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 have been quoted from my review of Virgin Vapor's Organic Creme Caramel. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/organic-creme-caramel-by-virgin-vapor.html Quoted passages are in italics.
Mint Chocolate Chip you say? Yum.
"Mint chocolate chip is an ice cream flavor composed of mint ice cream with small chocolate chips. In some cases the liqueur crème de menthe is used to provide the mint flavor, but in most cases peppermint or spearmint flavoring is used. Food coloring is usually added to make it green, but it may be white in "all natural" or "organic" varieties." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mint_chocolate_chip
"According to the International Dairy Foods Association, mint chocolate chip is the 10th most popular flavor of ice cream, and comprised 3% of all ice cream sold in 2000." http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/food/icecream_faq.html
Virgin Vapor, in an act of merciful grace, have made this luxurious comfort food available to the vaping public in an organically flavoured e-liquid. Thank you Virgin Vapor.
Virgin Vapor http://www.virginvapor.com/ is an award winning, small company based in the United States, run by Annette Rogers and her team. While there may be others who do the same, Virgin Vapor is the first company I've come across who offer 100% organically flavoured e-liquids. They offer two ranges; Virgin Vapor Line, within which the flavour essences are suspended in an ethyl alcohol base (Ethanol?); and the Absolute Virgin Line which offers an ethyl alcohol free alternative. Virgin Vapor are keen to point out that the ingredients for their liquids are sourced for the most part, from within the US. The flavourings for the Absolute Virgin Line are sourced from the EU. The nicotine used in all their liquids is sourced from hand picked tobacco leaves grown in North Carolina. Furthermore, none of their liquids contain "artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners or any other additives." http://www.virginvapor.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions
The Virgin Vapor Line is a range of eighty eight e-juices with flavours ranging through tobaccos, desserts, fruits, beverages and confectionary to the more exotic floral offerings. The Absolute Virgin Line offers forty liquids with a similar to, though obviously less extensive spectrum of flavours than the Virgin Vapor Line.
Virgin Vapor e-liquids are available in 1/4 ounce (7.39ml)($6.99), 1/2 ounce (14.78ml)($11.50) and 1 ounce (29.57ml)($19.99) bottles at nicotine strengths of 0 (zero), 5 (Extra Low), 8 (Low), 12 (Medium), 18 (High) and 24mg (Extra High) with PG/VG ratios of 0/100 or 50/50.
The bottle is brown glass. This gets the Vapour-Taster seal of approval: brown glass stops UV light from degrading the nicotine content. The black plastic, screw top cap has an inbuilt glass dropper with a pointed tip which makes it easier to direct the flow of liquid into any device with a narrow opening (cartomisers, The Killer, etc). Owners of devices with smaller filling ports like certain cartomiser tanks, or the Kayfun, for example, will need to use a syringe. The label includes the following information: the name of the liquid, the name of the company, nicotine strength, PG/VG ratio, batch number, the company's website address, a notice of age requirement and an admonition to keep out of the reach of children.
The colour of the liquid is a clear Peach Orange http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Peach The liquid is very lubricious; a droplet rubbed between my thumb and forefinger feels very slippery and appears to resist absorption into my skin; it takes a good five minutes of unceasing friction before the latter occurs. The aroma has an alcoholic savour somewhat reminiscent of rum but as this evaporates, a floral mint remains with a shadow of chocolate lurking in the distance.
I'm vaping Organic Mint Chocolate Chip in an Igo-L on a Poldiac running on a freshly charged 18650 battery. I don't have the means to determine the ohms of the coil but it may help you to know that I'm using five wraps of 0.2mm (32AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick.
Virgin Vapor describe Organic Mint Chocolate Chip as "...one of our consistent top sellers. It balances a strong, refreshing mint flavor with the taste of chocolate chips in a creamy base. Customers tell us it tastes just like Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream!" There are thirteen customer reviews on the Organic Mint Chocolate Chip page with an average rating of 5/5 stars. http://www.virginvapor.com/products/organic-mint-chocolate-chip-e-liquid
I fire the device and inhale; as I do so I'm surprised to find the presence of a cooling agent, which I suspect is peppermint, chilling the back of my throat. Of course, I shouldn't really be surprised because this is after all, a mint-chocolate chip flavoured liquid, but I guess I was expecting the taste of mint, rather than the chemesthetic effect that accompanies certain types of mint. Picking up the device and firing it again, I take a sustained draw and inhale the vapour towards the back of my throat and as I do so, I briefly taste the smooth "warmth" of chocolate before the chill takes further effect at the back of my throat. The chocolate is quickly overshadowed by the sensation of, and taste of peppermint. When I finish inhaling vapour and follow through with my customary inhalation of fresh air the chemesthetic sensation at the back of my throat is amplified. This sensation dominates through the greater part of the exhalation but as I finish exhaling and the flavours settle into the aftertaste, the chocolate makes a reappearance. The aftertaste is a mélange of chill and the subtle residue of chocolate. There's also a very mild, metallic tang around my forward teeth and gums. Short, shallow draws of the vapour into my mouth favours the chocolate flavour slightly, while the coolness of the mint settles gently along the length of my tongue. Deeper, sustained inhalations favour the cooling effect of the mint at the back of my throat.
I find that most Menthol/mint oriented vapes forego throat hit for the alternative chemesthetic chill at the back of the throat. This liquid produces a substantial chill which is amplified with successive inhalations of either further vapour or fresh air. Vapour production is substantial with very dense, white volumes pouring from my mouth and nose.
While this is not quite what I expected, I find it a very satisfying vape. I've never been a fan of Menthol or mint but the more I vape these types of liquid, the more I find I like them. Organic Mint Chocolate Chip produces a nicely balanced vapour that responds to variations of inhalation technique with emphases on the different flavours and sensations on offer. The flavour is a close approximation of the actual foodstuffs, though I'd personally prefer a more potent chocolaty presence.
