Talking Rain: Twist Naturals

MarionBerry:

Oh God. Oh ugh. Oh ick, this was disgusting. It tasted like chapstick. Don't buy this. There is nothing good about it. Nothing.

Verdict: Stay the fuck away.

Mandarin Orange

This one isn't quite as bad. It tastes a lot better going down, but the aftertaste is kind of bitter and dry. It replicates a real tangerine pretty accurately. I finished the whole container, but only because I was very thirsty. I would only buy this one if there was no other substitute at the time.

Verdict: Not terrible, but don't spend your money on it.

Pepsi Throwback

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, Pepsi Throwback has already been removed from store shelves. For a limited time only, Pepsi-Co. realeased a cola that was sweetened with natural sugar. And it was delicious. Real sugar always tastes better. In any drink. Ever. High fructose corn syrup isn't a viable substitute. Natural sugar just breaks down quicker and cleaner than corn syrup during the consumption process. I was afraid to try Pepsi Throwback, because I was afraid that it would ruin regular Pepsi for me, which is exactly what it did. I am hoping that Pepsi-Co. turns it into a regular "limited edition" product like the McRib at McDonald's.

Anyway, the drink itself. I was going to talk about my frustrations with the name "Pepsi Throwback" and it's connotations, but that could quickly turn into a long, long discussion. Maybe some other time. Anyway, the drink is pretty much perfect. The drink is a different kind of sweet than regular pepsi. It's a sweet that dissipates towards the end of every drink (as you swallow it), and it does not leave too much of an aftertaste. Throwback sustains well, as I have not only not had any trouble finishing a serving of any size, but I also find myself falling into a sort of depression as I reach the bottom of the can or bottle. Bottom line: this drink is very good. Pepsi got a lot of good response about it, and seeing as I have a hard time drinking normal Pepsi again (and I am sure I'm not the only one), I think that it would be wise of Pepsi to consider turning this into a standard (or at least annual) product.

Verdict: Strongly recommended

Dr. Enuf

Dr. Enuf is kind of a rarity these days. So far, I have only really found it in one gas station near my house in South Carolina, and I've only seen it a few times outside of that. This is a fact which deeply saddens me, as Dr. Enuf is a delicious and unique beverage, and I wish that more people could enjoy it as I do. Dr. Enuf markets itself as a "vitamin enriched soda." It's closest comparison flavor is probably lemon-lime, but that's not really a good comparison. It tastes kind of like those Flintstones vitamins that everybody took as a kid. At first, that sounds appalling. Flintstones vitamins were not necessarily bad, but they were very strong, and would not make for a very good beverage. However, one must keep in mind that Dr. Enuf has a vitaminy flavor equivalent to a 16 ounce glass of soda water into which you drop a single Flintstones vitamin that is allowed to completely dissolve. It's got a definite, but not overpowering taste, and the aftertaste is about as you would expect it to be, based on my description of the flavor. I've personally never had a problem drinking a whole serving of this. I love it, and every time I get one, it is usually gone within a matter of minutes. I know it sounds like a weird one, but give it a shot if you ever run across it. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Verdict: Recommended.

Red Bull Cola

I do not like teh Red Bulls. I think that it is a rancid, overly acidic, mouth-parching, sickening excuse for a beverage. I could not even finish the first and only eight ounce serving that I purchased last year. So I don't know what inspired me to purchase this Red Bull brand Cola today, but...I did. And it was delicious. The first drink was amazing. It has probably the strongest, most pure Cola taste of any common Cola. It was delicious, that is, until the aftertaste kicked in. The aftertaste here was an absolute deal breaker. It was disgusting. A few seconds after I had finished the first drink, a bitter, revolting aftertaste arose from the depths of my throat and seized every active section of my olfactory system. It was gross. The drink gets points for taste, but loses major major points on aftertaste. There is no reprieve. I could say that this drink sustains well and that I had no trouble finishing it, but the only reason that that would be true is because I was constantly taking drinks to delay the horrible aftertaste that I knew was just ready to pounce. This drink it bad. I think it is safe to say that I will not be trying another Red Bull product in the future.

Verdict: Not recommended. 

Sierra Mist: Ruby Splash

Sierra Mist is good. I usually prefer Sprite (despite the fact that it is a Coca-Cola product), but Sierra Mist wins because of Ruby Splash. Ruby Splash is just Sierra Mist with a hint of grapefruit. And it is delicious. It is tasty without being tart or sour, and doesn't dry out your mouth like everything else containing grapefruit. Grapefruit juice is interesting. It's one of the few drinks that I know of that requires another separate drink to rehydrate your mouth. That and Capri Sun. That stuff was horrible...why did we drink it all the time? 

Anyway, Ruby Splash. Ruby splash is a welcome change in this world of flavor blasted snacks and drinks. Modern beverages are all hyper flavored, and I'm terrified of every variation of a classic drink that I pick up, because eight times out of ten, the added flavor is overwhelming. This is not the case with Ruby Splash. The hint of grapefruit is just that: a hint. It's very faint, but it is just strong enough to change the experience and give you a unique Sierra Mist taste. It's pretty good.

Verdict: Recommended.

Apple Limeaid from Sonic

I went to Sonic tonight with my girlfriend, and on the way out I decided to grab a random drink that I've never had before. So I went with an Apple Limeaid. It was a mistake. Well, the main mistake was getting a large. This drink was so sweet and so acidic (from both the limes and the apples) that finishing the cup was a chore. It was good. The first drink was amazing. But after a few more sips, it was overwhelming. It's not a bad thing to try, but there are much better beverages from Sonic on which to spend your money.

Verdict: Get something else. If you really must try it, get a small. Hell, even a kid's cup would be enough. 

Rosemount Estate Chardonnay Semillon

Sorry for the lack of updates to anybody who actually reads this blog. I've just been super busy with mechanical engineering stuff this semester, and it has been hard for me to justify spending time on a blog that I feel like nobody reads. I guess I need to just be a bitch and resort to shameless promotion through my facebook profile...

Anyway, wine! Rosemount Chardonnay Semillon is an incredible white wine. I'm not a wine expert, but for what it's worth, this is probably one of the best white wines I have ever had the pleasure of introducing to my palate. It has a primarily fruity general taste, with a mildly nutty aftertaste. It is very crisp and easy to drink. I had no problem finishing a glass, which makes me sound like an alcoholic, but I promise you'll feel the same way.

Verdict: Delicious. And recommended.