Energy Drink Guru

Amp Elevate is part of a new 3 flavor release by Mt Dew.  The can design is similar to the others but I really dig the blue color combo and blue pull tab!

Elevate is branded as “Focus” with L-Theanine, this is the first energy drink I have sampled that has highlighted this amino acid that is normally found in tea.  Theanine has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress and also promotes alpha wave production in the brain.

Let’s crack this open and see what we get!!!!  I spy a crimson maroon color that is slightly cloudy upon pouring in a cup. (Very similar to Chambord liqueur)  The first sip produces a very sharp taste followed by strong carbonation that assaults your tongue.  I can handle the strong carbby feel that Elevate provides, it’s not overpowering or distracting.

Elevate is listed as a “Blast of Mixed Berry” and I will agree 100% on that, there is almost any kind of berry you can think of…. blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, blackberry and it finishes up with a light citrus aftertaste and a slight filmy residue on the roof of your mouth!

As for the goodies it seems that L-Theanine is the highlight that provided a nice focus factor (which could be all BS but I thought so), only 248mg of taurine, 160mg of caffeine, 148mg of guarana and 34mg of ginseng.

I would have no problem drinking Elevate anytime, it was refreshing, not overpowering and besides the slight filmy aftertaste I’d give this 2 thumbs up!

Today I found a can of Amp Traction at the local C-store this morning and had to pick it up. The can looks cool but the $2.69 price tag was not… (OUCH) but me being the energy drink whore I couldn’t pass it up.

Amp Traction (AT) has a black & purple can with a purple pull tab releases a heavy grape aroma once opened. The grape aroma is very inviting, smells good and so far the whole package is looking nice. Once we sample the AT we discover a very faint grape taste, the aroma does not even come close to matching the taste at all… I would compare this to a mild tasting Mountain Dew Pitch Black, it was a very forgettable taste that left me disappointed.

AT has very minimal carbonation, light metallic tingle on the tip of your tongue but does leave that filmy residue on the roof of your mouth. I would give this drink a high “hawker factor”… you could produce a mean high volume hawker to spit after just 1/3 of a can of Amp Traction.

Traction includes taurine, guarana, caffeine, d-Ribose, ginseng, HFCS and B vitamins.

Overall I could drink a whole can of this with no problem, but it tastes like a plain dull grape soda.