The Connoisseur Category
Why Concentrates?
Concentrates are cannabis extracts that isolate the plant’s most desirable compounds — cannabinoids and terpenes — into a potent, flavorful form. Where flower typically tests at 15-28% THC, concentrates range from 60-90%+. Less material, more effect.
But potency is only part of the story. The best concentrates — especially live resin and rosin — preserve terpenes that get lost in other extraction methods. That means richer flavor and a fuller entourage effect. For people who care about how cannabis tastes and feels at a granular level, concentrates are the deepest expression of the plant.
This is the connoisseur category. It requires some equipment (a dab rig or e-rig) and a baseline understanding of dosing. If you’re new to concentrates, our budtenders can walk you through everything — what to buy, how to consume it, and how to dose responsibly.
Live Resin
Made from flash-frozen flower to preserve the full terpene profile. The gold standard for flavor chasers. Rich, aromatic, and closest to the living plant.
Badder / Budder
Whipped to a creamy, cake-batter consistency. Easy to scoop and dose. Excellent terpene retention and smooth hits.
Wax
A firmer, more malleable texture that’s easy to handle with a dab tool. Good balance of potency, flavor, and ease of use.
Shatter
Glass-like, translucent concentrate that snaps when broken. High purity. Stable and long-lasting if stored properly.
Rosin
Solventless — made with heat and pressure only, no chemicals. The cleanest extraction method. Premium pricing, premium quality.
60–90%+
THC Range
Concentrates pack 3-6x more THC per gram than flower. A rice-grain-sized dab is a full dose for most people.
New York Extractors
Concentrate Brands We Carry
MFNY
Live Resin
MFNY (Made For New York) produces some of the state’s best live resin badder. Flash-frozen at harvest to lock in the full terpene profile, their concentrates deliver exceptional flavor and potency. The go-to brand for dab enthusiasts at Wicked Reserve.
Browse MFNY →
Ithaca Organics
Known primarily for their craft flower, Ithaca Organics also produces concentrates that carry the same attention to terpene quality. Sun-grown source material from the Finger Lakes makes for clean, flavorful extracts.
Browse Ithaca Organics →
Buyer’s Guide
How to Choose & Consume Concentrates
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Extraction Methods
BHO (butane):
Common for wax, shatter, and badder. Clean when properly purged. CO2:
Produces a purer extract, often used for vape cartridges. Solventless (rosin):
Heat and pressure only — no chemicals. Purists prefer this method.
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How to Dab
Heat your banger or nail, let it cool to the right temp (low-temp dabs preserve flavor), drop in a rice-grain-sized piece, and inhale slowly. A carb cap helps regulate airflow. Start small — you can always take another dab, but you can’t un-take one.
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Equipment You’ll Need
Dab rig:
Glass water piece with a banger (quartz nail). E-rig:
Electronic rig with precise temp control — easier for beginners. Nectar collector:
A simple, portable straw-style device. Dab tool:
Metal or glass scoop for handling concentrate.
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Terpene Preservation
Live resin preserves the most terpenes because the flower is frozen immediately after harvest, before drying can degrade volatile compounds. This is why live resin tastes closer to the living plant than any other form of cannabis.
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Start Low, Go Slow
A single dab the size of a grain of rice (about 25-50mg of product) is a full dose. At 70% THC, that’s 17-35mg of THC — significantly more than a typical puff of flower. Wait 5-10 minutes between dabs to gauge the effect before taking more.
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Storage
Keep concentrates in their original silicone or glass container in a cool, dark place. Heat causes terpene degradation and texture changes. A refrigerator works for long-term storage, but let the product come to room temp before opening to prevent condensation.
FAQ
Common Questions About Concentrates
Concentrates can feel intimidating at first. Our budtenders are here to help — call us or stop by the bar.
What’s the difference between live resin and distillate?
Live resin is made from fresh-frozen cannabis flower, which preserves the full terpene profile — the compounds responsible for flavor and the entourage effect. Distillate is a highly refined extract that strips away nearly everything except THC. Distillate is potent but relatively flavorless on its own (manufacturers often add terpenes back in). Live resin costs more, but delivers a richer, more nuanced experience. If you care about flavor and the full cannabis experience, live resin is the better choice. MFNY
makes excellent live resin available at Wicked Reserve.
How do I consume concentrates?
The most common method is dabbing
— heating a quartz banger on a glass rig, letting it cool slightly, then placing a small amount of concentrate on the hot surface and inhaling the vapor through water. An e-rig(electronic rig like a Puffco Peak) simplifies this with precise temperature control and no torch required. A nectar collector
is a portable straw-style device you heat at one end and touch to the concentrate. You can also add small pieces of concentrate to a bowl of flower or inside a joint for a potency boost.
Are concentrates stronger than flower?
Yes, significantly. Flower typically tests between 15-28% THC. Concentrates range from 60-90%+ THC. A single dab the size of a rice grain delivers more THC than several puffs from a joint. This is why dosing matters — start with the smallest amount you can manage and wait 5-10 minutes before taking another. Concentrates are best suited for experienced cannabis consumers who have a tolerance and understand their limits.
What equipment do I need for concentrates?
At minimum, you need a dab rig(a glass water piece), a banger(quartz nail that fits the rig), a torch(butane torch to heat the banger), a dab tool(metal scoop for handling concentrate), and a carb cap(covers the banger to regulate airflow). If you want to skip the torch, an e-rig
is an all-in-one electronic device with built-in temperature control. For the simplest entry point, a nectar collector
is the most affordable and portable option. Ask our budtenders for recommendations based on your budget.