Few e-liquid profiles have stuck around as long as RY4. It has been on shop shelves since the earliest days of vaping, and it keeps coming back in new versions because it sits in a sweet spot that very few flavors manage to hit: it is a tobacco vape that does not taste harsh, and a dessert vape that does not taste like candy. One of the most popular modern takes on the style is BSX Series Butterscotch Reserve E-Liquid 60mL, which leans on butterscotch and caramel to soften the tobacco base. If you have seen “RY4” on a label and wondered what it actually means, how it tastes, and why butterscotch keeps showing up next to it, this guide covers all of it.
What Is RY4 Tobacco and What Does It Taste Like?
RY4 is best described as a sweetened tobacco. The base is usually a light to medium tobacco, closer to a mellow golden leaf than to a dark, smoky cigar. On top of that sits a layer of sweetness built from caramel and vanilla, and many versions add a touch of butterscotch, toffee, or nutty notes. The tobacco gives the vape its body and a slightly dry, earthy backbone, while the sweet layer rounds off the edges and leaves a smooth, warm finish on the exhale.
What surprises most people the first time they try RY4 is how gentle it is. Straight tobacco e-liquids can be peppery, woody, or bitter depending on the leaf they imitate. RY4 trades some of that bite for comfort. It is often compared to the smell of an open pouch of sweet pipe tobacco or to caramel drizzled over something toasted. That balance is the reason the profile appeals to two very different groups: vapers who usually reach for tobacco and want something a little richer, and dessert fans who want a flavor with more depth than another custard or cake.
Because RY4 is a style rather than a single recipe, no two brands make it exactly the same way. Some keep the tobacco front and center with only a light caramel touch. Others push the sweetness forward until the tobacco becomes a supporting note. Butterscotch-forward versions sit on the sweeter, creamier side of that range.
The name itself goes back to the very beginning of the modern e-cigarette. The most widely repeated explanation is that “RY” stands for Ruyan, the company behind some of the first commercial e-cigarettes, and that “4” marks the fourth tobacco recipe in their early lineup. Whether every detail of that story is exact or not, the name stuck, and over the following years e-liquid makers all over the world released their own RY4 interpretations.
That history explains why the term feels a bit like a genre label today. When a brand calls a flavor RY4, it is telling you to expect a smooth tobacco with caramel and vanilla sweetness, not a specific copy of one original formula. Some brands add their own twist and give the flavor a new name entirely, which is exactly what happens with blends such as Butterscotch Reserve, where the RY4 tobacco is listed as one of three main notes alongside butterscotch and caramel.
Why Do Butterscotch and Tobacco Work So Well Together in a Vape?
Butterscotch and caramel are close cousins, but they are not the same. Caramel is made by cooking sugar until it turns golden and develops a slightly bitter, toasted edge. Butterscotch is made with brown sugar and butter, which gives it a rounder, creamier, and more buttery taste with a hint of molasses. In an e-liquid, that difference matters. Caramel adds depth, while butterscotch adds richness and a soft mouthfeel.
Tobacco has natural earthy and slightly dry qualities, and sweet, buttery flavors are a classic match for that. It is the same logic behind pipe tobaccos that are cased with sugars or honey, or desserts that pair brown sugar with something toasty. The sweetness fills in the gaps where tobacco can feel thin, and the tobacco keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying.
Butterscotch Reserve is built around this idea in layers. According to the product details on our site, the inhale opens with sweet butterscotch, and the RY4 tobacco and creamy caramel come through on the exhale. That order is important. Leading with butterscotch makes the first impression soft and dessert-like, and letting the tobacco and caramel arrive afterward gives the vape a smoother, more grown-up finish. The result is a flavor that reads as dessert first and tobacco second, which is why it works for vapers who would not normally call themselves tobacco fans.
Is a blend like this a good all-day vape? For many vapers, yes. Sweet tobacco profiles tend to be easier to vape for long stretches than very sugary fruit or candy flavors, because the tobacco base keeps the palate from getting tired. Butterscotch Reserve is described as a dessert-tobacco blend made for all-day vaping, and its specifications support that kind of use. It is mixed at 70VG/30PG, which gives it a smooth draw and dense vapor, and it is formulated for sub-ohm setups, where higher airflow and lower-resistance coils bring out the creamy, layered notes.
Nicotine strength is the other part of the equation. Butterscotch Reserve is a freebase e-liquid offered in 0mg, 3mg, and 6mg. These lower strengths are the standard range for sub-ohm vaping, since larger clouds deliver more nicotine per puff than a mouth-to-lung pod does. If you prefer a lighter experience or want flavor without nicotine, 0mg keeps the full profile. If you want a noticeable but still smooth throat hit, 3mg or 6mg is where most sub-ohm vapers land.
The bottle format also suits daily use. It comes as a single 60mL bottle in a leak-resistant, child-proof unicorn bottle, which makes refilling a sub-ohm tank simple and keeps the liquid secure between fills. It is made in the USA, and it sits within the BSX Series line, which also includes straighter tobacco flavors and a range of bakery-style desserts if you want to rotate between profiles.
One practical tip: high-VG dessert blends like this one can be a little harder on coils than thin, fruity liquids, since sweeteners and thick bases build up over time. Keeping your wattage within the coil’s recommended range and priming new coils properly will help the flavor stay clean for longer.
Questions Vapers Often Ask About RY4
Is RY4 a strong tobacco flavor?
No. RY4 is usually one of the mildest tobacco styles available. The caramel and vanilla sweetness softens the tobacco, so it rarely tastes harsh or smoky. Butterscotch versions are even softer.
Is RY4 the same as caramel tobacco?
They are closely related, and many caramel tobacco e-liquids could be called RY4. The RY4 name generally signals a balance of tobacco, caramel, and vanilla, while a plain caramel tobacco may skip the vanilla or butterscotch layers.
Does RY4 e-liquid contain real tobacco?
Most RY4 e-liquids, including Butterscotch Reserve, recreate the taste of tobacco with flavorings rather than using tobacco leaf directly. The nicotine itself is the only tobacco-derived ingredient in nicotine-containing versions.
What device should I use for a 70VG RY4 blend?
A sub-ohm tank or a pod system with sub-ohm coils is the best match. Thick 70VG liquids need wider wicking channels and more power to vaporize properly, and that setup also brings out the creamy texture of butterscotch and caramel.
Can I get Butterscotch Reserve in nicotine-free form?
Yes. The 0mg option keeps the full butterscotch, tobacco, and caramel profile without any nicotine.
Wrapping Up
RY4 has lasted for so long because it solves a simple problem: it gives you the warmth and character of tobacco without the harshness, and the comfort of dessert without the sugar overload. Butterscotch blends take that idea one step further by adding a buttery, creamy layer that makes the profile feel even smoother. If you want to explore other sub-ohm options alongside it, browse our full range of freebase e-liquids. And if you want to try the style at its most dessert-friendly, BSX Series Butterscotch Reserve E-Liquid 60mL is an easy place to start, with its butterscotch inhale, RY4 tobacco body, and smooth caramel finish.