Nic Shots & Base Liquids

For those who mix their own: nic shots to add nicotine to a shortfill, vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol base liquids, and concentrated longfill flavours.

Nic shots, base liquids and longfill: how to make up your e-liquid

Making your own e-liquid follows a simple logic: you start with a flavour concentrate (longfill), add VG/PG base liquid to fill the bottle and, if you want nicotine, a 10 ml nic shot. The result works out much cheaper per millilitre than a ready-mixed e-liquid, even more so since the 2026 excise duty charges €0.20 per millilitre of e-liquid with nicotine and €0.10 per millilitre of nicotine-free e-liquid.

The ratio is shown on the longfill label with figures such as 30/120, meaning 30 ml of flavour to be topped up to 120 ml. The base changes the vapour and the throat hit: more VG means more vapour; more PG means more flavour and a stronger throat hit. Ready-mixed e-liquids are in e-liquids and nic salts, and there are nic salts if you'd rather not mix.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a nic shot?

A 10 ml bottle of base liquid with nicotine, usually at 20 mg/ml, which you add to nicotine-free e-liquid to bring it to the strength you want.

How much do I save?

Quite a lot: buying the flavour concentrate and the base separately brings the cost per millilitre down a long way compared with a 10 ml ready-mixed bottle.

How long does the mix need to steep?

From a few days to two weeks depending on the flavour. Shake it and store it closed and away from light.

And if you'd rather not mix anything, ready-to-use bottles are in nic salts and the device to use them with in refillable pod kits.