I was fortunate enough to have been sent a sample by Mo of the prototype Mallard base. I’ve bought every iteration of Mallard, and have always enjoyed the duck fat soap, and tended to use it when I wanted a very ‘protective’, ‘heavy’, post-shave feel.
I’ve had a few test lathers and a shave with the prototype Mallard. In fact, this morning I did a side by side with the original Mallard and the new prototype.
IMO, the new base is better in all regards. Based on those latherings and that shave, the new Mallard is:
A bit easier to lather.
A bit less thirsty, although it took as much water as I cared to add.
A bit ‘lighter’, less ‘dense’, although if I stopped halfway through my hydration process, I’d have an extremely dense lather that could easily shave even with a straight. Kairos is a bit denser-some prefer that, but if I stopped with Kairos at that point (5 ml water) I’d need to add more water before being able to shave with it.
The new Mallard has:
Much better residual glide. Approaching Kairos and Nai.
Better sheen.
A less unctuous feel between passes.
Better post-shave feel: Less heavy. It felt like I had just finished a shave and added a few drops of a post-shave serum. After a few minutes, that felt ‘absorbed’ into the skin, leaving a wonderful post-shave feel. With the original, there was a bit more of that heavy post-shave feel, reminiscent of the old DG Bison base.
I was actively looking for a 'down side' to the new Mallard base, but I couldn't find one! Unless one's preference is for the ultra-unctuous ultra-dense lather, the new base has it hands down.
Trying to be as objective as possible, I went very slowly with the lathers, adding RO water 1 ml at a time, used a synthetic because they're more consistent for me. I'm planning on doing a 'regular' lather soon with tap water, a quicker load and faster hydration, but based on what I've experienced, that should be no problem. And then from there the dense giant badgers (with which I have a love-hate relationship).