What Is A Nic Shot?

A “nic shot”, also called a nicotine shot, is a small amount of nicotine that you can add to your vape juice or e-liquid to increase its nicotine strength. It is typically a 10ml unflavored shot that cannot be vaped on its own. Instead, it is intended for use with shortfills and large bottles of e-liquid. In this blog, we provide further details about what it is, its strengths, how to use it, and the various types available.

How Strong Is a Nic Shot? (Nicotine Strength)

Nic shots typically come in small 10ml bottles, as required by the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulations, and have a strength of approximately 15mg to 20mg per ml. This means that overall, the 10ml bottle is even stronger, which is why it cannot be used on its own. The best thing about nic shots is that they allow you to control the strength of your e-liquid.

How to Use a Nic Shot

Using a nic shot is easy. If you are just getting started or haven't used a nic shot before, it is recommended to get a shortfill e-liquid. This simply means that the liquid is not filled to the brim of the bottle. For example, if you buy a 100ml bottle of e-liquid that contains nicotine, the bottle would be complete. However, if you buy a 100ml bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid (shortfill), the bottle won't be filled to the top. There would be a small space to allow you to add your nic shot if you wish.

Unscrew the cap of your shortfill bottle and remove the nozzle. Then shake your 10ml nic shot well and pour it into your shortfill. Push the nozzle back into place and screw the cap back on tightly. Shake for a couple of seconds to properly mix the nicotine with the juice evenly, and let it sit for a while (called steeping) so the flavours blend better, before you start using it.

How Many Nic Shots Should I Add?

If you are confused about how many nic shots you should add to your liquid, there are online tools called nic shot calculators that you can use. Just type in how much vape juice you have and how strong you want it to be. The calculator will then indicate the exact number of shots to use. It makes things very easy.

Generally, a 10ml nic shot bottle is usually perfect for a 50ml shortfill bottle. If you want a little more nicotine, you might need to use more nic shots. You will also need a bigger bottle to fit all that liquid. But this shouldn't be a problem. You can either purchase larger shortfills or transfer the juice to a larger empty bottle, which will allow you to add more nicotine shots as needed.

Why Use Nic Shots

Nic shots are a popular option for both experienced and new vapers. They offer a great deal of flexibility and convenience, further enhancing your vaping experience. For example, a nic shot lets you control the strength of your e-liquid. If you like it stronger, you can add a little more nicotine. If you are trying to reduce your nicotine slowly, it makes it perfect for this too.

Another reason many people prefer Nic Shot is that it allows for larger bottles of vape juice. This comes in handy when you vape frequently or don't want to carry multiple bottles of e-liquids around, especially if you're using the same flavour. Simply add a Nic Shot or two, depending on your preference, to a larger bottle of vape juice, and you're good to go.

Nic Shots also give you more freedom and flexibility. You can mix different flavours and strengths. If you have a few favourite shortfill flavours, you can use the same Nic Shot with all of them. Or if you want to cut down on nicotine slowly, you can use less Nic Shot each time. This way, you are in complete control of your vaping experience.

Types of Nic Shots

There are different types of Nic Shot to suit everyone's needs and preferences. They include;

Freebase Nicotine Shots

Freebase nicotine shots are probably the most popular type. Most vapers love it because it provides a stronger throat hit. This is especially perfect for people who used to smoke cigarettes a lot and are still looking for that sensation.

Nicotine Salt Shots

Nicotine salt shots, also called nic salts, are made a little differently from the freebase nic shots. These are gentler on the throat. When you vape, instead of that sharp, strong hit, it feels smooth and light. However, despite this soft hit, nicotine salts get into the body faster, providing faster effects. This makes it perfect for people chasing the quick effects or those who use smaller vaping devices like pod systems.

High VG Nic Shots

VG stands for vegetable glycerin, which helps create large, thick clouds of vapour, making it perfect for individuals who love the thrill of big clouds when vaping. High VG Nic Shot are great for sub-ohm vaping. This simply means using a vaping device that has very low resistance coils, but lets you vape more powerfully. This type of Nic Shot works best for these types of devices because it flows more smoothly and doesn’t damage the coil.

50/50 mix

Some Nic Shots come with a 50/50 mix, which means they have equal parts VG (vegetable glycerin) and PG (propylene glycol). This balanced mix is a good middle ground. It works well with most vape devices and styles. The 50/50 Nic Shots give a decent throat hit but still produce some nice clouds. They are great if you want a smooth vape that is not too harsh but still has good flavour.

Whatever Nic Shot you choose depends on various personal factors, including the type of vapour, flavour, and cloud production you are looking for, whether you want a strong throat hit, or if you are just looking for something smooth and gentle, but satisfying.