Last summer, when I was visiting Chicago during what you would call the “polar” opposite of their recent polar vortex, the heatwave drove my girlfriend and I into the protection of air conditioning for the length of July. Consequently, we discovered a show on Netflix called Moonshiners–a reality show about, well, moonshiners. If I learned anything from three straight seasons of viewing Appalachian men in their natural environment, and learning would be a stretch, I learned that White Lightning is code for moonshine. And who says TLC isn’t educational anymore.
White Lightning is a hybrid of White Widow x Northern Lights, both classic award winning strains. White Widow, one of the original designer strains, is an indica/sativa mix. World famous since the 90s. White Widow is the 1995 Cannabis Cup winner. So what do you find to blend baby batter with this already exceptional specimen: Northern Lights. A heavy hitter in the pure indica fields, this sexy bud is rarely seen alone on the dispensary boards and is almost always offered in hybrids. Respected for its incredible pain relief, it makes sense that it would appear in so many medical strains.
My eighth was made of puffy soft buds that were powdery to break down and a bit dry. Light green flowers and tons of crystals create a pale hue all across the bud, making them live up to their name. Once you rip them open, you are hit with a floral earthiness, like digging in the spring garden. Also expect an underlayed citrus cleaning product scent. It is a light, herbal smoke that can be slightly irritating in the throat.
This sativa leaning hybrid still carries with it some serious indica cred. They don’t work against each other, like some hybrids do. They work with each other,creating a blended high. My favorite was the nice hazy wake n’ bake. Dreamy and sensuous. It is a comforting stone that feels like a soft pillow hug to both the mind and the body. Clear headed enough to function, but don’t be surprised by fits of staring off into the distance and generalized forgetfulness. There is also useful pain relief, especially from the Northern Lights. White Lightning proves itself to be a classic high, with a generous helping of a variety of effects.
