Redline Xtreme Triple Berry

I got this Redline, along with all others I recently reviewed, courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven.

Taste

The taste is rather sweet with an enjoyable medley of berries. Surprisingly the taste isn't one of those messes of flavours where you cannot pick out the individual notes. Blueberries are dominant and are the first thing you taste and the one note that lingers well throughout the aftertaste. Second comes a short-lived intense burst of sour raspberries and third are blackberries which are very subtle and do not appear until near the finish.

As expected, there is a diet taste in the aftertaste, however, it is rather light compared to some of the other sugar free drinks on the market. Also, I found the taste after the sour raspberry burst to be on the sweeter side for my liking so I had to resort to something less sweet at the end to balance it out.

Energy

As any other Redline product, there is a lot of caffeine in this container - 316 mg in total. The energy was slow for me at first but once I got past the 15-20 minute mark my mind and body just blew up from the raw energy. I started experiencing a bit of jitters and had the urge to get up and get things done. The effects lasted for hours and I did experience a mild crash at the end.

Scores:
Cost - courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven
Taste - 8.5/10
Energy - 10/10

Overall - 18.5/20...tons of raw energy...with a great taste

VPX Redline Xtreme Blue Razz

I received this Redline Xtreme Blue Razz courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven.

Taste

I must fully admit that this Redline Xtreme has one of the most chemically-rich aromas of any caffeinated product I have ever tried. Yes, there are hints of blueberries, but there are also heavy chemical influences. The aroma is not repulsive by any means, it is just chemically rich.

The flavor tells a different story. The first sip is very sweet and artificial at the start, but subsequent sips have a tart raspberry note at the start with a momentary sweet blueberry blip. Then there is a brief chemical blip before the sweeteners kick in and take over the finish and aftertaste, where you will also find some lingering berry-like notes.

Energy

Like all other VPX Redline Xtreme bottles, this one contains 316 mg of caffeine and the effects are felt within minutes. I got up at 4:00 a.m. to go on a trip and this had me wired up within 20 minutes. Because I drank it quickly, I felt a bit jittery, but had I taken my time, the caffeine build up would have been smoother. The effects lasted for good 5 hours or so.

Scores:
Cost - courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven
Taste - 6/10
Energy - 10/10

Overall - 16/20...my least favorite of the VPX Redline Xtreme series in terms of taste

VPX Redline Xtreme Sour Heads

I got this VPX Redline Xtreme Sour Heads courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven and it was an awesome surprise. I didn't know there was a Sour Heads energy drink/shot!

Taste

The aroma is nothing spectacular. I was expecting a combination of sour notes, but all I got was some blueberry and a medley of berries I couldn't identify. The flavor is where it's at! The flavor is mild when it hits the tip of your tongue and even a little sweet, but as it travels along the tongue, it sourness comes in waves and drowns you. There is so much of it that it is hard to pick out any flavors. I think there are some berries in there, maybe citrus? Maybe green apple? Whatever it is, it is sour! But the aftertaste is more like the aroma - slightly sweet with notes of blueberries and a medley of other sweet berries.

This is an interesting one, but like Sour Heads, the sour experience is very brief.

Energy

There are 316 mg of caffeine in the bottle and I was feeling focused within 15 minutes of opening the bottle. The effect was very gradual and so was the focus I gained for about 15-20 minutes before the caffeine rushed through my body and made me want to run around. There were no jitters getting to that point and once I was there, I was pumped for a good 5 hours. There was a mild crash at the end but some food and water helped me.

Scores:

Cost - courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven

Taste - 8.5/10

Energy - 10/10

Overall - 18.5/20...brief sour spike and a long energy kick

VPX Redline Xtreme Watermelon

Redline is back on this blog!!! Energy Drink Heaven hooked me up with a few samples so stay tuned for those reviews. For now, I am starting off with the watermelon because who doesn't like watermelon?

Taste

Despite the initial chemically note and an odd creamy hint, the aroma 100% watermelon. The taste is similar - you get a hint of something chemical at the start, but as soon as the clear liquid coats your tongue, it is like sucking on a slightly sour watermelon Jolly Rancher. Each sip makes the flavor stronger and gives you a burst of sourness that not only compliments the watermelon, but also gives you a fairly crisp finish. The taste is rather addictive too because at first I wasn't fully sold on it, but by the 3rd sip I wanted more.

What I found really odd is the lack of sweeteners in the taste. Until I read the ingredients and the nutritional info, I really thought that this is sweetened with corn syrup or sugar. It is like a magical trick. But, sweeteners are indeed used.

The aftertaste is similar to that of a Jolly Rancher at first, but give it a minute and you start getting hints of the sweeteners.

Energy

OK, the decades old debate (actually more like only 5 years, but whatever) of whether or not this is an energy shot or a tiny energy drink. It is smaller than a regular Red Bull, but larger than a 5-Hour shot.

So what is it? Before you answer, consider the fact that the side of the bottle has a volumetric scale so you could take this as a shot. It is also potent with 316 mg of caffeine per 240 mL, which is around 79 mg per 60 mL shot.

Whatever it is, it is nuts! It whips your body and mind into shape within 10-15 minutes. I had a long but broken sleep and when I had this in the morning, I was focused and wide awake within 15 minutes. I did not experience jitters because I slowly drank it, but I bet you that you will get a little jittery if you down the whole thing. In another 20 minutes I was ready  to  run. I blazed through my morning routine and stayed awake and focused for over 5 hours. Unfortunately with most of my energy spent in the morning, I started to experience a bit of a crash that I ended up fixing with some food, sugar, water and a small coffee.

Scores:
Cost - courtesy of Energy Drink Heaven
Taste - 8.9/10
Energy - 10/10

Overall - 18.9/20...Jolly Rancher-like flavor with a gratuitous amount of energy

U Force Energy Drink

U Force has been around for as long as I have been running this blog, and maybe even longer. However, the first time I ever heard of these energy drinks and came in contact with them wasn't until just a few weeks ago when I was in Quebec City. I pulled up to get gas on my way out when I found a stash of these for $2 each.

So here is to trying something old!

Taste

To establish a baseline, I am starting off with the regular flavor, which I half expected to be a Red Bull clone and I was pretty bang on when I actually opened the can...or was it?

Yeah, I was mostly right. The regular U Force is a Red Bull clone but its flavor is more similar to Red Rain with an extra citric kick and what seems to be a little less sugar. If you haven't had Red Rain, the taste is very similar, but has less of the candy-sweetness and cough syrup and more of a sour bite. The finish is moderately clean and doesn't leave you with any off-flavors.

Energy

There are 150 mg of caffeine in the can, which is the equivalent of 0.317 mg caffeine/mL. For comparison, a can of Red Bull clocks in at 0.32 mg caffeine/mL. Pretty damn close, eh?

The effects are very similar to drinking a can of Red Bull, except the kick lasts longer since there is almost twice as much caffeine. I got a slight jolt within 10 minutes and just a bit of jitters. In another 20 minutes I was bursting with energy and ready to run around do stuff. The kick lasted for about just over 3 hours and ended without any surprises.

I personally like Red Bull and love Red Rain's extra sour bite so I naturally liked the regular U Force. The price is right too.

Scores:
Cost - $2
Taste - 8.5/10
Energy - 8/10

Overall - 16.5/20...like Red Bull but with a bite

EBoost Immunity Super Berry Energy Shot

Here is another shot that is not sold in Ontario. You guessed right, I got this when I went to Michigan during the holidays a couple of months ago. I got this from either a Meijer or a WalMart near Auburn Hills. Can't remember which one.

When I first picked up the shot, the label on the side caught my attention, which says this - "Most shots offer harsh caffeine and chemicals that torture our adrenal glans and leave us empty and crashed. With our shot we combined natural green tea extract, vitamins and minerals for a healthy and sustained boost of energy and immunity," After I noticed the type and chuckled to myself for a brief moment (glans?????) I decided that this shot may not be for me as it may not offer any caffeine, but I am glad I decided to read the rest of the label, which did, indeed, list caffeine as a natural ingredient...and there were 150 mg of it. Not bad, but very misleading when you just read the first part of the label. Sure this is natural caffeine from green tea, but I was lead to believe that this is one of those "no caffeine" vitamin shots.

Taste

Blaaarrrrghhh. This shot has a very misleading aroma which lead me to believe that the shot will taste like a combination of various sour berries, but it didn't. It was a plasticky (????), coffee, green tea, berry mess with a super bitter finish. Unfortunately you will not know that this shot tastes like this until it is already going down your throat, because it starts off tasting like nice sour apples and berries when it touches your tongue, but immediately after all the other nasty ingredients appear and ruin the whole experience.

That's unfortunate, because I did enjoy some of the other EBoost products.

Energy

As I mentioned earlier in the review, there are 150 mg of caffeine and other vitamins, which is the saving grace of this nasty tasting shot. Yes, if you can get past the nasty taste, this shot actually performs great. I don't know if it was from the initial sour hit or the vitamins, but I felt a jolt within minutes of taking the first sip. Within a few more minutes I felt super energized and just a tad jittery, but probably not from the sugar as there is only 4 grams.

The jitters ended rather quickly and then I was just feeling energized for hours. There was no crash at the end just like the label promised. Yuuup, great boost, but awful taste.

Scores:
Cost - $2
Taste - 2/10
Energy - 8.8/10

Overall - 10.8/20...awful taste, but fantastic boost

7-Eleven Energy Shot Berry Review

I like how straight to the point this energy shot name is - 7-Eleven. No fancy names like Inked used here. I hope it doesn't surprise you when I say that I got this shot from a 7-Eleven located somewhere in Michigan for around $2.

I wish I knew which company made this energy shot because it definitely is not 7-Eleven. The shot cap says that this shot is only distributed by 7-Eleven. If you have some inside info, or are way better than using the Google than me, let me know which company actually makes this shot below.

Taste

The store I got this shot from only sold the berry one and as far as I am aware, there is another flavor out there which I will try hunting down on my next trip south.

The berry tastes like your generic energy shot flavor. It starts off extremely plasticky but the shot's acidity cuts through the horrible initial taste. The second sip reveals the true flavor - extremely sour, yet a little sweet mystery berries. I think there is raspberry and cranberry I can taste...but it is hard to say from all the plastic and sourness. Yes...definitely...maybe...raspberry and cranberry.

The finish is not bad at all. Initially you get a hint of the sweeteners, but within moments that goes away and you are left with a semi-clean finish thanks to the sourness with just a hint of something fruity and something sweet. Unfortunately after a minute or so, some of the sweetness comes back and stays for good.

Energy

There are 200 mg of natural caffeine, but there is also green tea extract and some other additives which probably bring up the total caffeine content up a little. The energy delivery is typical for this type of an energy shot - you get an initial jolt within a few minutes which is enough to rattle the brain, and the full effect doesn't come in for another 25-30 minutes.

While waiting for the kick, you get to enjoy a torrent of jitters so I don't recommend this shot for people who are planning on doing something that requires concentration and sitting still. It is great for physical work, though.

The kick lasts for around 4 hours and I did experience a mild crash at the end.

Overall, the shot is fairly cheap and pretty generic. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a relabelled 5-Hour energy.

Scores:
Cost - $2 from 7-Eleven
Taste - 6.5/10
Energy - 8.8/10

Overall - 15.3/20...plastic flavor, great kick

Street King Energy Strawberry Lemonade Shot

Man, it has been a while since I had an energy shot. According to my trusty list of blog posts, it was in February when I had a NoDoz. In October when I was across the border loading up on groceries around the Canadian Thanksgiving, I came across a few new energy shots I purchased to review. I wanted to start off with Street King and this new (to me) extra strength energy shot. By the way, the "extra strength" is definitely not a gimmick and I will elaborate on this further down.

Taste

I am a sucker for sour drinks and foods and I love strawberry lemonades, so I didn't even have to think twice about getting a shot of this.

So is it really that sour? Yup...weeeelll, sort of. The initial sip introduces a blend of chemical/plastic notes to the tongue, but as you start to swallow, you get the expected lemony sourness. The second sip has almost no plasticy taste and more of the actual flavor. I strongly recommend taking a small first sip if you wish to actually taste the shot. If you are looking for that energy, then do it in a gulp or two. Also, if you let enough time elapse between sips, be ready to taste the plastic again.

Once the plastic flavor is out of the way, I struggled a bit to find the strawberries. The lemonade part is there and it is dominant. The strawberries for me were more in the aftertaste and they were very light. If you weren't actively seeking them, you might not even know they were there. This shout should be called just lemonade.

So...like many energy shots, there are some bitter notes from the caffeine (because there is just so much of it!!!) that manifest themselves near the finish but disappear relatively quickly in the aftertaste.

Overall, I thought the shot was easy to drink, but there are some plastic and light bitter notes that may not be appealing to some. The sourness definitely helps hide the chemical mix and doesn't taste too bad either (the lemonade part I mean).

Energy

Sooo, extra strength is 280 mg of caffeine. 280 mg!!!!!! Just for comparison, the last energy shot I had had only 115 mg of caffeine. A 5 hour energy? Only 200 mg. This Street King is like a 5 hour energy shot followed by a Red Bull...not that you should try something like this, but I am just trying to paint a picture here.

With 280 mg of caffeine, the kick is obviously fantastic, but the delivery is what is impressive. The initial wave comes in within minutes and the road to full caffeine absorption is almost entirely free to jitters. Yeah! I think only at one point I felt a little jittery, but that did not last long. Even with the full 280 mg of caffeine coursing through my veins, I was able to remain at my desk and focus on what I was doing. I feel like the energy can be put to a good use both for desk work requiring concentration and work requiring physical energy.

The kick lasted for well over 5 hours and there was no crash at the end. The effects were just slowly starting to wear off.

If you can overlook the plastic taste, this is definitely one damn good energy shot.

Scores:
Cost - $2.99 from WalMart
Taste - 6/10
Energy - 9/10

Overall - 15/20...sour, some plastic, but damn the kick is great

X-Mode Energy Shots On Tap Review

X-Mode Energy is definitely something new and unique. The idea behind it is that you buy a box of this energy blend and you dispense and consume as much caffeine as you want. The box comes with a shot glass and a portable container resembling a chubby energy shot bottle.

This product is definitely not for everyone, but I know many people who prefer taking energy shots or drinking energy drinks to pure coffee. Some of these people buy cases from bulk stores so X-Mode is definitely a product that will appeal to them and helps with their needs. A small subscription box of X-Mode will set you back $30 for which you get 100 ounces. If you do the math, each shot will cost you $0.30. If you don't need a subscription, you can buy a single box for $40 which also has 100 servings.

An opened box of X-Mode will last around 180 days so even if you do not drink energy shots on a daily basis, $40 has your caffeine needs covered for 6 months. That's $6.67 on caffeine per month. This is a great deal in my opinion....but only if you actually take energy shots regularly or at least twice per month.

OK, so now that we have gotten the numbers out of the way, the next question is - how does it taste?

Taste

First off, if you are wondering, the liquid inside the box is pale pink. The aroma is that of cherries with a slight cough syrup note. The shot also tastes like cherries - sour at the start and sweet at the finish. The initial sourness is refreshing and helps get the shot down, while the finish gives you a long-lasting sweet cherry finish that hides any unwanted flavors from the active ingredients very well....except for a little tiny amount of bitterness you get right after you swallow the shot.

The cherry flavor is very well done, but I do have one big complaint about the taste - I find the finish way too sweet. Now, I only found it too sweet because I was sipping on the shot very slowly at first to dissect it. Each tiny sip elevated the sweetness to the point where it felt like I had just consumed some cherry flavored cough syrup. Later shots I consumed in a large gulp so this sweetness wasn't bad, but I need to caution you if you like to sip on your shots.

Once I had the shot, the makers of X-Mode suggested I tried it with club soda. Genius!!! I have been writing about energy products for 5 years now I have never thought about putting an energy shot into a glass of club soda or water or juice, or anything, to make it into an energy drink! I can't believe how obvious this was.

Well, how does it taste with club soda - SOO GOOOD. You see, the sweetness is cut back so much that the energy cocktail is like Vitamin Water. There is just enough flavor to get you to drink it, but not too much that your palate is saturated. I am going to have to start doing this with other energy shots.

Energy

The taste is way better than I expected, especially for a bulk product like this, but the beauty of X-Mode is in the energy delivery. Each ounce, or shot, contains 150 mg of caffeine. For comparison, a 2 ounce bottle of 5 Hour Energy contains 200 mg, which means that each ounce of 5 Hour Energy contains only 100 mg of caffeine.

Caffeine content is one thing, but what I judge energy products on is the delivery of this energy. X-Mode surprised me with its smooth delivery. To fully test X-Mode, I had only a few hours of sleep (just can't sleep on weekends, I am way too excited to have some free time) when I had my first shot. The sourness of the shot pepped me up instantly and I felt my mind clear up and focus within 10 minutes of taking my first sip. After another 15-20 minutes I felt the effects of the caffeine with very minor jitters. I was actually able to stay seated and focused at my desk and write this review. Sure, underneath it all I felt like I could explode with energy and run around the block, but 1 ounce of X-Mode got me to just the right point for me. If I had some physical work to do, I would probably go with 2 ounces, but 1 ounce did the trick for me. The effects wore off after 3-4 hours (the 1 ounce effects) without a crash or any other negative side effect.

I didn't expect much from a boxed energy shot mixture, but to be perfectly honest, I was pleasantly surprised - it financially makes sense to get one of these if you consume energy shots on a regular basis, this stuff tastes better and works better than most single serving energy shots. Genius idea.

Scores:
Cost - $30 for 100 oz subscription, $40 for a single box from X-Mode
Taste - 7.9/10
Energy - 8/10 to 10/10

Overall - 15.9/20 to 17.9/20...great price, great taste and damn good energy kick

NoDoz Energy Shots Orange Review

I got a 2-pack of NoDoz from a WalMart somewhere in Michigan near the Windsor/Detroit border. Which one? Well, I don't know. They all look the same to me just like all the suburbs and the highways. I think the cost was something like $3.99 or $2.99...something fairly cheap by Canadian standards, but about average for American standards.

There were 2 flavors on the shelf, but I only got the orange one thinking the grape one would not taste great. Grape is such a simple flavor, yet so hard to pull off.

Taste

The taste is surprisingly good at the start. I kept the shot in the garage and since it is -15 outside, its contents were cold which made the first sip extremely refreshing when combined with the "fresh" orange taste. The flavor is tart and does feel fairly fresh. After the second sip I thought that the shot could be a bit more concentrated as it felt watery.

Third sip revealed the slight build up of bitterness towards the end, which fortunately, is quickly killed by the tart orange finish. The aftertaste carries some "fresh" orange at the start which turns into more of a "fake" orange after a minute or two. Obviously some sweetener aftertaste is present as well.

For $3 or $4 for 2 shots, these are not bad tasting at all.

Energy

Each shot contains 115 mg of caffeine, which is mid-range for me for a shot of this size. The effects are noticeable within 10 minutes and they start of gradual but by the time you sense that you are starting to wake up, there is a rush of energy and BAM - slight jitters. Don't worry, they are not as bad as some other shots, but you will still experience some.

Give it a bit more time and the jitters will end just around the time you feel moderately energized. The kick lasted for almost 2 hours for me and ended without much drama. Again, not a bad shot for the price.

Scores:

Cost - $2.99 or $3.99 from WalMart

Taste - 8/10

Energy - 7.8/10

Overall - 15.8/20...decent price, decent taste, decent kick...decent shot

Rip It Energy Shots Review

I haven't seen any new energy drinks come to Canada in months. The last batch that came out were Rockstar's Super Sours back in March of 2013! Wow. OK, maybe it is just Ontario that hasn't seen any new energy drinks.

So what am I to do? Well, I went to the US and grabbed a bunch, but I haven't been there in months so no new things to review...except for a bunch of energy shots that remembered I had in the garage. And since it is -20 outside I had to wait for some time this morning for these to melt.

Before I get started, I should mention that I bought these earlier this year (much earlier) from a Walmart somewhere in Michigan for $0.99 each. I cannot remember which one because I was on the highway and noticed one in the distance so I got off and found it.

Rip It Sting-er Mo Energy Shot

You can read my review of the energy drink here from a few years ago.

Yup, this one smells just like its big brother - like a regular Monster - candy-like sweetness with a bit of couch syrup base. The taste? The same, but more intense and much more sour and a bit less sweet too. I was surprised that the manufacturer was able to cram so much decent flavor in such a small package with so much caffeine (OK, not that much. It is 100 mg).

This one wasn't bad at all. It even reminded me a little of Monster's M3, except for the sweetness.

Taste - 6.5/10

Rip It G-Force Extra Strength Energy Shot

OK, the "Extra Strength" means you get an extra 20 mg of caffeine, which on a percentage basis is 20% more so I guess mathematically makes sense. But I was expecting at least an extra 50-60 mg.

Once again, I did try the full sized energy drink and reviewed it here.

Unlike the Sting-er Mo shot, this one doesn't have a very good aroma. The grapes are there, but you also get some plasticy notes and some unidentifiable chemicals. The flavor is similar, but it has a very sour grape note, which I really liked. It also helped create a very crisp finish, which I also liked. What I didn't like was the plastic taste. Before you say that it was expired, the date on the bottom says it is good for another 2 years.

Taste - 5/10

Rip It Code Blue Energy Shot

This one is brand new to me as I have never tried the full sized energy drink, if there is actually one. This one smells very nice, like candied berries. The taste is very similar to powdered mixed berries drink that wasn't dissolved in enough water - very sour and intense at the back with just a bit of candy sweetness. I loved this one. Best one so far.

Taste - 9/10

Rip It Java Mite Energy Shot

Obviously this one smells like coffee, but with a bunch of chemicals in it. Some whiffs I got were pleasant, others seemed packed with chemicals. The taste was like a watered down coffee infused with a coffee liqueur - boozy, sweet, milky(???). There was a brief chemical moment at the start, but once the sweetness kicked it, it all disappeared. This isn't the most terrible tasting shot I have had, but I just don't think coffee flavor is good for shots.

Taste - 5.5/10

Energy

Each one of these shots has 100 mg of caffeine (except for the extra strength g-force, which has 120 mg) so they perform about the same - quick jolt within 5 minutes of consumption, followed by a gradual build up with very minor jitters until you feel fully energized. The feeling lasts for about 1.5 - 2 hours and ends without a crash.

Energy - 6.8/10

Go for the Code Blue - best flavor/energy combo.

Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shots

Though this is an old shot down in the US, it is almost brand new in Canada...at least in Ontario. I actually got these earlier in the year, but didn't have the chance to try them until now. This is also my first energy shot review of the year (about time, eh?). The Redline Xtreme Triple Berry and Monster M3 don't count due to their large sizes...and the fact that I wasn't 100% sure how to label them. But these guys are energy shots for sure.

Before I start, there are a couple of things I didn't like right away about the packaging so hopefully if the guys at Stacker are reading this, something will be done in the future (don't have to, this is more like constructive criticism).

First off, when I ripped the top of the label down the dotted line to unscrew the cap and take the shot, I then realized that most of the nutritional info was on the top part of the label so when you rip it off to drink it, you can no longer see the caffeine content. So then I had to go to my garbage bin and retrieve the label. Second - I could not see the word "Stacker" anywhere else on the label below the dotted line. If it was up to me, I would sprinkle it here and there so people know what they just consumed. I know what I was taking a shot of, but come on, add that name below the dotted line.

OK, so on to the reviews

Berry

Smells a little nasty like soap and plastic with a tiny bit of sweet berry, but people don't smell shots...do they? Because they should! The taste was also pretty bad with a hit of nasty plastic, soap and a bunch of other unidentifiable chemicals. Also, I didn't really want to keep the nasty shot in my mouth to detect what other notes there are.

Immediately after the nastiness comes a hint of sweet berries which disappears veeery quickly and leaves a mix of artificial sweeteners, soap and just very subtle, very gentle , very distant berry note in the aftertaste. Did not like this at all.

Taste - 2/10

Orange

This one smells better and tastes a lot better...for a shot. The aroma and the flavor share a sour orange base with just a hint of additives, including artificial sweetener. Thanks to its sourness, the aftertaste is much cleaner than the berry, though there are still traces of the sweetener. This one is much better than the berry.

Taste - 7/10

Grape

Nooooooo...this one smells just like the berry one - plastic and chemicals with a stinky socks note??? To be honest, I took a tiny sip just to confirm this and yes, the taste is veeeeery bad. Besides the plastic, chemicals and the socks flavours (???) I got a much more subtle hint of grape at the very end and unfrotunately for this shot, the nasty socks and chemical flavours carried through into the aftertaste...nooo, get me some water!!!

Taste - 1/10

I checked the expiration dates on all shots and each had way more than a year left. The seals weren't broken either. So is this how they are supposed to taste like? Batch numbers are - CXBR L# 5, CXOR L#5, CXGR L# 5.

Energy

So shots typically do not taste that great, but work, and these guys worked very well. Each shot has 150 mg of caffeine and the effects can be felt within minutes. At first I started to feel a bit more focused and quickly got energized. For the first bit I was both focused and energized, which helped me finish up most of the review, but soon after I started to get a bit jittery and over energized...so I went out for a walk to burn it off. The jitters didn't last too long so I just felt energized after. The boost lasted for a few hours and there was no crash at the end. 

Sure, these are nasty, but they work great.

Scores:

Cost - $1.99 from Big Bear convenience store in Waterloo

Taste - read above

Energy - 8/10

Overall - from 9/20 to 15/20...I am going to have to conclude that 2 of the 3 flavours are just bad, but the orange is alright

Monster Energy M3 Super Concentrate Review

Next to Monster's Ubermonster, this bottle looks lilliputian. However, the same amount of caffeine is present in both sizes so ultimately it is up to you to choose how you want to consume the caffeine - a quick "shot" or sip out of a bottle for 20-30 minutes.

Also, this is a twist off...or at least that was the original idea, but the fact is that it was impossible for me to twist the cap off. I used my shirt, my jeans, and it just could not come off. It is not as easy as a bottle of beer, so, I strongly recommend you use a bottle opener.

Taste

This tastes just like the regular Monster. Duuuh! The only different thing is how sweet and intense the flavour is. Hey, you gotta mask the 160 mg of caffeine in a volume that is 1/3 of the normal size somehow. Other than that, there are no other notable characteristics. And yes, it is also carbonated.

Energy

The effects are somewhere between those of a shot and an energy drink. This is small enough to be gulped down in several gulps giving you full access to the 160 mg of caffeine right at the start. Or, you can sip this over a period of time due to its intense sweetness and gain gradual access to the sugar and caffeine.

Once in your system, it takes a few minutes for the sugar to kick in, giving you a quick burst of slightly jittery energy. Soon the caffeine kicks in and get a ton of unfocused energy for a few hours followed by a mild crash if you had this first thing in the morning like I did. For me, if I have such a drink in the afternoon or the evening, the crash is much more severe due to my lack of physical energy later on in the day.

Bottom line is if you like the taste of Monster, but didn't enjoy their energy shots before, this is the closest you will come to getting 160 mg of caffeine without compromising the taste.

Scores:
Cost - $3.49 from a Meijer gas station
Taste - 7/10
Energy - 8/10

Overall - 15/20...tastes like the regular Monster and works the same way too

Redline Xreme Triple Berry Energy Drink Review

Wait, is this an energy drink or is it an energy shot? This is a topic I have been debating myself on ever since I first saw and tried a Redline drink...shot? There are 240 mL of liquid in the container and it clearly says to not consume the bottle at once due to the amount of caffeine present. This then would make each serving a large energy shot rather than an energy drink (OK, you can by Mother half shot in Australia, which is a half energy drink, but that doesn't count). On the other hand, though, if you disregard the suggestions and warnings on the label, this falls short by 10 mL of the small energy drink category. So....what is your opinion on this?

Taste

The taste is rather sweet with an enjoyable medley of berries. Surprisingly the taste isn't one of those messes of flavours where you cannot pick out the individual notes. Blueberries are dominant and are the first thing you taste and the one note that lingers well throughout the aftertaste. Second comes a short-lived intense burst of sour raspberries which is a very nice addition to the taste. Third are blackberries which are very subtle and do not appear until near the finish and I was able to really taste them only in the aftertaste. Though there is a lot of caffeine in the container, there are absolutely no medicinal traces in the taste. Amazing!

As expected, there is a diet taste in the aftertaste, however, it is rather light compared to some of the other sugar free drinks on the market. Also, I found the taste after the sour raspberry burst to be on the sweeter side for my liking so I had to resort to something less sweet at the end to balance it out.

Energy

As any other Redline product, there is a lot of caffeine in this container - 316 mg in total, or 158 mg per serving. The energy was slow for me at first but once I got past the 20 minute mark my mind and body just blew up from the raw energy. I started experiencing a bit of jitters and had the urge to get up and get things done.

The energy was way too raw for me to be able to concentrate on doing mental work, but this was perfect for doing physical work.

The effects lasted for hours and I did experience a mild crash at the end. Yep, this is a serious drink.

Scores:
Cost - $3.29
Taste - 8.5/10
Energy - 10/10

Overall - 18.5/20...tons of raw energy...with a great taste

Eternal Energy Grape Review

On my most recent run to the US I stopped by a Wal-Mart near the border and found one of these in the pharmacy among the thousands of 5-hour shots.

Taste

The taste is a combination of dry, sour grape with an odd, medicinal-like kick back, which fortunately does not last very long. The sour grape taste is fantastic as it is very refreshing and ends on a semi-clean note. Since this shot contains no sugar, sweetener is present in the aftertaste, but not while you are drinking the shot.

Overall, this is an OK tasting shot which I had no problems keeping down.

Energy

Like every night this week, I had less than 6 hours of sleep last night so I thought this morning would be the perfect time to try this. The shot works like a charm. It took me about 5 minutes to go from a hazy, slightly distracted mind state to a more focused and alert state. This worked quicker than expected, but unlike what the label promised, I did start to experience a mild case of the jitters, but it didn't last very long. The energy kicked in fully in another 20 or so minutes and the effects were very clean. The shot isn't as strong as some of its competitors, but the energy it provided was very focused and usable for mental work. If you require a boost to do something physical, this may not be the shot for you.

Scores:
Cost - $0.99
Taste - 7/10
Energy - 8/10

Overall - 15/20...decent tasting, great focused energy

MiO Energy Green Thunder Review

MiO products crossed the border to the north not too long ago and I have bought a few of the little bottles since the launch. I keep one at my desk for when I feel water gets a bit boring. As soon as I heard that these also come with caffeine I made sure to go to the States and get myself a few to try.

Taste

I squirted a few shots into a bottle, gave it a shake (though the squirts normally mix fairly well on their own) and took a sip. Well Green Thunder tastes a lot like a mix between a regular Monster and a mellow tasting Red Bull. There are sweet cough syrup notes with a dry finish. I didn't enjoy the taste very much as it seemed a little too sweet for my taste and the cough syrup note seems circa 2004. Most energy drinks have long since eliminated this from their drinks, but not this. I think the taste might be improved if squirted into chilled club soda or carbonated juice.

Energy

There are 1,080 mg of caffeine in the entire bottle so this can be one hell of an energy shot (probably would seriously hurt you or kill you). A couple of generous squirts into a 500 mL bottle of water gave me a very nice boost which lasted for a few hours. The kick came in gradually and I didn't really feel anything about 20 minutes after I started drinking it. There were no jitters, just a clean boost. On the energy front, this is a pretty decent drink.

Scores:
Cost - unsure
Taste - 6/10
Energy - up to 10/10

Overall - up to 16/20...outdated taste, but a damn good kick

Fireball Extreme Rush Energy Drink Review

I am not actually sure if this is an energy shot or an energy drink. The only thing the label states is that it is an energy supplement. I bought this from a GNC store when I was in Michigan.

Taste

The aroma is very sweet and inviting with hints of papaya and berries...in addition to the chemical undertone. The taste is a bit different and there is barely any papaya in it (OK, just a hint in the aftertaste). A sour blend of berries is present, however, you cannot distinguish which specific berries are present in the blend...maybe there are some cranberries.

With the amount of chemicals present, I am surprised at how subtle the chemical taste is. The drink was very easy to consume and did not assault any of my senses. I think that for its strength, the taste is fairly decent.

Energy

There are 400 mg of caffeine in the 240 mL bottle, which of course is quite a lot. The label recommends you only consume half at a time and that's exactly what I did. The initial kick takes about 15-20 minutes which is a bit slower than I expected, but when you finally feel the rush, it is good...from an energy perspective. Sure I did feel focused for a bit, but the label led me to believe I will be focused for a longer period of time. The kick lasted for well over 4 hours and during parts of it I felt very overenergized, almost jittery with all the energy I had. At the end there was no crash. This was a surprisingly strong energy drink.

Scores:
Cost - $3
Taste - 6.5/10
Energy - 10/10

Overall - 16.5/20...decent taste with a strong kick

Redline Power Rush 7-hour Energy Shot Review

Here is another item I picked up from a GNC in Michigan. This one cost me $3.29 and contains over 300 mg of caffeine, but given the typical amount of caffeine found in the Redline drinks, I was not too surprised.

Taste

This has to be one of the hardest to open shots. Either that or I am just too used to the easy open tabs all other energy shots come with. With the cap off, you are faced with a aluminium foil without any tabs or ways to grip a section and peel it off. I had to stick my pinkie at one end and make a circle around the edge to cut the foil.

Once opened the shot is surprisingly delicious for the amount of caffeine it contains. The standard sweetener taste is present, but initially it takes a backseat to the peach/mango flavour, which is done fairly well. Once the flavour goes away (and this happens quickly), the sweetener taste comes back and lingers for a veeeeery long time. Also there is a brief moment of bitterness which is more of a notification of just how much caffeine you consumed in a single mouthful. Given the amount, the bitterness could be much, much stronger, but it is not.

Energy

There are 326 mg of caffeine in the shot. The label recommends consuming half at a time and I agree. Given my personal experience with 300+ mg drinks, I was more than happy to follow the instructions and was rewarded with an excellent kick without any shakes or other unpleasantries.

The effects appeared within 10 minutes and the energy kick was gradual from thereon. There was no noticeable spike in my energy level, but within another 20 minutes I was feeling fantastic. I love drinks that work in the background and help you reach an energy high without any jitters.

The kick lasted for about 3 hours and there were no complications. Good thing I still have the second half to continue my buzz.

Scores:
Cost - $3.29
Taste - 7/10
Energy - 8/10 to 10/10

Overall - 15/20 to 17/20...depending on how much of the shot you consume

On Go Energy Berry Blast Review

This shot has been travelling with me for the past few months at the bottom of my bag. On my way out tonight I felt the need for some caffeine so I quickly chugged it before heading out.

Taste

This shot has a surprisingly great taste. It must be my favorite On Go shot so far. The berry flavour is a combination of sour raspberries and cranberries with little chemical/artificial taste...until the aftertaste. I enjoyed the sourness because it not only did it give the berries some depth, but also gives you a refreshing aftertaste.

The aftertaste, as mentioned briefly, has the standard chemical as well as a sweetener note. Not surprising and the sourness even took it down a notch.

Energy

The kick is nothing unique or surprising for a shot of this caliber. I felt a burst of energy within 5 minutes of chugging this shot. There were no jitters and after 10-20 minutes I felt the caffeine kick and felt very energized and focused. The energy lasted for a few hours but unfortunately I did experience a bit of a crash at the end. I blame that on the fact that it was getting late and I had been up for about 14-15 hours.

Had I had this first thing in the morning, I probably would not have experienced the crash. Still, I thought this was the best tasting On Go shot and probably one of the better ones on the market.

Scores:
Cost - $0.99
Taste - 9/10
Energy - 8/10


Overall - 17/20...great sour flavour with a decent kick

Tonic Energy Shot Review

As I was paying for a bunch of energy drinks at the local Hasty Market, I noticed 4 colorful boxes near the cash register each in a different main color and each bearing a specific keyword - Energy, Detox, Immunity and Calm. They looked interesting so I picked up the Energy one to try it...but should have also bought the Calm one.

I don't recall the exact cost of the shot since there were no prices, but I don't think I paid more than $2.99 for it.

Taste

I cannot say I enjoyed the taste...at all. It started off with a burst of guarana, which I don't like very much on its own, and was followed by straight yerba mate. I like yerba mate, but when it is combination with something else that balances out its bitterness. I do own a gourd and have drank yerba mate properly, but I just find it too bitter on its own.

The bitterness lasts all the way to the aftertaste and for sometime afterwards, which doesn't leave a particularly enjoyable taste in your mouth.

In between the two flavours, I could detect something sweet and fruity, but it appeared for too short of a time for me to pinpoint exactly what it was.

Energy

There are 150 mg of caffeine, plus some extra from the rest of the ingredients. Despite the bitter taste, this shot works great! I almost instantly felt awake just a few short minutes after my first large gulp. Within another 5 minutes I was very focused and felt very energized.

Soon I felt the energy was a bit too much and started to experience a mild case of the jitters. This felt odd since there is very little sugar in the shot. Fortunately this did not last long.

I felt great for about 3-4 hours afterwards and did not experience a crash.

This may be a bad taste shot, but it works great.

Scores:
Cost - $2.99 (estimated)
Taste - 3/10
Energy - 8.5/10

Overall - 11.5/20...bitter tasting, but works great