First attempt in a long time at trying to recreate this. I love the drink neat and could sip it all evening, getting rosy and drunk if it wasn't so damn expensive and the sugary residue didn't stick to my moustache. My first attempt was foul for a few reasons, but the main mistake was using a bakery cinnamon (CAP Cinnamon Danish Swirl). So glad it was only a 10ml. V1 looks like this:
TFA Kentucky Bourbon - 5%
INA Honey - 0.5%
FA Cinnamon Ceylon - 0.5%
TFA Vanilla Bourbon - 1.5%
EM - 1%
First impressions, all I can really taste is the honey. 0.5% and it's overwhelming everything else. The honey is sweet and sticky, all the qualities I was hoping for, but there's not a lot more coming through. Very minor spice from the cinnamon, but the vanilla and whiskey may as well not be in there. I'm wondering if the EM is dulling everything bar the honey or if it's just the strength of the honey. Also not much of a bite to it.
I also think it's missing some spice but I don't know what. JD Honey and Jim Beam Honey are very different drinks and the difference is a spice, I think, but it's something I can't put my finger on. For lack of a better idea, maybe a tiny amount of chai might work as a blunderbuss approach to finding the right spice. For V2, I'm thinking:
TFA Kentucky Bourbon - 8%
INA Honey - 0.25% (1 drop per 10ml)
FA Cinnamon Ceylon - 0.75%
TFA Vanilla Bourbon - 2.5%
TFA Vanilla Swirl - 1%
CAP Chai Tea - 0.5%
Will report back once I've had a chance to mix it up. V1 isn't unpleasant (actually, if I was trying to make a passable honey vape it would be dead on), but it's a long way off from what it was supposed to be.
I would lower the Bourbon to 6.5% or 7%. Try the honey as is at 1 drop per 10ml, if its as strong as FA Honey, I'd recommend diluting it with PG before use(works wonders honestly), also would allow for fine tuning down as needed. I would keep the vanilla bourbon at ~1.5 to 2% and take out the vanilla swirl. Chai Tea is a good vaping allspice, but if you need ideas for other accent flavors I can suggest: a few drops of Cinnamon Roll, TFA Toasted Marshmallow, FA Oakwood, INW Brandy, or even TFA white chocolate(to replace the vanilla and add sweetness).
Hey! Thanks for this.
Any reason why you'd go down to 6.5% with the bourbon? It's not prominent as is, though with 50% less honey actually, maybe you're right. I'm not sure what the tipping point for Kentucky Bourbon is before it turns foul.
Cinnamon Roll is a no go - my first (and only prior) attempt was with Cap CDS and it was specifically the bakery note that ruined it. It gave the juice a doughy fullness that shouldn't be in a liqueur. Oakwood is a perfect suggestion - that woody barrel aged note might be what it's missing, I'll try that and report back.
There is definitely vanilla in JD Honey somewhere. Vanilla Swirl might be too sweet and confectionery, but it needs more vanilla and cinnamon. Toasted marshmallow will add a thicker flavour and the cloying sweetness is there already with the honey.
Not tried INA Brandy yet, maybe it would give it that alcohol bite that it's missing. As for the spice, I really don't know. I've been through a lot of this drink and still can't pinpoint what makes it so much better than other honey whiskeys. But I'm certain it's some spice. Some mystery spice.
Thank you for this, I'll try these and report back.
TFA Kentucky Bourbon peaks between 6% and 8% after steeping. I was thinking Cinnamon roll or toasted marshmallow to pair with the FA Oakwood as it can add a tart bite, and the marshmallow definately adds a smokey toasted flavor at low %. Vanilla Bourbon is definately better for this than vanilla swirl i'd say- the swirl is too mild. Brandy is a strong alcohol flavor that pairs with TFA Kentucky Bourbon and FA Rum/Jamaican. I have yet to find a good Cardamom flavor, but its definitely in honeyjack and is probably the spice you are thinking of
TFA Kentucky Bourboun in my experience takes about 4+ days to come through in a mix. When fresh mixed, it's like it's not ever there. I like it at 7%
I've also found that Cap Simply Vanilla & French Vanilla blend nicely with Kentucky Bourboun (1.5&2.5% respectively.) You could also add Cap Graham cracker for that spice note (0.5%) and you won't taste the graham.