NicNic
NicNic makes nicotine shots, the small 10ml bottles of unflavoured nicotine you add to a shortfill to bring it up to the strength you want. This collection holds 5 NicNic shots covering freebase and nic salt, three VG ratios and a menthol version, all priced at £1.00. They are the plainest product in vaping and the one that makes the whole shortfill system work.
The reason shots exist is regulatory. UK law caps any bottle containing nicotine at 10ml and caps strength at 20mg per ml, so larger bottles are sold nicotine free with headroom left in the neck. Choosing the right shot is mostly about matching the VG ratio to the shortfill.
The NicNic range
18mg freebase shots
The 18mg Nicotine Shot 70% VG is the standard choice for high VG shortfills destined for a sub ohm tank. The 18mg Nicotine Shot 100% VG is the one to reach for when you want to add nothing but nicotine and VG, keeping a max VG mix as thick as it started. The 50% VG version is currently out of stock. Freebase nicotine is the traditional form and it gives a firmer throat hit as the strength climbs.
20mg nic salt shot
The 20mg Nicotine SALT Shot 50% VG uses nicotine salt rather than freebase. Salts are smoother at the same strength, which is why they dominate 10ml bottles and pod kits. Adding a salt shot to a shortfill gives a softer result than a freebase shot, though the 50% VG base will thin a high VG mix slightly.
18mg ice shot
The 18mg Nicotine ICE Shots 70% VG add a cooling note alongside the nicotine. They are a simple way to put a menthol edge into a fruit shortfill without buying a separate flavour concentrate.
The mixing maths
The arithmetic is straightforward. One 10ml shot of 18mg nicotine added to a 50ml shortfill in a 60ml bottle gives 60ml at 3mg per ml. Two 10ml shots of 18mg in a 100ml shortfill also give 3mg per ml. Using the 20mg salt shot in a 50ml shortfill lands a little over 3.3mg per ml. Anything stronger in a sub ohm setup feels harsh, so 3mg is the usual target.
Matching the VG ratio
A shortfill is normally 70/30 VG to PG. Add a 70% VG shot and the finished ratio stays at 70/30. Add a 50% VG shot and you pull the mix towards 66/34, which thins it a fraction and can help if a liquid is too thick for your wicking. Add a 100% VG shot and the ratio climbs, which suits max VG blends built for large mesh coils.
Mixing and steeping
Pour the shot into the shortfill, replace the cap and shake hard for a minute so the nicotine disperses evenly. Most shortfills are usable straight away. Dessert, custard and tobacco blends improve after a few days standing in a cool dark cupboard, which is what steeping means. Keep nicotine away from children and pets and never decant it into an unlabelled container.
Safety and the rules
Nicotine shots are sold to adults aged 18 and over. UK regulations cap nicotine e-liquid at 20mg per ml and cap nicotine containing bottles at 10ml, which is exactly why a shot is 10ml. Products must be notified to the MHRA before sale. UK delivery is free on orders over £20 and the team can be reached on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Nicotine shot questions answered
What is a nicotine shot?
A nicotine shot is a 10ml bottle of unflavoured nicotine base that you add to a shortfill to bring it up to strength. UK law caps any bottle containing nicotine at 10ml, so larger e-liquids are sold nicotine free with space left in the bottle. The shot fills that space and you shake the two together.
How many nicotine shots do I need?
One 10ml shot goes into a 50ml shortfill supplied in a 60ml bottle. Two shots go into a 100ml shortfill supplied in a 120ml bottle. The rule of thumb is that the headroom left in the bottle tells you how much nicotine it is designed to take, so fill the gap and no more.
What strength do I end up with?
One 10ml shot of 18mg added to a 50ml shortfill gives 3mg per ml across the finished 60ml. The same ratio applies to two shots in a 100ml shortfill. Using the 20mg nic salt shot in a 50ml shortfill lands a little over 3.3mg per ml instead. For sub ohm vaping, 3mg is the usual target.
Should I use a freebase shot or a nic salt shot?
Freebase is the traditional form and gives a firmer throat hit as strength rises. Nicotine salt is smoother at the same strength, which is why it dominates 10ml bottles and pod kits. In a shortfill for a sub ohm tank the finished strength is low either way, so pick on how much throat hit you enjoy.
Does the VG ratio of the shot matter?
It shifts the finished blend. A 70% VG shot keeps a standard 70/30 shortfill at 70/30. A 50% VG shot thins it slightly, which can help if a liquid is too thick to wick well. A 100% VG shot thickens it, which suits max VG liquids running in large mesh coils.
Do I need to steep after adding a nicotine shot?
Usually not. Shake the bottle hard for a minute and most shortfills are ready to vape. Custards, desserts and tobacco blends often taste rounder after a few days standing somewhere cool and dark with the cap on. Fruits and menthols rarely need any rest at all.