Setup: Haze (Shorty) RDA dual coil .40 Kanthal round wire build. Cotton wicks. 35-40 watts.
Testing: TPA/TFA Red Licorice Concentrate. 4.5% 70/30 VG/PG 3% Nic-Select Liquid Barn Base. 12 Hour Steep.
Flavor Description: On the nose this concentrate smells 'exactly' like red licorice/red vines/twizzlers. It is uncanny really to a point that if someone told me it was the actual flavoring in the candy itself I wouldn't question it.
On a vape I was fairly stunned at how spot on it is to red licorice candy. Everything lines up correctly from the texture, the nuances of the flavor as well. I believe you could have 100 folks vape this and 99 would immediately identify it as spot on red vines. There aren't any great subtleties I can pick out being more prominent than any others because it is just such an accurate representation. Has a slightly waxy feel that you would expect from the candy. I suppose the fruit flavor is strawberry(ish) but not in any authentic fruit way but again-spot on to what red licorice candy tastes like. Not overly sweet but sweet enough to not need any real help in that regard. Good flavor and good body.
Off Flavors None I could detect.
Throat Hit Low to moderate @ the percentage I tested at. Didn't detect anything unduly harsh.
Uses/Pairings: Due to its' spot on accuracy it is pretty much going to be limited to what it is-licorice candy. I can't imagine using it outside of the candy-realm. However, in the candy category I can see it as a must have in your arsenal. If you want to make a no-brainer stand alone red vines type vape this can do it with little or no help. I have been chasing sour belts profiles and I now believe this ingredient could be/or is a big player in those profiles to act as a base. I have used it in some strawberry sour belts recipes at 1-3% and it works beautifully to a point that I would consider it a personal breakthrough. A niche flavor/one trick pony yes-but what it does it does perfectly.
Final Notes If you have a use for a red licorice flavor this is pretty near perfection in accuracy. 10/10.
This is one of those flavors I could vape all day solo.
Possibly one of, if not the best flavour from TPA in terms of accuracy.
I'm just amused that someone named a recipe featuring this "It's me, Margaret". I'm not sure I find this a very appealing flavor, but I might have to get some just so I can make that recipe as tribute to its creator's naming prowess.
I spotted Fruit Burst on ATF and have it a try. Shakenvape it smells like Gushers candy/fruit-snacks, vaped it's leaning towards the red licorice.
Totally spot on Red Vines, before I started mixing this shop by me had a red vines house juice. I loved it, and when I started mixing I picked up some TFA Red Licorice to see if I could make it. Ended up being just that by itself, which pissed me off, but it's a great flavoring.