Maha Ras by Mad Murdock

Disclaimer: I purchased this E-liquid with my own money for the purpose of conducting a review. 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 Mad Murdock's Radiator Pluid. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/radiator-pluid-by-mad-murdock.html Quoted passages are in italics.

Maha is a Sanskrit word meaning "great". "Maha Ras" is one of the many names by which the fabled Elixir of Life is, and has been known. Maha Ras means, literally, "Great Juice".

The concept of an elusive substance, which may or may not necessarily be a liquid, that, when ingested removes the curse of mortality has been discussed in hushed tones and written about in opaque language within obscure tomes since time immemorial, by great men and women alike. The ancient Egyptians were said to have availed themselves of, and ingested a substance called "What is it?" which they described as "white powder of gold" and was known as Manna by the ancient Israelites. In the Judeo Christian sacred texts, Manna was said to have fallen from Heaven. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_of_life

The Arabic and later European Alchemists spoke of The Philosopher's Stone, which was said to not only confer immortality on the consumer, but also change lesser metals to gold or silver. Recent theorists have proposed that the apparent practice of changing lesser metals to gold or silver was actually referring to a process of spiritual enlightenment. A twentieth century occultist, Israel Regardie, who was Aleister Crowley's secretary for some time, held to this point of view until late in his life when he reputedly had a change of heart and was said to have set up a lab in his home in Sedona, Arizona in an effort to obtain that elusive substance for himself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Regardie

Even still, in this day and age, there are people the world over in increasing numbers seeking the Elixir of Life or "great juice". Google "Ormus".

I'll let you in on a little secret: If you want "great juice", Maha Ras, you need go no further than Mad Murdock. He makes and sells the stuff. It may not confer immortality upon you or change lead to gold, but it's possible you'll have an experience that's undeniably exotic.

Maha Ras is distributed by Liberty Flights UK http://www.liberty-flights.co.uk/ in 10ml bottles which retail at £6.49 each. Maha Ras is available as a 9mg juice. 

The bottle is a clear, firm plastic that is easily squeezed and has an attached dropper insert. The white plastic, screw top cap is childproof. The label includes the following information: the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine content in mg and as a percentage, the name, address, website address, telephone and mobile numbers of the distributor, a batch number, Mad Murdock's Maha Ras graphic (1cm x 1cm), a toxicity graphic (skull and crossbones within an orange square), a textual toxicity warning,  storage instructions, first aid instructions, a tactile, triangle warning sticker (which complies with EU laws regarding the storage of toxic substances), a warning that the liquid may contain traces of nuts and the declaration, "Made in America".

If you would like to know what I think about the bottle and labels for the Mad Murdock range as distributed by Liberty Flights, see my review of Radiator Pluid. http://vapour-taster.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/radiator-pluid-by-mad-murdock.html

The colour of the liquid is a limpid, vivid Pantone Orange http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Orange_.28Pantone.29 and it has a viscosity approximating that of a light olive oil. It's quite lubricious but a drop of the liquid rubbed between the tips of my thumb and forefinger is absorbed into my skin within a minute. The aroma is complex; it's base note is decidedly floral but there are hints of citrus, tangerine perhaps and something approaching apricot. On the whole it has the aromatic character of a sweet incense.

I'm vaping Maha Ras in an Igo-L on a Poldiac running on an 18650 battery. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil, but I can tell you that there's five wraps of 0.2mm (32 AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick. The wick is saturated with Maha Ras following two days of consecutive use.

As I draw the vapour into and through my mouth I experience a fine-grained prickling on the tip of my tongue. With sustained inhalation, the prickling sensation extends along the length of my tongue and resolves after a moment or two into a mild numbness. The flavour profile is unlike anything I've yet tasted in a vape. As I inhale, there's a mild, broadly floral quality to the flavour. Usually "floral" equates to "unappealing" when discussing flavour in an e-liquid, but in this case, it's patently intentional. (The name of the liquid combined with Mad Murdock's original artwork (Murdock himself in a meditative seated position, with Hindu god-like multiple limbs ) for this juice suggests an oriental theme.) Rapid successive draws on the device intensifies the flavour. When I finish inhaling vapour I follow through with a short breath of fresh air to chase the vapour into my lungs. At this point the flavour expands and the complexity of this juice becomes apparent. The vapour is spiced (not spicy) with what I imagine are fruity notes. There's something here that approaches the flavour of apricot and perhaps, pomegranate. At one point I imagine I'm tasting rose. There's also that elusive ingredient that causes the anaesthetic effect on my tongue. I want to suggest it's cinnamon but the flavour of this spice is distinctive and I'm not perceiving it here. What else causes numbing like this? Clove? As I exhale, the flavour softens slightly and then for the duration of the aftertaste I perceive what I think is pomegranate with a whisper of orange and what I'm reasonably sure now, is clove. There's also that oft-present metallic tang around my lower teeth and gums.

Throat hit is negligible, though I do experience that familiar mounting of pressure at the back of my throat, which appears to be an effect characteristic of sweetened juices. Vapour production is substantial, which, after a lengthy session with Maha Ras, leaves me feeling like I'm in a Hindu temple...

"hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare

hare rāma hare rāma

rāma rāma hare hare"

http://www.salagram.net/harernam-page.html

I read recently on ECF http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/410632-mad-murdocks-maha-ras-5.html that Maha Ras tastes like the aroma of Nag Champa incense. I'm not familiar with Nag Champa so I can neither confirm nor deny this, but it's a fair statement. The character of this e-liquid does approximate the aroma of some type of incense. Whether or not this sounds appealing to you depends on what you like to vape on a day to day basis and whether or not you have a sense of adventure and/or the will to experiment and experience the frontiers of sensation. Maha Ras is very unlike anything I've previously tasted, vape or otherwise and as such excites me on a sensory basis and at the level of my imagination. Perhaps this is what immortality tastes like...

Radiator Pluid by Mad Murdock

Disclaimer: I purchased this E-liquid with my own money for the purpose of conducting a review. I will, as best I'm able, provide an honest, accurate and unbiased assessment of this product.

Radiator Fluid is a coolant used in automobiles to transfer and disperse heat from various parts of the engine. That, my friends, is the limit of my knowledge of car engines. All commercially available coolants are based on Ethylene Glycol which is an alcohol related liquid and a cousin to the Propylene Glycol we know so well, which, as some of you may know, is also used as a coolant. Coolants are available in a variety of colours, but the coolant we're interested in is an (artificially) deeply saturated green. Somebody (Murdock, I assume) has either serendipitously named this e-liquid or they have (he has) a solid understanding of solvents/coolants.

Is Murdock Ruml really mad or is he a savvy businessman with a taste for and understanding of the role and utility of theatre in branding and marketing? He's reputedly ex-military, speaks with a drawl and wears pilot's goggles and a ushanka (a type of fur lined hat with ear flaps). He's eccentric, and whether it's an affectation or genuine, this adds character and dimension to the Mad Murdock brand. Mad Murdock's e-liquids are spectacularly popular, with Radiator Pluid being the most popular; it has a cult following with its own Facebook page, entire threads devoted to it on various forums and appears to be as rare as hen's teeth.

As an artisan juice maker, Murdock would be limited in how much of the liquid he could produce at any one time. He has distributors of course, who I imagine lighten his workload somewhat, but nevertheless, demand significantly outstrips supply. Liberty Flights UK http://www.liberty-flights.co.uk/ announced ahead of time that they'd be putting a significant number of 10ml bottles of each of Murdock's juices online on a particular day at a particular time. 4:00PM GMT on Monday, July 15 (2013). 1000 bottles of each juice in the Murdock range. Within 8 minutes, half of the Pluid had been sold. I didn't hang around to see how long it took for them to sell out.

I bought four 10ml bottles; one each of Radiator Pluid, Maha Ras, 710 and Agent Orange at £6.95 per bottle.

The bottle is a clear, firm plastic that is easily squeezed and has an attached dropper insert. The white plastic, screw top cap is childproof. The label includes the following information: the name of the liquid, liquid contents in ml, nicotine content in mg and as a percentage, the name, address, website address, telephone and mobile numbers of the distributor, a batch number, Mad Murdock's Pluid graphic (1cm x 1cm), a toxicity graphic (skull and crossbones within an orange square), a textual toxicity warning,  storage instructions, first aid instructions, a tactile, triangle warning sticker (which complies with EU laws regarding the storage of toxic substances), a warning that the liquid may contain traces of nuts and the declaration, "Made in America".

Compared to some of the images I've seen of previously available Radiator Pluid bottles http://m.imgur.com/r/ecigclassifieds/sinzUcL, the bottle and label I have in front of me is entirely lacking in style, charm or appeal. What happened to the glass bottle with the thoughtfully designed label? You could argue that it's just a container for an amazing juice, but I'd counter that with the argument that branding, packaging and labelling contribute significantly to the pleasure of buying, receiving, owning and vaping the liquid. It's said that a great meal begins by delighting the eye. The same could be said of vaping.

The colour of the liquid is distinctive and besides the flavour, is it's key signifier. It looks like Radiator Fluid! The liquid is a mildly opaque Dark Lime Green (Hex #00A000) http://www.colorhexa.com/00a000 (Scroll down the page to "Shades and Tints" to see how the liquid looks in lighter or darker lighting conditions.) In terms of viscosity the liquid appears fairly aqueous, having the consistency of an undiluted cordial syrup. It's very lubricious; a drop of the liquid rubbed between the tips of my thumb and forefinger takes four minutes to be absorbed into my skin. Opening the bottle below my nose releases an aroma saturated with anise.

Radiator Pluid is sold as a 20mg juice. Mad Murdock's Cutter, which is Radiator Pluid without Nicotine or colouring, can be mixed with Pluid to adjust the nicotine strength to the individual vaper's preference.

This is what the Liberty Flights website has to say about Mad Murdock's Radiator Pluid: "Genius creation by mad scientist Mad Murdock! This juice glows green and is full of wonderful notes! This is one complex e-liquid! Not only does this e-liquid taste great, it looks great in a tank! Give it a whirl! Pluid is one of the most potent flavored juices out there." http://www.liberty-flights.co.uk/product.asp?id=200

I'm vaping uncut Pluid in an Igo-L on a Poldiac running on an 18650 battery. I don't have the means to check the ohms of the coil, but I can tell you that there's five wraps of 0.2mm (32 AWG) Kanthal wire around three strands of 2mm Silica wick. The wick is saturated with juice following three days of consecutive use.

As I draw the vapour into my mouth there's a flood of lightly sweetened flavour. There's a broad sensation of flavour that seems to sit squarely between sweet, bitter and sour which is a clumsy way of saying that the flavour is spiced. Not spicy as in chilli, but spiced as in Christmas minced fruit pies. The anise makes it's presence felt immediately, with a slight numbing of the tip of my tongue. With successive draws and inhalations the anaesthetic effect of this juice is amplified until my whole tongue and the forward edge of the roof of my mouth is partially numbed. When I inhale the mouthful of vapour and continue to inhale while continuously firing the device, I taste the anise and, though at first I didn't perceive it, the merest suggestion of the tart aspect of Granny Smith apple. Once I've inhaled my fill of vapour, I take a short breath of air to chase it into my lungs and as I do so, the flavour of anise is intensified. At this point, and as I hold my breath for a moment before proceeding to exhale, I discern the unlikely addition to the overall flavour sensation of spearmint and a vague plumminess that leans towards the aforementioned spiced, minced fruit.  The dominant anise carries through to the aftertaste with the subtlest hint, again, of apple. The anaesthetic effect abides in my mouth for a good twenty minutes after my last vape. 

The vapour is a smooth, dense affair that inhales easily and produces generous volumes as I exhale. Throat hit is as significant as I'd expect from a 20mg juice. I'm beginning to feel a sharp spike of discomfort above my right eye: nicotine overload. :)

This is an exceptional e-liquid; it's cult status and popularity are well deserved. Hats off to you Mr. Ruml! It vapes easily, is so saturated with flavour that it actually provokes a torrent of saliva with each exhalation, produces a worthy throat hit, generous vapour production and a numb tongue to boot. The flavour seems to mutate depending on what time of day I vape it or what I last ate or drank which lends further fuel to the desire to plumb it's depths. My only disappointment is with the lacklustre bottle and label. If I was Murdock, I'd ensure that every bottle sold was glass and that it had a thoughtfully designed label and artwork. (Other vendors sell their liquids in glass bottles with eye droppers and beautifully designed labels at very competitive prices.)

Please note: Radiator Pluid is known to etch, crack, frost and melt plastic tanks. Use a stainless steel or glass tank when vaping this liquid.

Jack the Ripple 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 Jack the Ripple, the subject of this review.

"Jack the Ripple is the best-known name given to an unidentified cardboard manufacturer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. He was known to have operated the machinery of a local cardboard factory at night when he could be certain nobody would disturb him. Much conspiracy theory surrounds his identity due to his prolific and disturbingly proficient production of corrugated cardboard, which it seems was his forte. Despite repeated attempts to catch or espy him at work by a group called The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee and the Constabulary of Scotland Yard, he eluded detection which suggests that he may have had one or more accomplices. Not content to produce the cardboard, he delivered it on five separate occasions to different locations. In recent years, conspiracy theorist Charles "Iocus Severus" Hastings discovered a significant symbol when he traced lines on a map between the five Whitechapel locations. That symbol was a pentagram, leading many to surmise that Jack the Ripple may have been a member of the Golden Dawn and as such, a luminary of London Society. Despite the many and varied theories about the identity and profession of Jack the Ripple, authorities are not agreed on a single solution and the number of named suspects reaches over one hundred." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripple

In honour of the mysterious corrugated cardboard manufacturer, T-Juice have concocted an E-Liquid called Jack the Ripple. T-juice describe Jack the Ripple as being "Based on a classic British raspberry ripple ice cream, which produces immense vapour and gives a really solid throat hit." http://t-juice.com/jack-the-ripple.html

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.

The bottle included in Let There Be Juice: Volume 1 contains 5ml of liquid. When bought as an individual bottle, Jack the Ripple 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.

Jack the Ripple is a limpid Dark Orange http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Dark_orange_.28web_color.29 The liquid is reasonably aqueous, having the consistency of an undiluted cordial and is mildly lubricious. When rubbed between the tips of my thumb and forefinger, the liquid is absorbed into my skin within a minute and a half. The aroma that ascends from the bottle is a rather appealing raspberry and vanilla which is very suggestive of a raspberry laced ice-cream.

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.

When I first fire the device and draw the vapour into my mouth a wash of moderate sweetness registers throughout, alongside a mild degree of sourness. Whether it's the influence of knowledge (that this is a raspberry flavoured e-liquid) or the interaction of the vapour with my taste buds, I recognise the general flavour of berry. As I continue to inhale, the berry flavour and sweetness/sourness is amplified slightly until I cease inhaling vapour and take a short breath of fresh air to chase the dense volume into my lungs. At this point, and as the breath begins to turn, the primary flavour of raspberry is unfurled combined with the suggestion of a creamy vanilla. The slow, measured exhalation carries these flavours through to the aftertaste, where the tart aspect of the berries predominates. Like several other liquids I've written about recently, there's a "dry" aspect to the aftertaste which I would liken to the "dryness" found in certain white wines. There's also a familiar metallic tang around my teeth and gums, which is by no means unpleasant.

If I fill my mouth with vapour before inhaling, I experience a significant throat hit. If I draw the vapour directly into my lungs, I experience what I can best describe as a mounting of pressure at the back of my throat. Either way there's a substantial amount of pleasant stimulation as the vapour passes through the throat. The Igo-L seems to influence the amount of vapour produced; a saturated wick produces a small amount of vapour, while a less saturated wick, one or two drags shy of being dry produces a generous amount. As an 80% PG liquid, I wouldn't expect there to be vast volumes of vapour bellowing into the room around me.

The flavour presented in Jack the Ripple is full bodied and sweet without being cloying. The mild sourness adds an element of authenticity to the berry flavour while the vanilla is creamy and luxurious. Jack the Ripple is a successful approximation of the flavour of raspberry laced ice-cream without any hint of artificiality about it, beyond the (sometimes) obviously artificial taste of flavoured ice-cream itself.

Prince Albert Victor

In conclusion, I'd like to leave you with a suggestion regarding the identity of the original Jack the Ripple, after whom this e-liquid was named. In 1890, a scullery maid in the employ of the Royal family at Buckingham Palace, in her absent-mindedness turned left instead of right as she traversed the servant's work-rooms below the palace and entered a narrow corridor leading to a storage room that had lain unused for a number of years. As she approached the room, she heard two men arguing behind a closed door. Her curiosity got the better of her and she bent to put her eye to the keyhole. Although she could see the two men, she couldn't see their faces, nor make out what they were arguing about. Nevertheless, she recognised the dress and voice of one of the men, whom she identified in her dictated memoirs as Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale. She recognised the second man in the room, by his voice, as one of the coachmen. Although she thought nothing of it at the time, she also remarked that the room was filled from floor to ceiling with pristine corrugated cardboard.

Barnett, Bessy Alice; Memoirs of a Scullery Maid in the Service of the Royal Family; pp. 269–270; Marriott, p.238

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

Strawberri 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 Strawberri, the subject of this review.

The Strawberry as we know it today, the fruit much loved and appreciated the world over for it's intense red colour and sweet, juicy flesh is relatively modern. The strawberry has obviously existed since time immemorial; the Romans loved it, "the Mapuche and Huilliche Indians of Chile cultivated it" but it was always a wild species of fruit until "the first garden strawberry was grown in France during the late 18th century". ("The garden strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 1750s via a cross of Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis, which was brought from Chile by Amédée-François Frézier in 1714.") (http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Fragaria/index.html) The strawberry has long been acknowledged for its medicinal properties and in particular, was believed to be useful in the treatment of depressive illnesses. The French king, Charles V ("the wise") (1338 – 1380) had 1,200 strawberry plants in his Royal garden. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry Although he openly mourned the death of his wife and several of his children, I'm sure he was an otherwise rather chipper chap. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chipper

It's believed T-Juice provided Charles V with their E-Liquid, Strawberri, the flavour of which was extracted from the King's own supply of strawberries. Do you believe me?

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 Strawberri thus, "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

The bottle included in Let There Be Juice: Volume 1 contains 5ml of liquid. When bought as an individual bottle, Strawberri 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 the liquid is a clear, intense Aureolin yellow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aureolin In terms of viscosity, the liquid appears quite aqueous. When I rub a drop of the liquid between my thumb and forefinger it appears quite lubricious, taking four to five minutes before being absorbed completely into my skin. Holding the opened bottle to my nose and taking a slow, sustained and shallow whiff, I recognise that the aroma could either be an approximation of the fresh fruit, but with the softening effect of cream tempering the slightly acidic aspect of the former, or of a strawberry syrup.

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.

So, strawberry... When I first fire the device and pull the vapour into my mouth, there's the sensation of mild sweetness and the recognition of the distinctive flavour of strawberry. As I inhale the mouthful of vapour and continue to fire the device and inhale more, I become aware of a smooth, somewhat creamy consistency and flavour in addition to the strawberry. There's also the perception of a whisper of acidity along the length of my tongue. At a certain point I finish inhaling the vapour and follow through with a brief breath of fresh air and hold for a moment or two. It's at this point that the flavour of strawberry and cream blossoms, almost explodes, fully realised into my conscious awareness. This is sweet, juicy, fresh and beautifully ripened fruit without blemish! The flavour catches in the back of my throat and it's remarkably like breathing through a mouthful of the actual fruit. With the turn of the breath towards exhalation and through to the aftertaste, the strawberry persists but the cream flavour is intensified. The marriage of strawberries and cream lingers on the palate for the duration of the aftertaste, fading gracefully over a period of more than a few minutes... Until the next inhalation, which otherwise amplifies the flavour. The presence of raspberries is certain, but it rests quietly in the background, only manifesting in my awareness if I seek it out.

I'm not experiencing significant throat hit, but there's that all too familiar mounting of pressure at the back of the throat which builds to a mild degree of discomfort if ignored. Vapour production is substantial. In terms of mouthfeel, the dense and velvety consistency of the vapour adds a further level of authenticity to this adaptation of a much loved fruit and summertime dessert.

Too often, e-liquids advertised as fruit flavours turn out to be candy flavoured approximations which in themselves are not bad, but aren't necessarily what you'd expect or want from a fruit flavoured vape. Strawberri is real fruit. It tastes like the real thing, especially during the brief holding of the breath after inhaling and the subsequent exhalation. The flavours of cream and raspberries are also evident and lend welcome dimension to this delicious vape. The various flavours arise and recede to and from conscious awareness at different points in the breath cycle, which makes this an e-liquid with much to offer the connoisseur of flavour who deliberates over each stage in the journey of vapour through the gustatory system. For those of you who aren't concerned with all the fine gradations of sensation and just want something delicious to vape, Strawberri's your liquid too.

Green Steam 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 Green Steam, the subject of this review.

Green Steam. I don't think I've previously come across these two words coupled in a single phrase. I wonder what flights of the imagination at T-Juice brought them together as the name of an e-liquid... I find it quite evocative. When I dwell on the words "green steam", my mind takes me to Geidi Prime, the Harkonnen home world in Frank Herbert's Dune series. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(novel) I imagine you'd find green steam there. Or perhaps you'd find green steam in the imagined underground city of the crazed artilleryman, who accosts the narrator in Jeff Wayne's musical adaptation of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds. http://youtu.be/pby-TolpK6Y Or again, underground in Edward Bulwer-Lytton's Vril, The Power of the Coming Race http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vril, where the subterranean cities are lit by a mysterious green light without source. Any steam found there would be green by virtue of the light cast upon it.

The page for Green Steam, the e-liquid, on T-Juice's website displays an image of a seemingly thoughtful young man against what appears to be a slab of painted green concrete. http://t-juice.com/green-steam.html On the basis of what's represented in this image, I suspect my meanderings might be wide of the mark. Whatever the case, the name Green Steam takes me to distant regions of the imagination and I appreciate that.

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 Green Steam as "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

The bottle included in Let There Be Juice: Volume 1 contains 5ml of liquid. When bought as an individual bottle, Green Steam 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 the liquid is a limpid, slightly desaturated Atomic Tangerine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_orange#Atomic_tangerine It appears quite aqueous and when a drop of the liquid is rubbed between my thumb and forefinger it's absorbed into my skin within a minute. (Leaving the skin silky smooth, don'tcha know!) The liquid is mildly lubricious. When held below my nose and inhaled to a sustained, shallow degree, the aroma of the bottled liquid is a marriage of blueberry and blackberry with a slight bias towards the blackberry, lifting it to the position of top note.

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 five 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.

As I begin to draw the vapour into and through my mouth, I experience a mild sweetness along the forward edge of my tongue and towards the back of my throat along the roof. There's the immediate recognition of the broad flavour of dark berries. As I finish inhaling, draw a small amount of fresh air to chase the vapour into my lungs and pause, the berry flavours unfold. While the blackberry dominates, there's the brief awareness of the gentler blueberry. When I begin to slowly exhale the flavours are intertwined and I notice a slightly tart element which is confirmed by an acidic tang on my tongue. The aftertaste is a pleasant mixture of the two berry flavours, blackberry primarily, with the addition of a subtle earthy aspect one would normally associate with umami flavours. There's also a very subtle metallic bite around the forward teeth and gums. There's no hint of artificiality about the flavour but rather than the taste of fresh fruit, I'd suggest it tastes like a compote of the berries with additional herbs which lends it a certain earthy quality.

Throat hit is significant; especially so, considering this is a 16mg liquid. This is somewhat amplified by the sensation of mounting pressure at the back of the throat as I inhale, which I often experience with sweetened e-liquids. Vapour production is as expected from an e-liquid with 80% PG, but bear in mind that PG delivers an enhanced flavour experience while VG is known to enhance vapour production but slightly dull and sweeten flavour. If my experience with T-Juice liquids is anything to go by, I'd suggest it's all about the flavour. 

As T-Juice suggest, this is a robust vape. To you and me this means a full bodied, if not rich flavour experience. It could certainly be vaped all day, but you would need a sturdier throat than I currently possess. I would most likely vape this after a meal or late at night. In the meantime, I'm still trying to unravel the mystery of the name of this juice and working at reconciling it with the Autumnal associations of the particular berries whose flavours are at hand. Give us a clue, T-Juice!