memzey's mixes

[andipandi]

True, I'm starting to doubt how accurate my expectations of them are now though, and to top it off its like assuming you'll get the same Banoffee pie from the Hairy Bikers as you would from Ainsley Harriet

I agree, it's about how a flavour tastes in my vape - and whether I like it or not, whether it works. In my homebaking and cooking life I've never used such a vast array of creams & vanilla, how something tastes as eaten is often not relevant to how something tastes when I vape it, neither is the dictionary or cookbook definition of such things.

 

[scrumpox]

Just some random thoughts to throw in here ...

When I started out mixing I took the approach of trying to learn about each flavour concentrate by mixing it on its own first and tasting it. Research the % it needs as a standalone before attempting to blend it with other flavours.
To get an idea of how they blend I would add drops of the standalone juices to a dripper rather than make up trial mixes in bottles. Seemed like a less wasteful way to trial, albeit you don't give the blend a chance to mature. it was possible to see how one flavour could dominate another so hinting at the relative amounts needed in a recipe. Flavours can enhance one another, some kill the other. I wouldn't say it's the ony approach to take, but it's a fun way to play with the individual flavours that you've made up.
When you try a recipe that you've found, try to work out what each flavour is supposed to add to the final taste. If it's not noticeable, ask yourself what it's doing there? Try the same recipe without it. Some flavours are not added for the flavour itself but for mouthfeel and layering, or depth. Some mixers overcomplicate things, I'm suspicious of any recipe with 10 flavours especially when I can only pick out 2 or 3 of them when vaping.
Also when trying a new recipe that contains additives (EM, Sweetener, Vape Wizard, Sour, Koolada etc), mix the recipe both with and without the additive(s). For me, that was the only way to really understand how the additives function and why they were added. If you blindly follow recipes you won't learn as much.
Too many Flavourart flavours in the same recipe = too much triacetin which flattens the result. Blend Flavourart with other brands.
Too many flavours, too much to learn, so little time, patience is limited. I have to wait for the next burst of enthusiasm before trialling again.

 

[oldhippydude]

+1 to what @scrumpox says about sorting out the single flavours first then play with drops of the flavours mixed in a dripper.
Often the dripper stage would lead to a blend stage where I would mix two or three flavour blends influenced by the dripper stage.

I would then go to a second phase with the dipper finding what additions worked with the blends.

Then make v1 of your recipe based on your findings. Then adjust a bit more or less of this or that maybe a bit of the other for v2, v3 til you are happy with your recipe.

Once you have perfected your recipe one of your essential flavours will disappear from the market so you can start again.

 

[memzey]

I agree 100%. Single flavour testing, so you build up an understanding of how the concentrates work individually, is a key early step. It is time consuming but well worth while.

To put things into context; when I look at the recipes I'm working on they all seem to originate from one of two starting points:

1. Start out with a profile I want to achieve and put the work in to attain it (my coffee mixes all fall into this category as do one or two others)

2. Trial of a single flavour concentrate that impresses but begs to have something added. This then leads to a mix developing as other ingredients join the party (I'm working on a banana nut bread at the moment that started like this as did a number of fruits).

If you don't single flavour test point 1. becomes more difficult and 2. is impossible.

 

[MHL]

When I get new flavours I test them by wicking up a fresh rda and slopping a load of flavourless juice on it. Then I put a single drop of the flavouring just south of the coil. This tends to burn out after about 6 - 8 puffs, then I repeat with a similar flavour (e.g. another vanilla variety or the same flavour from another flavour house) to see how they compare.

In theory I agree about having stupid numbers of flavours in recipies, but in practice my own tend to have quite a few. The reason being is I have favourite 'clusters' of flavours and I combine these. For example:

VT Biscuit Base + FLV Waffle + TFA C27
TFA Peanut Butter + WF Peanut Brittle + FA Peanut
VT Hard Crack Toffee + VT Butter Toffee Base + FA Butterscotch + FA Caramel

For prominently nutty flavours I even do this clusterfuck:

TFA Peanut Butter + WF Peanut Brittle + FA Peanut + TPA Toasted Almond + WF Cashew + VT Macadamia + FW Hazelnut + Capella Butter Pecan

 

[memzey]

Some of those combos look amazing.

 

[Badboybez]

yeah, cherry is a right pain.

I tried for the longest time and kind of gave up, I do get hints of cherry in almond and marzipan (and some vanillas) but what I really want is a bright juicy cherry top note.

I used to use some Maraschino Cherry concentrate mixed with Black Cherry, it lifts the cherry flavour, and adds a touch of sweetness.
Snag is I cant remember what brand it was.

 

[zouzounaki]

What we need is a 'mixing lounge' thread, where we can just waffle on, discussing ideas and recipes.

there is one!

https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/...logy/threads/unofficial-diy-allotment.184343/

have you tried inawera cherry juice? it tastes to me like that “juice drink” stuff with 5% fruit juice mixed with sugary water. i quite like it, and doesn’t have any marzipan or almond flavour from it.

 

[Simon G]

there is one!

https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/...logy/threads/unofficial-diy-allotment.184343/

have you tried inawera cherry juice? it tastes to me like that “juice drink” stuff with 5% fruit juice mixed with sugary water. i quite like it, and doesn’t have any marzipan or almond flavour from it.

so there is.

No, I haven't but that sounds a lot like TPA Cherry Extract, I like the taste but it's very watery and if you mix it with a tobacco or a pasty it literally tastes like soggy, watery tobacco/pastry. There's no 'body' of a fruit, it's just like juice.

 

[zouzounaki]

so there is.

No, I haven't but that sounds a lot like TPA Cherry Extract, I like the taste but it's very watery and if you mix it with a tobacco or a pasty it literally tastes like soggy, watery tobacco/pastry. There's no 'body' of a fruit, it's just like juice.

aye, it blends well with custard type flavours but i’ve not tried it with a tobacco mix, maybe that’s how it would end up.

maybe you’ll need to just resort to eating cherries if you want a cherry taste.