Friday 28 June 2013

Cuban Coffee by Hurricane Vapor

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. Portions of this review have been quoted from my review of Hurricane Vapor's Peaches and Irish Cream. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/peaches-and-irish-cream-by-hurricane.html Quoted passages are in italics.

Cuban Coffee is "an espresso shot... sweetened with Demerara sugar as it's being brewed." "The heat from the coffee-making process will hydrolyze some of the sucrose, thereby creating a sweeter and different tasting result than adding sugar at the end." As the name suggests it "originated in Cuba after espresso machines were first imported there from Italy." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_espresso

Hurricane Vapor http://www.hurricanevapor.com/ produce a line of E-liquids called Storm Juice which includes a catalogue of twelve flavours encompassing the following categories: "cool and icy", "dark and rich", "mild and velvety" and "sweet and delicious". The flavours include Sunshine Cured Tobacco, Toasted Amber Tobacco, Belgian Simmered Tobacco, Cuban Coffee, Chocolate Frost Bite, Vice City Ice, Berry Jello Shots, Miami Lemon Drop, Peaches and Irish Cream, Florida Orange Creamsicle, Galletta Dulce, Papaya Milkshake and Sunset Cavendish. They're also preparing to roll out the following flavours: Winter Cured Tobacco, October-Bomb, Red Chile Guava or Guava Frosada (testing both versions), Cortadito, Vanilla-Sky Tobacco and Beach Breeze Tobacco.

Each E-liquid is available in a 15 ($9.99) and 30ml ($17.99) bottle at nicotine strengths of 0 (0% ("Just Juice")), 6 (0.6% ("Very Light")), 12 (1.2% ("Light")), 18 (1.8% ("Medium")), 24 (2.4% ("Full")) and 36mg (3.6% ("Extra")) with PG/VG ratios of 50/50 ("Smooth Inhale") and 70/30 ("Firm Inhale"). Note that, as of the writing of this review some of their liquids are listed at reduced prices. Whether or not these are permanent reductions I couldn't say.

The 15ml bottle is a clear cuboid glass. The bottle was shipped to me with a black, non-childproof, screw top cap with a plastic bag containing a second screw top cap but with an integrated dropper. The bottle was also shipped with a tamper evident plastic seal around the cap.

The label includes the following information: the company name, the brand name, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine strength in percentage (in this case, listed as 1.8%, medium), an ingredients list, a warning to keep out of the reach of children, an age warning, the words "Do not drink" and the instruction to "Shake well".

The colour of the liquid is extremely dark, almost black, but held up to the light looks like actual coffee. The aroma of the liquid is a mostly unsweetened coffee with a whisper of chocolate. The occasional intermittent whiff renders a hint of Demerara sugar.

I'm vaping Cuban coffee in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod powered by an 18650 battery a few hours shy of the charger. As I fire the device and draw the vapour into my mouth a wash of very sweet vapour washes along the length of my tongue. As I inhale this vapour into my lungs mixed with the fresh air of a finishing, inward breath the very slightly bitter flavour of coffee emerges. As I exhale the bitterness is replaced by the exceedingly sweet flavour of demarara sugar and coffee combined. If, on the other hand I draw the vapour directly into my lungs I experience a nondescript sweetness throughout my mouth. It's not until I finish inhaling the vapour and hold my breath for a split second does the flavour of espresso unfurl. Then, as I exhale, the flavours of coffee and sugar marry and are amplified until they settle into the aftertaste and slowly fade. I prefer the former approach to vaping this e-liquid, that is, drawing the vapour into the mouth before inhaling the collected vapour mixed with fresh air. The flavours reveal themselves sequentially and can be appreciated each for their individual qualities, before mixing on the inhalation to provide the full Cuban Coffee experience. The sugar flavour is very particularly that of Demerara sugar rather than any sort of generalised sweetness or sugary flavour. There's an earthy, almost caramel quality which Demerara has that I love so much that it's the only sugar we use in our home. So I know the flavour well.

This liquid has a throat hit that kicks like a mule and vapour production is substantial.

It never ceases to amaze me the extraordinary application of flavour in vaporous form. When done right it's just pure magic. If you like coffee then I suggest you buy yourself a bottle of Hurricane Vapor's Cuban Coffee. It's THAT good.

Thursday 27 June 2013

Sunshine Cured Tobacco by Hurricane Vapor

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. Portions of this review have been quoted from my review of Hurricane Vapor's Peaches and Irish Cream. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/peaches-and-irish-cream-by-hurricane.html Quoted passages are in italics.

The name, Sunshine Cured Tobacco suggests that the tobacco used to flavour this E-liquid has undergone an application of heat to enact a chemical change or preserve it in some way. The ingredients list on the bottle says that it contains both natural and artificial flavours, so I can't be sure whether the flavour suggested by the name of the liquid is due to actual sun curing or not. Whatever the case, this e-liquid excites me because of the inclusion of a flavour that is entirely new to me: mesquite.

"Mesquite is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis genus found in northern Mexico through the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Deserts, and up into the Southwestern United States as far north as southern Kansas, west to the Colorado Desert in California, and east to the eastern fifth of Texas..." It has long been a staple in the diet of the Native Americans living in these areas. The bean pods can be ground and used in the making of flour, wines and jellies. Mesquite wood is particularly hard, burns slowly and produces a great heat and so is perfect for smoking various meats. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesquite

Hurricane Vapor produce a line of E-liquids called Storm Juice which includes a catalogue of twelve flavours encompassing the following categories: "cool and icy", "dark and rich", "mild and velvety" and "sweet and delicious". The flavours include Sunshine Cured Tobacco, Toasted Amber Tobacco, Belgian Simmered Tobacco, Cuban Coffee, Chocolate Frost Bite, Vice City Ice, Berry Jello Shots, Miami Lemon Drop, Peaches and Irish Cream, Florida Orange Creamsicle, Galletta Dulce, Papaya Milkshake and Sunset Cavendish. They're also preparing to roll out the following flavours: Winter Cured Tobacco, October-Bomb, Red Chile Guava or Guava Frosada (testing both versions), Cortadito, Vanilla-Sky Tobacco and Beach Breeze Tobacco.

Each E-liquid is available in a 15 ($9.99) and 30ml ($17.99) bottle at nicotine strengths of 0 (0% ("Just Juice")), 6 (0.6% ("Very Light")), 12 (1.2% ("Light")), 18 (1.8% ("Medium")), 24 (2.4% ("Full")) and 36mg (3.6% ("Extra")) with PG/VG ratios of 50/50 ("Smooth Inhale") and 70/30 ("Firm Inhale"). Note that, as of the writing of this review some of their liquids are listed at reduced prices. Whether or not these are permanent reductions I couldn't say.

The 15ml bottle is a clear cuboid glass. The bottle was shipped to me with a black, non-childproof, screw top cap with a plastic bag containing a second screw top cap but with an integrated dropper. The bottle was also shipped with a tamper evident plastic seal around the cap.

The label includes the following information: the company name, the brand name, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine strength in percentage (in this case, listed as 1.8%, medium), an ingredients list, a warning to keep out of the reach of children, an age warning, the words "Do not drink" and the instruction to "Shake well".

The liquid is a clear, very saturated yellow. The aroma is of a light tobacco with woody overtones and a somewhat citrus-like element, but no citrus that I've ever come across. 

The Hurricane Vapor website says this about Sunshine Cured Tobacco: "Sunshine Cured (Tobacco) creates an authentic delivery of real, non burning, tobacco flavors. It does not aim towards replicating that burnt cigarette taste, but rather a fresh, mesquite, tobacco flavor." http://www.hurricanevapor.com/storm-juice/all/sunshine-cured-tobacco.html

I'm vaping Sunshine Cured Tobacco in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod powered by a freshly charged 18650 battery. As I draw the vapour into my mouth, I immediately taste a very slightly sweet tobacco with secondary woody notes, followed by an acidic note that's reminiscent of citrus. This acidic note is difficult to pinpoint because it's a flavour that I've never encountered before. The flavour falls squarely between lemon, lime and orange, but without tasting particularly like any of these. If I inhale the vapour directly into my lungs the sweetness disappears to be replaced by a gentle umami tone. As I hold the breath momentarily before exhaling, the acidic note comes to the fore and carries the flavour through to the aftertaste. The longer term aftertaste is of a slightly smoky, woodiness with a subtle metallic trace around the teeth and gums. (This latter however, may be something to do with my particular biology rather than anything to do with the vapour.) The journey of the vapour across the tongue through inhalation to exhalation leaves a citrus-like tang, especially on the tip of the tongue. Short, shallow inhalations seem to favour the tobacco notes. I imagine this is something to do with keeping the coil as cool as possible while still producing vapour.

Throat hit is significant with a solid kick at the back of the throat and vapour production is very generous.

This is an extraordinarily complex vape. Much depends on your inhalation technique and the temperature of the coil. The flavour produced by this liquid is full-bodied and very satisfying. It's quite unlike any tobacco, or any other flavour for that matter, that I've personally ever come across. I imagine those of you Stateside will be more familiar with the taste of mesquite and more able to judge the validity of my assessment. I'd be very interested to hear from anyone with some knowledge and experience of both mesquite and this particular liquid. I want to stress that this is a very fine juice, and though intrigued and perplexed, am enjoying it immensely. Hurricane Vapor are obviously very concerned to deliver a quality product to the customer and with Sunshine Cured Tobacco they've succeeded admirably.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Belgian Simmered Tobacco by Hurricane Vapor

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. Portions of this review have been quoted from my review of Hurricane Vapor's Peaches and Irish Cream. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/peaches-and-irish-cream-by-hurricane.html Quoted passages are in italics.
 
I recently tasted a chocolate e-liquid by a vendor who shall remain nameless, the flavour of which was more reminiscent of bacon than anything else. Belgian Simmered Tobacco by Hurricane Vapor http://hurricanevapor.com/ actually tastes like chocolate. This e-liquid was awarded a Spinfuel Magazine Choice Award for 2013.

Hurricane Vapor produce a line of E-liquids called Storm Juice which includes a catalogue of twelve flavours encompassing the following categories: "cool and icy", "dark and rich", "mild and velvety" and "sweet and delicious". The flavours include Sunshine Cured Tobacco, Toasted Amber Tobacco, Belgian Simmered Tobacco, Cuban Coffee, Chocolate Frost Bite, Vice City Ice, Berry Jello Shots, Miami Lemon Drop, Peaches and Irish Cream, Florida Orange Creamsicle, Galletta Dulce, Papaya Milkshake and Sunset Cavendish. They're also preparing to roll out the following flavours: Winter Cured Tobacco, October-Bomb, Red Chile Guava or Guava Frosada (testing both versions), Cortadito, Vanilla-Sky Tobacco and Beach Breeze Tobacco.

Each E-liquid is available in a 15 ($9.99) and 30ml ($17.99) bottle at nicotine strengths of 0 (0% ("Just Juice")), 6 (0.6% ("Very Light")), 12 (1.2% ("Light")), 18 (1.8% ("Medium")), 24 (2.4% ("Full")) and 36mg (3.6% ("Extra")) with PG/VG ratios of 50/50 ("Smooth Inhale") and 70/30 ("Firm Inhale"). Note that, as of the writing of this review some of their liquids are listed at reduced prices. Whether or not these are permanent reductions I couldn't say.

The 15ml bottle is a clear cuboid glass. The bottle was shipped to me with a black, non-childproof, screw top cap with a plastic bag containing a second screw top cap but with an integrated dropper. The bottle was also shipped with a tamper evident plastic seal around the cap.

The label includes the following information: the company name, the brand name, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine strength in percentage (in this case, listed as 1.8%, medium), an ingredients list, a warning to keep out of the reach of children, an age warning, the words "Do not drink" and the instruction to "Shake well".

The liquid is a clear, saturated Rufous Brown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous, has the consistency of a light cooking oil and like cooking oil is very lubricious.  The aroma that comes from the liquid is like a mug of hot chocolate.

I'm vaping Belgian Simmered Tobacco in an unmodified Igo-L on a mechanical mod powered by an 18650 battery. The wick and coil have had two days to settle in with this juice. As I raise the drip tip to my lips I'm already apprehending the chocolate aroma of the juice orthonasally. That is, aroma that travels through the mouth and the internal nares to stimulate the olfactory neurons. As I fire the device and inhale, my mouth is filled with a smooth, velvety rich vapour, mildly sweet but dense with flavour. As I finish inhaling vapour, take a small breath of fresh air and hold the breath momentarily I taste the chocolate still, but there's also a brief suggestion of tobacco. When I exhale the chocolate flavour is amplified and dominates through to the last lingering moments of the aftertaste.

If I didn't know this was a tobacco juice I'd be none the wiser. Apparently it also contains the flavour of honey. Although this liquid's vapour is dominated by one particular flavour I imagine it would taste quite differently if the tobacco and honey weren't present. This is another juice I'd like to experiment with on a variable voltage device. I've read that different flavours come to the fore at varying voltages.

Throat hit is mild with a building sensation of pressure at the back of the throat as I inhale. This seems to occur more often than not with e-liquids at the sweeter end of the spectrum. Vapour production is excellent.

A far as the chocolate flavour is concerned, it's a faithful replication of the taste of a mug of hot chocolate. It's not overly sweet so it's suggestive of a chocolate aimed at adults perhaps, rather than children. The flavour is full-bodied and potent and as far as I'm concerned, perfectly balanced. I probably wouldn't vape this all day, but I would certainly enjoy it after dinner with a cup of tea. It's no surprise that Spinfuel Magazine recognised Belgian Simmered Tobacco with an award. This is a quality e-liquid and I encourage you, once again, to try it for yourselves.

Monday 24 June 2013

Peaches and Irish Cream by Hurricane Vapor

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.

Hurricane Vapor http://www.hurricanevapor.com/ are based in Miami, Florida and have this to say on the front page of their website, "...we want our patrons to be transported to a tropical place where they can literally feel the sunshine on their face and soak in the rich flavors and bold attitude of the Caribbean tropics, and International influences." These E-liquid artisans are confessed dual-users, that is, they enjoy a fine cigar when the fancy takes them as well as being avid vapers. They're intent on bringing the mindset of the cigar connoisseur's appreciation of (a particular type of) flavour to the vaping world. Anybody who thinks laterally when designing and manufacturing flavour intended to be inhaled in vaporous form, gets my seal of approval. Intent and methodologies only get you halfway though; the vapours also need to taste good. Fortunately for Hurricane Vapor and more so for you and I, the e-liquids from this duo are astonishingly good.

Hurricane Vapor produce a line of E-liquids called Storm Juice which includes a catalogue of twelve flavours encompassing the following categories: "cool and icy", "dark and rich", "mild and velvety" and "sweet and delicious". The flavours include Sunshine Cured Tobacco, Toasted Amber Tobacco, Belgian Simmered Tobacco, Cuban Coffee, Chocolate Frost Bite, Vice City Ice, Berry Jello Shots, Miami Lemon Drop, Peaches and Irish Cream, Florida Orange Creamsicle, Galletta Dulce and Papaya Milkshake. They're also preparing to roll out the following flavours: Sunset Cavendish, Winter Cured Tobacco, October-Bomb, Red Chile Guava or Guava Frosada (testing both versions), Cortadito, Vanilla-Sky Tobacco and Beach Breeze Tobacco.

Each E-liquid is available in a 15 ($9.99) and 30ml ($17.99) bottle at nicotine strengths of 0 (0% ("Just Juice")), 6 (0.6% ("Very Light")), 12 (1.2% ("Light")), 18 (1.8% ("Medium")), 24 (2.4% ("Full")) and 36mg (3.6% ("Extra")) with PG/VG ratios of 50/50 ("Smooth Inhale") and 70/30 ("Firm Inhale"). Note that, as of the writing of this review some of their liquids are listed at reduced prices. Whether or not these are permanent reductions I couldn't say.

The 15ml bottle is a clear cuboid glass. (Glass is inert, which means it doesn't interact with the liquid contents in any way; no affect on the chemical integrity of the liquid contained within at all.) The bottle was shipped to me with a black, non-childproof, screw top cap with a plastic bag containing a second screw top cap but with an integrated dropper. The bottle was also shipped with a tamper evident plastic seal around the cap. Attention to detail, folks.

The label includes the following information: the company name, the brand name, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine strength as percentage (in this case, listed as 1.8%, medium), an ingredients list, a warning to keep out of the reach of children, an age warning, the words "Do not drink" and the instruction to "Shake well".

The colour of the liquid is somewhere between copper http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_(color) and a Rufous Brown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous. The aroma of the liquid itself is reminiscent of peaches and cream but with a delicate suggestion of liqueur.

I'm vaping Peaches and Irish Cream in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. Drawing the vapour into my mouth, I experience a generalised sweetness and subtle tartness along with the velvety smooth texture of the vapour. Then I begin to experience a building of pressure at the back of my throat, which, beyond a certain point becomes uncomfortable. At this point I stop inhaling vapour, and draw in a short, shallow breath of fresh air. The flavour, at this moment, is of the sweetest, juiciest peach I've ever tasted. It has just the right balance of sweetness and tartness to convince me I'm actually eating a real peach. This is amplified as I exhale. Alongside the peach, from the moment the breath turns and I begin to exhale is the incredibly convincing flavour of sweetened cream mixed with the vaguest suggestion of coffee. The aftertaste is the continued marriage of these two primary flavours. I sense the cream on my tongue for the most part while the flavour of peach lingers about the rear sides of the tongue. Just incredible. I've reviewed one other fruit flavoured juice recently which delighted me with it's authenticity of flavour, but that was one unadorned fruit. This is the perfect marriage of two components; the very subtle, coffee-laced creaminess that contrasts with and softens the sweetness and gentle tartness of a peach. There's no hint of artificiality about the flavour at all. It tastes fresh and sweet and absolutely authentic.

Hurricane Vapor are consummate professionals; this shows in the attention to detail they've observed in everything from the graphic design on their bottles, to the bottles themselves, the additional screw top caps with integrated droppers to the beautifully crafted juices. I'm very impressed.

I have "superlative fatigue".


Saturday 22 June 2013

Celtic Bounty by Celtic Vapours

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. Portions of this review are quoted from my review of USA Red by Celtic Vapours. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/usa-red-by-celtic-vapours.html Quoted passages are in italics

Celtic Bounty By Celtic Vapours http://www.celticvapours.com/ is described on their website as "A Celtic Vapours Original; a sweet tobacco with smooth taste". http://www.celticvapours.com/default.html They're not giving away too much, so we're on our own.

Celtic Vapours are based in Swansea, Wales. They offer a catalogue of over fifty e-liquids (they are aiming to add at least one new flavour each month) divided into the following categories: beverage, ice, Absinthe, tobacco, fruit and sweet (confectionery). Their entire range is available online or from a number of brick and mortar stores with whom they're affiliated. Check their website to see if there's one near you. http://www.celticvapours.com/About-Us.html They assert on their website that their top priority is to get more flavour into their E-liquids (not content to rest on their laurels, they're always seeking to improve their recipes...) and they have chosen to offer their liquids in nicotine strengths of 5mg gradations instead of the industry standard 6mg gradations.

Celtic Vapours offer each of their liquids in 10 (£4.80) and 30ml (£13.50) bottles at nicotine strengths of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35mg. I couldn't find any mention of available PG/VG ratios on the website, although the bottle specifies a PG/VG ratio of >60/30.

The 10ml bottle in front of me is a clear, semi-rigid plastic with a black plastic, childproof screw-top cap. Attached to the bottle is a 1cm long, plastic, needle-type dropper. The label includes the following information: the brand name, the name of the e-liquid, nicotine strength in mg, liquid contents in ml, an ingredients list, an age warning, storage and safety first instructions, a batch number, a best used by date, the company's phone number and website address, warning graphics and a tactile triangle sticker which complies with EU law regarding the storage of toxic substances. There is also an advisory notice to "Use only as directed" and a suggestion to "Shake the bottle well before use".

The colour of the liquid is a clear, Selective Yellow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_yellow The aroma of the liquid in the bottle has a tropical quality with coconut being the top note with hints of banana and a slightly acidic note suggestive of pineapple.

I'm dripping Celtic Vapours into an Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on a freshly charged 18650 battery. The first inhalation draws in a stream of mildly sweetened vapour with a light acidic tang along the length of my tongue. There's a certain quality about the flavour that is reminiscent of cake. At the point where I finish inhaling, but before the breath turns and the vapour leaves my body, I become aware of the flavour of banana. As I exhale, the banana flavour dominates but is joined by the subtler notes of coconut and a pineapple stripped of its acidic bite. These secondary notes fade quickly in the aftertaste and I'm left again with banana. At no point in the vape am I aware of tobacco, which I expect to be an earthy, umami flavour. Celtic Bounty is a mild, tropical sweetness from beginning to end.

The vapour is silky smooth and is inhaled with ease. There's no throat hit to speak of, though vapour production is very generous. Some of the best vapour I've seen in a vape actually.

I'm as confused as I was with Celtic Vapours' USA Red over why this is classed as a tobacco e-liquid. It might just be that I don't have either the hardware or the biology to get the best out of this liquid. Perhaps, a Variable Voltage device dialled to a different voltage than my mechanical mod is capable of would reveal the tobacco notes that are apparently here.

Taste is subjective but quality isn't. This is a quality juice. The potency and the combination of flavours and their arrival on the palate at varying moments make this a satisfying and somewhat refreshing vape. It's sweet enough to lend credence to the emulation of the traditionally sweet fruit flavours involved, but it's not so sweet that you couldn't vape it all day long if you wanted to. Did I mention the vapour?

Friday 21 June 2013

USA Red by Celtic Vapours

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.

Tobacco is well known to be a difficult flavour to mimic in vaporous form. The flavour of combusting tobacco is a complex affair involving not just the smoke of the burning leaves but also the combined flavours of the burning paper and the cocktail of chemicals we know to be present in tobacco, in addition to the flavour carried by vapour produced by slightly moist tobacco as the heat of the fire approaches. How does one capture the essence of a particular substance being transformed through the application of intense heat into another substance? I'm not a scientist, so forgive me if my understanding of this is faulty or simplistic. A number of alternative approaches have been tried, one of which is the extracting of the essential oils from tobacco leaves through steeping in Propylene Glycol. Another approach is the careful balancing of various compounds to approximate the flavour of steeped tobacco leaves. I suspect that with USA Red by Celtic Vapours, the latter approach was used.

Celtic Vapours http://www.celticvapours.com/ are based in Swansea, Wales. They offer a catalogue of over fifty e-liquids (they are aiming to add at least one new flavour each month) divided into the following categories: beverage, ice, Absinthe, tobacco, fruit and sweet (confectionery). Their entire range is available online or from a number of brick and mortar stores with whom they're affiliated. Check their website to see if there's one near you. http://www.celticvapours.com/About-Us.html They assert on their website that their top priority is to get more flavour into their E-liquids (not content to rest on their laurels, they're always seeking to improve their recipes...) and they have chosen to offer their liquids in nicotine strengths of 5mg gradations instead of the industry standard 6mg gradations.

Celtic Vapours offer each of their liquids in 10 (£4.80) and 30ml (£13.50) bottles at nicotine strengths of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35mg. I couldn't find any mention of available PG/VG ratios on the website, although the bottle specifies a PG/VG ratio of >60/30.

The 10ml bottle in front of me is a clear, semi-rigid plastic with a red plastic, childproof screw-top cap. Attached to the bottle is a 1cm long plastic, needle-type dropper. The label includes the following information: the brand name, the name of the e-liquid, nicotine strength in mg, liquid contents in ml, an ingredients list, an age warning, storage and safety first instructions, a batch number, a best used by date, the company's phone number and website address, warning graphics and a tactile triangle sticker which complies with EU law regarding the storage of toxic substances. There is also an advisory notice to "Use only as directed" and a suggestion to "Shake the bottle well before use".

The colour of the liquid is a clear, Selective Yellow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_yellow. The aroma of the liquid in the bottle seems to me, reminiscent of a sugary biscuit/cookie.

The overriding flavour of USA Red is difficult to describe, although to suggest it might be a type of coppery tang, which is admittedly a bit abstract, comes closest to the sensation I'm experiencing in vaping this e-juice. On the inhalation, there's a mild sweetness along the forward edge of the tongue accompanied by a flavour that, at a stretch might be described as tobacco, but to my taste buds seems more akin to something you might find in a bakery. The texture of the vapour is silky smooth and is inhaled easily. As I finish inhaling and draw in a little fresh air, I begin to taste a sweet biscuity flavour. This biscuity note is sustained through the exhalation and into the aftertaste.

Throat hit is negligible but vapour production more than compensates for this with veritable clouds of billowing, opaque, white vapour.

To be perfectly honest, I don't know what to make of this e-liquid. USA Red is meant to be an American style tobacco flavour. Americans: do your cigarettes taste like sugared cookies? Taste, as we all know is a highly personal sense. Completely subjective. USA Red may taste like 100% tobacco to you.

Even though it doesn't taste anything like tobacco to me, it's still a very full bodied, flavoursome vape. I like it very much. If it had been labelled "Sugared Cookies" there'd be no problem at all. As it stands, I will probably finish the bottle and enjoy every last drag of it.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Manabush by Manabush

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

Preamble

Manabush is, obviously, Manabush's signature series of E-liquids. It comes in three variations; Prairie Dawn, High Noon and Sunset Canyon. The Manabush liquids are a tobacco and maple syrup blend, with varying "level(s) of the sweet maple top notes... creating 3 very different effects." Manabush point out "that the Maple flavour in Manabush (is) more akin to a dark unprocessed Canadian Maple rather than a sweet pancake syrup maple." http://www.manabush.com/

Manabush is a central figure in Menominee oral traditions. The Menominee have always had a reputation for being a peaceful, friendly and welcoming people. Their territory as a Nation encompassed much of present day Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. The name "Menominee" is a westernised adaptation of the name "Manoominii" which was given to these people by another group called the Ojibwe. The Menominee call themselves Mamaceqtaw, which means "the people".

Manabush, like Loki (Scandinavia), Hermes (Greece), Mercury (Rome) and Lugh (Ireland) played the role of the trickster god. He took the alternate forms of a human being and a white rabbit. Although he was responsible for some arguably heinous behaviour it was always in service to humanity. He stole fire and brought it to his grandmother. He killed a giant and brought tobacco to his people and he diluted Maple syrup so that his people would have to work hard to extract it from the trees and thus not become overweight. http://www.native-languages.org/nanabozho.htm

A quick note to the Menominee, Ojibwe and associated Nations: if I've misrepresented you or your oral traditions in any way, please get in contact with me and I'll alter the text to reflect the truth.

Manabush the company, run by a gentleman called Wenebojo is situated in the UK. Besides the Manabush signature liquids, they also offer Nokomis (sweet tobacco) (named after the legendary Manabush's grandmother) and are preparing to roll out Nokomis Maple Blend, Nokomis Gingerbread, Coyote Coconut and Powwow Sauce.

Manabush and Nokomis are available from EjuiceBOX http://ejuicebox.co.uk/manabush-tobacco-and-maple-e-liquid.html, Leisure Liquids http://www.leisureliquids.com/manabush.html, and the Planet of the Vapes Marketplace http://marketplace.planetofthevapes.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&filter_name=manabush. Each juice is available in 10ml bottles (£4.99) at nicotine strengths of 15 and 18mg. The Manabush website says that with the next batch (date?) available nicotine strengths will be 12 and 18mg.

The bottle is an easily squeezed, clear plastic with a white, childproof screw-top cap. Attached to the bottle is a 1cm plastic, needle type dripper. The label includes the following information: the brand name, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine strength in mg, PG/VG ratio, toxicity graphics, the company website address, storage and first aid instructions, an advisory notice that the liquid may contain traces of nuts, a warning that the liquid may be dangerous if released into the environment and a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU laws regarding the storage of toxic substances. Although the labels on the bottles in front of me contain no age warnings, Wenebojo assures me that these will be added to the labels with the next batch to go out into the market.

The labels completely surround the diameter of the bottles, so it's difficult for me to accurately determine the colour of the liquids. However, from what I can see, they appear to be a dark brown. The Manabush website states that there are no added colouring agents in their liquids. http://www.manabush.com/Manabush-News.html The predominant aroma of each of the liquids in the Manabush signature range is maple syrup.

The Reviews

The reviewing hardware of choice is the Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. The Igo-L is washed and dried thoroughly before being dry burned to remove any trace of the preceding liquid.

Prairie Dawn

The Manabush website describes Prairie Dawn as being "lighter on the sweetness than the others, pronouncing the tobacco undertones...". As I inhale I taste a a very mild sweetness amidst a predominant warm, smooth, savoury sensation. The flavour begins to blossom as I finish inhaling the vapour and follow it with a short, shallow breath of fresh air. At this point I begin to taste the umami notes of the tobacco which are dark and earthy, without being so deep they overwhelm. The flavour of maple emerges also and while it is sweet, it is just enough to take the edge off the accompanying tobacco flavour. As mentioned previously the maple isn't the dessert syrup type; it has a slightly darker, earthier quality about it which marries extremely well with the umami tobacco notes. As I exhale, the maple grows slightly in intensity and is joined by a certain ashiness that's not at all as unpleasant as it might seem.  The aftertaste is much as one would expect with a co-mingling of each of the aforementioned flavours.

I'm not experiencing any form of throat hit. Vapour production is very good.

High Noon

Having dripped "High Noon" into the atomiser and begun to vape it, I immediately notice a heavier, sweeter complexion. This is a sturdier vape than Prairie Dawn in every way. This is not to say that it's better, just that the tobacco and maple notes are more pronounced. As I inhale, the primary sensation is of sweetness. The smooth brothy notes of the tobacco are still there but they don't come into their own until that point when the breath begins to turn and the exhalation occurs. The slight ashiness that I tasted in Prairie Dawn is gone in High Noon. In its place however, is a throat hit that catches at the back of the throat as I finish inhaling vapour and draw in a small amount of fresh air. The deep sweetness of the maple syrup marries even better with the seemingly darker tobacco notes in High Noon and is the predominant flavour in the aftertaste.

Throat hit is good and vapour production, again, is very good.

Sunset Canyon

The degree of difference between High Noon and Sunset Canyon is less than the degree of difference between Prairie Dawn and High Noon. With Sunset Canyon, I was expecting High Noon on steroids. While this isn't quite the case, Sunset Canyon is certainly a more muscular vape than its midday sibling. The maple syrup flavour is certainly more predominant and makes it's presence felt from the beginning of the inhalation to the last lingering moments of the aftertaste. That said, the savoury notes of the tobacco predominate during the inhalation.

Again, throat hit is good with an added rasp at the back of the throat during the exhalation. The vapour produced seems to have increased in volume and opacity.

With all three variations of Manabush the flavours are very good approximations of the real thing. The tobacco tastes like actual tobacco and the maple syrup tastes like actual maple syrup. There's no taint of artificiality about it.

Each of the variations are appropriately named; Prairie Dawn is a light vape (without any lack of flavour) and would serve well as an early morning pick-me-up. Both High Noon and Sunset Canyon would serve equally as well as each other as all-day vapes. Sunset Canyon has a slight edge on High Noon in the sweetness stakes and so might serve better as an after-dinner vape.

Besides being a talented juice mixer, Wenebojo obviously has an eye for marketing. Everything from the flavours of his liquids to the branding, the labelling and the design of the website speaks to a unified theme. Manabush is worth spending your money on and I suggest you keep an eye on this company tomorrow and the day after tomorrow (figuratively speaking). I believe they have good things in store for us.

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Cinnamon Roll by Midas Vape

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. Portions of this review are quoted from my review of Midas Vape's RY4. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ry4-by-midas-vape.html Quoted passages are in italics.

A cinnamon roll is a helical bun made with a layer of sugar and cinnamon sprinkled onto butter brushed dough before being rolled and baked. In some locales, icing sugar is added to the top to make it all the more alluring a snack. In Sweden (I know this because my wife is Swedish) it's called Kanelbullar and even has a holiday dedicated to it. October 4th. Instead of icing sugar it has pearl sugar sprinkled on top and tastes slightly different to any cinnamon roll I've ever had anywhere else. I don't know why. It just does.

Cinnamon Roll by Midas Vape https://www.facebook.com/MidasVape doesn't have pearl sugar or icing sugar on top, yet it tastes just as good as the real thing. Also, no calories.

The Midas range includes RY4, Spiced Summer Nut (tobacco with "light nutty undertones"), Spiced Winter Nut (tobacco with "rustic nutty undertones"), Peach, Vanilla Cupcake, Cinnamon Candy (bold and sweet), Toffee (smooth and luscious), Pink Lemonade, Cinnamon Chill (light cinnamon with menthol), Glacial Inferno (intense cinnamon and menthol), Glacial Menthol (double intense menthol), Icy Peach (intense menthol, light peach), Menthol (clean menthol, sweet finish), Peppermint Lime (strong peppermint, light lime) and Cinnamon Roll.

The entire Midas range is available from Vape Revolution, each in 20ml bottles at $12.00, in nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg. There doesn't appear to be any option to specify PG/VG ratios but the bottle I have in my hands is a 60/40 mix.

The bottle is a clear glass with a black, plastic screw top cap with a built in dropper. This makes for easy accessibility and transfer of the liquid into your preferred device. The downside of this is that the cap isn't childproof, so vapers with children around will need to take extra care in the storage and use of the Midas liquids. The label is a silver metallic paper with the word "MIDAS" in blue across the top. Further information on the label includes: the name of the liquid, PG/VG ratio, nicotine strength in mg, an ingredients list a warning that nicotine may be harmful to your health, advice to keep away from children and pets and the instruction, "DO NOT DRINK".  The bottles also arrive with a tamper evident, plastic seal.

The colour of the liquid is a clear Rusty Red http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_red#Rusty_red and has the viscosity and texture of a light cooking oil. The oddest thing is that the aroma seems to alter from one sniff to the next; with one sniff it smells predictably like cinnamon. With the next sniff, to my surprise, it smells like Brandy.

Reviewing hardware of choice, as always is the Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. With the first inhalation, my mouth fills with a sweet, indeterminately spicy warmth. The vapour has a fluffy quality which makes it an easy pleasure to inhale. With the inhalation finishing and the short, shallow intake of fresh air that follows, the flavours of cinnamon and baked dough emerge. As I exhale the cinnamon and bun flavours unfold completely and follow through into the aftertaste where they linger for a good few minutes. Sustained and/or quick, successive drags on the device draw out the heat in the cinnamon, which tends to concentrate on the forward edge of my tongue and lingers pleasantly for quite some time. The cinnamon heat is mild however and never reaches anywhere near what one would expect from something like an Atomic Fireball.

As has been the case with each of the Midas Vape e-liquids I've reviewed, the flavour is (has been) full-bodied and rich, without any trace of artificiality.  I haven't noticed any throat hit as such with Cinnamon Roll, despite it being an 18mg sample. There's not even that sensation of building pressure at the back of the throat, which is not especially unwelcome. Vapour production however, is excellent. To quote a previous review, "Cumulonimbus".

Cinnamon Roll is a smooth, luxurious, flavoursome vape. No need to wait for October 4th.

It's been widely noted that Cinnamon flavoured e-liquids can crack and/or etch plastic tanks, so I would advise that Cinnamon Roll be used only in glass or stainless steel devices.