Demolishing the Land Speed Record - Calling All Energy Drink Manufacturers

Some friends are looking to demolish the land speed record with a 50,000 Horse E J-79 turbo-jet engine driven by none other than Leslie Porterfield (who is already the world's fastest woman on two wheels). They need some help. So all you Energy Drink and Energy Shot aficionadas need to get on the horn and tell your favorite or best energy drink manufacturers to help these guys out. Hit them up on Facebook and Twitter and let them know about this rare opportunity to sponsor the fastest woman on earth. Don't disappoint!

From the Press Release: It is rare that an opportunity comes along where millions of people around the world will be following a series of events and one company can have exclusive sponsorship to these events and have its name associated with these records for the rest of time. You can check out the full article here.

Monster Energy Rehab Review

Cost:$2.39
Cost Per Ounce:$0.20
Active Ingredients:Caffeine, Taurine, Ginseng, Guarana
Taste Rating:9.0
Kick Rating:8.8
Final Judgment Rating:8.9
Energy Drink Ratings Explained


Monster Rehab:
Normally I start out a Monster Energy Drink review with it has been awhile (since I last tried one)... However, last time I tried the Extra Strength Monster I was fairly impressed. Albeit left with a question as to "Where does the Extra Strength Come In?" Anyways, last time I was at my local Kwik Trip (c-store), as always I meandered over to the Energy Shots and Energy Drinks section and took a look. Low and behold, another drink from Monster that seemed intriguing. A 15.5 ounce Monster Rehab with only 10 calories (per serving) and claims of rehydration. Being intrigued I bought the Monster Rehab for a somewhat reasonable $2.39. Anyways, enough fluff, onto the review.

Monster Rehab: Taste
So as I previously mentioned there are only 10 calories per serving (20 total) which comes from 3 grams of sugar. The drink also contains 5% juice, which to be honest, most seem to include somewhere on the label. Anyways this non-carbonated Monster Energy Drink has a very refreshing lemonade flavor with a hint of sweet tea flavoring. I know what a lot of you readers are thinking... he said refreshing and Monster in the same sentence. Yes, I actually did. In this reviewers humble opinion, this is Monster's best tasting drink to date (taste is subjective though). They have come a long way since the original Monster Energy Drink. I also like the fact that they have a non-carbonated offering that tastes great and that is refreshing. Taste Rating - 9.0

Monster Rehab: Kick
This particular creation from Monster seems to have one of the larger Energy Blends (at least from Monster). The Original Monster has a 2500 milligram (per serving) energy blend where as Rehab has 3227.5 milligrams(per serving). So where does the extra energy come from? The only real difference seems to be coming from the addition of Black Tea Extract which does have a pretty decent amount of caffeine in it. So what's the actual amount of caffeine in Monster Rehab? No idea, but the original has 80 milligrams (per serving), so I would GUESS that Rehab has slightly more, maybe 100 milligrams (per serving). Regardless, I was not only pleasantly suprised with the taste, but the kick lasted several hours as well. The fact that there are only 20 total calories, hence, almost no sugar, there was no sugar induced crash after. And where does the "rehydrate" come into play you may ask. Well after looking though the ingredient list, it looks like the "rehydrate claim" is coming from the fact that it contains potassium and coconut water, both of which are good for rehydration. But I am not a doctor, so consult your doctor before taking my advice on the rehydration claims. Kick Rating - 8.8

Monster Rehab: Final Judgment
I am starting to change my mind about offerings from Monster. They have come a long way since their first drink hit the shelves. The latest one I tested, Rehab performed well in both the taste and kick categories. I guess I should keep Monster a little closer on my radar and check in with them more often. Final Judgment - 8.9

iShot Energy Potion Review

Cost:$2
Cost Per Ounce:$1.00
Active Ingredients:Caffeine, Taurine, B-Vitamins
Taste Rating:8.7
Kick Rating:8.5
Final Judgment Rating:8.6
Energy Drink Ratings Explained

iShot Energy Potion Review:
So looks like we have a relatively new entrant to the Energy Shot Market that hails from across the pond and is from All Day Energy Ltd. So as I have ranted before, more and more shots enter the market, but nothing really distinguishes them from the Original 5-hour Energy Shot or from the countless imitators. However, it appears iShot Energy is marketing both their original energy shot as well as a love potion and iShot Skinny which is marketed as a "slim potion." So right from the start they are trying to expand product appeal. But how will the Original iShot perform in the taste and kick categories?

iShot Energy Potion Review: Taste
Well first off the iShot Original does not mention any hint of flavor at all on the package or on the website - they do offer a acai berry version though. So I was a little intrigued and the fact that the 60 milliliter bottle was quite a bit larger than the 60 milliliter bottle that I am used to. Anyways, the packaging is sleek, the bottle opens quite easily and the first smell coming out was pretty much indistinguishable. The liquid in side did almost seem to be growing bright red and my first sip that went past my lips was actually very pleasant. It was a sweet berry/punch flavor that did seem to be a tad watered down (probably because it has only 15 calories) however; there was really no bitter aftertaste. So overall the taste was quite smooth. Taste Rating - 8.7

iShot Energy Potion Review: Kick
Now I have seen far fewer energy shots hailing from the U.K (it could be because I live in the United States) but to me it seems that the market is still a year or two behind the U.S energy shot market. The first sign to me was that the caffeine content (although decent at 120 milligrams) seemed to lag behind the majority of products offered in the U.S where they typical shot contains 160-200 milligrams of caffeine. Regardless, the other energy ingredients (Taurine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucuronolactone, L-Carnitine ,Siberian Ginseng, Maltodextrin and b-vitamins) in iShot seemed to pull their weight quite well. The kick I received lasted several hours with no resulting crash. Very pleased and one of the better energy shots I have seen come from over seas. Kick Rating - 8.5

iShot Energy Potion Review: Final Judgment
Cool new shot with a sleek bottle, smooth taste, decent kick and competitive price ($2/shot or cheaper in bulk). Overall one of the better energy shots that I have seen come from across the pond. However, I would love for them to offer an "Extra Strength" version for a bit more pick me up. I also look forward to giving their two other potions "Love Potion" and "Slim Potion" a shot. So stay tuned for a review of those two products. In the meantime feel free to leave comments on the taste and kick of this product. Final Judgment - 8.6

Monster Energy Extra Strength Black Ice Review

Cost:$2.39
Cost Per Ounce:$0.20
Active Ingredients:Caffeine, Taurine, Ginseng, Guarana
Taste Rating:8.5
Kick Rating:8.5
Final Judgment Rating:8.0
Energy Drink Ratings Explained

Monster Energy Extra Strength Black Ice:
Well long time no review of a Monster Energy, but looks like they have substantially revamped their lineup of Energy Drinks since last time I checked in with them. I am speaking specifically of Monster Energy's new "Extra Strength" Nitrous lineup. The 12 ounce Monster Nitrous lineup has four flavors; Super Dry, Anti-Gravity, Killer B and Black Ice. Now I will be totally honest, I have never really been a huge fan of any of the Monster Energy Drinks, but every once in awhile they do surprise me... and I am hoping that is the case with the new Extra Strength version.

Monster Energy Extra Strength Black Ice: Taste
So first off this drink has zero calories and zero sugar... also it is HIGHLY carbonated. I picked one of these up at a local c-store, put it in my car and drove to work. I let it settle for 5 minutes before opening. Upon opening, there was a loud pop (similar to the Jolt Energy Drinks) followed shortly after by an over flow of foam. I don't know if this is unique to the Black Ice "flavor" or if this is the case for all Monster Nitrous products... either way I could do with a little less carbonation so I don't have to waste any of the $2.39 I just spent on a 12 ounce drink. Anyways, taste... So again not exactly sure where they go the name "black ice" as it really has more of a sour berry/passion flavor which is reminiscent of the original Kronik Energy Drink. For zero sugar and zero calories the drink was actually pretty good. Flavors end up being a tad sour, but there is only a slight medicinal after taste. Pretty good actually, elbeit taste is subjective. Taste Rating - 8.5

Monster Energy Extra Strength Black Ice: Kick
Taste is decent, but will the extra strength provide an impressive kick? Well according to the 12 ounce can (12 ounce single serving) there is 2600 milligrams of Energy Blend which includes; Taurine, Panax Ginseng, L-Carnitine, Caffeine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucronolactone and Maltodextrin. So they don't list exact caffeine amounts, but let's compare this Extra Strength to an Original Monster. An Original Monster (8 ounce single serving) has 2500 milligrams in it's energy blend which includes L-Carnitine, Glucose, Caffeine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucronolactone and Maltodextrin. Taurine and Ginseng is listed outside the Energy Blend on the original. In an ingredient list, they usually list ingredients by quantity... so the more of something present the higher up the list. Well, the lists of the Original and Extra Strength Monster are almost identical... Original has 2500 milligram energy blend (Plus taurine and panax ginseng listed separately) whereas the extra strength has 2600 milligrams? Big kicker is that the Original Blend is for 8 ounce whereas the extra strength is for 12 ounces. That just doesn't seem right. To ME, it seems like the original has more bang for your buck in terms of ENERGY INGREDIENTS... And after drinking it I can conclude. Don't get me wrong, the kick was pretty good. But there is nothing Extra Strength about this Monster. Kick Rating - 8.5

Monster Energy Extra Strength Black Ice: Final Judgment
So taste was good... low calories and zero sugar are also a plus. But the confusing aspect for me is the "extra strength" label. I am not seeing anything extra about this either on the can ingredient list or IMHO during the review. I am confused, so maybe someone at Monster could weigh in on this so I don't misinform my 40,000 monthly readers? To me, the better value is by far the Original Monster, both price wise and energy wise... Final Judgment - 8.0

Feel Good 7 Energy Shot Review

Cost: $2.99 (cheaper in bulk)
Cost Per Ounce:$1.50
Active Ingredients:caffeine, taurine, malic acid, guarana extract, b-vitamins
Taste Rating:9.8
Kick Rating:7.5
Final Judgment Rating:8.5
Energy Drink Ratings Explained

Feel Good 7 Energy Shot Review:
So most energy shots tout the effectiveness of their energy blend while also touching on taste. Well a couple weeks ago I received some samples from Feel Good 7. They have 3 shots currently available appropriately named, Energy (Euphoria), Hangover (Recovery), Sleep (Serenity)... (which sounds like a typical weekend). At first I thought this is just another energy shot copycatting 5-Hour Energy... you know 6-Hour Power, Redline 7 Hour Energy Shot, or even 8-Hour Energy. I mean they do have a "7" distinctly in the label. However, upon further review of their Website I see no mention or claims of lasting for 7 hours. Instead, I see "taste matters." Which to me is quite intriguing, an energy shot focusing on taste instead of energy. You don't hear that too much. However, Feel Good 7 Energy Shot was going to be reviewed... and if taste matters, it better perform in that category! On to the review to find out.

Feel Good 7 Energy Shot Review: Taste
So no waiting what so ever... straight to the taste review. Now I have reviewed quite a few Energy Shots over the years and it's safe to say I have some favorites in both the kick and taste categories. But after trying all of them, none of them really got a.. "wow" I wish I could drink another, these taste spectacular. That is until now. To FeelGood 7 Energy, taste must matter because even with Green Tea Extract high up on the ingredient list, the little 2 ounce shot tasted great. A blend of fruity and berry flavors went down the hatch easily. No bitter aftertaste whatsever... I mean NONE at all. Great tasting! Taste Rating - 9.8

Feel Good 7 Energy Shot Review: Kick
So it tastes good, just like their marketing materials stated. But it's still an energy shot, so it better give me energy. Well the energy blend consists of 1731 milligrams of the following: Taurine, Malic Acid, Caffeine, Green Tea Extract and then your typical long words... Notice that caffeine is 3rd on this list and notice that the energy blend is pretty much typical of your standard energy shot. No it's not in the hardcore energy shots/drinks category and I would have to say it really is not in the extra strength category either. It's basically on par with your typical shot. Kick Rating - 7.5

Feel Good 7 Energy Shot Review: Final Judgment
Awesome taste, average kick. If you are a caffeine junkie like me, then this may not be for you. If you your normal energy shot suffices to get you going in the morning, then by all means drink one that tastes good. Oh and if you drink one of these too close to bed time, they offer a "sleep" version as well. And if you have a hangover, they have you covered their as well. To see their full lineup visit their Website. Final Judgment - 8.5