Yes, Brob, we don't care how the caramel was added to the juice. We just want it to taste good.
That's not, however, the same as saying that how the caramel got in there doesn't matter. It mattered to Brian, and I'll bet that it mattered in the final taste of the juice.
Oh, I know it.
That's just my failed attempt at humor after writing a large post, only to have the thread 'eat the post'.
Rather, I should have said that I
do care, mainly because I like to know what causes taste differences...amongst many other things; how things work and all that.
Personally, Count Caramel was one of the best caramel
flavors that I've ever been exposed to; vaping or elsewhere. I had suspected that Brian wasn't using an 'added in' flavor and was relying, rather; on the casing to transmit the flavor properly. I don't know whether this was because I'd had other caramel vapes in the past and decided they didn't click with me- by this, I mean they didn't come across as "natural" or as if they belonged in "that space" in the juice.
CC is a very, very good caramel vape. However, I've never had anything to compare it to (flavorings imparted entirely from casing of tobacco) honestly. I don't doubt that a search would yield multiple caramel pipe blends, but you're right; I didn't quite clarify what I was trying to say (jokingly)
Once you guys had made it clear that it was the casing that imparted all of the flavor and what methods Brian uses to make his juices, I had a pretty good idea that he wasn't relying on adding the flavors in, probably because it was the only caramel I've ever had that actually captures the caramel flavor
with the tobacco simultaneously.
Interestingly, when I first tried it I could taste naught but caramel... until I took the bottle back out some weeks later and was surprised at how much I liked it- it is a very natural, smooth caramel -unlike any I've tasted, it was even more ...'natural tasting', if that helps; it 'fit' into that blend quite nicely, like it had a spot reserved for it.
I always care about flavors...well, I guess we all care about flavor- where it goes and where it ends up seem to be both personal preference; I feel this is a significant reason that a lot of tobaccos taste great, but once you go adding in extra flavors it feels like a different beast entirely.
I've been burned by a lot of hybrids- In the future, I'll just find the tobacco that's been flavored in the processing rather than add my own in- depending on the flavor. If a flavor
flows and intermingles well, it fits in a blend; at least, for me. YMMV
EDIT:Also, boomer; I've already set up the "main four" tobacco extracts using ...well, I guess a modified version of your method. Nice color already after a short period sitting, and they
will be on that shelf for a while. I estimate that I'll be able to actually extract them some time in March, give or take a fortnight.
The Sutliff Balkan Luxury Blend 957 took significantly more solvent than I had anticipated (185ml vs expected 150ml for 1.5 ounces of material) but smells beautifully complex (though is rather on the dry side). The H&H Bulk Frenchy's Sunza....... also took slightly more (120ml vs 100ml) to cover, but had perfect moisture.
Both Newminster 9 Creamy Vanilla & Oriental Cavendish took the appropriate amount of solvent, presumably because they are more moist. The 'Frenchy's' also had the same consistency of moisture- these blends would be considered "good to go" (not the Balkan) if I wasn't extracting them.
The others in the "sampler" consist of varying types of pipe blends; like the smell of all of them, really. The Peter Stokkebye blends seem to be less moist; the Newminster blends moreso (about as dry as the Sutliff Balkan Luxury 957).
Interesting, though I love the smell of these blends - even the Virginia-based one has something unexpected in the background.
Time to go find more jars.
Cheap; a great chance to learn the smells, colors, and textures of different tobacco blends before extraction; simply further proves this is a worthwhile DIY hobby.
Add-on: The Denmark was the driest, crispiest so far (loading into jars right now). Great aroma to the leaves used, though, so I'm hoping it's an even trade.
Update: Still up; the Denmark ended up taking a little bit more than the norway, so around ~100-125mL per ounce was what seemed proper, though I think kake pressed-form would take far less solvent.
The Norway took
285mL to saturate, but looks like it's happy. Denmark; there was a LOT more dry weight tobacco in there. I should have weighed it prior to actually using it, but by the time I realized that I was staring at almost a third short in hot e-liquid, so I quickly pulled more from the (sizable) transfer jar and added it.
Since I screwed up and overheated the solvent preparing for the Denmark in the first place, I let it cool a minute. I had set up 250mL but assumed I might need up to 300; I just dumped the other 30ml cold straight in there. It ended up taking
~280ml to saturate the Denmark, for whatever reason.
Three left, because I've been slow about doing this, but I'm now having a fight with myself as to which blend smells the best. I
really like the smoky quality given off by this Amsterdam. I halfway want to think it's Latakia, but it isn't; my nose plays tricks on me, but I can pick out individual aroma notes- provided I actually know what they smell/taste like.
Learning!
(I had considered using water, but I knew I wasn't going to be doing any sort of reduction so- yep!)
Can we start putting this stuff into old brandy or whiskey barrels and slapping vintages on this yet, or is that still a no-go?
