REVIEW OF TEAM REALTREE OUTDOOR WHITE BUCK

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

Courtesy of Team Realtree

RATING: 5.4 OUT OF 10.

     Back on NRG Drink Euphoria, I tried 2 of these drinks, and was ok with them fairly well, but now as I am more understanding of what to look for, I see these drinks weren't nearly as worthy of the kindness I gave them. White Buck is a fairly new flavor from the line, and one I haven't had the pleasure of finding until today, when I walked into a gas station, and this was the only energy drink they sold. Like the other varieties, White Buck has a nice looking bottle can. The design catches my attention well, and despite being more of a redneck-ish kind of design, it would be very appeal to anyone who may pass buy it on the shelf.

     Seeing as it was snow camouflage themed, I was hoping for it to be like Slap Frost, and have the chilling effect of menthol. That was not what I go at all. I was unfortunate to be in the possession of yet another low rate Red Bull clone. It has a slightly bitter taste, and an unpleasant gumminess to it. After a little while I began to enjoy it, but as it progressively warmed, it became quite harsh.

     There was no actual amounts given, but it has some caffeine, taurine, and some B vitamins. By going on what I experienced throughout my day, I got a slight lift from this drink, but nothing really to brag about. I don't see this very effective as an energy drink for the American outdoorsman, but I guess this drink is more for show anyways.

     Overall, this particular Team Realtree drink delivered once again as far as the can design goes. I was in no way in love with the taste, and the buzz was sub par. All in all, White Buck didn't deliver for me, and proved itself to be another makeshift Red Bull clone.


Reviewed by Dylan

REVIEW OF ARMA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 5.6 OUT OF 10.


     Lately I have been a bit desperate at trying to find drinks to review, since I am well past the stage where you walk into a gas station and realize you've tried everything they offer. Fortunately, a company called Arma was gracious enough to send me samples of their products. Arma is unlike any other energy brand that I've seen. They have caffeinated potato chips, trail mix, nuts, and other snack items. They also have an energy drink, which is what I'll be reviewing today, so let's get cracking.

     Arma comes in a black, 16 ounce can with no flavor description on it. This leads me to believe that it will probably try to imitate one of the more popular energy drinks. As it turned out, my prediction was accurate, and it did taste a lot like a variation of Monster. My only beef with the flavor is that it can be a bit harsh on the palate. But I suppose when you have freaking caffeinated potato chips, you don't really need your energy drink's flavor to be completely original. Overall, I thought the flavor was just fine.

     Powering Arma Energy is 200 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 160 milligrams of caffeine, 50 milligrams of inositol, 400 milligrams of guarana, 50 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract, 1,200 milligrams of glucuronolactone, 50 milligrams of l-carnitine, and 50 milligrams of l-glutamine. Nothing to fancy here, just a solid energy blend.

     As mentioned earlier, the caffeine content is 160 milligrams per 16 ounce can. That is basically the standard amount for most energy drinks, and to be honest, it did absolutely nothing to me at all. The only thing I can say is that this should have the same effectiveness as a Monster, or something similar. It really does get frustrating when I don't get an effect from an energy drink, but that's only because I have a strangely high caffeine tolerance.

     Arma Energy is really just your basic energy drink in a basic package. I can tell that this is probably not their best seller, and I can easily understand why. There's nothing bad about it, it's just....average. What isn't average is a bag of caffeinated potato chips. I can't wait to review those. Oh, did I mention they were barbecue flavored?

REVIEW OF AMP ACTIVE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

Courtesy of AMP Energy

RATING: 6.9 OUT OF 10.

     After my last review of Amp Boost Grape, I soon realized I messed up in saying it only had 80 mgs of caffeine, and I soon corrected it. So I decided to go with another one of the overhauled line, and chose their Amp Active, formerly Amp Lightning, which is now intended to be more of a functional sports energy drink. Lightning was one of my favorite of the old Amp line, so I have really high hopes for this particular drink.

     In tasting this, once again I get the same taste as what was Lightning. The taste mirrors that of the yellow Gatorade variety, except with carbonation. Overall, it is a very pleasing drink, and tastes like what I expect a sports energy drink would. Despite the fact the taste never changed, this one is a step up from the grape variety, and was really impressive.

     160 mgs is about the standard for an energy drink, I suppose. It hits the mark for where you have to be to get a decent buzz rating at least. However, I grade different drinks in different ways, and caffeine only covers a portion of it. The other part would be the ingredients that make it a "sports energy" drink, which I suppose in this case is the electrolytes. It fairs well enough even with the electrolytes only to score an average rating, however I am impressed overall.

     Amp Active now makes the line 1 for 2, and was very impressive. It was a pleasant drink that I could see myself buying again, and was well worth the money I payed. As with the first, the can is nice and clean, the taste is good, and the buzz is on an average level. All in all, this drink delivers where the previous Amp Boost Grape did not, and has left me satisfied.

Reviewed by Dylan 

REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR XDURANCE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 240 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.2 OUT OF 10.

     It has been an unbelievable amount of time since I've reviewed two drinks in two days, but when it's a new drink from one of the big boys, it has to be done. Yesterday, I tried Rockstar Iced and found it to be pleasing on the palate, although that quite as pleasing as Monster Rehab. Now I'm here to try Rockstar Xdurance, and as far as I can tell, Monster does not have a similar drink. This seldom occurs, as the two rivals generally will go toe-to-toe with their offerings. But enough fluff, let's check out Rockstar Xdurance.

     Xdurance is marketed as a performance energy drink and it supposed to help with physical performance. The flavor is advertised as blueberry/pomegranate/acai, and after taking a sip, I can verify the flavor. The drink is definitely dominated by blueberry, with strong pomegranate undertones, and the acai taking a back seat. I enjoyed the flavor combination and thought Rockstar did a nice job with it. It's not the best drink the offer, but it's still far from the worst.

     Powering this Rockstar drink is 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 240 milligrams of caffeine, 50 milligrams of l-valine, 50 milligrams of l-leucine, 50 milligrams of l-isoleucine, 50 milligrams of green tea polyphenols, and 50 milligrams of guarana seed extract. Those branched chain amino acids make this an extremely unique Rockstar blend.

     With three times as much caffeine as a Red Bull, this drink should have no problem putting you into high gear. As for me, I received an effect that was at mid-range, and tapered off in a few hours with no crash thanks to just 2 grams of sugar. Unfortunately, I didn't really notice a difference with the amino acids.

     Rockstar Xdurance is a pretty solid energy drink overall. The flavor combination is easy on the palate, and the unique blend is definitely another plus. Looks like Rockstar has produced another winner, and we'll see if they can keep that up when I review Rockstar Coconut Water tomorrow.

REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR ICED

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 240 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.7 OUT OF 10.


     Throughout this blog's history, I've reviewed 14 different flavors of Rockstar. As a matter of fact, if you amalgamate all of my reviews of Monster and Rockstar products, it would constitute for nearly 11 percent of all 280+ reviews. Anyhow, Rockstar has "recently" come out with four new drinks. They are: Iced, Xdurance, Relax, and Coconut Water. My executive editor Dylan has already covered Rockstar Relax, so it is my turn to review Rockstar Iced. Onward to the review!

     Rockstar Iced comes in an exceptionally inviting gold 16 ounce can. The contrast between the gold background and the black star make for an impeccable product display. It is certainly in the top 10 or top 5 of the best packaging I've seen. Iced is supposed to compete with Monster Rehab, although Rehab was lemonade and iced tea, and Rockstar Iced is peach and tea. Nevertheless, Rockstar did a very nice job with this one. The sweetness of the peach cuts the tea's bitterness just enough so that it doesn't become overpowering. I found it to be deliciously sweet and refreshing. I would certainly put it high up on the charts.

     Let's see what kind of horsepower Rockstar Iced is packing. It has 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin 12, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 240 milligrams of caffeine, 100 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract, 50 milligrams of l-carnitine, and 50 milligrams of guarana seed extract. Once again, another very solid blend from the folks at Rockstar.

     With 240 milligrams of caffeine, this drink has 50 percent more caffeine than a traditional energy drink, and 3 times as much caffeine as a Red Bull. That being said, I felt that Rockstar Iced produced some solid effectiveness and brought me out of my afternoon slump. Rockstar was also smart enough to not use sugar, so there's no crash when the buzz where's off. Not bad Rockstar, not bad at all.

     While I would rank Monster Rehab slightly higher than this, I believe Rockstar has successfully produced an iced tea drink. The sweet flavor coupled with the nice blend and solid kick makes this a great energy drink. I am extremely eager to review their other new offerings. Look for those reviews in the near future.

REVIEW OF AMP BOOST GRAPE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

Courtesy of CAFFEINE! The Energy Blog

RATING: 5.6 OUT OF 10.

     To try and revive the struggling brand, Amp was recently overhauled to give off a better image. As part of this, they cleaned up the can designs, and made them more visually appealing. As far as I know, nothing really changed taste wise or buzz wise, but the line as a whole looks more appealing. 

     For any of you who have had the old Amp Traction, it was a slightly pleasing artificial grape flavor. The overhaul did not change this in anyway. I was never a fan of Traction, and I am quite disappointed to see no flavor change in the revamp of their line.

     A standard Mountain Dew only has 54 mgs of caffeine, and when they made Amp, they only added an extra 26 mgs. 80 mgs per serving isn't exactly something to wow over. It is the bare minimum of how most of the big boys play it, and not nearly satisfying of my energy needs. That being said, Amp has decided to make their drinks more functional, which I'll give them points back for. When it's all said and done, Amp didn't wow me, but the new direction they have chosen works ok. Another disappointment of this overhaul was not increasing their buzz ingredients. 80 mgs of caffeine just doesn't cut it for me, and I am not impressed.

     All in all, Amp Boost Grape doesn't live up to expectations. The new line revamp has left them 0 for 1, with there still being 6 drinks to go. And for all of those drinks, this one has certainly lowered my expectations.

Reviewed by Dylan

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REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR RELAX - NEW REVIEWER!

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.

Courtesy of Thirsty Dudes

RATING: 6.4 OUT OF 10.
     No, it's not Avery, the usual man who does these reviews. It's your old friend Dylan from NRG Drink Euphoria. I scaled back to making reviewing a part time thing, and now have joined A2E as co-reviewer. My inaugural review as a member of A2E will be Rockstar Relax, the new drink from Rockstar as they take their first steps into the anti-energy category.

     I had high hopes for this drink in the taste category, but it turned out to be quite roller coaster ride for me. At first I got the nice taste I was expecting, which was a nice smooth guava. I figured it would stay constant throughout after reading Energy Heaven's review of it, but it turned into a bitter, disappointing flavor following my first sip, and to follow that more hints of the initial taste. I like consistency in my drinks, and this let me down, and I'm sad to see that it didn't live up to the high hopes I had after reading other reviews.

     With some light dosage of chamomile, rose hips, and passion flower, I wasn't expecting to be completely drowsy upon consumption. And that is just what I got, as the 100 mgs of the three ingredients above didn't do that much for me. I was a bit calmer and more mellow, but no where near relaxation.

     Overall, Rockstar Relax was a fair attempt at a creating an anti-energy drink. The taste and buzz we're both on an average level, and the packaging was fairly nice. In the end, they have made a product slightly worth your money, but there are other drinks more suitable for your anti-energy needs.

Reviewed by Dylan

REVIEW OF STREET KING GRAPE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN

RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10. 


     The energy shot market is slowly being transformed into a cornucopia of 5 Hour Energy clones. Fortunately, some companies try to deviate from the norm and create an interesting product. One such product is Street King Energy Shot. It may look like a normal shot, but it is actually endorsed by 50 Cent, and every purchase of Street King goes to feeding a starving child. I think it is a respectable cause, and their website tells me they have already fed 3.5 million children. Well done Street King, well done. Now let's find out if you make a great energy shot.

     Street King comes in a very clean, black, 2.5 ounce bottle. It comes in two flavors: Orange Mango and Grape. I went for the latter, since I'm more of a grape fan than an orange mango fan. After unscrewing the top, I slammed it back and was surprised by the pleasant flavor. Typically, grape flavored shots need a chaser, but not this one. I thought is tasted pretty darn good for a concentrate 2.5 ounce shot. A solid effort by Street King.

     What energy ingredients does Street King have to offer? Well, it has 100 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 464 milligrams of malic acid, caffeine, sodium citrate, and citicoline. It also contains gingko leaf extract. Sadly, the caffeine content is undisclosed and they only provide that "as much as a cup of coffee" nonsense. Personally, I think the blend could use a little work. How about throwing in some gaurana or more b vitamins?

     Despite my thoughts about the drink needing a better energy blend, I still received some solid effectiveness from this shot. I've had it on multiple occasions and received a decent boost every time. Once again, if you have a lower caffeine tolerance this should definitely work. Try it in place of your 5 Hour Energy and you may never go back.

     In a boring world of Red Bull clones and 5 Hour Energy clones, it's nice to see an energy shot that makes an attempt to step away from the pack. Even if it's something as simple as feeding hungry children, it's still something different. But, does Street King succeed as an energy shot? Well, it certainly is not breathtaking, but it gets the job done. In short, it's a solid energy shot.

REVIEW OF DREAM WATER

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.

RATING: 7.8 OUT OF 10.


     Before I get started with this review, let me just thank The Soda Jerks for the twentieth time for letting me post my review of Hype. Hopefully, I will be writing more review for The Soda Jerks in the near future. With that task out of the way, let's get to the product I will be reviewing today. Straight out of Miami, Florida comes yet another anti-energy shot. This one is called Dream Water, so let's just get right to it.

     Dream Water comes in a white, 2.5 ounce bottle with a screw-off top. This makes it much easier to open, unlike most energy shots which usually require a knife and the assistance of 5 other people. The nice folks at Dream Water provided me with the Snoozeberry flavor (blueberry and pomegranate), and I have to say I was impressed. I never actually refrigerated Dream Water, but it did not hinder the flavor. It lacks the overly tart, artificial berry flavor of most energy shots. The flavor is actually pretty light, which is probably why they call it Dream Water. All in all, it's a great tasting anti-energy shot.

     So, what does Dream Water have hiding under the hood? It's simple. It has 150 milligrams of gamma-aminobutyric acid, melatonin, and l 5-hydroxytryptophan. The exact amount for any of these ingredients is not specified, which is rather unfortunate. Nevertheless, I think the blend is decent at best.

     Congratulations, you've made it through 3 segments of what I believe is a very lackadaisically written review, but remember, you're at the best part. That's right, your about to find out of this little bugger turned my lights out. As a matter of fact, I took this at 9:30 last night, and was fast asleep an hour later. Normally, I can fight off the effects of melatonin, but this time I was not successful. I must say, I was very pleased with the drink's effectiveness.

     I've always been a fan of anti-energy shots, and I have to say I enjoyed Dream Water. The only cons are that it doesn't really bring anything new to the table, and the blend is a little lackluster. Other than that, it has a great flavor and it can easily put you to sleep. And that's really all I want after a "hard" day of school.

REVIEW OF HYPE MFP

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 8 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.1 OUT OF 10. 

     There are very few energy drinks that I have wanted to try for years. One of them is Hype, and fortunately for me, a little miracle occurred a week ago. I received a generous email from Hype notifying me about samples. I instantaneously jumped on board and accepted the samples. When it arrived the mail, I was absolutely flabbergasted by the impeccable product display. Each can was placed in its own little section, in a beautiful and elegant black box. The first flavor I pulled out was Hype MFP. So, without further ado, let's get right into the taste.

     Hype MFP comes in a sleek and sophisticated carbon fiber can. Unfortunately, the can isn't actually made of carbon fibre, but the design is still pretty cool. I've always wanted to try this because back in 2007, Energy Drink Ratings gave this a 9.7 for taste. Would I agree? No. I wouldn't. In fact, I am extremely disappointed, almost frustrated. No one is going to agree with me on this but I think it tastes very similar to Red Bull. You obviously do not concur with that, so the comment section is open for you to voice your strong disagreement and disapproval. I really wish I thought it didn't taste like Red Bull, but to me it just does! That is just incredibly frustrating. Hopefully the original Hype will be better.

     So, the flavor was a bit frustrating, but how is the blend? Well, it has taurine, caffeine, glucuronolactone, guarana extract, inositol, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin b2, vitamin b6, and vitamin b12. The caffeine content is rated at a modest 80 milligrams per 8 ounce can.

     Since this can is only 8 ounces and the caffeine content isn't that extreme, I wasn't expecting a whole lot of effectiveness from this. Obviously, I was correct. Due to my high caffeine tolerance, this barely put a dent in me. However, this should provide a relatively decent kick for a modest consumer. I am not sure how widely distributed it is, but if you see any at your grocery store, don't be afraid to pick it up.

     As it turns out, the first flavor of the drink I've always wanted to try turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. I really wanted it to taste like something unique and different, but to me it only tasted like Red Bull. Hype did regain some points for its decent energy blend, and the effectiveness should be pretty modest. I am eagerly looking forward to reviewing the original Hype to see if it is any better.

REVIEW OF LEAN PURP

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.

RATING: 8.5 OUT OF 10. 


     As much as I enjoy my caffeine and energy drinks, sometimes it's nice to just unwind with a large, sugary can of anti-energy drink. When people think of anti-energy drinks, Drank is the first drink that comes to mind. Now, I have had the opportunity to try Drank, but I have failed to put up a review. Fortunately for you guys, I have recently acquired a drink that is extremely similar to the ever-so-popular Drank. But before I get into the review, here's a little background information. Lean, the drink I will be reviewing today, is supposed to mimic the street drug Sizzurp. Sizzurp is a disgusting and deadly combination consisting of prescription cough syrup (codeine and promethazine), sprite or mountain dew, and a jolly ranchers. So there you have it, onto the review!

     Lean's can design reminds me of Drank's so much, that I could swear they almost look identical. Let's hope the flavor isn't identical as well. Despite being both grape flavored, Lean is much thicker than Drank. As a matter of fact, Lean is so viscous that it is nearly impossible to chug, but that's the whole idea behind this drink. They really wanted it to be a legal alternative to a disgusting street drug. And I am perfectly fine with that. I mean, who doesn't want to drink a think, sugary, syrupy grape soda.

     So what are Lean's relaxation ingredients of choice? Well, looking at the back of the can, I detected unknown amounts of the following: rose hips extract, valerian root extract, and melatonin. Melatonin is the caffeine of anti-energy drinks. This is the ingredient that truly makes it work. I just wish they would tell me how much melatonin is in here.

     Due to this being somewhat of a live review, I haven't actually finished the whole can. However, I am pretty close and I can successfully report that I feel the effects of the drink already. I can also tell you that I have consumed this drink a couple weeks ago and I was more than satisfied with the results. This drink really does put a nice slow to your roll, and I had trouble staying up past eleven o'clock. If you want to go into extreme relaxation mode, I suggest you give this a try.

     Overall, I was impressed with Lean's performance. The flavor is satisfactory, although the high viscosity levels can get a little annoying at times. However, once you finish the can and the effects start to kick in, you won't be disappointed. I can honestly say that Lean is one of the most effective anti-energy drinks I have ever tried. 

REVIEW OF NAWGAN TAROCCO ORANGE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 100 MILLIGRAMS PER 11.5 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.1 OUT OF 10.

     I would be lying if I told you that I loved testing functional beverages. The reason? It is simply too difficult to figure out if they were effective or not. If a drink is advertised to boost memory, I don't want to have to take a memory test to figure out if it worked or not. Energy drinks are so much more simple, and don't require a lot of testing. Unfortunately for me, I have to review yet another functional beverage. It goes by the name of Nawgan, and it is marketed to enhance concentration and focus. Great! Now I'm going to have to take some standardized concentration test to see if it works. Anyway, enough bullcrap, here's my thoughts.

     Nawgan presents itself with a simple, clean design that is reminiscent to drinks like Brain Toniq. Nawgan comes in three distinct flavors: Red Berry, Tarocco Orange, and Berry. For this review, I will be checking out the Tarocco Orange flavor. Now, before I get into the flavor profile, I would really like to know what a Tarocco Orange is. After a quick Google search, I discovered that a Tarocco Orange is simply a type of blood orange, which is just an orange with blood-colored flesh. The actual flavor is difficult to describe without saying it tastes like blood orange juice. I suppose it is similar to traditional orange juice, but with something different, something I can't put my finger on. Well, whether I can thoroughly describe it or not, I am a fan of this flavor.

     Since Nawgan is classified as a functional beverage, I'm sure we'll be seeing some interesting ingredients in this one. Here's the list: 250 milligrams of citicoline, alpha-glyceryl phosphoryl choline, lycopene, 100 milligrams of caffeine, and d-alpha tocopheryl acetate. I have absolutely no idea what benefits those ingredients have on my brain, but you'll find out what happened in the next section of the review. As for the blend, I think it's pretty solid.

     Here comes the most challenging part of the review. Did this supposed "brain-booster" work? As always, it's difficult to tell, but what I can tell you is that the solid 100 milligrams of caffeine will provide an adequate uplift to your energy levels. Of course, I didn't find this drink to be very effective as an energy drink since my caffeine tolerance is so high. Nevertheless, it should do the trick for the average consumer.

     Overall, it looks like Nawgan is just another functional beverage trying to make a name for themselves in this rapidly growing market. The flavor is pleasing and smooth, but it just doesn't make me stand up and say "wow". The blend is probably the highlight of this drink. With all of those fancy brain boosting ingredients, it feels very scientific. As for the drinks effectiveness, it is extremely difficult to tell whether or not this gave my brain a much-needed boost. I wonder if I can find that standardized concentration test I mentioned earlier.

REVIEW OF AMP SUGAR FREE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.2 OUT OF 10.


     I find it appalling, yet somehow perfectly logical and reasonable that the only Amp flavor I have yet to review is Sugar Free. And while it not an entirely different flavor, I still consider it to be different than the original Amp and should therefore review it. Based on a review by Energy Fiend, Amp Sugar Free has been improved, although the enhancements appear to be relatively marginal. This certainly would not be my first review choice, but I really needed to review something, so here goes nothing.

     Typically, when a company removes the sugar from a drink that should actually have sugar and replaces it with artificial sweeteners, it should taste awkwardly sweet and, well, artificial. Therefore, since Amp is made by Mountain Dew, I suspected it would taste similar to Diet Mountain Dew, which is one of my favorite diet sodas. As it turns out, my educated prediction was mostly accurate. It had a similar flavor to Diet Mountain Dew, but with a twist. It may have been that it was sweeter or it may just be that Amp tastes slightly different and Mountain Dew and therefore Amp Sugar Free tastes slightly different than Diet Mountain Dew. Either way, the sugar free version of the Mountain Dew on steroids has a respectable flavor.

     Now it's time to check out what lies under the hood of this amped up energy drink: 200 percent daily value of riboflavin, 200 percent daily value of niacin, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 296 milligrams of taurine, 284 milligrams of maltodextrin, 252 milligrams of guarana seed extract, 160 milligrams of caffeine, and 12 milligrams of panax ginseng extract. Amp's blend definitely needs some work. Why even bother with 12 milligrams of ginseng, or 296 milligrams of taurine (most drinks have 2,000 milligrams). Amp really needs to step their game up to compete with the best energy drinks.

     If you have been following my site for the best month or so, this is going to sound ridiculously repetitive. These types of energy drinks simply do not have the same effectiveness as they used to. This is due to the increase in my caffeine tolerance. Fortunately, I can tell you whether or not the standard consumer would be effected by this drink. My educated prediction is that it would produce a kick that is a step above Red Bull, but still not on par with a Rockstar or Monster. As for me, the effectiveness was fair at best, and it didn't really satisfy my needs. Truth be told, if I want a drink that can get me going, I'll go for a Spike Shooter.

      Amp's attempt at making a Sugar Free drink is certainly respectable, but it just doesn't have enough attributes to really push it at the top of the podium. While the flavor is easily palatable, I have had much better (and much worse) sugar free energy drinks. As with the energy blend and effectiveness, Amp has never really been the greatest at producing a solid and effective product. With that said, I believe I will pass on this one. Now, where's my Monster Lo-Carb?

REVIEW OF KYMERA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 325 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE SHOT.

RATING: 9.1 OUT OF 10.


     If you have been reading my latest reviews, you would know that it takes a lot for me to feel any real effectiveness from a drink. All those average energy drinks just aren't cutting it, so what do I do? Enter Kymera Energy Shot. Kymera is one of the most radical energy shots I have ever laid eyes on. With an insane amount of caffeine (we'll get to that later), this should do the trick. Onward then, to the review of Kymera.

     Kymera's packaging is certainly one-of-a-kind, using a box with a bag full of liquid inside. Basically, you are given a bottle which holds 2 ounces and you simply pour yourself a shot by pushing the red button on the cooler. This shot has a lot of caffeine, so I was pretty skeptical about the taste. As it turns out, I did not think it was as tasty as some of the other reviewers thought it was, but for having so much caffeine it really wasn't bad. The flavor is similar to your typical energy shot (i.e. medicinal, artificial berry flavor). All in all, not too shabby.

     Now it is time to see what Kymera is packing under the hood. It has 150 percent daily value of niacin, 50 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 26 percent daily value of folic acid, 2,100 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 1,180 milligrams worth of malic acid, natural caffeine, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, 1,3 dimethylamylamine, and yohimbine hydrochloride. The caffeine content is an astonishing 325 milligrams per 2 ounce shot, making this the 2nd most caffeinated 2 ounce shot ever made.

     Ok, it's time for the fun part. Did this drink work? Oh, heck yes. There are numerous warning labels that tell you to take only 1 ounce to assess tolerance and I highly suggest you adhere to those warning. This is not kids stuff. Of course, I went for the full 2 ounces and was hit with loads of energy. It's not a jittery feeling but more of an extremely focused, I-need-to-get-things-done-really-fast kind of energy. If you can handle it, go for the full 2 ounces, but please be careful. Do not under any circumstances take more than 3 ounces in one day (487.5 milligrams of caffeine). You could end up seriously hurting yourself. As for me, you can call me a fan of Kymera Energy Shot. I can't wait to use this as a pre-workout drink.

     Overall, Kymera Energy Shot will do down as one of the most powerful energy shots I have ever consumed. In fact, I think it flat-out is the most powerful I have ever consumed. And although I was slightly disappointed with the flavor since all the other reviewers thought it was amazing, the kick more than made up for that. Final rating: 9.1 out of 10.


Use the promo code AD30 to get a PowerPak for $29.99 (30 cents per serving) plus free shipping.

For more information, visit Kymera Energy Shot.

REVIEW OF SLAP FROST

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 220 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.7 OUT OF 10.


     If I had to name my top 5 favorite energy drink names, Slap would easily make the list. I mean, what better name for an energy drink than Slap. Need a boost before the morning jog? Slap! Want to stay awake to study for your mid-term? Slap! Think the Miami Heat are all they are cracked up to be? Slap! Seriously, the name is downright hilarious, and that's why I'm pleased to bring you my review of Slap Frost.

     Slap Frost is supposed to have a unique ingredient that gives your mouth a chilling sensation that increases as you drink it. Now the only ingredient that I know of that would give that type of sensation is menthol, and that isn't on the ingredients list. And to be honest, I don't recall getting a chilling sensation in my mouth, but I am not complaining, because this drink is actually quite tasty. It's difficult to for me to describe the flavor, but most reviewers agree that it has a typical energy drink flavor. I would say this is partially true, but Slap Frost delivers more of a crisp flavor, similar to 7Up. All things considered, it's a well-crafted flavor profile.

     Now it's time to take a look under the hood and see what this drink is packing: 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 3,138 milligrams worth of maltodextrin, taurine, fructose, caffeine, isomaltulose, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and cyanocobalamin. The caffeine content is a whopping 220 milligrams per can, 60 more than the industry average.

     With 27 percent more energy than Monster based on caffeine, Slap Frost should deliver a decent punch. Unfortunately, I didn't feel a whole lot of effects. But really, this is starting to feel a bit monotonous. You see, my caffeine tolerance, as I have mentioned in countless other posts, is almost off the scale. So once again I have to say that this should definitely deliver a substantial kick to all of you energy drinkers out there. Or if you're like me, it won't do anything at all.

     Overall, despite the fact that Slap Frost failed to give me loads of energy, it's still a solid energy drink. I thought the flavor was nice, albeit a bit similar to Red Bull. It also has a solid energy blend as well. Final rating? 6.7 out of 10.

REVIEW OF VEGAS FUEL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 142 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.2 OUT OF 10.


     What's up everybody? Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the fans and readers of Addicted 2 Energy. I hope you had a great holiday, I know I did. My stocking was equipped with two energy drinks I had never tried before. One of which is a drink endorsed by Insane Clown Posse and the other is called Vegas Fuel. Today, I'm going to review the latter.

     Typically, these rather obscure and not very popular energy drinks tend to mimic the flavor of traditional energy drinks, using the nearly-indescribable flavor simply known as, "the energy drink flavor." Surprisingly, Vegas Fuel looks and tastes nothing like an ordinary energy drink. It pours out red and has a very unique flavor. It reminded me of what a carbonated sports drink might taste like. It had that same artificial fruit flavor to it. I was certainly impressed.

     Vegas Fuel really stepped up to the plate in the taste department, let's see if they can do the same with the energy blend. It has 190 percent daily value of niacin, 500 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 154 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 100 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 1,904 milligrams of taurine, 142 milligrams of glucuronolactone, 142 milligrams of caffeine, 96 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, and 96 milligrams of guarana seed extract, and 48 milligrams of inositol. So, 10 ingredients and nearly 2,500 milligrams. I certainly can't complain there.

     So far, Vegas Fuel has played its cards right and delivered a solid energy blend. The only interesting thing to point out is the caffeine content is slightly less than the industry standard of 160 milligrams. So, does it work? Well, I had this before our big christmas party and it boosted my energy levels just a little bit, if at all. I usually don't feel a whole lot from energy drinks anymore, despite my smaller frame. But don't worry, I will continue to review energy drinks.

     Overall, Vegas Fuel is actually a pretty solid drink. I enjoyed the unique, yet pleasant fruity flavor that differed from the original medicinal energy drink flavor. I also thought the blend was pretty decent and used all of the standard energy drink ingredients. The kick was a little lackluster, but if you are new to energy drinks, this should provide a decent uplift. The rating? 7.2 out of 10.

REVIEW OF XYIENCE XENERGY CHERRY RUSH

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 200 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.8 OUT OF 10.


     After almost a month without a review, I am happy to say that it feels great to be back. I have not had the appropriate amount of time recently to compose a nice review, but I am here now, ready to review a full-blown, sugar-laden energy concoction. But before we get into that, let's discuss some brief site news. If you have been noticing an advertisement at the top of your screen, that is an advertisement from Google Adsense. I am in no way endorsing the advertised products. I am simply trying to make a few bucks. Anyway, back to the review. Let's just dive right into it. This, is Xyience Xenergy Cherry Rush.


     I have always been impressed with the flavors presented by Xyience, so it would only be reasonable to think that this would be more of the same. As it turns out, I did enjoy the "cherry rush" flavor that Xyience created. It is quite sweet, and despite being sugar free, it is rather difficult to detect the artificial sweeteners. My only complaint is that it feels rather viscous in your mouth,  almost a little syrupy. Other than that, it's a pretty tasty beverage.


     Well, let's find out what I threw in my body this time. It's got 200 percent daily value of niacin, 500 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 320 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 1,000 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, and a 1,350 milligram energy blend consisting of taurine, caffeine, glucuronolactone, guarana extract, panax ginseng extract, inositol, and l-carnitine. Caffeine content is rated at around 200 milligrams per 16 ounce can.


     To be perfectly honest, despite having a good amount of caffeine, I did not feel a whole lot from this drink. Now my caffeine tolerance is extremely high, especially for my size (5'9", and pretty skinny), so this should easily work for the average consumer. As for me though, I just did not feel much effectiveness.


     Overall, Xyience Xenergy Cherry Rush is a pretty decent beverage. It's high points are its sweet, sugary, cherry flavor, and its high amount of b vitamins. But then again, all energy drinks have high amounts of b vitamins. But really, I'm not complaining. So let's just give it a rating, shall we? 6.8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF SPEED FUEL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 186 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.4 OUT OF 10.


     Let's dive into the first drink in the line-up of Speed Energy Drinks. These drinks are your typical energy drinks with standard 16 ounce cans and edgy packaging. Speed Energy is endorsed by Race Car Driver Robby Gordon. Gordon has been all over the board with racing, but as a NASCAR driver he had questionable success, earning only 3 wins and 39 top tens in his 18 year career. And contrary to popular belief, he is not related to 4-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon. But enough about NASCAR, let's dive into this bad boy.


     The "description" of the flavor is called Fuel, but other reviews have led me to expect an orange soda flavor. As it turns out, this does taste just like orange soda, and a good one at that. As far as full-on, sugar-laden energy drinks go, this nails the flavor aspect. I'm a fan of orange soda and this worked perfectly. There was also no aftertaste which is extremely rare in energy drinks.


     Robby Gordon's Speed Fuel Energy Drink packs some V8 power under the hood. In other words, it has 260 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 540 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 1,000 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 1,811 milligrams of taurine, 186 milligrams of caffeine, 114 milligrams of inositol, and 111 milligrams of glucuronolactone. It also sports 60 percent daily value of vitamin c.


     So, the ingredients are similar to your typical energy drink: chock full of b vitamins, caffeine, taurine, and sugar. As you would expect, the effect is also similar to your typical energy drink. The caffeine content is slightly higher than a Monster (186 versus 160 for a Monster), and I would say it worked just as well. I experienced a satisfactory level of effectiveness from this drink with no signs of jitters or uncomfortableness. 


     Overall, Robby Gordon's Speed Fuel Energy Drink is pretty solid. It's strong point is clearly its orange soda flavor. I recommend you give this drink a try, just for the flavor alone. The energy blend and the drink's effectiveness also get the job done nicely. 8.4 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR RECOVERY ORANGE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.3 OUT OF 10.

     In this review, I will be diving into another flavor of the Rockstar Recovery line-up. The other two flavors, lemonade and grape, performed rather well in the taste department, but lacked in the kick aspect. Anyway, enough of the bull crap, let's dive into the taste.

     As previously mentioned, the flavor is described as "orange", and since this drink is non-carbonated, I was expecting an orange flavor similar to an orange Gatorade. My prediction was partially accurate, but since this drink is made with 3 percent juice, it tasted more like orange juice than an orange Gatorade. The only drawback to the taste was the taste of artificial sweeteners. Other than that, Orange is another killer Rockstar Recovery flavor. 

     As far as energy blends are considered, Rockstar has a great one. Here's the full list: 100 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 100 percent daily vitamin b6, 250 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 160 milligrams of caffeine, 100 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, 100 milligrams of prickly pear extract, and 40 milligrams of milk thistle extract.

     To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting much from this drink, and it's a good thing I didn't expect much, because this drink failed to do anything. That's right, Rockstar Recovery Orange had hardly any noticeable effect, and I might-as-well have been drinking orange Gatorade rather than an energy drink. This is just another reason why I am so incredibly eager to try Kymera Freakish Energy Shot, which is an energy shot with an unfathomable 325 milligrams of caffeine. If that doesn't send me to the next universe, I don't know what will. 

     Overall, Rockstar Recovery Orange is just like all the other Rockstar Recoveries (go figure), it has a great flavor profile and it also has a nice energy blend. The kick is a bit lackluster in my opinion, but if your caffeine tolerance isn't as high as some people, you might want to give this a try. I think you might like it. 6.3 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ZENERGY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 7.1 OUT OF 10.


     While in the midst of trying to locate my lost cellular communications device, I figured a nice stress reliever would be to post another review, this one being another energy shot. It's called Zenergy, and I have been holding off a review on this drink for quite some time. The first thing that caught my eye was the unique packaging. It is very eye-catching and uses some Chinese letters and symbols to draw the buyers attention. Unfortunately, there is no flavor listed on the package, so I had no idea what I was getting into.


     Generally, when an energy shot does not disclose a flavor, it usually means that it has a typical energy shot flavor, which is basically a medicinal mixture of berry flavors. However, Zenergy did not taste like a typical energy shot. It had a sweet flavor that is extremely difficult to describe, because I can not compare it to anything. It is sweet but it also has somewhat of a bite to it. It has a very interesting flavor profile, and I do not recall an energy shot that tastes like it.


     So, what on Earth did I put in my system today? Well, Zenergy has 100 percent daily value of thiamin, 100 percent daily value of riboflavin, and 249 milligrams worth of natural caffeine from green tea, caffeine, gamma-amino butyric acid, guarana leaf extract, and l-theanine. The caffeine content is unknown, but the package says it "contains caffeine equivalent to 12 ounces of the leading premium coffee." Based on that statement and the energy blend, I'd put the caffeine content between 150 and 200 milligrams.


     I consumed this energy shot before doing some yard work, and I was pretty tired when I drank it. My father needed help removing leaves from our yard and I was in no mood to help. After consuming Zenergy, I was hit with a medium-level buzz that seemed to help me with my yard work. It was smooth and completely jitter free, just like it says on the bottle. However,  I would not agree with their claim of 5+ hours of energy. 


     Overall, Zenergy Energy Shot isn't bad at all. The only thing I would change would be the energy blend. Having a 249 milligrams energy blend with 5 ingredients won't cut it. Most energy shots have a much larger energy blend with more ingredients. Still, Zenergy makes a pretty decent energy shot. 7.1 out of 10.

REVIEW OF 5 HOUR ENERGY EXTRA STRENGTH GRAPE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: ~250 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.2 OUT OF 10.

     The product I am reviewing today comes from a company that I have never really liked, despite raving about in in 2009. Yes, it is 5 Hour Energy, and my first experience with it was most likely a placebo. To be honest, it wouldn't be anywhere near my top 10 now (it is 7th on Addicted 2 Energy's Top 10 Highest Rated Energy Products). I also do not like their commercials and their marketing techniques. It is just something about their whole image that I really don't enjoy. Nevertheless, I am back for round 3, this time the bottle is sporting an extra strength label and a grape flavor. I must say, I really like the packaging, it is extremely simplistic but also quite cool. But, of course, packaging isn't everything. Let's see how it fairs in the taste department.

     When I first saw that the flavor was grape, one taste came to mind: cough syrup. Since some cough syrups are grape flavored, and some energy shots can be quite medicinal, it was only fair to think that it would not have a pleasant flavor. As it turns out, I was completely wrong. This does not, in any way, taste like cough syrup. In fact, it actually has a pretty good flavor and went down the esophagus with no problem whatsoever. So, I will give props to Living Essentials for making a tasty energy shot.

     It's been a long time since I took a gander at 5 Hour Energy's list of energy ingredients, so let's see what I got myself into today: 200 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 2,000 milligrams worth of taurine, glucuronolactone, malic acid, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, l-phenylalanine, caffeine, and citicoline. The caffeine content is officially unknown, but it is estimated at being roughly 250 milligrams per 2 ounce bottle. 

     Even though this does have "as much caffeine as a 12 ounce cup of the leading premium coffee", I have to say I didn't really feel a lot of effectiveness from this drink. I had high hopes that this would be the drink that would restore my liking for 5 Hour Energy, but unfortunately that was not the case. I received a mediocre boost in energy, but nothing like the buzz people talk about when the have a 5 Hour Energy. 

     Overall, 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength Grape is not a bad energy shot by any means, even if it isn't as effective as some of the other shots I have tried. The grape flavor is pretty nice and does not need a chaser to wash it down. And the 5 Hour Energy Blend isn't bad either. Basically, it's just the kick that needs work, at least in my opinion. 7.2 out of 10.

REVIEW OF NEURO FUEL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 128 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10.


     I know, I've been slacking a little bit and I haven't written a review since October 25, but honestly who cares when my last review was. The point is, I am here now and ready to give you guys and girls another energy drink review. But before I get to that, it's time for some brief site news. If you are familiar with the site Energy Fiend, please check out my review of Relentless over at that site, which is right here. I really want to thank Ted from Energy Fiend for giving me the opportunity to post a review, and hopefully this review will be posted as well, albeit in its own Energy Fiend style.


     Now, let's get started with this review. Today I have a drink that isn't your typical energy drink. It is called Neuro Fuel and it is marketed as a mood boosting energy drink, something you don't see very often. Anyway, the flavor is not described on the front of the can, so I had no idea what I was getting into. Upon taking the first sip, I noticed the drink had a traditional, impossible-to-describe energy drink taste. IT wasn't necessarily a Red Bull clone, but it just had a certain medicinal flavor to it. Personally, I don't mind the traditional energy drink flavor, but if that isn't your idea of tasty, I suggest you move on.


     The energy enhancing ingredients list features a potent blend of mood boosting and energy boosting ingredients. They include: 100 percent daily value of vitamin b1, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b1, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 4,765 milligrams worth of taurine, caffeine, l-carnitine, dl-phenylalanine, glucuronolactone, piracetam, choline, caffeine, and inositol. Piracetam is an ingredient that I had never seen before, so I researched a little to see what I could find. As it turns out, Piracetam improves memory and boosts concentration, and enthusiasts say it "wakes-up the brain." 


     So, does it work? Yes, and no. Yes, the drink does do its job as an energy drink and provided a decent uplift to my energy levels. On the other hand, it failed to improve my mood one bit. At first I thought it did, but throughout the course of the day I could tell that first instance was only a placebo. And that basically summarizes my experience with Neuro Fuel. Ok for an energy drink, not so good for a mood booster.


     Neuro Fuel is an interesting beverage, and I have to say I wasn't really that impressed with it. Yes, I do like the traditional energy drink flavor, but I would have loved for it to be flavored something different than that, possibly blueberry or grape. You can always tell I am not particularly fond of a drink when I am struggling to figure out what to say about it. So I will stop trying and give it a rating: 7.3 out of 10.

REVIEW OF RELENTLESS

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 197 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.8 OUT OF 10.

     During my Big Lots Energy Drink Raid I acquired quite a special beverage. Relentless Energy Drink, from the United Kingdom. The version I am reviewing is the American version but I believe it is basically the same drink. The packaging is very creative and probably one of the best looking energy drinks I have seen in a while. I especially love the font of the word "Relentless." Just look at the photograph and you'll see what I mean.

     Now, Relentless is one of those energy drinks that do not wish to divulge the flavor on the front of the can, so I had no idea what it would taste like. Turns out, this drink is very different than what you're used to having. The first sip reminded me of a traditional energy drink, but it had something extra, something I can't put my finger on. EDJunkie says "it has that classic energy drink taste but then at the finish it has more of a citrus flavor than your typical energy drink." Possessed by Caffeine describes it as "a bit sour (not bitter) and a bit citrus....[it almost has] a citrus vanilla flavor." I do agree with the added citrus flavor, and if you are looking for something unique, I suggest you pick one of these up at your local Big Lots for 70 cents.

     Before I tell you how much of a kick Relentless gave me, let's check out what its packing under the hood. It has 200 percent daily value of niacin, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 50 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 1,888 milligrams of taurine, 197 milligrams of caffeine, along with yerba mate extract and guarana extract. 

     So it isn't quite as good of an energy blend as the Rumba Energy Juice I tried yesterday, but it does provide a more powerful kick. The only problem is, it did not last as long as Rumba, which again is most likely due to the lack of energy enhancing ingredients in Relentless. The tried-and-true Monster Energy Blend that is put into Rumba packs a lot of energy ingredients, where as Relentless only has b vitamins, caffeine, taurine, and a little bit of yerba mate and guarana. So, if you want a long lasting energy drink, go for Rumba. If you want a quick jolt, go for Relentless.

     Overall, I was fairly impressed with Relentless. I will admit I am not the biggest fan of the flavor, but I will give it a few extra tenths of a point for being unique. Also, the energy blend gets the job done and nails all of the energy drink essentials, although it could use some other ingredients. The effects also gets the job done, however its duration is not as long as some of the other energy drinks I have tried. I'll give it a 7.8 out of 10. 

REVIEW OF RUMBA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 170 MILLIGRAMS PER 15.5 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.4 OUT OF 10.


     Good afternoon everyone, today I've got a great review for you, but before I get into that I would like to update you on some site news. First of all, Energy Product of the Month will no longer exist, but instead there will be Energy Products of the Year. Why am I doing this? It's simply due to the fact that I only get to review 2 or 3 drinks a month, and comparing only 3 drinks is way too simple. In other news, a Big Lots has opened in my city, and I have acquired 3 drinks that I will be reviewing: Rumba, Relentless, and Havoc. First up, Rumba.

     The very first characteristic you notice about Rumba is its packaging. Rumba uses bright and engaging fonts and a vivid color scheme to draw attention to itself. It also states right on the label that it is 100 percent juice. Those juices are apple, orange, peach, tangerine, pineapple, white grape, and passionfruit. Taking a sip, I get completely bombarded with a cornucopia of fruit juices, not one of them taking a front seat. It makes a lot of sense though, since this is really a bunch of fruit juices that are amalgamated together to create a unique flavor experience. And it sure is unique. In my opinion I have had energy drinks that taste better than this, but if there was an award for "This Does Not Taste Like an Energy Drink At All" this would win it hands down. If you love 100 percent juice drinks, pick yourself up a Rumba.

     When I first looked at the energy blend provided in Rumba Energy Juice, I noticing something a little interesting. I thought "where have I seen this energy blend before? Oh, I know, it is the same blend that is used in Monster." That's right, it's the same blend, and here it is: 191 percent daily value of vitamin c, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 1,910 milligrams of taurine, 382 milligrams of panax ginseng, and a 4,771 milligram energy blend consisting of glucose, caffeine, guarana seed extract, l-carnitine, glucuronolactone, inositol, and maltodextrin. Not to shabby! My only complaint is that it does seem rather high in sugar, about 32 grams per 8 ounce serving (61 grams per can) compared to Monster's 27 grams per 8 ounce serving.

     With the same energy blend as a traditional Monster, the kick was pretty respectable. I chugged this in the morning while I ate breakfast and I didn't feel bad about doing it because it was a 100 percent juice drink and complimented by bowl of Mini Wheats quite well. The buzz came on about 20-30 minutes later and kept me awake through most of the school day. It is nothing too substantial, but like I said earlier, it was respectable.

     Overall, I have to say I was impressed with Rumba's performance. The flavor was fantastic and tasted like nothing I have tried before, the energy blend is from Monster so you can't go wrong there, and the effects were definitely noticeable. I'll give it a solid 8.4 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ABB DIET TURBO PUNCH

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 90 MILLIGRAMS PER 18 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 6.2 OUT OF 10.


     When you think of American Body Building, you tend to think of guys who eat anabolic-androgenic steroids for breakfast and have 36 inch biceps with veins that make it look like a map of San Francisco. But despite ABB's hardcore line of drinks, like this one and this one and this one, they do have a softer side with their anytime energy drinks. These drinks include Diet Turbo Tea, Diet Turbo Lemonade, and Diet Turbo Punch. Let's check out the Turbo Punch, shall we?

     Well they may downsize the caffeine content quite a bit, but this packaging still means business. What worries me is that the word "diet" is in the name, which means it should taste like a Sucralose-laden mess. Not this one though. The flavor is extremely sweet, almost like drinking a liquefied sucker. Sure it may sound unappetizing, but trust me on this. American Body Building nailed the flavor pretty nicely.

     Well since this is their non-hardcore energy drink, it shouldn't have all of those crazy ingredients, right? You bet. All it has is green tea extract, guarana extract, and Korean ginseng. The total caffeine content from all sources is a modest 90 milligrams. To be honest, 90 milligrams is nothing when you're talking about an 18 ounce drink. That means this drink is less concentrated than a Vault (my first review, enjoy).

     So with that lack of caffeine, the effectiveness of the drink should be pretty lackluster right? Once again, you bet. American Body Building Diet Turbo Punch is in no way a powerful drink. I don't think I noticed hardly anything after I consumed the contents of the bottle. They need to make this into an energy shot so the caffeine is more concentrated. I mean, a bottle of Speed Stack has 250 milligrams of caffeine, now that is what I am talking about. This thing though, not so much.

     Overall, this new member of the anytime energy line-up has a great flavor, albeit it is very sweet. It also stays true to its promise of being an anytime energy drink by not putting in crazy ingredients. However, due to its low caffeine content, the kick is not up to par. Personally, I'd go for one of their hardcore energy drinks. Just make sure you consume it wisely, those drinks can be pretty powerful. 6.2 out of 10.

REVIEW OF COCAINE ENERGY SHOT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 280 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 8.8 OUT OF 10.


     Goodbye procrastination, and hello review time. To put it simply, I've held off this review for too long, but at least I had a good reason: I was ill. Yes, the common cold swept through my veins for a few days, depleting my energy sources. I waited to review the product I tried until I was feeling better, like today. The product I am reviewing is the new Cocaine Energy Shot, brought to you by Redux Beverages. I would not be surprised if Redux got back into the news with their new energy shot. The packaging is all white and looks very pharmaceutical. No flavor is posted. Hmmm, so what does it taste like? Read on and find out.

     With no flavor posted, I expected it to taste like an energy shot version of the regular Cocaine Energy Drink. After struggling to open up the bottle, I finally was able to take a sip. It starts off as a berry flavor, typical for energy shots, and then it has a peppery kick at the finish, but it is not as pronounced as the drink. Overall I was rather pleased with the flavor and I did not need to chase it with anything.

     So what do we have for energy ingredients? We've got some good stuff, here's the full list: 280 milligrams of caffeine, 250 milligrams of d-ribose, 250 milligrams of taurine, 100 milligrams of inositol, 50 milligrams of l-carnitine, 300 percent daily value of vitamin b6, and 850 percent daily value of vitamin b12. Not to shabby, but what especially blows my mind is the incredible amount of caffeine. 280 milligrams in a 2 ounce bottle. This makes Cocaine Energy Shot the 3rd most potent 2 ounce energy shot ever made.

     Certainly then, with that much caffeine it should have quite the effect. I tried this drink multiple times and each time I got something a little bit different. One day I was jittery and could really feel the effects, the other day I didn't feel much, and today I got a boost that was big enough to get me out of the doldrums, but not insane enough to blast me to outer space. While I did not receive as big of an effect as ED Junkie did, I was still pretty satisfied with the kick.

     The energy shot installment of the Cocaine Energy Drink is not quite a masterpiece, but it gets the job done. It's main highlights are the great amount of caffeine and it's pleasant but unique flavor. Overall. I'd give it an 8.8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF CELSIUS PACKETS BERRY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 200 MILLIGRAMS PER 0.19 OUNCE PACKET.

RATING: 8.6 OUT OF 10.


     The drinks that Celsius offers really do impress me. They have a nice flavor with a great buzz, now let's see what their mix can do. The Celsius Drink Mix is a powder that is added to water or your favorite non carbonated beverage. I have reviewed other energy mixes in the past, like Helix and Crave and they both did pretty well, especially Crave. Anyway, the Celsius Packets are berry flavored, so let's see if they nailed down the flavor.

     I took a 16.9 ounce bottle of water, drank one sip out of it, and then proceeded to add the pink powder. The powder mixes quite well, but there are still some pink chunks floating around. Nothing a little strainer can't handle. Unless you prefer the pink chunks in your drink, then you can just forget about using a strainer. As for the actual flavor, it is quite delicious and refreshing. Despite using Sucralose, there is hardly any artificial sweetener flavor to be detected. It is definitely a nice, subtle berry flavor.

     All right, so the flavor is quite good, but can the energy blend make that same accomplishment? Well, it has 100 percent daily value of riboflavin, 100 percent daily value of niacin, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 100 percent daily value of biotin, 100 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 41 percent daily value of chromium, and the MetaPlus Proprietary Blend consisting of taurine, green tea leaf extract, 200 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous, glucuronolactone, and ginger extract. Oh, and did I mention it also has 100 percent daily value of vitamin c? And so do all the other Celsius drinks. Not too shabby!

     Well we know it has the same exact blend as every other Celsius product out there, so it should provide a nice kick. Well, it certainly didn't have me bouncing off the walls, but I definitely noticed an uplift in my energy levels. I would say the kick was somewhere between medium and medium-high. Overall, I was pleased with the effects.

     The Celsius Packets are a nice, well-developed product. They executed the flavor quite well, and if you strain your solution, you will get rid of the pink clumps. The kick is also pretty nice. You can buy these online at www.celsius.com . 3 boxes of 7 sell for $29.97, making each packet cost only 70 cents. Final rating: 8.6 out of 10.

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