on salePilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao - Ink Sample

I purchased a sample of Asa Gao in my first order from Goulet Pens (great packaging and shipping by the waythanks Goulet folks!). I have sparingly ink syringed this into a pilot Metropolitan medium, line was too big for me, and a Pilot Explorer fine where the line size was perfect for me. The ink flows well, never seems to clog and cleans up pretty easy. This blue really pops off the page and I like using it to write letters with. Using a fine point a little goes a long way. A bottle of this will be in my next Goblet order!

Asa-Gao was the first bottle of ink I ever purchased a couple of years of go. I loved the way it jumped off the page so vividly. I could see it very clearly and others asked me where I got this ink? My wife (who doesn't care for or use blue ever) wanted this in her pen. Recently, I purchased the asa-gao ink cartridges and put one in my vanishing point and was shocked at how muted the color was. It wasn't the same as my two year old bottle. Maybe my bottle from Amazon was mixed differently because looking at other reviews I see people saying it's not very vivid. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who's experienced this, but I'm still new at this, especially with ink. The ink writes well and dries pretty fast in my bold point.

After seeing what Kon-Peki could do, I was expecting similar fireworks from Asa-Gao, especially since it's an absolutely gorgeous ink in the vial. It looks like someone liquefied a high-quality amethyst gem and bottled the result. But when I write with it, it just falls flat, good paper or bad. I get some shading, but none of the color shifting or gradation I see with Kon-Peki. It's a fine, rich blue, but I had hoped for so much more.

I feel like a bit of imposter sitting here attempting to write an ink review when I really have only a little fountain pen/ink knowledge. I should add in my own defense, that I got an e-mail requesting a review. I don't possess (at least yet :) ) the insiders jargon, so I will give you an honest review in the language I have in my possession. To begin with, I was looking for an ink to replace my nearest & dearest, Watrerman Florida Blue, which may after all still be made, and sold under the name Serenity, but I have still not confirmed that. Then I discovered this Asa-gao (Morning Glory) by Iroshizuku. I think each of their ink names sounds like a haiku poem in themselves. I am a poet. A few years back I wrote a poem unlike the less- is - more approach more usual to me. It was about writing, and ink and remembering (or was that imagining?) and titled _Following Fancy Down a River_. Imagine my surprise when the Morning Glory ink began to embody what I'd imagined! What a beautiful blue. But it's how this ink feels that gets me! It is like it participates in what I am writing. I may be a novice at all of this but I am a happily amazed one. I have not yet tried the other two Iroshizuku samples I purchased, but can't wait. I love this ink.

It was great to be able to try an ink as I went with another of the samples blue I tried. Had purchased ink before and it did not look like the screen color. Thanks Goulet Pen