Flavourings

[claretlad]

Hi I have just joined the forum and recently caught the mixology bug. This forum has fuelled my interest no end and supplied a fanastic information centre, so many thanks to all that contribute, especially Griswolds mixology post. Very informative and many thanks to Griswold.

So here is my query. I have now collected a variety of flavourings -- around 20 from Health Cabin including pear, caramel vanilla, bubblegum and the like. Also from HC I have some 3&5 tobacco, RY4,flue cured tobacco and menthol. From Perfumers apprentice I have Dulce De Leche and RY4 double. Finally i have a few from decadent vapors including apple pie strawberry and honey.

I have been trawling the net to get recipes that relate to these retailers flavourings, as I have quickly noticed that every retailer seem to make theirs to different strengths. I feel I am better following set recipes to start with and then once I have a better feel for the favourngs i will experiment.

I have made a few mixes using the general info from their web site such as HC saying that all of their flavours are concentrated and advise using 1-3%, but this covers all of their catalog apart from the tobacco range, which is 30%-40% and I am sceptical of these ratio's being correct. I want to get a few mix's right at first even though I know taste is subjective, but then again I dont want to be way out flavour wise.

Any thoughts or am I being too pedantic.

[maccafan]

I 've been reliably informed that it's better to start at 10% pure flavouring and then adjust upwards as required..

Most potion brewers seem to prefer between 10 & 20% far as I know.

[Perpetua]

Hello & a warm welcome to the forum Claret!

Delighted to hear you've the mixing bug . . . I love it to!

I'd echo Macca's advice . . . start at a 10% concentration and then go from there, it's easy to add extra, not so easy to take out.

HC fruit concentrates are quite strong, but even so I'd think you'll need more than 1-3% . . . I always taste just a dear dot of flavouring, to get a vague idea of quite how intense the flavouring might be.

[claretlad]

Thank you for your warm welcome Perpetua and comments. These percentages for flavorings are starting to confuse me,especially when the manufactures don't seem to get the advice right.

[nicky]

Claretlad

[claretlad]

Hello Nicky

[Gordy]

Hi Claretlad and a warm welcome... Perpy gave you good advice but i just wanted to add that i find tobacco flavours seem to be stronger and less is needed ...if i read your post correctly and HC recommend 30-40% then i figure this must be a typo on their behalf

[gizmondothefirst]

Mar 10, 2012 15:46:43 GMT Gordy said:

Hi Claretlad and a warm welcome... Perpy gave you good advice but i just wanted to add that i find tobacco flavours seem to be stronger and less is needed ...if i read your post correctly and HC recommend 30-40% then i figure this must be a typo on their behalf

Hi Claretlad,

I agree with Gordy. Although quite new to mixing I have 4 tobacco flavours on the go right now and they're all different strengths. I have 2 each from 2 different vendors (One of which is TPA - 'Tobacco' and 'M-type').

I have learnt to start off with 12 drops per 5ml, which has so far been enough to get the flavour in, but at quite a low level which enables slight changes to be easily noticeable...however, I did this with the 'M-type' and I kid you not - it nearly brought tears to my eyes!!! I had to dilute so many times that in the end it was the equivalent of about 1.5 drops per 5ml.

Having said that I tried another mix which I wanted to add caramel to the M-type. I found that the caramel really mutes the M-type and even after 3 drops the M-type is quite weak!??!

Also worth remembering is that the majority of people believe that a mix should be left to steep for a few days to a week, which is something I am finding hard to do. I do agree that after a couple of days most of my mixes change although there are one or 2 that don't?
Its difficult knowing when to stop adding flavour and guessing if it will change and how it will taste after steeping?

It can be a long drawn out process with a lot of trial and error, but practice makes perfect.

Oh, and I find writing everything down is essential and I now have a recipe book

[Gordy]

Mar 10, 2012 23:10:40 GMT gizmondothefirst said:

Oh, and I find writing everything down is essential and I now have a recipe book

excellent tip there ...keep track of dates too so know how steeping effects the juice

[claretlad]

Thanks to all who replied, there were invaluable tips there. I will of course post my findings on the mixes I do as I have now started a recipe book. - keep vaping