Origins and Backstory: Labeled as “Cherry West Backcross,” I received these seeds from @meangenefrommendocino a few years ago. They have since gone through several iterations, and I believe are currently available as a BX4 (meaning the variety has been backcrossed four times). Reputed as an early finisher as well as for its unique and diverse terpene profile, Cherry West is one of Freeborn Selections most differentiated varieties. I grew two females in two different gardens.
Appearance: Plants grew small, short in stature and bushy in structure. Despite the two females finishing at August 25 and September 9 in Colorado when temperatures are still fairly high and Summer-like, the plants finished with a variety of colors ranging from light and dark greens to purple and even some reds. Finished and dried flowers are a dark green, with muted tangerine pistils. If one looks closely enough, there are some purple accents to the flowers, but the purples and reds are not as pronounced as they are on the living plant. Trichomes and calyxes are relatively small but plentiful. The flowers are fairly chunky in structure, more like pinecones than fingers. Living plants are pretty to look at while the dried flowers are relatively unremarkable, especially in today’s climate of “blingy” weed.
Aroma: The high point of Cherry West, consistent with its reputation, is its aroma. Both living plant and dried flowers are a pleasure to smell, and ignite ones olfactory senses with pleasing sensations. Cherry West is certainly its own thing, but is reminiscent of Trainwreck, a variety of cannabis that was somewhat legendary in prohibition days but which I have not personally seen available in many years. It also reminds me of some Dutch weed, probably due to the high terpinolene (please don’t let that be a turn off. Cherry West is awesome). There are cherry-like fruit notes, bringing jolly ranchers and cough drops to mind. Overall the plant and dried flower are like a sweet, cherry-menthol cough drop, with distinct notes of sandalwood spice and even lemon-lime and lysol-like cleaning chemical tones present. This weed is also surprisingly skunky with classic “dank” tones, setting it apart from these older cultivars and sure to please the modern American palate. All of these notes make for a very diverse and complex aroma, one that seems to be universally appealing. People love huffing the jar as much as they enjoy breaking buds apart, and sniffing one’s fingers is essentially mandatory.
Flavor: A clean and complete transition from aroma, the flavor is also very enjoyable. It is sweet, with notes of cherry cough drop (some menthol present) as well as its sweet-spice tones that remind me of the above-mentioned Dutch varieties as well as Trainwreck. The flavor differs from aroma in that the chemical tones are not as present, and instead a botanical earthiness is there in the smoke, not unlike the sensation one gets when walking into a tomato greenhouse. Tokes from a bowl range from cherry to lemon-lime, but always the sweet-sandalwood-spice is present. As diverse and far-ranging as the aroma, the flavor is a really enjoyable sensation and keeps me coming back.
Effects: After watching this one grow and mentally placing it in a category with autoflowers and other oddball plants, I have been pleasantly surprised by the stoniness and very pleasant “satisfaction” element of Cherry West. Many strains bred for traits like early finishing tend to lack in potency and the satisfaction of smoking, either making me want to smoke much more than normal or even craving a different/another cultivar even just after smoking. Cherry West however is a warm, pleasing hybrid smoke that leans toward indica traits. It is relaxing and mellowing, but also inspires the unique perspective and way of thinking that is one of the pillar benefits of cannabis use. After a long day, a bowl of Cherry West brings on reflective thoughts both about the world as well as oneself. I also find music to be exceptionally enjoyable with Cherry West, and I find myself listening to songs I might normally skip with relish. Impressively and somewhat surprisingly, Cherry West’s smoke exhibits some of the best things we all know and love about cannabis.
Overall: Maybe I had relatively low expectations of this one to begin with, as I have seen a lot of mixed feedback regarding Cherry West. Some growers have complained that it is essentially an auto-flowering plant, and others have expressed their dislike for the terpinolene-rich aroma. These reports certainly colored my anticipation for the harvest, but I have found it to be unique in many ways, and enjoyable in almost all. The aroma while growing and dried is relatively similar, and highly varied, making for a complex olfactory experience that frequently prompts jar-sniffers to say, “wow, that’s crazy.” Profound words, I know—but in seriousness, Cherry West does have a distinctive and diverse aroma that I (as well as those I’ve shared with) really enjoy. This translates well into the flavor of the smoke, and I really savor green hits from a bowl—the complexity is varied enough that sometimes the first hit tastes more like cherry cough drops, and at other times is more like a lemony-sandalwood spice. Equally as enjoyable, in my opinion, are the effects. Not at all overwhelming, but surprisingly satisfying—I love the relaxed mellow effect that is still strong, and the reflective and insightful thoughts it brings. Cherry West also imparts a sweetness to music, new or old, that is deeply enjoyable. My favorite way to enjoy Cherry West has been at the end of a long, sober day, alone on my deck or porch with some headphones on. I love smoking CW while listening to music, looking up at the stars, and reflecting on my day and life. Another one of my favorite features of this weed is the early harvest—I love that it spreads out the work of trimming, and gives me some fresh weed to smoke while watching the other varieties mature. In fact, I have almost finished smoking all this weed while most of my plants are still in the ground. Cherry West is one more win for Freeborn Selections—an incredibly unique variety in almost every way, and one that is certainly worth keeping around and potentially breeding with.