Before a night out, or when I’m just not feeling the coffee, I like to indulge in energy drinks. I know, I know, they’re not good for you and all that, but I genuinely enjoy them. I’m going to review six of the ones you’re all likely familiar with, and reveal which one is my favorite on all fronts, and why. Some of these drinks are offered in different flavors, but I’m strictly reviewing their basic original versions.

Monster Energy

The Monster Energy drink is typically found in a larger can that’s 16 oz. The monster can looks pretty cool. It’s got a slimy green M on it. Monster Energy also receives a large amount of recognition from its sponsorship of various sporting events in the United States.  The 16 ounce can of Monster Energy has 160 oz of caffeine and costs around $3.00. Monster Energy reminds me of the flavor of Rocket Candy. It’s a little on the sweet side with a hint of medicine taste. It’s also quite carbonated. Ingredients in Monster: Carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, taurine, natural flavors, sodium citrate, l-carnitine, panax ginseng root extract, ascorbic acid, caffeine, sodium chloride, niacinamide, riboflavin, guarana seed extract, inositol, glucuronalactone, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cyanobalamin.

 

Red Bull

Red Bull is of course the original energy drink. It is most commonly offered in an 8oz can, though more recently has begun offering the larger 16oz cans. Red Bull is expensive, but it does give you wings, remember? Its cost is usually around $2.99 for one can. Red Bull also tastes like medicine a bit, but isn’t too too sweet. It has a tang to it, but leaves you with a weird after taste. Red Bull has been banned in some places for having traces of cocaine in it. Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine in it, and here are its other ingredients:  Taurine , Glucuronolactone, B-Group Vitamins, Sucrose, and Glucose. Their website does not offer any other ingredients than that.

Full Throttle

Full Throttle is another brand of energy drink that’s usually only available in a 16oz can. Full Throttle is made by Coca Cola and usually costs between $2.50 and $3.50 depending on when and where. The taste of Full throttle is similar to Red Bull, but does not leave you with a weird after taste. Nor does it taste like medicine to me. It has a good balance between sweet and sour.  Full Throttle’s 16oz can has 144mg of caffeine, which is less than some of the other brands. Here are its other ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose, citric acid, taurine, natural and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate (to protect taste), ginseng extract, caffeine, acacia, carnitine fumarate, maltodextrin, niacinamide (vitamin B3), glycerol ester of wood rosin, yellow 5, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), guarana extract, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Red Rain

Red Rain is another energy drink that tries to mimic the original Red Bull. It is also offered in an 8 oz can, and also contains 80mg of caffeine. Although Red Rain fails at mimicking Red Bull’s flavor, it’s a good thing. Red Rain has a really good sour flavor with a hint of sweetness. It’s sort of a cross between Sour Puss and Swedish Berries, if you can imagine that. Red Rain is also exceptionally cheaper than all the other brands mentioned here. I can buy a four-pack at the grocery store or Wal-Mart for $3.99. Red Rain isn’t found everywhere; many convenience and drug stores do not offer it. It does come in bulk packages though, offered in the mentioned 4-pack, a 24-pack or the 1 litre bottle. They also now offer other flavors and a reduced calorie one. Its ingredients are: Taurine 1000mg, D-Glucuronolactone 600mg, Caffeine 80mg, Niacin (niacinaminde) 20mg, Pantothenic Acid (D-calcium pantothenate) 5mg, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCL) 5mg, Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 5mcg. Carbonated Water,Sugar And/Or Glucose-Fructose, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Potassium Benzoate, Inosital, and Colour.

Tab Energy

Tab Energy drink is another energy drink offered by Coca Cola. It is a sugar-free drink that has a cherry flavor. Its size is offered in a slim 10.5oz can and it contains 95mg of caffeine. Tab energy is tasty, but I can always taste the aspartame in it because it’s sugar free. It’s also not sold everywhere and seems to have lost popularity. It’s definitely different from the rest, I’ll give it that. Apparently it is targeted towards females with its pink color and lack of calories.  According to Wikipedia, this drink is currently being taken off the market by Coca-Cola. Its ingredients are as follows: Carbonated water, citric acid, taurine, natural and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, ginseng extract, caffeine, vegetable juice, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, carnitine fumarate, niacinamide (Vitamin B3), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Guarana extract, and cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

 Bawls

Bawls Energy drink definitely stands out from the rest of the brands here because it is offered in a blue glass bottle. A very cool bottle too, it has bumps all over it for better traction. Its name is also quite catchy and funny. Its bottle is 10 fl oz with 64mg of caffeine. The 16 fl oz bottle has 103 mg of caffeine. The flavor of Bawls is very delicious, again not too sweet with the right amount of sour. It’s difficult to find at times and is a little on the expensive side. I think it’s somewhere around $4.00 most places, but this is just a guesstimate. Bawls’ ingredients are as follows: Carbonated Water, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Guarana Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (as a preservative), Caffeine, Artificial flavors and Caramel Color.

 

The grand winner is………….Red Rain.

Why? Well it tastes really good, and it’s so much cheaper than all of the rest. For this, it’s the one that I always flock to. That’s right, Flock. I usually purchase Red Rain in bulk and also enjoy mixing it with Vodka for parties. Unfortunately Red Bull is still the only energy drink available in the bars; at least here in Ottawa. Red Bull really tastes like medicine to me, I just don’t like it. Full Throttle is my second choice, since it’s large for those really tired mornings or for when I was studying for exams. As far as taste goes, I’d say that Bawls has the best flavor, but it doesn’t quite have enough caffeine in it for the effect I need.

~Darleya~