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What is a Nic Shot?
A nic shot, short for nicotine shot, is a small bottle of concentrated, unflavoured nicotine solution that is designed to be added to shortfill e-liquids. This mixture consists of a VG and PG base with a specific amount of nicotine. The different VG and PG ratios make them great additions to different types of e-liquids. Because nicotine shots are flavourless, they will not impact the flavour of your shortfill whatsoever.
Nic shots typically come in 10ml bottles and contain a high concentration of nicotine, usually 18mg or 20mg. They are meant to be added to a 50ml or 100ml bottle of shortfill e-juice, which creates a final e-liquid volume of 60ml or 120ml with a nicotine strength of 3mg or 6mg, respectively. It's important to note that nic shots are only intended for use in shortfill e-liquids and should not be vaped on their own!
Different types of nic shots
Freebase Nicotine Shots
These shots are the traditional form of nic shots. They contain freebase nicotine, a strong form of nicotine derived from the tobacco plant.
Nic Salt Shots
Nic salt shots are a relatively new invention. These use nic salts, the organic compound that nicotine is found in inside tobacco leaves. Compared to freebase nicotine, nicotine salts are absorbed more quickly into the body, which means that it's easier to get a fast nicotine hit without having to vape as much. If you vape using a lower powered device, a shot of salt nic is a good option. Note: they do not contain any actual salt.
Nic Shots FAQs
Ensure that your shortfill e-liquid bottle is empty enough to accommodate the nic shot – all shortfills should come with space at the top as standard. Shake the nic shot bottle well before opening it. Remove the cap of the shortfill e-liquid bottle and carefully add your 10ml nicotine shot to the shortfill bottle and mix. Replace the cap on the shortfill e-liquid bottle and shake it vigorously for at least a minute to ensure the nicotine is thoroughly mixed. Allow the mixture to steep for a short period of time to allow the flavours to fully blend together.
Nicotine shots most commonly are available in 18mg. Whilst this sounds like a lot, it will be diluted in the shortfill e-liquid.
The number of nic shots you need to add to a 100ml shortfill bottle depends on the strength of nicotine you want in your e-liquid. Typically, a 100ml shortfill bottle has space for 20ml of additional liquid, equal to two nic shots. This will result in a final e-liquid volume of 120ml with a nicotine strength of 3mg/ml. However, just because there’s space for two nic shots doesn’t mean you need to add that many! For a lower nicotine strength, feel free to add one nic shot or none at all.
Nicotine shots are harsh if vaped on their own, which is why they should always be diluted in a larger bottle of e-liquid. When properly diluted, nicotine shots should not be harsh, and the harshness of the final e-liquid product will depend on a variety of factors, including the flavourings used and the overall composition of the e-liquid.
Nicotine shots are typically available in a range of VG/PG ratios to suit different preferences and vaping setups. The most common VG/PG ratios for nic shots are 50/50, 70/30, and 100% VG.
The 50/50 VG/PG ratio is a balanced blend of vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), and is often used in starter kits or low-powered devices. The 70/30 VG/PG ratio is a higher VG blend that produces thicker clouds and smoother hits, and is often used in sub-ohm setups or high-powered devices. The 100% VG nic shots are designed for vapers who prefer a completely vegetable glycerin-based e-liquid, which may be easier on the throat for some people.
It's important to note that the VG/PG ratio of your nic shot will affect the overall VG/PG ratio of your final e-liquid, so be sure to choose a nic shot that matches your desired ratio. Also, keep in mind that higher VG e-liquids may require more frequent coil changes due to their thicker consistency. If you're still a little confused, we've put together a guide that explains the differences between various VG and PG ratios.
Unless you specifically buy an ice nic shot, unflavoured nicotine shots will not change the flavour of your vape juice. They will slightly dilute the e-liquid flavour, but this is okay because shortfills are created with a higher flavour concentration so that this will not impact the flavour when you vape.
If you want to make sure there's no flavour loss from dilution, you can steep the juice after mixing. To do this, leave the lid off the bottle for ten minutes and then seal and leave it in a dark place for a few days. This will help the flavours develop.