Random DIY mixing and More

[Myk]

Early on, I stopped using ingredients like Smooth, EM, MTS vape Wizard, and even sweeteners; in my initial mixing experiments. I found I was depending on them way too much, to make sub-par recipe concepts, taste mediocre. Once I stopped leaning on them, to make things passable (hiding percentage errors, and/or disguising a less-than-ideal ingredient(s)); I had to become more aware of what the other concentrates were (or weren't) contributing to my mixing. This has made my mixing more refined and intentional, as well as satisfying to my palate.

I still use all of them on occasion; as they are useful, even indispensable tools... in specific situations. They can provide that extra "sumpen-sumpen" factor to a a run-of-the-mill recipe. They can make a less than ideal ingredient (even though it may be the "best" choice I have in my current stash) work better for its intended purpose in a given recipe. And, if I have an established recipe where I know it is required; I have zero resistance to adding it right along with all the other ingredients. I simply do not consider them in new mixes until I have exhausted my other options.

I will jump on them (although I've just started using most them).
It's about balance. I have no problem changing the alcohol, acid or sugar content in wine to make it taste right. I make it a habit of stopping further fermentation and using fruit juice to add sugar and flavor. Why limit myself to what the gods or a flavor scientist gives me when the additive scientists also give me tools?

I doubt I have much use for Bitter Wizard because I'm not likely to go after a flavor that needs to be bitter. But if I ever run into a recipe that is too sweet and bitter is the proper balance I have it.
Just like I have sour, which I have been using for a while.
I could see a flavor that tastes right but is too sour needing AAA Magic Mask, again generally not what I'm after but I have it if I need it.

Smoothing agents will have a lot of uses for me. It's not about fixing a bad mix, it's about balancing a flavor that has too much zing for the recipe. Orange Tootsie rolls aren't supposed to have a lot of zing and Orange Cream wouldn't be appropriate to get there.
Chocolate Raspberry may need more zing because I'm not going for a raspberry flavored candy but a chocolate covered fruit.

 

[FranC]

@PJReid Have you tried your Champagne testers yet?

 

[NatashaTMT]

This will be confusing, I’m afraid... each is for 30 ml total. I only put the ml of flavor added on the label so I don’t have to “math” when I mix again
Cherry blossom 1.2
Pomegranate .6
Grapefruit .3

Or....

Cherry blossom 1.2
Honeydew .6
Peach .3

Not confusing at all, quite helpful in fact! I also now have jasmine. (Logging flavors into my stash atm.) So I can finally experiment a bit with some florals. I know you probably already informed me of this though I’ve forgotten... Do these florals need longer steeps?

 

[FranC]

Someone tell me why I have mts vape wizard in my now quite organized box. I don’t see anything in my notes that would make me think I need it

Maybe the same reason I have it....LOL

 

[NatashaTMT]

@NolaMel I’ve recently read that RF baklava is straight rose water before a few weeks steep. So wondering if theres floral s&v potential there.

 

[Myk]

Someone tell me why I have mts vape wizard in my now quite organized box. I don’t see anything in my notes that would make me think I need it

MTS Vape Wizard = smooths sharp notes (claims to add body)
Bitter Wizard = adds bitter
AAA Magic Mask = reduces sour

 

[FranC]

MTS Vape Wizard = smooths sharp notes (claims to add body)
Bitter Wizard = adds bitter
AAA Magic Mask = reduces sour

I have all those. Only one I recall using is Bitter Wizard which didn't work great for me.

 

[NolaMel]

Not confusing at all, quite helpful in fact! I also now have jasmine. (Logging flavors into my stash atm.) So I can finally experiment a bit with some florals. I know you probably already informed me of this though I’ve forgotten... Do these florals need longer steeps?

I think so, for my tastes. At least jasmine does. It was about two weeks to me before it mellowed into the blend

 

[PJReid]

@PJReid Have you tried your Champagne testers yet?

The grandkids leave Friday so hopefully, I will get to the testers over the weekend. I have done nothing beyond herding children this week, with an occasional peek at this thread after they go to bed.

 

[FranC]

The Cherry Blossom sounds good. Unfortunately I can't vape cherry

 

[FranC]

The grandkids leave Friday so hopefully, I will get to the testers over the weekend. I have done nothing beyond herding children this week, with an occasional peek at this thread after they go to bed.

Bet your gettiing worn out............

 

[PJReid]

Someone tell me why I have mts vape wizard in my now quite organized box. I don’t see anything in my notes that would make me think I need it

It comes in handy if a flavor in a mix is too sharp. I also throw a % into a mix that doesn't really have anything else with body in it. It does add some mouth feel.

 

[NatashaTMT]

I think so, for my tastes. At least jasmine does. It was about two weeks to me before it mellowed into the blend

Thats helpful, thanks!

 

[Myk]

I have all those. Only one I recall using is Bitter Wizard which didn't work great for me.

Bitter to me is like sweet to you. I'm a little afraid to try it in anything but I know from brewing beer bitter has some use. I'll just tread lightly when I do try it. I could see it in a coffee or tea.

Although I love sour apples and cherries I'm touchy with the malic acid often used to make sour artificially. I got Atomic Warheads for colonoscopy cleanout diet once. I thought anything with flavor, it was bad.
I think the first time I used sour the chemical stood out even though I used a small amount.

 

[dc99]

I haven’t tried koolada, but that sounds tasty

Skip the koolada and just get ws-23. Its colder and no tatse

 

[FranC]

Bitter to me is like sweet to you. I'm a little afraid to try it in anything but I know from brewing beer bitter has some use. I'll just tread lightly when I do try it. I could see it in a coffee or tea.

Although I love sour apples and cherries I'm touchy with the malic acid often used to make sour artificially. I got Atomic Warheads for colonoscopy cleanout diet once. I thought anything with flavor, it was bad.
I think the first time I used sour the chemical stood out even though I used a small amount.

I tried it 2-3 times to help with too sweet mixes but it just doesn't work for me. It's like I'm vaping 2 very separate things at the same time. I can taste the bitter and also all the sweetness of the too sweet mix. Same thing with sour. I gave up on both.

 

[NatashaTMT]

Bitter to me is like sweet to you. I'm a little afraid to try it in anything but I know from brewing beer bitter has some use. I'll just tread lightly when I do try it. I could see it in a coffee or tea.

Although I love sour apples and cherries I'm touchy with the malic acid often used to make sour artificially. I got Atomic Warheads for colonoscopy cleanout diet once. I thought anything with flavor, it was bad.
I think the first time I used sour the chemical stood out even though I used a small amount.

I’ll never forget my sour hunt initially in DIY. Couldn’t achieve it for the life of me. Then I found it... Think I’m good on that until I get that wild hair again! My throat was so raw!

 

[NolaMel]

The Cherry Blossom sounds good. Unfortunately I can't vape cherry

No cherry to it to me. Just blossom. Think a soft floral.

 

[FranC]

I look for more flavor related ways to lessen sweetness. Plain cheesecake (no graham) (not NY cheesecake) can take the sweetness out of any cheesecake mix.Black tea is useful to lessen sweetness in a lot of things. I'm just starting to find rhubarb useful.

 

[Myk]

I’ll never forget my sour hunt initially in DIY. Couldn’t achieve it for the life of me. Then I found it... Think I’m good on that until I get that wild hair again! My throat was so raw!

I ended up rinsing the Warheads' malic acid coating off to eat the rest of them.
I didn't get any mouth sores it warns of, it just wasn't the pleasant sour of one of my suspected Rhode Island Greenings (I saved the tree from my niece before her's died so not sure about the variety).

Do I understand that you have a super sour vaping method that isn't malic acid?