Ghostbusters Oxyshred & Slime Energy Drink Review

Considering the age of the Ghostbusters license, making a very much not for kids energy drink does not seem so wrong; I mean, fans of the property when it first came out have been of drinking age for years. And the shrink-wrapped can goes straight for the nostalgia; even if Slimer is not who I would associate with the word "caffeine," it fully exploits its commercial novelty.

Pouring out the most artificial green this side of a candy shop, so far, so good. Then I stuck my nose up to the freshly-cracked can, and a big whiff had me immediately rip the opening from my face. I am not sure if I expected Granny Smith apple or something, but the aggressive passion fruit from the likes of NOS wafting from this viridescent elixir was not on my expectations list. The flavor is not like any of the above though, an odd combination of vanilla, lime and blue raspberry, though your tongue struggles to truly get to know any of the trio thanks to an absolutely assertory acidity. It all makes for an experience, right down to a slightly powdery texture, that resembles the physical act of munching on the confection SweeTARTS, but only just. What a bizarre little energy drink this is.

The 180 milligrams of caffeine lends itself to a nice two and a half hour long buzz, though it would be unprofessional of me not to mention how each can also contains: l-carnitine, B vitamins, vitamin C, taurine, guarana, and several others. Those are all fine-and-dandy, but that taste, man, what a trip.

company site

+Red Berry Citrus Power Elixir Review

A new decade, a new +Red. This time we have "Berry Citrus," although only time and tongue will tell if this is a refresh of their existing Power Elixir drink from years ago. The can is attractive, standing tall and proud against less unique beverage structures, although having to pry a piece of plastic off only to find more plastic, is simply a waste of plastic.

The flavor is a lovingly old school, a wickedly sugary example of how to execute an underrepresented "sweet tart" flavor. Tons of lime and a bulk of blue raspberry predominantly compose the experience, with fleeting mentions of grapefruit, lemon and tangerine. All this citrus means there is a lot of acidity to play with, and every sip is a whirlpool of tartness, coating every inch of your palate with a crushing sourness. But the glue that holds things together is the mouthfeel, a powdery texture that melds wonderfully with the flavors and moments. The only problem here is a common problem with any drink that believes caffeine is not enough for a kick; the myriad of nasty supplements tarnish this peaceful petite potable. The doomed flood of vulgarity takes a bit before it breaks through all the sweetness, but once six of the twelve ounces have crossed your palate, it burns through the pleasant carbohydrate sensation. It is a shame, really, since the elements here should have made a more cohesive potation.

160 milligrams of caffeine, several B vitamins, electrolytes, and a bunch of other ingredients. The buzz is OK, lasting about two hours and ending without a crash. On the whole, +Red Berry Citrus is almost a recommendation, but too many lapses in judgement leaves an unfortunate disappointment.

official site

UpTime Energy Drink Review

This tall black can is formidable, a heft that feels great in your palm with a pleasant matte finish. It beats around the bush calling itself an energy drink, because that is what it is, instead saying silly things like "energy supplement" instead of the more traditional declaration, but with a design as unique as this, I will let it slide.

UpTime is a citrus cocktail at heart, a traditional tasting blend of orange, lemon and lime, something that the can claims and my tongue verifies. It is a wholly generic trilogy of fruits, but there is a reason why this blend is bottled so often- it tastes good. Thirty nine grams of cane sugar does the sugaring and it does its job fairly well, slightly grainy but a texture welcoming against the syrupy nature of most drinks. Most enjoyable here is the tartness, an acidity that is almost puckering and balances out the cogent saccharinity. I have experienced this drink in others too many times, and so have you most likely, but it reaches the heights of its low expectations.

Each can contains: caffeine (142 milligrams), taurine, ginseng, ginkgo, among some others. The kick is weakest aspect of UpTime, not as devoted as its can and far more familiar than its flavor is, but it gets the job done. Just do not go expecting much aside from a two hour long buzz.

official site

Thunder Healthy High Voltage Energy Drink Review

Thunder's can never makes me think of actual thunder. It is black with a lot of silver and some grey, but what does that have to do with the sound caused by lightning? Rain drops pepper the aluminum, with what I guess is a lightning bolt interior, but that is just speculation.

Our first sip of this flippant elixir is predominately passive tastes of grapefruit and lime. They are neighboring flavors tasted parallel but are never braided, each aromas its own and saves the experience from succumbing to the common indistinctness of your usual punch. A subjacent pool of raspberry complements the skyward citruses, perhaps with some cranberry approximately present, fruit providing a little more depth to all the sourness than anticipated. The puckering produce is almost awkwardly tart despite their sufficient sugariness however. Sucralose and ace-k promote one of their better showings, a sweetness assiduously attempting with every sip to fool the palate that the simulacrum saccharinity is honest cane sugar; an effort unsuccessful but appreciated. Overall, Thunder's flavor is a frequent flavor done decently here.

Each can contains: ten calories, caffeine (eighty milligrams), green tea, and B vitamins. The kick is debatably "healthy" due to artificial sugars, and is far from "high voltage" with an ingredient cocktail like this. If you have ever had a similarly sized drink, you should be familiar with its hour long buzz. To end, Thunder shatters no expectations, but fortunately not your waistline.

official site

Fuel Energy Drink Review

The disappointment that has become my local Big Lots recently redeemed itself partially with Fuel. It is a completely generic looking drink, one with stock flames that engulf an equally hackneyed logo, complete with all the stupid statements one wishes for on a can, like "high octane," and "fueled with B vitamins." Its aluminum bottle is pretty cool though, reminiscent of Venom and the likes, only not nearly as creative.

The cap screws off with an unexcited rush of effervescence, adducing the can's claim to being only "slightly" carbonated. Thankfully and surprisingly so, the flavour is a lot more imaginative, tasting strongly of chilled lemon and melon, both copiously sugared but melodiously so. Lime and guava are present on the tongue as well, more so as notes and they bring extolled extensity to an already rapturous refreshment. They are identically tart, a dynamic yet unflappable acidity that is almost as concentrated as the equally reserved sweetness. The mouthfeel is finely arenose, a common texture that gives each sip a bit more dimension. Overall, my inimical expectation of a Red Bull clone was shot by the bullet of consistent restraint fired by the gun of pleasant inspiration.

Each can contains: caffeine(240mg), some B vitamins, taurine, inositol, guarana, and l-carnitine. The ingredient cocktail provided enough energy to pass the four hour mark, a smooth buzz that did not end with a crash. All in all, Fuel may not be pictorially impressive, but it is well worth the sixty cents paid.

official site

Diamond Cutter Energy Drink Review

No no, the picture to the right isn't a beer, but instead Diamond Cutter Energy Drink. I don't quite know why the company would make the bottle look like a beer, as both drinks occupy completely different beverage markets, and consumers could easily be confused and lose interest. But that aside, I really love glass bottles, and while I'm glad Diamond Cutter comes in one, its label looks generic and unexciting. It lacks anything that holds your attention, and the namesake diamond dominating a large amount of space doesn't even shine or look valuable.

What flavour would you expect from an energy drink that looks like a beer? Well, according to Diamond Cutter, a Red Bull clone makes sense.; albeit a fairly unique clone. Beginning mild but quickly gaining strength, a sweet tart-like taste cloaked partially by gumminess takes root. It overlays an eccentric lemon and apple stitching who is light but laced playfully with a distinct tartness that befriends easily with both the prior and the proceeding. A swelling of more sweetness follows a cloying red grape who's intensively candied tasting. There's a powdery afterthought of blue raspberry that lifts aspects from the past fruit and confines the two into one somewhat enjoyable though slightly overwhelming presence. The grape acts as the finish of the experience, which then leaves behind a non-syrupy though sickly sweet lamination for your dentist. The liquids carbonation is bubbly, but goes mostly unnoticed. Overall, Diamond Cutter's flavour is a genial, though fundamentally familiar, take on the classic taste.

Diamond Cutter kicks a lot like its obvious flavour inspiration and clones. I had energy following fairly immediately after, and it lasted all of two and half or so hours. I had no jitters during and I didn't crash. Each can contains: caffeine, taurine, inositol, and several B vitamins. All in all, while it did contain some promise, Diamond Cutter is essentially a cookie cutter energy drink.

official site

GAzZU Energy Drink Review

GAzZU; what a bizarre and great name for an energy drink. GAzZU's can consists of a black and green colour scheme and a large "G," with the whole thing being reminiscent of the original Monster can. Actually, it ends up looking much more like a blunt rip off than simply an inspiration. The front of the can has a hard to identify design that is too faint to prevent it from looking bare and unfinished. Kind of like with 24:7, GAzZU's can just feels like it needs a little something to make it interesting.

While it may look like it, GAzZU sure doesn't taste like Monster. The flavour begins a tart candy-like lemon that's initially very subtle, but it quickly rises to a still light, although much more pronounced taste. As the flavour rises, it becomes slightly chalky, and it loses some of its tartness. Accompanying the floury lemon is a mild melon with a suggestion of lime. The chalkiness intensifies with the undercurrent of the lime, and it increases so much that it soon surpasses both the lime and melon. The experience ends rather boringly, with only a collapse of the said flavour. There's no aftertaste, and the overall carbonation keeps a low profile. All in all, I feel GAzZU will remind most of sweet tarts upon first sip, but all it does is make the drinker just wish they were eating the real thing.

GAzZU is made by Boo Koo beverages, so a great kick was expected, and it delivered. I had nearly four hours of jittery energy, that ended in a fairly noticeable crash. Each can contains: several B vitamins, taurine, caffeine, and inositol. In the end, GAzZU is among the best generic energy drinks, but sadly, it's also among the most average of energy drinks.

Lipovitan B3 Energy Drink Review

Lipovitan B3 is an energy drink that I've never knowingly seen or heard of, and so when I found a lone can on an empty shelf at Wal Mart, I was rather surprised. I would have expected to find such a drink at a foreign drug or convenience store, but not my local Wal Mart. Lipovitan B3 comes in a small eight oz. can that's design, while clean and uncluttered, looks generic and rushed. The black and light blue background, and the red lightning bolt pattern is rather boring, and the name "Lipovitan B3" doesn't flow well, and isn't very interesting.

The scent of the liquid wasn't that of a Red Bull clone, which is both surprising and a step in the right direction. Upon first sip, I found the flavour was subtle cross between a muddled lemon and a dry, almost powdery sweet tart taste, with more of an emphasis on the "sweet" than the "tart." The lemon itself doesn't taste natural, and is somewhat candy-like in sweetness. The blend is short lived, as it fairly quickly diminishes, allowing a slight earthy apple to arise. The apple taste is light and difficult to notice, but it's accommodated by a sourness that's presence, while not that strong, outshines the apple, and is on par with the earthy taste. Once the experience ends, there's no after taste or a dry feel left in your mouth. Lipovitan B3 isn't very carbonated, which in turn makes it smooth to drink. And while the flavour was by no means bad, never did I wish the can was bigger.

Lipovitan B3's energy cocktail highlights includ-is: several B vitamins, caffeine, and taurine. As one would expect, I didn't receive much of any kick from this sadly dated ingredient mixture. While I could tell I just had something with caffeine, perhaps a Mtn Dew or another small eight oz. energy drink, it wasn't something to mention in a letter written for home. All in all, Lipovitan B3 may get some points for not being a Red Bull clone, but its uninspired can and its pathetic kick don't get any.

official site

Cintron Original

Cintron Original is the last Cintron I've got, and with the sub name "original," it's easily the one I'm the least excited for. More often than not, original means Red Bull clone, and with only one variety in the line being worth buying, I doubt Cintron Original will provide a fun spin on a classic taste. More reason not to get thrilled by Cintron Original is its boring can. While the design is the same used by its siblings, the colour scheme is just too bleak and doesn't garner any attention to itself.

Well slap me silly, I honestly expected Cintron Original to turn out a Red Bull clone, but it's actually its very own, partially unique flavour. I say partially unique as it vaguely reminds me of eBlast. It's initially smooth with a cross between lemon and melon as the focal point. The lemon is predominate, but it slowly loses momentum, allowing the melon to gain strength. Then a mild sweet tart taste rises, but it never grows enough to overtake the previous braid. The sweet tart taste has a slight level of sour lime below it, and the sourness actually ends up shadowing the lime. The overall sweetness grows almost grainy as the bottom of the can nears, but it doesn't distract from the rest of the experience. I quickly finished the entire can of Cintron Original, and while familiar, I enjoyed every sip.

Cintron Original's kick was less than impressive. Though, with only B vitamins, Taurine, inositol, guarana, and caffeine, what's to be expected. I did feel a slight bump in energy, but it only lasted for around two hours. All in all, despite tasting good, in the crowded energy drink market, a good taste won't justify a buy, especially when the taste wasn't that good.

official site

Bungie

The last drink I have left to review from a recent trade is Bungie. Bungie is an energy drink made by Xtreme Beverages and... that's about all I know about it. I've only been able to find a review of the sugar free variety and no company website so I have no idea how Bungie will turn out. I can't say that I'm excited to review Bungie mainly because I get this feeling that it will be a Red Bull clone. Now you might be saying, "why would you trade for a drink your not excited for?" The answer is quite simple. Reviewing an energy drink that I haven't been able to find a review on gives me a good thrill.

FIRST IMPRESSION: The can to Bungie consists of a black background, a red paint-like blotch, the logo, and some text. Personally I'm a fan of red on black, so the colour scheme passes. The name "Bungie" is written in a weird font and leaves something to be desired. I mean screw the name "Psychopathic Energy" and pick "Bungie." I do like the minimal tex, so while I'm not a big fan of the name the overall can looks good, if not generic. Like I said before I feel that Bungie will be a Red Bull clone, but hopefully it will surprise me like Who's Your Daddy did.

TASTE: I opened the can and took a sip. The flavour has several qualities in common with the average Red Bull clone, but for the most part it is its own flavour. It starts out with a gummy lime and soon fades into a blend of sweet tarts and bubble gum. The sweet tart taste is more dominate than the bubble gum, which I feel was the best decision. The experience ends with a sweet lemon/lime bite and stays in your mouth well once your done sipping. The overall taste is rather gummy, but is never overwhelming and actually enhances the flavour. All in all, I'm surprised with the taste of Bungie. Citrus was not the overall flavour I was expecting.

KICK: Each can contains: Taurine, caffeine, 100% of your daily intake of Niacin, 250% of your daily intake of Vit. B6, eighty percent of your daily intake of Vit. B12, and fifty percent of your daily intake of Pantothenic acid. This overall blend of ingredients gave me a pretty poor buzz. For around two to three hours I felt mildly mentally improved and I had a light case of the jitters. Once the two+ hours was up I was hit by a hard crash.

FINEL WORD: Bungie is not the best energy drink I've ever had. The name is stupid, and the kick was second rate. But Bungie is also not the worst energy drink I've ever had. The can looked good and the taste was good. It's this spit reaction that really hurts Bungie. Not being the worst nor the best Bungie just ends up being an average energy drink with nothing to keep drinkers coming back for another sip...3.1/5

Stoked Original

Some of the best energy drinks in recent memory are from the Stoked line, and so today I decided to review the original Stoked energy drink... Stoked Original. Stoked Original is the only one in the Stoked line to have four packs, which I might buy if this drink turns out to be as great and as impressive as the others in the line...

FIRST IMPRESSION: Though I like the can of Stoked Original, I have to say that I prefer Wind Chill, After Burn, and even Dragonfruit over Original. Why, because Original is just too empty and is just screaming Red Bull clone. The other Stoked energy drinks at least had some type of background for the image, but all that Stoked has is black. The can reminds me tremendous of Joker Mad Energy because they both have a black background, and the bad ass image. Overall, while the can's not as appealing as the other Stoked drinks, but its still good...3.4/5

TASTE: I opened the can and took a sip. The flavour's best described as a Red Bull clone, but with gumminess and more of a tart, sour flavour. I couldn't detect any vanilla in it, like many other Red Bull seem to be plagued with. Just like Wind Chill and After Burn, there's some weird sensation left behind after a couple of sips. Its not a minty sensation like the one found in Wind Chill, nor is it a numbness feeling like in After Burn, but its very own, unique sensation that is not as prominent as the sensation found in Wind Chill and After Burn. Overall, I like the taste of Stoked Original, really like it. While it is a Red Bull clone, it has enough things added and taken out to make it much more unique and avoids being a complete Red Bull clone...4.7/5

KICK: Each can contains: carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, taurine, glucuronolactone, ginseng root powder, caffeine, inositol, B Vitamins, and guarana. This impressive blend of ingredients gave me one killer buzz, in true Stoked fashion. The buzz lasted around four+ hours, with no crash, because of smart choice to use real sugar instead of HFCS...4/5

FINAL WERD: Overall, I'm extremely pleased how Stoked Original turned out. While the can, in all its bad ass-ness, was lacking a bit, the interesting take on the classic Red Bull flavour, and the powerful kick made up for the can. I can say that Stoked may be the best energy drink line since the GURU line, but that's what worries me. How? Well, since there is only one more Stoked to review, Tropical Orange(there's also a sugar free version, but I really don't like to consider s/f versions as energy drinks, maybe 3/5th of an energy drink...), and all the Stoked's have been great, but so were the drinks in the GURU line, until I tried Green Tea Honey Lemon, which wasn't good. So I'm hoping that Tropical Orange doesn't turn out like GURU Honey Green Tea Lemon and is just as good as its Stoked brothers and sisters...4/5

official site

Ole' Energy Drink

Now, major props to Robert McLellan for sending me a sample of Ole' Energy. Well, it really wasn't a sample, because he sent me four(4) cans... for free! Anyway, I was just amazed when I read an email saying that he would send me some, I felt so special. People on the Internet are so nice... I got these drinks sometime mid October, and I'm just getting around to reviewing them now. I was saving them for now. And some other big news, this is my hundredth energy drink review. I really can't believe that I've kept doing this since 7/21/07. Thank you anyone who has kept with me since the beginning.

FIRST IMPRESSION: The can for Ole' is simple, almost overly simple. But its a sleek looking simple. Kinda like a perfume bottle. The red writing on a black back round is pleasant to the eye. Could have been better, but the elegant approach really isn't all to popular with energy drink, so its kinda refreshing to see a can like Ole'. Some energy drink can's are too cluttered, while some are too blank and/or empty. But I think Ole' lands in the middle of those two(2) categories...3.9/5

TASTE: Now, to be honest, I was expecting another Red Bull clone, mainly because the can lacks any kind of indication of the flavour. Upon taking a swig, I was hit by a Red Bull taste, but then, out of fucking nowhere, a Sweet Tart flavour kicks in to over drive. I mean, this taste exactly like Sweet Tarts candy. Its super sweet, tart, and does down way to easy. The after taste, too much shock, taste like you ate a bag of Sweet Tarts. I have to say that this is right up there for my favorite energy drink I've ever laid my taste buds on. I really wish that I could get Ole' somewhere around here in Massachusetts, because I live in Maine. Overall, the taste is very unique and should be better well known because of the taste alone...4.9/5

KICK: Anyone ever heard of ADX7, anyone. No, well neither have I. This is apparently what Ole' uses for its kick. I don't know what it is, but I can say it sure worked. Ole' contains some of the weirdest ingredients I've ever seen in an energy drink. Each can contains: aralia mashurica, rhaponticum carthamoides, rhodiola rosea, B Vitamin Complex, L-carnitine, L-glutamine, taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine, and electrolytes. Yeah, when I said weirdest ingredients, I meant weirdest ingredients. But, the ingredients did provide one hell of a kick...4.3/5

FINAL WORD: Well, I can surly say that Ole' was one fine product. It's a unique experience and everyone should try it. I'm really glad that I got to review it. And thank you Robert McLellan for sending me some. You are officially off my list of people to kill before I die...4.5/5

official site