic Cannabis research that we had all the necessary components to do it justice. No one even knew these compounds were missing, so taking our time and working until it was perfect was the ONLY option.

Only after this unheard level of precision did we finally earn Mario’s sweet seal of approval. 

9 | Toxicology Safety Testing

Once we have approval from the cultivator, the final blend undergoes a final QC/QA analysis. Even though our raw materials have already been thoroughly vetted and screened for safety by this point, we ALWAYS check every finished formula for maximum product safety. This includes thoroughly testing everything from appearance and odor to residual solvents and pesticides.

Not only is our QC/QA team made up of best-in-class experts, but we’ve conducted the industry’s most extensive and comprehensive cannabis ingredient toxicology study to ensure the highest level of product safety of every terpene-based flavor for its intended use. Unlike others in the industry, our program significantly reduces the risk associated with product safety and regulatory compliance. 

Learn more about our Risk Assessment and Toxicological Evaluation Program (RA-TEP)

10 | Hybrid Packaging

Every aspect of our Signature Series is important, including the packaging. We want to honor the love that’s gone into the creation of these legendary cultivars and the hard work of our fantastic team. That’s why every bottle displays a unique blend of our two companies’ identities. 

Seriously, take a look at our Jack Herer and Bacio Gelato Signature Series products. Dope, right?

Additionally, we use opaque black, white, or aluminum bottles. This prevents UV degradation and keeps them fresher for longer. We even top off every bottle with inert argon gas to displace the oxygen and lock in freshness. 

Abstrax Signature Series | Creating Cannabis Flavor Perfection

We’re immensely proud of the work that goes into creating our Signature Series. It requires meticulous attention to detail and years of tireless work. Sometimes, we have to step up our game and discover entirely new compounds to get it right. That’s just what it takes. It’s incredibly hard work, but if it means the industry will have access to authentic profiles of iconic cultivars approved by the original breeders, then it’s work worth doing.

Interested in using our Signature Series profiles in your products? Ready to create your own Signature Series profile? Contact us today, and let’s get started.

Signature Series | Botanical Terpene Profiles

SHOP Bacio Gelato

Out of the tens of thousands of cultivars we’ve analyzed, Bacio Gelato reigns supreme as the gassiest strain ever measured. Created in partnership with Mario Guzman of Sherbinskis, this is the world’s only authentic and official Gelato terpene profile.

SHOP Jack Herer

Born from thousands of hours of research and development, the Signature Series represents a brand new age of authenticity in cannabis. Made in full collaboration with the cultivator themselves - this is the definitive Jack Herer.