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.
The Minotaur, a man with a bull's head, had a name. It was Asterion which in Ancient Greek means "ruler of the stars". There was only one Minotaur; the idea that Minotaurs were a race of beings was a 20th century invention for the express purpose of populating Fantasy literature and Role Playing games with bull headed men. Asterion was the son of Pasiphaë and a white bull, with whom Pasiphaë fell in love as punishment from Aphrodite, the Ancient Greek Goddess of love, beauty and procreation because Pasiphaë's husband, Minos refused to kill the bull which was a gift from Poseidon and was meant to be slaughtered to show honour to the aquatic God. Wow. Asterion was unruly and ate humans, so his stepfather Minos had a vast labyrinth built to contain him. A young man by the name of Theseus murdered Asterion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur
I personally feel sorry for Asterion, ruler of the stars, the Minotaur.
Minotaur is also the name of an E-liquid in The Cellar range from House of Liquid http://www.houseofliquid.com/ (who obviously revere Asterion too) and is the subject of this review. House of Liquid state on The Cellar page of their website http://www.houseofliquid.com/category-s/1844.htm that these liquids are for "advanced users". On the one hand, this is a form of flattery that suggests that anyone capable of enjoying these liquids is a superior type of being. On the other hand, it's a warning that suggests that milksops, slubberdegullions, ninnyhammers and noddypoles should back away slowly and go vape some fruity juice.
House of Liquid have been promoting and preparing for the release of The Cellar range of E-liquids for months. The Cellar range comprises three E-liquids: Minotaur, Reserve and Chivalry. These three liquids are very special in my view because they mark a very particular attitude and approach to the crafting of flavour for consumption in vaporous form. Each of these liquids have begun with the steeping of tobacco leaves in Propylene Glycol and then transferred into various wooden barrels for further steeping for at least thirty days. For example, Chivalry has been matured in an old Scottish whiskey barrel.
Allow me to make a bold assertion. House of Liquid is Europe's premier E-liquid manufacturer and distributor. I'll give you a moment to digest that...
House of Liquid produce the formidable El Toro range of tobacco liquids, the Papillion range of organic liquids, the eBaron Lab range of concept liquids and now The Cellar range of specially steeped tobacco liquids. Each and every one of the liquids that I've vaped from House of Liquid (I've vaped most of them) has been exceptional. Each range has a loyal following and for good reason. The tobacco liquids of the El toro range, for example, are manufactured by first obtaining specific tobacco leaves from various parts of the world and then steeping those leaves in Propylene Glycol for a number of days to extract the natural essence and flavour. Not only do these juices produce the most authentic tobacco tasting vape but (House of Liquid do not make any claims to this effect) it's whispered amongst fervent acolytes (on various forums) that these liquids contain a certain amount of natural nicotine and tobacco alkaloids.
Georgio, the man at the helm of House of Liquid, is assertive in his adherence to the principles of naturally grown and pesticide free raw ingredients. House of Liquid are also opposed to any form of child labour in the cultivation and production of the tobaccos used in his e-liquids.
Georgio and his team go to great lengths to ensure a phenomenal vaping experience for their customers. It's this and their principled attitudes and approaches that garner them such loyalty from their customers. Including myself. Cigarillos Naturales is my all-day-vape.
Each of the liquids in The Cellar range are available in 10 (€6.95) and 60ml (€25.95) bottles at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg.
The 10ml bottle is a very dark brown, almost black plastic which protects the nicotine within from the destructive effects of ultraviolet light. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja01846a026 The screw-top cap is a (very) childproof, black plastic with a tamper evident seal around the base of the cap where it meets the neck of the bottle. The label is beautifully designed with a sepia toned photograph of wooden barrels with a bulls head and the name of the liquid in crimson red, superimposed. I really enjoy this attention to detail; considered choice of bottle and accomplished graphic design substantially enhance the enjoyment of the product for me. The label also includes the following information: the brand name, the name of the company, nicotine strength in mg, liquid contents in ml, an ingredients list, an advisory notice that the liquid may contain traces of nuts, the name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer, age and toxicity warning graphics, a tactile, warning triangle sticker which complies with EU laws regarding the storage of toxic substances and the words "Contains Nicotine". On the back of the bottle is a folded attachment (glued on) which contains a toxicity warning and first aid instructions in thirteen languages.
The colour of the liquid is a close match to Imperial Red http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_red#Imperial_red and has an aroma approximating moist tobacco mixed with a spiced cake. The aroma of cake doesn't manifest in the flavour at all.
The Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery is my reviewing hardware of choice. Before I begin to describe my experience of vaping Minotaur, I'll quote the House of Liquid website: "Created using a similar recipe and tobaccos (to) our Cigarillos with the addition of a number of strong spices." I fire the device and I draw the vapour slowly into my mouth and I immediately taste a delicate sweetness with the piquancy of a compound of various spices. For a moment, I think I taste chilli, but without the heat that usually accompanies the spice. To be honest, I couldn't positively identify the various spices involved in the crafting of this liquid but there's a warmth about the flavour, not to be mistaken with the temperature of the vapour, which adds dimension and lends a certain exotic quality to the experience of vaping Minotaur. It's very different to anything I've tried before and provokes in my mind's eye the sort of imagery seen in Zack Snyder's film, "300". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/ If I exhale the vapour nasally, there is a definite chemesthetic "burn". When I inhale the vapour and hold for a moment the flavour of tobacco emerges. It's the full-bodied flavour of the Cuban tobacco leaves of Cigarillos with an added depth of flavour, attributable to the maturation in an oak barrel. There's a certain woodiness about the flavour. The tobacco flavour intensifies as I exhale and expands to fill my mouth for the duration of the aftertaste which lasts a good many minutes.
Minotaur delivers a significant throat hit (at 18mg nicotine strength) with a substantial kick to the back of the throat. Vapour production is also very substantial.
Minotaur is a complex and sophisticated vape. As the vapour journeys through your system, from the tip of your tongue to the lungs and back out to the tip of your tongue again with the residual aftertaste, a series of sensations are apprehended by the nervous system that provokes a sensorial and intellectual investigation and gives rise to flights of the imagination. Everything from the name of the liquid, with its classical associations to the branding and graphic design to the sensations that arise in the vaping of Minotaur itself provides an intensely satisfying experience that should be savoured. Fortunately, this isn't an e-liquid reserved for the elite; it's reasonably priced and available to anyone who cared to give it a go. No lists. No F5. I urge you, if tobacco is a part of your vaping diet then do yourself a favour and try this extraordinary juice.
