Tuesday 30 April 2013

Curious Jorge by The Standard

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.


I think a good case could be made for the fact that this E-liquid was named after Curious George, a diminutive monkey who was brought to life in a series of books by French couple Margret Rey (writing) and Hans Augusto Rey (illustrations), beginning with "Curious George" in 1941. Curious George became a phenomena with three series of books, two series of telefilms, a handful of feature length films, a computer game and numerous references in other vectors of popular culture. Curious George was Forrest Gump's favourite book. Thanks Wikipedia.

Curious Jorge by The Standard was kindly sent to me by Vape Revolution http://shop.vaperev.com/ who are based in Cerritos, California. This E-liquid is available in a 30ml bottle with nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24mg and costs $22.00. PG/VG ratios are unspecified. The Vape Revolution website describes Curious Jorge as "Banana banana banana and then some more Banana!!"

Packaging and presentation of The Standard range is excellent. The bottle is a thick, clear, cuboid glass with a black, plastic screw top cap. The label wraps around two and a quarter sides and the graphic design is considered and very accomplished. The label has a picture of a chimp on it. I'm already won over. The label also contains the name of the liquid, the brand name, nicotine strength and a warning to keep out of the reach of children. In terms of aesthetics, somebody with an artistic bone in their body has done the work and as I mentioned in my review of Cell Block Four, http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/cell-block-four-by-standard.html this contributes significantly to my appreciation of this liquid.

The bottle doesn't come with a dripper however, so you'll need to use a syringe, pipette or eye dropper, all of which are cheap and readily available online or at your local pharmacy. The screw top cap isn't childproof either, so if you do have children around, be sure to store it out of harm's way.

The liquid itself is a cloudy, saturated yellow turning slightly towards a peachy hue and is quite viscous, suggesting from the outset that it's probably VG heavy. Opening the bottle releases the potent, sweet aroma of blackened, overripe bananas that are typically kept for mixing into a banana cake.

I'm vaping Curious Jorge in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod with an 18650 battery. As I activate the mod and draw the vapour into my mouth it has a mild, fluffy quality. The sweetness indicated in the aroma of the liquid is significantly less in taste than what I expected, though pulsing the coil seems to amplify it a little. It is recognised however (apparently), that flavour is perceived more during exhalation than it is during inhalation, so this isn't a problem with the liquid at all. It takes a long, hard drag straight into the lungs to get a throat hit but when it does arrive it lingers well after the vapour has left your body. As I exhale, there's the dominant and incomparable banana flavour but I'm fairly certain I'm also tasting the merest hints of vanilla and caramelised sugar. The latter I would attribute to the sweetener in the liquid cooking on the coil, even if it's not an acknowledged ingredient in the recipe. The banana flavour remains on your palate for a decent amount of time after the last vape. The potency and sweetness of the flavour seems finely tuned to straddle the line between all day vaping and dessert vaping. Not too light; not too strong.

Vapour production is very good with thick, opaque plumes billowing out into the room around me and indicative of VG vapour, succumbing immediately to the effects of gravity. Anyone else noticed this? As I mentioned earlier, throat hit is good but seems to vary depending on the inhalation technique used.

I don't particularly like banana in it's raw form but I absolutely adore it when it's part of a dessert; Buttermilk pancakes with caramelised banana, walnuts, maple syrup and a dusting of cinnamon is my favourite. While Curious Jorge offers a straight Banana experience, it seems to me very reminiscent of that caramelised banana I so love. This is a rich, luxurious and somewhat decadent vape. Quality with a capital Q.

Saturday 27 April 2013

Quintessence by T-Juice

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.

Quintessence is produced by T-juice http://t-juice.com/, a company located in London, United Kingdom. T-Juice mix, sell and distribute e-liquids. That's it. No eGo batteries, no mods, tanks, atomisers, mixing supplies, no kanthal wire, etc, etc. They make juice and they sell it. They're very serious about it too. As mentioned in my review of VampVape http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/vampvape-by-t-juice.html, they think about how their liquids impact and are apprehended by each of the relevant senses (taste, smell, sight and sound (how satisfying is that crackle and sizzle of juice vaporising on a fresh coil?), they source all their ingredients from either the EU or the US and they submit their creations to a panel of seasoned vapers for feedback prior to releasing them on the market.

Quintessence is available in 10 ml (£5.95) and 30 ml bottles (£15.95) at nicotine strengths of 0, 3, 8, 11, 16, 24 and 33mg and with a PG/VG ratio of 80/20. The 10ml bottle that Quintessence (and I suspect, each of their liquids) comes in is a clear, easily squeezed plastic with a 1cm needle type dripper and a red, childproof cap. The label contains the following information: the name of the juice, liquid content in ml, nicotine content in mg, an ingredients list, the address of the manufacturer, storage advice, safety instructions, warning symbols and a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU laws regarding the storage and use of toxic substances. The label also advises that the liquid may contain traces of nuts.

On their website T-Juice describes Quintessence as "A mystical potion made from a blend of brandy, grapes and British herbs". In Alchemical lore, quintessence is the fifth substance (the others being fire, earth, water and air) which permeates and binds all that exists. Alchemical quintessence has been otherwise known as Aethyr, Vril, Chi and life force. It's what some of us might equate to the notion of spirit. So with this in mind and given the flavouring of this juice I find the name apt on more than one level.

They go on to say, "This premium juice has taken months to perfect and will not disappoint any fruit vape lover. The complexity of flavour will have you picking out different notes every time you go back to vape it." http://t-juice.com/quintessence.html

Sounds intriguing!

The colour of the liquid is a clear, very lightly tinted yellow. The aroma from the bottle is that of a sweetened non-alcoholic wine. At the front end of the aroma there's a potent hit of the acids and sugars of grape skin, which soften towards the back end with suggestions of the juicy flesh of the grape, combined with herbs indeterminate. How's that for pretentious? It smells like grape.

I'm vaping Quintessence in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod with a battery a few hours shy of a full recharge. As I draw the vapour into my mouth, before inhaling, I notice that the vapour is much less sweet than the aroma of the liquid would suggest. The taste is a somewhat earthy sweetness and the rasping pressure at the back of my throat builds quickly to a hit which outlives the exhalation. As I inhale the vapour and momentarily hold it in my lungs the taste of Brandy and herbs unfurl. I have no idea what these herbs might be, but the marriage of these with the grape is obviously the work of a very accomplished palate.

As I exhale, the sweetness and fullness of the combined flavours of grape, Brandy and herbs emerge, and I feel myself awash in happy memories of the lazy and carefree summer evenings of my youth. Aftertaste is dominated by the flavour of Brandy. As promised by T-Juice, this is an E-liquid delivering complex flavour. It's sweet with the dominant grape notes with the earthiness of the secondary herb and Brandy notes. I find it quite refreshing and would happily vape it all day long, especially in Summer and the lead up to those precious few months (here in the UK).

Throat hit is significant for an 11mg nicotine strength juice. Vapour production is good, though varies on my Igo-L depending on whether the wick is saturated (less vapour) or just about to run dry (more vapour). On the whole however, vapour production is good.

I like everything about this E-liquid. The judicious choice of name lends a depth of character and layers of meaning to the experience of vaping the juice. The flavour is finely crafted and beautifully balanced. I wouldn't hesitate in buying Quintessence and I doubt you'd be disappointed if you did the same.

Saturday 20 April 2013

VampVape by T-Juice

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.

T-Juice http://t-juice.com/ are a UK company based in Northwest London. Their catalogue consists of 26 E-liquids which range from deserts and fruits to menthols, tobaccos and their own crafted flavour creations. They appear to take the creation of their juices very seriously; sourcing all their ingredients from the EU or US, acknowledging the art and science of flavour crafting, recognising the roles of each of the senses in the apprehension of flavoured vapour and allowing for the quality assurance provided by a panel of seasoned vapers.

The subject of this review, VampVape is described by T-Juice on their website as "an exquisite blend of creamy caramel extract with hints of coconut". I assume the name is a reference to the saturated not quite bloody, fire-engine red of the liquid.

VampVape is available in a 10ml (£5.95) or 30ml bottle (£15.95) at nicotine strengths of 0, 3, 8, 11, 16, 24 or 33mg with a PG/VG ratio of 80/20.

The 10ml bottle that T-Juice uses is a clear, easily squeezed plastic with a nice 1cm long needle type dripper and a red, childproof, screw top cap. The label contains the name of the juice in a theme appropriate font, liquid content in ml, nicotine content in mg, an ingredients list, batch number, the address of the manufacturer, storage advice, safety instructions, warning symbols and a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU laws regarding the storage and use of toxic substances. The label also advises that the liquid may contain traces of nuts.

On opening the bottle and holding it to my nose, I smell something quite unexpected: I'm anticipating caramel and coconut but what I get is something closer to sweetened raspberry or pomegranate. This doesn't manifest at all in the flavour of the vapour.

The sample sent to me for review is 11mg nicotine strength. I'm vaping it in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. As I draw the vapour slowly into my mouth, I sense sweetness on the tip of my tongue and a slightly herby, almost metallic taste on the sides of my tongue and the insides of my cheeks. The sensation we refer to as "throat hit" builds to a point of "fullness", at which point I stop inhaling the vapour and take it all down into my lungs with some fresh air. At this point the taste of caramel makes an appearance. It's a lightly sweetened caramel but there's a very subtle saltiness to it as well. The caramel is followed by a herby note which lingers through the exhalation and into the aftertaste where it's joined by the merest whisper of coconut. The flavour seems to mutate after sustained vaping to the point where I no longer taste the caramel or coconut and I'm left with herbs. I vape some more and the caramel returns. This might sound confused, but whether by happy accident or design it's a very pleasurable, layered approach to flavoured vapour.

Throat hit is surprisingly good for an 11mg liquid and vapour production is pretty decent too.

This juice is greater than the sum of its parts. The name, the colour of the liquid and its complex flavour impart a certain exotic quality to it, which, combined with the workings of one's imagination produces a certain vampiric glamour to the act of vaping VampVape. Even if you're not into vampires and all that guff, it's still a very tasty vape and worth a try.

Grant's Vanilla Custard

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.


Grant's Vanilla Custard http://www.grantsvanillacustard.com/ enjoys a stellar reputation. The eponymous Grant quit his previous job so that he could concentrate on producing and distributing the juice full time. Such was the demand. He began simply enough, only eight months ago as of the writing of this review, mixing a liquid for his own personal use because he was sick of waiting for his favourite juice to be in stock. He shared it with his friends and word of mouth did the rest. Not only is Grant's Vanilla Custard exceedingly delicious, his customer service is second to none. This is a man who is Passionate (with a capital P) about his product and in this day and age of the cynical drive to turn a buck (or a quid) that is a rare thing. On the forums, stories abound of the drawings he sends to his customers with their orders. Apparently, people are now requesting drawings with their orders. He sends an information and instruction sheet with each order. See below. How many other e-liquid cooks or vendors do that? He really wants you to love his Vanilla Custard e-liquid as much as he does. Grant's Vanilla Custard, or GVC as it's affectionately known hereabouts, is so popular that he often has to close his website down and stop taking orders while he clears the backlog. Can you tell how much respect I have for the man?

Click to enlarge

GVC is available in 10 (£5.00), 30 (£12.00), 50 (£20.00) and 100ml (£39) bottles and at nicotine strengths of 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24mg, except for the 10ml sampler bottle which is only available in 18mg. The PG/VG ratio is 50/50 which provides a nice balance between flavour delivery and vapour production. Also available is a VG heavy mix at nicotine strengths of 6, 12, and 18mg.

The bottles are a clear, easily squeezed plastic with childproof screw top lids. The label features an ingredients list, the PG/VG ratio, nicotine strength, a warning graphic and a tactile triangle sticker which complies with EU law for the sale and storage of toxic substances. To my eye, the colour of the liquid comes closest to Spanish Orange. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Spanish_orange Higher nicotine
content turns the liquid a darker, ruddy hue. The aroma of the liquid in the bottle is a very close match to the taste and perfume of the vapour.

A few nights ago I had Bread and Butter Pudding with chilled vanilla custard for desert. As I ate it I paid particular attention to the flavour of the custard and I couldn't help but compare it to the GVC I'd been vaping for a few days beforehand. The custard was delicious but the intensity of flavour was somewhat dull compared to what I'd become accustomed to in vaping GVC.

I'm vaping the juice in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod with an 18650 battery that is several hours off a full charge. Grant discourages vaping the juice in a Vivi Nova as apparently it endows the vapour with an unpleasant taste. He had a houseguest at one stage who tried the juice in a Nova on a variable voltage device. Despite dialling the voltage all the way up and down the range, the Nova was inadequate to the task of delivering the intended flavour. Mesh wicks also tend to impart a somewhat unpleasant "burnt" quality to the flavour. Silica wicks seem to be most sympathetic to the juice.

The sample I'm using is 12mg nicotine strength with a PG/VG ratio of 50/50 and has steeped with the lid off in a darkened corner of my bookcase for the recommended period of 21 days. The immediate sensation as I draw on the device is a rush of intense sweetness on the forward edge of my tongue and at the back of my throat, which settles quickly into a more moderate sweetness as I continue to inhale, hold and exhale. The unmistakeable taste of vanilla custard begins immediately and lingers as aftertaste well beyond the exhalation. The vapour is saturated with the taste of vanilla and is supported by the creaminess of egg yolk. There are secondary notes of what might be nutmeg and although there's no caramel in the liquid (apparently) I am registering it's presence on the insides of my cheeks. Perhaps this is the sweetener cooking on the coil.

Throat hit is significant which surprises me considering this is only a 12mg juice and vapour production is excellent with thick, billowing clouds of vapour settling into pleasant veils around the room.

Let me reiterate, in conclusion that this is a very fine e-liquid created by a man with a great passion for what he does. It's very popular and deservedly so. If you find that his website is down when you go to order it, be patient. Grant will be busy mixing, steeping and filling orders for his loyal fan base. His website will be up again in no time, and when it is, get your order in and prepare your taste buds for a treat.

Monday 15 April 2013

Cigarrillos Naturales (El Toro) by House Of Liquid

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.

El Toro produce a range of highly regarded tobacco flavoured E-Liquids. House of Liquid, the co-distributors of the El Toro range in Europe http://www.houseofliquid.com/ were kind enough to send me a selection of these juices for review and I have to say from the outset that I'm very impressed.

These juices are produced by extracting the essences from selectively sourced tobacco leaves. The subject of this review, Cigarrillos 12 (listed as Cigarrillos Naturales on the House of Liquid website) is made from Cuban tobacco leaves. From the House of Liquids website: "We are working hard to ensure that all our tobaccos used for the "steeping process" are naturally cultivated and pesticides free. We are using very respectable suppliers that are as committed as we are to natural products and against any form of child labour in the cultivation and production of the tobaccos."

The word Cigarillo is Spanish for "little cigar" or "cigarette" but unlike the white paper wrapped cigarettes so familiar to most of us, cigarillos are wrapped in tobacco leaves and are smoked like a cigar. That is, drawn into the mouth for taste, rather than inhaled. A cigarillo can be finished in seven or eight minutes.

Cigarrillos 12 comes in a dark brown plastic bottle with a black childproof cap. The label displays appropriate warning symbols, medical advice and an ingredients list in both English and French. There is also a tactile warning triangle, a "best used by" date and a batch number. It is available in 10ml or 60 ml bottles at 12 or 18mg nicotine strength. The ingredients list on the bottle says it contains both PG and VG but doesn't indicate the ratio. One other thing that the bottle mentions is that it may contain traces of nuts.

The aroma of the liquid is reminiscent of the smell of an unlit cigarette held under the nose combined with a vaguely medicinal quality. This latter doesn't translate at all into the taste of the inhaled vapour.

On the inhalation of the vapour and it's journey along the length of the tongue there's a slightly fruity sweetness that is reminiscent of the dried fruits you would find in a Christmas cake. The moment I stop drawing on the atomiser and inhale the vapour combined with fresh air down into my lungs, the sweetness ends. Holding my breath momentarily followed by the exhalation, the earthy, leafy, almost beefy notes come to the forefront. When I refer to the flavour as having a beefy quality, I mean it is something akin to the rich, full bodied umami flavours found in protein rich foods. The immediate to lingering aftertaste is a reasserted sweetness suggestive of the aroma of a wet rainforest. Alongside this is the sensation of ashy dryness at the back of the tongue and throat most often experienced by smokers which is not at all unpleasant, but rather a convincing simulation of the experience of inhaling combusting substances. Of course, there are no combusted substances in inhaled vapour, so this is an intriguing and very appealing experience.

There appears to have been a lot of debate on the various vaping forums around the satisfaction of smoking a cigarette, versus the somewhat lesser satisfaction of vaping tobacco flavoured e-liquids. Essentially, in smoking a cigarette, you're inhaling the smoke from burning tobacco leaves, while in vaping tobacco e-liquid you're inhaling flavoured vapour, infused (at best) with the extracted essences of those tobacco leaves. Big difference. Apparently, (I have no way to verify this) tobacco alkaloids are delivered into the bloodstream through combusted tobacco leaves but not through inhaling the essence infused vapour. My understanding of this is very limited, so if you know more on the matter or you've seen a glaring error in my explanation, please leave a comment.

Point your browser here to read more on the matter: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dvap/423-whole-tobacco-alkaloid-e-liquid.html and this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19366487

All this aside, vaping Cigarrillos 12 (and El Toros' other e-liquids) comes closer than anything else I've tried to delivering that elusive satisfaction that only smoking a cigarette seems to deliver.

As I mentioned in my introduction, The El Toro range has a significant cult following. It's easy to see why; this juice is exceptional. Don't walk, run to the House of Liquid website and order some El Toro Cigarrillos 12 (Naturales) for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Update 7th May 2013:  This is now my all-day vape. It's that good.

Saturday 6 April 2013

Iron Brew by Waves of Vapour

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.

Iron Brew by Waves of Vapour http://www.wavesofvapour.co.uk/ is a very thinly disguised vaporous adaptation of Scotland's most popular carbonated soft drink, Irn Bru. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru

The beverage, Irn bru was originally known as Iron Brew until 1946 when a change in Scottish laws dictated that it could not be labelled a brew if it had not, in fact, been brewed. The drink is known for its fluorescent rust colour which gave rise to a marketing campaign in the 1980's suggesting that it was made from girders.

This liquid is available in 10 (£5.00), 30 (£12.00), 50 (£18.00) or 100ml (£34.00) bottles and in nicotine strengths of 8, 12, 18, 24 or 36mg. It comes in 100% VG or VG/PG ratios of 50/50 or 70/30. The sample I'm reviewing is 12mg nicotine strength with a VG/PG ratio of 70/30. The bottle is clearly labeled with health and safety warnings including a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU law regarding labelling of toxic substances. The screw top cap is childproof.

The Waves of Vapour website describes Iron Brew as "a classic retro flavour from everyone's childhood now brought bang up to date in a vape". While Irn Bru, the drink is distinctly coloured, this e-liquid is clear and colourless. The aroma from the bottle is variously citrusy or something reminiscent of certain types of fruity bubblegum. I'm detecting slight floral notes as well.

Irn bru, the beverage, is a complex mouthful of sensation. There are, apparently, thirty two different flavours that contribute to the overall taste of the drink. As the flavour is so complex, it is therefore, somewhat elusive and no two people will necessarily agree on the taste. What does Iron Brew e-juice taste like? It tastes like Irn Bru. What does Irn Bru taste like? Irn Bru tastes like Irn Bru in the same way that Coca Cola tastes like Coca Cola.

That isn't very helpful is it? Try this: As I inhale I experience a warm sweetness across my tongue. If I pulse the e-cig to progressively heat the coil, the sweetness builds in intensity but never to the point where it's sickly sweet. As I draw the vapour mixed with fresh air down into my lungs I become aware of a restrained citrus element. A mild orange without the acidity that usually accompanies freshly squeezed orange juice. With the next inhalation, I'm tasting a medley of berries. The inhalation following that tastes of Lucozade. During both the inhalation and exhalation there's a subtle, fine-grained tang on the tip of my tongue. There's also a sensation that I might describe as an inclination towards fizziness at the back of my throat as I exhale. I've read that the inclusion of Vodka (used to thin out VG) in an e-liquid can impart a sensation of fizziness, so I wonder if Waves Of Vapour have used it in this juice.

The sample I'm vaping is 12mg nicotine strength with 70% VG so the throat hit is very mild. Vapour production is excellent; several inhalations, back to back produce satisfyingly voluminous and opaque clouds of vapour.

I think this liquid has potential to be an all day vape if you enjoy fruit flavoured e-juices. It's mild, it's well behaved and it's certainly not your traditional fruit flavour but it does have dimension and character.

I'd be interested to hear how others get on with Iron Brew. Feel free to leave a comment.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Battenburg Cake by Waves of Vapour

Disclaimer: This E-liquid was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of conducting a review. This fact notwithstanding, I will as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.

Battenburg cake is a light sponge cake with a pink and yellow tiled cross section, all held together with apricot jam and covered with a layer of marzipan. It's popularly served in the UK for afternoon tea with a selection of cakes, pastries, luxury ingredient sandwiches, tea, coffee or champagne.

Here's a recipe for Battenburg cake for the particularly industrious amongst you.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1120657/battenberg-cake

For those, like myself, who want to enjoy the taste of Battenburg cake but either don't know their way around a kitchen, are too busy or too lazy to bake, Judy from Waves of Vapour http://www.wavesofvapour.co.uk/ offers us Battenburg Cake E-Liquid.

http://www.wavesofvapour.co.uk/BATTENBURG_CAKE/p1589930_8826381.aspx

This liquid is available in 10 (£5.00), 30 (£12.00), 50 (£18.00) or 100ml (£34.00) bottles and in nicotine strengths of 8, 12, 18, 24 or 36mg. It comes in 100% VG or VG/PG ratios of 50/50 or 70/30. The sample I'm reviewing is 12mg nicotine strength with a VG/PG ratio of 70/30. The bottle is clearly labeled with health and safety warnings including a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU law regarding labelling of toxic substances. The screw top cap is childproof.

The website describes this liquid as "Yummy moist sponge cake melded with delicious apricot jam wrapped in velvety smooth marzipan". Before filling the mini nova with the juice, I warmed the bottle slightly, uncapped it and held it up to my nose. The fragrance is a delicate, sweet vanilla, very reminiscent of egg custard.

To get the most from this liquid, I find that I need to take a number of primer draws to heat the coil before I take one deep, sustained inhalation directly into the lungs. As I draw on the e-cig I feel a mellow flow of velvety vapour across my tongue that is mildly sweet and tastes somewhat of vanilla flavoured cake. The flavour builds in intensity, though not greatly so, until the sustained inhalation when I draw the vapour mixed with a breath of fresh air down into my lungs. At this point, there's the residual, subtly sweet taste of sponge cake. On the exhalation, the vapour unpacks it's last surprise with the revelation of almond. No hint of the bitterness associated with almond extract... just the delicate creaminess of marzipan. Again, like other juices I've tried recently, all the flavours of this juice meld and linger in the aftertaste. I wasn't able to taste apricot jam at any stage in the vape, but I suspect that a variable voltage device dialled to the "correct" voltage would reveal its presence. Vaping Battenburg Cake fills the room with a lovely perfume.

As a VG heavy liquid, Battenburg Cake produces good amounts of vapour that hang in the air for a good while after exhaling. The sample that I was vaping was 12mg nicotine strength so throat hit was negligible.

Waves of Vapour's Battenberg Cake is a gentle, mellow affair. It's a warm Sunday afternoon on the lawn with a cup of tea and Vera Lynn on the phonograph and the sure knowledge that all is well with the world. Or will be tomorrow.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Facebook

I've set up a Facebook page called The Vapour Taster. If you're on Facebook and you'd like to be notified of new posts to this blog, follow the link below and hit the "Like" icon.

https://www.facebook.com/VapourTaster?ref=hl

Monday 1 April 2013

The Science of Flavour

I've recently begun to draw parallels between the manufacture and physical/psychological apprehension of flavour and aroma as delivered via vapour and the somewhat related fields of perfumery and cocktail mixology.

An interesting open source journal on the net, called simply, "Flavour" publishes peer reviewed studies and articles relating specifically to the science of flavour and aroma production, delivery and apprehension. You can find it here:

http://www.flavourjournal.com/

This interview http://www.flavourjournal.com/content/1/1/19 "Q&A: The Science of Cocktails" with Tony Conigliaro, London-based mixologist and owner of cocktail bars 69 Colebrooke Row and The Zetter Town House, both in London, UK is particularly interesting to me because it discusses "terroirs" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terroir (loosely translated as "sense of place") as a defining characteristic of certain foods and beverages. Conigliaro also discusses the role of electrical currents passed through various Vermouths and Gins to alter flavour and distilling flint in a vacuum still to add mineral notes to his drinks.

I'm looking forward to the day when e-liquid manufacturers begin to adopt some of these experimental approaches to the manufacture of flavour as delivered by vapour. One producer and vendor who has caught my eye is House of Liquid, the sister company of House of Mods who brought us the eBaron dripper. House of Liquid are maturing some of their e-liquids in old Scottish and French oak, whiskey barrels. I'm intrigued and very excited by this and hope to try some of House of Liquid's products soon. When I do, I'll review them here on Vapour-Taster.

http://www.houseofliquid.com/category-s/1839.htm