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.
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.
