Well, I can’t believe we’re about to celebrate our second anniversary already. While we generally let our customers pat us on the back for a job well done, I’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the incredible products and projects we’ve launched over the past year. We would not be here today without two groups of people. First, our customers, that’s YOU guys! Your continued support and loyalty means the world to us. We know you have choices out there for e-liquid and we’re thrilled you choose Smoke Juice. And second, our phenomenal team who never ceases to amaze us with what they can come up with. Whether that’s the newest flavor to our product line up, or the best way to package our products to get to you safely, I’ve never worked with a more talented and dedicated group of individuals. So thank you to our customers and thank you to our staff; (listed in the order in which they were hired) CEO Christian Berkey, President Michael Galesky, Production Manager Michelle Kieckbusch, Production Specialist Stephen Ekblad, Web Administrator and Director of Awesome Aki Braun, EVP Product Development Bob Kieckbusch, CFO Mark Smirniotis, Business Account Manager Bob Spircoff, Director of IT Dan Heron, Production Specialist James Hostetler, Production Specialist Dan Moran, Staff Designer Micah Zeilinger, and Inventory/Logistics Manager Victoria Hudziak.

Since our last anniversary, these are just some of the things we’ve done:
• Last fall we launched our first seasonal flavor, Spiced Apple Cider. It’s easy to say Spiced Apple Cider has created quite the customer following and I’m pleased to announce it will be back again this fall. Stay tuned for more information.
• Last winter we launched our second seasonal flavor, Mint Mocha and we brought Spiced Apple Cider back for a limited time to help raise funds for the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
• In February, we launched a completely PG Free Smoke Juice called Red Oak. Our entire team worked very hard on this project which was spearheaded by Bob Kieckbusch.
• In March we announced a partnership with e-cigarette hardware manufacturer blu cigs, this project was spearheaded by Mark Smirniotis. We attended the Wisconsin Bar and Tavern League convention in Eau Claire, WI and we added designer extraordinaire, Micah Zeilinger, to our staff to handle all graphics.
• In April we added one of our signature flavors, Tennessee Cured, to our Red Oak product line up and we added another team member to our staff, Victoria Hudziak, to manage our supply chain logistics and procurement.
• In May we launched our affiliate network and our Wisconsin Bar and Tavern program.
• In June and most of this month, we opened up our doors to multiple members of local media, including: OnMilwaukee.com, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Up Front with Vicki McKenna, Milwaukee NBC affiliate WTMJ-4, Newsradio 620 WTMJ, WisconsinEye Made in Wisconsin and Milwaukee CBS affiliate WDJT 58.

It’s been a year of continued growth and as we look forward to our next 12 months, you can be on the look out for more seasonal flavors, a few “surprise” flavors and more products to choose from. We hope you will continue to view us as your Smoke Juice experts.

Heidi Braun
Chief Operating Officer

Hey everyone,

One of our renewed commitments is to update our blog weekly. We’ll be spending time regularly talking about the latest information on our products, highlighting some of our most frequently asked questions, discussing the ins and outs of the e-smoking industry, sharing educational tools and experiences and sometimes sneaking a peak inside our company culture here at Johnson Creek. Today I’d like to share with you one of the most frequently asked questions we get.

“What is Propylene Glycol or PG?”

First, the science behind Propylene Glycol (PG): there are generally two most commonly used versions of Propylene Glycol; USP/FCC Grade PG and Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade. In our Johnson Creek Original Smoke Juice line, we use only the highest purity USP/FCC Grade PG. We do not use any Propylene Glycol in our Red Oak Smoke Juice line. In the Red Oak line of Smoke Juice USP/FCC Grade PG is replaced by natural FCC Grade Vegetable Glycerin (VG).

While we don’t use Dow Chemical’s Propylene Glycol products, their website provides easy to understand, in depth, third party information. The below information was taken directly from their website which you can see here.

“The first kind is USP/FCC Grade, 99.8% pure or higher. Propylene Glycol (PG USP/EP) is a pharmaceutical grade of monopropylene glycol (PG or MPG). PG USP/EP is tested for compliance with the current United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), European Pharmacopoeia (EP) and Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) specifications plus the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). It also complies with the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (FB) and other pharmaceutical and food regulations in the global markets where it is sold. PG USP/FCC grade is an important ingredient for a multitude of uses, including:

- Ingredient for aromatics in the flavor-concentrate industry
- Wetting agent for natural gums
- Ingredient in the compounding of citrus and other emulsified flavors
- Suspension in elixirs and pharmaceutical preparations
- Very effective humectant, preservative and stabilizer in bakery goods, food flavorings and salad dressings

The second kind is Industrial Grade, <95% pure. Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade (PGI) is an important intermediate in the production of alkyd resins for paints and varnishes. It is the preferred propylene glycol for manufacturing high-performance, unsaturated polyester resins for many uses such as reinforced plastic laminates for marine construction, and gel coats. Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade is also used as a solvent in printing inks, as a preservative in floral arrangements, and as a stabilizer in hydraulic fluids. Other uses for Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade include Unsaturated Polyester, Resins, Urethanes, Coolants and Antifreeze, Aircraft Deicing Fluid, Hydraulic and Brake Fluid, Heat Transfer Fluids, Paint and Coatings.”

What’s important to know is USP/FCC Grade 99.8% pure or higher Propylene Glycol, the type used in our Johnson Creek Original Smoke Juice, is found in many common products we eat or drink every day. USP/FCC Grade Propylene Glycol is often used in the food industry as an anti-freezing agent to prevent products from freezing, such as soft serve ice cream and milkshakes from national fast-food restaurants.

On the other end of the spectrum is Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade. Unfortunately, some media outlets have incorrectly reported that Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade is the kind of PG used in smoke juice. This could not be further from the truth. We’re e-smokers too, and we sure don’t want anything like Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade in our smoke juice. Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade is what would be used in automotive “antifreeze.” We have never and will never use Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade in any product manufactured by Johnson Creek.

We truly believe education is the key to the overall success of the e-smoking industry. One of the aspects of being an industry leader is making sure we continually educate ourselves, our customers and any potential customers about the products we make and the ingredients we use. We’re happy to talk to anyone who has questions. The best way to reach us is via email at: support@johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com. If you’d like to call us, please feel free to call us toll free at (866) 213-9343 ext. 100. If you’re a member of the media and you have questions, please feel free to email us at: media@johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com or call us at the same number, ext 801. We’re here to help! Our team is available M-F from 9am-5pm CST.

As always, we thank you for your continued loyalty, business and support. As America’s First Smoke Juice maker, we feel it’s our responsibility to educate. Thanks for your time and enjoy your weekend.

Heidi Braun
Chief Operating Officer