I'm going to be performing the following experiment involving some of the different ways that people age or cure their juice (ok, steep if you must, but I'll be using "age" for this post). Posting as a sticky as several people have expressed interest in performing the experiment with me, and anyone who wants to join in is welcome.
Step one is to pick two juices that require some time after mixing to realize their full potential. Banana flavors and custards are well known for this, and the two recipes I'll be using are Bangin' Bourbon Bread by /u/skiddlzninja and Oreo's Vanilla Custard by /u/UltimateOreo. You can use these two or pick any two recipes that don't classify as shake & vape.
Step two is to mix as follows:
A) Mix 2 bottles (of each flavor) today (1/30). Put one in a cool dark place with lid on and the other in the same place with lid off.
B) Mix 2 bottles each in two weeks (2/13). Put one in a cool dark place with lid on and the other in the same place with lid off.
C) Test date is 4 Saturdays away (2/27).
D) Mix one bottle each on Thursday 2/25 and leave on coffee warmer for 2 days, lid off. If you have another preferred heat aging method, such as water bath, that's fine.
E) Mix one bottle each on Friday 2/19 and leave on coffee warmer for 1 day, lid off.
F) Make a fresh bottle on 2/27.
G) Test all of the samples on 2/27 and compare results.
I plan to do this somewhat "blind" by generating random labels for each bottle. I'll keep the info as to which bottle is which on a separate sheet, and taste each sample without an obvious attempt to identify. I may also get some friends to participate in the comparison process.
Also, in order to ensure consistency between the mixes, I'll be making a master concentrate of just the flavors and storing it in the deep freeze between mix days. I do realize this has the potential to negate some of the effects of the test, but I think consistency of the bottles is more important than any possible interaction between the flavorings in the deep freeze. It will also make this a lot easier trying to get all the mixes made according to schedule.
Results thread should be posted in early March. Anybody else interested? Any suggestions on improvements to my schedule?
Firstly, thank you for taking the time and energy to do all of this to put an end, somewhat, to all the differing opinions out there
Also, fwiw, shouldn't you do a custard liquid, a creamy liquid and a fruity(not creamy or custardy) liquid to see how each type of flavor holds up under these circumstances?
edit: I guess menthol too for all you weirdos that like menthol juice. ;)
It's already a lot of work, and fruity vabes usually don't require much aging if any.
If you want to participate in a parallel study, please do.
Interesting experiment, don't suppose you have an ultrasonic cleaner you could try too?
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems UC steeping has gone out of style in the last year. In my own experiences it sometimes seemed to be doing nasty things to a few flavors. I gave up on it. I just use my UC for a hot water bath now, or to clean bottles and other vaping gear.
I stuck 3 flavors in one the other day for 2 hours, no caps, and at around 120 F. They all had the same funky smell right after despite one flavor not sharing any common ingredients.
I've only been playing with one for a few weeks but I can't see any benefit so far. Rhodonite to me is good after a week, but 2 hours in an ultrasonic doesn't seem to have any effect. (going by the one week = one hour in the ultrasonic theory)
No, sorry. I never understood the reasoning behind using them. Homogeneity is easy to achieve, and IMO they might change some of the flavor molecules.
However, if you want to participate and use that as your speed-aging method that would be great.
There is a lot of energy in US waves, and they have been known to deteriorate fragile chemicals. That's why I'll never acknowledge US cleaners as a viable aging method.
Also, I'll have to nod out of this, since I'm moving in the next couple weeks, and keeping track of bottles with the lids off during the move would be pretty difficult.
Since you're likely to remember somewhat the labels of each juice even if you don't think you will, maybe affix the labels to the bottom so you can't read them and/or allow someone else to taste the juices.
Also, what tank/rda will you be using and will you use the same one for all juices or a different one each? It seems to me that using the same tank could cause problems with the old juice still stuck in the wick, whereas using different tanks could cause issues since each tank could have the wicking a bit different.
Hey kirk, how did this turn out?
I did the first round of sample comparisons already, then put all the bottles in the freezer so I can do a 2nd round (takes a couple hours at least to test all of them). I'm going to send you all my sample bottles for you to do a blind test as well so PM me your new address.
I just searched through looking for this experiment. I imagine you lads will provide a write up to the sub when you're finished?
PS - thank you for doing the lord's work! lol.
I'm a few flavors short on Oreo's Custard and my gf's coffee warmer has a 2 hr auto shut off. :-/
You don't have to make those recipes, just anything that isn't a shake-n-vape. I'm not even following the Oreo's recipe exactly, just doing it the way I've made it in the past. A new coffee warmer should be <$10, or if you tinker you can get rid of that shut-off feature pretty easily.
Should we be aging with lids off now? I always thought I was meant to age with lids on, then taking them off for a few mins every couple days.