Kingston Original 100ml Shortfill Review
Kingston's core range is where the brand earned its reputation. Here is an honest look at the Original 100ml shortfills, how they vape, and whether they live up to the value billing.
The Original range is the foundation Kingston built its name on: dependable, bold, everyday flavours sold in big 100ml shortfill bottles at a low price. If you have heard people recommend Kingston as a value brand, this is usually the range they mean. In this review we look at what the Original line offers, how it performs in real use, and who it suits best.
Shop Kingston 100ml ShortfillsWhat the Original range is
Kingston Original is the brand's core line of 100ml shortfills. Each comes as 100ml of 0mg liquid in a 120ml bottle, mixed at 70/30 high VG and made in the UK to TPD standards. The flavours are the crowd-pleasers, the kind of clear, straightforward profiles that most vapers enjoy day to day rather than niche or experimental blends. It is designed to be a reliable house juice you can buy again and again without thinking too hard about it.
Flavour profile
The hallmark of the Original range is clarity. These are not subtle, layered gourmet blends; they are bold, recognisable flavours that taste like what they say on the label. That is a deliberate choice and a big part of the appeal. When you want a strawberry, you get a strong, sweet strawberry; when you want a menthol, you get a clean, cold one. For a value range, the flavour intensity is consistently good, which is the main reason the line has stayed popular.
How it vapes
Because the shortfills are 70/30 high VG, the Original range is built for sub-ohm and direct-lung kits. In a suitable device it produces plenty of vapour, a smooth throat feel and strong flavour. The high VG content makes it thicker, so it is not suited to tight, high-resistance MTL pods, which can struggle to wick it. Matched to the right cloud-friendly kit, though, it performs well above what the price suggests.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bottle | 100ml in a 120ml shortfill |
| Nicotine | 0mg, room for nic shots |
| VG/PG | 70/30 high VG |
| Best device | Sub-ohm or direct-lung kit |
| Flavour style | Bold, clear, everyday |
Adding a nic shot
As a shortfill, the Original range arrives at 0mg. To add nicotine, drop in up to two 10ml nic shots. Two 18mg shots take a 100ml bottle to roughly 3mg, which suits most direct-lung vapers, while one gives about 1.5mg. After adding, screw the cap on firmly, shake the bottle well to mix the nicotine through evenly, and let it stand for a short steep so the flavour settles back to its best.
What to expect from the flavours
The Original line leans on familiar, broadly liked profiles: clean fruits, refreshing blends and the occasional classic. Rather than chasing novelty, it focuses on getting the staples right, which is exactly what you want from an everyday juice. If you prefer something more adventurous, the Tropical Fruits and Get It Juicy ranges branch into bolder territory, while Slushed adds a cooling slush twist.
Value for money
This is where the Original range really makes its case. A 100ml bottle costs far less per millilitre than small premium bottles, and the flavour quality is high enough that you are not obviously trading taste for price. For a regular vaper getting through a lot of liquid, a value range that still delivers strong, clear flavour is genuinely useful, and Kingston Original is one of the best-known examples of exactly that.
Who it suits
- Direct-lung and sub-ohm vapers who want a dependable all-day juice.
- Anyone getting through a lot of liquid who wants to keep costs down.
- Vapers who prefer bold, clear flavours over subtle gourmet blends.
- People new to shortfills who want a safe, popular starting point.
It is less suited to MTL pod users, who should look at the Bar Salts range instead, and to those who specifically want complex, layered dessert or gourmet flavours.
Kingston Original does exactly what it sets out to do: bold, clear, everyday flavours in big bottles at a low price. It is not trying to be a premium gourmet range, and judged on its own value terms it succeeds comfortably. A strong default choice for direct-lung vapers.
Getting the best flavour through steeping
Like most high-VG juices, the Original range can taste fuller after a short steep, particularly once you have added a nic shot. Letting the bottle stand for a few hours, with the odd shake, lets the flavour and nicotine settle together. Some vapers find a day of steeping rounds the flavour out nicely. It is a small step, but it can make a noticeable difference to a value juice, and it costs you nothing but a little patience.
How long a bottle lasts
A 100ml bottle of Original is a serious amount of liquid. For most direct-lung vapers it lasts a couple of weeks or more, which is part of why the range is such good value. If you vape heavily it will go faster, and lightly slower, but either way you are getting far more vaping per pound than small premium bottles or disposables provide. Keeping a spare bottle of your favourite flavour means you never run dry.
Caring for your coil
To keep the Original flavours tasting their best, look after your coil. Prime a new coil before first use so it is fully wicked, avoid running the tank low, and replace the coil when the flavour starts to dull or taste burnt. Sweeter flavours build residue faster, so they may need a slightly more frequent coil change. A clean, well-primed coil is the difference between a flat vape and the full, bold flavour the range is capable of.
How Original compares to the other ranges
The Original range is the dependable core; the other ranges branch out from it. If you want sweeter, juicier fruit, the Get It Juicy range delivers it. For exotic blends, try Tropical Fruits. For a cooling finish, Slushed is the pick, and for nostalgic tastes, Old Skool. Many vapers keep an Original flavour as their steady all-day juice and add one of the others as a change of pace.
Why a value house juice makes sense
There is a strong case for having a dependable, affordable house juice rather than only ever buying premium bottles. Most of your vaping is everyday, background vaping, and for that you want something pleasant, reliable and cheap enough not to think about. A bold, clear value flavour like those in the Original range fills that role perfectly, leaving premium or novelty flavours as occasional treats. Many experienced vapers settle into exactly this pattern: a Kingston house juice for daily use, with something fancier now and then.
Dialling in your strength
Because shortfills let you add your own nicotine, you control the strength precisely. For a direct-lung kit, two 18mg nic shots in a 100ml bottle gives around 3mg, which suits most people. If you find that a touch strong, a single shot for roughly 1.5mg is gentler; if you want none, leave it at 0mg. This flexibility is a quiet advantage of shortfills over fixed-strength products, letting you tune the Original range to exactly what feels right for you and your device.
Keeping the flavour at its best
To keep getting the bold flavour the Original range is known for, the basics matter: a clean, well-primed coil, a tank that is not run dry, and a short steep after adding a nic shot. If the flavour ever turns dull or slightly burnt, that is almost always a coil due for changing rather than a problem with the juice. Looked after this way, a value juice can taste every bit as satisfying as a pricier one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingston Original good?
For a value range, yes. The flavours are bold and clear, the bottles are large, and the price is low. It is a reliable everyday choice for direct-lung vapers.
What devices suit Kingston Original?
Sub-ohm and direct-lung kits, because the 70/30 high-VG liquid produces plenty of vapour. It is not ideal for tight MTL pods.
Does it come with nicotine?
No, it is a 0mg shortfill. You add nic shots to reach the strength you want, or vape it at 0mg.
How does it compare to premium brands?
It costs much less and focuses on bold, clear flavour rather than complex gourmet blends. See our Kingston vs IVG and vs Doozy comparisons for detail.