Mess with the Bull you get the horn

Red Bull Simply Cola


Ok this really does not qualify as an energy drink but I know people are going to want to get the scoop on this anyway. When Red Bull says they are coming out with a new drink you know there is a big buzz all over the internet. I know I was excited to hear about Red Bull Simply Cola.
Packaging: Red Bull Simply Cola comes in 2 size cans. I have the 12 oz can. It is a tall slim 12 oz can so it does not look like a regular cola. The can is Blue at the top split diagonal buy a silver stripe with red at the bottom. In the Blue portion you have the Red Bull logo with the 2 bulls and the gold circle. In the silver stripe it reads “Red Bull” in a red font. In the bottom red portion you have “Simply” in a cursive font slicing through the C in “Cola” in a silver font. At the very bottom it reads “Strong & Natural” in silver. On the back you have your nutrition facts.  One last thing is that the pull tab to open the can is red and it has a cutout of a red bull on it which is a very cool aspect I liked. Different than a regular Red Bull energy drink but not so different you can’t tell it is a Red Bull product. It is a simple uncluttered design that projects quality upscale product. I give them a grade of B+ for packaging. Not exciting like a lot of energy drink cans but I think they really nail what they are going for which is that this is a premium drink.
Slogan: “Strong & Natural” is right there on the can. Once again I think they nail it down good. It is a very simple and effective. I give them a grade of B+ for slogan


Taste: I like my cola chilled well so I got it nice and cold.  I popped the top and got a nice scent of cola. The smell was a very rich cola scent and was complicated. I poured some in a cup (no ice to water it down). It comes out of the can a rich cloudy brown color. It has a nice level of carbonation and in the cup the head of foam is a little brownish as well. I have heard that the coloring comes from using caramelized sugar syrup since it is all natural. This is not the dark black/brown of your typical Coke or Pepsi. I take a sip and it has the cola taste you expect but then it has so much more I get some vanilla and kola right away but on each subsequent sip I find new flavors cloves and mace, lemon, pine, ginger, and even a hint of mint. This is one of the most complex drinks of any sort that I have ever tried. It’s fun to drink just so you can revel in the new discoveries in flavor you get as you drink it. It is a rich vibrant drink. I give them a grade of A for taste. They really made an interesting enjoyable drink.


Kick/Ingredients: I’m going to compare this to other sodas instead of energy drinks since this is not an energy drink. I was actually surprised in the lift I got about 20 minutes after I finished the Red Bull Simple Cola. It was well above you average cola for sure. I would put it in the ballpark with a Mountain Dew or Vault when it comes to kick. Ok so what is in it your asking? Hope you have a minute to read all this as it is extensive. Start off with water, sugar, and carbon dioxide. Then you have Natural Flavors from Plant Extracts: Galangal, Vanilla, Mustard Seed, Lime, Kola Nut, Cacao, Licorice, Cinnamon, Lemon, Ginger, Coca leaf, Orange, Corn Mint, Pine, Cardamom, Mace, Clove  Caffeine from Coffee Beans and Natural Lemon Juice concentrate.  The caffeine level is between 45 and 48 mg per 12 oz can. You have 130 calories and 31 grams of carbs. I will give them a grade of A for kick/ingredients. This is compared to other sodas not energy drinks. Just the ingredients alone would get an A. This is an all natural cola with no phosphoric acid and no artificial flavors.

Web Presence: Come on it is Red Bull we are talking about. They have a huge presence on the net(and everywhere else). The official site for Red Bull Simply Cola is at redbullusa.com. There you will find information about ingredients as well as why they went with a cola as their next drink. Other than that you have a huge website in general for Red Bull with a ton of information. There are Red Bull sites for a multitude of countries and they are actually different and not just in different languages. They actually have different content. I give them a grade of A for web presence. Very well done sites.

Recap: 

I will have to admit I was skeptical before I tried this. I was thinking it would just be an over priced cola. I was wrong. It is a really interesting and unique beverage. I did not get a chance to try it as a mixer since I only had the one can. I promise you that as soon as I get more I will try it this way. With Red Bull being such a big name in on premise sales I think this could be huge for them in that area as well. I can see that there is a market for a premium cola and I think this one qualifies for that. Some people scoff at people paying premiums for top shelf drinks like this but the way I see it people pay top dollar for water in bottles everyday. If millions will pay top price for water which is after all just water then I’m sure they will pay for a premium ingredient packed all natural cola. Even from a health aspect I think this drink will appeal to many people as well. I say if you get a chance give it a try. Ask for it at your local bar or store. I think you will find it is worth seeking out. Just remember this is a cola not an energy drink.

Back to the front Page