Lucky Pear by NamberJuice

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 NamberJuice's Moot's Juice. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/moots-juice-by-namberjuice.html Quoted passages are in italics.

Lucky Pear by Namberjuice http://namberjuice.com/ is "One of Nick's all time favorite juices in our line... It is one of his go-to Las Vegas vapes." http://namberjuice.com/namber-originals/lucky-pear.html

The Rabbit foot. This somewhat grisly artefact has been associated with good luck since 600 BC when the Celtic People of Europe followed ritualistic procedures for the killing of the rabbit and obtaining it's hind foot. Apparently, the belief that humans with lycanthropic powers assumed the form of rabbits to achieve their ends, nefarious or otherwise and that obtaining the hind foot of one of these beings, in its state as a rabbit, shot or captured in a cemetery and by the light of a full moon conferred good fortune on the owner. Variations on each of these conditions were held to be true by different peoples; full moon, new moon, Friday, a rainy Friday, Friday the thirteenth were all said to be requisite and/or favourable conditions for the obtaining of the foot. (1)

Modern folklore suggests that the gambler is often the bearer of such an item. If not a rabbit's foot, then some other token of good fortune. For example, the Touch Piece, which is often a coin which needs to be on the person, in a pocket and regularly touched for it to be effective. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_piece The human race, to a great extent, are a superstitious lot and we rely on amulets (which protect from malignant energy) and talismans (which attract benevolent energy) more often than we realise. Grimmgreen's Lucky Pear is a talisman in liquid and vaporous form. It's the Vaper's rabbit's foot or Touch Piece.

Good luck!

Lucky Pear is an e-liquid by NamberJuice, the relatively new company set up by pillars of the vaping world, Nick "GrimmGreen" Green and Amber "VapeBabe" Johnson, both YouTube celebrities, reviewers, commentators and all-round nice people. GrimmGreen has been talking about all things vaping since 2009 and from then till now has had approximately three and a half million views of his videos. Here's a link to GrimmGreen's blog: http://www.grimmgreen.com/ and here's a link to his YouTube channel: http://m.youtube.com/user/GrimmGreen VapeBabe has been posting videos to YouTube since 2010 and has also amassed a sizeable following. She also maintains a blog dedicated to seeking out and discussing all things vaping for the female market. In her own words, "...we (women) are out here, we have money, and we are more than willing to throw it at (vendors) if they invest in our interests!" http://www.thevapebabe.com/post/11008147355/hey-everyone-just-getting-this-site-up-and Here's a link to her Youtube channel: http://m.youtube.com/user/TheVapeBabe and a link to her blog: http://www.thevapebabe.com/

NamberJuice currently have a catalog of twenty one flavours, divided into two ranges; Namber Originals and Namesakes, with a third range, Tumbleweed Tobacco coming soon. Their liquids range from confectionary and desserts through to beverages and tobaccos. Each of their liquids are available in a 15ml bottle ($10.00) at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg

Lucky Pear, from the Namber Originals range is described as "A delicate and slightly sweet, juicy pear (which) meets crisp light mint! This pear is the real deal, no artificial taste here." http://namberjuice.com/namber-originals/all-flavors/lucky-pear.html There are sixteen customer reviews for Lucky Pear, as of the writing of this review, with an average rating of 4.2/5 stars.

The bottle is a semi-opaque, easily squeezed plastic with an attached plastic dropper insert. The black plastic screw top cap is childproof. When it arrived, the bottle was sealed from head to toe in a seemingly vacuum sealed plastic and I had to use a steak knife to remove it! The design on the label is striking with it's geometric design in red, white and black. The label includes the following information: the name of the liquid, the phrase "The all original" preceding the brand name, the phrase "Quality E-Liquid", nicotine contents in mg, liquid contents in ml, a batch (lot) number, a "born on" date, an ingredients list, a warning that the liquid may contain concentrated flavours and nicotine, a declaration that the liquid contains artificial flavouring, an advisory notice to keep out of reach of children and pets and the NamberJuice address.

The liquid is a clear, dark Rust Brown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_(color) A vigorous shake of the bottle, diffusing bubbles of air throughout the liquid sees them defying gravity and the viscosity of the liquid reasonably quickly. A drop of the liquid rubbed between the tips of my thumb and forefinger is absorbed I to my skin within forty seconds. It immediately feels slightly tacky, so lubricity is low. All of this suggests a low VG content. The aroma that rises from the opened bottle, held below my nose is a blend of mint and pear. This mixture approximatse the aroma of cough lollies.

I've been vaping Lucky Pear in both an AC9 (Genesis style atomiser) (WOW!) and an Igo-L on a Poldiac. For the purpose of this review I'm using an Igo-L on a Poldiac running on a freshly charged 18650 battery. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil, but if it helps you to know, there's a four/five coil of 0.2mm (32AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick.

I take a slow, sustained inhalation of vapour and it registers as sweetness along the forward edge of my tongue. Almost immediately, I experience the cooling sensation of the mint from the mid section of my tongue through to the back of my throat. If I draw the vapour into my mouth without inhaling the sweetness enfolds and almost seizes my tongue, while I perceive the coolness of the mint as a secondary event . Inhaling the vapour draws the chill toward the back of my throat where it intensifies the longer I draw. Although the NamberJuice website suggests the presence of mint, I experience chemesthetic chill rather than the flavour of mint per se; this is true when I vape Lucky Pear in both the AC9 and the Igo-L. As I finish inhaling and draw fresh air into my lungs, the chill is amplified to the level of a cold burn and I recognise the pear flavour as a type of candy rather than the fresh fruit. However, it may very well be a species of pear with which I'm unfamiliar. Whatever the case, you should make your own decision about the character of the pear flavour at play in this juice. As I exhale, the cold burn amplifies even further and dominates the pear flavour. The aftertaste consists of a cool residue along the length of my tongue and at the back of my throat with the resurfacing of the subdued pear flavour. 

When using both the Igo-L and the AC9, throat hit is significant, as is the chemesthetic reaction afforded by the mint. Vapour production is very generous, especially when the AC9 is used.

I would like to say that Lucky Pear is accurately cast as a pear flavoured juice, but I experienced the mint as the primary element with the pear lending an auxiliary sweetening and fruity influence. Please note that I'm personally not a big fan of Menthol type juices, so my assessment of this liquid will be necessarily biased. Don't let my personal bias sway you either way. In and of itself, this is a very finely tailored juice; the flavour is full-bodied and nicely balanced against the cooling effect of the mint. If you're partial to Menthol/Koolada/Mint flavoured vapes with fruity attributes, then I'd suggest this as a worthy addition to your vaping diet.


(1) Ellis, Bill: Lucifer Ascending: The Occult in Folklore and Popular Culture (University of Kentucky, 2004) ISBN 0-8131-2289-9

Moot's Juice by NamberJuice

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.

Preamble

Until recently, my wife and I were residents of the UK, living in a well-to-do town forty minutes by train, South West of London. A little over a month ago we returned to the country we hadn't seen in eight years: Australia, our homeland. We're living out of suitcases at my parents-in-law's home in Queensland on the North East coast. This particular region is popular with retirees, much like Florida I imagine. I'm quite out of place in my black attire and my moody disposition. I feel like Seinfeld visiting his parents in Florida in "The Pen" (season 3, episode 3). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pen 

Most of the Australian population are terrified of the interior of this vast island and so we huddle, for the most part on the coast, churlishly guarding our borders against refugees (for shame!). A number of beautiful beaches lie not two kilometres from where I sit writing. The sky is a pristine blue, unsullied by clouds; the sun beats down fiercely but there's a cool breeze which keeps me sane. I'm sitting on the patio overlooking a small swimming pool flanked by palm trees and small, sun-bleached, concrete garden ornaments: two owls, two crocodiles, a dog and yes, a flamingo. Living out of a suitcase, no job but vaping Moot's Juice and for the present moment at least, I'm at peace with the world.

Moot's Juice is an e-liquid by NamberJuice http://namberjuice.com/, the relatively new company set up by pillars of the vaping world, Nick "GrimmGreen" Green and Amber "VapeBabe" Johnson, both YouTube celebrities, reviewers, commentators and all-round nice people. GrimmGreen has been talking about all -things vaping since 2009 and from then till now has had approximately three and a half million views of his videos. Here's a link to GrimmGreen's blog: http://www.grimmgreen.com/ and here's a link to his YouTube channel: http://m.youtube.com/user/GrimmGreen If you're a newcomer to the vaping world you could be excused for not knowing who he is, but if you've been around for a while and you still don't know the name GrimmGreen, it's very likely you live under the proverbial rock. VapeBabe has been posting videos to YouTube since 2010 and has also amassed a sizeable following. She also maintains a blog dedicated to seeking out and discussing all things vaping for the female market. In her own words, "...we (women) are out here, we have money, and we are more than willing to throw it at (vendors) if they invest in our interests!" http://www.thevapebabe.com/post/11008147355/hey-everyone-just-getting-this-site-up-and Here's a link to her Youtube channel: http://m.youtube.com/user/TheVapeBabe and a link to her blog: http://www.thevapebabe.com/

Apparently, they're engaged to be married in the not too distant future. Congratulations guys! You're about to embark on the greatest adventure of your lives.

NamberJuice, a contraction of Nick And Amber's names. (N)ick, (Amber): Namber sold their first bottle of liquid at VapeBash in April 2013 and have established themselves as a very reputable vendor of fine e-liquids. They currently have a catalog of twenty one flavours, divided into two ranges; Namber Originals and Namesakes, with a third range, Tumbleweed Tobacco coming soon. Their liquids range from confectionary and desserts through to beverages and tobaccos. Each of their liquids are available in a 15ml bottle ($10.00) at nicotine strengths of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24mg

The Review

Moot's Juice, from the Namesakes range is named after Mark Moots http://nightmarestudiostattoo.com/mark_moots.html, the tattooist responsible for much of the ink adorning Nick and Amber's bodies. Moots described what he wanted in an e-liquid and NamberJuice set about creating it. The Moot's Juice page on the NamberJuice site describes this liquid as "a sweet blend of raspberries and lime with some refreshing menthol thrown in... Amber says it tastes like a raspberry lime sorbet." http://namberjuice.com/namber-namesakes/moot-s-juice.html There are thirteen customer reviews for Moot's Juice with an average rating of 4.5/5 stars.

The bottle is a semi-opaque, easily squeezed plastic with an attached plastic dropper insert. The black plastic screw top cap is childproof. When it arrived, the bottle was sealed from head to toe in a seemingly vacuum sealed plastic and I had to use a steak knife to remove it! The design on the label is striking with it's geometric design in red, white and black. The label includes the following information: the name of the liquid, the phrase "The all original" preceding the brand name, the phrase "Quality E-Liquid", nicotine contents in mg, liquid contents in ml, a batch (lot) number, a "born on" date, an ingredients list, a warning that the liquid may contain concentrated flavours and nicotine, a declaration that the liquid contains artificial flavouring, an advisory notice to keep out of reach of children and pets and the NamberJuice address.

The liquid is a slightly opaque Straw Brown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_(color) but when a filled eye dropper is held up to the light it appears closer to an Ivory White http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_(color) In terms of viscosity, it appears, through the semi opaque bottle, to be somewhat akin to a light cooking oil or syrup.  Dripping a few drops into the atomiser reveals quite a thick consistency, suggesting a high Vegetable Glycerin content. The liquid is highly lubricious. A large drop of the liquid, rubbed between my thumb and forefinger is extremely slippery and after ten minutes my fingers are beginning to cramp and the liquid has still resisted absorption into my skin. If you wanted to, you could probably use Moot's Juice as an industrial lubricant. Holding the opened bottle below my nose and taking slow sustained inhalations, I smell, first and foremost, the lime and then towards the finish, a whisper of menthol. Short, sharp whiffs favour the aroma of raspberry.

As is my custom, I'm reviewing Moot's Juice with an Igo-L on a Poldiac (with nice, new, satin stainless steel shirt and pants :)) running on a freshly charged 18650 battery. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil, but if it helps you to know, there's a four/five coil of 0.2mm (32AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick.

I'm firing the device and drawing the vapour into my mouth and I sense the broadly acidic tang of citrus on the tip of my tongue. As I continue firing the device and inhale the mouthful of vapour, sweetness manifests with the addition of a growing awareness of sourness. A slight chill cools my tongue and the roof of my mouth towards the back of my throat. Along with the broad taste sensation of citrus I recognise the presence of some sort of berry. Obviously I know it's raspberry, but at the level of pure sensation, I'm not experiencing it as that particular flavour at this stage. Once I've inhaled my fill of vapour, I take a short breath of air to chase the denser volume into my lungs. It's now that the broad flavours take on definition: the citrus is recognised as lime and the berry is acknowledged as raspberry. It's an unusual flavour pairing but it's not at all unpleasant; quite the contrary. As I exhale the flavours are amplified and as Amber suggests, it tastes remarkably like a raspberry and lime sorbet. Besides the experience of sensing flavour there's a very mild chemesthetic reaction along the length of my tongue; a refreshing coolness that persists into and for the duration of the aftertaste. The flavour of lime dominates from the finish of the exhalation and through to the last, lingering moments of awareness of flavour in my mouth.

Whether or not the vapour from this liquid tastes artificial is moot. (Pun intended; groan now.) There's no chemical unpleasantness about the flavour at all, so whether it's artificially flavoured or not seems irrelevant. I don't particularly experience a throat hit as such, but there is a mounting of pressure at the back of my throat during inhalation, seemingly characteristic of sweetened e-liquids. Vapour production is very generous and this is the final piece of the puzzle, set in place, suggesting the VG heavy content in this liquid.

Moot's Juice, like a sorbet, leaves your mouth feeling cleansed and refreshed. It's perfect summertime or postprandial vaping fare. As mentioned earlier, it seems an unlikely flavour pairing but it's perfectly delightful. The addition of a mild degree of Menthol serves to brighten the fruit flavours and contributes to the sensation of cleansing and refreshing the mouth, without being intrusive.

I know Moot's Juice is meant to be all about tattoos and rock and roll, torn flesh, hummingbirds and the skeletons of conjoined twins, etc, etc., but for me, right now it makes me think of this: http://youtu.be/1N1tkikuaeI

High Voltage 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. Pertinent portions of this review are quoted from my review of T-Juice's Afro Dizziac. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/afro-dizziac-by-t-juice.html Quoted passages are in italics.

Earlier this month (7th August 2013) I posted a review of T-Juice's http://t-juice.com/ sampler tin, "Let There Be Juice: Volume 1". http://vapour-taster.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/let-there-be-juice-volume-1-by-t-juice.html One of the six liquids included in "Let There Be Juice: Volume 1" is High Voltage, the subject of this review.

Let's begin with this; a song by Australian band AC/DC which shares it's name with the liquid at hand: http://youtu.be/Nnjh-zp6pP4 This video features Scottish Born Australian, Bon Scott, the second Lead vocalist for the group (after Dave Evans departure due to creative differences with the band in 1974).

Linkin Park recorded a song called High Voltage too. Here it is:
http://youtu.be/YRmyPVqIyBQ

Finally, there's this offering from Electric Six... "Danger! High Voltage":
http://youtu.be/2a4gyJsY0mc

T-Juice have made High Voltage in vaporous form available to the vaping masses. Let's have a look, shall we?

T-Juice are a UK company based in Northwest London. Their catalogue consists of 26 E-liquids which range from deserts and fruits to menthols and tobaccos. 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.

T-juice describe High Voltage thus, "A super blend of menthol and maraschino cherries, make this a truly original vape. The subtle, but ever present menthol hits you at the back of the throat followed by a full flavoured cherry burst. This Vape is reminiscent of seasonal sweets which help ward off the cold winter." http://t-juice.com/high-voltage.html

The bottle included in Let There Be Juice: Volume 1 contains 5ml of liquid. When bought as an individual bottle, High Voltage is available in a 10 (£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 5ml bottle that T-Juice uses is a clear, easily squeezed plastic with a 1cm long needle type dropper and a red, childproof, screw top cap. The label includes the following information: the name of the juice in a theme appropriate font, the phrase "Premium UK E-Liquid", liquid content in ml, nicotine content in mg, an ingredients list, the address, website and phone number of the manufacturer, a batch number, a best used by date, storage advice, safety instructions ("Keep out of reach and sight of children") and warning symbols. The label also advises that the liquid may contain traces of nuts.

The colour of High Voltage is a clear Baker-Miller Pink http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_of_pink#Baker-Miller_pink It appears quite aqueous, having the consistency of an undiluted cordial syrup and is mildly lubricious. When a drop of the liquid is rubbed between my thumb and forefinger it's absorbed into my skin within two minutes. The aroma that escapes the bottle is strongly reminiscent of maraschino cherries.

The sample sent to me for review is 16mg nicotine strength and I'm vaping it in an Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on an 18650 battery. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil but there's four wraps of 0.2 Kanthal wire (32 AWG) around three strands of 2mm Silica wick, which should give you an idea of what I'm working with.

I fire the device and begin to draw the vapour into my mouth and immediately recognise that this is not like other vapes. Menthol! There's a mild wash of sweet cherry flavour across my tongue and throughout my mouth, but then the flavour of Menthol whips the cherry flavour into submission. As I inhale, the Menthol causes a strong chemesthetic reaction at the back of my throat. The chill is immediate, but while some other Menthol e-liquids have burned my throat, this is very smooth. There's no irritation whatsoever, just a smooth, icy flow that intensifies the longer I inhale. As I exhale the Menthol continues to dominate, but immediately the exhalation finishes the flavour of maraschino cherries resurfaces and lingers throughout my mouth for the duration of the aftertaste. The coolness of the Menthol remains on the forward edge of my tongue and at the back of my throat.

Throat hit is negligible though the Menthol chill is significant. Vapour production is substantial with dense clouds pouring from my mouth as I exhale. 

The combination of maraschino cherry and Menthol is an intriguing one and I find that it's not at all unpleasant. Successive inhalations of the vapour draws out the sweetness of the cherries alongside a very subtle sourness. The initial moment of inhalation and the aftertaste is where the cherry flavour resides. Otherwise, it's all about the Menthol which is strong, while managing not to burn the throat, so I imagine that would make it appealing to fans of Menthol oriented vapes. I recognise that like one's sensitivity to chilli, the strength of the Menthol and your reaction to it may depend on your tolerance and predilections.

"It's high voltage you cant shake the shock

Because nobody wants it to stop, check it out"

Linkin Park; High Voltage; 1999

Tiki Juice by Halo

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.

Māori ''tiki''

In Māori folklore, Tiki was the first man. Or woman. The word "tiki" refers to wooden sculptures or totems, roughly humanoid in form, which marked the boundaries of sacred or otherwise significant locations. Māori religion is interesting in that, depending on the region, the first human was considered a man or a woman. Not necessarily always a man. Some legends have Tiki as a creator entity creating the first man by mixing his blood with clay, while Tāne, the creator god creates the first woman. Other legends have Tiki, like the Greek Narcissus, lonely and craving company, seeing his own reflection in a pond. Diving into the pond to be united with this companion, the reflection broke up and left Tiki disappointed. He fell asleep and upon waking saw the reflection again. He covered the pond with soil and out of this arose the first woman. Generally, Tiki is strongly associated with the procreative act. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiki

Tiki Juice by Halo http://www.halocigs.com/ is a spiced tobacco flavoured e-liquid with elements of tropical sweetness with the not insignificant addition of Menthol.

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 limpid Spanish Orange http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Spanish_orange. The consistency of the liquid is quite aqueous and is only slightly lubricious. When rubbing a drop of the liquid between my thumb and forefinger the liquid feels mostly slippery but with a somewhat sticky aspect. It's absorbed into my skin within a minute and I feel a slight tingling in my fingertips, which I imagine to be the effect of the nicotine. Obviously, the PG leaves my skin feeling silky smooth. :) The aroma of the bottled liquid is, to my nose, reminiscent of some sort of sweetly spiced pastry. I'd attribute this to the spiced tobacco. (See below.) The aroma finishes with a subtle trace of Menthol.

The Halo website describes Tiki Juice thus, "Based on a Tahitian Tobacco profile, Tiki Juice E-liquid is a hybrid tobacco e-liquid blend that offers excellent vapor and throat hit. Built on a spiced tobacco base with sweet tropical top notes, this unique flavor e-liquid also has a hint of our proprietary menthol base. Tiki Juice E-liquid offers a unique tropical flavor that splits the difference between 'tobacco' and 'dessert' flavors." http://www.halocigs.com/tiki-juice-eliquid.html There are 38 customer reviews for this liquid (as of the date of writing this review) with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of the maximum of 5 stars.

I'm vaping Tiki Juice in the Igo-L on a mechanical mod running on a freshly charged 18650 battery. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil. There's four wraps of 0.2 Kanthal wire (32 AWG) around three strands of 2mm Silica wick though, so that should give you some idea of what I'm working with.

As I first fire the device and draw the vapour into my mouth, I'm immediately aware of the chemesthetic reaction of Menthol on my tongue, and then, as I inhale, at the back of my throat. It's not quite as subtle as I was expecting given the use of the word "hint" (of Menthol) in the Halo blurb describing this juice. It's certainly not an unleashed Menthol, but nor is it subtle. Accompanying the cooling effect of the Menthol is a wash of fruity sweetness along the length of my tongue. When I finish inhaling vapour and follow through with a shallow intake of air, the flavour of fruit crystallises and reveals a spiced plumminess which is strongly reminiscent of the type of spiced fruit you see in Christmas fruit mince pies. Below this is the light, smooth tobacco which serves as a foundation and a type of flavour binding agent which ties together and anchors all the seemingly disparate elements of the top notes. This medley is amplified slightly during the exhalation until it reaches the aftertaste where the Menthol continues to dominate, while the spiced fruit settles quietly around the tongue, teeth and gums. The tobacco, while certainly present is only noticeable if I seek it out. 

The Menthol of course, provides the lion's share of chemesthetic sensation but there is a mild throat hit. Vapour production is very generous with voluminous plumes successively weaving veils in the room around me.

Whether by happy accident or meticulous fine tuning, Tiki Juice is obviously the creation of an accomplished palate.  The combination of spiced tobacco with tropical fruit is genius. While on paper the idea of adding Menthol seems odd, it works surprisingly well. To my palate and mind this is a marriage of Summer and Winter, tobacco and dessert that everyone should try at least once. I've never tasted anything like it and therefore gets my unequivocal seal of approval.

Let There Be Juice: Volume 1 by T-Juice

Disclaimer: This sampler 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 phrase "Let There Be Juice" is a variation of "Let there be light" which comes from the third verse of the Book of Genesis in the Judeo-Christian sacred text, commonly called the Bible. Translated into Latin this phrase is rendered as "Fiat Lux". So perhaps we could call "Let There Be Juice", "Fiat Liquidus". (Hello Latin expert. Could you please contact me and correct me if I've made an error)

Let There be Juice: Volume 1 (Super Blends) by T-Juice http://t-juice.com/ comes in a tin container inspired by the tins of boiled sweets (lollies/candies) of yesteryear. The tin itself is sturdy with a satin finish which is as smooth as silk, while the presentation as a whole is immaculate.  The tin has a diameter of 97mm and a height of 53mm. Removing the lid reveals six 5ml bottles in a circular array, held in place by black foam.

On the top of the lid is the label, beautifully designed with an accomplished use of colour (subdued tertiary colours with focal points picked out in red) and fonts (judicious use of upper and lower case). Information on the lid includes the following: the name of the company, the name of the sampler series (Let There Be Juice), the name of the sampler (Super Blends), sampler volume number (1), the words "Premium UK E-Liquid" and a list of each of the e-liquids in the sampler (Vamp Vape, Jack the Ripple, Green Steam, Afro Dizziac, High Voltage and Strawberri) and nicotine strength of the included liquids in mg and percentage (16mg/1.6%).

Let There Be Juice is available in nicotine strengths of 0, 8, 16 and 24mg and retails at £19.99. 

Each bottle includes the following information: the name of the company, the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml (5), nicotine content in mg (16), the abbreviation PG/VG (the house blend is 80% PG/20% VG) an ingredients list, an advisory that the liquid contains nicotine and as such should not be sold to, or be used by persons under the age of 18, the name, address, phone number and website address of the manufacturer, a use by date, a toxicity warning and graphics, storage and first aid instructions, an advisory notice that the liquid may contain traces of nuts and a warning that the liquid be used only as directed and that it be kept out of the reach and sight of children.

The bottles themselves are a sturdy, clear plastic (which are slightly resistant to squeezing) with a 1cm needle-type dropper. The fire-truck red, screw-top cap is childproof.

I'll be reviewing each of these juices independently over a period of time, except Vamp Vape, which I've already reviewed here: http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/vampvape-by-t-juice.html. In the interim, this is what the T-Juice website says about each of the liquids contained in this, their first sampler.

Vamp Vape: "Looks like blood, tastes like heaven. This is an exquisite blend of creamy caramel extract with hints of coconut which makes this juice a devilishly good vape." http://t-juice.com/t-juice-shop/vamp-vape.html

Jack the Ripple: "Based on a classic British raspberry ripple ice cream, which produces immense vapour and gives a really solid throat hit." http://t-juice.com/t-juice-shop/jack-the-ripple.html

Green Steam: "An “in your face” blue/ black berry vape which offers a very robust flavour backed by a good throat hit and great vapour production. Subtly mixed with fruits of the forest and selected flora makes this a well balanced all day vape." http://t-juice.com/green-steam.html

Afro Dizziac: "Some say an acquired taste, but this is a beautiful blend of aniseed, peppermint and secret ingredients making Afro Dizziac a very special vape." http://t-juice.com/afro-dizziac.html

High Voltage: "A super blend of menthol and maraschino cherries, make this a truly original vape. The subtle, but ever present menthol hits you at the back of the throat followed by a full flavoured cherry burst. This Vape is reminiscent of seasonal sweets which help ward off the cold winter." http://t-juice.com/high-voltage.html

Strawberri: "Get a bucket of strawberries, a sprinkling of raspberries, mix them up and then add a hint of cream and what you have is T-juice’s fantastic Strawberri E-liquid. If it was that simple then everyone would do it. Behind the very berry taste are some mouth watering ingredients to make this a real winner with all the fruit flavour vapour lovers out there." http://t-juice.com/strawberri.html

Whether you're new to vaping yourself or you know someone who's new and is looking for a juice that would suit them, you couldn't do better than investigating (or gifting) this selection of liquids which is so elegantly presented. The e-liquid industry is growing up and this is evidenced in T-Juice's "Let There Be Juice: Volume 1". Consider me, once again suitably impressed.

FIERCE by Vape Goddess

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 Vape Goddess's Ambrosia. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/ambrosia-by-vape-goddess.html Quoted passages are in italics.

Vape Goddess http://www.vapegoddess.net/ have this to say about FIERCE, the subject of this review: "Oh girl, you ARE FIERCE and you should vape like it! Smooth and tangy tangerine paired with the bite of cool Menthol is a vape that's just as FIERCE as your new Jimmy Choos." http://www.vapegoddess.net/fierce/

All I know about Jimmy Choo, is that he's a "designer shoe" designer and as such, charges a mint (or the earth (whichever metaphor works best for you)) for a pair. I'll be back in a minute. I'm just going to go Google Jimmy Choo.

Oh, I see. It's not just shoes. It's handbags, sunglasses, wallets and men's fashion too. His most expensive boots are £1995.00 (US$3036 as of the date of the writing of this review) http://www.jimmychoo.com/pre-fall-12/gaige/invt/124gaigebmpy while his most inexpensive pumps are £250.00 (US$380 as of the date of the writing of this review) http://www.jimmychoo.com/walker/invt/113walkerbgfa

Wow, FIERCE indeed! Enough about shoes; let's talk about e-liquid.

Vape Goddess is a company of women, run by Meg Strouse (co-creator of Drake's Vapes with Kevin Drake), who make e-liquids specifically for the female market. Perceiving a gap in the e-liquid market, Meg with the support of her team launched a number of liquids, the likes of which you won't find anywhere else. Vape Goddess acknowledge that women who vape are more often than not, intelligent, creative and very accomplished, and have chosen to reflect these latter qualities in their branding, marketing and products.

Before we go any further, a note to my male readers. Yes, these are liquids pitched to a female market, but I sincerely hope that you're sufficiently comfortable with your sexuality that you would appreciate good e-liquids when you see/smell/vape them, without worrying about emasculation, even if they're not particularly aimed at you. Vaping these juices won't diminish your masculinity in any way, shape or form. These are very good liquids and provide a number of flavours that you simply won't find anywhere else. If, like me, you're a connoisseur of flavour, you probably wouldn't hesitate in buying these juices anyway.

Vape Goddess offer a range of six e-liquids which include FIERCE ("Tangerine Menthol") ($15.00), Guilty Pleasure ("Cookies and Milk") ($15.00), Kokomo ("Kiwi Melon") ($20.00), Lotus ("Honeysuckle Green Tea") ($15.00), Luna ("blueberries with a hint of smooth tobacco")  ($15.00) and Ambrosia ($15.00). Coming soon are Ginger Fetish, Mahalo ("Hibiscus Ginger Grapefruit"), Sol ("Sparkling Mango"), Spritz ("Cucumber Mint") and Tease ("Plum White Tea"). They also offer a sampler called Goddess Tasting Flight ($25.00) which consists of 10ml bottles of each of the following liquids: Ambrosia, FIERCE, Guilty Pleasure, Lotus and Luna.

Each e-liquid is available in a cylindrical glass bottle with a black, non-childproof screw-top cap. Here follows the obligatory plea for vapers with children and/or pets around, to store and use these liquids with especial care. The information on the bottle in front of me includes the following: the company/brand name, the name of the liquid, a brief description of the flavour, nicotine strength in ml, an ingredients list, and the warnings: "Keep away from children and pets" and "Not for sale to minors".

When I look at the liquid in the bottle I notice a torpid veil through the clear liquid, so I shake it and discover the liquid's proper state is opaque, rather than clear. The colour of FIERCE is a slightly lighter Goldenrod (Gold). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_(color)#Goldenrod It has the consistency and lubricity of a light cooking oil and smells, unsurprisingly, of tangerine. 

I'm vaping FIERCE 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 five wraps of 0.2 Kanthal (32 AWG) wire around four strands of 2mm Silica wick.

I fire the device and take a gentle, shallow inhalation of vapour. The first thing I notice is the chemesthetic effect of coolness along the forward, upper edge of my tongue. I also experience a gentle sensation of citrus flavour (no acidity) throughout my mouth. As the breath begins to turn, the flavour of tangerine reveals itself and continues alongside the exhaled coolness of menthol, through to, and for the duration of the aftertaste. Bear in mind this was a short, shallow inhalation. When I fire the device in preparation for a sustained inhalation, I again experience the cooling sensation of Menthol on my tongue, but as the inhalation continues, the sweetness of the tangerine builds alongside the broad flavour of citrus. This is quickly overtaken however, by a strong chemesthetic cold burn (this is characteristic of Menthol and entirely expected) at the back of the throat the longer I inhale. As I finish inhaling vapour and take in a shallow breath of fresh air, the tangerine reappears. The exhalation is a combination of the residual effect of the Menthol throughout my gustatory system and the amplified flavour of tangerine washing back out through my mouth and experienced partially retronasally, partially via my taste buds. The overall effect is a very refreshing, almost cleansing vape. I strongly suspect there's a third note buried very deeply within the overall mix, to lend support to the tangerine flavour, but I have no idea what it might be. Clove perhaps... The vapour is subtly sweet; certainly nowhere near enough to be cloying. In fact, to my taste, it provides just enough sweetness to lend authenticity to the tangerine note.

I don't experience any throat hit as such but the Menthol provides a substantial kick of its own to the back of the throat. Vapour production is excellent, with generous clouds of the stuff billowing from my mouth.

Although Vape Goddess's e-liquids are nowhere near as expensive as Jimmy Choo's shoes, they almost should be. It's been my great pleasure to sample four of the currently available six e-liquids in the Vape Goddess range, and they've each been of exceptional quality. There are some very accomplished minds at Vape Goddess and it shows in the level of detail lavished on every aspect of the product. The branding, the bottling, the labelling, the artwork, the graphic design and the liquids themselves are all exquisite. Ignore them and you do yourself a great disservice.

Citrus flavoured e-liquids have been known to etch and/or crack plastic tanks, so I'd advise only using FIERCE in a metal or borosilicate/pyrex device. Vape Goddess don't mention this on their website but I personally wouldn't want to risk it.

Mount Baker Vapour - Four E-Liquids

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.

Preamble

Mount Baker Vapor http://www.mtbakervapor.com/ are situated, I assume, somewhere near Mount Baker in Washington state, USA. The mountain itself is the second most thermally active volcano in the Cascade range, after Mount Saint Helens. "After Mount Rainier, Mount Baker is the most heavily glaciated of the Cascade Range volcanoes; the volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. It is also one of the snowiest places in the world..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Baker

Mount Baker from Oak Bay, British Columbia, 1903, Photo: Charles Edward Clarke

Seriously, if I were you, I'd get my orders into Mount Baker Vapor quick-smart. That mountain sounds like trouble!

From the Mount Baker Vapor website, "Mt Baker Vapor premium e juice is hand crafted right here in the United States. We use the finest quality ingredients. All of our e-liquid is diacetyl free and have a great amount of flavor. Since our nicotine juice is mixed fresh it is best to steep your nicotine juice before use since our e-cig liquid is made when you order them. 99% of the time your nicotine juice will ship within 24 hours." http://www.mtbakervapor.com/electronic-cigarette-nicotine-juice/

The company also offer a very useful guide to which of their juices have been known, by either themselves or their customers, to cause etching, discolouration or cracking of plastic tanks. Here's a link: http://www.mtbakervapor.net/e-juice-that-may-break-a-plastic-tank/

Mount Baker Vapor offer a selection of 295 flavours divided by the following categories: MBV Specialty flavours, Beverage, Candy, Fruit, Sweet, Tobacco, Menthol, Mint, Nut and Spice Flavours. Each of their liquids is available in bottle sizes of 15 ($4.99), 30 ($7.49), 50 ($10.99) and 236ml ($39.99) at nicotine strengths of 0, 6 (Light), 12 (Mild), 18 (Medium), 24 (Strong) and 36mg (Extra Strong) and PG/VG ratios of 100/0, 80/20, 65/35, 50/50, 20/80 and  0/100 with the additional option of a VG/Distilled H2O mixture at a ratio of 70/30. They also offer the option of extra flavouring shots (up to 5 extra shots at $0.25 per shot).

Mount Baker Vapor sent me four e-liquids for review, two of which are from the MBV Specialty/Signature range (Hawk Sauce (on-site reviews: 197 with an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars) and Ocean Breeze (on-site reviews: 47 with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars)), one of which is from the Beverage range (Ecto Cooler (on-site product reviews: 256 with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars)) while the fourth is from the Sweet range (Moo Juice (on-site product reviews: 141 with an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars).

The 30 and the 15ml bottles are slightly clouded, easily squeezed plastic with blue childproof screw-top caps. Attached to each of the bottles is a standard dropper. The labels include the following information: the company name and logo, the company website address, the name of the liquid, nicotine strength in mg, liquid contents in ml, the PG/VG ratio, the number of extra flavour shots, the date of manufacture, an ingredients list, a graphic of the US flag with the words "Made in USA", an advisory warning that these products are not to be used by persons under the age of 18, another warning to keep out of the reach of pets and children and that it may be harmful or fatal if swallowed and nutrition facts (Serving Size: 2 drops. Percentage per serving: calories (0), total fat (0), sodium (0), total carbohydrates (0), protein (0)) I suspect this latter is evidence of a sense of humour at Mount Baker Vapor. Below the nutrition facts is some writing which is so small that I can't read it.

Without further ado, the individual reviews:

These reviews were conducted using an Igo-L with a freshly wound coil of four wraps of 0.2 Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick. Between each review, the Igo-L and wick/coil is washed in hot water and dried before dry firing to burn away any residue of the prior juice. The mod is mechanical and is powered by an 18650 battery.

Hawk Sauce

The Mount Baker Vapor website describes Hawk Sauce as "a slightly sour berry and fruit mix with inspirations drawn from the Pacific North West." http://www.mtbakervapor.com/nicotine-juice/hawk-sauce-e-juice-baker-vapor/ I haven't had the pleasure of stepping onto American soil anywhere, let alone the Pacific North West, so I'm unable to assess the validity of this claim. I'll take their word for it.

The colour of the liquid is a clear, less saturated Mustard Yellow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_(color) and has the lubricity of a light household oil. The aroma of the liquid is approximately that of a tropical fruit juice I used to drink.

As I inhale, my mouth is flooded with a mild sweetness and sourness which is followed almost immediately by the cooling sensation of either Menthol or Koolada. There's a deeper, darker quality to the sweetness which I associate with the berries, which tips the flavour into associations with Autumn. I suspect there's a hint of pineapple in there which lends a citrus-like acidity to the mix, and the cooling agent, whether Menthol or Koolada, while restrained, certainly produces a chemesthetic effect throughout the mouth and towards the throat. Only on sustained inhalation does the cooling agent reach the back of the throat and mildly at that. On the exhalation, the potential of the berry flavour is fully realised and a certain sourness combined with the flavour of the cooling agent lingers in the mouth for the duration of the aftertaste.

I don't experience much of a throat hit, but this never bothers me as I'm mostly concerned with flavour. Vapour production is good, though tends towards the thinner end of the spectrum, which is to be expected from a juice with a PG/VG ratio of 80/20.

Ocean Breeze

The MBV website describes Ocean Breeze as a "complex... tropical based vape". http://www.mtbakervapor.com/nicotine-juice/ocean-breeze-e-juice-baker-vapor/

The colour of the liquid is a clear Mellow Yellow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_yellow#Mellow_yellow and has a similar lubricity to that of Hawk Sauce. The aroma of the liquid is dominated by coconut with a secondary end-note of pineapple.

With the first firing of the device and the drawing of the vapour into my mouth, I taste sunshine and I hear waves crashing in the distance and the gentle sizzle of these same waves rolling onto the sand at my feet. I feel the breeze that stirs the palm fronds that shade me. Ocean Breeze is tropical paradise in a bottle. As I inhale there's a smooth, almost creamy wash of coconut through my mouth. As I prolong the inhalation I become aware of the faintest glimmer of cooling agent, again Menthol or Koolada (I don't know which) towards the back of my throat, in addition to a citrus-like acidic tang on my tongue. As I finish inhaling, draw in some fresh air and hold the breath for a split second, the flavour of banana manifests which is amplified in intensity through to the aftertaste. Although I'm not particularly aware of it through the cycle of inhalation, hold and exhalation, there's a suggestion of pineapple in the aftertaste along with a residual acidic tang on my tongue. The cooling agent is so finely balanced in the mix that, though I'm aware of it, it's never intrusive and simply adds a gentle chemesthetic touch that I really appreciate. My mouth is left slightly drier in vaping Ocean Breeze, but this is a small price to pay for the pleasure this juice delivers. What I also appreciate is the staggered delivery of flavour to my conscious awareness. This is a finely crafted and very refreshing juice.

Throat hit is negligible while vapour production is on a par with Hawk Sauce. Entirely satisfactory.

Ecto-Cooler

Ecto-Cooler was originally a neon green orange/tangerine flavoured drink designed as a product tie-in in 1986, to coincide with the release and lifespan of the Ghostbusters animated series, The Real Ghostbusters. The drink was so popular that it outlived The Real Ghostbusters by a decade. http://www.foodiggity.com/a-dose-of-ephemera-ecto-cooler/

The colour of the liquid is a less saturated yellow with a slightly green tint and is approximated most closely by Straw Yellow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_(color) The viscosity and lubricity is the same as the two previously reviewed juices. The aroma of the liquid is a mixture of tangerine predominantly, and orange. Somewhat artificial, but this is not entirely unexpected. This is after all, an e-juice based on a drink which was undoubtedly a cocktail of artificial flavours and colourings.

"Who ya gonna call?"

From beginning to end, this juice is tangerine. On the inhalation, there's a very sweet and somewhat acidic wash along the length of my tongue. There's the recognition of a citrus flavour of some type, but it isn't until I finish inhaling and pause momentarily before exhaling, that the flavour of tangerine is fully apprehended. I'm not experiencing any increase in intensity of flavour as I exhale. The tangerine obviously persists into and through the aftertaste, but the chemesthetic reaction of the citrus tang on my tongue overwhelms the experience of flavour at this stage of the vape. This is a potent flavour, even at zero extra flavour shots, so I'd advise you to exercise restraint when ordering this juice.

A longer, deeper inhalation provokes a mild throat hit at 18mg, otherwise I'd say it was negligible. Vapour production is again, on a par with the rest of the juices in this review.

Mount Baker Vapor warn that Ecto-cooler has been known to damage plastic tanks.

Moo Juice

The Mount Baker Vapor page for Moo Juice features an image of a strawberry splashing into a pool of white liquid, which I believe we can assume is milk. That, in a nutshell is what we have with Moo Juice. http://www.mtbakervapor.com/nicotine-juice/moo-juice-e-juice-baker-vapor/

The colour of the liquid is a clear Atomic Tangerine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Atomic_tangerine and has a viscosity and lubricity similar to the other liquids in this review. The aroma of the liquid is of a strawberry syrup.

As I first inhale, a smooth, dense, almost creamy and very sweet vapour passes along the length of my tongue, through my mouth and hits the back of my throat with a modicum of force. As I finish inhaling and draw some fresh air into my lungs and hold momentarily, a flavour approximating strawberry unfurls, which is joined by the taste of sweetened cream as I exhale. I use the word "approximating" because the strawberry flavour isn't that of fresh strawberries, but is more akin to a strawberry flavoured syrup. The overall impression is of a strawberry milkshake or a milk drink I used to have as a child, called Quik (by Nestlé). The flavour is full-bodied even without extra flavour shots.

Moo Juice has a significant throat hit. It's strong enough that I had to moderate the duration of my inhalations. Vapour production seemed very much on a par with the other juices in this review.

The balance of flavour and cooling agents (where applicable) in these juices from Mount Baker Vapor reveal an experienced and talented palate. They demonstrate a knowledge of sequential and layered delivery of flavour to the senses and conscious awareness. Mount Baker Vapor offer an extraordinary range of e-liquids and if even a fraction of them are as good as the four I've reviewed here, then you would have enough liquids to keep you satisfied for quite some time. Be quick though; that mountain's a volcano.