Drake's Naturally Extracted Tobacco E-Liquids
Drake’s are a UK manufacturer of Naturally Extracted Tobacco (NET) E-Liquids based in London. At present the range consists of six flavours of which we picked up four get reviewed.
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by VapeMaster
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Drake’s Naturally Extracted Tobacco E-Liquids
We offer a world of choice with tobacco blends from the four corners of the Earth.
Drake’s are a UK manufacturer of Naturally Extracted Tobacco (NET) E-Liquids based in London and founded in 2015 by Dan O’Callaghan, and later joined by Brian Morrison in 2016.
Naturally extracted tobacco is exactly what it sounds like ground and/or chopped tobacco distilled into either a VG or PG mix. The process retains the pure taste of tobacco into the mixture. Heating can be used to add more flavour or to accelerate the process. Although for the more superior flavour we use a cold process known as Cold Maceration which is famed for being able to preserve the flavourful nuance of traditional leaf tobaccos.
Drake’s feel that artificial tobacco does not successfully capture the true range and complexity of the real thing, and I think it is a very valid point to make. Drake’s use ethically sourced tobacco and do not use any artificial elements in their products so as to keep everything in its pure form. They use a six to nine week cold steeping/maceration method using the finest tobacco sourced from the best tobacco farmers in the world. During this process no artificial flavours are ever added and this allows the tobacco to fully develop its natural flavour and aroma.
At present the range consists of six flavours of which I received four to review. It is mixed to a 50VG/50PG ratio and is available in the following nicotine strengths: 18mg. 12mg, 6mg, 3mg and 0mg.
Drakes’s tobacco passes through a thorough lab screening process to ensure it is free of any harmful content. These include substances such as Diacetyl, and Acetyl Propionyl. This guarantees that the finished product is in its purest form.
All of their liquids are now fully TPD Compliant for sale and can be purchased in 10ml bottles or as 60ml short fill bottles that require the addition of one or two 10ml bottles of 18mg QuickNic or its equivalent. Drakes also sell 18mg bottles of nicotine if you don’t have any at home.
The 10ml bottles are your typical PET bottle design with a child proof top cap. They are really well presented with nicely set out labels using a neat font, with all warnings clearly marked. In addition the bottles come packaged in a protective cardboard tube which also contains a warning leaflet. Do check out Drake’s website to find out which European countries their juices are compliant for sale in and keep in mind that all packaging and point of sale features have been fully translated. If you live outside the EU you can also purchase 30ml bottles.
The juice is competitively priced and can be purchased in single 10ml bottles for £5.99, 3x 10ml bottles for £15.99 and also as 60ml short fill bottles for £21.99.
I really enjoyed trying out these so they got vaped in a variety of atomizers. Mainly the Taifun GT III, the Titanium Mods Ukraine Achilles II RDA, the Kayfun Prime and the Innokin Ares MTL RTA. All of those atomizers featured a 1.0 or 1.2ohm build wicked with Kendo Vape Cotton.
Virginia
The first thing you will notice with Drake’s Virginia is its appearance which is a yellow and orange colour. In addition, the aroma has been described as having a lovely warm, sweet smell to it mixed in with some earthy undertones. For the taste then you can expect a rather subtle, but highly enjoyable Virginia tobacco complete with a smoky and earthy taste.
This juice is unbelievably close to the kind of taste you would get from traditional hand rolling Virginia tobacco such as Drum, Samson and Golden Virginia. The juice has a lovely creaminess to it and when you first notice that tobacco greeting your taste buds it is a fantastic experience! The hay like and earthy notes in the tobacco are very noticeable, but there is also that slight sweetness present too which in traditional Virginia tobacco is the result of a high level of natural dextrose (sugar). After each exhale you also get that typical lingering leafy dryness.
I think if I was still smoking and someone offered me this to try I would be hard pushed to notice the difference, because it really is that good! Since I really love tobacco vapes while drinking single malt I feel this one goes very well with Coal Ila 12 Year Old. Any Virginia fans out there will find this a great all day vape!
I absolutely devoured the 10ml bottle of this and I certainly want to get my greedy hands on more. Vapour production was great. The throat hit was medium in 3mg strength but due to the dry quality you can feel a little parched if you overindulge.
Burley
Drake’s Burley Tobacco E-liquid is yellow to pale orange in colour, but towards white wine at the end. It has a smooth, warm tobacco taste that is accompanied by a gentle sweetness evident throughout your draw. In addition, on the exhale you will taste subtle notes of nuttiness.
Burley is typically a very popular pipe tobacco. It contains absolutely no sugar which gives it a drier quality and a fuller aroma than Virginia. Burley tobacco tends to be used in many aromatic blends because it absorbs all the flavourings. As an E-Liquid it captures many of those qualities, at least as best as this format allows. Vaping it is like a stronger version of Drake’s Virginia but with a nutty quality, this means the profile is different of course, much drier overall and with more distinct leafy flavouring, but not as potent and full on as the Kentucky.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think it really does a good job of truly portraying the essence of this tobacco. I might add that it goes very well with a glass of Glenfiddich 15 Year Old. Vapour production was great and I found the throat hit to be medium to strong in 3mg nicotine strength.
Kentucky
The hue of Drake’s Fire Cured Kentucky E-liquid has a yellowish-orange darkish tint. The smell is smoky and mildly ashen. This e-liquid is a distinctive fragrant Kentucky tobacco, with a slightly smoky taste tinged with a woody flavour. There is also an underlying nutty and earthy type flavour that makes this e-liquid superbly elegant. This e-liquid is a matchless compilation saturated with a unique woody scent toned down by a nutty warm sensation that lasts to the end of your draw.
Kentucky is a variant of Burley tobacco that has been specially treated, but unlike Burley, Kentucky is actually fire-cured. This serves to give it a distinct aromatic quality but not as pronounced as something like a Latakia tobacco.
Drake’s have totally nailed this flavour and their Kentucky makes for a very unique vape that is full of body and character. I’m sure any tobacco fan will love this. The mix also features a hint of nuttiness and a pleasant smoky note to it that was highly enjoyable. It certainly does not have an ashy quality but more the kind of slightly charred taste and woody aroma you would get from something like a good quality Islay single malt whisky.
Once again the creamy smoothness was very noticeable in the vape and I’m starting to suspect they mix their very fine tobacco juices with double cream. Vapour production was excellent and the throat hit was strong in 3mg strength. Definitely my absolute favourite out of a stunning selection and a superb accompaniment to a double measure of Talisker! Of course you could pair it with Laphroaig, or Arberg for the ultimate sublime smoky experience, alternatively try it with Balvenie Doublewood 12 for that real oaky sensation. I’m sure by now you’re wondering if this an actual juice review or a whisky guide… to my mind, why not both?
Menthol
This yellow/pale orange e-liquid has an icy, minty, yet powerful smell. The menthol e-liquid also has a noticeable Virginia tobacco taste but as the mint gradually builds, it overtakes that taste and gives a cooling, icy wave of menthol when you exhale. The icy mint is perfect to satisfy an ex-menthol smoker’s appetite without having to resort to an artificial and otherwise overpowering mint.
This juice offers a really excellent menthol tobacco. The addition of the very pleasant tasting and subtle icy menthol does mean that the tobacco notes while distinctly present are not as strong bodied as they might be in a standalone tobacco, therefore it making it much tamer on the palate for heavy vaper’s like myself.
The menthol is paired with the excellent Virginia tobacco and as such it very light as a vape and not at all face freezing in terms of its overall coldness. If you’re fan of menthol tobacco and want to quit for good then this one should suit you nicely. Vapour production was once more on point and the throat hit was medium in 3mg nicotine strength on account of the menthol. The whisky fan in me would say never ever pair menthol with single malts but this should go really nicely with a pint of lager.
Conclusion
As someone who still loves tobacco E-liquids I have to say that I am seriously impressed by these juices and they make for a wonderful vape when you just want to chill out. Being NET juices they really stand out from the crowd being absolutely superb and perfectly capturing the flavour profiles of the various tobaccos. I’d personally be very tempted to stock up on these because they’re absolutely gorgeous! So if you’re on the fence about making the switch to vaping or if you’re a vaper looking to recreate the sensation of the old days without the ill health, then these come highly recommended!
According to their website Havana is now available but unfortunately I did not receive that one for review. Another four further flavours are due to be released this winter including Latakia, Perique, Cavendish and Shade.
Many thanks to Drake’s E-Liquid who kindly sent these juices to Planet of the Vapes for us to review. You can purchase any of these E-Liquids directly from Drake’s E-Liquid. Remember to use code drakes20 at the checkout for 20% off your first order.
It is undeniable that if one truly wants to excite their taste buds and all the other senses that come with it, then the natural way will offer them true satisfaction.
VapeMaster
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