This is my current flavor list. I only do tobacco styles.
Also, IMO, (see my other blogs) for at least the small ~3 mL test batches I routinely make, percentages and calculators are a load of crap. There are so many dubious assumptions built into them. From my observations drops of flavors vary widely. And most people who insist "Give it in percentages, drops don't mean anything..." etc all I can say is you are absolutely right on one count - drops don't mean anything. Which means your percentages which are based on some assumption of what a drop is, are equally meaningless!!! Think about it!
I am interested in reproducibility. A drop is a drop which is not a different drop. However, if you consistently use the same tools, i.e. the standard dropper bottles flavors come in anyway, then a drop of a given flavor will always be a drop of that flavor, and that is something you can repeat. So enough of that ...
I express things in drops, just deal with it, or don't as you like. ;-)
Tobaccos:
tobacco Absolute - ECX Signature AKA TPA AKA TFA:
Very strong, dry, grassy harsh. I use the "50%" stuff. tobacco Absolute should be diluted before use. I make a stock as follows:
500 mg Ethyl Maltol Crystals (weighed on a jewelry scale).
10 mL 50-50 PG/VG.
Mix and heat in a water bath and shake until EM is dissolved.
2 Drops Tobacco Absolute.
Add to EM stock and mix, heating in a hot water bath. Shake vigorously until any ring in the bottle has been dissolved.
This TA Mix is suitable as a booster at typically 2 drops per 3 mL batch.
ECX Signature AKA TPA AKA TFA:
MLB Tobacco - Not bad as a primary at ~4 drops per 3 mL batch, but a little pepper taste.
Flue Cured Tobacco - Very floral. Not suitable for a primary IMO, but a drop in a 3mL batch adds some nice complexity.
DK Tobacco - Very floral. Not suitable for a primary IMO occasionally add a drop to a 3 mL batch for complexity but not as pleasant as the Flue Cured.
Red Tobacco - I thought Red was a Marlboro knockoff. I guess they thought Red means cayenne pepper.
FlavourArt:
Virginia - Mild. Not very much tobacco taste but nothing weird. I use a lot of it as a primary at 4 drops per 3 mL batches.
7 - Leaves - A little more flavor than Virginia but still mild. Nothing weird, not peppery. I use it frequently as a primary.
Cowboy Blend - Not much flavor, a little bit of pepper.
Burley - Also not much tobacco. Way too peppery for a primary. I have tried it at 1 drop per 3 mL batch but ehh.
Desert Ship - Whoa! Weird incense and patchouli. Way too spicey for a primary, but I occasionally use 1 drop per 3mL batch for complexity. Needs to age and air out.
Shade - Pepper. Nuff said.
TobaccoExpress
555 - Nice nutty flavor although not very much tobacco flavor. I use it a lot as a primary at 4-5 drops per 3 mL batch.
Turkish - Distinct taste, hard to describe but I like it. Not perfumey like Desert Ship. Suitable for a primary at 4-6 drops per 3 mL batch. Not everyone will like this one, it has a distinct flavor.
B&H - Sort of basic flavor. A little dry but suitable for a primary at 4-5 drops per 3 mL batch.
DHill - Not bad, a little fruity. Suitable for a primary at 4 drops per 3 mL batch.
Virginia - Pretty non descript. Not much tobacco flavor but not weird. Can be used as a primary at 4-5 drops per 3 mL batch but I like the FlavourArt Virginia better.
Golden Virginia - Very distinct weird taste hard to describe. Not suitable as a primary. I have tried a few mixes with it at 1 drop per 3 mL.
MLB - OK not very much tobacco flavor. OK as a primary but very low in flavor. I tend to boost other stronger flavors with it.
Bensen - not much flavor but nothing weird. It is OK as a primary but very low in flavor. I tend to boost other stronger flavors with it.
FlavorWest
Virginia - Weird. Hard to describe. I do not like it at all, made one mix with it and none since.
Next up, Tobacco Flavor Essentials.
Also, IMO, (see my other blogs) for at least the small ~3 mL test batches I routinely make, percentages and calculators are a load of crap. There are so many dubious assumptions built into them. From my observations drops of flavors vary widely. And most people who insist "Give it in percentages, drops don't mean anything..." etc all I can say is you are absolutely right on one count - drops don't mean anything. Which means your percentages which are based on some assumption of what a drop is, are equally meaningless!!! Think about it!
I am interested in reproducibility. A drop is a drop which is not a different drop. However, if you consistently use the same tools, i.e. the standard dropper bottles flavors come in anyway, then a drop of a given flavor will always be a drop of that flavor, and that is something you can repeat. So enough of that ...
I express things in drops, just deal with it, or don't as you like. ;-)
Tobaccos:
tobacco Absolute - ECX Signature AKA TPA AKA TFA:
Very strong, dry, grassy harsh. I use the "50%" stuff. tobacco Absolute should be diluted before use. I make a stock as follows:
500 mg Ethyl Maltol Crystals (weighed on a jewelry scale).
10 mL 50-50 PG/VG.
Mix and heat in a water bath and shake until EM is dissolved.
2 Drops Tobacco Absolute.
Add to EM stock and mix, heating in a hot water bath. Shake vigorously until any ring in the bottle has been dissolved.
This TA Mix is suitable as a booster at typically 2 drops per 3 mL batch.
ECX Signature AKA TPA AKA TFA:
MLB Tobacco - Not bad as a primary at ~4 drops per 3 mL batch, but a little pepper taste.
Flue Cured Tobacco - Very floral. Not suitable for a primary IMO, but a drop in a 3mL batch adds some nice complexity.
DK Tobacco - Very floral. Not suitable for a primary IMO occasionally add a drop to a 3 mL batch for complexity but not as pleasant as the Flue Cured.
Red Tobacco - I thought Red was a Marlboro knockoff. I guess they thought Red means cayenne pepper.
FlavourArt:
Virginia - Mild. Not very much tobacco taste but nothing weird. I use a lot of it as a primary at 4 drops per 3 mL batches.
7 - Leaves - A little more flavor than Virginia but still mild. Nothing weird, not peppery. I use it frequently as a primary.
Cowboy Blend - Not much flavor, a little bit of pepper.
Burley - Also not much tobacco. Way too peppery for a primary. I have tried it at 1 drop per 3 mL batch but ehh.
Desert Ship - Whoa! Weird incense and patchouli. Way too spicey for a primary, but I occasionally use 1 drop per 3mL batch for complexity. Needs to age and air out.
Shade - Pepper. Nuff said.
TobaccoExpress
555 - Nice nutty flavor although not very much tobacco flavor. I use it a lot as a primary at 4-5 drops per 3 mL batch.
Turkish - Distinct taste, hard to describe but I like it. Not perfumey like Desert Ship. Suitable for a primary at 4-6 drops per 3 mL batch. Not everyone will like this one, it has a distinct flavor.
B&H - Sort of basic flavor. A little dry but suitable for a primary at 4-5 drops per 3 mL batch.
DHill - Not bad, a little fruity. Suitable for a primary at 4 drops per 3 mL batch.
Virginia - Pretty non descript. Not much tobacco flavor but not weird. Can be used as a primary at 4-5 drops per 3 mL batch but I like the FlavourArt Virginia better.
Golden Virginia - Very distinct weird taste hard to describe. Not suitable as a primary. I have tried a few mixes with it at 1 drop per 3 mL.
MLB - OK not very much tobacco flavor. OK as a primary but very low in flavor. I tend to boost other stronger flavors with it.
Bensen - not much flavor but nothing weird. It is OK as a primary but very low in flavor. I tend to boost other stronger flavors with it.
FlavorWest
Virginia - Weird. Hard to describe. I do not like it at all, made one mix with it and none since.
Next up, Tobacco Flavor Essentials.
