When I saw the bizarre, trippy commercial for Mountain Dew Kickstart Hydrating Boost energy drinks during the Super Bowl, I got pretty excited. An energy drink with some kind of hallucinogen in it? WOOHOO! Well, at least that’s what the commercial led me to believe, but I was intent on finding out for myself.
The description on the bottles are kind of interesting. Flavored sparkling juice beverage blend from concentrate with other natural flavors. I was under the impression it was a normal energy drink, but right away I noticed they weren’t as acidic and sugary as others on the market.
It has coconut water, contains 10 percent juice, and with the can being only 12 ounces and 60 calories per can, it’s definitely healthier than a lot of other energy drinks.
It comes in two flavors, Energizing Strawberry Kiwi and Energizing Pineapple Orange Mango. Did they really need to use the word “energizing?” I mean, it’s called Kickstart, and it’s sold amongst other energy drinks. And they use the same term on both flavors. They should use different ones, like, I don’t know, “Pump You Up Strawberry Kiwi.” Just my thoughts.
Pineapple Orange Mango beats out Strawberry Kiwi big time in the taste department. It has three fruit flavors, and though you might think something would get lost in the mix, all three flavors actually come through, with pineapple and orange being the most prominent. It drinks like a mix between a soda and a sparkling juice, and isn’t as carbonated as much as normal energy drinks are. It was very pleasant to drink.
The cans say, “with just the right amount of KICK” because they have 68 milligrams of caffeine.
But they don’t say anything about containing acid or some other drug that will make my cat dance or my statues come to life and have deep philosophical conversations with me, but I saw the commercial. I know what’s going on here.
The Strawberry Kiwi was kind of weak. I really just tasted strawberry, and since the flavor wasn’t nearly as potent as the Pineapple Orange Mango, the carbonation is more noticeable and it just doesn’t work as well as its companion flavor.
Both contain coconut water, but it must not be much. I couldn’t taste a hint of the distinctive flavor in either. But I’m not really complaining, as coconut water doesn’t have the greatest taste.
I drank half of each so I could see what was up with the energy boost I was supposed to receive, but honestly I didn’t really get too much of the kick I was promised. Now you may drink this and get a decent kick, but it didn’t do much for me.
But despite the lack of boost, I did find the hydrating part to be true. I would normally stay away from an energy drink if I needed a thirst quencher, but these drinks were darn refreshing.
As for the hallucinating… well, it never came. That commercial was so misleading. Promising me free drugs in a can that would make me dance and hallucinate, on top of giving me an energy boost. And what do I get? Nothing. Well, I did get a tasty Pineapple Orange Mango drink that I would have again. And I gained the knowledge that Strawberry Kiwi isn’t worth my time.
But most importantly, I realized that you shouldn’t seek out hard drugs inside cans of Mountain Dew energy drinks. You should just call your shady friend Peanut and see if he’s currently in or out of jail and whether or not he can hook you up.
(Nutrition Facts – 12 ounces – 60 calories, 0 grams of fat, 130 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 14 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, 68 milligrams of caffeine, 0 grams total fat, 130 mg of sodium, 15 grams total carbohydrate, 14 grams sugars, 0 grams protein, 68 milligrams of caffeine, 75% vitamin c, 60% niacin, 60% vitamin b6, 45% pantothenic acid, 10% phosphorous. Strawberry Kiwi – )
Item: Mountain Dew Kickstart Hydrating Boost
Purchased Price: 2/$3.79
Size: 12 oz. can
Purchased at: Gulf Gas Station
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Pineapple Orange Mango)
Rating: 4 out of 10 (Strawberry Kiwi)
Pros: Pineapple Orange Mango was quite tasty. Less sugary and acidic than typical energy drinks. Only 60 calories per can. Having a shady friend named Peanut.
Cons: Strawberry Kiwi was pretty weak. Drinks did not offer much of a kick. Misleading commercials. Having a shady friend named Peanut.
Those are about the classiest looking glasses I’ve ever seen used as a vessel for energy drinks. You’ve got style.
Chug 8 cans in the space of 5 minutes and things start to get weird
It,ll be nice if these drinks were in 16 oz cans. These drinks are much better than the other energy drinks on the market.
FWIW, if you ever have a dry, scratchy throat, these things are absolute heaven in a can. I grabbed one for the energy part one morning when my allergies were kicking my ass and I woke up feeling like I was swallowing sandpaper all night, and actually gave my wife an almost orgasmic cry of “OH MY F’N WORD…” when I actually felt the thing wipe out my sore throat.
*raspy throat*
*chug*
*rasp GONE*
It was seriously just like that.
So despite the lack of any real energy kick, I can’t help but recommend these things 1000% when you wake up feeling like you were throating a cactus in your sleep, because DAMN.
pineapple orange mango ! is so tasty it is my favorite one..I love them there really good and does give you a boost of energy ! try it you’ll be kicking in no time lol
AWESOME…I LIKE THE HYDRATING MORE SO THAN THE ENERGY…SEEMS HEALTHY WHEN YOU THINK OF IT THAT WAY..LOL!!! GREAT TASTE!!
you commercial ‘puppy-monkey-baby’ is one of the worst ,grossest commercials I have ever seen. I have spoken to many friends and aquaintances; and all are of the same opinion as I am. We will never buy any product from your company.
I was also intrigued by their description, and by their bizarre commercials. Has anyone tried the new “Energizing Watermelon” Hydrating Boost Kickstart? I’ve just reviewed it for my “Energy Drink of the Month” series and let me say right now it’s NOT THE BEST, but certainly NOT THE WORST. Really, it depends on what ingredients you’re avoiding. Some people are more concerned with limiting caffeine and avoiding taurine and carnitine; others are more concerned with limiting artificial ingredients. This product does have artificial colors and flavors, but less caffeine than Red Bull and less sugar than a lot of other energy drinks. If anyone is interested in the function and safety notes for the four most chemical-y ingredients in this product (sodium hexametaphosphate, glycerol ester of wood rosin, potassium sorbate, and calcium sodium EDTA), my in-depth review can be found if you Google GreenEyedGuide + Energy Drink of the Month Nov 2016 + Kickstart Hydrating Boost.