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. Pertinent portions of this review are quoted from my review of Halo's Belgian Cocolate. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/belgian-cocoa-by-halo.html Quoted passages are in italics.
Turkish Tobacco is a small leafed, sun-cured variety named after the Ottoman Empire, rather than the nation, Turkey and usually contains less nicotine and carcinogens than other varieties. "Historically, it was cultivated primarily in Thrace and Macedonia, now divided among Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey, but it is now also grown on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, in Egypt, in South Africa, and elsewhere." It generally delivers a milder, more aromatic flavour with a somewhat acidic aspect as a result of its being cured (dried) in the sun, than air or smoke cured tobacco. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_tobacco
The subject of this review, Turkish Tobacco by Halo http://www.halocigs.com/ is based on the original sun-cured variety cultivated off the coast of the Black Sea. Strap in folks. We're taking a trip back in time.
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| The region where Turkish Tobacco is traditionally cultivated. |
The subject of this review, Turkish Tobacco by Halo http://www.halocigs.com/ is based on the original sun-cured variety cultivated off the coast of the Black Sea. Strap in folks. We're taking a trip back in time.
Halo are based in the United States and use all American ingredients in their e-liquids. They maintain rigorous standards in quality control and ensure consistency of flavour and nicotine content from bottle to bottle. "Attention to detail in taste and “throat hit” are the top factors which drive Halo smoke juice." (e-liquid) http://www.halocigs.com/why-halo/american-made-smoke-juice.html
Halo offer a range of twenty two juices, divided into the following categories: premium, tobacco, menthol and gourmet. Each juice is available in bottle sizes of 7 ($5.99) and 30ml ($19.99) with nicotine strengths of 0 ("No Nicotine"), 6 ("Low Nicotine"), 12 ("Medium Nicotine"), 18 ("High Nicotine") and 24mg ("XHigh Nicotine").
The 7ml bottle I have in front of me is a clear, easily squeezed plastic with a dropper insert attached. The white plastic screw-top cap is childproof. The label includes the following information: the company name, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine strength in mg, a batch number, a best used by date, an ingredients list, and cautionary notes that the liquid contains nicotine, should be kept out of the reach of children and pets and that it should not be drunk.
The colour of the liquid is a clear Persian Orange http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Persian_orange and is fairly aqueous in consistency. Although thin, the liquid is very lubricious and resists absorption into the skin when I rub a drop between my thumb and forefinger. When I hold the opened bottle to my nose I discern a very light middle note of tobacco, with a fleeting top note of something akin to an indeterminate citrus.
The Halo website describes Turkish Tobacco thus, "Our Turkish Tobacco E-liquid blend offers an excellent combination of sun-cured tobacco flavor with a very light semi-sweet top note. This unique e-liquid flavor is characteristic of the original Turkish Tobacco cultivated off the coast of the Black Sea, which is widely used in traditional cigarettes and blended into various pipe tobaccos. Turkish Tobacco E-liquid has a relatively mild tobacco flavor, so it is a great choice for “light tobacco” smokers still seeking substantial throat hit and good vapor production." http://www.halocigs.com/turkish-tobacco-eliquid.html There are 53 customer reviews for this liquid (as of the date of writing this review) with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
I'm vaping Turkish Tobacco in the Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. There's four wraps of 0.2 Kanthal wire (32 AWG) around three strands of 2mm Silica wick. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil.
When I first draw the vapour into my mouth a wash of sweetness and low-key bitterness envelops my tongue. As I begin to inhale the mouthful of vapour, and continue inhaling while I fire the device, the sweetness begins to fade slightly. By the time I finish inhaling vapour and take a short, shallow breath of air, as I usually do, the sweetness has almost dropped away with the obvious umami notes of the tobacco flavour laid bare and prevailing. The tobacco is indeed mild, with a very subtle, fruity undercurrent which at times is vaguely reminiscent of citrus. As I exhale, the umami quality of the tobacco is clarified and gently amplified. The aftertaste is a combination of a somewhat "dry", slightly fruity flavour (in the same way that a white wine might be considered "dry") and a very slender bitterness. When probed with my tongue, there's a touch of metallic tang around my teeth and gums.
Throat hit is significant as is vapour production. If I draw the vapour directly into my lungs, the throat hit is even stronger.
As a light tobacco, this seemingly authentic tasting e-liquid (I've never tasted actual Turkish Tobacco but there's nothing about this liquid which suggests artificiality) would be a fine candidate for the all-day-vape. The flavour, while light, is full bodied and offers an opportunity for the connoisseur and beginner alike to explore its complex nature. Halo's Turkish Tobacco is generous on all fronts.
