Kingston Old Skool Range Review
Nostalgic sweet-shop and classic flavours, the Old Skool range taps into retro tastes. Here is what it offers, how it vapes and who will enjoy it.
Not every vaper wants the latest fruit blend; many of the most loved flavours are the nostalgic ones that taste like childhood sweets and classic drinks. Kingston's Old Skool range is built for exactly that, bringing retro, sweet-shop and traditional profiles to the value shortfill line-up. This review looks at what the Old Skool range delivers, how it vapes, and the kind of vaper who will appreciate it.
Shop Kingston 100ml ShortfillsA rough guide; taste is personal.
What the Old Skool range is
Old Skool is Kingston's nostalgic line of 100ml shortfills, focused on classic and retro-inspired flavours rather than modern fruit blends. Like the rest of the range it is 100ml of 0mg liquid in a 120ml bottle, mixed 70/30 high VG and UK made. The idea is to recreate the familiar tastes of traditional sweets, sherbets and classic drinks that many people grew up with, in a vape-friendly form.
Flavour profile
Expect flavours that evoke the sweet shop and the classic drinks cabinet: think aniseed and blackjack-style sweets, sherbet, cola and similar nostalgic profiles. These are bolder and more distinctive than everyday fruit, and they appeal strongly to vapers who find pure fruit a little plain or who simply love a retro taste. Kingston's signature boldness suits this range well, giving these classic flavours plenty of presence.
How it vapes
As a 70/30 high-VG shortfill, Old Skool is made for sub-ohm and direct-lung kits. The richer, sweeter profiles come through clearly with good vapour. As with all sweet and confectionery-style flavours, they can build residue on a coil a little faster than light fruits, so a clean coil helps keep them tasting their best. The high VG content means they are not suited to tight MTL pods; use a cloud-friendly device.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Style | Retro sweet-shop and classic drink flavours |
| Bottle | 100ml in a 120ml shortfill, 0mg |
| VG/PG | 70/30 high VG |
| Best device | Sub-ohm or direct-lung kit |
| Best for | Fans of nostalgic, sweet and classic flavours |
Adding a nic shot
Old Skool is a 0mg shortfill. Add up to two 10ml nic shots to set your strength: two 18mg shots give roughly 3mg in a 100ml bottle, one about 1.5mg. Shake well after adding, then let it rest. Sweet and confectionery flavours in particular tend to round out and improve after a short steep, so giving the bottle a little time is worthwhile.
What to expect from the flavours
The range covers the nostalgic staples, the aniseed, sherbet, cola and classic sweet profiles that have long been popular in vaping. If you enjoy these but also like a treat, it is worth exploring how they sit against the sweeter fruit ranges; our ranked flavour guide helps you balance a nostalgic flavour against an everyday fruit or menthol.
Who it suits
- Vapers who love nostalgic sweet-shop and classic drink flavours.
- Anyone who finds plain fruit a little flat and wants more character.
- Those after a distinctive treat flavour to alternate with an all-day vape.
- Direct-lung vapers wanting bold, classic taste at a value price.
MTL pod users should choose the Bar Salts range, and if you prefer fruit over sweets, the Get It Juicy and Tropical Fruits ranges are a better fit.
Old Skool is a characterful range that brings nostalgic, classic flavours to Kingston's value line-up. For fans of sweet-shop and traditional tastes, it is a welcome change of pace and great value, best enjoyed as a bold treat flavour.
Why nostalgic flavours endure
Sweet-shop and classic drink flavours have a staying power that trend-led flavours often lack, and it comes down to memory. Tastes like aniseed, sherbet and cola are tied to childhood and to a sense of comfort, which gives them an appeal that goes beyond the flavour itself. For many vapers, a nostalgic flavour is a pleasant break from endless fruit, and the familiarity makes the Old Skool range a comforting, characterful choice that people return to.
Steeping classic and sweet flavours
Confectionery and aniseed-style flavours in particular tend to benefit from a steep. Letting the bottle stand for a day or so, especially after adding a nic shot, allows the bolder, rounder notes to develop and settle. If a classic flavour tastes a little sharp or thin straight away, give it more time before judging it; these richer profiles often reward patience more than light fruits do.
Old Skool as a treat in your rotation
Because they are bold and distinctive, Old Skool flavours work best as a treat or a change of pace rather than necessarily an all-day vape, though plenty of fans happily vape them all day. Pairing a nostalgic flavour with a lighter fruit or a cooling Slushed blend keeps your palate fresh and gives you variety. Keeping one Old Skool flavour on hand for when you fancy something different is a setup many vapers enjoy.
Coil care with classic flavours
Like other sweet and confectionery profiles, Old Skool flavours can build coil residue faster than light fruits, so a slightly more frequent coil change keeps them tasting their best. A dull or burnt taste is the signal that a fresh coil is due. With a clean coil and a proper steep, these classic flavours deliver the full, rich character that makes them such a nostalgic pleasure.
Classic flavours for ex-smokers
Nostalgic and classic flavours can be a useful option for people who have recently stopped smoking, because they offer something distinctive and comforting that feels far removed from tobacco. A bold cola, aniseed or sherbet flavour gives the palate something interesting to focus on, which can help vaping feel like a genuinely new habit rather than a substitute. As ever, match the high-VG shortfill to a direct-lung kit, or choose a suitable flavour in the Bar Salts range if you vape on a pod.
Pairing nostalgic flavours
Because Old Skool flavours are bold and distinctive, they pair well with lighter, cleaner flavours that reset the palate between them. A nostalgic aniseed or cola flavour as an evening treat, with a fresh fruit or cooling Slushed blend for daytime, gives you variety and stops the richer flavours becoming tiring. This kind of contrast keeps both flavours tasting their best and makes your rotation more enjoyable.
When to reach for a classic
Old Skool flavours are perfect for the moments when fruit just will not do, when you fancy something comforting, characterful or nostalgic instead. Many vapers keep a classic flavour on hand precisely for that change of mood, vaping fruit most of the time and turning to a sweet-shop or cola flavour when they want a treat. Used this way, the range adds welcome variety to a line-up without having to be your only flavour.
Getting the best from richer flavours
Richer, sweeter classic flavours reward a little extra care. A proper steep helps the bolder notes develop, a clean coil keeps them from tasting muddy, and cool, dark storage protects them over time. If a classic flavour ever tastes flat, a fresh coil and a longer steep usually restore its full character. These small steps make the nostalgic flavours taste as rich and satisfying as they should.
The final word on Old Skool
Old Skool brings character and nostalgia to Kingston's line-up, recreating the sweet-shop and classic drink flavours that many vapers grew up loving. Bold and distinctive, it is best enjoyed as a treat or a change of pace from fruit, though plenty of fans happily vape it all day. Give the richer flavours a proper steep, keep the coil clean, and pair them with a lighter flavour to reset the palate. For fans of classic tastes at a value price, it is a characterful and rewarding range.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Kingston Old Skool range taste like?
Nostalgic, retro profiles such as aniseed and blackjack-style sweets, sherbet and cola, recreating classic sweet-shop and drink flavours in a bold, vape-friendly form.
Are these sweet or fruit flavours?
They are mainly sweet and classic confectionery and drink flavours rather than fruit, which makes them a distinctive change from the fruit ranges.
What device suits Old Skool?
A sub-ohm or direct-lung kit, as it is a 70/30 high-VG shortfill. It is not suited to tight MTL pods.
Should I steep the sweet flavours?
A short steep helps. Sweet and confectionery flavours often round out and improve after the bottle has rested for a little while, especially once a nic shot is added.