Red Bull Organics Review

Red Bull Organics are a new line of soft drinks, not energy drinks like I thought. I found all of them (4 at the time of this review) at a local 7-11 where they were having a sale of 2 for $4.

Simply Cola

For those who remember, Red Bull actually already made a "Simply Cola" almost 10 year ago. My review is here. I believe this is either the same formula or one that is very close because both cola's state that the caffeine in the drink is extracted from coffee beans. Unfortunately the old Simply Cola did not state the caffeine content so I have no way of comparing the two in that department. This one has 32 mg, which is fairly comparable to a regular can of Coke.

Flavor-wise, both are very similar, if not the same. It has been almost 10 years since I last had the first Simply Cola so I am relying solely on my old review. This version also has notes of lemon, vanilla, cinnamon, and other spices, in addition to your typical cola flavors. The immediate finish is citrusy and sharp, but there are lingering spice notes that I really like.

Overall, pretty good twist on your standard cola flavor but the citrus twist may not appeal to Coke lovers.

Taste - 8.5/10

Ginger Ale

This ginger ale has a very gingery aroma but it isn't as gingery as expected. In fact, the lemon is a bit overpowering towards the finish. Interesting twist on ginger ale, but I think I would have liked to be a bit more intense a little less lemony.

Taste - 6/10

Tonic Water

I can see how Simply Cola and Ginger Ale could be part of the Red Bull family, but this Tonic Water is a complete departure from the regular line up. More so because the choice of flavor just doesn't math anything else that is Red Bull.

On its own, the tonic water is not great but not horrible. The aroma is sweet, like candy. The flavor is lacking at first but then develops into more of a sweet, rather than bitter soda. Sure, there is a moment of bitterness, but it goes away rather quickly and all you are left with is more sweetness and a tiny bit of citrus. The mouthfeel is also sticky and creamy, rather than sharp and bitey. It needs more of an edge.

Taste - 6/10

Bitter Lemon

This one has a very refreshing and full lemon flavor up front with a delayed light bitter finish. If you take frequent sips, you won't even get the bitterness because that's how long it takes to emerge. If you are afraid of it being too bitter, don't be. The bitterness is short-lived and light enough for most to enjoy it.

Overall, this is a very refreshing flavor and is my favorite of the bunch.

Taste - 9/10

Pepsi 1893 Original Cola Review

I found this at a Target on a recent trip south of the border. As of this moment, this is not sold in Canada.

So what makes 1893 such a different Pepsi? Well, it is made with real sugar, kola nut and some bitters....so kind of like the hipster colas you can buy.

But hipster jokes aside, this Pepsi has a hell of a flavor! From the get go you are bombarded by various spices, including a generous helping of cinnamon and some coffee. A similar level of sweetness is present, but with the 1893, it is much rounder and doesn't stick to the inside of the mouth. The aftertaste is rather pleasant too with hints of spices and a touch of candy-like sweetness.

Definitely go for this one over the regular one if you had the option...unless you really, really like the regular one, or you are not a fan of cinnamon.

Taste - 9/10

Crystal Pepsi Review

Clinton is running for president, Blink-182 is popular again, people are going nuts over Pokemon Go and Crystal Pepsi has returned...daaaamn, it is like the 1990's all over again. If you are like me and don't remember anything about Crystal Pepsi, now is your chance to try it again and unearth some deep forgotten memories.

I found a huge stash of Crystal Pepsi as a Loblaw's downtown Toronto, but from what I have been reading, it should be available country-wide and where Pepsi products are sold.

Crystal Pepsi vs. Regular Pepsi

So what makes Crystal Pepsi so different from the regular Pepsi? As far as I can tell just the lack of caramel color. The lack of this ingredient has a tiny effect on the flavor and makes it a touch less sweet and caramely (if that's not a word, it is now) and that's it! It also looks really cool.

The 591 mL bottle that I tried still had the same 63 mg of caffeine so the only difference is the lack of color. This isn't a caffeine-free drink like some made you believe in the 90's.

Soooo the hype is just about the color...still. Get a bottle and re-live your early days.

Scores:
Cost - $2
Taste - meh....do I even bother? It is just a Pepsi!

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.

Ikea Dryck Julmust Swedish Festive Drink

Yes, I was at Ikea a few days ago and as I do with every place that offers beverages, I stop by to peruse the drinks section. This time Ikea had a bunch of sweet sparkling beverages for the holidays (love those by the way) as well as this mysterious and dark Swedish festive drink - Dryck Julmust. Julmust is a combination of words that means a Christmas not yet fermented juice...apparently some sort of infused, fruity drink with hops.

The aroma is somewhere between a root beer, cola and mixed berry juice. The flavor is very unique and interesting and the moment it hit my tongue, I knew I was going to like it. Up front you get a bit of caramel and root beer, but after a few moments, a slightly tart flavor comes in with hibiscus and mixed berries. The aftertaste has a subtle lime-like twist with traces of burnt brown sugar. Yes, I know that caramel is essentially sugar, but it usually has a bit of vanilla and milk/creak to give it depth. This just has traces of burnt sugar, which are a little different.

Very interesting drink that will appeal to root beer fans and Europe natives.

Scores:
Cost - $1.79
Taste - 8.8/10

Guayaki Yerba Mate Cran Pom

Here is another Guayaki Yerba Mate I haven't been able to track down, courtesy of the good people at Pacific Bottleworks. Thanks to these guys Guayaki's products are now available at a lore more places in the GTA.

Taste

The aroma is very similar to that of the Revel Berry, except there is a bit more of a sour undertone. The taste is very different, though. It starts off with a strong and tart cranberry note which quickly transitions to pomegranate and then back to cranberry near the finish, which is dry and almost completely clean. Some light cranberry and lemon notes linger at the back of the tongue, but for most parts, the finish and aftertaste are clean. The tartness hides most of the earthy yerba mate flavors, but some still come up here and there. 

This flavor drinks more like a regular fruity energy drink than a tea-based one, which I think will appeal to a wider audience that wouldn't normally enjoy the taste of yerba mate. I found myself liking it more than I thought I would with its hidden earthy tea flavors.

Energy

Surprisingly there are only 80 mg of caffeine in this can. The reason why I found it surprising is because I was expecting 120 mg in a 355 mL can which would make sense proportionally when compared to the other 473 mL cans of Guayaki. 

In any case, you still get a fantastic kick out of this can. I noticed the initial effects within 15 minutes of consuming the first half of the can. I started to perk up and concentrate more on the tasks at hand. I felt like a cloud has been lifted off my brain. There were no jitters, just focus which lasted for about 20-30 minutes. After that I felt a bit more physically energized and was ready to do some laps. The kick lasted for almost 2 hours before me feeling pretty normal...as in not wanting to run around.

Great kick, I just wish it kept the proportionality of its larger counterparts. 

Scores:

Cost - unsure

Taste - 9.5/10

Energy - 6.8/10

Overall - 16.3/20...amazing taste but wish it had just a tiny bit more caffeine

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 

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

Mountain Dew Dew Shine

I have been reading and reading about this interesting new product by Mountain Dew for weeks now. I was so pumped and determined to find a case of the Dew Shine when I went down south that I tried using every excuse to stop at every convenience store, gas station and grocery store I was able to...and then I finally found it. I found a whole stash of it at a WalMart in Maryland. I got a few 4-packs for $2.99 each...I was sooo happy.

Dew Shine is made to look sort of like moonshine which is why the "non-alcoholic" label is so prominently displayed on the front label. This Dew is made with real sugar (not corn syrup) and has no added color. In fact, the only ingredients include water, sugar, natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, caffeine and a few preservatives for flavor and freshness.

The Dew Shine is very bubbly and has a very sweet, syrup-like aroma carrying a blend of lemon/lime notes (more lime than lemon). The moment the dew touches your tongue, you are hit by a sugary, candy-like wave of flavor. There is a lot of sweetness, but it feels clean and round without being too over the top. The difference between using sugar and corn syrup is obvious right off the bat.

After the candy sweetness settles, notes of lime come through, followed by lemon and hints of vanilla and sugar...yeah, sugar. Imagine chewing on a sugar cube. That's the kind of sugar that finishes off this Dew and I love it. I prefer this way more over the regular Mountain Dew, which I find to be too sweet with too much of an artificial bite (yes, I know that there is artificial flavor here, but it isn't in your face).

There are 54 mg of caffeine in the bottle which is approaching energy drink category so I decided to add a quick blurb on the energy. The kick comes in quick from the sugar, gives you a bit of a buzz and lasts for close to an hour.

Overall, I really, really liked this Mountain Dew. The sweetness is pleasant, the flavor is good and you get a nice buzz. I just wish this was available in Canada.

Taste - 8/10

Bai 5 Peru Pineapple

I bought this can for $2.49 from a Target near Buffalo in the US. These Bai 5 drinks are not sold in Canada and I have no idea if they ever will be.

The Peru Pineapple flavor has a slightly hazy, light straw color. The aroma is of sweet pineapples, perfume, candy and medicine. The taste starts off very light and very messy but after a few sips, some notes start to emerge. The pineapple flavor is very, very light but present all throughout and well into the aftertaste. The perfume note I caught in the aroma is also present but doesn't truly have a negative impact on me. I am sure if you are not a fan of perfume, or flowers, it will have a negative impact on you. The erythritol/stevia blend is dominant. It gives the beverage a very sweet and distinct taste, which mixed with the perfumy pineapple tend to give this Bai 5 a medicine-like candy-sweet undertone. An earthy green coffee bean tone is also present and dominant in the aftertaste.

The 45 mg of caffeine gave me a nice jolt early in the morning, but it won't help if you are on the market for something to replace your cup of coffee.

Overall, I am not impressed with this drink. The flavor is messy, the pineapple is subtle and overpowered by the perfume/sweetener/green coffee combo.

Taste - 5.8/10

Bai 5 Bubbles Jamaica Blood Orange Review

I love the design of this can - white, matte and just so clean. I got a whole bunch of Bai 5 drinks from a Target near Buffalo for $2.49 each I want to say, but I can't remember as it was a while ago.

The Jamaica Blood Orange beverage has an inviting orange-forward aroma with subtle guava and papaya notes at the back. The taste is a bit watery at first because of the carbonation, but after a few sips it opens up to reveal a stevia/erythritol-heavy, slightly tart orange flavor with just a tiny hint of tropical fruits before the finish. After a few more sips, an earthy green coffee layer was added as well as a subtle white grape touch.

The aftertaste is very heavy on the sweetener flavor with a lingering hint of orange and green coffee beans. The lingering orange notes give the beverage a refreshing finish, but the sweeteners give the aftertaste a sticky finish, which only builds up with every sip.

Though the flavor is decent on its own, the heavy sweetener use ruins this one for me. I think I would have loved it if there was a little less of the sweetener and some cane sugar.

The can also contains 45 mg of caffeine from natural sources (green coffee beans I assume) which gives you a nice push for 30-40 minutes.

Taste - 6.5/10

Mountain Dew Kickstart Hydrating Boost Review

Mountain Dew just recently added a couple of new products to their Kickstart line-up which feature coconut water as one of the main ingredients. I guess the coconut craze is still going on. Because of the coconut water, the new Kickstart drinks had their name expanded by the addition of the words "Hydrating Boost"...since you know, coconut water is supposed to hydrating.

I got a couple of each of the flavors for $1 from a WalMart near Buffalo. These are not currently sold in Canada, but I think they might make their way across the border soon. I recently started seeing the regular Mountain Dew Kickstart energy drinks for sale here, so it is only a matter of time before the slightly more "healthier" version comes over.

Strawberry Kiwi

The Strawberry Kiwi flavor comes with a pink/orange color and a very Mountain Dew sweet soda-like aroma with subtle hints of strawberries, kiwis and your standard Mountain Dew citrus twist. The taste is very similar but more watery than expected. It starts off with a light and creamy strawberry note mixed with a bit of regular Mountain Dew, which gives the flavor a citrus boost. The kiwi doesn't come until the finish, but it lingers well into the aftertaste, which is on the sweeter side thanks to the overall sweet soda-like character of Mountain Dew. The sweetness does build up over time and when you stop drinking, your mouth becomes dry and sticky.

There are no trace coconut notes from the added coconut water.

Be aware that there is an artificial sweetener flavor present all throughout and well into the aftertaste. After all, there are only 60 calories in the can and 14 grams of sugar.

Taste - 6.8/10

Pineapple Orange Mango

What surprises me about this drink is that all three of the flavors on the label are present in the aroma. The mango is definitely the dominant note in the aroma, but the pineapple is also present, providing a sweet base for the nose, while the orange gives it all a nice citrusy twist.

The taste starts off like your average Mountain Dew - high carbonation with a distinct citrus blend. After the Mountain Dew, the flavor profile opens up a little and subdued mix of mango and pineapple flavors appear. I say subdued, because unlike the aroma where the flavors felt bold, the taste lacks this boldness and appears a little watery like with the Strawberry Kiwi.

The orange comes right at the end to give the flavor a more distinct twist and lingers well into the aftertaste along with the remnants of a mild mango note. The added sweetener also appears in the aftertaste and lingers for a long time.

I found this flavor to be slightly better than the Strawberry Kiwi one, but not by much. Both have great aromas, but are on the watery side in terms of flavor.

Energy

Both cans contain only 68 mg of caffeine, which looks like less than the original Kickstart energy drinks, but it actually is the same ratio of caffeine to liquid volume (and yes, less caffeine overall, but it is a smaller package). These new Hydrating Boost energy drinks contain 355 mL of liquid which results in a 0.19 mg of caffeine/mL volume ratio. The older cans of Kickstart had 92 mg of caffeine, but the volume was 473 mL, which results in a ratio of 0.19 mg caffeine/mL...same ratio. Why am I talking about this? I don't know really.

The boost comes in pretty quickly and it is not bad at all. I felt more pepped up within 10 minutes, but not so overly energetic that I couldn't focus on mental activities. The small amount of caffeine and sugar didn't make me want to get up and run around. I think the amounts were perfect for what I was doing. I didn't even feel jittery.

Unfortunately, since there is less caffeine than comparable energy drinks, the kick lasted for about an hour and ended without a crash. On the plus side since I had a few of these, I had another can and got the same boost for another hour. However, I felt a slight crash at the end of the second one.

Energy - 6/10...not much caffeine, but very clean kick without jitters

Lipton Sparkling Iced Tea

Got a few of these new Lipton Sparking Iced Teas from Buffalo when I went down there for the weekend a few weeks ago. I kept seeing these in gas stations and grocery stores around the city so I will go ahead and assume that they are available everywhere. Each one will set you back $1 and yes, there is a bit of caffeine in each can...but nowhere near enough to classify these as energy drinks. There are only 2 flavors out so far.

Raspberry

The aroma is a blend of subtle, earthy black tea and light, sweet raspberry notes. The taste is damn good. It starts off with a very well executed raspberry flavor, followed by sweetened black tea with some very subtle earthy notes. The sweetness adds a candy-like character to the tea flavor and does tend to build up ever so slightly. The aftertaste is sticky with a hint of iron from the black tea and just a very light hint of raspberries.

At the start of the can, I thought I could finish the entire can and have another one, but about 2/3's of the way through, the sweet aftertaste got to me. Though there are only 18 grams of sugar in the can, it just felt a bit too much. Maybe most people are OK with 18 grams, but I think 10 or 12 would have been perfect for me. Other than the sweetness build up, I cannot find any other flaws.

Taste - 9.1/10...if it was just a bit less sweet

Peach

The aroma of this one is quite the opposite of the raspberry one - the peach is the dominant note while the sweet black tea takes a backseat. The taste is very similar with the peach flavor, which is pretty darn well done, the dominant one of the two. The sweet, earthy black tea flavor is present but subdued by the peach for most of the time. In the aftertaste it comes out a bit more and lingers for a long time.

Like with the raspberry, the peach flavor suffers from a sticky sweet finish that will make the consumption of multiple cans a difficult task. The same 18 grams of sugar are present, but they need to be reduced just a tiny bit.

Taste - 8/10...again, if it was just a touch less sweet

Energy?

Since black tea is used as the base for these teas, there is a bit of caffeine in each can - 14 mg. To achieve the same effects as a small can of Red Bull, you would have to consume almost 6 cans of the Lipton Sparkling Iced Tea. The effects can be assumed to be negligible if you are used to a cup of coffee in the morning.

Fentimans Botanically Brewed Sodas Review

I was at the local Whole Foods a few days ago and came across a bunch of interesting looking sodas. I settled on a selection of Fentimans sodas only because the bottles looked and felt amazing. For $2.99 per 275 mL bottle they better be amazing.

Orange Jigger Soda

Amazing! Extremely refreshing with a slightly bitter undertone. There isn't much sugar which brings out the orange flavour along with a bit of tangerines. The soda is lightly carbonated which made me enjoy it even further.

Curiosity Cola

A little more carbonated than the orange soda and has a very strong caramel aroma. It tastes like a mix between Pepsi and Coca Cola on steroids. Though carbonated, it feels like there is less carbonation than mainstream colas which brings out the flavours. The addition of herbs heightens the flavour even more. This is definitely a cola to try.

Tonic Water

I have had maaaaaany tonic waters because of two reasons - I love tonic water and I love gin & tonics (I have also tried many gins). Though this tastes better than the mainstream tonic waters, it is not the best I have had. I think there is just a tad too much lemon.

Bottom line - the Jigger Soda was the best and will buy it again

Jones Pomegranate Cream Soda Limited Edition Bottle Review

I picked this fresh from a huge "Christmas tree" made of blue and pink pomegranate cream soda limited edition bottles. In hindsight I should have taken a photo of the tree to show the neat arrangement. Both blue and pink bottles contained the same soda so I decided to get just one of them since I am not a big fan of cream soda. The bottles were $1.39 CAD each.

I wasn't able to find much...or any...information on these bottles or the flavour itself. The Jones Soda website has similarly decorated sodas for purchase, but not these cream sodas. Nevertheless, I will tell you all about it. Obviously the soda is pink/reddish with a very sweet and creamy aroma. It tastes more like plain pink cream soda than pomegranate cream soda. The beverage is not sour at all and hints of pomegranate emerge for very brief periods of time. The taste reminds me a lot of those vampire gummy teeth or any other pink marshmallow/gummy candy. I like the full size plastic label though. The end wraps around the bottom of the bottle, which serves as a cushion when putting the drink down. I was working on a glass desk today so every time I had to put a mug or a bottle down, I was annoyed by the glass clinking noise. I had no problems putting this bottle down.

Scores:
Cost - $1.39 CAD for a 355 mL bottle
Taste - 7/10

Overall - 7/10...I don't like cream sodas too much and I thought that the pomegranate taste was too weak

Red Bull Cola Review

I was walking around the neighborhood, looking for new energy drinks, killing time during lunch, when I came across some cans of Red Bull Cola. I have heard of it before, but have never seen it. To my surprise, it was the local convenience store that had the drinks. They were selling both sizes - 250 mL cans and 355 mL cans. The little ones were 2 for $4 CAD while the large ones 2 for $5.

The drink is very carbonated and has a mild vanilla/cinnamon smell and taste. It is a bit spicy with a slight lemon taste. The mouth feel is pleasant without any sugar build up. The long term aftertaste is of lemons. My mouth was dry 10 minutes after finishing the drink.

There is no indication of the amount of caffeine present in the drink, but whatever it is, it comes from coffee beans. I felt the drink kick in, but it provided just enough energy for me not to fall asleep. I assume if I had consumed the 2 drinks I bought, I would have felt much better. Don't buy this if you are looking for energy, go for the Red Bull.

Scores:
cost - 2 for $4 CAD for the 250 mL cans, or 2 for $5 for the larger ones
Taste - 7.8/10
Energy - 5/10

Overall - 12.8/20...not a bad taste, but does not provide a sufficient kick to consider this a serious energy drink

Beaver Soda Retro Root Beer

The third flavour of the Beaver Soda line. The only one I haven't been able to find is the Orange Soda one. Each can costs $1.59 CAD and I have been buying these from the local 7-11. I am not a big fan of root beer, but I just wanted to try all the Beaver Sodas.

The root beer, to me, tastes like the A&W root beer, only creamier. The aftertaste is fresh at first, but quickly changes to a sweet vanilla one. I don't know what else to say as this is just a root beer which tastes like a root beer.

Scores:
Cost - $1.59 CAD per can
Taste - 6.8/10

Overall - 6.8/10...I am just not a big fan of root beers which is why I rate that low. If you like root beers, especially the A&W one, you will like this one.

Beaver Soda Canadian Cola Review

A couple of days ago I came across the Beaver Soda line at a 7-11. I already reviewed the saskatoon berry flavour and now I am trying the Canadian Cola one. Each can costs $1.59 CAD and is the same as the Beaver Buzz energy drink cans.

The Canadian Cola tastes like those gummy cola candies you get from 7-11 or convenience stores for $0.05 (or was it $0.10?) in bulk. It is sweet and tastes more like Pepsi than a Coke. The weird thing about it is the sweet yet somehow minty-fresh aftertaste. I did not have mints or gum before consuming this so this minty tingle must be from one of the ingredients. Upon a label inspection I noticed that this beverage contains some natural flavours, such as citrus and ginger, that might be responsible for this pseudo-mint effect. The cola is great tasting, but I do prefer the taste of the original Coke as it is less sweet.

Scores:
Cost - $1.59 CAD per can
Taste - 7.8/10

Overall - 7.8/10...not a bad beverage, but the saskatoon berry one was much more enjoyable