Master Kush
aka Grandmaster Kush, Highrise, High Rise, Purple Socal Master Kush
- Earthy (48% of reported flavors)
- Pungent (28% of reported flavors)
- Pine (24% of reported flavors)
Purple SoCal Master Kush is a regional name applied to Master Kush, the Dutch classic that helped define the 1990s cannabis scene. Originally released by Sensi Seeds, Master Kush became internationally recognized after earning High Times Cannabis Cup wins in 1992 and 1993, cementing its reputation as a benchmark indica-leaning hybrid.
The genetics trace back to two indica landraces from opposite sides of the Hindu Kush mountains — one Afghan, one Indian. Some old heads argue Skunk #1 slipped in as the second parent, but the consensus holds it as a pure Kush cross, an heirloom that became a building block for countless modern indicas.
Its terpene mix leans on myrcene, caryophyllene, and limonene, delivering earthy musk, peppery hash spice, and a faint citrus lift. The smoke is equally vintage: woody and incense-heavy with a subtle sweet note on the finish — like a charas ball cracked open in a citrus grove.
Reports from longtime smokers paint it as an indica with discipline. The onset sharpens the senses and clears mental clutter before the body heaviness sets in, leaving users relaxed but not completely fogged. Keep it light and you'll catch focus and creativity; lean in and it folds into hunger, stillness, and sleep.
Three decades after its Cup wins, and with Snoop Dogg putting his stamp of approval on it, Master Kush still carries weight. Purple SoCal Master Kush proves that legends don't fade — they just keep finding new names.
According to White Label Seed Company, the Indica-leaning hybrid strain grows short and produces high yields of resinous buds in a 50-55 day flowering period. Best grown outdoors in relatively warm weather, Master Kush is reported to produce physically invigorating effects without the “stoney” effect from most Indicas. It’s said to have a vintage kush flavor that is both earthy and pungent, offering a taste that is reminiscent of charas, a handmade form of hashish that is popular across the Indian subcontinent. Master Kush won 1st Place in the Hydro category at the 1994 High Times Cannabis Cup.

