Show guide 1

Róisín Delaney - The Editor roisin@vapouround.co.uk

Community is everything, no matter the industry. Credit to the Vaper Expo UK team for bringing the best of the vape community to life twice a year. We are lucky to live in a place where people have the choice to genuinely transform their lives, by making one change of habit.

Three million people’s lives have been improved by vaping in the UK. That’s the equivalent of the entire population of Lithuania or Albania and even more than the population of Kuwait or Jamaica. You may have read about a plateau in vaping in the UK. The industry is going through a change, from infancy to adolescence if you like, where vape shops are having to work smarter, not harder, in providing quality advice and expertise, not just great looking products at the best price like the local corner shop. Manufacturers are taking standards seriously, listening to reviewers and customers about what people really want.

Since October’s show, this industry has had its fair share of tough criticism, and then some.

The bad news is this is never going to go away. In true ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ fashion, the

Great British vape industry has grown a thick skin and is getting on with the job. The UK can compete with world leaders in innovation, the US, China and Japan.

Euromonitor estimates that the number of adults who vape will reach almost 55 million in two years. Currently, the global vape market is thought to be worth more than $22 billion – around £17 billion. That’s an increase of $18 billion, up from $4.2 billion just six years ago.

Both Vapouround and the Vaper Expo believe this vape community is truly incredible and without this support network, none of the wonderous things you’ll encounter this weekend would be possible.

Make the most of your Vaper Expo weekend whether you’re a seasoned show-goer or it’s your first time – see you at stand B140.

Let’s get to it! R x

Director David Turner Managing Director Paul Caplin

General Manager Abida Razaque Business Development Manager Pom Kaila

The Editor Róisín Delaney Assistant Editor Gordon Stribling Journalist Phoebe Fuller Journalist Lucy MacKinnon

Finance Director Joanne Stubley Accountant Kris Worton Finance Executives Anna Difusco & Lauren Pilliner

Marketing Manager Katie Loomes Digital Marketing Manager Josh Tysoe Web Developer Aadil Popat Marketing Executive Claire Michalski Sales Manager Tim Pritchett Sales Executive Steve Culf Sales Executive Ali Shah Sales Executive Thomas Slack Sales Executive Penny Michaela-Winter

Design Manager Hayley Parker Creative Director James Parnell Graphic Designer Connor Dimberline Graphic Designer Kyle Bednall Junior Graphic Designer Victoria Smith Junior Graphic Designer Ayaz Arshad

FEATURES

KEY FEATURES

MEET THE EXPO ORGANISERS REVIEW: VAPER EXPO OCTOBER 2018 VYPE X LILY ALLEN THE CLOUD E-CIGARETTES TWICE AS LIKELY TO HELP PEOPLE QUIT NIC SALTS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT ASK THE SCIENTIST STATE OF THE NATION - THE UK IN FIGURES WHAT PEPOPLE SAID ABOUT OCTOBER’S SHOW BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE VAPER EXPO VAPING ENTREPRENEUR DIARY OF A VAPER A FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE TO THE VAPER EXPO A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EXPO WORKER EXPO NERDS: FAVOURITE VAPER EXPO MOMENTS EXPO NERDS: BRANDS’ FAVOURITE EXPO MEMORIES DECADENT VAPOURS CELEBRATES 10 YEARS YOUR Vaper EXPO HOSTS VAPER EXPO AWARDS VAPOUROUND AWARDS 2019 VAPOUROUND AWARDS - CATEGORIES VAPOUROUND AWARDS - SPONSORS

THE VAPOUROUND BUS AT THE VAPER EXPO WELCOME TO THE BUILD ZONE WHAT’S ON IN BIRMINGHAM

THE AETHER: ULTRONER X VAPOUROUND FLYING IN FOR THE VAPER EXPO TAKING YOUR VAPE ON HOLIDAY THIS SUMMER? VAPER EXPO QUIZ

FIND YOUR SERENITY DROP BY DROP

A botanical apothecary for the mind, body and soul.

Ch se a Be er Day

Meet the organisers Team Vaper Expo UK

An incredibly well-oiled machine needs a hard-working and dedicated team to put it all together and keep things running smoothly. Here are some of the key people that make Europe’s biggest vape event come to life.

Kim Accounts Manager

I have been here for about two years now. I oversee the accounts, invoicing, bank reconciliation and exhibitor payment queries. I attend each show and work on the kiosks to issue the welcome packs to exhibitors and welcome the public. I really enjoy interacting with the general public and speaking to visitors and exhibitors throughout the day to get their feedback on the show.

Sheridan Operations Assistant

I work closely with Alyson and Fil. My duties include dealing with exhibitors on a daily basis, answering any questions and taking their orders, sorting out stage times, sponsorship, merchandise, arranging the Juice Awards, answering emails, booking stands and dealing with any general queries. My favourite memory was from my first show in May 2018. I’d only been to Vaper Expo as a visitor prior to that. It was amazing to see what goes on behind-the-scenes, from arriving to an empty hall to the pre-show build-up and the show-opening itself. It made me feel proud to be a part of an amazing team that put on such a wonderful and colourful show.

Aly CEO

I’ve been working on the Vaper Expo for the last three years and really enjoy my role. I oversee the show and manage elements such as logistics, health and safety and venue management.

As much as I enjoy the build up to the show, I really love being there in person on-the-day and having a hands-on approach to seeing our hard work come together.

Fil Head of Marketing and Design

I’ve been working at the Vaper Expo for over two years and I still really enjoy it. My duties can include running all social media platforms, arranging competitions and giveaways and producing all creative elements for the look and feel of the show.

My favourite memory from the show was May 2017. It was the first show where I was tasked with designing all the internal artwork. Witnessing it all coming together was amazing.

Rewind!

October’s expo always has a different vibe to May’s big weekend. One show gets you in the mindset of coming to the end of the year and the other is a build-up to summer.

Last autumn hosted another unforgettable weekend, celebrating the people and brands who, as always, had their fingers on the pulse of this electric industry At one end of the red carpet, on the far side of the hall, was the mainstage. As regular show fans will have come to expect, it was loud and proud with shenanigans and giveaways practically on the hour, every hour.

Bournemouth’s Johnnie Lovell of BH Vape manned the microphone once again, with his signature charisma and comedy in tow. Johnnie’s fast wit was coupled with the class, personality and infectious energy of Ashley Hansen, who flies in from sunny Los Angeles twice a year for Vaper Expo weekend. Together, this duo has become synonymous with the show.

Business-to-business day was immense – possibly more so than ever, with new products launched at the show, and brands going the extra mile to be seen and heard. The Vaper Expo may just be the only exhibition in the UK which has an eclectic mix of suits, trainers and snapbacks. And that’s why we love it!

Saturday and Sunday mornings were both incredibly busy at October’s show.

The Vapouround Bus was joined by the CBD Ultra team at the entrance as crowds sipped on CBD-infused herbal tea while collecting their showguides and floorplans, no doubt mapping their route for a busy day ahead.

The Vapouround team was accompanied by the Red Box bus and promotional squad at the main entrance point too – regular expo goers may have been used to seeing one vape bus at the show, so the sight of a second was a doubledecker surprise.

The Vapouround Club hosted the first ever Club Cup, which saw some of the biggest brands go head to head in football on the big screen. All of your favourite companies were in the mix, but there could only be one winner. ZAP! Juice took the trophy in the end, with original fan favourites Vampire Vape, IVG, Vape Dinner Lady and more crashing out on the road to the final.

There were new product launches too. Much had been made of CBD in the run up to this show – leave it to quintessential British bakes brand Vape Dinner Lady to launch a CBD line at just the right time. Their black-branded stand design stood out against their more traditional branding of pale pink and bow ties.

A short stroll up the main strip of the carpet was Vape Airways. So much work went into this brand and stand ahead of the expo. Promoting their first class e-liquids was a crew of well-kitted out guys and girls donning pilot and air steward uniforms. Vape Airways went down a treat in October – the stand was definitely up there with the ones to remember.

And back down the strip again to Zebra Juice. Every expo has one stand you are guaranteed to hear before you see it. A team of drummers and dancers wearing safari-themed outfits definitely caught everyone’s attention. You couldn’t miss them!

Step back in time to last October. It was Halloween weekend, also known as, Vampire Vape season, and there was competition and glory in the air.

Lily Allen

The face of the new Vype X House of Holland collection

The singer and songwriter is pictured in a series of eye-catching images shot by world renowned photographer, Rankin.

“SMOKING AND SINGING DON’T GO TOGETHER PARTICULARLY WELL SO

I

NEEDED AN ALTERNATIVE”

– The ‘It’s Not Fair’ songstress

By Patrick Griffin

Available at govype.com

Lily Allen is the face of Vype’s new House of Holland collaboration in partnership with Rankin, celebrating the ePen 3 range.

It does not take a long internet search to find pictures of Lily Allen smoking.

She has been pictured smoking on stage, in her car, after a gym visit and even while crouching under a ‘no-smoking’ sign in Melbourne, Australia ... but those days may now be over for her.

Long-time smoker Lily has decided to take up vaping instead after being inspired by fashion designer Henry Holland’s eye-catching designs for his Vype ePen 3 clothing range. And now she has been unveiled as the face of Vype’s second collaboration with House of Holland and is the star of a photoshoot wearing Henry’s colourful creations.

The ‘No Shame’ singer said: “Smoking and singing don’t go together particularly well so I needed an alternative.

“Having heard about Vype and having seen the collaboration Henry has created with them, I thought I’d give vaping a try and I am delighted to be partnering with Vype.”

Henry Holland has created a series of limited-edition designs for the ePen 3 range as part of his latest collection, which is his second collaboration with the e-cigarette manufacturer. World-renowned photographer Rankin was chosen for the Lily Allen fashion shoot.

Rankin said: “When Vype approached me to collaborate with them alongside Lily and Henry, I jumped at the chance.

“The fun, bold colours of the ePen 3 range were personified perfectly in Lily, who has such a great sense of humour and is always fun to photograph.”

Henry Holland has styled Lily Allen in seven looks from his House of Holland AW19 collection. The images were chosen to highlight the bold nature of both the award-winning singer and the award winning ePen 3. They show Lily with each of the six core ePen 3 devices, and the exclusive House of Holland designed ePen 3. The collection also comprises a bespoke pendant exclusively designed to hold the ePen 3, which together with the new ePen 3 design, was unveiled at the House of Holland AW19 London Fashion Week show in February.

Gemma Webb, General Manager at British American Tobacco UK said: “After such a successful collaboration in 2018, it’s great to be continuing our creative partnership with House of Holland and its founder Henry Holland. As a conflicted smoker, Lily Allen was also the right fit to bring to life Vype’s ePen 3 stylish and iconic design and superior performance.”

Meanwhile, speaking at the launch of the new Vype iSwitch and iSwitch Maxx devices, Ms Webb said the UK’s ‘pragmatic

approach’ to vaping regulation had encouraged growth in the e-cigarette sector.

She said: “The UK is now the largest vaping market in Europe and is the second in the world after the US. The UK government’s pragmatic approach to regulating the category had definitely been an enabler for this growth and as a consequence the UK has become a great place for us to pioneer and showcase great new products and innovation.”

Speaking of the huge potential in the vaping sector, she added: “We are entering the most dynamic period of change our industry has ever encountered. We are experiencing an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation, coming-together of societal change, public health awareness and crucially, access to technological innovation in the nicotine category.

“This has created a unique opportunity for the industry and our business: the opportunity to make a substantial leap forward in our ambition to provide our consumers with a choice of potentially reduced risk tobacco and nicotine products.”

The new iSwitch devices feature a Puretech heating system, billed as a world first, which replaces the traditional wick and coil with an ultra-slim stainless-steel blade that heats the e-liquid to create vapour.

The blade, which is about as thick as a human hair, has a surface area ten times larger than a traditional coil system and provides a much more precise and measured way to heat e-liquid. BAT says their Puretech blade ensures “a smoother, richer and more consistent vape, with no off notes.”

The larger of the two Puretech devices, the iSwitch Maxx, is interactive and Bluetooth enabled. It connects with the MyVype app (available from Google Play) to open up a host of features including power settings, usage statistics, battery level and also contains a remote locking feature to prevent other people from using the device.

2018 Winner in Denver, Colorado The ‘Grip’ For Best Mechanical

2019 Winner Mohegan sun, Connecticut The ‘Siege’ For Best Mechanical

Better for health & wealth

Smokers who switch to vaping will save an average of £346 per year, according to a study; which equates to an annual saving of £1.1 billion for the combined 3.2 million vapers in the UK.

The study was commissioned by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) ahead of the launch of VApril, a month-long vaping awareness and education campaign.

The campaign was spearheaded by TV doctor, Christian Jessen, who has been vocal about the lack of e-cigarette endorsement in the healthcare sector. The UKVIA study was the widest to date that explored the health, financial, and social benefits of vaping.

E-cigarettes do not ‘re-normalise’ smoking

A study led by Cardiff University has found e-cigarettes do not ‘re-normalise’ smoking.

Researchers used data collected from a number of national surveys that logged 13 and 15-year olds’ responses to questions about their smoking habits.

The results found that, during the 2010/2011 period when e-cigarette popularity skyrocketed, there was “no significant change” in the pre-existing trend for smoking among this age group. A secondary finding suggests that positive perceptions of smoking cigarettes declined at a faster rate during e-cigarette proliferation, suggesting that the emergence of e-cigarettes do not encourage a favourable view of conventional cigarettes.

New ground

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded funding to a Colorado university to test the safety of e-cigarettes on a microengineered human lung.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has received $3.4 million to create a first-of-its-kind multi-cellular 3D living structure of a human lung, which will contain the same cells that naturally line human airways. Research will determine the toxicity and cancer-causing potential of e-cigarettes, providing a better understanding of their impact on human genes, proteins, pathways, and cell/organ function.

Wrapped in controversy

British motor racing team McLaren has garnered criticism for its choice of sponsorship at this year’s Indy500 racing event. The famed Formula One constructor will have a paint scheme featuring British American Tobacco (BAT) Vuse e-cigarette branding, at the Indianapolis racing event later this month.

McLaren signed a multi-year deal with the brand in February, for a partnership that will focus solely on BAT’s ‘reduced risk products.’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to ban tobacco company sponsorships, even for those that don’t intend to promote tobacco products.

The FIA’s Formula One event has had a tobacco advertising ban in place for well over a decade, but BAT’s e-cigarette branding has been accepted as it does not advertise tobacco.

A rundown of the latest vape-related stories and research making the news around the world.

spent on cessation £2m

Expenditure on smoking cessation advertising campaigns by Public Health England in 2017-18 was £1.99 million, according to Steve Brine, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care. The Winchester MP, who has been vocal of his support of e-cigarettes as a means to quitting smoking, revealed the amount spent in response to a query from Harrow East MP Bob Blackman. Campaign spending is defined as covering only media spend, which covers expenditure for advertising on television, radio, the national press, regional press, outdoors, in cinemas and digital. The Department of Health’s spending on recruitment advertising and media partnerships are not included in this figure.

Praise for Birmingham

Smoking rates in Birmingham have reached the lowest level on record, according to figures from Public Health England. The figures, which are taken from the latest Annual Population Survey, show that only 14 percent of adults in Birmingham were smokers in 2017 – that’s a five percent drop since 2011, when the first figures were released. This means that over 37,000 people in the UK’s second city quit smoking in the last six years. National smoking levels have also seen a five percent drop, with 15 percent of adults smoking in 2017, compared to 19 percent in 2011.

One last push

President Donald Trump has backed the Food and Drug Administration’s plans to restrict e-cigarette sales across the US. In what will be one of his final actions on the so-called teen vaping epidemic, out-going FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb motioned for the sales of flavoured nicotine pods to be limited to websites, vape shops and other retailers that impose age restrictions. The proposed measures, if passed, were announced in March and would crack down on fruit flavours specifically, which the FDA has long campaigned are appealing to underage users. The policy on other popular flavours such as tobacco and menthol is not understood to be affected.

‘I do’ with a chance of clouds

These days it seems that there’s a wedding trend for everything, from retro photobooths to pets as ringbearers and now vaping is in the mix. If you’re a dedicated vaper, perhaps you’ll take inspiration from the other vape-obsessed brides and grooms out there who have made their weddings an extension of their favourite vape hangout. Some reception venues now feature full vape bars, providing guests with the ultimate sampling palette of tasty flavours. But one of the biggest vape-related wedding trends of this season seems to be the photography, as couples capture their nuptials amidst voluminous clouds. The popular trend has produced some decidedly creative pictures.

New research

A new study shows e-cigarettes “induce less biological responses associated with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases than cigarettes.” The research demonstrates that after six months, e-cigarettes both with and without nicotine induced a significantly lower biological response associated with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases compared to cigarette smoke. The study, conducted in collaboration with Altria Group, Inc., assessed the biological response of mice exposed to e-cigarette vapors compared with that of exposure to cigarette smoke. The full results of the study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Do more, with more

Preliminary insights from the Centre for Health Research and Education suggest a serious disconnect between what is official policy and the advice smokers actually get from their clinicians. Dr Pooja Patwardhan, GP and Medical Director of the Centre for Health Research and Education in Hampshire said: “Enabling and empowering GPs is crucial to complementing existing tobacco control measures in realising the goal of a smoke-free UK. A GP’s ‘very brief advice’ intervention could be crucial to tipping a smoker’s motivation towards a quit attempt and the difference between a success and failure!”

E-CIGARETTES TWICE AS EFFECTIVE AS NICOTINE PATCHES OR GUM.

A landmark study demonstrates the key role vaping plays in smoking cessation

BY GORDON STRIBLING

Smokers are twice as likely to successfully quit with e-cigarettes than with nicotine patches or gum, according to a new study.

The randomised controlled trial was the first of its kind to compare traditional nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) with e-cigarettes, which are not licensed medicines.

By the end of the year, 18 percent of the e-cigarette users had successfully quit smoking, compared to 10 percent of the NRT group.

All participants were also given behavioural support.

Professor Peter Hajek from Queen Mary University of London who led the study said:

“Although a large number of smokers report that they have quit smoking successfully with the help of e-cigarettes, health professionals have been reluctant to recommend their use because of the lack of clear evidence from randomised controlled trials. This is now likely to change.”

The NRT group were more irritable, found it harder to concentrate and reported more incidence of nausea than the e-cigarette group.

By the end of the year, 80 percent of the e-cigarette users were still vaping and only eight percent of the other group were still using NRT products.

“The research indicates that health professionals and stop smoking services should reach out to smokers who want to use e-cigarettes and support them in making this lifechanging step”

Professor Hajeck said that e-cigarettes are ‘unlikely to be totally safe’ and if long-term risk was generated, it would be better to not use anything at all.

“Now the positive aspect is that we know from studies of nicotine replacement therapy that some heavy smokers need that crutch for longer to protect them from relapse.

“They will get quite a bit of benefit in that they will avoid feeling miserable and having urges to smoke and feeling there is something missing in their life and they will not put on weight, which these type of heavy smokers do, which puts them at risk of diabetes and so on.”

Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction at Kings College London said:

“Smokers trying to quit have been choosing e-cigarettes over other types of support for some time. The research indicates that health professionals and stop smoking services should reach out to smokers who want to use e-cigarettes and support them in making this lifechanging step.”

NIC SALTS

Nicotine salts have been credited with giving a similar sensation to smoking a cigarette, and their popularity among new vapers has driven a whole new element to the vape market.

Just how effective salt-based nicotine is in smoking cessation has most recently been backed up by a new peer-reviewed clinical study.

The main findings from the research, published in the Internal and Emergency Medical Journal, suggest that vaping nicotine salts closely replicates the delivery of nicotine provided by smoking cigarettes.

The research also found that almost one third of British smokers (29 percent) are looking to switch to vaping in 2019. Researchers also monitored for any adverse effects of vaping nic salts but found none to exist.

Dr Grant O’Connell, Head of Scientific Affairs at Imperial Brands and one of the authors on the study said: “Our clinical findings suggest that e-vapour devices with a higher concentration of nicotine in nicotine salt form may be more effective – and more appealing – to adult smokers switching from cigarettes to vaping.”

While there is a growing consensus that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, especially in countries such as the UK which backs vaping as a viable smoking cessation aid, this study shows that a minority of smokers have fully

By Staff Reporter

made the transition to vaping. In the UK, there are an estimated 7.4 million adults who continue to smoke cigarettes. Dr O’Connell added the mainstream media’s approach to vaping in the UK may not be helping the situation: “While conflicting information in both the scientific press and mainstream media may be deterring many smokers from even trying vaping, both this study and real-world evidence suggests that current e-vapour devices may not be providing smokers with the full satisfaction they derive – and in many cases require – from cigarettes.”

“In our study, the myblu Intense 40 mg/mL nicotine salt product had the closest nicotine uptake profile to cigarettes, while also providing the greatest relief in subjects’ desire to smoke. However, under current EU regulations this product is not permitted. This potentially limits the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking substitute, especially in the case of heavier smokers – a view shared by the UK Government’s House of Commons Science and Technology committee.”

This latest research follows a growing consensus that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking and comes on the heels of Public Health England’s recent video campaign showing the effects of vaping versus smoking on the lungs.

A new study claims to show that vaping salt-based nicotine could be more beneficial to smokers wanting to quit with the aid of an e-cigarette.

MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

“Our clinical findings suggest that e-vapour devices with a higher concentration of nicotine in nicotine salt form may be more effective – and more appealing – to adult smokers”

Video sharing for the Vaping Community! Reviews, Tutorials, Vlogs and much more!

ASK THE SCIENTIST

By Richard Cunningham, PhD

Take a quick look online and you will see countless infographics doing the rounds, all claiming to explain dosing of CBD. Here’s the thing, there is no one size fits all approach, there is no standard to go by and CBD labels shouldn’t be read the same as the labels on e-liquids. Dr Cunningham explains the individuality of taking CBD and how to measure our intake of cannabinoids.

CBD dosages: how to get it right and avoiding poor advice in three steps

The market for CBD products is growing at an ever-expanding pace, who can keep up? Whether you are a first-time user, or an experienced CBD fan interested in vaping CBD, it can be confusing as to how these products work and how much of them to take.

A frequent question that comes up all the time, from customers in store at CBD First, online, or on forums is: What’s the best CBD dosage? In other words, how much CBD should I take?

Unlike with other supplements, neither the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have created a Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for CBD, which means it does not yet have an official serving size.

1. How to Choose Your CBD Dosage

Understanding the label

First, make sure you understand what is in the product.

When purchasing a CBD product, these will often come labelled as five percent, ten percent, or 5000mg and so on, but what do these values mean?

First things first. Check whether the percentage or quantity of CBD stated on the bottle refers to the quantity of actual CBD in the product and not the quantity of CBD hemp concentrate or oil used to make the product.

It can be confusing as some customers will be misled into believing their ten percent CBD oil contains ten percent actual CBD but in some cases, this can refer to the content of hemp oil concentrate added during formulation.

If your vape is made up of CBD extract, vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol, you can also use it as a tincture (drops) under your tongue.

Percentage vs milligrams

As there is no actual standardised method of labelling CBD products, you will often see products labelled as a percentage or with a quantity stated in milligrams.

Unlike nicotine containing e-liquids, the mass stated refers to the quantity of CBD in the entire product, and not per millilitre (6mg, 12mg CBD e-liquid). As an example, a 1000mg CBD e-liquid that is 10ml in volume would contain 100mg CBD per millilitre, and 33.33mg per millilitre if in a 30ml container.

If the CBD content is stated as a percentage however, a five percent 10ml bottle will contain 500mg of CBD or CBD concentrate, or 50mg per millilitre. A five percent 50ml bottle will contain 2500mg CBD, and still, 50mg CBD per millilitre, the overall CBD content is different depending on container volume.

2. Start low and increase your strengths accordingly

We cannot tell you how much CBD to take as this would be irresponsible of us to do as there are no real official values to follow. There have been some studies that have reported figures used in early stage studies, which are being reported as guidelines on different websites and blogs for certain ailments. However, to get reliable, accurate information, much more in-depth clinical studies need performed. This will require time and patience.

Don’t just start taking 60mg of CBD twice a day because one of your friends of similar size says it works for them. You need to consider each person is different and many factors are in play and how the body functions. This may include body weight, metabolism, genetics, and the endocannabinoid system.

What we do suggest is to start off small and to increase your dosages gradually and see how your body reacts. It may be useful to keep a log book of how you feel after each dosage until you find the optimum amount for you. Again, everyone is different. What worked for your friend may not work for you, or you could even need a smaller dosage for a similar condition.

3. Consult your doctor

When

Dr Richard Cunningham has a PhD in medicinal chemistry from Queen’s University Belfast. Richard has also worked as a postdoctoral researcher, and a research instructor at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute. He is now director of quality for Liquid Sciences. The information presented here is not intended as medical advice.

CBD fact: Unlike nicotine containing e-liquids, the mass stated refers to the quantity of CBD in the entire product, and not per millilitre.

STATE OF THE NATION

Twice a year for the Vaper Expo, Vapouround takes a look at the progress vaping is making across the country.

3.2 million - the number of vapers in the UK in 2018 according to the latest figures from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

In 2017 the percentage of the adult population in England that used e-cigarettes was 5.4, in one year it had risen to 6.2 percent - Public Health England

4.5 times more vapes than there were in 2012

Most of those who vape regularly stick to one flavour type with the most popular being tobacco, fruit and menthol

- Public Health England

The Department for Health and Social Care: Each year, 16,000 - 22,000 people successfully quit smoking using e-cigarettes

e-cigarette

– Health Improvement Director Professor Newton, Public Health England.

“Recent new evidence clearly shows using an

with Stop Smoking Service Support can double your chances of quitting.”

From December 2018 to January 2019 there was a 11.1% increase in the number of people using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

A parliamentary report published last year shows that there has been an 8 percent

in smoking

since 2011 among 18 - 24 year olds

The same period also saw an increase of people dual using (smoking and vaping) to help cut down on their smoking.

Percentages of ex-smokers -v- smokers across England: This data was collected by GPs last year. Some areas have seen more than half their smoking population quit.

England

Percentage of smokers - 14.7

Percentage of ex-smokers - 27.2

North East

Percentage of smokers - 15.1 Percentage of ex-smokers - 28.6

North West

Percentage of smokers - 16 Percentage of ex-smokers - 27.8

Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of smokers - 15.5 Percentage of ex-smokers - 27.3

East Midlands

Percentage of smokers - 15.1 Percentage of ex-smokers - 27.5

West Midlands

Percentage of smokers - 14.5 Percentage of ex-smokers - 26

Eastern England

Percentage of smokers - 14 Percentage of ex-smokers - 29.1

London

Percentage of smokers - 15.6 Percentage of ex-smokers - 21.6

South East

Percentage of smokers - 13.4 Percentage of ex-smokers - 29.2

South West

Percentage of smokers - 13.7 Percentage of ex-smokers - 31

decrease

What YOU said about October’s show

Gaia

“B2B day, Friday, was really, really busy.”

Celia from Nottingham

“This is the first time we’ve been to the Vaper Expo. I am really impressed. I think we’ll definitely come back again. I’m looking more at the hardware side.”

Mark and Matt from Stoke

Bits of everything really, mainly hardware. We came from Stoke. It’s our first time. I work in a vape shop, I managed to get tickets and the day off. I’ve been vaping about twoand-a-half years.”

Carl from Rugby

“This is my third time here. I’ve been vaping for four or five years now. I look forward to trying new flavours when they come out here, I like to try every single one. I don’t really take home much freebies. I love the October show, it’s always lively.”

Matt, Juice Bomb

“We’ve done the Vaper Expo three or four times. It’s a really good business-to-business day, all of the contacts you meet… I think this show is pretty similar to the last one, we know what to expect.”

Jenny, Alfa Labs

“I’ve been many times. We’ve been doing this for about three years. Business-tobusiness day went alright. We’ve been following up on what we’d already been working on, getting the name out there. It’s easier to get to here. When you go down to London, you’ve got to mess about with The Tube…”

Toby, V30 Labs

“This weekend has gone absolutely amazing. We made it to the next stage of the Vapouround Club Cup tournament! We’re also exhibiting with CBD Virtue and it’s blowing up. Business-to-business day went well, we made some great contacts.”

Adam, Evolved Vapor

“It’s been really nice, a good turnout, lots of people. I’ve been as a customer before but not as a stand. It’s was our first time here with Evolved. Business-to-business day went really well, much better than we thought it would. As lovely as it is to have customers here, on B2B day, people are here to talk about their company, it’s really nice to be able to speak to people professionally in this sort of environment. Oh yeah, we’ll be back again, definitely.”

Brad, JUUL Labs

“B2B day was fantastic. It’s been great, very positive, our first time here. We want to replicate what we’ve done in the States here. We’ve had a really good reception… ”

Merlin, Vapor Giant from Austria

It’s our first time here in Birmingham. This was our first UK-show, we make the 3.5ml tanks. We just started with expos and we’ve been to Paris, Berlin, Spain but this is our first time in the UK. Coming back, we’ll see what Brexit brings on the 2ml tank sizes. I hope Brexit will make things a little bit easier for us. They’re making such an advertisement of vaping, a lot of benefits and supporting smokers who want to quit, so why put restrictions [2ml tanks] in place? Everybody is on RDAs.

Stuart Anderson, Red Box

“I’ve been as a visitor lots of times but never an exhibitor. We want to let everyone know we’re here. I think, whenever you do something, you have a vision in your head of what you think it’s going to be. It’s never quite the same. Six metres sounds really big. Someone said to me, ‘If you stand on the top of a double decker bus that’s how big it is.’ I still thought it was going to be taller. We wanted to create a stand we could use elsewhere. B2B day went really well. I’m an outsider to the industry and what I see is people trying to do it all on their own, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to partner up with people.”

Emma from Glasgow

“This was our third time. It’s a good weekend. We get to meet up with a lot of people. I help run a Facebook group and we’re all from different parts of the UK. We all meet here on the Saturday. You get a lot of good deals at the expo as well. This weekend has been brilliant. There’s a lot more going on, every time you turn around there’s something you’ve not seen. The Evolution Vape stand is my favourite. They do some fantastic expo deals.”

THE NATURAL CHOICE

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While you browse the stalls and enquire about the latest technology and juices, we thought we’d answer some other questions you might have. Like how big is the expo in slices of bread? Or how many copies of this very show guide would it take to replicate the stage? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Organisers start setting up on Wednesday at 6am and finish setting up by 9.30am on Friday.

24-hour security. More than 40 personnel communicating via back-to-back radios.

The expo takes up over 20,000msq which is: larger than three football pitches

to around 1,159,420 slices of bread.

The best-selling food from the Bar and Chill area in October was the Burrito.

The best-selling burger was the Beast Burger.

There were over 50 members of catering staf f.

Over 70 lights are used on the stage including sharpies, and LED washes.

There are four 18-inch subs under the stage There are 16 stage spea

The stage team is made up of lighting technicians, rig gers and sound specialists – a total of 12 people.

172m of Trilite is used in to construct the stage which is the equivalent of: approximately 1,323 60ml e-liquid bottles end-to-end.

Roughly 579 copies of the Vaper Expo Showguide end-to-end

BY PHOEBE FULLER

“Millions of people around the world, in over 60 countries and across six continents vape IVG,” according to the brand’s website. If you didn’t know that you were playing with the big kids when you picked up a bottle of their e-liquid, this certainly leaves little doubt.

Started in 2016 with a team of only five, Ahsan Bawa has built IVG from the ground up to dizzying heights. The brand has some 115 staff members and offices opening across the globe. Yes, from humble beginnings, world domination is now on the cards for this proud British brand.

How has Ahsan done it? Indeed, the vaping industry is young, innovative and allows for fantastic short-term growth, but few brands can say that – after only three years – they’ve got more than 100 members of staff and regional bases from Germany to Dubai.

“Hard work, extreme hard work,” Ahsan says, “I strongly believe that you need a very strong team with you in order to build a brand and successful business.

“Obviously there is a massive potential in this industry, it is still very new, and we believe that we’ve just started as an industry, as a brand as well. There’s a long, long way to go; that’s why we keep investing in the future.”

This investment in IVG’s future is the reason that Ahsan has been working on opening offices in New York, Germany and Dubai, as well as continually growing his team.

He says: “You need to have offices in all parts of the world, when we started we were travelling all over from the UK, now I think we have to have bases.

“It’s obviously good for logistics as well if you have offices nearby; the New York office covers South and North America, UK and Germany covers Europe, and then Dubai will cover

AHSAN BAWA IVG PREMIUM E-LIQUIDS

the Asia side.

“And we’re growing our team, we’re thinking five or ten years down the line, so we have to constantly evolve because the vape industry changes very, very quickly.”

IVG always strives to carve out a space for itself in this ever-changing business, never missing an opportunity to connect with industry players and consumers.

“We more or less attend every expo in the world,” Ahsan says, explaining that his favourite part of any expo is meeting his customers and hearing how IVG has helped to change their lives, by encouraging them to make the switch from smoking to vaping.

It’s the Vaper Expo that Ahsan has a real soft spot for, not least because it’s one of the biggest, but because of its location: Birmingham.

“Being our home country, our home town – we feel at home at the Vaper Expo and I think it’s one of the biggest and busiest shows in the world, really.

“Birmingham I can safely say is one of the largest expos in the world right now, which we’re proud of because it’s a British vape expo and, as a British brand, we’re proud of it.”

So, what does IVG have in store for this weekend? Expect new flavours, a range that Ahsan believes is the best so far, and new packaging. They’ve also released new pod systems especially for this event, so head over to the IVG stand to check those out.

And keep your ears to the ground, because Ahsan tells us there is a “big surprise” coming in October.

“BEING OUR HOME COUNTRY, OUR HOME TOWN – WE FEEL AT HOME AT THE VAPER EXPO AND I THINK IT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BUSIEST SHOWS IN THE WORLD.”

DIARY OF A VAPER

I first started smoking when I was 16.

At the time it was legal for a 16-year-old to smoke and with too much time on my hands — most other people I knew smoked too — it seemed like the thing to do.

As I got older I started smoking more and more to a point where I was smoking about 50g of tobacco every two days.

My vape story started in 2011 when it was a very new thing in the UK and the devices were very poor, in my opinion. I was vaping between smoking. I then tried again [to quit] in May 2014, but this time my girlfriend also quit with me.

We decided that we didn’t want our kids to be exposed to us smoking as they were getting to an age where they were taking in more of what we did. So we decided that we were going to quit.

The next morning, I had my last cigarette and went to find a vape shop to get our new e-cigarettes. We started off with Ego batteries and Aspire BVC tanks. Compared to what I had used before these really did help

with quitting and it was at this point I was sold. From the standard starter kit, I moved onto buying bigger mods from companies like Eleaf, Kangertech, Aspire, Smok and Wismec.

Once I started sub-ohm vaping, I soon realised that I needed to start making my own liquid as it was starting to cost as much as smoking, so I decided to give it a try. I got on Totally Wicked, ordered a mixing kit and have been making my own liquid ever since.

I feel the healthiest I have felt in years. When I smoked I was constantly coughing and any form of physical activity would leave me breathless. To put it into perspective, there was one occasion the people living in the flat above the one I was living in at the time rang my landlord saying it sounded like someone was being murdered because I was coughing so much. I now go to the gym three times a week and feel the best I’ve felt in years.

So to end my vape story, I have more mods, tanks and RDAs than I know what to do with. My daily liquid is Heisenberg and my daily mod is a Wismec Luxotic BF squonk with a Drop Dead RDA.

Featuring Shaun Pearson (32) from Derbyshire

By Gordon Stribling

We have such sights to show you.

Well, here you are at Europe’s biggest and best vape event. Everyone at the Vaper Expo and Vapouround are delighted to have you along for what promises to be a highlight of your year. You’ll be amazed how quickly the time goes so have a read through this first timer’s guide to get an idea of what to expect and put a plan of action in place.

Catching up with old friends and making new ones

There is no better example of what the vape community is all about than the Vaper Expo. Among the thousands of attendees, you’re bound to bump into someone you know, whether they’ve a vaper, someone from your local vape shop or a face that’s popped up on your social media feed. You’re also guaranteed to strike up conversation with people you’ve never met before. Before you know it, you’ll have a new friend or maybe even a future business contact.

A learning experience

However long you’ve been vaping, there’s always plenty more to learn. Have a question about your mod? Head over to the manufacturer’s stand to get an answer from the experts. The Vaper Expo boasts a large collection of hardware companies, and staff are always happy to help. It’s not just about vape tech. Advocacy will play a huge role over the weekend. This can include talks, rousing speeches and even discussions among vapers about the products and issues of the day.

May 2017’s event is one such example. The laws about nicotine and labelling came into effect just days before, so this was a huge talking point and learning experience as vendors scrambled to ensure that all their stock was compliant before customers burst into the exhibition hall.

Vaping’s YouTube community is thriving and many of its brightest stars come to the Vaper Expo from all over the world to vlog, network and meet fans. They are all incredibly friendly and approachable, so don’t be afraid to introduce yourself or ask for a photo.

Be warned that they are in high demand so if you want to chat, your best bet is to catch them on B2B day when it’s quieter, if the opportunity presents itself. There’s also the media meet and greet area – you’ll probably catch a few familiar faces around there.

By the time you read this you will already be armed with freebies handed out by the team. But as the many YouTube videos will attest, that is just the beginning.

The main giveaways take place on the stage and are announced through the speakers, giving you plenty of time you power over to the stage. Be warned – it can be a bit of a scrum. Keep your eye on the prize(s) as an aerial short-fill is coming your way. (No short-fills were harmed in the publication of this article).

You will do a lot of walking at the Vaper Expo, so wear that fitbit and burn through those 10,000 steps a day. Thankfully, the on-site food options cater to all tastes and budgets and the bar area provides relaxing respite for you to recharge before heading back onto the floor. Those of you looking for halal or vegan options, the main restaurants in the hall offer several choices.

If you’re on a tight budget and fancy a snack, there’s a newsagent in the NEC concourse rights across from Subway offering drinks, crisps, chocolate and pastries for a very reasonable price.

Creative stands Entertainment

Some companies take months and spend thousands developing their incredible stands. Some are immersive and fully interactive, like Front Line’s Black Ops VR game in October. Zebra Juice had a Zulu drumming band and Riot Squad once kidnapped passing vapers in one of the most memorable stands ever. You never know what’s around the corner!

While energetic hosts Johnnie and Ashley are highly-entertaining, keep an eye (and an ear) out for the cavalcade of entertainment over the weekend. You might even spot a celebrity or a robot busting some moves on the red carpet.

Be sure to head over to the Vapouround Club stand where you’ll see your favourite brands battling it out over live games on the big screen. If it’s anything like the Club Cup in October, you’re in for some intensive gameplay.

recent increased growth of the CBD industry in the UK which has led to a rise in the demand for high-quality testing and batch certification. With PhytoVista being a leading service provider, it is setting the Gold standard for testing in the CBD and cannabis industry.

PhytoVista has state-of-the-art equipment to enable testing for pesticides, microbial contamination, heavy metals, residual solvents, cannabinoids, terpenes and mycotoxins. The laboratory is able to certify that products and samples conform to regulatory standards.

in the food and beverage, cosmetics and vaping industries so we can best advise our customers looking to test their products and enter into the UK CBD market. Nick Clarkson, Chief Scientific Officer, says; “While we are in an unregulated environment it is essential to batch test not only your raw materials but also your finished products. The demand for CBD products is increasing and with it is in an increase in the number of suppliers, and whilst quality is important to many of them, as with any booming industry, there are unscrupulous players operating with little concern for what they contain. Be sure that what you are buying and putting to market is tested by a trustworthy and auditable laboratory. We would like to see the industry continue to grow and for the sake of consumers, regulated like any other.”

So why test with PhytoVista? We are based in the UK which means you don’t need to send your samples abroad to European laboratories. Turnaround time is usually five days or less. We operate to GLP standards and we are working to be ISO 17025 accredited this year which ensures the highest quality results. You can also find us at the Europe CBD Expo in July where we will be showcasing our services – if you are attending come and chat to us about your testing requirements.

If you have any questions about testing please get in touch with us via email or phone.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VAPER EXPO WORKER

By Lucy MacKinnon

With every operation, there are numerous unique cogs turning hidden away to ensure everything runs smoothly – and the Vaper Expo is no different. We spoke to those involved in the organisation, production and execution of this vaping Mecca to reveal some much-needed insider insight.

After months of business meetings, various spread sheets, and many, many email threads, the initial organisation of the event has begun. Contracts with advertisers, marketers, rental spaces, contractors, exhibitors, employees and guests (to name a few) have had their i’s dotted and t’s crossed. But that is only the first step of the Vaper Expo’s journey – a journey hundreds of different companies are also taking, except down different routes.

One of those is the route taken by Ryan Grant, the project manager responsible for managing both the entrance and giveaway stages, who revealed that after four months of planning, his team spend two days on site preparing. “It starts early for us as we’re working 7am – 7pm. On the live days, the show crew will be there from 10am until the exhibition closes at 6pm.

During this time, we’ll be making sure the main stage lighting and sound is working perfectly, that all the pyro and CO2 jets are fired on cue and liaising with the different acts who are performing to ensure we’re meeting their technical needs.”

With this year’s event being the eighth one under his belt he has seen the show grow “bigger and bigger each year.”

“The team are always striving to deliver something new and fresh for each show and this can throw up various challenges along the

way. For me, this is what makes it makes it such a great event to work on and it’s extremely satisfying to see it all come together when the exhibition opens.”

“One of the things I enjoy most about my job is bringing the visions of my clients to life. The Vaper Expo organisers will give us a rough sketch at the beginning of the planning process showing what they want the event to look like and it’s our job to visualise that and then make it a reality.”

CEVA Showfreight take a different route, as the logistical company facilitating both the regional and global transportation of exhibitors right through from the customs process, to the NEC floor.

We went behind the scenes to see what really goes into Europe’s biggest vape show with Ryan from stage management and Chris from logistics.

Account Manager Chris Hughes says they deal with clients from every corner of the globe for the Vaper Expo, “shipping a lot of freight from the Far East and the US. We also have a lot of clients within the UK and Europe.”

Things can get tricky with international crossovers as Chris explains. “Ever changing regulations regarding the international transport of vaping products certainly challenges our compliance department.”

This division of CEVA logistics are specialists in meeting the needs of events and exhibitions like this one. As a repeat visitor, Chris is no stranger to how chaotic the run up to these events can be, saying “certainly the most important aspect of our job is working with all stakeholders to ensure a safe working environment. Exhibitions are often quite hectic particularly during the build-up and break down with fork trucks and electric pallet trucks beeping away in the background.”

But all this planning and dedication pays off, we know it, you know it, and clearly Chris knows it too: “Without doubt Vaper Expo has a unique atmosphere. As soon as the event starts the energy is electric, it is like no other exhibition.”

“Without doubt Vaper Expo has a unique atmosphere. As soon as the event starts the energy is electric, it is like no other exhibition.”

Hayley Parker

“Obviously the Vapouround Awards are always the best…”

Gordon Stribling

“Retro Specs launched their e-liquid at last May’s Vaper Expo and they had 3D glasses that you put on and a cinema stand. They had all these mannequins and it was like an ‘80s/90s VHS kind of theme, it was really cool.”

Kyle Bednall

“Going on stage with Professor Green and giving away all the free goodies; and throwing them all out to the crowd, that was really good.”

James

Parnell

“Organising and seeing the Vapouround Club Cup stand come together.”

Josh Tysoe

“People have always got some wacky stuff, like money grabbing machines and giveaways on stage.”

Róisín Delaney

“One of the stand out Vaper Expo moments for me so far happened last May when Professor Green took over the Vapouround stand. It was mental! October’s show was equally as exciting. We had the Vapouround Club Cup, which saw top names competing against each other on a massive over-the-top screen, it was genius.

I took a selfie with the Gordon Ramsay look-a-like and posted it to my Instagram story and got a bunch of

responses from people who honestly thought he was the real thing. I never let up the act either.”

Ned Jones

“What actually separates the Vaper Expo from a lot of shows is that there is a good presence of hardware and Chinese manufacturers who are sorely missing from a lot of shows. You go to other shows and it’s just all e-liquid. So the Vaper Expo has a lot more hardware than other shows, even the big US shows don’t have anywhere near as much hardware.”

Connor Leach

“When Lik Juice first launched at the Vaper Expo in October 2015, we basically just did a huge stand and a big event where we did the official launch of the brand, we did loads of little bits and bobs. We created a big candyland, like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory sort of scenery, and it went down really well.”

Carly Leach

“It’s always good to catch up with old friends and see people who exhibit year after year, but it’s nice as well to see all the new companies coming out, new hardware that’s on the market, new innovative ideas; and people just go big and showcase all of their new products.”

Aadil Popat

“I’ve only been to one Vaper Expo but I think my favourite bit was meeting everyone from across the whole industry and getting to see all the different ideas coming together.”

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VAPER EXPO REGULARS SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE MEMORIES

For all the preparation and excitement that goes into the Vaper Expo, many of us will have spent the months leading up to this weekend anxiously awaiting its arrival. But while we’ve been busy looking forward, some of us may have forgotten to look back and remember the fantastic memories we’ve stored away from previous events.

We’ll bet you’re wracking your brain to think of a favourite right now, unless this is your first, in which case, welcome!

Whether this is your first or your fifth Vaper Expo, we hope it’s a memorable one. With that in mind, here are a few Vaper Expo highlights from some of your favourite brands.

Vape Airways

“Vape Airways was launched at the Vaper Expo in October 2018. It was an amazing experience for us to be able to exhibit our brand for the first time at such a fantastic event!

“We are incredibly humbled at the amount of support given to us and we were lucky enough to meet some amazing people along the way! We’re excited to be here this weekend too. Come and visit us at booth C120. ”

Six Licks

“The Vaper Expo is where we’ve received three of our six awards in this last year in recognition of our flavours and brand. It’s where we launched Six Licks in 2017 and the Sixth Lick - Truth or Pear, our most acclaimed flavour of all time.

“Vaper Expo introduced us to the distributors that make Six Licks available across four continents. It’s where we released our sub-brand Senses and where you will find us taking it to the next level this weekend at stand B530.”

Zap! Juice

“One of our favourite memories is winning the Vapouround Club Cup tournament by a landslide, going through the group stages and seeing the amount of interest it brought to the brands involved.

“We also have fond memories of the stage giveaways. We love being able to give back to the industry, so seeing everyone up at the stage shouting their love of the brand for all to hear will always stick with us.

“We cannot wait to see everyone again this weekend with our new e-liquid range! It is set up to be one for the history books.”

IVG

“We were right at the front of the entrance for last year’s October show and we were one of the biggest stands. We were very popular as well, right from the start until the end. There was such a big queue that people trying to enter the show were struggling to get in. That was a very proud moment and our best memory of the expo.”

“The stage always draws a great crowd and the giveaways, competitions and humour that comes from Johnnie and Ashley always go down well. We’re looking forward to this weekend. Keep up the good work and get ready for your taste buds to be tantalised with the new flavours!”

Vampire Vape

“We have lots of memorable moments from the past Vaper Expos. The show is always really wellorganised and it’s one of the most exciting, action packed exhibitions in the vape sector.

“We love interacting with our customers, wholesalers and distributors at the show. It gives us the chance to introduce new juice lines onto the market and for vapers to taste the unique flavours we have created.

Vape Dinner Lady

“The Vaper Expo is full of great memories for Dinner Lady and there’s so many to choose from. The thing that stands out the most to us is engaging with our amazing fans. Vaper Expo is a great way for us to meet our fans face-to-face and hear their great stories of how Dinner Lady has helped them quit smoking once and for all, how they love our flavours and how much they love our brand. Our stands are always a place where the fans have fun playing games and talking to our team. We will always treasure these memories.”

Phoebe Fuller

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A Rather Decadent Decade

E-liquid flavours like caviar, curry, roast beef, absinthe and rainbow fruit can only mean one brand – Decadent Vapours. Marking 10 years in business, the company’s founder Peter Cole tells how his home start-up became a booming business, and it all stemmed from £200.

By Lucy MacKinnon

This year’s Vaper Expo plays host to many big names in the vaping world, but how many names in this industry can say they’ve been around for the last 10 years?

Peter Cole started the company back in 2009 with a £200 startup, now it is one of the biggest British vape brands.

Peter told us that this time 10 years ago he was working nights in a petrol station, flicking through New Scientist where he came across an article on e-cigarettes.

“I actually smoked a pipe and I remember thinking to myself ‘Oh I’m sure they don’t do an electronic pipe’ [but] I Googled it and they did so I thought it’d be good for work – well, there was less chance of me blowing up the work place.”

Disappointed with the liquids available on the market at the time, he began mixing his own at home. With a keen interest in chemistry and previous experience combining flavours from his days as a chef, Peter experimented and before long, he ended up with a couple of litres of juice, “Probably more than I was going to get through in several years” he added.

After exchanging bottles with fellow forum fans, he realised he’d hacked it, and within two months of mixing he jumped in head first and quit his ironically named ‘day job’.

“It was the middle of the recession, early 2009, I had no previous experience, no bank was going to lend me money or do anything

other than laugh at me frankly if I’d gone in and said ‘I want to start manufacturing in South Wales in the middle of a recession – it just didn’t sound like a good idea, so I didn’t even bother going to them or asking them.”

But this self-start-up just “built and built from that £200 investment to £2 million a year turnover within a few years.” After securing their first premises back in October 2009, the Decadent Vapours team expanded to four employees by the end of the first year, giving them further freedom to experiment.

Listening to the vaping community, they initially held online raffles where a flavour suggestion was chosen each month. That flavour was then manufactured, shipped to the user who had inspired them and then put on sale for the general public.

Decadent Vapours have now produced hundreds of flavours – over 300 in fact – in thousands of different variations, from caviar to curry, roast beef to rainbow fruit, to Peter’s personal favourite: their awardwinning absinthe juice.

“I think we hit the wave at just the right time, if I’m honest it was largely timing – that and a very public presence on the forums. I think being community-involved is the key, that and the internet, the amount you push business. You need to make opportunity for yourself online by getting involved in the community, not just spamming them with ads, really, actually get involved – because people can tell.”

“I think in the juice market we did capture that sense of variety and vaping different things by really embracing some of the exotic flavours. You don’t need to advertise it if you release a roast chicken e-liquid because everyone is going to see it, their jaws are going to drop and they’re immediately going to start emailing their friends saying, ‘Oh have you seen this?’

Attributing the success of Decadent Vapours to a number of factors, Peter’s determination and faith in the industry seems resilient. With regulations imposed over the years, the company rose to the challenge and met with the MHRA to combat the ‘light touch appropriate regulations’ they were facing, regulations which they say could have cost the company up to £20 billion to comply. “They said that each product would have to be tested to get a license, just like a medicine, and that would cost somewhere in the region of half to one and a half million pounds per product. It would cost my company something in the excess of £20 billion to comply.”

mobilised too much of the vaping

Here’s to another Decadent decade.

“We just weren’t going to take no for an answer, we got [together] the facts and the studies. We

community for them to just be able to shut it down.”

“It was the middle of the recession, early 2009, I had no previous experience, no bank was going to lend me money or do anything other than laugh at me frankly if I’d gone in and said, ‘I want to start manufacturing in South Wales in the middle of a recession – it just didn’t sound like a good idea, so I didn’t even bother going to them or asking them.”

THE ORIGINAL NICOTINE

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS

THE WORLD’S TOP VAPE COMPANIES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD

Your Vaper Expo Hosts Johnnie Lovell and Ashley Hansen

Coming together

from different parts of the world to take to the stage are our much-loved hosts.

By Phoebe Fuller

Lovell

BH Vape

Returning to the Vaper Expo for a third year, with all the energy and eccentricity he has become so well-known and loved for, it is only BH Vape’s Johnnie Lovell.

Vaper Expo devotees will undoubtedly know Johnnie for his highenergy stage presence and outlandish antics on the expo floor, often seen zooming around on a mobility scooter and being just plain, well, Johnnie!

“There’s been a lot of funny moments,” he told us right before this expo weekend. “The first year that I hosted the awards I put on some characters, so I got some props and wore a chicken suit and took the mickey out of some far leading juice makers, distributors and companies.”

He certainly isn’t one to take himself too seriously, which is immediately apparent as soon as he introduces himself, always with a smile and a joke, of course.

And Johnnie’s Bournemouth-based vape shop is an absolute extension of his personality; a truly one-of-a-kind experience, with peculiar knick-knacks dotted around the place and even a coffee shop on-site, it’s unlike any other.

Having given up smoking as soon as he was introduced to vaping, he’s proud to not only help others do the same, but to also represent this flourishing industry at the UK’s biggest expo.

Johnnie says: “I’ve enjoyed every little bit of it – it’s been fresh from the word go and just a wonderful experience to be in an industry that has grown from people stopping smoking.

“The highlight of the expo is to be amongst the thriving vape community

and seeing young faces, new faces, old faces turning up, new vapers; just people enjoying something.”

It’s certainly not hard to enjoy yourself at the Vaper Expo, with such enthusiastic hosts bouncing off one another’s witty banter and excitement, like a perfectly choregraphed duo.

Though Johnnie assures us that he and Ashley don’t ever have to rehearse their stage presentations, all the chemistry is off-the-cuff and genuine.

He says: “We just go for it and we have a laugh. We’re chalk and cheese, she’s an American and I’m from London, so you mix the two cultures together and it’s fantastic.

“I was thrown into the same arena as her and we just hit it off, I love her to bits; she’s great and she brings a lot to the show.”

Despite the enjoyment he finds on stage, Johnnie has been looking forward to getting some time off stage this weekend too. Hoping to spend more time talking to different people and, crucially, welcoming newcomers.

“Hopefully you’ll find a lot more giver-uppers here this weekend and we welcome them with our open arms, to the NEC and the world of non-smoking.”

He adds: “I think the Birmingham Expo – THE expo – is the one for me, I know they’re all over the world now and I’ve been to a few, but home - the UK - and the NEC is the best.”

Johnnie

Hansen Director of Marketing and Development at B & B LA and Daddy’s Vapor Distro

Flying in from California’s sunnier climes is Johnnie’s partner-incrime and self-described “high octane human,” Ashley Hansen; bringing her spirited vivacity back to the stage for the third year. As the director of marketing for Daddy’s Vapor, Ashley is no stranger to the hard work and dedication that is needed to succeed in this competitive industry. Though it’s her love for this business that keeps her in the game.

“I love that vape wasn’t founded by big tobacco. The culture behind vape is passion and purpose and I know that it changes people’s lives; people find freedom in that and everyone deserves to feel that freedom.”

Having the opportunity to bring her own passion and knowledge to each Vaper Expo has instilled in Ashley a sense of loyalty for our Birmingham offering – it’s the expo her year is planned around. She says: “I’ve consistently attended the Vaper Expo more than other trade shows in the entire world. Recently, there have been multiple shows running at the same time and I always choose to keep the home team at the Vaper Expo.

“It’s been my premier go-to; I love hosting the show because I feel like I’m able to bring a lot of the influence from vapers in other countries and bring that energy and passion back to the NEC, with my friends and family in the UK.”

What Ashley loves so much about the Vaper Expo, compared to other shows, is the people. She believes that the companies always bring their best, and the consumers always bring their voice.

“There’s just something super chill, but also electric in the room. And there’s a lot of value coming to the show because UK vapers are honest, they have opinions, and they share them.”

She adds: “The consumers come ready to ask questions, to try new flavours, to learn about new hardware, to share with us what they have been into over the last six months – which is great.”

And, of course, hosting alongside Johnnie is yet another perk of the

gig for Ashley, who values sharing the stage with someone equally as invested in the industry as she is; and someone whom she respects, not just as a colleague, but as a friend.

“Johnnie and I have been hosting together for what feels like the start of time. He’s my partner in crime, I love it. His energy, I vibe off it. He’s an inspiring man, and his whole crew is fantastic.

“I’m very lucky to have Johnnie, he’s an unforgettable human. I totally respect him as a businessman, stage partner, as a friend, and as my UK family.”

Off the stage, Ashley can often be spotted sharing her enthusiasm with attendees and fans of the brands she represents, and she loves hearing about the flavours and hardware that consumers have been getting into since the last Expo.

This weekend, she’s especially looking forward to meeting with her Premier E-Cigs family, hitting up the casino and going dancing. So she can even add ‘dancing queen’ to her résumé!

“The highlight of the expo is to be amongst the thriving vape community and seeing young faces, new faces, old faces turning up, new vapers; just people enjoying something.”

Ashley

The Vaper Expo Awards celebrate the very best of The Big Weekend

Whether

at the Vaper Expo for a few hours or for the whole weekend, the intense and exhilarating experience will leave you feeling wiped out by the time you head home. Many of your favourite brands have been on site since Wednesday, setting up their stands and preparing for the madness ahead. It’s a huge commitment and one worth acknowledging at the Vaper Expo Awards on Sunday afternoon.

awards celebrate the e-liquids and stands that stood out among the increasingly tough competition, selected by a hand-picked team of expert judges. Make sure you show your support by heading over to the main stage at 1pm on Sunday for the presentation.

BY GORDON STRIBLING

We’ve come a long way as a company since the first Vapouround Awards took place during Vaper Expo UK weekend in May 2016. While many brands have come and gone since then, a select few return to the awards to be celebrated alongside the exciting new brands that break through each year.

The event gives us pause to not only celebrate the best products and the brightest stars, but to advocate for the cause that has brought us to this point.

The industry is overwhelmingly represented by former smokers whose lives have been changed and perhaps even saved by what may prove to be the most important health innovation of a generation. We take the Vapouround Awards very seriously and the event itself is always a glitzy and exciting affair. We love celebrating with some familiar favourites, which is why awards and Vaper Expo favourites Johnny Lovell and Ashley Hansen will be involved for a fourth consecutive year.

We’re determined to ramp up the spectacle each year, so even if you’ve been before, you’re guaranteed plenty of surprises.

Having outgrown its home at the NEC, this year’s event will take place at the National Conference Centre, just down the road, where a record-breaking number of guests will relax, rewind and celebrate the very best of the vape industry from the past 12 months.

You’ll arrive at a meet and greet reception to the sights and sounds of live acoustic music, with close-up entertainers mingling among the crowd of guests sipping bubbly and snacking on canapés.

Guests will then be invited into main hall for the gala dinner and the awards ceremony to take place.

Our host this year is magician and performer Nigel Mead. Nigel has performed all over the world at parties, dinners and corporate events, for businesses such as Nike, YouTube, Google and IBM. He has wowed A-list celebrities Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg, and even entertained Her Majesty The Queen.

We don’t want to give you too long a glimpse behind the velvet curtain just yet, why spoil the surprise? We promise to treat you to some incredible acts, with stage production that will keep you you glued to your seat until the very end.

“THE VAPOUROUND AWARDS HAVE ALWAYS MEANT A LOT TO US. THE AWARDS RECOGNISE THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY AND SO IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SUPPORT THAT CAUSE”

– OFFICIAL SPONSOR VAPE DINNER LADY

In three short years, Blackburn-based Vape Dinner Lady has become a regular fixture at both the Vaper Expo and the Vapouround Awards. They were awarded the Best Show Stand gong in 2017 and Juice of the Year for Lemon Tart a year later. We are delighted that they decided to sponsor this year’s event.

Ahead of the fourth annual Vapouround Awards, Vape Dinner Lady’s marketing director Haroon Rashid said:

“The Vapouround Awards have always meant a lot to us. The awards recognise the best in the industry and so it was important for us to support that cause.

“Dinner Lady shares some core values with the Vapouround Awards – dedication to excellence, striving to be better and pushing boundaries. For us it was a no-brainer.”

The brand’s journey is reflective of how the industry has changed in such a short space of time. In 2018, Vape Dinner Lady became one of only a handful of independent brands to make it onto supermarket shelves, once the stronghold of poor-quality cigalikes and refills.

Haroon said:

“The entry into the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) space has been nothing short of amazing. We’re truly humbled that the country’s major retailers want to work with us.

“FMCG allows us to reach more people and help them with their battle against smoking. We’re now in talks with some of the biggest FMCG players globally – exciting times ahead!”

Over the past year, the pod system has cemented its place as the entry-level device for smokers making the switch. The technology is more robust and accessible than ever, so it was only right that we add a Best Pod System and Best Salt Nicotine categories to this year’s awards.

“Salt nic products are widely considered now to be the best solution for smokers trying to quit. The market is confirming this. Dinner Lady’s job remains the same – make people smile and serve them nostalgia in a bottle (or a pod).”

Vaping is primarily a tool to help smokers switch to a less harmful alternative, but that does not mean that ardent vapers and hobbyists should be neglected.

By popular demand, we have introduced the Best Accessory award to celebrate everything from coils and tanks to tank bands and mod cases, as well as RBA of the Year, open to all forms of rebuildable atomisers, including RDAs, RTAs and RDTAs.

We couldn’t bring you the awards if it wasn’t for our official sponsor.

Last year’s inaugural Best CBD award was hotly-contested and this year it promises to be even more so. Both the vape and CBD industries have become allies over the past 12 months. From tinctures to teas to dab pens and gummies, the wide range of CBD-infused products available is drawing in customers who would never have otherwise stepped foot into a vape shop. (This year, the Best CBD award is only open to CBD vape liquids.)

Vape Dinner Lady released their CBD vape line at Vaper Expo in October after three years of development. They’ve now broadened the range with hemp CBD cosmetics.

Haroon said:

“The industry is ever-evolving and as a result, Vape Dinner Lady has evolved. We’re excited to see what will happen if the vape stores also evolve – we’re hoping they do.

“In our eyes, any of our products can go in vape stores. Our business will always work with vape stores – they are the backbone of the vaping industry.”

It’s an industry that we’re all incredibly proud of, so we can’t wait to celebrate it together with you on May 3.

For more information on the fourth annual Vapouround Awards, visit the website: Vapouroundawards.co.uk

2019 AWARDS SPONSORS

Official Sponsor 2019 Vape Dinner Lady

Since storming onto the scene at Vaper Expo in 2016, Vape Dinner Lady has become one of the most internationallyrecognised juice brands. Perhaps best known for their award-winning Lemon Tart, the range has branched out to encompass dessert, fruit, tobacco and sweet flavours, in various PG/VG and freebase/salt nicotine formulations. Since launching a CBD range at October’s Vaper Expo, they’ve expanded into new territory with hemp CBD cosmetics, reflecting the company’s drive to stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving industry. Vapedinnerlady.com

Best Tobacco

Dr. Frost

Dr. Frosts’ range of Polar Ice Vapes offer a premium cold hit e-liquid, to satisfy all tastes, from the award-winning Candy Cane and fruit flavour short-fills, to the newest range of salt nic shots. Launched in May 2017, the Dr. Frost brand goes from strength to strength, with a very loyal following all over the world. Proud to be UK-based and produced, Dr. Frost is the brain child of Vape Safe Distro. Drfrosteliquids.com

Best Beverage and Best Up and Coming Brand

Mile High Labs

Mile High Labs sets the standard for global CBD ingredient manufacturing. WTheir scientifically advanced proprietary process yields the purest CBD isolate available while supplying a considerable portion of the world’s overall market. With an end-to-end GMP certified extraction facility, an extensive network of contracted cultivators and distribution centers across the US and the UK, Mile High delivers high-quality, high-volume CBD orders year round. Milehighlabs.com.

Best Menthol Prohibition Vapes Co

Having gained a firm footing in the industry with a previous venture, the Prohibition Vapes team realised early on the importance of the shopping experience itself. Customers at their lounges in Maidstone and Royal Tunbridge Wells can drop by for a chat and a coffee, catch up with friends and pick up supplies without the urgency of the hard-sell. Since 2016, the company has developed, manufactured and distributed brands for major clients all around the world. Prohibitionvapes.co.uk

Best CBD SPECTRUMS EUROPE

Based in Paris, SPECTRUMS EUROPE has a stellar reputation for supplying CBD extract and semi-finished products to some of Europe’s leading brands emerging on the CBD industry horizon. This company specialises in phytocannabinoids CBD, CBG and CBC, while their products are THC-free. All products are analysed, certified and insured in France, as the company puts quality and traceability at the forefront of everything it does. Spectrumseurope.com

Best Fruit

Jouz Limited

Jouz delivers the real taste and pleasure of tobacco without the fire, ash, or lingering smell. Jouz creates refined experiences that give consumers the freedom to indulge, any time, any place. Jouz has brought together luminaries from across the industry; engineers and designers with the skills and drive to truly innovate. All products come with a 12-month warranty and lifetime technical support. Jouz.com

Best Dessert Six Licks

Six Licks is one of the fastest growing UK e-liquid brands, from receiving the Vapouround Award for Best Up and Coming Brand in 2018, to attaining distribution across four continents and seven awards with both industry and consumer acclaim for the entire juice range. Set to reach new heights, Six Licks are unleashing these favoured flavours with nicotine salt in Six Licks Salts and nicotine, soon to be found in your nearest Six Licks 600 Club store. Sixlicks.com

Best Pod System

Vampire Vape

Vampire Vape revolutionised vaping worldwide with the award-winning flavours, Pinkman and Heisenberg.

Vampire Vape first launched seven years ago and has become a leading e-liquid manufacturer with over 70 e-liquid and concentrate flavours. Our vast range of flavours has been specifically developed to ensure everyone can find their ADV. We specialise in the design, development and production of only the highest quality e-liquid, based in the UK ensuring only the best e-liquid leaves our warehouse. We’ve grown into over 80 markets, establishing our brand and building trust throughout.

Vampirevape.co.uk

RBA of the Year

Solace Vapor

Solace was founded in 2015 by four young entrepreneurs with a bold vision to re-invent the way people utilise nicotine delivery products. After hundreds of experiments and tests, the team finally launched the first ever nicotine salts for open pod based vape devices.

Solace has since grown to a globally recognised brand with millions of customers around the globe and hundreds of thousands of products sold each month. Solacevapor.com

Best Salt Nicotine

Kapka’s Flava

Known for its menthol-free ‘cooling effect’ e-liquids, Kapka’s Flava’s unique business model helped the company develop something of a cult following in its native Germany. The limited-edition Cold Heart juice sold out in Germany within 24 hours, and has now become a collector’s item, snapped up by eager eBay buyers for €100 or more. The Barber line is a unique addition to the e-liquid pantheon, reflective of the creativity that inspires their juices, branding and well-produced promotional videos.

Kapkas-flava.de

Tank of the Year Red Box Vapes

A self-described ‘quintessentially British’ brand, Red Box strive to bring unrivalled quality and good, old-fashioned Brit charm to everything they do.

From friendly customer service to superior quality products, the Nottingham-based brand is gearing up to be the name that takes over the Great British high street for all your vaping needs – with plans to expand across the whole of the UK.

Their flagship stores in Nottingham and Manchester are already welcoming vapers – from beginners to experts, old or young – and all with a touch of class, pip pip! Redboxvape.com

Best Mod PJ Empire

Coming to us from their base in Austria, the creators of Slushy Queen have a firm standing in the European e-liquid market. With instantly recognisable creative packaging and sell-out e-liquids like Mango Bango, Apple Strudl and Yummy Dooh, PJ Empire brings an element of fresh to dessert vapes. PJ Empire are a regular fixture on the vape expo trail and are one e-liquid company that have stood the test of time. Pjempire.com

Juice of the Year

JPL Flavour Tech

As experts in creative and innovative flavour development, JPL Flavour Tech know what good tastes like. Their experienced technicians manufacture exclusive flavours of the highest calibre that are tailored to just about any requirements, even giving their clients the opportunity to visit the Wirral-based lab.

From concept to finished product, the team at JPL Flavour Tech work tirelessly to make life that little bit tastier. JPL-flavours.com

Industry leader Red Liquids

A sister brand to Red Box, Red Liquids are equally a selfdescribed “quintessentially British” brand, striving to bring unrivalled quality into each of their e-liquids. From vape to CBD, this company launched onto the British e-liquid market just last year with a bang, and their stand at October’s Vaper Expo piqued everyone’s’ interest. Red Liquids are well equipped to offer their own specially formulated liquids which, of course, are all manufactured here in the UK. Redboxliquids.com

Innovation of the Year

Juccier by Jucce E-liquids

Juccier is new, tasty and juicier than the rest. You may already be familiar with Jucce E-liquids; following a market launch in November 2018 and subsequent success, Juccier launched a short-fill range of eight premium fruit and candy flavours in February this year. Behind the scenes, Juccier produce and manufacture e-liquids from their UK warehouse and own other brands, NVee and T2 E-liquids, providing independent and multiple retailers with attractive vape brands and a wide range of profitable products to suit a broad spectrum of tastes. Vape-jucce.com

Vape Shop of the Year, Vaper of the Year and Trade Show of the Year

IVG

It’s only a matter of time before you hear the chorus of ‘IVG! IVG’ ring out from the stage at Vaper Expo. The brand is a firm favourite among British vapers, and at countless expos around the world. Vapers come from far and wide to meet them on the road, testament to the quality of their liquids and the friendly image they have cultivated. While much loved by the vaping community and a common fixture at the Vapouround Awards, IVG prides itself on helping countless smokers switch to a less-harmful and far more enjoyable alternative. IVGeliquids.com

Reviewer of the Year

Cosmedia PSC Vape Labs

Cosmedia Vape Labs produces e-liquids since 2014 for local vape shops. The man behind the design and production of the product is MSc Chemist Nikolas Papasolomontos. Since he started DIY e-liquid mixing in 2013 and got in the art of vaping flavours, he is in a constant quest for creating the best and most unique all day vape e-liquid that can possibly be composed by a human brain. The closest attempt so far is the first of his new brand e-liquid line, The chemist et al., launched excursively for the UK Market in November 2018. Cosmediavapelabs.com

Best Branding and Marketing CUBID CBD

The CBD industry is speckled with very few companies adopting a policy of full disclosure on their cannabinoidinfused products. Enter CUBID. With a vision, mission and promise of quality, transparency and honesty, CUBID CBD is the breath of fresh air the budding CBD industry has been waiting for. The company launched this year to overwhelming interest from the industry and consumers alike, choosing to make an entrance with its phase one release in April with a skincare range, tinctures and e-liquids. Cubidcbd.com

All Aboard!

THE VAPOUROUND BUS IS A STOP YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS! DESTINATION: BLISS.

BY LUCY MACKINNON

You’ve heard of The Knight Rider’s Kitt, Batman’s Batmobile and Marty’s DeLorean, but we can do one better – we’ve got the Vapouround Bus. Boosting business and converting consumers to our favourite smokeless sensation, this travelling tool visits vape shops up and down the country spreading a smoke-free message.

Since October 2016, its been turning heads and demanding attention. Parked up or powering through, the Vapouround Bus proudly wears artwork from industry leaders around the globe, inside and out, inviting consumers and businesses alike to get on board with its aims.

With the interior rivalling the eye-catching exterior, you are welcomed into an informal yet informed environment where the team can help you find the product you’re missing. With testing stations, juices galore and many, many mods, the Vapouround Bus has become the Gadget Mobile of the vaping world.

“Taking the Vapouround Bus to this expo is great because we get to showcase what we do every week. It’s different to being

on the road because instead of us going to them, businesses and customers come to us and we get a great buzz from that. Everybody wants to be on the bus, in person, in sponsorship – and their reactions are part of the reason that I love my job.” –Farooq ‘H’, Vapouround Bus Manager.

The bus is a great tool to use for getting the right brands out there and it is a brilliant way of advertising out and about on the public roads.

Find us on the Vapouround stand – B140. Hop on and see for yourself. Sample juice from Crunchie’s, Lik Juice, Innovape, Bake n Vape and of course our own Vapouround juices on board. Check out the free logic starter kits we give out for free to those right at the beginning of their vaping journey on every stop on our path.

Sit back, relax, pick up a copy of Vapouround and enjoy the ride...

WELCOME TO THE BUILD ZONE

Chill out with some of the world’s best builders or get a replacement coil after all that juice testing. Bought a new RDA/RTA? Why not get a coil fitted while you’re here. Get your coil building questions answered, pick up tips and safety advice. Watch live as builds are being created. All this, and more, can be found within the build zone.

Meet the build zone team, and their thousands of Instagram followers.

@mind_forge

Germany’s finest, and arguably the best builder in the world for the last few years with 21,500 followers on Instagram joining the expo build team for the third time.

@the_vaping_aussi

This mad Australian builder has got to have the most air miles under his belt just to be part of the expo build team. A braid specialist with 10,000 followers on Instagram back for his third visit.

@taxijim71

This French builder is making his first appearance on the expo build team with 8,000 followers on Instagram and be warned, he has an epic sense of fun.

@n.ball84

A UK coil builder with 10,000 followers on Instagram.

@craftycoils

The original build zone team member from the UK, with 4,000 followers on Instagram and a former Vapouround coil columnist.

@thehoopswxxnker

With the build zone team from day one, a UK coil builder followed by 4,000 people.

@nastycoils

Another UK builder and regular on the build zone team, with 1,500 followers on Instagram.

@scotts_builds

The UK’s own star lord (yes – one for the ladies) with 4,200 followers on Instagram.

@thecoilguy

A UK builder and the owner of @juice_junkie_uk wire company, followed closely by 5,000 people on Instagram. If you have wire questions, this is the guy to ask.

@gi.jane26

A UK coil fanatic, stalker of builders and definitely #notnormaljustspecial and owner of @shytots26 with an insta following of almost 14,000 loyal fans

Look out for guest builders @twistedmesses

@blacklinebuilds @theorigialviking

What’s on in Birmingham?

Hanging around for a few days? The UK’s second city has plenty to keep you entertained all through the weekend.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5QP

This highly-acclaimed exhibition features 100 incredible images chosen from 45,000 entries. The collection captures nature in all its breath-taking beauty and includes stunning animal portraits, dramatic landscapes, unusual species and declining habitats.

Bellator Birmingham: Primus vs. Wilde

Saturday, 5pm @ World Resorts Arena, Birmingham B40 1NT

The event will be headlined by an exciting lightweight bout between former Bellator world champion Brent Primus and Tim “The Experiment” Wilde. It will be the second instalment of six scheduled Bellator European Fight Series events taking place throughout the UK and Europe in 2019.

Brum Wing Fest

Saturday, 12-8pm @ Mull Motorcycles, 77 Upper Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4EG

Wing Fest returns for a third year to showcase five of the city’s finest street-food traders. But who has, as an American football commentator might say, the ‘winningest’ wings? That’s for you to decide.

Flatpack Festival

Across the city

This multimedia festival includes short films, documentaries, animation, music videos and experimental cinema. The event takes place over some of the city’s most iconic venues, such as The Electric, mac and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Bank Holiday Comedy Special

Sunday, from 6.15pm @ Glee Club, 70 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD

What better way to wind down from days of pounding the expo floor than an evening of stand-up comedy? The Bank Holiday Comedy Special features comics Kevin McCarthy, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Catherine Bohart and Kevin Hadingham.

Matrix Virtual Reality

The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AT

If you’ve ever fancied exploring the dizzying world of virtual reality but don’t have thousands of pounds to spend on equipment, now’s your chance. With a wide selection of games to choose from there really is something for everyone, from casuals to hardcore gamers.

National Motorcycle Museum

Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ

With more than 100 motorcycles on display, the world’s largest motorcycle museum attracts 250,000 visitors each year. The museum aims to preserve a crosssection of ‘60 Glorious Years’ of British manufacturing, from ABC to Zenith and major manufacturers such as Triumph.

Tolkien Trail Across the city

Tolkien lived in nine homes in the south of Birmingham during his formative years and continued to refer to the city as his home throughout his life. The trail takes you to where he lived and many of the locations that would inspire his writing.

Balti Triangle

Ladypool Road, Stoney Lane and Stratford Road

The Balti Triangle boasts what is believed to be the largest concentration of Balti restaurants in the city in which the dish was created. As for which restaurant is the best, the debate is as fiery as the dish itself. Akram’s and Shabab are among the most highlyrecommended.

The Jekyll and Hyde

28 Steelhouse Lane, City Centre, Birmingham B4 6BJ

This truly unique Victorian bar is home to more than 100 of the world’s finest gins as well as a collection of cocktails crafted by the talented in-house team. The bar also offers cocktail masterclasses and gin history lessons, but you will need to book ahead to take advantage of these.

With so many new brands and products entering the market, it is important to choose a brand with the knowhow and experience required to formulate safe and effective CBD products. CBDfx has championed the industry with high quality and fully compliant products for more than five years. You have the right to know what you put in your body, that is why lab reports for all CBDfx products are available on our homepage and through QR codes printed on each product.

CBD fx . com

FU LL SPECTRUM

gluten free

INTRODUCING VAPOUROUND’S FIRST EVER MOD

After almost four years in the vape industry, Vapouround is proud to unveil the first ever Vapouround mod.

The Aether squonk mod is the result of a collaboration between Vapouround and hardware experts Ultroner.

With our brand and reputation in mind, we wanted to bring vape enthusiasts a compact, ergonomic, regulated squonk device, made from the very best materials available. We believe that close attention to detail is needed to create the ideal device, so we have made sure to only incorporate practical design choices into the Aether.

Ultroner’s SEVO chipset powers the mod, with a focus on battery efficiency, simplicity and intuitive operation. Although tailored towards mid-wattage vapers, the board is capable of up to 80W of power output, along with variable voltage and bypass settings. This back-to-basics approach has allowed us to get the most out of a single 18650 cell.

The Aether’s intuitive slide and lock bottle system allows mess-free refills and easy installation, as well as the option of protecting the bottle from accidental presses during travel. We wanted to take the hassle out of squonking and we are proud to say that we have succeeded.

The body of the Aether is crafted from Ultroner’s signature stabilised wood, with a luxurious high gloss finish. This ensures that every device is uniquely stunning and also means the Aether is extremely lightweight, for those users who prefer an inconspicuous device.

We designed the Aether with ergonomics as a top priority and its unique shape allows for comfortable operation with both the right hand (index finger fire) and left hand (thumb fire), incorporating easy access to the squonk action at all times.

If you have been looking for an affordable stabilised wood squonking device that incorporates user friendly design, look no further than the Vapouround x Ultroner Aether.

KEY FEATURES

Full stabilised wood body Efficient SEVO80 chipset Ergonomic design for one handed operation Hassle free slide and lock bottle system

How far would YOU travel for the Vaper Expo?

Australian ‘The Vaping Bogan’ travels thousands of miles to visit fans and rub shoulders at the Vaper Expo UK

By Benedict ‘Ned’ Jones

People come from far and wide to visit Europe’s biggest and best vaping event, including some of the scene’s most well-known YouTubers.

Alongside the likes of UK Vape Show hosts, Dean ‘The Devil Vaper’, Mark ‘The Vaping Postman’, Chris ‘Empire Vape Co’ and ‘Vaping With’ Vic, the list of the vape-famous spotted on the expo over the years reads like a who’s who of international vaping royalty. But one YouTuber in particular stands out for very literally going the distance to attend the event on multiple occasions. We caught up with Sam, ‘The Vaping Bogan’ who travels all the way from Australia to vlog, meet fans and be part of the Vaper Expo UK experience to find out what draws him to this particular event on the other side of the world.

Why is Vaper Expo UK special? What makes it stand out compared to other vaping events?

Well it’s an absolutely massive show. It dwarves most shows I’ve seen in the US. The booth designs are on another level so there’s always plenty of cool stuff to see and everyone’s there so it’s always a great time.

What do you look forward to the most about the show?

I was at both shows last year. I always look forward to hanging out with other reviewers and my viewers. I’m pretty isolated being in Australia so I always enjoy getting around all the fun at these events because we really don’t have anything like it back home yet.

What were your most memorable moments of last year’s shows?

Hmmm… probably just seeing the amazing amount of support I have over here. It’s so great to meet so many passionate vapers.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve been given at a vaping event, by a company or fan?

Ha ha, nothing too weird really, just plenty of beers and I do have one fan who brings me homemade raspberry fudge, which is awesome.

Do you think vaping events have changed over the years?

Some have gotten bigger. I think some have dropped off a bit, but the Vaper Expo is always a great time and always has a great representation of the big and small brands as well as a great com munity vibe.

Travelling around the world can get expensive, do you collaborate with other companies to make your trips possible, or are you supported by the community that you’ve grown around your channel?

Sometimes I’m lucky enough, the event organisers can fly me out for a show, but like this one, I fund a lot of my trips myself. I feel it’s important to give back and go and see my fans who have supported me and allow me to do what I do.

“I feel it’s important to give back and go and see my fans who have supported me and allow me to do what I do.”

Top 10 Travel Tips

Planning a trip abroad this summer? Here are some things you need to know about taking your vape on a plane.

1. Vapers, on a whole, can take their devices on airplanes with them, but rules vary depending on the length of your flight and the vape regulations in your destination. Check with the airline you are flying with first, but some airports, such as Gatwick in London, state that e-cigarettes are prohibited from hold luggage.

2. Just like smoking, vaping is prohibited on commercial flights. Ryanair sell their own smokeless cigarettes for passengers to use whilst cruising the skies.

3. When it comes to taking your own e-cigarette on a flight it is best to dismantle the device and store it safely in a case for protection. The last thing you want after a long flight is to find that turbulence has caused your vape any damage

4. Lithium batteries have been explicitly forbidden from hold luggage globally due to fire safety regulations so make sure if you are taking these with you, they are packed accordingly and kept in your carry-on bag.

5. Lots of airplanes now have USB ports on board – but you are not allowed to use these to charge up your vape. These are designed for charging laptops, tablets or mobile phones only.

6. Irrelevant of device type, disconnect the battery. Not only is it safer and will help you get through security more easily, this will also save the battery life and will prevent your vape from turning on by mistake.

7. Taking your own e-liquid for travelling abroad is always recommended because it can be difficult to find somewhere selling the right juice for you, not only in terms of nicotine strength and flavour, but you may not find the same quality or standard as what you’d expect in your home country.

8. Just like any other liquid when taking a flight, for carry-on bags, e-liquids will have to be placed in a clear plastic bag that conforms to the correct dimensions and the bottles must contain no more than 100ml.

9. Anything that bears the toxic warning label is forbidden from entering the aircraft, so ensure that all of your juices conform to this guideline to avoid confiscation.

10. There have been reports of the pressure changes causing clearomizers, atomizers or cartomizers to leak whilst in the air, so emptying the tank pre-flight is always a good idea. But if there is e-liquid in your vape when you take a flight it needs to be placed inside the liquids bag.

d)

8. Which one-off attraction featured at May 2017’s event? a) Bungee jumping b) Fairground rides c) Paintball d) Vapouround Casino 9. Which YouTuber and Vaper Expo regular is also the face of Vape Tube? a) Vaping V1ck b) Empire Vape Co

c) Vaping Postman

10.

a) Lancashire

11.

a)

c)

d)

12.

a)

b)

c)

d)

13.

d)

15. Where is expo host Johnny Lovell’s BHVape shop located? a) Newport b) Portsmouth c) Bournemouth d) Portrush 16. Which aviation-themed e-liquid brand launched at October’s expo? a) Vape Airways b) Juice Airlines c) easyVape d) Air Cannavape

17. Australian YouTuber the Vaping Bogan something. But what does ‘Bogan’ mean? a) A small, hairy creature of Australian folklore b) An insulting word for a person whose way of dressing, speaking and behaving is thought to show their lack of education and low social class c) A thief d) A collector of niche taxidermy 18. Which of the following expos is furthest from Birmingham? a) Vape Scandinavia, Denmark b) Vape Barcelona, Spain c) Purevape, Munich, Germany d) Vapexpo, Nantes, France 19. Which e-liquid company had their bus parked beside the Vapouround Bus in October? a) Red Box b) Doozy Vape c) Hangsen d) Totally Wicked 20. Which of the following is a new category at the 2019 Vapouround Awards? a) Best Pod System b) Best CBD c) Tank of the Year d) Reviewer of the Year

Entrants must be 18+.The winner will be picked May 30 and will then be contacted by Vapouround. For competition terms and conditions, go to Vapouround.co.uk

Dimensions: 130 x 30mm (height including drip tip)

Materials: Aluminium + glass

Battery capacity: 3000mAh internal cell

E-liquid capacity: 8ml/2ml TPD edition

Stick-style kits have always been a good option for new sub-ohm vapers who don’t want to mess around with settings or removable batteries. Because of their accessibility, these kinds of kits have become very popular with beginners, so does the Sky Solo Plus perform this role?

The fit, finish and construction are all great, as you would expect from Vaporesso. The body is made from aluminium, giving the device a sturdy feel, whilst being lightweight for its size. The tolerances are spot on too, so there’s no button rattle or unsightly gaps to worry about here. Vaporesso have opted for an all-in-one tank connection. This means there is no standard 510 connection on offer, so you’ll have to use the provided tank and Baby Beast compatible coils with this kit.

The omni board is a much more stripped back iteration, offering simple protections such as short circuit, time out and low voltage cut-off rather than a full suite of features. This may not please advanced vapers, but for those who want a fool proof sub-ohm device it’s ideal.

The integrated tank that sits at the top of the device is a simplified version of the NRG platform that has been around for quite some time now. This version has a very simple threaded top fill system with huge, forgiving fill ports and no adjustable airflow. I was quite sceptical about the lack of airflow control ring but found that wide open this is more restricted than usual, and so should be suitable for the majority of new sub-ohm vapers.

The included 0.18Ohm GT mesh coils are as good as they’ve ever been, providing some of the very best flavour and vapour output amongst baby beast style coils. It is worth noting that their power requirements are at the higher end of the Sky Solo Plus’s output limits, though, so whilst they will provide a lovely vape, they do take a toll on that single 3000mAh internal cell. It would have been nice to see a slightly higher resistance mesh coil with this kit, in a similar vein to Geekvape’s X2, that has a sweet spot of 40W. Even with these power-hungry coils though, you can expect over half a day’s moderate usage on a charge, and Vaporesso’s quick charging does minimise down time.

With solid build quality, a huge array of coil choices and reliable protections from Vaporesso’s Omni chip, the Sky Solo Plus is a compelling choice for the new sub-ohm vaper who wants a no-frills device.

Device Specifications:

Size: 24.7 × 101.6mm

Battery: 2300mAh internal

Output: 5-80W

Adjustable output via twist dial on base

Resistance range: 0.1-3ohm

LED indicator light

Tank Specs: FIRELUKE 2 TANK

Size: 24 × 47.8mm

Capacity: 5ml

Coils: Mesh coils x2

We’ve all had days where we want a simple pen-style vape but with the option to ramp up the wattage every now and then. Well… now you can, the FreeMax Twister 80W kit is here, and it’s awesome. This is the newest variable wattage pen style mod on the market.

This kit is from FreeMax the company that gifted the vape industry the mesh pro early last year, which is indisputably one of the best sub-ohm tanks to date.

The Twister kit is a press-and-go pen-style vape but for sub ohm vapers. The device is ergonomic and slick looking. What makes this mod so great is at the base of the battery is a ridged output dial allowing you to change the variable wattage. This rotates smoothly with a clicking motion.

The battery cell in the twister mod is 2300mAh. This lasts around 150 puffs, around the day mark when infrequently vaping on 60W. When chaining at the 80W mark, you’re going to get less than half-a-day battery life. The battery life indicator is a slight issue due to the LED being covered when you press the fire button. The LEDs are also quite dim, so you don’t really notice them when outdoors.

The Twister mod is paired with the popular Fireluke 2 tank that has a 0.2ohm mesh coil pre-installed but also an additional 0.15ohm mesh coil in the kit, so you can get the most out of the maximum wattage. At 60W using a 3mg 70:30VG e-liquid the kit provides a solid sub-ohm vape experience. The Fireluke has a wide airflow channel allowing the pull to be smooth and providing the desired hit. The fire-up is instant and powerful. I was surprised that the tank is capable of a good mouth-to-lung experience too.

As a pair, the tank sits tidy on the twister mod with just a small recess of 1mm. This, paired with the various graphic wrap options, makes the kit a nice option for everyone. The overall vaping experience has an immediate fire-up transitioning into a smooth pull with a solid flavour production. The battery life is good when efficiently vaping. This is one of the best device combinations to buy if you’re looking for a simple sub-ohm vape kit.

Device Specifications:

Dimensions: 103 x 33.8 x 17.9mm

Weight: 111g

Construction: Zinc alloy, polycarbonate, PA leather

Battery capacity: 1100mAh internal cell

E-liquid capacity: 2ml

- Great vape quality

- Good build quality

- Battery Life

All of the IQ devices up to now have been tiny pod systems, but the One is a little different, falling somewhere between pod system and mod in form factor.

Build quality is absolutely top notch. The zinc alloy frame gives the device a very sturdy feel, along with a reassuring weight, which results in an unmistakably premium feel in the hand. The device is available in a variety of finishes, but our silver unit with black imitation leather is particularly fetching and wouldn’t look out of place in any professional’s daily essentials.

This is certainly not a small pod system and at 111g it’s not light either, but this extra mass is used properly with a huge 1100mAh internal cell. Many pod systems fall short on battery life and that’s simply not going to be a problem, even for heavy users.

This device takes the ‘psuedo-pod’ approach when it comes to the design. Coils can be replaced in the 2ml polycarbonate pod, which means lower running costs as there’s less material to replace each time you need a fresh atomizer. Filling is as convenient as it gets, a removable stopper reveals a large fill port which allows for mess free filling from the top. Other pod makers should take note of this method as it makes day-to-day use of the One a breeze.

The 0.8Ohm coils that were provided for testing were very impressive. An airflow ring at the base of the coil allows for some adjustment, but at any setting this is still a mouth-to-lung (MTL) experience. Wide open, it’s comparable to many other modern MTL devices and closed down it gives that super restricted old-school MTL draw that veteran vapers often look for. Regardless of airflow setting, the One gives a satisfying, warm vape with very good flavour and no ramp up time. These coil heads may be tiny, but they vape more like a fully-fledged MTL tank, such as the Aspire Nautilus.

Since the One is a bit larger than other pod systems, you would expect battery life to be great, and I’m happy to report that it is. The 1100mAh cell is a real trooper. Loaded up with 20mg/ml nic salts, I was getting almost 2 full days of use on a single charge, which is unheard of amongst pod systems and makes this a great choice for vapers who can’t always get access to a charging point. I also noticed that there’s virtually no drop off in performance, until the battery is almost fully drained.

The only thing that’s missing from the One is variable power. This is by no means a deal breaker, since the single setting provides a great experience, but this is a feature that other, smaller pod systems have in 2019.

The Hangsen IQ One is a brilliant piece of kit. Any pod user who is willing to go for a device that’s slightly larger will be impressed with this.

Device Specifications:

Dimensions: 52 x 27 x 134.5mm (including tank)

Weight: 209.5g

Battery capacity: 2x removable 18650 cells

Maximum wattage output: 160W

ELLO POP Specifications:

Materials: Stainless steel + glass

E-liquid capacity: 6.5ml/2ml (TPD edition)

Build quality Size + ergonomics

Simple but reliable chipset

Eleaf’s iStick range is one of the most well-regarded in the budget vaping sector. Their devices are reliable, user-friendly and welldesigned. The iStick Mix is the first dual 18650 box we’ve seen from the range in some time. How does it fare in this competitive space?

Construction, fit and finish are outstanding and this device has a real heft to it. The chassis material appears to be zinc alloy, which is pretty much the best choice for an every day mod. Tolerances are spot-on and there is zero movement in the battery door, due to strong magnets and great machining. The 510 connection is cantered, allowing for atomisers of up to 27mm in diameter. The Mix looks and feels much more expensive than it is.

The Avatar chipset features variable wattage, temperature control and memory banks. Power output is instant and stable. When I tested the temperature control with a simple stainless-steel round wire build, the result was a satisfying vape. The USB-C connection for charging and firmware updates is great to see. Coupled with a true balance charging board, on-board charging is a viable option.

Dual-battery box mods often sacrifice comfort for sturdiness, but that’s not the case here. The rounded edges and very small size result in a mod that’s a pleasure to use day in, day out. If you enjoy mods like the Voopoo Drag but want something smaller and more comfortable, the Mix is where it’s at.

The POP is the latest in a long line of ELLO sub-ohm tanks from Eleaf. It’s compatible with the same Baby Beast-style coils that have become an industry standard and comes supplied with Eleaf’s HW-M2 and HW-N2 mesh variations.

The centre airflow pin makes the tank very resistant to leaking and the airflow much smoother than in other single-bore mesh coils. The vape quality matches the very best Baby Beast-sized coils on the market, falling just short of the output achieved by substantially larger fittings like the Falcon King and Freemax Mesh Pro. I found coil longevity to be very good, easily running 80mls of moderately-sweet e-liquid through each coil before a substantial drop in performance.

The POP has a standard airflow ring, which provides huge amounts of air when wide open. The pre-installed glass section has a silicon coating to protect the tank during impacts. Eleaf supply a regular glass without the silicon in the spares.

The top-fill mechanism is likely where the POP gets its name. Simply lift the top of the tank and then push to reveal a moderately-sized filling port. Though it’s a single port design, I’ve not had any overflowing issues, but it would be nice to see a second port that would eliminate this possibility. This mechanism is solid and stops accidental openings or small children from getting access to the contents of the tank.

The Eleaf iStick Mix is a stellar kit for new sub-ohm vapers, or any veteran vaper who’s looking for an affordable workhorse mod that doesn’t compromise on performance, build quality or ergonomics. I really am thrilled with this device. It’s now my go-to recommendation for anyone in the market for a dual 18650 mod.

Vowl 40 kit

Device Specifications:

Dimensions: 110 x 37.6 x 24.5mm (including tank)

Maximum power output: 40W

Battery capacity: 1600mAh internal cell

Charging: 1A micro USB input

E-liquid capacity: 2ml

- User friendly

- Good battery life

- Good MTL performance

- Only comes with one disposable tank

Vzone were the first to bring a disposable mesh tank to the market, and this new offering is along those lines, but aimed at lower wattage vapers. Construction, fit and finish of the Vowl is functional but unremarkable. Everything here is made from polycarbonate, which results in a lightweight package that doesn’t necessarily feel like it will stand up to prolonged use and abuse. The tolerances are on point, so this is a rattle-free device that has no gaps or undesirable seams. Considering the very affordable price point of the kit you can only expect so much, and the Vowl is perhaps not a device designed with extended longevity in mind.

There’s just one button on the mod, which can be clicked five times to power the device on or off, or three times to adjust the power output. Vzone state that the chipset here changes the power output of the soft, normal and hard settings with the resistance of the atomizer on top. In my testing this worked out just fine for a variety of suitable atomizers, so even though you can’t select a specific wattage, in all likelihood one of those three settings will work for you.

Battery performance is impressive given the Vowl’s tiny frame and weight, but at the same time seems to fall short of the 1600mAh claim made by Vzone. Using high resistance MTL atomisers I found that I could almost get a full day’s vaping out of one charge, which is nice, but other 1500mAh+ devices in my collection easily last a full day’s use with the same atomizers, so something doesn’t quite add up there. Luckily, the Vowl has 1A charging which minimizes downtime, charging the device from flat to full in just north of an hour.

On to the new Preco mouth-to-lung (MTL) tank.

Much like the original Preco, this is a disposable tank that cannot be dissembled and does not use replaceable coils. This idea was met with some trepidation when the Preco originally launched, but if you think of these products as replaceable pods that can fit onto any 510 mod, their place in the market becomes more apparent.

The airflow control is slightly confusing, considering Vzone are calling this the Preco MTL. At its largest setting, this is a restricted lung hit for sure. Closing all the way down to one hole on each side gives a loose MTL draw, so if you’re looking for an old-school MTL experience, you’ll need to close the airflow off almost completely. This does work, though, so it’s not a complaint, just something to note.

Between 10-15W at the smallest airflow setting, the Preco MTL provides a smooth, moderately warm and flavourful vape. It doesn’t quite match the output of larger stock coil MTL tanks, but it’s certainly on par with the best pod systems that I’ve tried. Considering that this is essentially a pod that happens to have a standardised connection, I think this performance is admirable.

Device Specifications:

Ultra slim, micro-engineered stainless-steel blade

Slide and lock mechanism

Three-button power control

Micro USB charge

MyVype App (Available on Google Play)

- Great MTL experience - Unsteady base, doesn’t stand up too well

This new pod system from Vype uses custom closed-pod cartridges. It is a slightly larger variant of the iSwitch, featuring a bigger battery and three power settings.

It looks and feels clean and corporate, making it perfect for work and smart occasions, and is available in either silver, black or blue. The construction is solid, finished with a soft-touch matte coating and is notably larger than many similar devices on the market.

The ergonomic pebble shape is comfortable in-hand and features a discreet fire button on the outer edge. The base of the battery is angled which lends a certain visual appeal, but it does make it easy to knock the device over when standing it on a surface.

The MAXX features the same slide-and-lock pod chamber and pods as the iSwitch. The pods are long and sleek, each containing 2ml of Fresh Mint, Forest Berries or Virginia Tobacco e-liquid. They include built-in overfill protection which prevents juice from entering the mouth, ensuring a smooth and mess-free vape.

As for functionality, this device is straight-to-the-point, featuring three power levels, all of which impact the hit and vapour production. The hit from either of the nicotine strengths is impressive in respect to its specified milligram content. For example, the 3mg e-liquid gives a punchy throathit that is much smoother and with a more satisfying nicotine delivery than its competitors.

The MyVype App acts as a diary and smoking-cessation aid, giving the user guidance and progress reports. This is a nice feature allowing people to track their use well beyond what a puff-counter alone could provide.

This is a sturdy and easy-to-use pod device that will appeal to those wanting a vape that closely replicates the smoking experience. With each pod lasting around a day and a straight-forward app that tracks use, the iSwitch MAXX is primed for anyone making the switch.

Device Specifications:

Dimensions: 88 x 39 x 16.4mm

Materials: Zinc alloy + polycarbonate

Battery capacity: 350mAh

E-liquid capacity: 2ml

Power output: 3.0V/3.3V/3.6V/3.9V

Weight: 58g

- Great build quality

- Great design

- Good performance

- Battery life

Nikola are a new company in the ever more competitive vape hardware arena, but they’ve already proven themselves competent with interesting releases such as the Niagra dual 18650 squonker. The Delorean is their first venture into the world of pod systems, so does it stand out from the crowd in vaping’s most populated new frontier?

The Delorean’s construction, fit and finish are outstanding for a pod device. The zinc alloy frame gives it a nice weight and premium feel in the hand, and as we have learned from previous devices made of this material, it will stand up well to knocks and falls. Zinc alloy has become the gold standard of lowcost materials and it’s nice to see that it’s making its way down to pod systems.

The pods themselves have an interesting and well thought out design. The mouthpiece can be removed to reveal a rubber seal with two holes. When removed this allows for mess-free top-filling, since one hole allows air to escape whilst the other lets liquid flow into the pod. They’re not the biggest fill ports I’ve seen, but they accommodate most small e-liquid bottles without issue. The bottom side of the pod has a single airflow hole, covered by a membrane. This membrane keeps a constant seal until the user draws air through the pod, which makes the Delorean very leak resistant.

There are four power settings to cycle through by clicking the fire button three times. This is similar to other variable voltage pods on the market and allows for a nice level of user adjustment and is especially useful when changing between e-liquids with large differences in nicotine content. Ramp-up time is quick, as with most button-fired pods, so there’s no issue with short sharp bursts of nicotine delivery. Battery life is the only real shortfall here and with a 350mAh internal cell you can only expect light use between charges. This is a bit of a shame, since other pod devices of similar size have larger internal cells and this does take a toll on the practicality of an otherwise well-engineered piece of kit.

The supplied 1.2Ohm pods perform very nicely, providing a loose mouth-to-lung (MTL) draw with a warm, flavourful vape at the higher voltage settings. Pod longevity is above average, easily lasting four-to-six fills of moderately sweet e-liquid before needing to be replaced.

Beer + Lime

VG/PG Ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

I’ve never seen beer attempted in e-liquid before. But VoVan have absolutely nailed a Mexican-style lager with lime and it’s very satisfying to vape. This refreshing blend can easily be vaped all day. The lime accent is moderately strong: somewhere between lime cordial and fresh fruit. But the real star of the show is the authentic lager that permeates the mix. The profile is finished with a mild coolant, which keeps things nice and fresh.

Beer Cola

VG/PG Ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

If you thought Beer + Lime was unusual in the vape world, Beer Cola is even more unique. Cola is the dominant flavour. It’s far less cloying than in some other cola e-liquids and doesn’t linger or become sickly. The light lager note is far more subtle than in Beer + Lime. This combination of flavours works well, and I found myself vaping half the bottle in a matter of days. The mild coolant keeps the sweetness of the cola at bay. A weird and wonderful beverage vape that needs to be tried before it’s judged.

Vaperson

Lemon Ice Tea:

VG/PG Ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

Iced tea is a very difficult profile to get right in the context of e-liquid, so how does VoVan’s offering fare? Black tea dominates here. It’s authentic, carrying a rich earthy sweetness along the way. This is contrasted with a mild sweet lemon accent, which cuts through the sweetness of the tea and adds a pleasant tartness to the mix. The blend is finished with a moderately strong coolant. An authentic, light and refreshing iced tea that many will enjoy.

Blaze

VG/PG Ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

This is described as a blend of blueberry, raspberry and ice, suggesting a blue slushstyle profile. The top note of sweet candy raspberry is bright and sticky with hints of a more natural tartness. These brighter elements are contrasted by a deeper candy blueberry, adding body with its mellow earthiness and mild florals. The mix is finished with a moderately strong coolant. This is a very well-balanced blue raspberry blend and it’s easy to see why it has become so popular. All day vape material.

Tropical

VG/PG Ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

This is billed as a blend of watermelon, kiwi and passionfruit. But instead of watermelon, I’m getting a juicy, authentic cantaloupe. This is contrasted with a slightly sharper passionfruit that adds tartness without overpowering the fresh cantaloupe. The kiwi is more an accent than a key player, adding some earthy sweetness and giving a boost to those juicy melon notes. This is not what I would usually expect from a tropical mix, but I’ve highly enjoyed it and it has become my favourite Pukka Juice offering. A brilliant choice for exotic vapers.

Rainbow Blaze

VG/PG Ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

Described as sweets blended with the original Blaze base. The top note of potent candy lime is very bright and not as sharp as you would expect from more natural renditions. This is complemented by a subtle candy strawberry, which is a classic pairing well-executed. These top notes are supported by the original Blaze base, which is more subdued but still very much part of the mix, with its bright sweetness and sticky body. The blend is finished with a moderately strong coolant, resulting in a fresh candy vape that will likely please many.

ST33P - ACE

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Moderate

A delectably moist and decadent strawberry cheesecake, ACE is definitely one for the dessert fans.

You can expect a smooth and fluffy strawberry layer right on the inhale. As you are just about to begin exhaling, you will notice a slightly tart strawberry jus that perks the smoother strawberry notes up a little. There are also notes of fluffy whipped cream, that adds a subtle smoothness to all of the other flavours. As you exhale, a crumbly graham cracker biscuit base comes in to play. It gives a warming and wholesome platform for the more extravagant strawberry tones to complement. The thing I found most appealing about this e-liquid would have to be its complexity. They took a risk at concocting such an intricate set of flavours, and it certainly paid off.

ST33P – ONE

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

This blend of fruits, candies and frozen treats is a tough profile to describe. The top note seems to be a candied blueberry, with a pleasant, deep sweetness and some mild florals, but then things become difficult to identify. There’s certainly a fruit medley with hints of melon, but I can’t confidently identify individual fruits or candy layers. What I can say is that it works. As for the “frozen treats” element, I am not detecting any menthol or coolant, so this may refer to the fruit medley profile found the ‘bomb pops’ popular in the US. This is an interesting, if slightly confusing, candy fruit vape.

Acaiz E-liquid — SML

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild, with cooling

Strawberry, mango, lime, açai berries and a menthol finish. That’s a pretty bold range of flavours to fit into one e-liquid. Sweet candy lime is the most prominent flavour here. It brings some sweetness to the mix but still retains a hint of sharpness. This is complemented well by a more mellow candy strawberry, and whilst it’s nondescript it does fortify the sweetness of the lime. The açai berry is more of an accent and to my palate is so subtle that it could be mistaken for a more conventional dark fruit, it does work though, and stops SML from feeling flat. Unfortunately, I’m not really detecting any mango to speak of, perhaps it is simply getting lost among the more potent fruits here. The menthol finish is very mild and unobtrusive but works nonetheless. SML is an interesting profile, though some of the fruits are difficult to pick out.

Hippie Puffs

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Hippie Puffs is described as a berry crunch cereal blend. These kinds of profiles tend to be on the complex end of the spectrum, so competent mixing is required to get things right. The top note here is a subtle berry medley. There’s definitely some strawberry here, with hints of darker fruits. This doesn’t dominate the mix by any means, but it is the most noticeable element. A substantial helping of sweetened milk supports the fruit top notes, it’s not what I would describe as an authentic dairy flavour, but in the context of a sweet cereal blend it works nonetheless and adds a satisfying mouthfeel to the profile. The mix is rounded off with a moderate grain or cereal base which serves to add texture to the blend, whilst emphasising the breakfast cereal connotations. Hippie Puffs is a competent cereal blend that leans heavily into dessert territory, but still works.

Vape My Day

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Described as a blend of butterscotch, caramel and hazelnut, Vape My Day is a profile that could easily become sickly sweet without careful attention to detail. Butterscotch is clearly the dominant flavour here. It’s bold, rich and provides undeniable body to the mix. It’s not often we see butterscotch as a central flavour in the e-liquid world and I’m delighted to say it’s been done well in this case. This is enhanced by a light caramel top note which intensifies the already dark sweetness of the profile, without pushing it to cloying levels. These two flavours interact so well that they almost merge into one, a sign of good mixing. The profile is finished with a very subtle hazelnut accent. This adds some welcome depth to the blend, along with a distinctly gritty texture that some will appreciate greatly. This is a fantastic choice for those with a sweet tooth.

The Berg USA

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Smooth

The Berg USA is a smooth, fruity and rather refreshing blue raspberry slush flavoured e-liquid. It is not overly sweet, which is actually a plus in my opinion, because at no point did I find this e-liquid sickly or overwhelming. There is no cooling agent nor any menthol added in this flavour, something I also rather enjoyed, as it gave the candy-like raspberry elements time to really shine. The actual colour of this e-liquid is a bright enticing blue, a fairly elusive trait as far as the colours of e-liquids go. The thing I most enjoyed about this flavour was the subtle berry notes that gave this delicious e-liquid a unique tang.

The Berg USA Menthol

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal

Throat hit: Mild

This instalment from Innevape is arguably one of the most wide reaching and well-loved flavours out there right now. Essentially, The Berg USA Menthol is a straight up, no messing about, berry menthol. The berry notes are akin to a blue raspberry or blueberry mix. You can really appreciate the rich, fruity tones when you inhale this e-liquid, and it makes your mouth water. As you begin to exhale, the menthol becomes more noticeable. The menthol is actually very pleasant, it didn’t taste artificial nor peppery, and complemented the berry flavours flawlessly. Menthol based e-liquids are perfect for cleansing the palate, and this one does not disappoint, you can expect consistent, full flavour that doesn’t die down over time.

TNT VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Mild

A rich and oddly sharp tobacco flavour, this e-liquid is both decadent and simple. The tobacco notes in this e-liquid are very full on and give off a potent, but pleasant tobacco leaf taste when inhaling. Tobacco is such a diverse flavour profile, and within it, there are many variations. In terms of comparing this e-liquid to other tobacco flavours I have tried, I would say that it is a realistic taste and comes across as rather heavy. When exhaling, the heavier tobacco elements are then balanced with a sweet and wholesome maple syrup edge. The syrup adds a new dimension to this flavour, giving it a distinctive taste that fans of tobacco flavours will love.

TNT Menthol

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Moderate

A very straightforward flavour, this e-liquid offers a full, almost nutty tobacco blended with a rather mild, yet still noticeable icy menthol edge. Upon inhaling, you can notice both flavours at the same time, as they are so well mixed together, thus, on the exhale, you can still taste both the tobacco and menthol. The aftertaste is quite smooth and gentle, and by no means comes across as being artificial. As this e-liquid has next to no added sweetener, it is a perfect candidate for an all-day vape, as it is difficult to get sick or bored of this flavour. Overall, a very easy to vape e-liquid. This will be popular with both tobacco and menthol fans, especially for new vapers looking for a flavour that closely matches the menthol cigarettes that they used to smoke.

Humble Juice Co have created a flavour that can be enjoyed all day long. Blue Dazzle is perfect for fans of fruit flavours there is an enjoyable tarty profile that is complemented by the sweetness of the fruits. Upon exhale, Blue Dazzle emerges with a delightful candy floss flavour and rewards you with a sweet candy tone. It will provide you with the perfect ending to this marvellous flavour making Blue Dazzle a vape juice that can easily be an all-day vape.

Berry Blow

Berry Blow Doe by Humble Juice Co is a burst of delightful raspberries and blueberries in a bubble-gum lollipop. This vape juice will awaken those nostalgic memories. On the inhale, Humble Juice Berry Blow Does vape juice treats your taste buds to sweet raspberries and blueberries, giving you that authentic fruit flavour you desire. The bubble-gum flavour then takes over making it the perfect combination for anyone to enjoy. If you’re looking for a sweet, fruity juice, look no further.

Donkey Khan

A balanced blend of strawberry, banana and dragon fruit flavours that are quite subtly sweet. With a mild throat hit, the banana and strawberry combination resembles a fresh smoothie or milkshake. When inhaled, the strawberry is noticeable, but surprisingly the banana notes are stronger than I expected without being overpowering, and unlike a few others I have tried, it does not taste artificial. Perfect for a summer juice, this smooth vape has fresh and fruity flavours which are quite refreshing and are complemented by the lasting dragon fruit aftertaste.

Smash Mouth

It’s hard to go wrong with a juice that has strawberry as the main attraction, add custard to the mix and you’ve got a vape that’s not at all dissimilar to the sweet and creamy blend of jelly and ice cream. The graham crackers are a welcome inclusion here, offsetting the sweetness with a touch of biscuit flavour. I’d go as far as to say the graham cracker is the star of the show here, taking this juice up a notch and elevating it from humble jelly and ice cream flavours to that of a glorious strawberry tart.

Unicorn Treats

The first thing I noticed when filling up my vape was how much Unicorn Treats liquid actually smells like cereal. From the first inhale I can say that it tastes like it too!

The milky, creamy flavours remind me of rice crispy treats but there are also hints of biscuit that seem to work well in combination. The most powerful flavour is definitely marshmallow, offering a kind of sticky sweetness to the mix which overshadows the more subtle milky elements. This blend works really well and mimics the taste of Lucky Charms cereal, with a smooth throat hit and sweet taste, this e-liquid is, as its name suggests, a treat to vape.

Blue Dazzle

Salted Caramel Fudge Doughnut

VG/PG Ratio : 70/30

Additional Sweetener: Moderate Throat Hit: Minimal

A decadent and multifaceted bakery e-liquid. I was expecting lots of sophisticated dessert elements. Upon inhaling, the most prominent flavour that I noticed would be the rich and vivid caramel fudge. It tasted very realistic and soon enough, there was an ever so slight touch of salt to accompany the decadent fudge notes. The cakey and crispy doughnut flavour became blatantly apparent on exhalation and seemed to really combine all of the flavours together in a neat, refined way. Despite this e-liquid coming across as being very sweet, I could appreciate the separate flavours, without getting sick of them. This e-liquid will be exceptionally popular with dessert or bakery fans.

Rice Krispy Treats & Vanilla Ice Cream

VG/PG Ratio : 70/30

Additional Sweetener: Moderate Throat Hit:

Very Mild

A firm favourite of mine, I really enjoyed this sweet, dulcet e-liquid. The rice krispy side of this e-liquid was mild and sort of took a back seat in terms of flavour. However, I felt that this was a good thing, as it made the overall flavour not too overpoweringly sweet. There was a soft and subtle creamy marshmallow undertone that bound the slightly savoury rice krispy flavours together. On the exhale, notes of a sweeter nature became more noticeable, namely a smooth and thick vanilla bean ice cream. I could appreciate the way that the ice cream matched perfectly with the more subdued rice krispy treat, each complementing one another in a deliciously satisfying manner. I loved how smooth the inhale was with this e-liquid.

Million Shortcake

VG/PG Ratio : 70/30

Additional Sweetener: Moderate Throat Hit: Mild

One of my favourite indulgent treats, the Millionaires Shortbread, has been perfectly recreated in vape form. Initially, a rich and creamy chocolate flavour was probably most obvious and came across as very impressive. Chocolate flavoured e-liquids are notoriously difficult to get right, however, Bake 'n' Vape have managed to nail it perfectly. It doesn't taste artificial and carries a milkiness that makes the chocolate flavour even more realistic. After the chocolate, a divine blend of sweet, creamy and slightly salty caramel meets your taste buds, which is then closely followed by a buttery, crumbly shortbread. The biscuit notes in this e-liquid help mellow out the more intense flavours of the chocolate and caramel, therefore creating the ultimate dessert vape.

Cookie Doh Cinnamon & Cream

VG/PG Ratio : 70/30

Additional Sweetener: Moderate

Throat Hit: Mild

A creaminess that is second to none, this installation from Bake 'n' Vape is both flavourful and easy to vape. On inhalation, you can pick up on a soft, gooey cookie dough that makes your mouth water in a unique and rewarding manner. Then comes a warming and almost nutty touch of cinnamon that adds a fantastic dimension to this e-liquid. As you begin to breathe out, thick plumes of sweetsmelling vapour helps exaggerate the smooth and creamy notes you get when vaping this delicate and well-concocted dessert flavour.

The thing that I appreciated most about this e-liquid would have to be its incredible palatability and its persistent flavour that doesn't overpower your taste buds. It was a stupendous attempt to create a pleasant tasting cookie dough flavour that retains a decent and realistic taste throughout the vaping experience.

Grape, Raspberry and Blackcurrant

CBD is taking the vaping world by storm at the moment, and this e-liquid is a pleasant contribution to the everincreasing amount of vapeable CBD e-liquids. Eco CBD is 99.9% pure CBD isolate, with no THC, meaning you get many of the benefits CBD has to offer.

This flavour presents itself with a full-on fruity blast, with a juicy and tangy exhale. This e-liquid reminds me somewhat of a fruit squash, offering a powerful blend of berries, with a smooth and equally luscious undertone.

I particularly enjoyed the freshness that this e-liquid brought to the table, and its relatively mild flavour components made it difficult to put down.

Blue Raspberry and Lime

Created in the UK, Eco CBD uses the highest quality ingredients to ensure a pleasant and effective vaping experience. If you are after a powerful, fruity and zesty CBD e-liquid, then look no further. This e-liquid offers a delicious blend of sweet, candy-like blue raspberry, coupled up with a tangy and mouthwatering lime. The flavourings in the e-liquid are wonderfully simple and uncomplicated, and they work together very well to concoct a flavour that is a pleasant way to take in CBD without the fuss of adding concentrates to your existing e-liquids. Personally, my favourite thing about this e-liquid would be the soft and sweet blue raspberry flavouring. Inhaling it was rather refined, and exhaling was even better, as it leaves a smooth, candy-like aftertaste.

Belts Strawberry

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

The top note is certainly gummy strawberry candy, with a bright and potent nostalgic sweetness. The generic gummy candy note helps sell the candy connotation while adding some sticky body to the mix. The profile is finished with a tart note that may be the result of some malic or citric acid. This is a competent, simple candy vape to be enjoyed by sweet-toothed vapers.

Batch

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Citrus is dominant, though it’s not overly sharp and tastes exactly as you would expect from sour citrus candy. Candy lime is supported by the lemon and orange accents, with a candy cherry note that is a little less prominent but still brings depth to this otherwise super-bright profile. The tart finish ties the whole thing together and really sells this as a sour candy vape.

Sour Worms

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

The top note is a potent candy raspberry, bringing a bright, tart sweetness to the mix. This is supported by some other berries that are not defined enough to pick out individually. These notes are contrasted by a mild citrus medley, which brings some welcome additional tartness to the mix. Another solid choice for vapers with a sweet tooth.

Pink Squares

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

A more ambiguous mix here. The berry is much softer than in Sour Worms, but still brings plenty of bright sweetness with a dense, sticky mouthfeel. This top note is supported by some mild citrus accents, which help the berry to pop while boosting that candied undercurrent. The profile is rounded off with a sour additive for a tasty, candy-style vape.

Peachy Rings

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

This is a bright, sticky candy peach without the slightest hint of harshness. This is the kind of peach one might normally associate with a peaches and cream blend, but the gummy candy undertones and sour additive help to sell this as the candy it emulates. A solid candy peach vape.

Swedish

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

For me, this is the sweetest of the Candy King line-up. The raspberry is very bright and sticky, with some other mild berry notes lending further substance. The gummy candy is more noticeable too, which boosts the sticky body even further and helps to emulate the true Swedish Fish experience.

Strawberry Watermelon Bubblegum

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Watermelon is the dominant flavour here. If you’ve tried watermelon hard candies, you’ll be familiar with this. The bubblegum does lend a mildly artificial off-note, which won’t be for everyone. Meanwhile, the strawberry plays a supportive role, giving a boost to the profile’s overall sweetness, while lending some dense, sticky mouthfeel.

Lemon Drops

VG/PG Ratio: 80/20

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

This is a bright, moderately sharp candy lemon that’s spot-on to the hard-boiled sweets that so many people enjoy. The mild sour additive really sells the experience, so this is unmistakably hard candy, rather than lemonade or a more natural portrayal. If you’ve been looking for a super-simple, sweet lemon e-liquid, this is well worth trying.

Peppermint Breeze

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Moderate

All too often, peppermint flavoured e-liquids can present as being overly harsh or artificial. However, IVG has completely redefined peppermint flavoured bubblegum e-liquids with this one. There is a rather calming sweetness to accompany the more potent peppermint notes, helping create a more balanced and well-rounded flavour. The biting peppermint is extremely noticeable when inhaling, and you will probably experience a cold sensation in your sinuses, due to the cooling effect of this e-liquid. The subtle sweetness picks up around the time that you begin to exhale and reaffirms a well calculated complementary flavour. The main thing I appreciated with this e-liquid, was the fact that the peppermint did not come across as artificial or having an unusual aftertaste.

Strawberry Watermelon Gum

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Moderate

Cinnamon Gum

VG/PG ratio: 70/30

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Moderate

This e-liquid from IVG is rather unique in the fact that it is bubblegum cinnamon, rather than the typical dessert cinnamon found in a lot of e-liquids on the market right now. From the moment you begin to inhale this delicious flavour, you will notice a biting, sour and spicy cinnamon candy that will knock you off of your feet. The cinnamon leaves a tingling sensation on your tongue, until you begin to exhale, where notes of mild, minty gum accompany the sharp cinnamon, accentuating both flavours at the same time. The minty gum aspect brings the powerful cinnamon down a notch or two, but I felt that this was a good thing, as the two main flavour elements work together incredibly well. The aftertaste is decent and consists mainly of the hot cinnamon, leaving a delectable, mouthwatering flavour in your mouth.

A very admirable attempt at creating such a delicious and well-rounded fruity gum flavour. Upon inhaling, you begin to appreciate a smooth and sweet strawberry, that soon morphs into a juicy and succulent watermelon candy. The intensely refreshing fruit elements in this e-liquid are further emphasised by a cooler, minty undertone. The mint brings all of the flavours together, and you can really notice how well they mix and work with one another, rather than tasting them as separate, unjointed flavour elements. I found that this was one of the most flavoursome, fruity gum e-liquids I have tried, and the powerful flavours reiterated just how well this e-liquid was created. This flavour will appeal to a wide range of vapers, due to its fruity and minty nature.

Fizz Pop

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 0.75% at 70/30

Fizz pop is the latest in a run of additives that Capella now offer. Fizz Pop is not intended to be used as a solo ingredient, but rather to enhance the authenticity of beverage profiles. I added this concentrate to a variety of fruit mixes and the results were interesting. This additive won’t give your mix an effervescent sensation, but it certainly does give a good boost to sweetness, rounding off harsher citrus notes and also adding a pleasant, sticky mouthfeel. In many ways Fizz Pop behaves much like sweetener, but it also brings some candy connotations to the blend, which makes it less suited for heavy desserts.

Berry Cooler

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 4.5% at 70/30

Berry Cooler is from the new Capella Euro Series, a range of flavours inspired by, you guessed it, Europe. This one feels like it was intended to be used in single flavour mixing, so is it worth checking out as a beginner? The berry medley here is bright and full flavoured. Blackberry is most dominant, but there are clear notes of strawberry and blueberry, too. A mild anise accent permeates through the profile but doesn’t interfere. There’s a good amount of sweetness on offer, along with it some more medicinal eucalyptus notes, which can be divisive. The coolant element here is rather potent, as the name might suggest. If you’re looking to mix up a simple, reliable berry anise menthol, Berry Cooler does all the hard work in just one flavouring. Ideal for new mixers.

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 4.5% at 70/30

Another one-shot style flavouring from Capella’s Euro Series. Described as a blend of raspberry, pineapple, lemon and eucalyptus, this should sound very familiar to fans of Pinkman style profiles. Candied raspberry is the top note here. It’s bright, full flavoured and brings a good helping of sweetness to the mix. This is contrasted by a milder pineapple, which has some slightly sharper notes whilst also boosting the overall brightness. The lemon component is much more subtle but does a good job of supporting the profile’s sour notes. The blend is finished with a moderate eucalyptus, which keeps things fresh. Another solid choice for new mixers.

Ripe Strawberries

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 5% at 70/30

Capella have a huge range of strawberry flavourings already on offer, but Ripe Strawberries is the first I’ve seen that aims to take a more natural approach to the fruit. This is an extremely rich strawberry concentrate, which has a slight natural tartness, along with spades of the deep sweetness you would expect from the real fruit. There are still hints of candied strawberry here, but overall this very successfully emulates a natural strawberry and will no doubt soon become one of Capella’s best-selling products. Ripe Strawberries is quite forgiving when it comes to concentration, too, so there’s plenty of room for experimentation. Essential to almost any mixer.

Licorice

Percentage used and VG/PG ratio of mix: 3% at 70/30

There’s no getting away from the fact that Licorice is a very divisive profile. This anise derived candy is loved and hated in equal measure, but Capella have at the very least faithfully recreated it with this flavouring. A potent anise makes up almost the entirety of the profile here, but there’s also some candy sweetness and sticky mouth-feel thrown in for good measure. This is a great option for lovers of all things licorice, and likely horrifying for the other 50% of mankind.

Pink Punch

Lychee Ice Cream

Having never tasted lychee before, I was pleasantly surprised by this. The creamy flavour coming from the ice cream element works very well in combination with the fruity lychee. This juice is sweet but not sickly, with subtle toffee notes blending in well. Having a mild throat hit, this could easily be vaped for a long period of time. Its taste and smell are both incredibly moreish.

Crème de la Crème: Vanilla Crème

Some creamy flavours rely too heavily on the sweetener, but there’s no such problem here. Marina Vape have succeeded in sweetness without overwhelming. Crème by name and certainly reputation, the light whipped cream topping beautifully complements the sweet vanilla cream custard. The vapour produced is warming and homely, as if you’re inhaling sweet aromas from a freshly-baked dessert.

Aqua Blue Razz

Blue raspberry flavour e-liquids can often fall victim to a sickly-sweet and overpowering artificial flavour, but not this one. The taste is subtle and understated and maintains a nice, sweet kick that doesn’t overwhelm. I couldn’t detect any other tell-tale flavours in this one, just an unmistakable blue raspberry, like a perfectly toned-down ice slush. A perfect all-day vape.

Donuts: Strawberry

Instantly on inhaling you can taste the baked doughnut, the icing elements and even the sprinkles! The strawberry notes are subtle initially, but when the jam flavour comes through it’s worth the wait. The strawberry tastes very fresh and not artificially sweet. Although separate flavours are present at different times, this combination works very well and with a low throat-hit and high cloud-production.

OMEGA Alternativ

The sweet strawberry flavour comes through with the first inhale, which I felt had a hint of bubble gum candy to it. Below that, a subtle menthol current gives the vapour a refreshing punch. The pineapple and light lemonade flavours bring the medley together without overwhelming the strawberry to create a bright and summery vape suitable for all-day long.

Alpha Mr Miyagi

This papaya and plum juice is as eclectic as the description promised. If you’re after something a bit different, look no further. There’s a distinctive floral taste that complements the note of tropical fruit perfectly. This juice has a rich, almost smoky flavour to it. Add that to the soft sweetness and a warm, spiced aftertaste, you have a wonderfully summery and wonderfully unique vape.

This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.