KOOL-AID Throat hit : Mild , with cooling Inspired by the powdered drink additive of the same name , Kool-Aid is an e-liquid that will probably be quite divisive . Described as a watermelon infused with black cherry , this liquid is a no-holdsbarred homage to all things sweet . I feel the black cherry element overpowers the candied watermelon here , and for my taste buds it ’ s all a bit much . The melon undertone only adds to what is already a rather sweet profile , resulting in a syrupy aftertaste that I can ’ t see myself vaping for extended periods of time . For some of course , what I ’ ve just described will be really appealing , which only demonstrates the wide range of personal preferences in taste . The liquid finishes with a mild menthol exhale that cuts through the sweetness . For me this is welcome and makes the mix slightly less cloying . I totally understand why this liquid is becoming so popular . If you prefer sweeter profiles then Kool-Aid could well be an all-day vape , and its recent win of Best Menthol / Mint at The Vaper Expo UK is testament to that .
STRAWBERRY HAVANA Throat hit : Mild , with cooling Vape Duty Free describe this blend as “ strawberries , crushed with ice and a dash of lime .” This is a classic Daiquiri profile that ’ s hitting shelves just in time for summer . A mix of natural and candied strawberry are the most dominant flavours here . They ’ re well balanced and don ’ t overly sweeten the mix . Slight earthiness from the natural strawberry is accentuated nicely by more reserved syrupy notes . The lime here complements the mix well , adding a citrus kick that allows the strawberry top notes to pop , resulting in a well-balanced flavour profile which is quite true to life . A mild coolant finish cuts through this blend without detracting from the flavour , ensuring a light and summery vape that doesn ’ t become sickly . Overall , this is a nice , simple fruit and coolant blend .
GREAT BERRIES Throat hit : Mild Great Berries is the most straightforward of the Vape Duty Free line up , aiming for a classically British blend of forest fruits . Stripped back mixes need not be boring though and this is a good example of simplicity done right . The most prominent top note is a floral blueberry that ’ s rather similar to Blue Mist . This is supported by an ensemble of other berries that result in a full-bodied fruit profile . Other than the blueberry , I also taste a candied raspberry , strawberry and more natural blackberry . Of these supporting flavours , the raspberry is most noticeable and there may be more fruits here that my palate isn ’ t picking up , because the blend is quite subtle . Great Berries has a nice natural sweetness that lingers for a while after you ’ ve vaped it , which makes this a rather moreish e-liquid . Overall , Great Berries is a well-rounded profile that should appeal to a lot of people .
COOL RUNNINGS Throat hit : Mild , with cooling Vape Duty Free describe Cool Runnings as sweet pineapple blended with sour grapefruit . Inspired by the Caribbean , this exotic mix aims to be a summer crowd pleaser . The pineapple here is reminiscent of tropical soft drinks . It ’ s mellow and doesn ’ t have any astringent off-notes that are sometimes found in pineapple mixes . Although the grapefruit is billed as a supporting note , I think it ’ s the star of the show here . There ’ s a good balance of citrus bite and a more candied take on the fruit , this allows it to cut through the mix without becoming overly bitter . The sourness of the grapefruit only serves to elevate the sweet pineapple and makes for a refreshing all day vape . After a fair amount of time spent with the Vape Duty Free range , I have to say that I find myself reaching for Cool Runnings most often . It ’ s a cracking summery profile that I wholeheartedly recommend to fans of tropical e-liquids .
BANANA CHILL Throat hit : Mild , with cooling Any seasoned vaper will tell you that banana is a tough flavour to pin down . Vape Duty Free have been especially ambitious in this case by pairing it with coolant . In theory this is a simple profile , but dozens of my own failed attempts to produce a good banana mix tell a different story . Vape Duty Free describe this as “ Sweetened ripe bananas … hit by an Arctic ice blast ” and I feel that ’ s a fair description . The banana here is an amalgamation of the creamy thick sweetness of the real thing and some notes of a more candied banana . It brings a nice full body and substantial mouthfeel to the mix and doesn ’ t overwhelm the palate . The coolant here is quite mellow , which I personally feel is appropriate . A more intense icy finish would have felt out of place in the profile . If you ’ re looking for something that stands out from the crowd , Banana Chill is one to consider .
BLUE MIST Throat hit : Mild , with cooling Vape Duty Free describe Blue Mist as a blend of blueberries and tea leaves . Blueberry dominates this profile and does so without tasting artificial . It ’ s both pungent and floral with a fair dose of sweetness to boot , making it one of the better blueberry flavours that I ’ ve tried . The top notes are supported well by an earthy , natural tea base . The tea does a good job of adding depth to the mix and seems to fade in and out during the day , which does keep things interesting . I ’ m a big fan of how they have incorporated this herbal element , but I can see that it may be somewhat of an acquired taste . I also get a subtle menthol on the exhale , which isn ’ t mentioned in the manufacturers description , but does keep the floral notes of the blueberry in check . Fans of teabased vapes should definitely check Blue Mist out .
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