Boardwalk by Shoreline Vapes

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.

There's something horribly life affirming about "the beach" and the culture that's accreted around this particular geographic locale. Despite having lived in seaside resort towns, I've never been particularly involved in the fun, sun worshipping, surf-centric culture that's been informed by the natural environment and humanity's engagement with it.

"Surf culture includes the people, language, fashion and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing. The history of surfing began with the ancient Polynesians. That initial culture directly influenced modern surfing which began to flourish and evolve in the early 20th century, with popularity spiking greatly during the 1950s and 1960s, principally in Hawaii, Australia, and California. It continues to progress and spread throughout the world. It has at times affected popular fashion, music, literature, films, jargon, and more." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surf_culture

The boardwalk, that liminal territory between the street and the sand is a particular space where the cultures of the surf and the street intermingle in a free, hedonistic celebration of life. The wealthy amongst us congregate along the coast and build obscene abodes with ready access to the restaurants and bars of the boardwalk. Nevertheless, clever town planning renders the boardwalk a socio-economic and politically free zone where every man, woman and child is welcome to indulge in the sights and sounds of the beach while maintaining the comfort and facility of the street.

Boardwalk by Shoreline Vapes is a premium e-liquid which partakes of all that the idea of "the boardwalk" is and offers it to you in vaporous form.

The Vape Goddess website describes Boardwalk as "a nostalgic fruity cotton candy blend". http://www.vapegoddess.net/boardwalk/

Shoreline Vapes was founded by Orange County resident, Will Giddings, who worked with Kevin Drake and Meg Strouse at Drake's Vapes and Vape Goddess before launching his own label. 

Shoreline Vapes currently offer a range of four juices. These are: Catalina ("A tropical infusion of fruits"), Big Sur ("A fresh and enticing play on Strawberry Banana Yogurt Parfait"), Rincon ("A decadent swirl of homemade baked chocolate chip cookies and mint") and Boardwalk. Each liquid is available in a 30ml bottle with nicotine contents of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg at US$15.00 per bottle. All liquids are mixed with a PG/VG ratio of 50/50.

The Shoreline Vapes range is available from Vape Goddess http://www.vapegoddess.net You might also find Shoreline Vapes at a Brick and Mortar store near you. 

The bottle is a clear glass cylinder with a tapering neck towards the black plastic, non-childproof, screw-top cap. The label features a screen print (vector) style graphic and includes the following information: the brand/company name, the name of the juice, a two word description of the juice ("Nostalgic Candy"), nicotine strength in mg, an ingredients list, a warning to keep away from children and pets and an advisory notice specifying "no sale to minors".

The liquid is a vibrant Persimmon Orange. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Persimmon Uncapping the bottle below my nose releases an aroma of sweetened fruit syrup which at times is very reminiscent of strawberry but for the most part smells (to me) like a melange of tropical fruits and berries.

I've been vaping Boardwalk in an Igo-L atop my Provari running on an 18650 battery. I've built a single micro-coil with seven wraps of 28AWG (0.32mm) Kanthal wire around a sterilised cotton wick which reads 1.4ohms on the Provari. I've set voltage output to 3.8.

As I fire the device the liquid crackles and pops. Always very satisfying. Drawing the vapour into my mouth and along the length of my tongue triggers a recognition of the saturated flavour of sugar with a more subtle and undefined fruitiness suffused throughout. With subsequent inhalations and the progressive heating of the coil, the fruitiness is amplified and I perceive it as stronger than the flavour of sugar. Having drawn as much vapour into my mouth as I can, I chase the volume into my lungs with a sharp intake of fresh air. As I do this, the sugary flavour resolves into that unmistakeable flavour of cotton candy/fairy floss which is so beloved of children around the world (and remembered fondly by those of us who mourn the passing of our youth). As the breath turns and I begin to exhale the flavour of cotton candy is rejoined by that fruity element which continues to evade definition. With subsequent exhalations though, I sometimes imagine the flavour to be that of strawberry or a tropical composite of fruits. The aftertaste is a very pleasant, fading, sugary fruitiness with a subtle metallic tang around my forward teeth and gums. There's no unpleasant chemical flavour at any stage in the vape.

I don't necessarily experience a throat hit as such but the sensation of mounting pressure at the back of my throat as I inhale is substantial. Vapour production is very generous with voluminous amounts of dense white vapour billowing from my mouth and nose as I exhale.

Boardwalk is, as Shoreline Vapes suggests, a walk done memory lane. It speaks to that worry-free, unbridled, exuberant liberation triggered by a sense of ready expectation and the flights of imagination experienced around the seaside and all that goes with it. Boardwalk's flavour is dense and authentic, while vapour production is outstanding. I imagine throat hit will depend on your preferred nicotine strength, your setup and your inhalation technique. If you enjoy fruity/candy flavoured juices you will love Boardwalk.

Melon Head by Mr. Good 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. Pertinent portions of this review are quoted from my review of Mr. Good Vape's Karma Cream. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/karma-cream-by-mr-good-vape.html Quoted passages are in italics.

Western culture is rich with associations of fruit and vegetables with the human head. Two examples that spring to mind are the paintings of Giussepe Arcimboldo (1526 or 1527 – July 11, 1593) and PumpkinHead, the horror film (1988) directed by Special Effects maestro Stan Winston.

Arcimboldo "was an Italian painter best known for creating imaginative portrait heads made entirely of such objects as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and books – that is, he painted representations of these objects on the canvas arranged in such a way that the whole collection of objects formed a recognizable likeness of the portrait subject." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo

Arcimboldo's Rudolf II as Vertumnus

 

PumpkinHead relates the tale of "a group of city kids (who) go into the country to relax. While there, one of them is involved in a biking accident that takes the life of the son of the local storekeeper. In a fit of rage, the storekeeper has a witch unleash an unstoppable demon called "Pumpkinhead" to kill the group. When he realizes he's gone too far, the storekeeper attempts to save the kids, but is continually afflicted by visions of peoples' deaths through the eyes of the monster." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095925/

Running the term "Melon Head" through Google, turned up this little nugget about deranged, feral children with enlarged heads: http://www.damnedct.com/the-melon-heads/

The Mr. Good Vape website page for Melon Head has this to say about the e-liquid: "If you're not a Melon Head yet, you certainly will be after trying Mr. Good Vapes Melon Head! The delightful combination of Cantaloupe, Mango, and Papaya open up a relaxed and cerebral joyfulness. This is definitely an all day or all month type of Vape. If your looking to bring your Vaping experience to the next level, try Melon Head today!" https://www.mrgoodvape.com/shop/our-juices/melon-head/

Mr. Good Vape (The Godfather of Vaping) is based in Southern California and is the brainchild and joint venture of business partners and long-time friends, Gary Riddle and Chris Davis. Mr. Good Vape was set up to be a fun, approachable company with an emphasis on "sweet fruit and candy like flavors. Similar to Jelly Belly Candy company or Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream company." https://www.mrgoodvape.com/about-us/

Mr. Good Vape e-liquids are available from their own online store https://www.mrgoodvape.com, Vape Revolution http://shop.vaperev.com and fifty brick and mortar stores scattered throughout the US (with one in Kuala Lumpur, another in Ireland and another opening soon in England). https://www.mrgoodvape.com/contact/ Amusingly, each outlet is characterised as an Under Boss, Soldier or Capo, furthering the Godfather theme of the company.

The company offers a selection of eleven flavoured e-liquids. These are Bahama Mama ("Banana, Pineapple, Coconut Candy Colada and Cream"), Sweet Lovin ("...strawberries, watermelon and bubblegum..."), Karma Cream ("...juicy peaches, vanilla bean ice cream and two types of creams..."), Dreamsicle ("...(a) vape that mimics the old ice cream 50/50 bars. Loaded with Tangerines and Bavarian Cream and more..."), Melon Head ("...Cantaloupe, Mango, and Papaya..."), Moon Sugar ("...warm and bready with tones of Butterscotch and some graham cracker pie crust..."), Sunshine Daydream ("...Pineapple, Banana, Orange and two other excellent extracts. People say it tastes like Juicy Fruit Gum!"), Pistachio Man ("...Chocolate Mint Pistachio with an undertone of french vanilla ice cream and a slight hint of dark burley Tobacco imported from Italy..."), Heaven's Candy ("...Apple Candy, Sweet Plums and two types of sugary grapes with a hint of cotton candy..."), Sundae Fundae ("...Caramel Candy, Brown Sugar, French Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Cookies and Cream drizzled in butterscotch.") and Dabble Dooyah ("warm, Dutch, apple pie melted into two types of exotic, slow churned vanillas with a dabble doo of cinnamon drizzled in caramel").

The PG/VG ratio in each juice in the range differs from the next. For example, Sweet Lovin is a 50/50 liquid while Melon Head is an 80/20 (VG/PG) liquid. Check the juice you're interested in for it's specific PG/VG ratio. Each juice is available in a 15 (US$12.00) or 30ml (US$20.00) bottle at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg.

The (15ml) bottles used by Mr. Good Vape are a clear glass with a black, plastic, screw top cap with an inbuilt eye dropper which makes transferring the liquid from the bottle to your favourite device very easy. Every label in the range features the cartoon portrait of the "Godfather of Vaping". Information on the label includes the following: the company name, the name of the liquid, nicotine strength in mg, a "born on" date, an ingredients list, a warning that the contents of the bottle may contain traces of nuts and an admonition to "keep out of reach of children and pets". Every bottle arrives with a tamper evident plastic film around the cap and neck of the bottle.

The colour of the liquid is a clear Royal Yellow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_yellow#Royal_yellow As an 80% Vegetable glycerin liquid it's quite thick, having a viscosity approaching that of a household oil or a light syrup. As expected, tiny bubbles dispersed throughout the liquid by a brief, vigorous shake of the bottle, rise to the top at a very slow pace; a few millimetres per second. I break the tamper evident seal, open the bottle and hold it below my nose and take sustained, shallow nasal inhalations, focusing on the aroma. The top note, volatile and brief is some form of fruit candy or candied fruit, which fades to a more subtle and elusive suggestion of tropical fruits.

I'm vaping Melon Head in an Igo-L on a Poldiac running on an 18650 battery. There's five wraps of 0.2 (32AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick and the atomiser is reading 2.3ohms on the Provari. Whether or not it has any bearing on my appreciation of the liquid, I should declare that I'm suffering insomnia and it's 5:00am as I begin to taste and write about the flavour.

I take a few primer puffs and at the level of pure sensation, I'm immediately aware of a tropical fruit flavour profile. As I proceed to inhale, there's a mild sweetness followed closely by a milder acidic tartness that washes throughout my mouth. It's not until I finish inhaling vapour and take a brief breath of fresh air that the intensity and interplay of the various fruit flavours emerge. The vapour is saturated with flavour and I'm aware of the different fruits as a medley that nevertheless, offers up the identities of the individual flavours as I seek them out. Exhaling amplifies the flavour and subsequent exhalations seems to variously favour one flavour over the others. The aftertaste renders a refreshing, mouth cleansing sensation reminiscent of that provided by the drinking of fresh tropical juice. There's an accompanying metallic tang around my forward teeth and gums, which, as ever, is somewhat pleasant and a welcome aspect of the vape cycle and experience.

I've found that throat hit is absent in vaping Melon Head. However, there is a quite aggressive mounting of pressure at the back of the throat as I inhale. Vapour production appears to vary depending on my inhalation technique; inhaling straight into my lungs produces suitably substantial clouds of vapour, while drawing into my mouth and then inhaling produces a very minimal volume of vapour.

The flavour of Melon Head very closely approximates the boiled confectionery of yesteryear (the type that you had to suck rather than chew). Think along the lines of a sweet and slightly sour, sugary, crystalline candy with a light dusting of very finely ground sugar and you're well on your way to imagining how this e-liquid tastes. This is a relatively complex liquid with a fine balance between each of the fruit flavours and the lightly acidic tone perfectly offsets the predominantly sweet character, lending Melon Head a very attractive dimension which is found all too rarely in fruit oriented juices.

Moon Sugar by Mr. Good 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. Pertinent portions of this review are quoted from my review of Mr. Good Vape's Karma Cream. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/karma-cream-by-mr-good-vape.html Quoted passages are in italics.

I wonder how many of you are aware that Moon Sugar is a proscribed substance in Tamriel. Like a certain substance used by various native peoples of the Americas, Moon Sugar plays a key role in the Khajiit people's religious beliefs. "Some beliefs hold that the sugar is crystallized moonlight caught in the water of the Topal Sea and brought to the sugarcane groves of the Tenmar by the force of the twin tides. By partaking of the sugar, Khajiit believe they are consuming portions of their gods' souls, which drive them into fits of ecstasy and abandon."

"Moon Sugar is an illegal and addictive drug found in sugar canes native to the Tenmar Forest of southern Elsweyr. Khajiit believe it to be a gift from the gods. The sugar is used in a variety of applications, most prominently as a seasoning, a magical ingredient, a recreational drug, and for communion with the holy moons. It is commonly refined into a more usable and more potent form known as Skooma. It should be noted that non-Khajiit are generally more susceptible to the effects of Moon Sugar and should avoid it." http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Moon_Sugar

The gamers amongst you will immediately recognise the above as lore and gameplay elements in Bethesda's wildly popular Elder Scrolls series of video games: Elder Scrolls Online, Skyrim, Oblivion and Morrowind being the latest four. http://bethsoft.com/en-gb/games

Fortunately for us, Mr. Good Vape's Moon Sugar is perfectly legal. In certain regions of the world, anyway.

The Mr. Good Vape website page for Moon Sugar has this to say about the e-liquid: "Moon Sugar stands out in any line up but beats the interrogation every time! The name was given because of the low gravity of the moon with its huge billowy clouds of vapor production and its high concentration of Sugar Cookie. This blend is warm and bready with tones of Butterscotch and some graham cracker pie crust love! Moon Sugar is like your private stock you bust out on those special occasions!" https://www.mrgoodvape.com/shop/our-juices/moon-sugar/

Mr. Good Vape (The Godfather of Vaping) is based in Southern California and is the brainchild and joint venture of business partners and long-time friends, Gary Riddle and Chris Davis. Mr. Good Vape was set up to be a fun, approachable company with an emphasis on "sweet fruit and candy like flavors. Similar to Jelly Belly Candy company or Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream company." https://www.mrgoodvape.com/about-us/

Mr. Good Vape e-liquids are available from their own online store https://www.mrgoodvape.com, Vape Revolution http://shop.vaperev.com and fifty brick and mortar stores scattered throughout the US (with one in Kuala Lumpur, another in Ireland and another opening soon in England). https://www.mrgoodvape.com/contact/ Amusingly, each outlet is characterised as an Under Boss, Soldier or Capo, furthering the Godfather theme of the company.

The company offers a selection of eleven flavoured e-liquids. These are Bahama Mama ("Banana, Pineapple, Coconut Candy Colada and Cream"), Sweet Lovin ("...strawberries, watermelon and bubblegum..."), Karma Cream ("...juicy peaches, vanilla bean ice cream and two types of creams..."), Dreamsicle ("...(a) vape that mimics the old ice cream 50/50 bars. Loaded with Tangerines and Bavarian Cream and more..."), Melon Head ("...Cantaloupe, Mango, and Papaya..."), Moon Sugar ("...warm and bready with tones of Butterscotch and some graham cracker pie crust..."), Sunshine Daydream ("...Pineapple, Banana, Orange and two other excellent extracts. People say it tastes like Juicy Fruit Gum!"), Pistachio Man ("...Chocolate Mint Pistachio with an undertone of french vanilla ice cream and a slight hint of dark burley Tobacco imported from Italy..."), Heaven's Candy ("...Apple Candy, Sweet Plums and two types of sugary grapes with a hint of cotton candy..."), Sundae Fundae ("...Caramel Candy, Brown Sugar, French Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Cookies and Cream drizzled in butterscotch.") and Dabble Dooyah ("warm, Dutch, apple pie melted into two types of exotic, slow churned vanillas with a dabble doo of cinnamon drizzled in caramel").

The PG/VG ratio in each juice in the range differs from the next. For example, Sweet Lovin is a 50/50 liquid while Melon Head is an 80/20 (VG/PG) liquid. Check the juice you're interested in for it's specific PG/VG ratio. (Moon Sugar is a VG80%/PG20% Juice.) Each juice is available in a 15 (US$12.00) or 30ml (US$20.00) bottle at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg.

The (15ml) bottles used by Mr. Good Vape are a clear glass with a black, plastic, screw top cap with an inbuilt eye dropper which makes transferring the liquid from the bottle to your favourite device very easy. Every label in the range features the cartoon portrait of the "Godfather of Vaping". Information on the label includes the following: the company name, the name of the liquid, nicotine strength in mg, a "born on" date, an ingredients list, a warning that the contents of the bottle may contain traces of nuts and an admonition to "keep out of reach of children and pets". Every bottle arrives with a tamper evident plastic film around the cap and neck of the bottle.

The colour of the liquid is a clear, Princeton Orange. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Princeton_orange As a Vegetable Glycerin heavy liquid, the viscosity approaches that of a medially thick syrup. Or... a light cooking oil. Opening the bottle below my nose releases a potent aroma of sweet, buttery cookies/biscuits that ends with butterscotch. I'm also sensing a subtle undercurrent of alcohol. Brief, shallow inhalations, appears to favour the rich butterscotch.

I'm vaping Moon Sugar in an Igo-L on a Poldiac running on an 18650 battery. There's five wraps of 0.2 (32AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick and the atomiser is reading 2.3ohms on the Provari.

I take several primer puffs to heat the coil and proceed to take a sustained inhalation straight into my lungs. As I take the primer puffs, the flavour of butterscotch rides high above the "breadiness", much as the Mr. Good Vape website suggests. There's something about the combination of bread and butterscotch which elicits associations with gingerbread. Sustained inhalation coaxes a mild sweetness from the vapour, experienced, for the most part, along the forward edge of my tongue and accentuates the flavour of cookies/biscuits. As I finish inhaling and follow through with a breath of fresh air, the butterscotch produces a sensation of warmth at the back of my throat which I'd suggest again, is reminiscent of the slightly peppery warmth obtained from eating gingerbread. The flavour profile is sustained throughout exhalation and for the duration of the aftertaste, with the exception of an added, mild metallic tang around my teeth and gums.

The throat hit is significant and is amplified slightly by the sensation of mounting pressure at the back of my throat as I inhale. This, combined with the mild chemesthetic sensation of warmth at the back of my throat produces quite a kick. Vapour production, as expected from an 80%VG liquid, is quite substantial with billowing, white clouds all about me that drift and spin lazily for a considerable amount of time.

I'd suggest that Mr. Good Vape says Moon Sugar is "like your private stock you bust out on those special occasions!" https://www.mrgoodvape.com/shop/our-juices/moon-sugar/ because it's the vaping equivalent of comfort food. It's sweet, but not overly so, it has the warmth and buttery richness of butterscotch and the snug, heartwarming reassurance of cookies/biscuits. Perfect with a mug of your favourite hot beverage.

It's no surprise that the Khajiit people are so fond of it.

Organic Creme Caramel by Virgin 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.

Créme Caramel is a delicate dessert, typically served cold, composed of a base layer of custard with a soft upper layer of caramel (unlike Creme Brûlée which has an upper layer of hard caramel). It's often served with a thin sauce, cream and if your lucky, some form of garnish. The words "créme caramel" are French and literally mean "caramel custard". When done right, simply laying the edge of a spoon on the top of the dessert should be sufficient to slice into it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crème_caramel

Caramel, from the Medieval Latin, Cannamellis, meaning “sugar cane” is made by "slowly heating sugar to "around 170°C (340°F). As the sugar heats, the molecules break down and re-form into compounds with a characteristic color and flavor. A variety of candies, desserts, and confections are made with caramel: brittles, nougats, pralines, crème brûlée, crème caramel, and caramel apples." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel “Caramel candy (which I'll refer to later) is a soft, dense, chewy candy made by boiling a mixture of milk or cream, sugar(s), butter, and vanilla flavoring." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1607743655/davidleboviswebs

Organic Creme Caramel is an E-liquid from Virgin Vapor, who describe it as "tasting like gooey, sticky, sweet and delicious caramel" On the Creme Caramel page there are twenty six customer reviews with an average rating of five out of five stars. http://www.virginvapor.com/collections/organic-e-liquid/products/organic-creme-caramel-e-liquid The emphasis appears to be more on the caramel than on the dessert for which it's named.

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 limpid, pale Sunset Orange http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_(color). To my eye, the liquid seems to move about in the bottle quite aqueously, which surprises me considering it's 50% Vegetable Glycerin. Actually, thinking about it, the ethyl alcohol, within which the flavour compounds are suspended would also dilute the VG, rendering it more aqueous. A vigorous shake diffuses tiny bubbles throughout the liquid which rise to the top at a sluggish pace. The liquid is initially very lubricious; rubbing a drop of the liquid between my thumb and forefinger causes it to be absorbed into my skin within two minutes. The aroma issuing from the opened bottle is that of a creamy caramel with a fleeting note of vanilla. Given that the organic flavour is suspended in an ethyl alcohol solution, there's also a slight alcoholic redolence underlying the upper sweet notes.

As I fire the device and draw the vapour into my mouth, sweetness, alongside what I'd call an "inclination towards" saltiness (very, very slight) washes in and around my taste buds. Knowing that I'm vaping caramel influences my gustatory system and the flavour is apparent even on the inhalation. The vapour is saturated with flavour and I'm already enjoying this immensely. As I finish inhaling vapour, catch a small amount of fresh air at the back of my throat and hold my breath for a moment or two the caramel flavour expands and it takes on a rich, buttery and creamy character. When the breath turns and I exhale, the flavour is fully realised and it tastes just like the "soft, dense, chewy (caramel) candy" I mentioned above. In addition to the caramel is vanilla which lends it's characteristic flavour and texture to the mix. The vapour is silky on both the inhalation and exhalation with a mild chemesthetic burn if exhaled nasally. The aftertaste is dominated by the buttery richness of the caramel with a slight metallic tang around my teeth and gums. Also worth noting, is that at no time was I aware of the ethyl alcohol in the liquid influencing the flavour of the vapour and for those of you wary of intoxication beyond the stimulus of the nicotine: rest easy, there isn't any.

There's a persuasive throat hit involved in the vaping of this juice and the exhaled vapour is as profuse as you would expect from a juice with a PG/VG ratio of 50/50. If I use the word "cumulonimbus" you'll understand what I'm suggesting, right?

As far as I'm aware, this is my first experience of vaping an organic flavoured e-liquid and I must say it's rather pleasant. The flavour is rich and full bodied, throat hit (amplified by the alcoholic content) is satisfying, as is the generous vapour production. While I wouldn't say it tasted of Creme Caramel, the dessert, the flavour is a very convincing caramel candy: buttery, creamy, sweet caramel with subtle hints of vanilla. Beautiful.

VMD (Vape My Day) by Innevape

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 Innevape's Se7en (Vaper's Deadly Sins). http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/se7en-vapers-deadly-sin-by-innevape.html Quoted passages are in italics.

VMD (Vape My Day) is Innevape's http://www.innevape.com tribute to that most famous piece of cinematic history, Dirty Harry. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066999/

"Feeling Lucky, Punk?" This question has gone down in American cinematic history as one of the most famous movie quotes of all time, but this isn't what Harry Callahan actually asked. This is what he actually said, "...you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066999/quotes 

Here's a link to the scene on Youtube. Enjoy: http://youtu.be/8Xjr2hnOHiM

See the footnote below if you're interested in reading about my experience with a Magnum .44. It's not strictly relevant to this review.

Innevape are based in Central Florida. From their website: "We started this company to provide the absolute highest quality American made, custom blended e-liquids on the market. All of our blends are made with only the purest ingredients, including Kosher VG, and PG. Our e-liquids are all a 70% VG / 30% PG mixture to achieve the perfect balance of flavor, vapor production, and throat hit. We are a company owned by vapers, and run by vapers. Our commitment to you is that we will always maintain the utmost highest standards in quality, and customer service and treat you the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Live long and vapor." http://www.innevape.com/aboutus.asp

Innevape offer a range of sixteen e-liquids. These are Caramel Vapeuccino, Chill Out, Watermelonthol, Cherry Bomb, Fusion, Beehave, Grapevape, Mocha Javape, Heisenberg (The Blue), TNT - The Next Tobacco, Vapeception, VMD - Vape My Day, Watermelony, TNT Menthol, Se7en (Vaper's Deadly Sin) and TNT Black Label Peach.

Each liquid is available in bottle sizes of 15 ($8.00) and 30ml ($15.00) and at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, and 18mg. As stated above, Innevape mix all their liquids to a PG/VG ratio of 70/30.

The 15ml bottle is an easily squeezed, clouded plastic bottle with an attached dropper. The screw-top cap is white plastic and arrived with a tamper evident seal attached to the cap around the neck of the bottle. It's not childproof, so those of you with small children about should take special care in the storage and use of this liquid. The label includes the following information: the company name, the company's website address, the name of the liquid, the phrase "Live long and vapor", nicotine strength in mg and a warning that this product contains nicotine and should be kept out of the reach of children.

The liquid is a clear, light Bronze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_(color) and it has the viscosity and lubricity of a very light oil. The aroma is of butterscotch.

Innevape describe VMD as "a pure, old school smooth tobacco blend with a touch of butterscotch just for good measure." http://www.innevape.com/Vape_My_Day_E_Cigarette_liquid_p/el-vmd.htm

I'm vaping VMD in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on a freshly charged 18650 battery. I don't have the mod or equipment necessary to measure the ohms of the coil on the Igo-L, but I can tell you that it has four wraps of 0.2 Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick. 

As I begin to describe my experience of VMD, I want to make one thing clear: I like this juice a lot; it offers the type of flavour which for me, makes it a candidate for the status of all-day-vape. As I first fire the device and begin to inhale, my mouth fills with a dense volume of vapour which carries a mild sweetness. As I proceed to inhale, the sweetness intensifies a little and I feel that familiar mounting of pressure at the back of my throat. The moment I stop inhaling vapour, take a small about of fresh air into my lungs and pause, the flavour of butterscotch announces it's presence amidst the seven trumpets of the apocalypse. As I exhale the flavour intensifies through to the aftertaste, where it settles in and slowly fades. The predominant flavour in my experience is the butterscotch, with tobacco notes providing a subtle umami foundation that perhaps provides substance to the vape, but without declaring themselves as primary elements in the overall flavour. I'm finding it a very agreeable and satisfying vape.

Throat hit is negligible, though there is that mounting of pressure at the back of the throat, which signals at a certain point that inhalation should stop. Vapour production is very good and more substantial than I'd expect from a 70/30 PG/VG mix.

To reiterate, this is a candidate for my personal arsenal of all-day-vapes and will be graduating to use in the Killer. The flavour is full-bodied and rich without being overpowering. Innevape, you've made my day.

Footnote: In 2008 I visited a Firing Range/Club in Sweden and had the great fortune of shooting at some targets with a range of firearms, amongst them a Magnum .44. There's nothing quite like the experience of pulling the trigger on a gun like that. Even Pacifists like myself should experience this at least once in their lives; if nothing else you discover a personal, visceral respect for these machines. The magnum .44 is heavy, it's louder than you can possibly imagine (even with protective ear muffs), and the recoil is... well, it's fierce. What I learned that day is that it's difficult enough to hit the target while you're standing still and concentrating, let alone while walking, running, dodging bullets and hiding behind cars like they do in the movies. I did alright. Here's the target after I shot five .44's at it from a distance of 25 metres.

Blackcurrant Mivvi by The Alchemist's Cupboard

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.

Blackcurrant Mivvi is a frosty, blackcurrant flavoured e-liquid by The Alchemist's Cupboard. http://www.thealchemistscupboard.co.uk/ Mivvi's were an ice confectionery, originally made by Lyons Maid. They had a fruit flavoured, ice outer shell with an ice cream centre on a paddle pop (Popsicle or craft) stick. Lyons Maid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyons_Maid was a spin-off from British company, J. Lyons and Co. which in turn was a spin-off from Salmon and Gluckstein which was a tobacco company.

The Alchemist says that "he loved the Strawberry Mivvi Lollies as a child, so he set out to try and recreate the taste sensation... and along the way (decided to) improve on a good thing and extend the flavour range to include blackcurrant, orange, raspberry, banana, grape, pineapple, strawberry and blueberry" variations. http://www.thealchemistscupboard.co.uk/product/mivvi

Blackcurrant Mivvi is available in 10 (£4.20), 30 (£11.65) and 50ml (£19.10) bottles at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg and a PG/VG ratio of 60/40.

The bottle is an easily squeezed, clear plastic with a white, childproof, screw top cap. The label contains the following information: the brand name, the name of the E-liquid, toxicity warnings in the form of a skull and crossbones graphic, storage and handling instructions, medical advice in case of poisoning, a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU regulations regarding the storage and handling of toxic substances, an ingredients list, liquid quantity in ml, nicotine content in mg, a reference number (which I assume is the batch number), a bottle date, a best used by date, the Alchemist's Cupboard website address and the company's telephone number.

The liquid itself is a near opaque Brunswick Green http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_green#Brunswick_green, has the consistency of a light oil and an aroma approximating fresh berries.

I'm vaping Blackcurrant Mivvi in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod with an 18650 battery. As I inhale there's no sense of sweetness or flavour to speak of but there is a subtle sensation of warm softness on the tongue. The first prominent sensation is the coolness of Koolada (a derivative of menthol which imparts the coolness but not the flavour of menthol which leaves the primary flavour to which it's added, intact) at the back of the throat, which begins mildly but builds in intensity the longer I draw. As the breath begins to turn from inhalation to exhalation the flavour of blackcurrant emerges, and as the breath flows out the blackcurrant and Koolada marry into one agreeably refreshing flavour. The aftertaste consists of the slowly diminishing effect of the Koolada at the back of the throat and the somewhat dwarfed blackcurrant throughout the rest of the mouth. There is a slight metallic tang around the gums and teeth which is not at all unwelcome.

Throat hit is fairly mild for an 18mg juice but the frosty hit of the Koolada is significant. Vapour production is good, but varies on my Igo-L depending on how loaded the wick is with liquid.  Nevertheless, for a 60/40 PG/VG liquid, the vapour is entirely satisfactory.

I think Alchemist's Cupboard have made a valiant effort at reproducing not just the taste of a Mivvi, but also the sensation of the cold ice-cream in the mouth and throat. I want to see a lot more of this type of approach to the reproduction of flavour and mouthfeel in the e-liquid industry. I'm not sure in this particular instance that it entirely succeeds because the flavour of the blackcurrant gets lost in the frostiness of the Koolada. If I were to purchase Blackcurrant Mivvi I would request a double or triple shot of the fruit flavouring and added sweetener. As we all know taste is subjective, so Blackcurrant Mivvi may work perfectly for you. I encourage you to try it for yourself.

Bear Tropics by Diamond Vapor

In my recent post, Strawberry Waffles By Diamond Vapor, I mentioned that the vendor Diamond Vapor http://www.diamond-vapor.com/ ran a giveaway on Facebook which I won. When I opened the package from them, two smaller bottles tumbled out with the larger bottle of Strawberry Waffles which was my prize. These two smaller bottles weren't part of the giveaway, so Diamond Vapor had very kindly included a couple of juices for me to try and I was delighted.

The first of these and the subject of this review is Bear Tropics. The website describes this juice as "Classic Gummy Bear with a Tropical Twist". As with all Diamond Vapor juices, Bear Tropics is available in bottle sizes of 10ml ($5.00) or 30ml ($12.00), nicotine strengths of 6, 12, 18 or 24mg and PG/VG ratios of 50/50, 60/40 or 70/30. They also offer the option of customer specified PG/VG ratios which is very useful if you suffer from an allergy or intolerance of some sort to one or the other. Or you want to maximise flavour over vapour production. Or vice versa.

While the plastic of this 10ml bottle is soft I found I had to apply a reasonable amount of pressure to get the liquid out of it.  The screw-top lid is not child proof, so parents may want to exercise caution in the storage of this juice.  The label contains the date of the juice's production, nicotine strength and PG/VG ratio.  It also has a warning to "keep away from children" and informs the user that it is "handmade in the USA".

As I unscrew the lid and raise the bottle to my nose, I smell the unmistakable aroma that comes with opening a fresh packet of fruit flavoured, gelatinous confectionery. The liquid is clear with just a hint of colour, ivory perhaps, to suggest the presence of something more than the PG and VG liquids which form its base.

I have never had a particularly sweet tooth. Since beginning to vape however, only a matter of a few months ago, I've discovered that I quite like the sweeter end of the flavour spectrum. It comes as a bit of a surprise that Bear Tropics, despite the significantly sweet aroma is a fairly subtly sweetened flavour. I struggled with this a bit until I began to think in terms of confectionery pitched to an adult palate. Wine gums, also a gelatinous, fruit flavoured confectionery come to mind. I find that to get the best out of this liquid, I need to take several short, shallow drags followed by a sustained inhalation. The vapour heats up with each puff and the flavour builds until the final inhalation and brief holding of the breath when the Gummy Bears reveal themselves in all their glory. The flavour is fully apprehended on the exhalation, when I discover what I think is the presence of pineapple. It's a subtle, pineappley sweetness but without the acidity. A few moments after the exhalation I begin to salivate. Finally, there's a light sensation of fine grained tingle on the forward part of my tongue as though I've actually been eating Gummy Bears.

The vapour production is excellent and is nothing less than what I'd expect from a juice with a 50/50 PG/VG ratio. Throat hit is negligible, though there is a slight rasping at the back of the tongue and throat with sustained inhalation.

If you have a sweet tooth and you enjoy your confectionery, then I wouldn't hesitate to suggest you give this juice a go. The aroma and flavour are remarkable facsimiles of the actual candy.

Aunty Flo's Pear Drops by The Alchemist's Cupboard

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.

In Norwich, a beautiful city, not far from the easternmost point of the United Kingdom lives and works an Alchemist. Traditionally, Alchemists have been a secretive and shy group of people, many of whom were persecuted and executed by the authorities for their beliefs and practices. Our Norwich based Alchemist is similarly secretive, but for different reasons altogether. (We don't burn our Alchemists at the stake anymore.) His e-liquids, he claims, are made fresh to order using the "purest and best" ingredients available from the UK, EU or US only. "...we don’t sell generic E-Liquid flavours and brands that you could purchase from a number of different suppliers." This Alchemist has a cupboard, within which he stores the raw ingredients, the materia prima with which he works to formulate the Philosopher's Stone or, as we know it locally, Aunty Flo's Pear Drops (and other rarefied concoctions).

http://www.thealchemistscupboard.co.uk/

Aunty Flo's Pear Drops is available in 10 (£4.20), 30 (£11.65) and 50ml (£19.10) bottles at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg and a PG/VG ratio of 60/40. Pear Drops are an old fashioned confectionery; a sugar-coated, sharp and tangy, mentholated boiled sweet. Imagine an Olde Worlde confectionery store with wood panelled walls and everything in glass jars and you begin to get a picture of the milieu from which Aunty Flo bought her Pear Drops.

The bottle is an easily squeezed, clear plastic with a white, childproof, screw top cap. The label contains the following information: the brand name, the name of the E-liquid, toxicity warnings in the form of a skull and crossbones graphic (originally a Freemasonic motif: another link to Alchemy), storage and handling instructions, medical advice in case of poisoning, a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU regulations regarding the storage and handling of toxic substances, an ingredients list, liquid quantity in ml, nicotine content in mg, a reference number (which I assume is the batch number), a bottle date, a best used by date, the Alchemist's Cupboard website address and the company's telephone number.

The liquid itself is a clear, saturated caramel colour and has an aroma that's very suggestive of the type of confectionery you would find in an old fashioned confectionery store. It takes me back to Sovereign Hill, an historical (gold mining) theme park near Ballarat in Victoria, Australia which I visited a number of times as a child. There was a confectionery store there that smelled just like this e-liquid.

I'm vaping Aunty Flo's Pear Drops in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod with an 18650 battery. As I draw the vapour into my mouth, I discover to my horror, the presence of menthol. I'm not a fan of menthol or mints of any kind, but I consider myself a professional and I did promise several reviews ago that I would vape with my eyes wide open, so I persist.  And in doing so, I discover that it's not too bad; in fact it works quite well and I confess it's grown on me. On the inhalation, the tongue receives a mild, fruity sweetness and as the vapour reaches the back of the throat, the coolness of the menthol asserts itself. There's also that familiar mounting of pressure at the back of the throat which signals at a certain point that inhalation should stop. The flavour of pear is most prominent at that point in the breath cycle when I've stopped inhaling and I'm about to exhale. As I exhale, the pear flavour continues but is overwhelmed briefly by the iciness of the menthol coming to the fore and which lingers in the aftertaste.

Throat hit is good; obviously the menthol contributes to and amplifies that sensation and vapour production is very good.

The name and the aroma of the liquid are further served by the flavour to suggest an olde worlde type confectionery. The menthol isn't overly strong and works surprisingly well in combination with the pear flavour. The Alchemist's Cupboard website suggests that this is probably not going to be suitable as an all day vape and I'd have to agree with them.  Having said that, it's a vape that I'd happily turn to if I wanted a taste of something that we, in the 21st century have deemed "old fashioned". I like "old fashioned" and as I said earlier Aunty Flo's Pear Drops has grown on me. The more I vape it, the more I like it.

The Alchemist's Cupboard state that some customers have advised them that this e-liquid has cracked CE5 polycarbonate tanks. Stick to glass or stainless steel tanks and you'll be OK.

Update 30/05/13:  I've just had an email from The Alchemist to inform me there's no menthol in this liquid.  The coolness is provided by Koolada, which is made with menthyl methyl lactate, which is a derivative of menthol but unlike menthol has no flavour and is used to impart a cooling effect to foods and beverages without disturbing the primary flavour.

VampVape by T-Juice

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.

T-Juice http://t-juice.com/ are a UK company based in Northwest London. Their catalogue consists of 26 E-liquids which range from deserts and fruits to menthols, tobaccos and their own crafted flavour creations. They appear to take the creation of their juices very seriously; sourcing all their ingredients from the EU or US, acknowledging the art and science of flavour crafting, recognising the roles of each of the senses in the apprehension of flavoured vapour and allowing for the quality assurance provided by a panel of seasoned vapers.

The subject of this review, VampVape is described by T-Juice on their website as "an exquisite blend of creamy caramel extract with hints of coconut". I assume the name is a reference to the saturated not quite bloody, fire-engine red of the liquid.

VampVape is available in a 10ml (£5.95) or 30ml bottle (£15.95) at nicotine strengths of 0, 3, 8, 11, 16, 24 or 33mg with a PG/VG ratio of 80/20.

The 10ml bottle that T-Juice uses is a clear, easily squeezed plastic with a nice 1cm long needle type dripper and a red, childproof, screw top cap. The label contains the name of the juice in a theme appropriate font, liquid content in ml, nicotine content in mg, an ingredients list, batch number, the address of the manufacturer, storage advice, safety instructions, warning symbols and a tactile warning triangle which complies with EU laws regarding the storage and use of toxic substances. The label also advises that the liquid may contain traces of nuts.

On opening the bottle and holding it to my nose, I smell something quite unexpected: I'm anticipating caramel and coconut but what I get is something closer to sweetened raspberry or pomegranate. This doesn't manifest at all in the flavour of the vapour.

The sample sent to me for review is 11mg nicotine strength. I'm vaping it in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. As I draw the vapour slowly into my mouth, I sense sweetness on the tip of my tongue and a slightly herby, almost metallic taste on the sides of my tongue and the insides of my cheeks. The sensation we refer to as "throat hit" builds to a point of "fullness", at which point I stop inhaling the vapour and take it all down into my lungs with some fresh air. At this point the taste of caramel makes an appearance. It's a lightly sweetened caramel but there's a very subtle saltiness to it as well. The caramel is followed by a herby note which lingers through the exhalation and into the aftertaste where it's joined by the merest whisper of coconut. The flavour seems to mutate after sustained vaping to the point where I no longer taste the caramel or coconut and I'm left with herbs. I vape some more and the caramel returns. This might sound confused, but whether by happy accident or design it's a very pleasurable, layered approach to flavoured vapour.

Throat hit is surprisingly good for an 11mg liquid and vapour production is pretty decent too.

This juice is greater than the sum of its parts. The name, the colour of the liquid and its complex flavour impart a certain exotic quality to it, which, combined with the workings of one's imagination produces a certain vampiric glamour to the act of vaping VampVape. Even if you're not into vampires and all that guff, it's still a very tasty vape and worth a try.