Energy Drink Roundup - Best of 200 caffeinated drinks

2 comments

October 13, 5:15 PM

by Big Red Boots, Caffeine Examiner

 

 

Matt wanted to know my top favorites in taste and buzz for sugar free energy drinks.  Here are my top 8:
1.  This was my favorite from last time, and still the one to beat.  With 350mg of anhydrous caffeine, fantastic taste and power to ascend you to the heavens, Spike Shotgun is the real thing.  This drink is like riding the big roller coaster.  You need to not have heart conditions, be of a certain age and know about keeping your hands inside the track before you go speeding 350MPH.  This drink is what us energy junkies crave.

2.Helix energy drink Mix.  Yes, it is a powder you add to water, but that does not matter.  This stuff tastes amazing and gives you a very decent boost as well.  This is the best energy drink mix yet.  You can now buy these little packs online at http://helixdrinks.com/home.php

3. Ronin energy drinks.  If you are in a place with these, consider yourself lucky.  Great taste and lots of Buzz.  The package sucks, but these sure pack a punch!

4.BooKoo Wildberry Zero Carb.  Enough energy to power Idaho, this straight on energy drink will wire you up.  This is the drink those 5-hour energy commercials warn you about.

5.Cocaine Energy- Everyone passed this off as a novelty.  But keeping off the calories and adding a beastload of caffeine helps propel this to one of my favorite drink I actually hunted down and purchase.  If you have never had this before, prepare yourself for the bite!

6. Steaz Diet Berry - while not so powerful in the buzz category, this is super healthy, good for the planet, and good for the waistline too!

7. Go Fast Diet - Love the taste, and the buzz is decent.  If you live in the western part of the US, a can of Go Fast will not treat you wrong.

8. Bing Cherry Energy - I wront about this one before in my 100 energy drink roundup.  This stuff is so good you wish they sold it in 32oz containers.

Other things to check out that are very worthwhile

Kaboom is a real treat - as good as Rumba but natural. E10 actually works even without the caffeine.  Mana has the distinction of having the most awesome powershot bottle and some are just too wierd to even categorize.

In terms of foods, Think gum really works, but is not a real energy booster.  Jolt mints impressed me, but not as much as Dragon Soul, completely worth the trip to the local Asian grocer.  The blueberry caffeinated oatmeal was fun - if not very energizing.  What was energizing was all the new caffeinated alcohol products out there.  The most unique is Everglo, a unique energy fueled glow in the dark green vodka tequila liquour.  I had the privelidge of trying real aphrodesiacs, from Sex Drive to Turn on to Fever, with uplifting results (last time I make that joke - promise).  

Stay away from:

Mini Thin Rush Mocha flavor - will make you swear off even coffee flavored ice cream.  Just stay away from  most powershots, really.  The only one I have had which both tastes good and has a decent boost is Mini Thin Rush Original (review coming soon).  Most of these either have a low caffeine amount and use the power of suggestion to boost you ( this drink will give you energy....really.... read my marketing again if you dont believe....) or taste like a mix of cough syrup and fermented animal.   

Also, run far away from anything private label, with the exception of Gazzu.  It does not matter if it is from Target, Kmart or Kroegers, if it looks like it might be a Red Bull knock off, chances are it is. Unless you want a Red Bull and get a knock off instead - which is definitely not satisfying

A big thank you goes to Al those wonderful companies willing to share their time and drinks with me, sending out samples for me to try and phone and email time to learn more about what they do ad how they do it.  Also, a big shout out goes to the energy guru at Taurine Rules for sending me out a bunch of yummy samples, and Drake at Beverage botique for scoring some more of my rarities.  And of course  I could not have done this without you, constant readers - who keep emailing me with suggestions, arguments  and comments - keep them coming. 

Have I not yet reviewed your favorite liquid that keeps you jolted?  let me know what to get hold of for the Best Of 2008 and Ill be sure to give it a try in the upcoming months.  You can comment here, or send your faves to jfriedlander@examiner.com.  But remember, comments by companies hocking their own wares are not welcome.  Send me an email and Ill be happy to review you, but this is not the lace for unsolicited ads.

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