Nicotine Shots

Nicotine shots are 10ml bottles of flavourless e-liquid, which can be added to shortfill e-liquids in order to boost their nicotine content. These nicotine boosters let you tailor your e-liquid to your desired strength, making them ideal for DIY vapers and those who like customisation. 

Although nic shots are most commonly in an 18mg nicotine strength, other strengths include 9mg, 15mg and 20mg (the maximum permitted in the UK). For a 50ml shortfill, you will usually add one 10ml 18mg shot to create 60ml of e-liquid with a 3mg nicotine strength. A 100ml shortfill can usually accommodate up to two 18mg shots, creating 120ml of e-liquid with the same 3mg strength.

Using nicotine shots is very simple. A 50ml shortfill bottle usually allows enough space to add one 10ml shot, so just add the shot to the shortfill bottle and mix thoroughly (ensure the cap is on properly first!).

For 100ml and 200ml shortfills, the process is the same. 100ml bottles typically allow for up to two nicotine shots and 200ml bottles allow for up to four. Once the shot/s is poured into your shortfill, close the cap and shake the bottle well before adding the e-liquid to your vape tank.

There are several types of nicotine shots available – each adding their own spin on your vaping experience. Here is a breakdown of the different types:

• Freebase Nicotine – This is a traditional type of nicotine and offers a harsher throat hit than other nic shot types. It is most commonly used with high VG e-liquids, like 70VG/30PG blends.
• Nicotine Salt – Nic salts are nicotine that has been mixed with an acid (usually Benzoic acid), producing a smoother throat hit and quicker nicotine delivery than freebase nicotine.
• Ice Nicotine Salt – These are essentially nicotine salts that include a touch of menthol, creating a cooler, more refreshing experience.

Nicotine shots are recommended to be used with shortfill e-liquids. Shortfills contain extra space in the bottle to accommodate the nic shots. The shortfills are also nicotine-free, and contain more flavour concentration to balance out the dilution caused when the nicotine shot is added. 

Nic shots can be used with any shortfill e-liquids, which typically come in 50ml, 100ml and 200ml sizes. You don’t need to match the brand of shot with that of the shortfill, although choosing a similar VG/PG ratio will help with consistency and performance when vaping. 

We don’t recommend pairing nic shots with premixed e-liquids as these already contain nicotine and are ready to vape.

This really depends on your personal preference and/or previous smoking habits. If you’re someone who enjoys a stronger nicotine hit, perhaps consider moving towards a 20mg strength, or if you prefer something lighter, aim towards a 9mg or 15mg strength. 

It’s important to remember the final strength of your e-liquid after mixing. For example, adding an 18mg nic shot to a 50ml shortfill will create a 3mg strength.

We always recommend matching your nicotine shot VG/PG ratio with the shortfill you’re mixing it with, in order to preserve flavour, thickness and coil performance. For instance, if you’re using a 70VG/30PG shortfill e-liquid, we recommend using a 70VG/30PG nicotine shot.