Gatorade Fast Twitch is taking the market by storm. The Gatorade name is enticing and its success isn’t surprising, but how does it actually compare to a typical energy drink?
First off, it has 200 mg of caffeine. In a 12 oz bottle, that total and concentration are comparable to Celsius and Alani Nu. The big difference is that, as you’d expect from Gatorade, Fast Twitch isn’t carbonated. It delivers a solid kick, and the lack of carbonation makes it a better pre-workout than most energy drinks.
The mouthfeel is less like regular Gatorade and more like Monster Hydro. Cold, it has a bite that lets you know caffeine is on the way. As it warms up, a slight bitterness becomes more noticeable, like Monster Hydro and many other non-carbonated energy drinks.
The kick and mouthfeel live up to expectations, but that’s not what everyone’s asking. The real question: does it just taste like regular Gatorade? A resounding no. Regular Gatorade flavors are fine, but the Fast Twitch flavors are far more exciting, and the three in the variety pack all taste quite different.
Glacier Freeze: 8.6/10
Glacier Freeze lingers on your tongue like a sugary energy drink rather than a normal Gatorade, with zero grams of sugar. It’s a bit bitter, but nowhere near Adrenaline Shoc; it’s more on par with Full Throttle, minus Full Throttle’s ungodly sugar.
It tastes like a liquid blue popsicle, or more precisely, a slightly more bitter, toned-down version of one. The popsicle aftertaste lingers longer than any normal Gatorade and sometimes drifts toward mixed berry. Appealing and unique, but not quite enough to crack the elite tier next to top energy drinks.
Orange: 6.7/10
One of the most unique orange flavors out there. Most orange drinks taste alike, but this one tastes like orange mixed with Kool-Aid, almost exactly like the twist-top Kool-Aid Bursts.
If you grew up on those, nostalgia will make you like this more than people who didn’t. On its own it’s fine, but nowhere near as good as Glacier Freeze. It’s at least as bitter and tastes more artificial, and it gets much less appealing as it warms up. Fine as a standalone, but not the pre-workout to keep in your gym bag.
Strawberry Watermelon: 7.3/10
Strawberry Watermelon tastes like it came from a different pack entirely. It’s much more mellow and far less bitter, with a softer (but still present) aftertaste. The closest comparison is a strawberry Danimals smoothie. The strawberry overshadows the watermelon, though there’s clearly something extra on top.
The kick feels weaker because of the softer mouthfeel, even with the same 200 mg. It’s better as a midday pick-me-up than a pre-workout, since the flavor is less exciting than the other two. Enjoyable, but it doesn’t come close to Glacier Freeze.
Verdict
Gatorade hit it out of the park making relatable energy drinks. Popsicles, Kool-Aid, and Danimals nostalgia will get the core energy drink demographic excited. I highly recommend Fast Twitch as a standalone drink or as a pre-workout, which is how I’ve started using it. You feel good after, and there’s no sugar crash.
Buy the variety pack on Amazon, then see how all six flavors rank in my follow-up: Gatorade Fast Twitch Flavors Ranked.
