Vices (formerly Robb Vices) is a monthly luxury subscription box that sends subscribers a carefully curated assortment of high-end lifestyle goods that help you indulge your vices. Look forward to accessories, home decor, electronics, food, kitchen gadgets, booze, booze, and more booze! The subscription is somewhat geared towards guys, but we've found that most of their boxes are perfectly unisex.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Vices Subscription Box
The Subscription Box: Vices
The Cost: $129.95 per month + shipping ($14.95 to PA), or save with longer subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $50 off your first subscription (LUXURY50) or receive a FREE Altec Lansing ALT-500 Bluetooth Turntable valued at $149 (TURNTABLE.)
CODE: LUXURY50 or TURNTABLE
The Products: Each box contains a curated selection of products and experiences and provides subscribers with a taste of the good life!
Ships to: All states except AL, AK, HI, MS, ND, and UT.
Vices November 2020 Review
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Included is a handy booklet with all of our product info. These are always filled with tons of useful info and great images as well as additional details on the brands included inside.
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Ilegal Mezcal The Ilegal Collection, three bottles, 375 mL each - Retail Value $99.99
I don't know a ton about mezcal, other than it is similar to tequila in that it is made from agave. Tequila is only made from blue agave, while mezcal can be made from different types of agave, which seems a little more reasonable. I learned from the info book that tequila is made by steaming agave, while mezcal is made from smoking it, so mezcal is often more smoky and earthy. Ilegal Mezcal actually started out as an illegal gig, with founder John Rexer smuggling bottles from Mexico to Guatemala. When he couldn't keep up with the demand, he went legit, founding Ilegal Mezcal. This collection comes with three bottles, one unaged, one bourbon barrel rested, and the third aged for one year in new American oak barrels.
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Full disclosure, I have a hard time drinking liquor straight. It's not a taste I have acquired over time. But I did try all three of these solo, just for you! The unaged mezcal was the one with the most heat for me. It was a little overwhelming actually! But I did notice the sweetness and a whole lot of smoke! My whole mouth was hot after this! I found the barrel rested had a more mild and sweet flavor, with less hot-hot heat and more woodsiness! The darkest aged one-year mezcal was my favorite because it was the most drinkable. Compared to the unaged, it was darn mellow! It had a sweet caramel element blended with a little wood and smoke that was pretty pleasant!
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Cocktail Kingdom Veladora Mezcal Glass - Buy 6 glasses for $12.99
Mezcal is usually presented in these smaller glasses. This style of glass was originally designed to be a votive in a church (peek the cross on the bottom of each!) and they are about the size of a standard votive holder. Mezcal is meant to be sipped not tossed back, though I found that a little difficult! More on that later...
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Watermelon Road Mango Margarita Mango Slices, 1.5 oz - Buy 4 bags for $24.00
I am someone who despises spicy foods, but mango + chili is a huge exception to this rule for me. Something about the sweetness mixed with the heat is delightful! Seriously, these are my favorite candy! These might have had just a little too much heat, but I still enjoyed them. I found that I preferred them in a cocktail more than eaten alone. Again, more on that below!
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Dardimans Creme Blood Orange Crisps, 9 g - Retail Value $2.49
While these dried blood oranges dipped in white chocolate might have made a great cocktail garnish, they honestly didn't stand a chance. I ate them up like chips! The bitterness of the blood orange rind and the cream of the chocolate was delicious. Vice team, you could have sent the bigger bag!
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Olive & Sinclair Cinnamon Chili Chocolate Bar, 2.5 oz - Retail Value $7.50
I usually like milk chocolate, but something about the flavors here got me a little excited. This mix of chili, cinnamon, and dark chocolate automatically makes me think of a big mug of Mexican hot chocolate! This takes a lot less prep work and has the same delightful flavor, so it's a win. This dark chocolate has a very, very mild chili bite as well as crunchy cinnamon bits. It is so flavorful that one or two squares are a satisfying snack!
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Bunches and Bunches Smoked Oaxacan Mole Sauce, 15 oz - Retail Value $13.00
My last item was a big jar of mole sauce that, sadly, was much too spicy. I really like mole sauce because even when it's mild it's a flavorful, earthy, and slightly sweet addition to enchiladas or even just on tacos. Since Will loves hot foods, I decided to brush it on a chicken that I roasted for his dinner one night. He absolutely loved the smokiness!
Ready for a little cocktail?
I made this little drink with items I had on hand. It is super simple but yummy.
- 1 oz mezcal (I used the unaged)
- 1 oz grenadine
- 4 oz seltzer
Stir with a mango margarita slice!
It was a nice mix of smokey and sweet, and somehow felt a little festive!
Verdict: This was a super fun Vices box, but as with last month, the value leaves a bit to be desired. Everything totals to around $135.48 which is CLOSE to the box price of $129.95 before shipping. I think this box has course-corrected in terms of curation and theme, but in my opinion, the value really needs work. I would imagine that most subscribers spending $129.95 on a box would want to receive at least a little more value than they invested into this box. And Vices just isn't there yet.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Sign up by the 1st of the month to receive that month's box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $50 off your first subscription (LUXURY50) or receive a FREE Altec Lansing ALT-500 Bluetooth Turntable valued at $149 (TURNTABLE.)
CODE: LUXURY50 or TURNTABLE
Value Breakdown: This box costs $144.90 ($129.95 + $14.95 shipping to PA) meaning each of the items has an average cost of $24.15.
Check out all of our Vices reviews and check out the best subscription boxes as recommended by MSA readers like you!
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What do you think of the November 2020 box from Vices?
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