Summertime means many things. For some, it is the start of swimming pools, relaxing days on the beach and warm sunset walks. For others it is headaches of having to look after bored kids, turning on the AC and sunburns. For me, the Summer is Slurpee season, the time of year when I find myself staring at the 7-Eleven stores in my area salivating for icy cool refreshment.

Slurpee has been around a long time - over 40 years. 7-Eleven actually began selling frozen carbonated drinks two years before coming up with the Slurpee moniker in 1965, named for the straw’s slurping sound. I have since found my favorite machine filled with all sorts of wonders, from watermelon-banana to Halo3 flavors. Starting this year - I have seen some very surprising and very delicious choices appear. First, in April, they released Amp Energy Freeze - an energy drink Slurpee. Later, there was the full throttle variety ( 2 flavors, actually) and finally now their best flavor yet, Monster Black Ice.

Packaging:9
Along with the drink is some very cool cups and even an awesome aluminum straw just perfect for getting cooled off. Monster's graphics team was able to create a special "M" claw logo that suggests the icy coldness of a Slurpee.   There is a cool 3d claw reaching form the drink - and my favorite part - the drink itself is black. Maybe a tinge purple, but for all intents and purposes, this is the first black Slurpee in its history. This is also monster's first non canned drink. All others have been drank out of aluminum, and with their cool metal straw you can make this one just as metallic.  If you want to experience the fun of this drink, it is truly worth it to get the full collectors cup and straw - yes it costs more, but it is completely reusable - so you can enjoy it all month long!

Taste:7
This is the one drawback to the drink.  While it is not bad by any means, it is just grape.  I was hoping for some new awesome flavor to compliment the black drink with all the new cool looks - but Black does not really connect with a flavor.  What fruit is black?  I can't even think of a black popsicle flavor or anything Halloweenish.  maybe black cherry?

Nutrition:8
For an energy drink, the kick is not so fantastic, but for a Slurpee, this one kicks some serious a**!.  And like the other energy drink flavors of slurpee released last month, this one actually packs a punch.  Using Monsters proprietary blend of energy drink stuff, they pack all the nutrients in here. Their cool 32 ounce Slurpee cup has 252 calories and 168mg of caffeine. They also have 1000 mg of taurine. inositol, vitamin b, niacin, l-carnatine, gluroconactone, etc... in there too. If the caffeine does not wake you up, the sugar content and frozen awesomeness will perk you up without question.