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Well here it is. your source for energy drink and energy products. No we don't sell energy drinks but we have all the info on them you could ever want. Check back often for new reviews , news, products, and everything else your ever wanted to know about energy drinks. Make sure you subscribe to the RSS feed to stay up to date. The newest reviews are on this page but click the Reviews link on the left for a list of all my reviews!

07/22/08 Review of Hydrive S Energy drink

07/17/08 Review of Blade sugar free energy drink

07/16/08 Review of No Fear Motherload Energy Drink

07/15/08 Review Of Neuro Fuel Energy drink

Only The Strong Survive

Hydrive S Strength Energy drink


The folks at Hydrive must not ever rest. They are not content to just sit around on their already fine lineup of energy drinks. I was surprised to see another new energy drink from them. This time it is Hydrive S which stands for strength in a blue raspberry flavor. Lets see if it’s as good as their other fine drinks.

Packaging: Hydrive S comes in new slim clear plastic 15.5 oz bottle.  The bottle has a black plastic resealable lid. Ringing around the top is the Slogan molded into the bottle.  Below the slogan you have the flavor” Blue Raspberry” with the words “6 performance Enhancers just below it.  Right in the middle you have a blue and gold sunburst with the name “Hydrive” in black and a large “S” fading from the yellow of the sun into a blue like to color of the drink. At the bottom is a blue band with the words” Strength Energy Drink” and “Low sugar – 30 Calories”. On the back of the bottle in this band is a list of the earlier mentioned 6 performance enhancers. You also have supplement facts on the back. I will give them a grade of B for packaging. I love the fonts and their coloring along with the logo. Resealable is always a plus as well. The flavor clearly on the front is something I’d like to see on more drinks. Good job on this package.

 

Slogans:  “Better Energy” That is their slogan and it is a good one. It grabs you and is simple but effective. I give it a grade of B. It gets their message that this is a better healthier energy drink.  The only thing I would like is if you could see it more clearly on the bottle.

Taste ect: Opening the bottle you immediately know this is a raspberry drink from the delicious scent. I had a lot of hard yard work I was doing and it was super hot out outside.  I took a sip and it was just what I needed. It is a nice light raspberry flavor that is smooth and not to candy like. Not too sweet but just right to quench my thirst. It’s non carbonated and easily chuggable. It is flavored water and that is a plus as you can tell it is water and it is not overly thick or gummy. There is no aftertaste at all! I’m giving them a grade of B+ for flavor. This is one of their best yet.

Kick/Ingredients: Ok so this is the “Strength” version of Hydrive so I was expecting to have lasting power and energy so I could get my work down. I drank half and put it away in the fridge while I did some more work. I was immediately energized and felt my strength return. In a bit I returned and finished the bottle so I could continue on. I finished my work quicker than expected. I had good energy for several hours working and did not feel tired after I was finished. There was no crash and no jitters.  The energy in Hydrive S comes from Sucrose,  145mg of caffeine, Taurine, L-Carantine, L-Arginine, and B vitamins. The strength (which is what makes this different from the other Hydrive drinks) comes from Maca root, Ginko Biloba, D-Ribose, and L-Leucine.  Thrown in the fact that the main ingredient is purified water and there are on 30 calories and you have a quality healthy energy drink. I give them a grade of B for kick/ingredients

Web presence:  Hydrive has a really top notch website at hydriveenergy.com. The site is fun and bright. It is well laid out and provides all the info you need like drink information, a Faq, Where to buy, Store, Events,  videos and photos, and a nice about us section. Even though I have visited many time the site is always up to date which is something even a lot of the bigger companies don’t do a good job of. You can even get you some free samples (pay postage only). I will give them a grade of B+  which is a bit higher this time since they have maintained their quality!

Recap: 

Hydrive just keep putting out a quality healthy line up of energy drinks. They have an awesome variety for what ever you need as well as a variety of flavors. I highly recommend you give them a try. You will feel good and feel good about drinking them health wise.  I suggest visiting your local Target store which seems to be one of the easiest places to find Hydrive,

And I'm the cosmic champion and I hold a mystic sign

Blade Sugar Free energy drink

Not wanting to miss out on the energy drink craze a lot of stores are busting out their private label drinks. Sometimes the just plain suck(see 24:7 from pri labs for Walgreens) and fail because they are just low quality. Other Times they work out pretty well because they use quality ingredients and put some time into their products. Here we have Blade Sugar free. Blade is CVS pharmacies private label drink. Lets see if they actually make a good energy drink.

Packaging: We start out with your typical 16 ounce aluminum can. The can is black with a jagged silver section around the top where it Reads “Sugar free – Low Calorie” . Vertical up the front is a blue white jagged electricity pattern with the word “Energy” in an interesting silver font over it. Above the “Energy” is the name “Blade” in a smaller silver font.  I like the way the word energy is in the larger font. You know it’s an energy drink right away. At the bottom it list Taurine and B vitamins as highlights of this drink. On the back you have your Nutrition facts. I will give them a grade of C for packaging. It’s pretty good for a store brand but still it looks like a store brand.

Slogans:  Nada. Grade F for slogan. Too bad because the name Blade would be easy to come up with a slogan for.

Taste ect: Well when I see no flavor listed I automatically thing RB clone. I open the can and get that familiar scent. I pour some in a glass and it is a caramel color but with a higher level of carbonation than your typical RB clone. I take a sip and it is sugar free Red Bull clone all the way. It’s a pretty good one though with the level of sweetness being lower and no bitter aftertaste. I will give it a grade of C for taste. It’s a good sugar free RB clone and I would probably pick it over the real sugar free Red Bull.

Kick/Ingredients: Ok so I was not expecting a lot of kick since most private labels usually are kind of weak. I drank it down over about 20 minutes. By the time I finished I was very energized. I was impressed and even somewhat jittery. The buzz lasted for about 3 hours with no crash since it is sugar free. The energy in Blade sugar free comes from 240 mg of caffeine per can (impressive!), malic acid, Taurine, D-Glucuronolactone, Inositol, and some B Vitamins. You have 15 calories and no sugar. It is sweetened with Ace K.  I will give this drink a solid B-   for kick/ingredients

Web presence:  Well I can’t even find a website for the company that makes this drink much less a website for the drink. Grade F

Recap: 

Well I think if you like Sugar Free Red bull then you will like Blade Sugar Free. It taste a little better, comes in a 16 oz can, and has more caffeine (more than 2 cans of Red Bull 8oz). Hard to go wrong here. I think CVS has put out one of the better private label drinks I have tried. If you see it give it a try especially if it is on sale.

Mother, do you think theyll drop the bomb?

No Fear Motherload

I have to come right out and say it. I love the new No Fear can designs. The little flying skull is just plain cool and I think it is a huge upgrade over the old design. I was excited to see it in a green can and even more excited when I saw it was a new flavor as well.

Packaging: You have your typical 16 oz aluminum can in black. Around the top it list the highlights of the drink like “Vitamin Mega-Load” and Taurine” The horizontal below that is the No Fear logo in silver font with a green outline. Below this is the mega cool silver winged skull with no lower jaw. The skull is outlined in green as well. Below the skull is a green rectangle that reads “Super Energy”. Farther down is the name “Motherload” in a green font and then “300% DV of Vitamins B6, B12, C”. On the back are supplement facts and a smaller No Fear logo. Grade A for packaging. I like green and I like skulls. This design really grabs your eye as edgy and extreme. I think whoever redesigned the No fear cans should get a raise!

Slogans:  Nothing on the can but on the website you have this “Man Up”. Ok so maybe this will turn women off but for a guy it is hard to find fault with this slogan. It fits well with the whole No fear extreme sport image. Grade of B for slogan. Short but right on for their market.

Taste ect: Ok we have a green can so I’m thinking citrus or lemon lime? Popping the top I get a citrus like smell but then it pours out a murky light orange color. It looks like a juice based drink with a high level of carbonation. There is no juice listed on the label though. Taking a sip I taste orange and pineapple with some sour lemon and mango at the finish. It tastes kind of like a Monster M80 but not as thick in feel since there is no real juice. It actually tastes pretty damn good as I finish it off. Not too sweet and no aftertaste at all. I will give them a grade of B for taste.

Kick/Ingredients:  I drank it slowly since it was just that kind of drink. . I had not gotten much sleep the night before and was very tired and sleepy. By the time I finished it I was pretty damn energized and I was getting things done quickly. I was up and moving about a lot. The buzz lasted 3 to 4 hours. The energy in No Fear Motherload comes from 182 mg  of caffeine, 2000 mg of Taurine, Inositol, Ginseng, Guarana, Grape seed extract, L-Carnitine, L-Arginine, and 300% DV of vitamins B6, B12, and C. Throw in 260 calories (from HFC), 66 grams of sugar, and 68 grams of carbs and you get a nice list of ingredients. Grade of B+ for kick/ingredients

Web presence:  No fear has a real nice site at energy.nofear.com it is a super nice professional flash type site. It has good information on all their drinks including ingredients. It also has events, gears(nice t shirts!), video clips, contents and more. I really like the effect you get when you mouse over their links at the top of the front page.  No fear is also more than just an energy drink company. They are a clothing and extreme sport company and have many websites including nofear.com/ that are all worth checking out. I will give them a grade of A for web presence

Recap: 

While No Fear is similar to companies like Lost who make energy drinks as a side project I think No Fear puts in a lot more effort to promote it and just put out a better product. This new No Fear Motherload is a really good drink and I highly suggest you give it a try. Their complete lineup is good so don’t pass these up. Maybe it's not the "Bomb" but it's at least an M80

The lights are blinking
I'm thinking
It's all over when I go out drinking

Neuro fuel energy drink

Here we have another energy drink that claims to be more than just an energy drink. They call them functional drinks. Neuro Fuel is an energy drink that also is a “Mood Enhancer”. Well I have to say being filled with energy and in a good mood is a nice combo and I’m looking forward to seeing if Neuro Fuel lives up to it’s claims.

Packaging: Neurofuel comes in a slime 12 oz aluminum can.  The can is an interesting light blue color with a background of Neurons. The background is very faint though.  The name “Neuro Fuel” is in the middle in a gold font that has some electrons circling the letter O. Around the top are some of the functional benefits in a white font. At the bottom it reads “Mood Enhancement formula”. The back of the can has nutrition fact and a paragraph on the benefits of drinking Neuro Fuel. There is also a box that reads” Caution: May intensify euphoric effects of alcohol and other chemicals”. I’m giving them a grade of C+ for packaging.  I’d like to see the background neuron pattern a little more up front. I do find the light blue of the can to stand out well amongst other energy drinks.

Slogans:  Not really any slogan on the can but on their website you have “The evolution of energy” and “The science of happiness” Not catchy but still I like this slogan. I will give them a grade of C+ for slogan

Taste ect: So there is no flavor listed on the can so I’m expecting RB clone. I pop the top and the scent is citrusier than RB. I pour some in a cup and it comes out a clear yellow liquid with a good level of carbonation.  I take a sip and it taste pretty good. It’s a true citrus blend. Not lemon lime but really a flavor that can only be described as citrus. It is not sour and at the finish it has notes of pineapple. This is not a RB clone for sure. It has a medium level of sweetness. They did a good job using some sugar and some sucralose. I like the level of carbonation this has which is higher than a lot of drinks. There was no bitterness or aftertaste that I could detect. I will give them a B for flavor. 

Kick/Ingredients: Sometime functional drinks tend to skimp on the caffeine. Not so this time. I drank the Neuro Fuel and in about 10 or 15 minutes is zooming along pretty well. I was in a talkative and happy mood and was energized for a good 3 or 4 hours. It did seem to be mood enhancing to me and I was easily able to concentrate on difficult task. The Mood enhancement blend contains 127 mg of caffeine, 1500 mg of taurine, 750 mg Glucuronolactone , 1000 mg L-Carnitine L-Tartrate,  750 mg DL-phenylalanine, 500 mg Choline, 37.5 mg Inositol, and 750 mg Piracetam. There is also 100% dv of 6 B vitamins and vitamin C. Piracetam is the really unique ingredient in this list and is supposed to enhance cognition and memory. As you can see they id not skimp on the ingredients. 125 mg of caffeine and 1500 of Taurine is a good amount. There are 100 calories , 21 grams of sugar, and 22 grams of carbs. I will give them a grade of B+ for kick/ingredients.

Web presence:  The website at drinkneurofuel.com is pretty nice. It’s got the whole neuron thing going for it as far as design. It has a faq, locations to buy the drink, science behind the drink, benefits, and some news stories. Not bad but I found it hard to navigate because the buttons you click were hard to find. There are some little spinning neuron things that if you rollover reveal the different sections of the site. I missed them on my first couple of visits. It was not obvious that they were interactive. I give them a grade of C+ for web presence. Needs a store and easier to find navigation.

Recap: 

I really did enjoy Neuro Fuel. It has a nice taste and a great mood enhancing kick. I gave a few to my friend but his girl friend drank them all before he could even try one. She really seemed to like the mood enhancing effect ,the boost, and the flavor. I hope they get wider distribution soon. This is a good drink and if you find it buy several cans because your going to want to have these handy (just make sure to hide any you want from your girlfriend).

Extra Extra read all about it.

5 Hour Energy Extra Strength

5 Hour energy is to energy shots what Red Bull is to energy drinks. Maybe not the first but surely the most well known. 5 Hour energy has a great reputation as a top notch energy shot. Not super caffeinated but loaded with great vitamins and energy ingredients. 5 hours has a large diverse customer base for good reason. For these reasons I was excited to see these 5 Hour energy extra strength shots. Anytime I see extra strength on an energy product I have high hopes

Packaging: 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength comes in the familiar 2 oz plastic shot bottle. This time however the bottle is wrapped in a black label.  You still have your guy running up a mountain but he is outlined in gold with a darker reddish background. In the middle is the name “5-Hour Energy” and below it in a glowing font is “Extra Strength”. The bullet list of benefits found on regular 5-Hour energy is gone and is replaced by some red lines with the words “Sugar Free  Only 4 Calories” between them. On the back you have your supplement facts.  I will  give them a solid B for packaging. This black label looks much better and would almost look sinister if it were not for the running dude. I like the Glowing font on the “Extra Strength”.  It is a definite improvement over the regular and Decaf 5-Hour energy bottles.

Slogan: Feel it in minutes last for hours. That is the slogan for 5-Hour energy shots. It’s not on this bottle though. I think they should of come up a new one that was a bit more edgy for the Extra strength. I still give them a grade of B for slogan though. Not a bad one at all.

Taste: I had no idea what to expect. There was nothing on the bottle alluding to flavor. Would it be Citrus? Orange? Berry?  I opened the bottle and took a sniff, I poured it into a cup and it was pale pink. Berry!  I took a sip and it was a mixed berry flavor. I shot it on down. This is one super sweet drink. It covers any possible bitterness up but leaves you a little thirsty. I think they should maybe tame the sweetness down just a bit. Over all though it did not taste bad. I give them a grade of B- for taste. It’s not bad for a shot and I have definitely had worse.

Kick/Ingredients: I had drank it pretty quickly and was all geeked up expecting an extra strength buzz. In about 10 minutes I was feeling more alert and within 30 minutes I was in full on buzz mode. I was getting work down, singing songs along with the radio (good thing I was alone), and multitasking like a madman. I was not real jittery but the jitter factor was higher than regular 5-Hour energy. The energy lasted easily 5 hours and tapered of slowly with no crash. The energy blend has been upped from 1870 mg of regular 5-hour energy to 1950 mg in this extra strength version. The blend consist of Glucuronolactone, N Acetyl L Tyrosine, L-phenylalanine,, Taurine, malic acid, caffeine, Citicoline, and an enzyme blend of Amylase, Protease, Lipase, Cellulase, and Lactase. There are 4 calories and no carbs. It is sweetened with Sucralose. I will give them a grade of B+ for kick.

Web Presence: They do have a nice website at 5hourenergy.com there is a lot of information about 5 hour energy shots. I could find no information thre about 5 Hour extra strength. I will cut them some slack since it is new. They do have a Faq, Product comparison, ingredients, where to buy, and directions. It is a site worth poking around on a bit and is very professionally done. I will give them a B for web presence. You will find a ton of hits if you Google 5 Hour energy as well.

Recap: 

So 5 hour energy extra strength is pretty impressive. This will probably draw in those looking for more of a kick. The package is more cutting edge and the energy is more intense. Great jobs guys of expanding your market. If I'm reaching for a 5 hour energy this is the one I'm grabbing!

Ground Control To Major Tom


EBOOST

Ok EBOOST is the latest trendy energy product out there. It is an effervescent powder or tablet you mix with water.  It appears many celebrities are really into EBOOST. Now I’m no star but hey I want to be rich and famous so I need to try this. Seriously though EBOOST is supposed to be more than energy, it’s like Airborne or Emergen-C but with energy. It is supposed to boost your immune system, bring you clarity, give you energy, and maybe even help relieve a hangover. Hell who would not want to try all that?

Packaging: Well eboost comes in 2 different packages. The one I have to review is the 3” by 3.5” foil packet.  The packet is orange foil with a plastic seal inside. There is a big white arrow pointing diagonal up the packet that looks like it is being propelled by some bubbles. The name “EBOOST” is in Orange and white font inside this arrow graphic.  There is a little medical looking + with the text “4 vital elements of performance” encircling it and to the left of this it reads “Energy, Immunity, Recovery, Focus” At the top of the foil pouch  it reads “Daily health Booster” and also has key ingredients listed.  On the back are supplement facts, directions, and a little blurb about the product. I will give them a grade of B+ for packaging.  It looks very medicinal and mature. This works well for the target market and image they are shooting for. This foil pack is also super portable and takes up very little space since it contains only 6.5 grams of powder it would fit anywhere like a purse, pocket, or backpack.  You can take these anywhere easily.

Slogans:  I actually found several. On the packet you have “Pour, Fill, Boost” which also has a neat little graphic with it.  On their website there is also this “EBOOST The Healthy Lift” I’m giving them a grade of B for slogans. Good job

Taste ect: Energy drink mixes are kind of hit and miss on flavor. The good thing about them is that you can vary the amount of water you use to get the level of flavor you want.  I open the packet and I see a white and orange crystal like powder. It smells like orange soda. I poured mine into a bottle of water (probably about 14 ounces of water in it). It fizzed up quickly with a bunch of foam at the top. I shook it up and it dissolved completely. I took a sip and it was like tang but not quite as tart. At the finish it really had an orange juice flavor. Mine was not real sweet since it says to mix with 8 oz of water and I had mixed mine with more water. It was actually just how I like it though. If I had wanted it sweeter I could have used less water.  It was easy to drink and did not leave me thirsty like some really sweet drinks. It also had no aftertaste at all. I give them a grade of B for taste. The flavor was pretty good and you can adjust it. The orange foam when you first mix it is a little off-putting but don’t let that stop you.

Kick/Ingredients:  So did I get a boost? Well this is not supposed to blow your skull off. It is supposed to be more functional than just energy. I tried it on several occasions and each time I got a nice lift after 10 or so minutes. That is just the beginning though. The boost I got was smooth and I was very alert, calm, and really focused. I actually felt better overall for 6 or 7 hours. I was getting work done and problem solving with little effort. This drink really improved my mental clarity.  I tried it for a couple of days and on the second day a coworker commented that I looked much better upon arriving to work (he had said I looked like crap the day before).  Eboost unique ingredients include caffeine (about as much as a cup of coffee) from green tea leaf extract, Glucuronolactone, 5-HTP, Huperzine-A, Vinpocetine, Astragalus membranaceus and grape seed extract. These ingredients not only provide energy but are supposed to immunity, recovery, and provide focus.  There are only 5 calories and no sugar.  So for kick/ingredients I give eboost a grade of  B+ .  While it is not over the top as far as pure kick goes it scores high for it’s functionality and ingredients.

Web presence:  Eboost has really did a nice job with their website at eboost.com. It is well laid out and very easy to navigate. I was able to find all the information one would want about the product. There is a where to find it section, store, faq, whats in it section, who takes it section and more. One of my favorite sections is in the bottom lft corner where there is a box with random sayings in it like “Your body is a temple and you haven’t been praying much”.  You can also sign up to receive eboost on a subscription basis so you have a steady supply.  I’ll give them a grade of B+ for web presence. Very professional site with plenty of product information.

Recap: 

Eboost is a great drink that will appeal to more upscale energy product consumers. It provides more than just energy. If you’re someone who has been using 5 hour energy or similar products I suggest you try eboost.  I think you will find it is an upgrade. I think eboost would also be great if you’re a college student or just busy in general. If you’re burning the candle at both ends you need a product like this to keep you going.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.”

OC Insane XXX energy shot

I’ve had this shot for a while and I’ve been saving it. It’s an “Insane” shot so I was thinking it would be one of those special energy products that really jack you up good. I also know that OC energy drinks are good so my hopes were really high.

Packaging: Just like the OC energy drinks this shot comes in a unique barbell shaped 2 oz bottle. The bottle is very unique in its shape and in the fact that it is a black plastic bottle with a big twist off lid. The bottle has a label with an orange and red swirl patterned background. There are 3 shadow people on the front that show attitude and it looks like maybe they are on the beach. Above the people is the OC logo. Below the people is the name “Insane XXX energy drink” in a font that is like it was spray painted on like graffiti.  I like the way this name looks. Very edgy.  On the back it has nutrition facts and also  a use by date. I will give them a grade of A for packaging.

Slogan: Only slogan I could find anywhere was “Taste the OC”. I will give them a grade of C for slogan. I guess if your into the OC it’s a good slogan.

Taste: I twist off the cap and get the scent of berries. I pour some into a cup and it comes out a dark teal green color. Wow was not expecting that but it is nice for a change. I take a sip and it has some citrus up front with mixed berry flavor at the finish. There is a bit of bitterness but I’m expecting that since I think this shot will be big in the kick department.  It is also recommended to be mixed into something else so I can see where this would take care of the bitterness. Not bad  really for a shot. I will give them a grade of B for taste.

Kick/Ingredients: I was ready to be jacked up. It’s late at night and I am very busy at work. I’m going to be on my feet working hard for the next 6 hours(already worked 6 before having this shot) so I need mad energy and I want it now!  I slammed this shot down and waited. After 10 minutes I felt very little? After 30 minutes I was caught up with work and running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off! I was talking and walking at a high rate of speed and my mind was going just as fast as my feet and my mouth.  I had several creative ideas pop into my head I had never thought of before. Ok I was bouncing around like this for 5+ hours.  Main energy ingredients are Caffeine(unknown amount), Guarana, Taurine, Ginseng, and B Vitamins. The shot has 40 calories from HFCS, and 10 grams of carbs. I give them a grade of A for kick/ingredients

Web Presence: Oc Insane  energy drink has a website at ocenergydrink.com That is pretty nice. It has the OC attitude and is easy to navigate. You have product info and ingredients, a store, OC girls, Events, background story, and more. The only downfall seems to be that the events and news are a bit out of date. They also have a myspace page. I give them a grade of B- for web presence. Nice well laid out site but need more updated news and events!

Recap: 

Man I think this is one of the most insane shots I have tried. It does not have a lot of strange ingredients. It just has the basics but they must be in a large amount. You want energy? This OC insane energy shot is crazy. If this shot was a person they would be locked up in an asylum. This truly is mad energy. I got what I expected and more. I very highly recommend this shot. Don’t drink it to sit around though because this is an intense drink.

Jingshen

NRG Concentrate Intense Mandarin Orange shot

Shots are popping up almost daily it seems. There is a varied market for these and everyone is trying to tap into different customer bases. NRG seems to be going for the office worker or more mature energy consumer.  I saw these and was happy to give them a try. I’ll start with the Mandarin Orange.

Packaging: NRG concentrate comes in the standard 2 oz shot plastic bottle. It is wrapped in an orange label with orange circles that remind me of blood cells for some reason. Little round donut shapes. There is also some sarger orange in the background as well. The name “NRG” Is in a really nice orange fade font that grabs your eye good. Above the name is “Intense mandarin orange” which is the flavor. I like the intense. You can never go wrong using that name on an energy product. Below the name it reads “Concentrate” That’s is a little strange. It does not say shot it just says concentrate. (I notice from their site they changed the Concentrate to Energy shot on the label on newer bottles).  Below all this you have some highlights of the shot. “NRG for Hours”, “No Crash technology”, “0 Net Carbs”, “Sugar Free”.  Directions and supplement facts on the back.  Under the twist off lid is a nice secondary foil seal to keep the shot fresh. I give them a grade of B- for packaging. I like the font of the name and the overall mature look. It works well I think for their intended audience. I almost forgot the cool phrasing “No Crash technology” That is nice as well.

Slogan: Nothing really to be found on the bottle but I found “NRG. Whenever, Wherever you need it”. This plays well on the portability of shots and they should work this onto the label I think. Grade of B+ for Slogan

Taste: I like the sound of “Mandarin Orange” so I have high hopes. I twist off the plastic lid, pry off the foil seal and take a sniff. Ouch I’m not sure what went wrong here but this smells bad. I can smell the orange in the background but up front it smells of plastic and??? I pour some in a cup and it comes out a cloudy white color. It appears not to be blended very well even though I shook it. I take a sip and it really has a tangy mandarin orange flavor. Much better than just a regular orange flavor. I really enjoyed the taste but the smell lingered and kind of put me off. I give them a grade of C for taste. Maybe I got a bad bottle and that caused the smell. The flavor was very awesome though so I hope they can fix the smell.

Kick/Ingredients: I downed the bottle quickly to avoid the smell. I’m looking for energy! I will say with in 10 minutes I was pretty damn energized. I was not expecting the boost I got. I’d say the smooth energy I had lasted a good 4 or 5 hours and was smooth and jitter free. My focus was good and I was very alert. I had no crash either. Yay! No Crash Technology!  In the energy ingredients department you have L-Glysine , L-Tyrosine, Taurine, N-Acetyl-Cysteine, Caffeine(amount unknown),  200% DV of Vitamin C, 1600% Dv of B6, and 3333% DV B12. No calories, No carbs and it is sweetened with sucralose. I give this shot a grade of B for Kick/ingredients. Good healthy ingredients with a nice kick.

Web Presence: They have a nice little site at nrgshot.com. It looks really sharp, professional, and mature. You have your images of people doing different things like hanging out and playing different sports. There is product information, where to buy, Events ect. Some still seems to be under construction. The design is really really pleasant to look at. Not sure who designed it but it really works well for this shots target audience I think. The only bad part is the music. Loose the music. I hate to go to a site and all the sudden music is blaring out of my speakers. This is even worse if you’re at work. I will give them a grade of C+ for web presence. Visually very nice but still a little sparse.

Recap: 

I can really see where this shot will attract some customers. It’s packaging is more appealing than 5 hour energy and the target market is most likely the same. The Kick was really better than I expected. The taste was really a nice flavor but the Smell and the coloring need some work. Still give it a try I say. If you get past the smell it performs better than average.

We can stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning, I'm making waffles!

Kickin’ Energy shot. Berry Flavor
Just walk into any convenience store  and your bound to find a plethora of shots lined up at the check out counter. Some you have heard of but others are totally unfamiliar and a little scary. I ain’t scared though so I reach for these strange shots without hesitation. I’m always hoping to discover some awesome gem of an energy shot. One that will kick my ass soundly (in a good way). When I saw this Kickin’ energy shot with it’s donkey on the label my hopes were high.

Packaging: Kickin’ energy comes in the usual 2 oz plastic shot bottle. The bottle is shrink wrapped with a black wrap with a orange stripe pattern. In the middle is the name with a kicking donkey above it. I’m guessing they are going for the “Ass kickin’ Energy” name really. The font used for the name is pretty nice and the donkey(ass) looks pretty mean.  Towards the top it reads “Sugar free”, “hours of energy no crash later”. On the back you have your usual supplement facts.  I will give them a C for packaging. It seems a bit juvenile and also it has no secondary seal under the lid. Still not a bad package though

Slogans:  None to be found anywhere. Come on people this shot screams out for a good slogan. Grade F

Taste ect: I twist off the lid and pour some into a cup. It comes out dark brown like coffee?? Wow not expecting that. It does have a nice raspberry scent though. I take a sip and at first I get a taste of cherry but that is replaced quickly by a nice raspberry flavor. This actually tastes pretty good and there is no after taste at all.  It is lightly sweetened and that is good. Some shots have too much artificial sweetener but this one avoids that. I give them a grade of B- for flavor. Nicely done except for the color.

Kick/Ingredients: Well so far this is not the gem I am looking for. Maybe the kick will bring out the shine. I drank the shot quickly for maximum effect. I’d say withing 10 minutes my foot became restless and I was buzzing pretty well. I was pretty energized for 3 or 4 hours and did not get jittery or crash. The energy comes from caffeine (about the same amount as a cup of coffee), Glucuronolactone, N Acetyl L Tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, Taurine, Malic acid, and B Vitamins including 8333% of DV for B12, and 2000% DV for B6. They also include a 1 mg enzyme blend of Amylase, Protease, Lipase, Cellulase, and Lactase .You get 167% of your DV for Vitamin C as well. There are 15 calories and no carbs or sugar. I give them a C+ for kick/ingredients. It is better than a lot of shots out there.

Web presence:  Nothing at all. I could not even find a website for the company or even another review. Grade F for web presence
Recap: 

Well I did not find the gem I was looking for in this one. I did not get my ass kicked. It was more like a swat on the butt. If these were available at a bargain price I’d so go for it. If your going to pay full price there are other better shots out there.