I didn't truly want to use caps to b honest. Is there anyway I can sub either flavor making it still taste decent? Could I use fa custard?
If you don't want to use CAP VC then use TFA, its the closest to CAP VC that Ive ever come across, VERY similar in flavor profile, so similar in fact that a friend of mine could barely tell them apart.
Regarding the FA Custard, unless you want a citrus note in the juice DO NOT use FA Custard. I'm not saying that FA Custard is bad, its just that FlavourArt Custard is an Italian type custard, which has a citrus essence to it that I personally don't like in Vanilla Custard recipes. The FA Custard would work best in something like Key Lime or Lemon Meringue Pie, IMHO anyway.
Here is a good Vanilla Custard recipe you can try, Ive had many compliments on this one:
(FYI: Read the mixing & steeping instructions below the recipe, very important)
RECIPE:
CAP or TFA Vanilla Custard @ 12%
DIYFlavorShack HOLY Vanilla @ 2% (you "can" sub this with TFA French Vanilla Deluxe, FA Vanilla Classic or your favorite Vanilla)
DIYFlavorShack Bavarian Cream @ 2% (or your preferred Bavarian Cream or Vanilla Cream)
TFA Dulce De Leche @ 2% (if you prefer a more Caramel essence you can sub this with FW Caramel Candy or your favorite Caramel)
FA Fresh Cream @ .5% (Personally I think 1% FA Vienna Cream would be better but I haven't tired it, YET!)
EM @ 2% (or 2% Sucralose if you prefer it sweeter)
MIXING INSTRUCTIONS:
Don't add the nicotine yet (this is important). Vigorously mix this recipe until its milky with bubbles (a milk frother & a graduated cylinder or beaker is perfect for this), let the bubbles clear & then repeat this 2-3 times. If you have a heated ultrasonic cleaner use it at this point. Make sure your mixture is in a completely sealed bottle (if there are any leaks or if the cap isn't tightly secured water will get in & ruin it) & run it through a heated session (or sessions, depending on your UC model) for 30min (this is why you don't add the nicotine yet, heat degrades nic). Once the 30min heated UC session (or several sessions that total 30min, again depending on your UC model) is complete immediately remove the bottle & let it cool to lukewarm, you want it slightly warm but NOT hot. While the mix is still warm (again, NOT HOT!) add your nicotine, give it a vigorous shake & then run it through another 30min in the UC but this time WITHOUT HEAT! Its very important that you don't use heat after adding the nicotine, remember heat degrades nic.
If you don't have a ultrasonic cleaner then just shake it vigorously by hand, place it in a hot tap water bath (again, without the nic added yet), the water will naturally cool in approx. 15min, once it cools take it out & shake vigorously, repeat this process 3 times (or place in a crock pot at the lowest setting for 30min).
At this point add your nicotine (again, while the mixture is warm but NOT HOT!), shake vigorously & then place it in a dark (light, especially sunlight, degrades nic as well as flavor molecules), cool spot with the cap off for 12-24hrs (replace the cap, shake well & then remove the cap again about half way through this period)
The reason you remove the cap for the first 12-24hrs is because some flavorings contain alcohol & or VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), leaving the cap off allows these unwanted compounds to evaporate off, leaving behind the delicious flavor molecules you really want. After you've let the mixture breath for the first 12-24hrs, replace the cap, shake vigorously & put it back in a dark, cool place for 21-30 days (shaking vigorously 2-3 times a day, just for a minute or two).
This is when the steeping process truly begins. Vanilla Custard recipes ABSOLUTELY NEED time to steep, at least with these particular flavorings anyway. While utilizing a milk frother & ultrasonic cleaner will undoubtedly assist in the mixing & melding of all the ingredients, it won't truly speed up the steeping time. No matter what anyone says the only thing that will TRULY steep your juice is TIME, unfortunately there is just no way around this. If you asked a Vintner (wine maker) to mature a bottle of wine in a week they would laugh in your face, its simply not possible, at least not at this point in time with the technology we have.
When you first mix this recipe it will have a lite yellow/straw color, after it steeps the color will begin to darken. Once it turns to a dark amber/orange color, typically around 21-30 days, that's when the flavor has really developed & matured, at that point it is truly ready to be enjoyed & mark my words, YOU WILL ENJOY IT!!!
