Vegas Fuel Sugar Free

I needed a boost today, and I still had this, so I pulled out the Vegas Fuel Sugar Free. Vegas Fuel has a very clean, strong look, and the original was quite tasty, so I'm very optimistic about their sugar free flavor. Words that come to mind when I think about this drink include expensive, elegant, and quality. Because I've already been told by Chan that this is a phenomenal drink, I have high hopes. The side of the can gives us a little blurb about the drink very stylishly with the words: "All of the tropical punch flavor and none of the 'guilt.' Get ready to go non stop." I do remember from drinking the original a very tasty punch flavor, but now I'm about to go in depth with what Vegas Fuel calls an "Energy Drink Experience." I want to thank Vegas Fuel very much for giving us some samples to review.

My first word as I open the can is "Wow," as I was surprised by the very quick and quiet opening. Vegas Fuel, instead of releasing lots of gas and making a loud hiss, abruptly pops open with two metallic clicks. That must be part of the experience and it comes across as unique and interesting. The liquid splashes out of the can a bit and I can see it's a rosy red, much like pomegranate. As I move in for a sip, I smell the bite of the fruity tropical punch that I might classify as sour grapefruit and pineapple with everybody's favorite signature punch fruits in the background. A sip reveals to me a light and moderately carbonated tropical punch flavor that I like a lot. Unlike Hawaiian Punch, Rockstar Punched and many more popular punch drinks, Vegas Fuel goes easy on the sweetness and really ramps up the flavor, something I like very much in an energy drink. Vegas Fuel Sugar Free comes across with a mild but satisfying sweetness along with a strong and unique punch that lingers a bit longer than the sweetness. The artificial sweetener in the drink is done perfectly, since the drink goes down smoothly without distracting me with an aftertaste. Focusing on the flavors in the drink, I think I can pinpoint cherry, pineapple, grapefruit, orange, maybe guava, and possibly lemon. It's pretty tough, because the flavors are so close they only make me think about punch. Whatever the exact components of the flavor may be, Vegas Fuel Sugar Free is just as delicious a drink as the original, and I imagine that this would be a very good drink for mixing.

Vegas Fuel Sugar-Free ingredients include Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Taurine, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Sodium Citrate,Glucuronolactone, Caffeine, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Panax Ginseng Extract, Guarana Seed Extract, Sucralose, Niacinimide, Inositol, Acesulfame Potassium, FD&C Red #40, Gum Acacia, Ester Gum, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, and Cyanocobalamin. It looks like a pretty standard ingredients list. As for the kick, I can say I was pretty energetic for a good three hours or so, but not jittery. Overall, I would recommend this drink for it's great flavor and because it'd be a great mixing drink.

Taste: 8.9 - Toned down sweetness, awesome strong tropical punch flavor
Kick: 7.4 - Not the most intense kick, though up to par with some of the big brands
Overall: 8.5 - Good and tasty drink for mixing

Reviewed by: Jeff

All In Grape

I want to give Jeff a chance to review All In Grape, since I knew he was looking forward to this. I wanted put in just a short review on my behalf for the taste, as I wanted to review it as well. One last thing: props to David for finding me a few cans to review; thanks, man.

Chan's take: All In Grape has a real natural grape scent, with a just hints of artificialness, once cracked open. There really aren't too many grape energy drinks out there, so there really isn't much to expect. The only grape energy drink I can recall having is the Amp Traction, and one was pretty darn good. Pouring it into a cup, I notice the color is not an expecting purple, but a dirty, clear carbonated water color. For the most part, it's clear, but with a slightly dark, brown tinge to it. Hoping for the best, I swig a few ounces I poured into my glass cup...This All In Flavor has a nice, pure grape flavor to it, with some subtle blandness in the background. Tasting more, the bland, artificial flavor seems to envelope the quick-vanishing grape flavor. As I may recall, All In Grape is completely sugar free, and has 10 calories, hence the monstrous wave of artificial bland flavor. About 4 months ago, I remember reviewing the Bawls Guaranexx Sugar Free, which was just nasty, bland, artificial. The All In Grape has that same exact flavor alongside the smooth grape, which nearly ruins the drink. About halfway through the drink, it's tough to find much grape flavor, as it's mostly that unappealing artificialness. It's aftertaste seems to be nothing extreme, just a light tinge of Sucralose on the tongue, simple and unnoticeable. All in all, I feel I was a bit let down by the flavor of All In Grape, look at Jeff's final paragraph for ingredients/kick.

Jeff's take: Poppin' open the All In, I'm curious about the flavor. As I touch my nose to the top, I smell a fairly satifying cool grape that reminds me of cough syrup. It's always a joy to drink out of these compact little 8oz cans. As I take a sip, I taste some of that same grape that isn't bad and then the delicious sweetness that comes along with it from the Acesulfame Potassium and a tiny bit of Sucralose. Now, knowing this to be grape-flavored, I'm curious about the color. I've seen many shades of purple in my time reviewing and I'm eager to see what color All In has devised. I'm surprised to see instead of a lustrous shade of deep purple or violet, a simple crystal-clear color. That's quite odd, but I like it, because I'm not distracted by the color of the drink. Instead, I have a delicate and elegant clear, bubbly drink that makes me think about taking another sip. Although I have come to dread many sugar-free drinks, All In excels with a delicious combination of Ace-K and Sucralose, hardly at all tasting nasty or like a "fake sweetness," as I have come to call it. Indeed, All In's decision to use Ace-K was a wise one and it makes me happy. As I've heard, All In is designed with poker players in mind and because of this, the flavors are mild and enjoyable without too much complexity in order to not distract from the game. Exploring the flavor of the drink, I find that this is true. The smell of All In is that of sharp concord grape on a light grape backdrop. The beginning of a sip is smooth and All In is very thin to protect from gumminess. From there, the flavor develops somewhat but tries not to be overwhelming at all. After the peak, when the carbonation only barely tingles the tongue, the flavor subsides and starts to taste a bit fruitier. Finally, you are left with some very slightly bitter grape and the aftertaste of the Acesulfame Potassium. Overall, All In Grape is a drink with a mild and barely addictive artificial grape flavor meant to keep you focused on your game when you want something to drink. I'm just irked by one aspect of this drink. Although I applaud All In's choice to use Ace-K, I dislike the accumulating artificial sweetener aftertaste that it leaves behind. I doubt this would become a problem, except to the more refined consumers, with finely-tuned taste buds.

The energy ingredients in All In include: Carbonated Water, Taurine, Natural Grape Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Acesulfame Postassium, Inositol, Caffeine, Herbal Blend (Astragalus, Panax Ginseng, Panax Quinquefolium, Schisandra), Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sucralose, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyrodoxine HCL, Red 40, Folic Acid, and Cyanocobalamin. All In contains all your usual energy ingredients, inluding Caffeine, Inositol, Ginseng, and Taurine. But what I also like about the drink is the interesting herbs added. Astragalus is a plant native to China that has a yellow root and is a big part of Chinese medicine. Astralagus's function is essentially to strengthen the body's immune system and it's also used in Chinese energy tonics taken daily at certain times of the year. Quinquefolium, I've learned, is very much like Ginseng, although it grows in America, thus the name American Ginseng. Schisandra, as it turns out, is also Chinese and posseses many beneficial qualities. It is good for the immunte system, while it also relieves the body from anxiety and stress and perks energy levels. Overall, I'd say All In Grape is, in fact, a drink that will provide some energy along with concentration and all-around vitality.

Taste: 6 - Smooth grape flavor, lame artificial secondary flavor though...
Kick: 8 - Not a bad kick, actually, for an 8 ounce can
Overall: 7 - There are a few more flavors of All In, I want to see how they can improve after this barely-average energy drink

Reviewed by - Chan and Jeff

All In Citrus

You all know how Sugar Free drinks can either be a disaster or a success, looking at our reviews, by what artificial sweeteners and how much of it added are in the drink. As I reviewed the All In Grape a few days ago, I noted that the first few sips were really flavorful and had a lot of depth, but as I progressed through the can, I found myself unhappy with the large amounts of Sucralose tasted in the small 8 ounce Poker-related energy drink. Shortly after, I found some All In Citrus at an Albertson's who seemed to just freshly stocked their shelves with this lemony-orange All In. Of course I'm giving it another chance, and from what I've reviewed, it's very difficult to mess up on a citrus energy drink, but trust me, I've seen it happen. Every All In poker drinks are made sugar free and with only 10 calories, so if one is sweetened with Sucralose, you can bet all of them are (Pun intended). One thing I have to say is that I love All In's can design. Being a fan of Poker myself, I find this can neat with a poker chip enveloped in citrus-colored flames and a faded gray dragon in the background. This isn't the first time I've seen Asian writing on a can, as there's some word I do not know on the face of the chip. Oh well, it may not be that important.

Tearing open this small 8 ounce can, I search for an aroma and find a weak, semi-artificial blend of lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine, bringing back those bad memories of terrible citrus drinks. Pouring it into a glass and out of the can, I note a color of bright, cloudy yellow, assuming the color of a lemon, rather than an orange. After a first quick swig of the can, All In Citrus seems to taste most like Diet Sprite, except with a powerful bittersweet shot of Sucralose, that tends to kill the drinks flavor. The Sucralose is so powerful in this that I think there's more flavor from that than there is from the citrus flavorings. After you get past the wall of artificialness, you find a nice blend of mainly lemon and lime, with a few notes of orange, and very little tangerine. Sipping more and more, the Sucralose becomes more subtle in the drink and allows for more of the real flavors to come in and mix together. The aftertaste is that of really burnt fruit or burnt sugars, almost like what you find in Gatorades. The carbonation is smooth and light, also helping bring in some natural flavors. It's not gummy for the most part, just a bit of build-up on the back of your throat, nothing too extreme. Overall, All In Citrus definitely had that same lame Sucralose mixture in it, but once you get past that, you find a decent lemon-lime conbination that really isn't that bad for a sugar-free drink.

All In Citrus is one of the few American-Made drinks, as in, most of the ingredients come from America itself. The full list is right here: Carbonated Water, taurine, citric acid, natural Citrus flavor with other Natural Flavors, ascorbic acid, acesulfame potassium, inositol, caffeine, herbal blend (Astragalus, Panax ginseng, Panax Quinquefolium, Schisandra), sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, Sucralose, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine HCL, yellow 5, folic acid, and cyanocobalamin. I enjoy the fact that acesulfame potassium is high up on the list, which means that the aritificial sugar is a bit better quality, and how Sucralose is lower on the list. Theres' also some pretty good energy ingredients in here, sure get me jittery for at least a little while, about 2 or 3 hours. Per can, you get only 10 calories, and obviously not one drop of real sugar, all coming from Sucralose and Ace K. Though the caffeine count isn't listed, you get a hefty amount of B vitamins per can, and some good Vitamin C (ascorbic Acid). Just as I had predicted, the kick is pretty good, a lot of focus is present, with some decent amounts of jitteriness, and a bit of alertness to go along with it. All in all, All In had some good highs and some bad lows, being way to aritificially sweet, yet there's still some great natural lemon-lime and orange flavorings that reminded me mostly of Diet Sprite.

Taste: 7.5 - Decent lemon-lime orange flavor; too much Sucralose though
Kick: 8 - Pretty good kick, with mostly jitteriness and some focus
Overall: 7.6 - I'd definitely recommend this over the All In grape, but don't put your bet in on anything else just yet...

Reviewed by: Chan

Tight!

In the realm of energy products, you've also got your weight-loss and workout aids, often times in the form of drinks. By a stroke of luck, I've come across Tight!, a fat-burning workout aid energy drink, which I found at a dollar store. The fact that this was only a buck could mean something about this drink, but I'm not too bothered; I'm only glad to have a drink like this for under two bucks. Tight comes in a unique package, a compact 8oz aluminum bottle with a twist-off plastic cap. The word "Tight!" is slapped upon the front of the bottle in big, bold, stylish small-cap letters and beside it, it claims to burn fat and increase energy. Tight! also tells us that it contains natural and artificial flavors and is Aspartame-free. I like the simple and clean packaging of Tight! and its use has me eager to test it out.

Tight! has me remove a plastic wrapper and twist off the bright yellow cap. I decide that it makes sense to shake and I shake the bottle vigorously. Peering into the wide opening, I notice the color to be a sort of cloudy pinkish-tan color. When I catch a whiff, I'm half disappointed and half excited. The smell isn't too pungent, and it smells like a half-natural, half-artificial black cherry and not much else. Sipping this, the first thing I notice is that it's very thin, which is very good if you're expecting to exercise. You don't want a drink that'll choke you with its gumminess. When I get to the flavor, I'm very delighted. I meet a very, very nice, sweet cherry with a little clean nuttiness on the side that adds texture. Tight! is not carbonated which also makes it very smooth. The sweetness associated with this is also very tasty, coming from a combination of Ace-K and Sucralose. I must say this drink is very refreshing and also extremely tasty, already making it a winner with me. The cherry is a perfect combination between fruity, pulpy, natural cherry and smooth artificial cherry, and I'm getting the feeling that there's some almond in here. At the end of your sip, the Ace-K and Sucralose linger as they do in every drink. Depending on your stance on artificial sweeteners, this may be irritating or no problem at all. This drink is only starting to get old about a third of the way in, but I'm not stopping for that reason. A third of the way in, I'm already feeling a good boost, and I feel like I could work it off right now. This is where I will pause and let these supplements work their magic.

Wow! When this drink claimed to increase energy, it wasn't kidding. One-third of a bottle delivered heaping mounds of energy, which blew me away. I knew this would be huge when I started feeling jittery right after taking a few sips. I can't begin to comprehend what in a normal energy drink would yield such an intense boost. I have to look closely at Tight!'s energy list, or what they call, "Proprietary Thermogenic Complex." A mere 375mg of this complex amounts to insane amounts of energy. This thermogenic blend contains a plethora of new substances for me: Caffeine, Green Tea Extract, EGCG, Synephrine, Pure Guggulsterones E &Z, Sclareolide, Yohimbine, Vinpocetine, and Bioperine. I think I'm in for a good fifteen minutes of researching nearly each one of these one by one. First, EGCG is a substance abundant in tea that is an antioxidant, and may protect the skin from UV rays. This substance is also believed to be and has been shown in tests to promote weight loss by burning more calories in the body. Now that I know that, I understand why it's found in Tight! And I think I'll drink more green tea. Next is Synephrine, a drug that is also aimed at promoting weight loss, although there might be slight concern with this one as it could pose risks in conjunction with caffeine. Guggulesterones, from what I've found, are another type of substance aimed at burning fat. This one scares me a bit, seeing that it's related to body building, but I'll bypass that for now. Sclareolide, as far as I can tell, is used for fragrance and flavor, which I find odd, but whatever. Yohimbine is another drug, coming from the bark of a West-African tree, that claims to be an aphrodisiac, although it also is meant for, once again, fat burning. In higher doses, Yohimbine, like a lot of these other substances, has its risks, including high blood pressure, insomnia, and anxiety. At this point, I'm not too comfortable with this ingredients list, but I am thankful I only drank a small portion. The second to last ingredient is Vinpocetine, which is what they call a vasodilator, an agent that dilates, or opens up, your blood vessels, which would improve your performance in exercise. Vinepocetine also improves memory, being a cognitive enhancer. All of these very odd and interesting ingredients have their risks, which worries me. I might now understand why this is at the dollar store. The contents of this, to most people except body builders, are extremely potent. A mere one-third bottle was enough to keep me wired and totally pumped for a good thirty minutes, or about as long as it took me to workout. From then, I felt a little fatigued and decided to eat. Overall, I wouldn't straight-out recommend Tight!, but I would remark upon its incredible energy-giving and fat-burning formula.

Taste: 7.6 - A very strong, sweet flavor, to be expected from a thermogenic
Kick: 9.8 - Intense energy, even a bit dangerous
Overall: 8 - I wouldn't take my chances with one, but this is very potent

Reviewed by: Jeff

Vegas Fuel

Happy Holidays, everyone! What could be better during the holiday season than to crack open a nice energy drink? Well, I got found myself a can of Vegas Fuel, courtesy of Vegas Fuel themselves, and I'm ready to crack this one open and taste it. Sure, most people have been to Vegas or will go to Vegas at least once in their life, and I'm sure that if you were to go there, you'd find a whole lot of these laying around in stores and such. I, myself, am not a big fan of Las Vegas as it's crowded nearly everywhere you go, but I usually take advantage of the times I'm there by scouring the area for some good energy drinks to review. So far, I've found all Xyience drinks out there, Deton 8 and Deton 8 Sugar Free, Red Bull Cola, Talon Drinks, DNA drinks, Bionic Tonic, Go Fast, and many others I may not be able to remember right now. I can recall seeing Vegas Fuel the most, out of all the times I've been searching, as the label speaks for itself. A very simple yet sleek can design shows nothing to me, in terms of possibly even a hint at the flavor, but I'll have to go with a Monster Clone, as it may be just another "Cloned" brand. "Vegas Fuel" is printed vertically across the front of can, which is also in front of a black background and a random red circle. Okay, well, let's give this one a shot.

Opening up the small, 8 ounce can, I find an aromatic blend of strong, blossomy strawberry, cherry, and assorted other berries and reminds me most of Hawaiian Punch soft drink. Pouring it into a clear glass cup, I note a color resembling almost blood, or dark red for you "squeamish" people, except with a whole lot of carbonation. After the first few sips, I know I wasn't expecting what I tasted, being a refreshing blast of pure cherry, pineapple, cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, lemon, orange, and a bit of lime. As those flavors are listed, I made sure they are in order from most presence to least presence. So, as you can see, cherry is the prominent flavor here in this Vegas Fuel, but it also reminds me of a nice can of Hawaiian Punch, except carbonated and a bit less sweet. Hitting almost half way, there's more of a motion to the drink as it goes into the mouth. At first sip, all the flavors hit your tongue at once, and all fade quickly into a diluted mixture of corn syrup and just overall blandness that makes you want to sip a bit more to get that flavor away. It ends with a nice, sour-sweet bite to it, just like if you were to eat a raspberry or strawberry; just the same tasty bite that pinches the sides of your cheek. I can assure you that there's high fructose corn syrup in this without even looking at the ingredients because of the dullness that brings down the great punch flavors. It's not gummy however, which isn't too common now with high fructose corn syrup. It's nicely carbonated, less carbonated than most other energy drinks I've seen, which really brings out the nice punch flavor. Overall, Vegas Fuel's flavor will really deliver a powerful punch flavor you may need to be partying in Vegas and to quote Vegas Fuel, "Put a little Vegas in you."

In one small can of Vegas Fuel, the ingredients are standard, but the kick is top-notch. All of Vegas Fuels ingredients are listed as followed: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, taurine, sodium citrate, natural flavors, glucuronolactone, caffeine, D-calcium pantothenate, potassium sorbate, sodium beonzoate, panax ginseng, guarana extract, niacin, inositol, L-Carnitine, gum acacia, ester gum, pyridoxine hydrochloride, FD & C blue #1, and cyanocobalamin. Nice ingredients. I'm glad to not see Sucralose, which tells me that Vegas Fuel hasn't fallen into that "Trend" of adding Sucralose into every drink, at least not yet. Per 8 ounce can, you get a decent 110 calories and only 26g of sugar. Wow, I'm extremely impressed on Vegas Fuel's sweetener plan, with only 26g of sugar per can, it's sweeter than a Monster, but without the sugar! As for energy ingredients, taurine is standard, having 1,000mg of it, and caffeine is on the average side coming in at 75mg per can. For a small can like this, I received an uplifting kick with a decent amount of alertness, but not enough to get me jittery, as I would enjoy to have another 8 ounces. All in all, Vegas Fuel made a great first impression and I strongly believe you should pick yourself up one of these next time you're hanging around in Las Vegas in the near future.

Taste: 8.2 - Great, strong cherry-pineapple-strawberry punch flavor, reminding me, personally of cherry Jell-O!
Kick: 8 - Decent kick for an 8 ounce can; it's recommended you look for a 16 ouncer for some great energy
Overall: 8.1 - A considerable drink to have if you're into punch

Reviewed by: Chan

CRUNK Berry

No way. We got ourselves the newest CRUNK!!! flavor yet, CRUNK!!! Berry. Berry can have many different 'moods' to it, and I've come across many that are bland and just the same, though there are a few that can impress by standing out. Out of the previous three flavors CRUNK!!! has released, I've noticed a slight flavor variation between the flavors they are meant to be. For example, the CRUNK Citrus was supposed to taste like just citrus, however, it came across as lemonade with a nice herbal twist to it. CRUNK original and Sugar Free are supposed to be pomegranate, though again, it was pomegranate with a great herbal twist. If you catch what I'm saying, you'll see why I believe this CRUNK!!! Berry, right here, will be one of the most different tasting berry energy drinks around. I want to put in an accurate prediction here: I'll say it'll have a smooth cherry, raspberry, and cranberry ensemble, with a hefty mixture of Original pomegranate and the 'trademark' herbal flavor. One thing I noticed here with this can is the deep color it brings out. Crunk has stayed with the same general can design, but just mixed up the colors, depending on the flavor. I see they went with a smooth purple, being that most berries are darker, like purple, and some blue. Well, thanks again Regis for supporting us and supplying us with some tasty CRUNK!!! This is for you.

Jeff's take: I wait a second to enjoy this spectacular moment. Coming close for a smell, I'm greeted by an overwhelming grape smell like very strong grape soda and grape juice and a little bit of cranberry in the background. Through all the other CRUNK!!! drinks, the herbal blend has had a prominent smell, but this is the first I've had that doesn't show it right away. As I take another moment to sniff it, I pay close attention for the herbal blend, but I fear that it may end up smelling like strong B Vitamins instead. As I pour it out to see the color, I observe an extremely dark violet/purple, that of concord grape juice. Excited to take the first sip, I only take a small one. There's the same grape, but it's preceded and followed by CRUNK!!!'s signature herbs which may be easily mistaken for B Vitamins. That worries me, and although CRUNK!!! is a wonderful drink, I can imagine how this would be redone. Similarly to the regular and sugar-free CRUNK!!!, this one's herbal blend distracts just a bit from the sweetness, making it a little less addictive than I would like it to be. Unlike the CRUNK!!! Citrus and very much like the first two CRUNK!!!s, this one is a bit of an acquired taste and I find myself warming up to the flavor gradually. After a few more sips, the proprietary blend fades into the background and the primary flavor takes center stage, making this a more addictive drink. One thought that runs through my mind is that this flavor is a little too similar to the original CRUNK!!! for my liking. Grape is a wonderful flavor, but when you pair it with the same Cranberry in the original drink, you get something only a bit better. I thought CRUNK!!! had a great hit with their CRUNK!!! Citrus, an absolutely delicious drink, because it was radically different than the original flavor. Well, as I'm warming up to this, I'm liking it more and more, but I would still suggest a more "berry" flavor to separate it a bit more from the original. Nevertheless, CRUNK!!! has fashioned an above-par drink and I am continuing to enjoy it more and more. The gumminess level is low as can be, the carbonation is set perfectly right, and I can't forget about CRUNK!!!'s powerful energy blend. In the end, I have to say this is still a winner and can easily be enjoyed by anyone.

Chan's take: Chilling for about 24 hours, I begin by popping open this nice, disco-like purple can and finding a scent almost entirely grape, with notes of original pomegranate and cranberry. I couldn't accurately say it's berry, but it sure is heavy grape, as well as the dark, dark purple color. As I swig the first few ounces, I lay down the taste as an intense prominent punch of blueberry and grape, with a secondary flavor of sour-sweet cranberry and original herbal pomegranate. Tasting more and more, I find some really nice nuances of acai berry, which counterbalances the dull flavor of the high fructose corn syrup. About mid-way through the can, it has an aftertaste unlike many other CRUNK!!!s there are. This one, instead of herbs, is almost like paint; I mean, the smell of paint, at least. Just like all of the previous CRUNK!!! drinks, the flavor tops off with a nice, sour berry bite to it, leaving you with a decent craving for more. All of this is notably different than almost all of the other berry drinks I've tasted because all these flavors I just typed in, seem to come from original sources, as apposed to added sweeteners. Now, many energy drinks are following the line of adding Sucralose into their drinks, and I know I can't find any Sucralose, but there may be some in there. Scouring the list, I'm pleased to say that there is not one gram in this energy drink. Another good thing about CRUNK!!! is their use of HFCS; being there not much gumminess, it's easier to drink than most other HFCS-filled drinks, though it still has the same, lame dullness it brings to the drinks. Overall, CRUNK!!! did make a tasty and flavorful twisted-up version of a berry energy drink, though I wouldn't say it's their best yet.

CRUNK!!! has always differed from other energy drinks, in terms of not only taste, but ingredients and kick as well. Following that, the full list of ingredients are here: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium citrate, natural flavors, calcium lactate, fruit and vegetable juice for color, magnesium lactate, ascorbic acid, red grape juice form concentrate, Vitamin E, Acai juice from concentrate, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride (HCL), selenium amino acid chelate, riboflavin, thiamin HCL,and cyanocobalamin. I had forgotten that CRUNK!!! has two separate ingredients list, one for proprietary ingredients, and the other for "other" ingredients, or standard ingredients. Here's the proprietary blend: caffeine, inositol, green tea leaf, damiana (Whole Plant), licorice (Root), guarana, L-Tyrosine, Horny Goat Weed, N acetyl L cysteine, ginkgo biloba, panax ginseng, grape seed extract, skull cap, white willow, ashwagandha, and milk thistle. This may be the main reason why CRUNK!!! is my personal favorite ingredient-pro energy drink. If you see, it's got every energy ingredient in any and every energy drink I've ever come across. Combined, ashwagandha, caffeine, and ginkgo biloba will create a focus so great, lasting for a good 5 hours, which I find helpful for getting some house work done, or working online. Grape seed and milk thistle is healthy and good for the body, liver especially. After everything, CRUNK!!! has the same amazing kick you'll find in just about every can of this stuff, however, I would recommend you pick yourself up a CRUNK!!! Citrus instead.

Taste: 8.3 - Good, strong grape-acai berry flavor that gets more addictive as you drink
Kick: 9.3 - Amazing, intense and focused kick and just about every energy ingredient I've ever seen
Overall: 8.5 - Not quite as favorable as the other CRUNK!!!s, but still a great drink overall

Remember, you can always get yourself some great CRUNK!!! at CRUNK!!!'s Energy Drink Store.

Reviewed by: Chan and Jeff

...Lost Perfect 10

Yet again, I am met with a ...Lost energy drink. ...Lost seems to be a sister drink to Monster, also canned in Corona, CA, along with Joker and Ace. This particular one happens to be the lo-cal version, dubbed "Perfect 10" due to the 10 measly Calories per serving. Contrary to many energy drinks, ...Lost has gone with a low-calorie drink rather than zero calorie, and puts it very well why they chose to do so, saying "Because calories taste good." After all, isn't a drink primarily supposed to taste good? What does the trick appears to be artificial sweeteners with a bit of glucose for good measure - 3g per serving to be exact. I recall that this combination has worked wonderfully with the Monster Lo-Carb. However, what worries me is Monster's decision to replace Ace-K, a very natural-tasting artificial sweetener, with Sucralose. I was sure this would be a quality drink, but now I'm a bit doubtful.

The smell of ...Lost Perfect 10 doesn't remind me of Monster at first, which has me worried. Rather, I think they've captured a slightly better version of the generic bubble gum flavor of cheap energy drinks. However, I'm relieved and very satisfied with the flavor when I taste a crystal clear, delicious, bold and fruity flavor too good and complex to describe adequately. Although I thought the Sucralose would kill the drink, it has indeed not as the drink tastes deliciously sweet with the natural glucose in the mix. The color to this tasty drink is a gold-amber with a slightly orange, honey-colored tint. The texture is perfect, with that very fine, slightly stinging carbonation that fits together so well with the flavor. This is the kind of quality drink I've been missing, and it reminds me this is why Chan and I started reviewing energy drinks at all - it was because of the quality drinks like these. The aftertaste this drink gives is a bit like pear and another juicy, sweet fruit I can't identify. What I notice is how this drink tastes very much like the Monster Lo-Carb, but with more flavor. Although I dearly miss the Acesulfame-K/Glucose combo, Sucralose is filling the part pretty decently, and I'm sure I can thank the cool dudes at Monster for engineering that part right. The gumminess is only moderate, though I have come to find Sucralose as a gummy sweetener, so I guess the gumminess would be subtler, were it for Ace-K. Also, near the end of the can, the Sucralose does what it does so often in many Splenda-sweetened drinks, it no longer tastes sweet anymore, but that's saved by the Glucose. All in all, I would say this is a simple, unique, deilicious, addicting low calorie energy drink and I'd have to group it in the "quality" drink category, characterized by Rockstars, Monsters, Amps, Full Throttles and the like.

Examining the ingredients, there's Carbonated Water, Glucose, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Taurine, Sodium Citrate, Glucuronolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Caffeine, Sodium Benzoate, Inositol, Color Added, Niacinimide, Sucralose, Pyridoxine, Hydrochlroide, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, L-Carnitine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Guarana Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Cyanocobalamin. It's a strong list, average among your Monsters and Rockstars. The Energy Blend is in there, with 5000mg total of Glucose, Glucuronolactone, Panax Ginseng, Caffeine, L-Carnitine, Guarana, and Maltodextrin. An energy blend like that is hard to beat and that's what Monster's known for, giving a pretty insane kick. Monster is definitely the master of energy drinks in my mind and ...Lost is a great cousin to the popular brand yielding just as much energy.

Taste: 8.6 - Delicious and unbelievably well-done low-carb energy drink
Kick: 8.5 - Only what you can expect from a Monster brand
Overall: 8.5 - Probably one of your best choices for a sugar-free drink

Reviewed by: Jeff

180 Orange Citrus Blast

On a visit to Rite-Aid, I checked the fridge aisle for energy drinks and to my delight, I found 180 Orange Citrus Blast. 180 is not a company I'm very acquainted with, but I'm told it's one of the original energy drinks along with Red Bull and KMX. That's a drink I want to review, one of the originals, to experience an original and what I hope will be a quality drink. With a name like Orange Citrus Blast, I think I can expect a pretty strong orange and maybe some other citrus flavors. Not only do I predict some good flavor, but I can be sure the 8oz can will be fun to drink, since they are easy to slam down.

As I blast open the can, I take a whiff from those cool little openings of 8oz cans. The smell is a very sweet, not so sour orange, and it makes me think of Sunny D quite a bit. It's similar in the way that it's delightfully "creamy," so to say, rather than crisp. I can't hold back the urge to take a large sip, and my first taste is very good. At first, some sour tangerine/orange meets your mouth until it disperses and blooms into a very satisfying orange not exactly like any orange soda I've had to date. The common and unpleasant lingering sourness you get from a lot of orange sodas is not there, but it feels on the border of accumulating. The sweetness level is what I'm most pleased with, as when chilled, this drink is still thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable, while others may not be sweet enough - this definitely was meant to be served chilled. More than halfway through the can - yes, it's that addicting - gumminess is starting to accumulate, though it isn't much of a problem and can be handled easily. Carbonation is spot-on in the drink and isn't too fine or coarse, adding a very nice texture to the drink. The only minor flaw I can concieve is the absence of that delicious orange pulp taste found in real orange juice and also, surprisingly, Sunkist. Still, the drink is very addicting despite the sweetness level being slightly high and the 8oz can only makes it more enjoyable to drink. Overall, I say hands-down, this is one of the best orange energy drinks I've had and I'd definitely have one again, if it weren't for the steep price. I suppose that's just what you pay for a quality brand-name drink.

For ingredients this 180 has Carbonated Water, HFCS, Natural Flavors, Guarana, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), FD&C Yellow #8, FD&C Red #40, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12. Oddly enough, Caffeine is not in that list, but it does mention below the Nutrition Facts that this drink contains Caffeine. It's a solid ingredients list, not quite the most powerful one, but solid. What that tells you is that this is more of a casual energy drink, rather than one made for pure energy. 180 has tastefully created a light energy drink with a delicious orange flavor. As for exactly how much energy 180 yielded, I can only say it was decent, acceptable for a drink that focuses more on flavor than kick. What I felt most was alertness and a bit of focus with just a bit less energy than most drinks give. 180 contains 30g of sugar per can and 120 Calories, which isn't too bad. Overall, I really enjoyed this drink and could very easily imagine slamming one down now and then.

Taste: 8.7 - Very enjoyable and refreshing orange
Kick: 7.2 - A pretty average kick, focusing more on alertness than pure energy
Overall: 8.4 - My favorite orange drink so far

Reviewed by: Jeff

Awake Orange Tangerine

Many people, including me, like to have a bit of energy in the morning the jump-start their day. An energy drink usually does the trick, on my part, but I do have a bit of trouble deciding which drink is the most suitable for the mornings. I may go for something light, like a citrus energy drink, or an apple energy drink, yet they just don't give that feel of the morning. So, at an almost-routine trip to Big! Lots, I run into quite a few new drinks, including one that specializes in morning energy called Awake. Being stoked to see this, I immediately took a glance at the can to see some caffeine, Essentra, taurine, L-Carnitine, and L-Tartrate. I decided it was good enough to be an energy drink, so I took it home and here I am, about to pop it open. The can coloring is nice and bright, with a multi-colored sun and its rays, totally representing a morning. Their slogan/motto is "Good Morning Energy" which justifies this sleek morning-in-a-can. For 12 ounces, I see there's quite a lot of calories as well as sugar, but we'll get more into that a bit later. This may be for promotion, but I see that it's 100% juice. If it really is 100%, man, this energy drink is going to be pretty darn good. I want to find out now...

Upon opening the can, I find a scent, or aroma, of potent orange, papaya, pineapple, and tangerine. The first thought to pop into my mind was that it smells almost exactly like the Monster M-80, nice! Continuing on with my review, I pour it out of the can to locate a color looking most like a basic bright, cloudy orange, almost like orange juice, but a bit darker. Awake Orange Tangerine has it's own distinct flavor, quite different than the M-80, but it does have a few similarities. Unlike the M-80, this Awake has no sourness, but a smooth and light, sweet prominent orange flavor, with hardly any pineapple. It has a nice apple and tangerine finish to it, adding to the sweetness with a bit of pear as well. Drinking more of it, it wouldn't harm anyone to mention that I find a bit of passion fruit and some tartness from a lemon. To sum up the flavor, I really don't want to use a vague term to describe it, but I wan't to say it's 'juicy'. Justifying, I mean that I can't taste any added sugars, only the tossed in mixed fruits, to make it more distinct than any juice-induced energy drink I've tasted. After finishing half of the can, I'm displeased with the aftertaste this produces. Having all these fruits mixed in can be quite tasty, but all together, they can create some mean side-flavors. It's aftertaste seems to be like burnt fruit, or like, rotten fruit. To top it off, Awake has a standard fruity gumminess found in most fruit drinks, which is fine unless it's the sugar-created gumminess. All in all, Awake has a real nice, impressive fruit flavor and I'm most pleased about how they could handle experimenting with 100% juice.

Taking a look at the ingredients, I'm pretty surprised to find no added sugar, being that most energy drinks at least have some. Awake Orange Tangerine has the following ingredients: 100% juice (filtered water sufficient to reconstitued apple, orange, tangerine, lemon, pineapple, and passion fruit juice concentrates), natural flavors, citric acid, ascorbic acid, Ashwagandha extract (Essentra), beta-carotene, taurine, caffeine, EGCG, niacin, L-Carnitine, L-Tartrate, Vitamins, B5, E, and A, pyridoxine, vitamins B6 and B12. See what I mean? All these fruits combined form a great, natural juicy flavor. There's some earthy that, when combined with caffeine, will increase mental alertness and allow you to think clearly. This is especially important when taking tests, writing reports or when decisions need to be made. Hence the reason why all the good companies find a way to put this in their mix. Per can, you get 180 calories and 50g of sugar. I mentioned this earlier, and yes, that is one downside to this drink is calorie and sugar content. But I'll assure that this is mostly what is called 'good calories', which are calories that are essential for the body, thus coming form fruits mainly. The amount of sugar is unfortunate, but it's about as much you'd get if you were to have a bowl of sugary cereal and some fruit. Overall, a nicely flavored energy drink that'll give you that morning boost you need on your way to work, school, or just to clean! Why not try this instead of your average cup of joe?

Taste: 8.4 - Smooth, non-carbonated 100% apple, orange, and passion fruit-flavored energy drink
Kick: 7.8 - Great kick, coming with Ashwagandha, which will improve alertness and concentration throughout your busy day
Overall: 8.2 - Give this Awake morning energy a try. Skip the cup of coffee.

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Tropical Punch Shot

With energy drinks on the rise, companies have to think fast for a new flavor. Once all the flavors are covered and being sold, they move onto the next generation of energy, 2-4 ounce shots. Shots are pretty convenient because they're obviously smaller, have less sugar, are more powerful, and are just less to drink if you need the energy right now, right here. So, when one company starts the trend, soon all the rest like Rockstar, Monster, and Amp fall in line to do the exact same, just their version of it. So far, I know Monster and Amp have created and released their energy shots, yet I have not spotted one. All I've seen is this Rockstar Tropical Punch, and the original Rockstar shot, so it's cool until I can find the other few out there. I also have word that CRUNK!!! has recently released their newest flavor, CRUNK!!! Berry; I really hope to find one of those too and review it with Jeff immediately. Well, following Rockstar's tropical 16 ounce energy drink's scheme, I see a design of just red, white, and black. Red, being on the cap and in the star; black being on the background; and white lettering. One thing I notice on the brim of the bottle is the caffeine content, 200mg. Some will argue that that is powerful, but I for one, believe that it is not powerful enough to sustain the same boost an energy shot would usually give.

Twisting the cap open, I dig deep for a scent that's almost exactly like the regular Rockstar Tropical Fruit, but all the scent packed into one shot, thus making it much more potent. It's color
oddly clear, though I may have been over expectant for a red or similar to red color. Before I taste it, I have to remember that it's a shot, or in other words, it's not meant to be sipped. So, I'm just going to down the 2.5 ounces now and describe the flavor as best as I can. Bottoms up! Okay, so chugging it was not the greatest idea in the world...After swigging an ounce my face turned almost priceless, twisting and jerking. As I take a smaller sip, I analyze a smooth and up front wild berry/cherry flavor for just a split second, and shortly afterwards, you find an overbearing extreme bitterness. I'm not talking about just a mild bitterness you find in handfuls of energy drinks, I'm talking uncontrollable bitterness, like nothing I've come across so far. The flavor spreads quickly throughout your mouth and pinches the sides of your cheek as well as the back of your tongue and down your throat; it's pretty intense. If I may recommend one thing about this energy shot, it's to down this real quickly to avoid this fake, bitter flavor. As I top off the minute bottle, I surely find that same berry and bitter combination, but this time with a bit of citrus added to the aftertaste. All in all, I really don't like rating the taste of energy shots because that's just how they are, so I'll just let this one slide, like I do with most others.

Ingredients-wise, I haven't glanced at anything on the back of the bottle, so I'm not too sure what to expect, other than standard Rockstar ingredients. I would be extremely impressed if this had ginkgo biloba; let's find out... All it's ingredients are listed here: purified filtered water, taurine, natural flavors, malic acid, phosphoric Acid, caffeine, sodium citrate, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, L-carnitine, inositol, milk thistle, niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hyrdochloride, acesulfame potassium, guarana seed, neotame, ginseng, Sucralose, red #40, and cyanocobalamin. Sadly, there is no ginkgo biloba, but knowing Rockstar, there's a legitimate reason behind it. All the main energy ingredients are listed as one of the last, which shows Rockstar focused mainly on giving what is called a "caffeine kick", which, as you may or may not know, gets you jittery for a short period of time and releases a crash. I truly hope this shot doesn't give that effect. For a sugar free drink, I was surprised to see all the artificial sweeteners listed near the bottom of the list, so that goes to show what kind of flavor you receive drinking this, natural-fruit flavors. Again, there's about 200mg of caffine for 2.5 ounce bottle, no calories, no sugar and an energy blend of roughly 1.44g (That's 1440mg). Coming back about an hour later, I determine this kick is about 60% jitteriness, 20% focus, and 20% alertness. Good statistics, though I'm pretty sure I'd find more focus with a hearty amount of ginkgo biloba in the mix. Overall, Rockstar nailed the energy shot, for the most part, until I can grab a Wild Berry Shot.

Taste: 3 - So what? The flavor in shots are usually neglected anyways
Kick: 9 - Great, steady kick so far; mild crash ~four-five hours later
Overall: 9 - To crown a winner of shots, I'll have to find the other major products...but for now, I recommend this one

Reviewed by: Chan

Jolt Wild Grape

Jolt is a unique energy drink company. They were one of the first to dream up the idea of highly-caffeinated soda and make it mainstream with their slogan, "All the sugar, twice the caffeine." Well, some odd years later, we have Jolt, now in a handful of flavors in addition to cola, with the unique 24oz "battery" cans, featuring the special resealable caps. Well, here's another pristine example of Jolt's innovation with the revolutionary resealable 16oz cans nobody's done before. What exactly does a resealable can mean for energy junkies? Well, it means the choice of saving your 16oz-er for later, for those who can't restraint themselves or those who don't care for a whole can. What it also means is a special treat for the ears while opening the can; you achieve that wonderful POP Jolts are notorious for. It's a win-win situation until you think about the price; I think I payed a bit too much for this (in excess of 3 dollars), but I knew I had to have it. I trust, however, that as this grows in popularity, the price will begin to drop.

I resurrected Spawn of Uamenti just for this very special occasion and I opened the lid hoping for the pop, but unfortunately there was no pop and more of a hiss and rush of air. I took a long whiff and the smell was your characteristic deep purple grape flavor, kind of like cough syrup, but more natural and with some great zing. The smell is delicious, but a little bit flat compared to the Nos Grape, in my mind. However, I find that it is quite a bit more robust. When I take a sip, I'm hoping for the same thing, but I find there's less robustness to it and it tastes a bit flat still. To describe it in greater detail, the beginning of the sip is just sweet enough and then some mild but coarse carbonation comes in and gives the drink some nice texture, which I like. What's good is that the carbonation isn't foamy and doesn't linger for long. Then, as with many drinks, the grape flavor comes in halfway through and gets stronger until oddly, it just disappears. Chan has remarked upon this, the situation where a drink suddenly loses nearly all its flavor at the end of each sip. This is a bad thing if you're trying to drink slowly, since you lose the flavor and crave more soon after every sip. I think what Jolt was trying to encourage was a rapid intake, and now that I think about it, it's quite a genius idea, to make the flavor disappear after every sip. As I've explained, you'll crave the drink more after every sip, which does two things. For one, it makes you take more frequent sips so that you're likely to run out sooner and buy more, but what may be less obvious is that this means a greater percieved kick. Because you'll be drinking faster, this means the energy ingredients are taken in faster and you have a greater boost. I'm confident Jolt knew what they were doing when they designed this and all of their drinks and I find it brilliant. Already, by the end of this paragraph, I'm completely finished with the can. What I've observed is that this is a more mild, subtle grape flavor in comparison to grape soda and the Nos Grape, a drink I quite enjoyed for it strength. This Jolt seems to be lacking strength but is still good in general. Average soda drinkers shouldn't be disappointed while, someone like me, who is used to a quality drink like Monster might find this lacking. I'm optimistic about the kick, however.

Well, after about 8 hours, I have a mixed opinon about the drink. For a short period of about two or three hours, Jolt does provide a sizeable jolt, as you would expect. But what troubled me was, about 8 hours later, long after the slow, steady kick following the caffeine boost, my energy levels plummeted, leaving me tired and apathetic. I wasn't at all expecting a crash so severe from a Jolt, but I suppose the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Anyway, for ingredients, Jolt has: Carbonated Water, HFCS, Taurine, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Caffeine, Sodium Benzoate, Red #40, Guarana Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Blue #1, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin.

The drink also has 210 Calories total and 26g of sugar per serving, 52g per can.

Taste: 8.4 - A quality grape you can expect from Jolt, however, a bit flat
Kick: 6 - A respectable caffeine kick, but with a ghastly crash
Overall: 7.8 - Rather drink one casually

Reviewed by: Jeff

Raw Dawg Sugar-Free

Many people detest sugar-free drinks for a few reasons. Some are used to real sugar sweeteners and won't stand for the taste of the artificial sweeteners. Others will say these artificial sweeteners are bad for one's health. What sugar-free drinkers and advertising will tell you is that sugar-free drinks have virtually no calories or carbs and therefore are healthier than sugared drinks. Regardless of what your view is on the health of artificial sweeteners, the fact remains that sugar-free drinks are a hit and many people actually prefer them. This may seem odd, but when you've had so many, like Chan and I have, you gain a new perspective and see that sugar-free drinks have their unique and favorable qualities.

Well, why do I bring up sugar free drinks? Because I'm reviewing the Raw Dawg Sugar Free, since I was feeling like a sugar free drink tonight. What I find interesting about this can is that when I look at it, the first thing that pops into my head is "sugar-free," not "Raw Dawg," as you would expect. To me, this means Raw Dawg has a weak image, since it doesn't really get me excited, on account of the busy and messy can design on a sliver background. But you can't judge a drink solely on its can design, so I'm prepared now to open it up.

My first smell reminds me of those budget drinks you find in small markets, with the generic weak, sugary, Monster clone flavor. Since this is a sugar-free drink, I think I can bet on this drink being less sugary and bland than those cheap drinks. As I take another deep whiff, I realize this is that generic artificial strawberry and it almost saddens me because I had been hoping for something more original. Now, as I pour the drink out into a cup, I notice a very nice deep rose color I wish I'd seen in more drinks. This color is really nice, but I'm not too optimistic about the taste, considering I just noticed the Splenda logo on the can. My first sip reveals that same exact mild strawberry under some fine and stinging carbonation, giving this drink nice texture. After the carbonation clears, The strawberry is still there, but with an odd aftertaste that's part salty, part bitter, part sour. There's all sorts of odd flavors from the artificial sweetener, even gnarly gumminess, but I can't easily identify sweetness in the drink. I would assume it's that illusion of sweetness you get with pure Sucralose, but quickly checking the ingredients, I oddly find Ace-K and Sucralose. I hate to say it, but I think Raw Dawg hasn't done a very good job at all at sweetening this drink artificially. The Splenda was a very bad idea, if you ask me, considering it gives the drink a terrible aftertaste, slightly lessened by the Ace-K. As I finish this drink, I'm dissatisfied, wishing the flavor weren't so generic and boring, the sweetener so poorly executed.

As if I weren't bored enough already with this drink, I have to examine the ingredients. I see Water, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Taurine, Red 40, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Pyridoxine, Hydrochloride, Yellow 5, Cyanocobalamin, Guarana Extract, Epimedium-Aerial Portion.

Well, this list is a bit different that most I've encountered and I'm curious about certain interesting ingredients in it. First odd ingredient I noticed was Dipotassium Phosphate, which I find out quickly is simply Phosphoric Acid, that commonly found in soft drinks. The other oddity in this ingredient list is something called "Epimedium-Aerial Portion," something I would associate with aviation or aircraft. What my first search led me to was a poorly designed vitamin website, which started to worry me. But I soon realized Epimedium is actually a weed which is believed to act as an aphrodisiac. The rest of this ingredient, "Aerial Portion" must refer to the top part of the leaf, though I don't know what significance that has.

Anyway, the sweeteners are Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium, a combination I've tried many times before. In my experience this is not a bad combination, but Raw Dawg poorly uses these two ingredients to convince me there was only Splenda as a sweetener. And for your information, that's never good, considering Splenda is a disgusting sweetener. Overall, I can't find one good think about the drink itself; the taste was bland and a bit nasty, the kick virtually nonexistent and the can design doesn't get me too excited. But there's one good thing in all this - Raw Dawg has a lot of room to improve.

Taste: 4.5 - Completely disliked the sucralose/ace-k sweetener, though I don't usually
Kick: 5 - Hardly noticable, to me at least
Overall: 4.7 - I can't recommend this drink in the least

Reviewed by: Jeff

Blade Sugar Free

I had a few minutes to type up a review so I found the most interesting drink I had, which was the Blade Sugar Free. Now, I really had no clue what I'd find in CVS the other day as I walked into the store, until I found an interesting and eye-catching Blade Sugar Free. Eventually, when I got home, I did a bit of researching and found out that Blade is CVS Stores brand of energy drinks, but I didn't see regular Blade. HM, I'll probably go back another time for it. I scoured the can thoroughly for any important details, and at the bottom in the back I found the caffeine content, which, you wouldn't believe, is 240mg per can. I think that's worth a picture to go along with the can itself. Out of all the 16 ounce cans, this has the largest amount of caffeine I believe I've ever come across. I'd say drinking a can of this would equal a little more than a 24 ounce Monster, which is pretty impressive if you're not into drinking more than 16 ounces. I've been thinking about the energy upgrade and how it may affect the flavor. I mean, if this is a CVS brand energy drink, it's most likely a Monster Clone, but to be a Monster Clone it has the same or similar energy ingredients and the same general flavor, so if the energy ingredients are different, the flavor may be too.

Opening up the can, I find a familiar scent almost exactly like the Lo-Carb Monster, which is an extremely refreshing scent of apple, berry, citrus, pineapple, you name it. Pouring it out of the can, the color is the same as the scent, being a smooth caramel-golden amber type, just nice in general. This Blade Sugar Free tastes quite different than Monster Lo-Carb, but it's the subtle differences that make them so unlike. Being so used to Monster Lo-Carb, I find this to be a bit more bland, as the flavor seems to dissapear faster, and the flavor you find, is much sweeter, but not necessarily artificial. Tasting more of this addictive flavor, I find to be more mixed in with a Sugar Free Red Bull, having more of that caramel flavor and that sour snap from a green apple. It's got a nice balance of sweetness and sourness to make it more diverse and not like a one-flavored drink. Moving on to the aftertaste, I observe a small, mellow note of artificial sweetener that's not too noticeable. As for carbonation, Blade Sugar Free is about average, compared to all of the other similar drinks, like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, etc. Lastly, I have been drinking out of the can more often than usual, so I'll find gumminess more easily, and I can't say I have found any at all. Overall, I have to say, CVS sure knows how to make a Sugar Free energy drink, and now my hopes are up for the Blade original, and the kick to follow this beast.

As for ingredients, Blade Sugar Free has about the same ingredients you would find on a Monster Lo-Carb or a Joker Low Carb. I see a list consisting of: carbonated water, malic acid, taurine, sodium citrate, D-Glucuronolactone, natural and artificial flavors, caffeine, potassium benzoate, Sucralose, inostiol, niacin, caramel color, acesulfame potassium, D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, yellow 5, red 40, and cyanocobalamin. See? Standard ingredients, like caramel color in particular. I love the energy drink companies that put in caramel color; it enhances and brightens the overall color of the drink, as well as making it more distinct. I see it has Sucralose and Acesulfame potassium, which are both pretty standard in a sugar free energy drink, though I would really like to see one with one Ace K. Per can, you get 30 calories and only 2g of carbs (sugars, sugar alcohols, etc.), which is truly amazing, tasting so great. As I move on to the kick, I can't say I'm too satisfied right now. After downing this can, I find a slight boost of jitters and awareness, but I soon crashed and felt extremely drowsy. So, I may find a heavily caffeinated energy drink like this to be lame on kick, but for others, who's tolerance are different, may find it better. All in all, a great sugar free energy drink, you may want to pick up a few of these next time you're at CVS, instead of the Lo-Carb Monster, maybe if you want to taste something slightly different.

Taste: 8.6 - Great Monster Clone, with just a hint more of apple and a dash of sweet vanilla
Kick: 8 - Good kick, but not as large as I was anticipating
Overall: 8.3 - This is one Monster Clone I definitely recommend

Reviewed by: Chan

Inked Maori

It's been a while since I reviewed my last energy drink, partly because I've been busy and partly because I felt like I was becoming a bit tolerant of the common energy ingredients. So I took a break and caught up on other activities while I continued to scour the markets for new drinks. Well, lucky me, somehow I obtained the Inked Maori. I remember the Inked Chikara, a drink that turned out to be quite tasty and good for the price. Inked is 7-11's own brand of energy drink and comes in grapefruit/orange, dubbed Chikara, and Maori, which I have here. At the moment, I'm curious about the flavor. Chikara had a red color to the word and emblem, while Maori has a luxurious indigo. However, the background is the same delightful gradient from orange to yellow. I'm going to attempt to get the best idea of how this drink will taste based on the ingredients. Per 12oz can, I see 47g of sugar, which comes out to just over 31g of sugar per 8oz. Back in the early days of Canned Reviews, I would call this a very sugary drink, but in recent times, I've seen quite a large number of drinks with a sugar level this high, so in these times, I'd call it about average, yet on the sweet side. I'm excited to find out.

Hearing the can open was a delightful sound I've missed. I immediately went in for a whiff and found myself unable to immediately describe the smell. What's true, however, is that I did find myself thinking of the color blue, so I suppose the emblem fits the flavor. Trying to fit the smell together, all I can describe it as is a Monster clone with that common "bubble-gum" energy drink flavor lingering in the background faintly. At this point, I can only imagine the color being a dark or light amber. What interested me but did not surprise me in the least was a pleasant light fluorescent amber with a chartruce glow to it, which seems to fit the brightness and depth to the smell. Another smell, from the cup, this time, makes me think vividly of another drink I remember having many times before - possibly one of the many Monster clones I've had in my time, but not a Monster exactly. Sipping this, Inked's take on a Monster starts out strong with a pleasant fruity and sugary flavor until it turns sour while the carbonation overcomes the flavor. At the end of each sip, I'm left unsatisfied with more of a sour taste in my mouth than a sweet taste. And what I find to be true after at least 3 sips is some brutal gumminess rivaled only by Sunny D and Capri Sun, two childhood drinks I wish I weren't reminded of. This is not your petty, harmless gumminess you experience in a quality drink like Monster or Rockstar, but rather something common in your second-rate drinks loaded with HFCS. This is the kind of gumminess you'll be occupied with trying to remove with great effort. However, each time I take a sip of this, I have to admit it gets tastier every time. The sourness fades slowly each sip and the carbonation is less of a problem after about halfway through the can. I suppose you could call this another one of those drinks that isn't terribly addicting but very tasty with infrequent sips. This flavor, if you require an explanation, could be called berry, however it won't make you think "berry" right away, as many budget drinks do not. Overall, I have a mixed opinion of this drink; I recognize its strength as a cheaper drink, but its weaknesses turn me off, such as the gumminess, troublesome carbonation, and unbalanced sweetness.

Now, although I wasn't all that pleased with the flavor of Inked Maori, the kick is something I hadn't expected. This 7-11-brand budget drink manages to provide some very nice energy, rivaling that of a Rockstar. Having this near 5PM, my energy level was moderately high without any jitters whatsoever, which I liked very much and which is good if you need a steady hand while gaming. This steady boost lasted for a good 5 hours, which is more that what I expect from an energy drink. I don't well remember what ingredients the Inked Chikara had, but I'll be examining the Maori's ingredients quite closely this time.

Inked Maori's ingredient list is as follows: Carbonated Water, HFCS, Malic Acid, Taurine, Sodium Citrate, D-Glucuronolactone, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Caffeine, Potassium Benzoate (a preservative), Inositol, Niacinimide (Vitamin B3), Caramel Color, D-Calcium Pantothenate (B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Yellow 5, Red 40, Cyanocobalamin (B12).

Examining that ingredients list, I see the basic and average energy drink ingredient list. HFCS is a staple of an average drink, a cheaper sweetener made from corn that isn't nearly as bright as pure cane sugar. Per can, there are 47g of the stuff, which means just over 31g per 8oz serving, what I typically gauge sweetness levels by. As for the energy ingredients, there's no way of knowing exactly how much Caffeine, D-Glucuronolactone, Inositol, or Taurine is in here, but considering Caffeine's position in the middle of the list, I'd guess that it's about average (80-100mg/8oz), which could explain why I didn't get the jitters from this drink. That smaller amount is less than what my body has become used to, and thus it has less of an effect. However, to someone who only has energy drinks occasionally, this amount could possibly be enough to yield the jitters. That's what you have to be careful with when you're dealing with energy drinks. What may give one person loads of energy may do nothing for the next. So before you have an energy drink, I advise you assess your Caffeine tolerance. Anyway, all I can say for this drink's kick is it seems to be designed for longer, more steady energy than a quick burst unlike many drinks I've encountered recently.

Taste: 7.5 - A decent take on the common "Monster clone" flavor with its ups and downs
Kick: 8.2 - I appreciate the longer, sustained energy
Overall: 7.8 - Worked for me, someone with a high caffeine tolerance who needs the concentration

Reviewed by: Jeff

Coolah Energy

I was feeling great today and wanted to assure myself I'd have the chance to review a great drink. So I pulled out Coolah Energy from the fridge. The drink's can has a lemon yellow background and sports a nifty stylized boomerang in motion. Below this, it calls itself "energy from down under," which I personally like. Anything from Australia appeals to me, and I've tried this one once before, and I remember some great flavor coming through. This time, I'll have the time to focus on the taste a bit more and learn a bit more about it. Something interesting about this drink is the fact that it has something I haven't yet seen in an energy drink: Boronia. A quick search tells me this is some sort of evergreen herb. As I learn more about this shrub, I find that it's indigenous to Australia and is found all over. I can't recall exactly what sort of effects this drink gave me last time I had it, but I'm going to be sure to pick them up today.

I took a deep whiff and smelled a delightfully mild lemon-lime, reminding me exactly of Sprite. It's incredibly similar, except somewhere in here I smell a small tinge of sour lemon like Lemonhead candies. Taking a sip, theres that same lovely lemon-lime soda taste with minimal to moderate carbonation with a bit of the usual lime absent, resulting in more of a simple and narrow flavor, however every time I take a sip, I'm yearning for some depth, probably missing because of the absence of lime. This doesn't mean it's a bad drink, but it does mean you may become tired of the flavor sooner. Describing the taste from start to finish, we first have a bit of carbonation masking the lemon and then pretty generic natural lemon comes through with some pleasantly stinging carbonation giving this drink some texture. On the way down, that same flavor fades and you have plain sourness. Overall, it's a bit bland, but it is very refreshing if had over a period of time, with infrequent sips. You have to understand this isn't one of those insanely addicting drinks like Monster or the Monster Javas, but it is one that'll keep you going for a night of gaming, as it has proven itself to me as a decent gaming drink.

After slamming this thing down reluctantly, I have to say my focus was intense in a game of Combat Arms. Yes, I've heard of its reputation, but opinions aside, I must admit my focus was intense and I did much better than I have recently. My focus was increased greatly which you always look for from a drink while your gaming. My energy level was good, but not over-the-top, which would have me unable to keep still, something I don't want when I'm playing a first person shooter.

This drink has 30g per serving, 60g total of sugar and the calorie count is 240 per can, which is slightly higher than most drinks. The ingredients list is as follows: Filtered Carbonated Water, HFCS, Citric Acid, Taurine, Natural and Artificial Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavors (Including Boronia Extract), Potassium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate, Caffeine, Modified Corn Starch, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Ester Gum, Niacinimide (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Disodium EDTA, Yellow 5, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).

Overall, it's not an extraordinary ingredients list, looking at the HFCS and the few energy ingredients, but what does interest me is the fact that Boronia is not meant for energy but for flavor. That's something I like a lot, seeing unique and distinct flavors blended with traditional ones. Boronia isn't something I've ever tasted myself but I suppose it accounts for that very distinct flowery tang behind the lemon. Overall, I can sum this drink up as a delightful, heritage-rich Australian lemon soda on steroids. Considering the great price I found it at, $1.25, I would definitely get one of these again, for a night of gaming or what have you.

Taste: 7.8 - Nice take on lemon; not addicting, but satisfying and refreshing
Kick: 6.5 - Just decent for an energy drink, but non-jittery, which is favorable
Overall: 7.5 - Not the best drink, but I like it a lot and the heritage is facinating

Reviewed by: Jeff

Archer Farms Juice Infused Pomegranate Blueberry

It doesn't happen too often where I review two or more drinks in a row of the same company, but tasting Archer Farms Wild Berry really kicked it off to try more of their great drinks. I have not yet seen every new flavor they have came out with, but I know that I can easily access them at my local Target, which supports Archer Farm's line of everything, practically. Like I said before, Archer Farms changed things up a bit, now coming in 12 ounce cans, rather than 16 ounces, and they require a bit more money. Per can, they want about $1.79 for 12 ounces, and honestly, it's not the best deal, but if all of them are just like the Wild Berry, I'll guarantee to you, it's worth it. Archer Farms has never used high fructose corn syrup in their drinks, and looking at the can, I do not see HFCS in this one, which most likely means I won't find it in any more Archer Farms. I see no real sweeteners in this can, instead I see it's sweetened with fruit concentrates and artificial sweeteners like Sucralose and Acesulfame K. Well, seeing those two aren't so bad in a sugar free drink, but I can't seem to find a reason why they would put it in a regular energy drink.

As I break open the can, I note a scent of intense blueberry and pear, with a small amount of pomegranate in the background, but a potent scent in general. Pouring it out of the can, I see a golden amber color, similar to that of a Monster, looking like pear, blueberry, and pomegranate juice combined. Oh man, I would have never seen this type of flavor coming at me. You imagine blueberry, pomegranate, and pear as an insane blend, especially in an energy drink, but as I taste it, I find the artificial sweeteners have become a large factor to this energy drink. As soon as you were to take a sip, you find a usual and crisp blueberry and pomegranate flavor, but as soon as the flavor actually sinks in, you're hit with an artificial and bland pear flavor, that's bitter on the tongue, and just plainly has no fruitiness whatsoever. Tasting more, I struggle to find a better flavor, as this is seeming to be a poor attempt of a juice-induced blue pom energy drink. It's aftertaste is nothing really but a small amount of pear juice, and blueberry, which combined tastes slightly like apple. In terms of gumminess, I have not yet had half of the can, but only drinking a small amount, I find that it's pretty gummy, especially in the back of the throat. It's carbonation is nice and mild, just like all other Archer Farms energy drinks. I thought it would be smart to come back in a few and taste this at room temperature, it's a whole lot different. In fact, it's most subtle and less artificial, with also much more primary blueberry and pomegranate flavors. Overall, a lame drink chilled, and an okay energy drink at room temperature. It still doesn't impress me in general.

As for ingredients, Archer Farms is pretty nice, although there are a few I'm not liking up there. Here's the complete list: Water, pear juice concentrate, citric acid, calcium, pomegranate juice concentrate, magnesium, blueberry juice concentrate, ascorbic acid, caffeine, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, panax ginseng, guarana, zinc, taurine, niacin, Sucralose, natural flavos, acesulfame K, pyridoine hydrochloride, riboflavin, cranberry juice concentrate, glucose. cyanocobalamin, and caramel color, Well first of all, Sucralose and acesulfame potassium should never be in an energy drink together unless it is labelled 'sugar free'. I noticed cranberry juice concentrate is one of the last ingredients, meaning there's less of it. So if there's more Sucralose than cranberry, that's a bit sad, being that I can taste more of that than more cranberry. Per can, you get a small 80 calories and an even smaller 19g of sugar. The sweetness was all right for 19g of sugar, I mean, there's wasn't too less. I don't see any energy ingredients listed so I'll assume they're pretty small amounts, which brings me to the kick. The kick is weak, that's why I say what I say when there's small amounts of caffeine, taurine, guarana, and ginseng. I felt a short buzz, and a lame crash following shortly afterwards. All in all, this brought my hope in Archer Farms down a lot, I hope they can regain it with a few more drinks to come.

Taste: 6 - Lame blueberry and pomegranate flavor, with an artificial pear to follow
Kick: 6 - The kick is no better than the taste, both being below par
Overall: 6 - As much as a fun of juice I am, I can't say I was satisfied with this juice-induced energy drink

Reviewed by: Chan

Archer Farms Wild Berry

Ah, just as I thought I was finished reviewing Archer Farms drinks, Target's line of energy drinks, in other words, I find a whole new row of perhaps 5 or 6 new Archer Farms. These are just a bit different than that of the original three, being in a 12 ounce can, new blends, and just a tad more expensive. Now, I do recall getting 16 ounce Archer Farms for about 89 cents per can, but the mark-up on these 12 ounce cans substantial, being $1.79 per can. I can be pretty sure these are more expensive because, what really isn't expensive right now? Oh well, if the price is around reasonable, I'm likely to pick it up and review it, so that's what I did with this one, and a few others. I wanted to review Wild Berry first because Wild Berry is such a mysterious flavor, as if it's tough to actually make a good one. From past experiences with Wild Berry, I've found them to taste all different, and some being gummy, others not. Wild Berry really is a vague term to name an energy drink; wild berry could basically mean any or all berries out there, for which there are many types. When berry comes to one's head, usually they think of raspberries, blueberries, cherries, etc., when really those are a form of modified berries, which the fruit is formed from other parts of the flower. A true berry is a type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp, which include the tomato, grape, lychee, loquat, lucuma, plantain, avocado, persimmon, eggplant, guava, uchuva (ground cherry), and chili pepper. Hm, wild berry, well I think I get what Archer Farms means.

Opening up the can, I find a wild berry scent that's a bit plain and could be described as hard cherry, blueberry, raspberry, and a bit of blackberry. When it pours out of the can I see a shocking and questionable key lime/lime green color, which I see is more common nowadays, being that wild berry is a mixture of colors. Well, unlike what my nose picked up, I taste it and I'm decently surprised to find a berry flavor that Archer Farms did a darn good job on. It can be described as a very sweet blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, light notes of cherry, and just a bit of boysenberry, but with a certain brightness, as in, all the flavors are brought out and all attack the taste buds. Seeing this and basing on previous experiences, I'm nearly positive it does not contain high fructose corn syrup, and as I check, I'm right, it's sugar or sucrose. Tasting more of it, I grin as I find an aftertaste that's mostly burnt berry, as if it did have high fructose corn syrup. As if the aftertaste wasn't enough, it's extremely gummy, which leaves me wondering what triggers this gumminess: the sweetener, or the flavor? For the most part, Wild Berry energy drinks tend to be pretty gummy, and sucrose doesn't tend to bring gumminess, so I'm going to leave it at wild berry to blame. On a lighter note, the gumminess is mild and nicely done. Topping it off, I'll conclude the upfront taste was a tasty, irresistible mixture of modified berries until the burnt aftertaste comes in and sort of ruins most of the prominent flavors.

As for ingredients, Archer Farms really doesn't differ, between, say, a Monster. Looking at the nutrition and ingredients, it seems to copy everything about a Monster, calories, main ingredients, and energy ingredients. Here's the ingredients list, to start off: water (carbonated), sugar (sucrose), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), citric acid, sodium benzoate,potassium sorbate, ginseng, caffeine, niacin, natural flavors, guarana, calcium phosphate, taurine, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, Sucralose, cyanocobalamin, and caramel color. Once again, seeing sucrose is always cool in an energy drink. Vitamin C, ginseng, caffeine, guarana are all good as well, especially as high as it is on the list. Of course, it wouldn't be a new energy drink if it didn't have Sucralose in it, but I guess it's okay if it doesn't make too much of a difference in the taste. Per 12 ounce can, you get an average 150 calories and a low 36g of sugar. I always like seeing a low sweetened energy drink with the perfect amount if sweetness. Energy ingredients are undisclosed, but that's all right, perhaps it's average if it gave me a nice boost. It lasted about a good 2 hours with mostly energy, not really focus. So, concluding the review, I'll say I was impressed and kicked off the start of a new line of Archer Farms drinks real well.

Taste: 8.4 - Nice, smooth wild berry flavor with a tasy zing and a snap to finish it off
Kick: 7 - Not bad for a 12 ounce can, also suggesting the energy ingredients are average
Overall: 8 - I can't wait to crack open a few more of these new drinks and review them...

Reviewed by: Chan

Monster Heavy Metal

Yes, I'm ready for another review and I believe it's time; it's time to review the Heavy Metal. I know it's been a while since our last Monster and I know I've promised you this review long ago so I'm just going to go for it. I'm feeling good tonight and I don't want this quality drink to go to waste. I'm sure I don't have to go into detail with this drink because I'm confident most of you, our loyal readers, already know of the legendary status of the Heavy Metal. For all this time, the Heavy Metal has been lacking from our extensive catalog of reviews, and we thought we owed it to you to publish our take. For those of you who don't know what it is, I can pretty much give you the answer with one word: 32oz.

The first thing I smell is heavenly sweetness and some zing like rum. I like it a lot so far and it smells like quite a quality drink. The smell is tough to explain, but I know for a fact that it is Daiquiri, a drink with lime, sugar, and rum although some may argue this is in fact apple-flavored and I won't argue with them, because I've never been 100% able to figure out most of Monster's flavors. Of course, there isn't any rum in this drink, or I wouldn't be drinking it, but Monster has done a beautiful job of getting that genuine rum taste in here without any alcohol. When I smell this again, I notice the rum takes center stage and off in the background is mild lime with few of the sharp qualities usually associated with lime. Giving this drink a small sip, I taste that same rum coupled with subtle lime and some very good tartness that meets your tongue and works wonderfully. This is a great drink, not only because of its wonderfully original flavor, but also what enhances it is pure sugar as a sweetener, not HFCS. HFCS, had it been used, would've undoubtedly killed this drink, like many other great drinks that could have been. At first, this drink may taste a bit odd because it's something you don't find in energy drink often, but soon, you may warm up to the drink and find it's incredibly tasty. At least, that's what happened to me. I can't say anything bad about this drink, really, which is good, because you don't want to get tired of something in such a large can. I think Monster knew if they were going to make a unique 32oz energy drink, it had to be something irresistible and quality. I'm this far into the review already, and I haven't mentioned the color or even seen it yet. Pouring this out into a glass, there's a delightful bright green like the green Jolly Ranchers, and it definitely gives this drink a good image. Drinking from the cup, I realize there is quite a bit of very fine carbonation that gives this drink some nice texture and is helpful for keeping the drink from getting old. As for gumminess, it pleases me to find only a tiny amount of gumminess so that there's nothing to get in your way of this monster Monster. So far, I haven't had one thing to say against the drink, but a bit more than halfway through I have my first complaint. Yes, this is a great drink, and some may say never have too much good stuff, but soon enough, you've got to face the facts. Having more than half the can of this means so much sugar and water that you're likely to have a stomachache. Right now, it's mild, but if I continue to drink this at such a high rate, who knows how much worse it'll get. The solution to this may be simply drinking this more slowly, but in that case, the energy will seem like less of a jolt and more of a gradual high. If you're stuck with this stomachache you may obtain from this particular drink, one of two things are likely to happen: you'll either be in so much discomfort that all your energy is wasted while you can't help but sit with your terrible stomachache, or you'll be too wired to care. Right now, I'm leaning toward the second possiblity, which I'm happy about. I'm going to see soon how this drink fares when I'm spending my energy.

After performing the most vigorous exercise I could manage for a few minutes, I still have the notoriously great amount of energy given by a Monster and the urge to just run like hell into an open field, just that urge to run. That's a good thing and something I like about the Monster kick; it's more than just an amazing kick, it's a lot like a high; it improves your mood greatly and it does so to a greater degree with exercise. That's what I like about this drink, as the kick is even greater since it's like having two 16oz Monsters. However, as I mentioned earlier, that large amount also causes a stomachache which I'm plagued with at the moment and I wish would pass. For the time being, I'm going to list off all of Monster Heavy Metal's energy ingredients.

In the drink, there is Taurine (4000mg per can), Panax Ginseng (800mg), Monster's unique Energy Blend, consisting of Caffeine, L-Carnitine, Guarana, Glucose, Inositol, Glucuronolactone, Maltodextrin (10,000mg). Looking at these numbers, it's simply incredible, the amount of energy ingredients in one can, however, it's also a bit alarming. With 10,000mg of the Energy Blend, Caffeine being a key component in this blend, I'm curious how much Caffeine there is. I know for fact that per 16oz can of Monster there are around 160mg. That means per Heavy Metal, or BFC, as the 32oz cans are also called, there are a whopping 320mg of Caffeine, a significantly hefty dose. Having one of these, no doubt, is going to have you wired. Considering this, you should probably make sure to avoid intense aerobic exercise to avoid heart palpitations, which are never good.

Anyway, moving right along, for vitamins, Monster has 400% of the recommended daily values of Vitamin B2, B3, B6, and B12. It also has a bit of sodium, 4g of Protein, which is interesting, and 22g of sugar per serving. This is something that alarms, me; 22g is damn good for one serving, because it's not very much at all, but when you find yourself having four servings, you end up taking in 88g of sugar - something you don't want to do often. Also, because there's more sugar in here than a regular Monster, this means - yep, you got it - a worse crash. Yes, it's not scientifically proven, but it's very well known that taking in large amounts of sugar more often than not causes a bad crash, resulting in lethargy, tiredness, fatigue and sometimes irritability. Yet another reason to drink this slowly. In fact, I believe I'm beginning to feel it already, though I really wish I weren't.

The rest of the ingredients are as follows: Carbonated Water, Sucrose, Glucose, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Benzoate, Sucralose, Maltodextrin, Yellow 5, Blue 1. What interests me about this is that I don't see an emulsifier to hold the drink together, which tells me some other attribute must keep this drink from tasting gummy. I have yet to find out what it is but I know now that emulsifiers like Ester of Wood Rosin and BVO are not the solution for gumminess. What else amazes me is that Monster gets away with pure sugar, not HFCS and still doesn't taste gummy at all. Maybe Chan is right; maybe HFCS really is the source of gumminess. I'll have to keep thinking about it, but for the time being, I've got a rating to give this behemoth. Overall, I like this drink and the sick power it possesses, but sooner or later, we have to face facts that this really isn't the healthiest drink out there. It's probably one of the worst for you, considering it's massive size, though I still enjoy one from time to time and encourage you to.

Taste: 9.6 - Monster is brilliant at formulating quality, great-tasting drinks
Kick: 9.5 - Monster's kicks can be said to be more than a boost; it's like a high
Overall: 9.6 - An insane quality drink, but I have to say, it's a once-in-a-while thing, or you're putting yourself at risk.

Reviewed by: Jeff