V8 Energy Drinks in Canada - Round 2

V8 recently released another round of energy drinks and I was lucky enough to score a few. For the first round of their Canadian releases, check out my post from 2016.

Orange Pineapple

I actually reviewed the US version of this a few years ago. This one is a little different and not in a good way. The US one had an amazing, intense aroma with a ton of fruits and vegetables, while this one has a more subdued one that reminds me more of a cheap soft drink than a fruit-packed beverage.

The flavor is a little different too. The tea and artificial sweetener (rebiana, a stevia leaf extract) are much more pronounced to the point where the sweetener is pretty much the aftertaste. The orange flavor is subtle to light while the pineapple barely comes through.

Not as big of a fan of this one as I was of the US version. I used to buy it and drink it by the 6-pack.

Taste - 6.5/10

Raspberry Grape

The aroma on this one is amazing, but the flavor is very sweetener and green tea heavy which almost completely decimates any berry and grape flavors. I say almost, because there is still a light raspberry undertone at the start and a subtle grape note towards the finish that lingers in the aftertaste...and that's it.

I think this will be better sold as a rebranded V8 Green Tea flavored beverage.

Taste - 5/10

Energy

These V8s performed like all other V8 energy drinks so I will recycle some old text to describe these - the effects if these 80 mg cans are not as intense as a can of Red Bull since there are only 10 grams of sugar, but you still get a brief sugar rush within 10-15 minutes. I did not experience any jitters and even felt focused for a bit. When the caffeine kicked, it gave me about 1.5 hours of energy which slowly went away without any drama.

Energy - 6/10

Overall - 11/20 to 12.5/20...not the greatest batch of new energy drinks

V8 Energy Drinks in Canada

Finally V8 (actually Campbell Soup Company) answered my years of prayers and brought some of their energy drinks north of the border. As of late summer/early fall you are able to officially purchase V8 Peach Mango and Pomegranate Blueberry energy drinks for $2.49 each. Ouch! My complaint now is - why are they $2.49 in Canada when a 6-pack costs $5.99 in the US? But one step at a time.

Peach Mango

The last time I had Peach Mango was in 2012 and I gave it a glowing review saying it was one of the best energy drinks I ever had, etc. The Canadian version is a little different. The peach is still well defined and comes through at the start, and the mango is still mellow and helps round off the finish, but there is a lot more of the green tea and stevia throughout each sip. The US version also has green tea and stevia, but my recollection is that they are a little more subtle.

The slight differences take down the overall enjoy-ability a notch, but this V8 is still a decent tasting energy drink.

Taste - 7.8/10

Pomegranate Blueberry

I have never been tempted to get this one in the US before because of its generic flavor combo, but when in Canada, totally different story.

This red, cranberry-like juice smells just like a POM combo juice. The pomegranate is mild and comes through clearly right from the start, but is closely followed by equally strong notes of stevia. The blueberry portion rounds off the end and lingers into the finish giving your mouth a mellow candy-like feel. Green tea notes come out near the end and are not as pronounced as with the Peach Mango drink.

Overall, the stevia and green tea are better hidden here because of the lightly tart nature of the pomegranate.

Taste - 9/10

Energy

Like its brethren south of the border, the Canadian cans contain 80 mg of caffeine each. The effects are not as intense as a can of Red Bull since there are only 11 grams of sugar, but you still get a brief sugar rush within 10-15 minutes. I did not experience any jitters and even felt focused for a bit. When the caffeine kicked, it gave me about 1.5 hours of energy which slowly went away without any drama.

Scores:
Cost - $2.49 per can
Energy - 6/10

Overall - 13.8/20 to 15/20

V8 Fusion Energy Orange Pineapple Energy Drink

How I envy those in the US. You guys have access to V8 energy drinks literally everywhere. And all the flavors!!! And so cheap! I like V8 energy drinks so much that I have a standing order with anyone travelling south of the border to get me at least a 6 pack...preferably several.

Taste

This new V8 I picked up has an incredible aroma pineapple, carrot, apple, orange, tea aroma that keeps unveiling a new scent each time you stick your nose in it. It was so hard safeguarding a can of this stuff for a review.

The flavor is unreal! There is pineapple and sweet carrots at the start (the carrots are fairly mild and they boost the flavor) and mildly tart orange and tea at the end towards the finish. The aftertaste does have a very slight artificial sweetener-like note to it, but it also has traces of mild green tea and pineapple. The blend of flavors creates for such a mild, lingering and enjoyable finish that you just want to keep drinking it.

Energy

There are 80 mg of caffeine and the effects are like any other V8 - not too jittery, followed by a brief period of calmness and focus, followed by 1.5-2 hour long caffeine kick without the crash.

Scores:
Cost - $5.99 for a 6 pack
Taste - 9.5/10
Energy - 6/10

Overall - 15.5/20...fresh, enjoyable, smooth, delicious

Suja Essentials Organic Sweet Beets

I am trying to remember where I got this from, but I am drawing a blank. It was definitely somewhere in Michigan, but I cannot recall if it was from Target or Meijer. In any case, I found this almost expired Suja Essentials beet juice hiding in the back of our fridge. I thought it was my wife's and she thought it was mine so no one touched it for the past couple of months. Damn.

The dark red color is an easy indicator of what is inside the bottle - beet juice. But there are a few other fruits/vegetables tossed in there for a good measure as well - apple, carrot, orange, banana, pineapple and turmeric (no, it is not a fruit, nor a vegetable).

Unfortunately (or fortunately if you are a fan of it), the beet remains the king of both the aroma and the taste. Some carrot finds its way through the aroma, but it is no match for the mighty beet. The flavor is a bit different and you get a clear, distinct pineapple and turmeric at the finish, and well into the aftertaste, but the beet still remains the king. I like beets, but I still found it to be a bit overpowering, considering that when blended with some of the other flavors, an interesting damp/cellar note emerges.

Despite the heavy beet presence, the beverage is surprisingly smooth, light, easy to drink and refreshing.

Scores:
Cost - ~$3
Taste - 8.8/10

Wild Poppy Peach Vanilla Juice

Wild Poppy Peach Vanilla is a juice that hails from California, but one that I bought from somewhere in Michigan...I think. The $2 juice comes in a 296 mL beautiful glass bottle with a screw top that can be easily sealed. My recollection is that there were quite a few different Wild Poppy flavors, but I decided to go with the orange looking one because I was thirsty and in the mood for orange juice...and apparently really tired because I did not read the label at all.

Oh well, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Or in this case, if your idiot brain f***s up, you deal with it.

OK, first off...the aroma is not pleasant at all. The vanilla is very fragrant and intense on its own, but when mixed with the peach, it creates this musky, dampy, weird smell. But the taste is so damn good. WTF??? OK, new test - plug the nose and just drink.

Back to the taste with my nose all plugged. The juice looks thick with its peach puree and heavy sediment yet it has a surprisingly light mouth feel. You get a hint of fresh, ripe peaches immediately the liquid touches your tongue, but the intense vanilla wipes it all off for a few brief moments, before the ripe peach finish comes and gives you the sensation of you just having finished the best damned peach in the world. Weird...oh wait, the vanilla comes again...ok, now it is weird.

Damn, this vanilla is really killing the flavor. As I said, the vanilla is great on its own, but the combination is just not working for me. Keep the two separate!

Scores:
Cost - ~$2
Taste - 9.5/10 (peach only), 7/10 (peach with vanilla)

Cabana Lemonade

These bottles were given to me courtesy of the good guys at Pacific Bottleworks. The beverages are available at multiple stores in the downtown Toronto area, but I am sure they can be easily found elsewhere.

Original Lemonade

It will be a crime not to start with the Original Lemonade to lay the foundations for these reviews.

The Original Lemonade is cloudy and some sediment is present at the bottom, so I made sure to follow the instructions on the label and to shake the bottle. Off the bat this smells like a fresh lemonade with a very intense and sour lemon aroma. The first sip seems a bit watery, but as soon as the liquid made its way along my tongue, I was hit by a wave of intense lemon flavors that stiffened up my jaw.

The taste is well balanced, because the sour intensity only lasts for a few moments and then comes the moderately sweet finish that's rounded off by its candy-like sweetness. The aftertaste is clean and dry with a gentle lingering lemon note.

Really refreshing stuff. Love it.

Taste - 9.2/10

Limeade

After the lemon comes the lime. It is only logical. Cabana's Limeade is hazy and filled with sediment that you need to shake up...that's from the 11% juice. The aroma is limey and creamy and moderately intense, while the taste is full-on intense. The taste starts off a bit watery like the lemonade, but even quicker, that sour and sweet lime flavor punches you. I like the way this one finishes on a fruity, sour, yet sweet and creamy note with a lot of lingering traces of lime. Very enjoyable and veeeery refreshing. Damn, I like this one more than the Original Lemonade.

Taste - 9.3/10

Strawberry Lemonade

Heavy strawberry aroma with tart lemon peel notes hidden behind it. The flavor comes at you in a very interesting way. You don't get much at the start of the sip, but then you get a hit of sweet and tart strawberries, followed by a subtle tart lemon peel, followed by a burst of lemon sour goodness right before the dry finish. Some strawberry creaminess comes in the aftertaste.

Great, refreshing lemonade with a creamy strawberry finish. Good stuff.

Taste - 9/10

Cherry Lemonade

The aroma is dominated by cherries with the lemonade providing a sour citrus backdrop making it seem like sour cherries were used. The taste is strong on the cherries and at first you don't taste the lemonade, but you feel its sour nature around the jawline, twisting and pulling your muscles back. After the muscle twisting comes the actual lemonade flavor, which blends well with the cherries giving you the sensation of drinking sour cherry juice near the finish. The aftertaste is clean at first, but moments later traces of lemon and cherries become noticeable.

I found this one to be the most sour one of the flavors, but combination of lemons and cherries wasn't something that I expected to be so good.

Taste - 9.3/10

Overall Notes and Impressions

There are around 45 grams of sugar in each bottle, but none felt overly sweet. The tart lemon flavors definitely keep the sweetness from building up, but even when you get a hint of sweetness, it has depth and roundness to it. It isn't just an overly sweet shock in your face. I love that.

V8 Fusion Energy Black Cherry

I picked up a 6 pack of these from a Target when I was passing through Michigan not too long ago for $5.99. I only wish these were available in Canada. Come on Campbells, bring them over!

Taste

This energy drink looks like a blend of red pure and freshly pressed juice. It smells amazing and tastes even better. The mouthfeel is on the medium thick side since 50% of this energy drink is pure juice. The taste is one solid flavor all throughout - fresh, ripe, tart black cherries! I don't usually like cherry-flavored beverages as they remind me too much of cough syrups, but this tastes like freshly picked cherries, which is much, much better.

The aftertaste is refreshing with long-lasting tart cherry skin notes. Best V8 I have yet to date! Strongly recommended.

Energy

There are 80 mg of caffeine and the effects start to creep in fairly quickly. I almost got jittery, but the drink is good enough to not get you to this point. If you are caffeine sensitive, you might experience a case of the jitters, but if you are used to pounding back Red Bulls and Monsters, then jitters shouldn't affect you.

Once the caffeine kicked in, I felt focused for 30-40 mins and energized for almost a couple of hours. No crash at the end!!!

Scores:
Cost - $5.99 for a 6 pack
Taste - 10/10
Energy - 6/10

Overall - 16/20...best V8 and one of the best energy drinks I have had. Strongly recommended

Zola Coconut Water Espresso

Zola has been on the Canadian market for years. In fact, one of my very first reviews, more than 6 years ago, was of Zola's Immunity Smoothie. The smoothie was the best tasting product on my blog for years so when I was given a can of their Coconut Water Espresso (or should it be Espresso Coconut Water?), I had very high expectations.

Taste

The contents of this can look like any other iced coffee - medium brown and very muggy. The aroma is also very similar to any other iced coffee with a strong coffee presence. There is no coconut presence, but with a flavor as dominant as coffee, it is easy for the coconut notes to get lost.

The taste is very interesting. I kept drinking and drinking trying to decipher and put it into words, but I found it a bit difficult. OK, so I was expecting coffee to the dominant flavor, but I was greeted by a semi-sweet, very well defined coconut flavor at the start of each sip. That was followed by the tiniest hint of sourness you get from coffee, which was then followed by more coconut, a bit of chocolate and a hint of coffee. The finish is where the coffee finally came out and lingered well into the aftertaste. The aftertaste, itself, is long, a bit dry with a strong coffee presence and a hint of sweetness. Since there is a tiny bit of milk added to it, a bit of the typical iced coffee raunchiness is also present in the aftertaste.

I knew the coffee was there, but I sensed it not through its flavor, but through its other characteristics, like bitterness and sourness and even a tiny bit from its aromas the top of my mouth was exposed to...well until the flavors finally came out in the finish. Very interesting and enjoyable.

The beverage is very smooth and very easy to drink. The sweetness is well balanced and the coffee is more of a supporting character than the main one.

Energy

What, did you not expect this to have any caffeine? Come on, that is literally in the its title. There are 150 mg of caffeine in the can, which is very typical.

"Oh, but the can is so much bigger than other energy drinks...this sucks". Well, my response to this is to read the label. Despite its large appearance, the can contains only 47 mL more volume than your standard energy drink. That's less than 10% more!

So not only are you drinking coconut water that your mom tells you is good for you, but you are also getting jazzed up. The effects are a bit slow to roll out as it took around 15 minutes for me to feel the kick, but the effects are much smoother than your typical sugary energy drink. This drink almost gave me the jitters when it started to kick in, but I didn't really feel like shaking my leg more than once. Once it started to kick in, I felt much more awake and very focused before all the caffeine kicked in and I just felt exhilarated and really into reading a few reports I had on my desk. The kick lasted for a good 3-4 hours and ended without a crash. Excellent kick!

Scores:
Cost - unsure
Taste - 8.8/10
Energy - 8.5/10

Overall - 17.3/20...interesting coconut/coffee combo with a great and focused kick

Little Big Shot Energy Mixed Berry

Little Big Shot Energy is a UK energy drink without the caffeine or taurine. The label states that the energy comes from the "energy releasing vitamins" so I bought myself a can from the local health store to give it a shot. This 250 mL retails for $2.49 from Essence of Life in Kensington Market in Toronto, but I am sure it is sold other places as well, because the label has been properly done in English and French and it is not just a sticker.

Taste

The aroma is very intense with pomegranate, hibiscus and blackcurrants being the dominant notes. The taste is similar with pomegranate being the front most dominant flavor, while the blackcurrants come up from behind to finish it off. Right before the finish, a wave of tart lemon kicks in to give this beverage a clean finish. The hibiscus is very subtle and doesn't appear until well into the aftertaste once the lemon washes off.

This drink is intense. The flavors are all very well done and alternate. Each one is well defined and is not lost in a generic mix of berries. The sweetness and tartness are very well balanced and it never got too sweet or too tart.

Energy

Welp, there is no caffeine. There is ginseng, B6, B12 and a mix of minerals. I didn't get a rush like I do with regular energy drinks, but I did find myself a little more focused and perky after 10 or so minutes. The feeling lasted for about 30 minutes and then I felt very calm, but not super energetic. Not sure if this is a placebo effect or if this is what this drink is supposed to do, but I liked it.

Scores:
Cost - $2.49
Taste - 9.8/10
Energy - meeeeh...

Overall - 9.8/10...not rating the energy since it doesn't stand a chance against the big, sugary brands

MASH Water Drink Review

There is something about the shape of these bottles that makes me very happy and makes me want to hold them. The stubby factor makes them feel solid and just right in my hand while the wide mouth makes it much easier to drink and get more of the liquid into your body...a feature not to be underestimated when it is very hot out and you are very thirsty.

MASH is produced by the same guys who make Boylan Soda...Boylan Bottling and seems to be available in the same stores. MASH are lightly carbonated, low calorie beverages sweetened with crystalline fructose and sucralose. Each bottle contains only 100 calories...but enough  of this, let's try the flavors.

Ripe Mango Blood Orange

The aroma this one has is absolutely amazing. The ripe mango and blood orange create this amazing fusion that could only be described as a honey tangerine with bits of sweet mango pulp. Seriously, strap a bottle to my nose and I will be happy smelling this for the rest of my life.

The taste is not bad either. It is like a sandwich that starts off with a mild citrus zing, followed by a strong sweet mango flavor that dominates the middle ground, followed by more of the initial citrus zing. The aftertaste is a balanced mix of mango on top with a subtle citrus undertone. The crystalline fructose adds a mild candy-like sweetness that I find very enjoyable.

The mango is well done and right where it needs to be - not too sweet or dominant. The blood orange could be improved a little. I did like that it is not overly sour, but it can definitely use just a tiny bit more for a bit more zing and a cleaner finish.

Taste - 9.3/10

Lemon Peel

Very lemony aroma. The taste is mild and lemony at first, but builds up right up to the finish for tart, yet not too intense finish. Some candy sweetness comes up right after the end of each sip, giving the aftertaste a sensation similar to sucking on a mild lemon drop.

The lemon tartness builds up slowly with each sip around the back of the jaw giving the beverage a relatively clean finish (OK with a bit of candy sweetness) at the end of the bottle. Refreshing, but a bit too mild for me.

Taste - 8.0/10

Grapefruit Citrus Zing

This one starts off on a very high note with an amazingly rich ruby red grapefruit aroma. The first sip is a bit dull, but each one after that is not so don't be too hasty with your judgement. Each subsequent sip starts off with a moderate pink grapefruit flavor which gives way to a lemon/lime combo and comes back as the dominant flavor near the finish. Some creaminess appears near the finish and lingers along with the grapefruit well into the aftertaste.

Great ruby red grapefruit drink with the right amount of sweetness.

Taste - 9.0/10

Pomegranate Blueberry

I am amazed at how equally balanced the aroma is. You get both pomegranate and blueberry notes each whiff and you don't have to go looking for them. The flavors are nice and tart with pomegranate dominant up front and in the middle, with the blueberry rounding off the finish. The aftertaste has a candy-like blueberry sweetness to it with pomegranate making a brief return. The sweetness in the aftertaste is well balanced and not overpowering. The tartness disappears for a while in the middle, but comes back in the finish.

Very impressive and well defined flavor.

Taste - 9.3/10

Overall Impressions

Overall, these MASH beverages are fantastic, but you must be aware that these are low calorie beverages and some sweetener notes are present. The tart flavors of the Pomegranate Blueberry eliminate that presence, but it is apparent in the Lemon Peel and Grapefruit Citrus Zing. The Ripe Mango Blood Orange one has a moderate sweetener presence since there is some mild tartness. I bet if it was dialed up a notch, all traces will be eliminated.

Ocean Spray PACt Cranberry Extract Water

When I was in Michigan a few weeks ago, I got my hands on a few of Ocean Spray's new Cranberry Extract Waters from a Target near one of the airports...can't remember which one. The odd name comes from the word proanthocyanidins, or PACs for short, which are a class of polyphenols found in cranberries, the main ingredient of the PACt waters...get it? Supposedly these waters are supposed to help cleanse and purify your body better than water alone. But all I want to know is - how do these taste?

Cranberry Mango Passion Fruit

The mango here is predominant in the aroma and in the taste. Right after the initial mango hit, you get a medium-rich cranberry flavor that fills the middle and end of each sip. The cranberry portion is just a touch tart near the end to give you a clean finish. The passion fruit is very subtle and I didn't get very much of it until near the finish.

Taste - 8.2/10

Cranberry Pomegranate

The pomegranate dominates the aroma and the finish of this flavor. The cranberry base is dominant at the start of each sip but quickly gives way to the tart pomegranate notes. Very  interestingly balanced taste. Both flavors are tart, giving this beverage a rather dry finish.

Taste - 7.8/10

Cranberry Raspberry

This one has a very nice sweet raspberry-heavy aroma with a good amount of cranberries. The taste is very similar with sweet, ripe raspberries upfront, followed by a moderately tart cranberry notes. The aftertaste has a medium sweetness and carries a raspberry-heavy tone.

Taste - 8.5/10

Overall Impressions

Unlike other flavored waters, all of these flavors were very intense and I would be more inclined to call them soft drinks...or whatever, but not waters.

The one disappointing thing about this water is the heavy sweetener presence in the aftertaste. Yes, these are waters and yes they are flavored, so in order to get some intensity, depth and flavor profile something needs to be added in addition to the natural flavors. I get it, but the sweeteners took the experience down a few notches for me.

Purity Organic Green Lemonade

I know it looks gross, but don't judge it by its looks until you read this review. I picked this one up from a Target when passing through...Troy, Michigan? Somewhere in Michigan. The bottle set me back $2 and there were a few different types of this Purity Organic, but the green stuff really caught my eye.

Speaking of green stuff, the green comes from the kale, spinach and spearmint added to the beverage. Despite the greens, the aroma is mostly lemon and honey with just a hint of mint. The flavor is also heavy on the lemon...aaaand the honey towards the finish. Mint is present but mostly in the aftertaste and compliments the sour lemon finish with a chilly zing. This beverage is also quite sweet, more sweet than I expected. The honey and agave account for around 43 grams of sugar, which is a lot. The greens are there mostly for color and nutrients because I didn't really notice them.

The Green Lemonade is very refreshing and easy to drink, but the sweetness killed it a little for me. I had to get some water when I was done with this beverage.

Scores:
Cost - $2
Taste - 8.5/10

Grace Sparkling Coconut Water

For those of you who are not familiar, Grace is a manufacturer and distributor of Jamaican products across Canada and the Great Britain. In Canada, Grace's products are available at every grocery store that has even the tiniest international section.

Though Grace manufacturers and distributes Jamaican products, the coconut waters that I reviewed for this post are actually made in Vietnam because Vietnam is a huge grower and exporter of coconuts and coconut products.

Original

This flavor has an earthy tone to its predominant coconut aroma. The carbonation is medium and fits the coconut flavor. Any more and I don't think it would have worked, any less and it would have been a tease. The coconut flavor has a medium intensity and is a little salty due to the carbonation process. The saltiness sounds odd, but it works and makes the drink even more refreshing than it already is and gives the finish a lingering and rich coconut aftertaste. This is nowhere as good as the fresh coconut juice I had at the Cold Pressery, but it is one of the better ones I have tried.

Taste - 9/10

Pomegranate

Not much of a difference in color, but a sweet, floral aroma is present. The flavor is a little sweeter and very perfumy but without any apparent pomegranate notes. The flavor is muddled and seems like something is there in addition to the coconut, but not sure what. There is even no acidity that you would normally expect to taste in a pomegranate drink. Maybe I got a dud.

Taste - 6/10

Lemon

This one seems to have a slight yellow tint to it. The lemon comes through in the aroma and mixed with the coconut creates a creamy illusion. The lemon flavor is very light throughout and is eclipsed by the coconut for most parts. It does come out in the finish and gives the aftertaste a lingering, refreshing lemon note. Surprisingly good combination of flavors. Very refreshing.

Taste - 9.2/10

GoodDrink Organic Spritzter Ruby Red Grapefruit

The 2015 Labour Day weekend was relaxing enough to give me the boost I needed to plow through a bunch of drinks sitting in the fridge. This Ruby Red Grapefruit is the last of my GoodDrink beverages and I am so very glad I left it alone until the 40+ C Labour Day Monday.

First, a bit of info on the GoodDrink beverage. I got this for $2.99 from Marcello's City Market at Shaw and King West in Toronto and there were tons when I was there in early August, 2015. Can't wait to go back and buy some other refreshing drinks there.

OK, now back to the Ruby Red that has been tempting me from the corner of my desk for the past few minutes with its glistening can and pale red/orange insides. Let me start by saying how AMAZING the aroma is!!! I almost lost it when I smelled it. It is like someone grabbed the freshest grapefruit and used my nose to squeeze all the juice out. The flavor is UNREAL! I had to make myself leave the glass on the desk so that I can write what this tastes like. I really wanted to consume this in one go.

Like the aroma, the flavor is as fresh as it gets short of squeezing a fresh grapefruit. The sweetness is just right to avoid build up and enough to give you a sweet twist. If you are the kind of person that enjoys that grapefruit bitterness, you will be happy to know that there is some of it in the finish for that authentic finish. Some lingering sweetness comes in after the bitterness slowly dethroning it. The leftover grapefruit notes are long deep. The best GoodDrink spritzter!

Taste - 10/10...loved everything about this one. Definitely buying more

GoodDrink Organic Spritzter Eureka Lemon

Next on my GoodDrink list is the Eureka Lemon. I love lemon sodas, especially when I am super thirsty and it is hot outside. Very few beverages can hit the spot when this moment arrives.

GoodDrink's lemon soda...excuse me, spritzer (actually it is spelled spritzter on the label to be accurate), has a cloudy, pale yellow color with a great fresh lemon aroma. The flavor starts off moderate, but quickly gets intense and shakes your brain awake. The lemon is done very well and it is as fresh and real as it gets...OK, maybe not as real as squeezing a lemon but you get the point. 

The finish is tart and dry with a clean lemon note. There is a little sugar which helps cut the acidity down, but not enough to make you want to cleanse your palate with a glass of water.

Taste - 8.9/10...tart and refreshing...mmmm lemon soda...I mean spritzer 

Gesundheit! Grape Juices

A few weeks ago we took a trip to Niagara on the Lake to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday and to enjoy some local wines and food. One of the wineries we stopped at, Konzelmann, also sold Gesundheit! grape juices, which I just couldn't resist.

Made by Niagara Juice Co., the Gesundheit! juices come in 2 sizes and 2 varieties - 240 mL and 750 mL and in Baco Noir Grape and Vidal Grape, respectively. I bought the smaller bottles, which retailed for $3.49 each to try each. The larger ones were closer to $10.

Vidal Grape Juice

The lighter of the two has a very sweet, grape jelly-like aroma with a sour twist. The mouth-feel is velvet-like and the flavor is similar but the sweetness is cut by the slightly tart character while you are sipping. The finish is where the tartness goes away and the sweetness builds up. A hint of grape skins lingers and gives this juice a rewarding end. Great!

Taste - 9/10

Baco Noir Grape Juice

This one has a beautiful, deep plum color. The aroma is rich with Baco Noir grapes and a touch of moist fruit cake. The flavor is tart throughout with a wonderful grape composition that builds up from the start and well into the finish. Fruity notes appear for a brief moment near the finish but are cut by the tart grape skin finish. Love the tartness of this one.

Taste - 9.3/10

GoodDrink Organic Spritzer Wild Blackberry

Wow, this GoodDrink Spritzer has an amazing blackberry aroma. I can hold the can under my nose for hours. It has the potency of a Jolly Rancher-filled field of berries!

The flavor is not bad either, but definitely not as potent...at least at first. The start of each sip is a little watery but as the liquid travels down your tongue, the profile develops and the flavor almost the same Jolly Rancher potency as the aroma near the end...with a slightly citric, wild spike.

The only thing separating the blackberry flavor from the real thing is the candy-like finish, which I absolutely love. It is just sweet enough to give you the sensation of having enjoyed a piece of blackberry candy, but not sweet enough to make you want some water.

Delicious. Love that candy-like finish with a touch of acidity.

Taste - 9.2/10

GoodDrink Organic Spritzer Granny Smith Apple

Just a few days ago I came across a stash of GoodDrink beverages at a fairly new grocery store near us - Marcello's City Market. The Granny Smith is the first of 4 that I will be reviewing.

The Granny Smith Spritzer has a light golden color with a Golden Delicious/Granny Smith aroma. Though the flavor starts off sweet and mellow, the typical Granny Smith sour bite emerges quickly and lingers until the finish. A good balance of sweeter apples is present cutting down on the sourness while adding some depth.

There are only 16 grams of sugar in the can which, in my opinion, is the right amount. The sweetness never builds up, but there is enough of it to balance out the sourness.

Taste - 9/10...great and refreshing apple juice. Love it.

Steaz Iced Green Tea Peach

Whenever I want Steaz, I cannot find it anywhere. When I don't care about it, I keep running into it. So, I have decided to just buy whatever Steaz I see and just stockpile them at home for when I want one. I found this Iced Green Tea Peach today at the local Sobey's for only $1.19. Not sure why it was on discount, but I made sure to just buy and not ask questions.

This Steaz has a cloudy, light yellow color with an obvious peach aroma. The flavor hits you hard and lasts through each sip, but quickly dies in the finish. The flavor is well done and the beverage reminds me of eating not too ripe peaches. Some tartness emerges in the form of lemon juice but it is not until the finish and gives the aftertaste some cleanliness. 

The label is correct - the beverage is lightly sweetened and the sweetness doesn't take away from the peach flavor. Thanks to this, there is no sugary build up and you are not forced to have a glass of water after you consume this can. The light sweetness also offers the green tea a chance to compliment the peach and not get lost completely.

Very refreshing drink on a hot day and the price is right.

Taste - 8.8/10

Cedar Cold Pressed Juice Orange Grapefruit Tumeric Ginger

Cold pressed juices have started to become more and more popular around our area. Even our local Bulk Barn has them. To admit, I am getting more and more curious. Makers compete with interesting flavor combinations and to attract buyers with some of the most amazing designs. Cedar is definitely at the top of the design game. I love the tall bottles with the simple labels. I don't love the $7 price, but after all, it is fresh juice.

There are many Cedar flavors, but at $7 a pop, I will take my time buying and reviewing them. After staring at the available flavors at the local Bulk Barn, I decided to go for the most refreshing sounding one - Orange, Grapefruit, Turmeric (which by the way is misspelled on the label) and Ginger! What a combo?

First off, you gotta love the bright orange color. The added turmeric really takes up the already bright orange juice to another level. The aroma is 90% oranges, 5% ginger and 5% everything else. The flavor is sooo refreshing with a blast of orange and grapefruit juice that lingers for a long time. Turmeric kicks in as well and lurks, but the grapefruit seriously overpowers it and everything else. Some ginger comes in near the finish and gives the aftertaste a slightly peppery tone. But again that grapefruit seriously overpowers it and creates a very long lasting finish similar to leaving a piece of peel in your mouth.

Love it. Love it. Love it. Love cold pressed juices. If you prefer to sit down and have a really fresh one, why not try The Cold Pressery.