The standard calculation is pretty straightforward, though I'll admit it confused me initially. One 18mg nic shot added to a 50ml shortfill gives you approximately 3mg strength in the final 60ml bottle. If you want 6mg, you'll need two shots - but remember to remove 10ml of the shortfill first to make room for that second shot.
For those who prefer precision over guesswork, most retailers offer handy nicotine shot calculators. Simply input your shortfill size, desired final strength, and nic shot strength, and it'll tell you exactly what you need. These calculators are particularly useful when you're working with larger 100ml or 120ml shortfills.
The 1.5% and 1.8% shots work slightly differently - 1.5% gives you about 2.5mg final strength, whilst 1.8% delivers around 3mg. It's worth noting that these percentages refer to the nicotine concentration in the shot itself, not your final mixture.
What types of nicotine shots are available?
Standard freebase shots remain the most popular choice, available in 18mg and 20mg strengths. These provide that traditional throat hit that many vapers expect and work brilliantly with most shortfill flavours.
Nic salt shots have gained serious traction recently, and for good reason. They offer faster nicotine absorption and a noticeably smoother throat hit, making them ideal for anyone who finds regular nic shots too harsh. They're particularly good if you're used to higher nicotine strengths but want to enjoy the benefits of shortfills.
Max VG shots (100% VG) are perfect for cloud chasers and anyone using high VG shortfills. They maintain the thick consistency that sub-ohm vapers prefer whilst adding the necessary nicotine content. On the flip side, 50:50 VG/PG shots work better with balanced shortfills and provide a more pronounced throat hit.
Ice or menthol nic shots add a cooling element to any shortfill, which can be brilliant for summer vaping or if you enjoy that refreshing sensation. Just remember that once you've added an ice shot, that cooling effect is there permanently.
Are there any mixing tips I should know about?
The actual mixing process is dead simple, but there are a few tricks that'll improve your results. Always remove the shortfill's nozzle tip before adding your nic shot - it makes pouring much easier and reduces spillage risk.
After adding your shot, replace the nozzle and shake vigorously until you see hundreds of tiny bubbles throughout the liquid. This usually takes about 30-60 seconds of proper shaking. Some people recommend the "breathe and shake" method - squeeze out excess air, let fresh air back in, then shake again.
Steeping isn't always necessary, but leaving your mixed bottle in a cool, dark place for a few days can really improve flavour development. Give it a shake once daily during this period. However, if you're impatient like me, most mixtures are perfectly vapeable immediately after mixing.
