Phoenix is frequently used as a test market for new products a few months before the rest of the country gets them... or doesnt as the case may be. So we can sometimes get odd flavors and combinations popping up in our local supermarkets.
Anyway, the significant other picked up a couple of experimental beverages over the past few days, and we have some comments.
1. Smirnoff fire: This is the new Smirnoff alka-pop. They've been very successful selling these things to the underaged, and college girls who want to get drunk but don't like the taste of alcohol. Now they are going after the EXTREME!!!!! types with this stuff, because it's caffeinated.
Chris: Basically this tastes like carbonated Robitussin. I had one sip, shuddered, and declined to continue. I was hoping for something a bit tastier than red bull and vodka; I got cough medicine.
Mel: It tastes very MUCH like red bull mixed with cherry soda, and a bit of alcohol tossed in. I must have some cinammon or something similar as well, because it has a bit of slow burn to the aftertaste. It isn't easily drinkable, like the rest of their alka-pops. After the alcohol wears off the caffeine is still there keeping you awake in the middle of the night.
Verdict: Two thumbs WAY down. Give this to people you don't like at parties. Still preferable to the wild grape flavor though.
2. Dr. Pepper Berries and Cream: The good Dr. has been shaking things up lately, in an effort to compete with the various weirdness promulgated by Coke and Pepsi. First they introduced Dr. Pepper Diet Cherry Vanilla, which wasn't all that bad. Now, berries and cream.
Chris: Imagine Dr. Pepper mixed with red cream soda (that's cream soda with a bit of raspberry color and flavor available in the north and southeast, and in canada). It's not bad actually. Tastier than regular Dr. Pepper (which I don't much care for - though I kind of like Diet Dr. pepper which has almost no flavor, because its very light and refreshing).
Mel: I was going to say it was like Dr. Pepper mixed with raspberry sorbet; but Chris hit it on the head. Dr. Pepper mixed with red cream soda. It doesn't have the harsh bite of regular Dr. Pepper and is much more drinkable. It would make a KILLER ice cream float.
Chris again: Oooh yeah, and I bet we could come up with some interesting cocktails mixed with this....
Verdict: Not bad. It won't replace the Mountain Dew our household goes through so much of, but we wouldnt mind it every once in a while. May buy again, may not.
