Mixing question?

[kaahn]

I'm about to embark on some NET extractions and have been doing a lot of reading and I mean a lot of reading lol. I've decided to first try my hand at cold maceration of tobacco. One thing I could not wrap my head around is the mixing afterwards. I see a lot of you guys mixing at 15 to 25% and this is where I get lost. In general DIY I've notice that most recipes no single flavor in any mix breaches the 10% mark, especially when using multiple flavors, so why is it that NET's are different. Does the extraction process only create weak concentrates or is it you guys are just mainly mixing the tobacco extract as one single flavor in your base for a very strong tobacco flavor? I plan on mixing my extractions with other flavors to see what I can come up with and was just curious and unsure. Thanks for all replies in advance!

 

[Str8vision]

For a hot or cold extraction where PG or VG is used as the extraction solvent the filtered extract is generally used at 15 - 25%, it is an extract and not a "concentrated" flavoring. Extractions using water and or PGA (pure grain alcohol), as the solvent can be reduced (concentrated), to a desired strength (through evaporation or distillation), and used at 3 - 10% depending on the level of reduction. When mixing several flavors at once (Tobacco extract, vanilla, caramel etc..), you reduce the percentage of each flavor just like DIY with retail concentrated flavorings.

 

[kaahn]

For a hot or cold extraction where PG or VG is used as the extraction solvent the filtered extract is generally used at 15 - 25%, it is an extract and not a "concentrated" flavoring. Extractions using water and or PGA (pure grain alcohol), as the solvent can be reduced (concentrated), to a desired strength (through evaporation or distillation), and used at 3 - 10% depending on the level of reduction. When mixing several flavors at once (Tobacco extract, vanilla, caramel etc..), you reduce the percentage of each flavor just like DIY with retail concentrated flavorings.

Thanks str8! Just to be clear if I were to do a cold maceration in pg I could use that extract in my mixes for example at a lower percentage if I were to add say vanilla or caramel instead of the typical 15-25%?

Example
Extract 10%
Vanilla 3%
Caramel 2%
Em 1%
TA 1%

It wouldn't drown out the extract? I just didn't like the idea of using say 25% extract plus say 5 to 10% other flavorings bring the total flavoring well above 30+%. I know a lot has to do with personal preference and taste...I'm just trying to get an idea and stay below or around 20% flavoring. Thanks in advance!

 

[Str8vision]

Yes, your example would be a good starting point however don't be afraid to add more extract if needed, adjust the percentages to suit your personal preference. Last time I mixed a DIY ry4 style juice using a PG based extract I believe I used 12-15%. Some tobacco blends produce an intense extracted flavor while others yield a more subtle flavor profile so the final mixing percentage can depend on the flavor strength of the extract being used. As with DIY, it's best to start with less and add more if needed.

 

[Str8vision]

Also, the caramel and vanilla flavors will pop -if- your tobacco extract is well filtered. Until I began filtering tobacco extracts below 2 microns the addition flavors I added were somewhat muted or muffled. Once I began high levels of filtering I was able to reduce the percentages of the additional flavors by as much as 50%.

 

[kaahn]

Thank you so much str8 you answered a lot of questions I had thanks!

 

[kaahn]

Another question...I know some mix 1oz of tobacco in 120 to 150ml of pg. What if I were to use 2oz with the same amount of pg...would that produce a stronger extract? I don't even know if it would be possible but I was just wondering.

 

[Str8vision]

It wouldn't, the tobacco -must- be fully covered by solvent in order to release its flavor. Add just enough solvent to cover (submerse), the tobacco and about 10% extra for absorption. The only variable that can increase flavor strength in a Cold, PG based extraction is the soak time, the longer the tobacco steeps in the solvent the better it will be. A one month steep yields good flavor, two months even better.