Custardy One Shots

[spacey]

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while – thought it may be of use to fellow custarholics and am hoping some of you may have tried alternatives and have recommendations to help me!

For the last 3 years – since starting diy – I’ve strived to make a custard that gives me as much taste satisfaction as GVC (Grants). I’ve made (and continue to make) countless iterations of my own recipes, plus many more found scattered about the internet – from forums, to Reddit, to ELR etc. Lots have been good, some much better than good – but none are exactly what I’m looking for. It’s frustrated the hell out of me and I live in hope that one day I’ll log on to Chefs and see GVC sold as a one shot (Pleeeeeeease Chefs Flavours Lew Chefs Vapour Karl     )

That leads me to the point of this post – Custardy style one shots

Since the whole TPD nightmare has forced vendors to rethink the way they sell juice – and thus many now provide their mixes as one shots - us diy’ers get to try many e-liquids we previously wouldn’t of shelled out our hard earned money on. I’ve therefore been working my way through various one shots in the hopes of finding a GVCish tasting custard that can become my old faithful, reliable, comforting custard vape
 
Custard one shots appear to fall in two camps – those with a distinct condensed milk/dairy taste, and those – well –those that don’t have this! Many people love the former, but I’m after a custard without that taste. I prefer the creaminess that comes from vanillin/vanilla as opposed to dairy.

Here are my thoughts on the ones I’ve tried so far. Usual caveat of taste being extremely subjective applies. As you’ll see, I’ve now accumulated a fair few bottles that I’m not keen on and keep meaning to stick in the classies! (I steep all custard/bakery’s for an absolute minimum of 3 weeks before trying):

Chefs Flavours ‘Welsh Custard’ (mixed at 20%) – No condensed milk or heavy dairy taste here. I get an almost tobacco/smoky back note with this, very subtle but definitely there (to me). It’s not over sweet, vanilla is there and it’s blended really well – I can see why it gets such good reviews. It’s a darker tasting custard which I can definitely vape on its own, but I prefer it mixed with something like Cutlass Custard (about 70% Welsh/30% Cutlass).

Isle of Flavours ‘Cutlass Custard’ (mixed at 20%) - This has the condensed milk taste but it’s not half as prominent as some I’ve tried. It’s a brighter tasting, dairy style vanilla custard, I don’t get any caramel or DDL flavour. It’s blended well and not overly sweet. I do like that IoF don’t add sweetener or EM but advise you of the amount they use in their pre-mixed version so you can add your own to taste. I used 2% EM as recommended. I personally won’t buy this again, but am enjoying it mixed with Chef’s Welsh Custard as that takes away the condensed milk.

Dunfords ‘Short Horn’ (mixed at 20%) – Definitely no dairy/condensed milk taste to this one. It’s a ‘grown up’, darker style custard/desert with hints of perhaps pie crust/very light touch of spice? I don’t get caramel but when first tested at 3 weeks I got a DDL type flavour, but this had blended in well after a longer steep. I just re-read the review I left on Chefs and I’d said my only criticism was finding it too sweet. However, this was at the start of me buying one shots and I just wasn’t used to sweetener in e-liquids as I never really added any to my own recipes. I’d gotten used to it by the end of the 150mls and although I still find it on the sweet side I’d definitely buy this again.

Jax ‘Vanilla Custard’ (mixed at 20%) – Unfortunately I couldn’t even make it through one tank of this. I found it very sweet and the condensed milk/heavy dairy taste was sooo prominent it ruined it for me. It’s all I could taste. If you’re a fan of those style custards then this is definitely one for you!

Nom Nomz ‘Creme Anglaise’ (mixed at 25%) –The dairy/condensed milk type flavour is present in the background of this but doesn’t overwhelm it. Given that I mixed at the recommended 25%, I didn’t get as much flavour as expected. However, it’s perfectly pleasant, well-balanced, and quite light tasting – i.e it doesn’t taste thick if that makes sense. Not over sweet at all. Reminiscent of Short Horn – can’t grasp which flavour but they def share something! I think I’ll use up the 50mls I made by mixing it with some Welsh Custard.

Quacks ‘Goose Juice’ (mixed at 20%) – No condensed milk/heavy dairy taste in this one at all. Been curious about Goose Juice for a very long time, so when I saw the concentrate (all be it at a higher price than I’m generally happy to pay for a one shot), I had to give it a go. It’s not loaded with sweetener – in fact it tastes a lot like one of my own custard recipes – I get French vanilla, cake batter, maybe pie crust? Am glad I bought it to satisfy my curiosity and will happily finish the bottle. Wouldn’t buy again as far too pricey for something so similar to my own diy!
EDIT: So a couple more weeks & a fair few tanks of Goose Juice have passed by. I'm revising my review - This has taken the number one spot to date in my search for a satisfyingly awesome custard!! Why I have to fall in love with the one that costs so much more than any other concentrate is probably to do with the law of Sod. Whatever - it's still shed loads cheaper than pre-mixed liquids, so until I develop my ultimate diy custard I shall be sticking with the Goose

The Custard B*stard ‘B*stard Sauce’ (mixed at 20%) – This one is quite distinctive tasting. No dairy/condensed milk taste. It’s a good, darker tasting custard blend, mixed with (I reckon) Capella Caramel (don’t think it’s TPA and def not FA). I’ve made diy versions similar to this when experimenting with caramels, so if you like that flavour in custard it’s a good shout. I’ll probably finish the bottle of this one but wouldn’t buy again.


Continued below so this isn't an unreadably long wall of custard based text...

[spacey]

These one shots aren’t plain custards but they’re in the custardy ballpark:

Chefs Flavours ‘Nice Custard Cream’ (mixed at 20%) – This has a lot of fans and I can appreciate why. The custard is there and done well, a hint of coconut like in a NICE biccie, and certainly not lacking in flavour. For me however, there’s too much AP (Acetyl Pyrazine) and it overpowers my senses. I use AP to good effect in quite a few of my own recipes, but at a really low %. I think I’m just over-sensitive to it (Chefs ‘Chris’s Spiffing Cookies & Cream’ is much more suited to my tastes – it’s very nice & I recommend if you can’t cope with AP taste).

Chefs Flavours ‘Ginger Rogers’ (mixed at 20%) – This is sublime  I love it and would hate to be without it now! It’s a very buttery tasting gingerbread with a custardy butterscotch flavour that coats your mouth. Be warned - It is sweet – but somehow that doesn’t bother me here.

Chefs Flavours ‘Cinderilla’ (mixed at 20%) – I used to buy this back when Steamgunk were making/selling it – before I got into diy. I remembered it as a gorgeous cinder toffee/creme brulee/custard type flavour. Damn my changing taste buds though – now all I get is overwhelming heavy condensed milk flavour with a hint of toffee. It’s also very sweet. I tipped away about 80mls from the 100mls I’d mixed – unvapable to me

Chefs Flavours ‘Doughnut King’ (mixed at 20%) – have made quite a few diy custard doughnut recipes. Capella Glazed Doughnut is very distinctive tasting, and can end up on the side of playdough if you’re not careful. It’s been done very well here though, and all flavours are balanced nicely. I think the sweetness level is just right. I’m really enjoying a tank of this every week or so (I think I’d get sick of it too often). If you’re a fan of custard doughnut e-liquids then I recommend giving this a try.

Chefs Flavours ‘Mexican Icecream’ (mixed at 20%) – Ok, not strictly a custard but it’s so damn lovely I had to mention it! It’s sweet, creamy, vanillary and mildy cinnamony without any of that condensed milk taste. Also, if you’ve been wondering what wllmc from VU’s   Game Over Custard tastes like then it’s not a million miles away from this! GOC doesn’t taste like custard to me at all, but if you do make some up you’ll see the close similarity it shares with MFIC (I prefer MFIC myself).


There are many more custard one shots I hope to try – but please let me know if you’ve found one similar to GVC. Also, has anyone tried’ Gustard’ or ‘Big Lens Mustard Custard’ yet from Chefs?

[goneforagasper]

Thanks for a detailed and very informative post



                    

[tsoko]

Excellent information.

[thebishman]

Great thread

[pacman]

Indeed it is very informative and to the point thank you spacey

[spacey]

No probs folks - hopefully more members will add their own custardy one shot thoughts/impressions, and we can all benefit (and I'll finally find one that reminds me of GVC )

[ticktockman]

Awesome post, with tons of details
can I ask what DDL is?

[spacey]

Jul 3, 2017 21:28:00 GMT ticktockman said:

Awesome post, with tons of details
can I ask what DDL is?

Thanks ticktockman

Sorry - DDL is Dulce De Leche link it's a very distinct taste used in many a custard recipe (can also ruin a mix if used at too high a %). Tis very potent stuff - I can't stand it higher than 0.75%.

[gill2009]

   A great thread...very informative...thank you spacey 

[Pepperty]

fantastic spacey I totally get your descriptions so that's been very useful for me, I'm a fan of Richard (Nom Nomz) Creme Anglais so I know what you mean by light and bright!

My other favourite custards are Claire's Custnuts, its a VHM brand on Chefs Flavours - its custard with a very faint nutty tang, very slight but it gives a nice heaviness to the blend. I don't really like biscuit based custards so I didnt enjoy Nice Biscuits but I vape it half and half with Welsh custard and really enjoy it now. I have to do exactly the same to Chefs Doughnut King as I get full on playdoh from it! But I love it mixed with another custard. Ditto to Mrs Lords Custard cream, I have to tone down the biscuit for my palate.

I also recommend Kreeds Custard, it uses some New York cheesecake so I sense a depth from the biscuit base, but it doesnt overpower and its excellent for adding fruits to. I'm working my way through Isle Of Custards range and although I don't rave over their plain custards I particularly like Clouds Ahoy (strawberry custard) and Blue Lagoon (custard/blueberry jam) so far

[spacey]

Thanks Pepperty - it's really difficult trying to put into words the differences between custards, so I'm glad it's understandable!! I wonder how many other people use Welsh Custard as a mixer to tone down other custardy delights - It's the perfect solution I remember buying Mrs Lords Custard Cream way back when I started vaping - couldn't get on with the aftertaste of it unfortunately.

I'll definitely look up Claire's Custnuts - thank you!

Kreeds - yep, I do really like Kreeds. No dairy/condensed milk taste so all good with me! I didn't think to include it here as I've never thought of it as a one shot - I've only ever mixed it from scratch. Sorry Kev!!

[Pepperty]

Kreeds custard is available a one shot £10 for 100ml so its almost cheaper to buy ready blended, I'm idle beyond belief!

I just pay for a 100ml bottle and be done with it, ironic as I actually have all the concentrates for it in my arsenal... I'm one shot mad!

[goneforagasper]

Jul 4, 2017 8:37:14 GMT Pepperty said:

fantastic spacey I totally get your descriptions so that's been very useful for me, I'm a fan of Richard (Nom Nomz) Creme Anglais so I know what you mean by light and bright!

My other favourite custards are Claire's Custnuts, its a VHM brand on Chefs Flavours - its custard with a very faint nutty tang, very slight but it gives a nice heaviness to the blend. I don't really like biscuit based custards so I didnt enjoy Nice Biscuits but I vape it half and half with Welsh custard and really enjoy it now. I have to do exactly the same to Chefs Doughnut King as I get full on playdoh from it! But I love it mixed with another custard. Ditto to Mrs Lords Custard cream, I have to tone down the biscuit for my palate.

I also recommend Kreeds Custard, it uses some New York cheesecake so I sense a depth from the biscuit base, but it doesnt overpower and its excellent for adding fruits to. I'm working my way through Isle Of Custards range and although I don't rave over their plain custards I particularly like Clouds Ahoy (strawberry custard) and Blue Lagoon (custard/blueberry jam) so far

+1 for Claires Custnuts, this is one of my main ADV's, I used to get it from Chefs as a one shot but due to low sales volumes they discontinued it so I make it from scratch with the individual concs.

[jtc]

Always good to see a yummy custard thread.
Custnut is now on my to do list cheers 👍