Quake Black Cherry

Introduction

Expectations coming in low after reviewing Quake Original last week, which tasted like watered down Red Bull to me. If this is good, though, I might have to run over to 7-11 which is doing 2 for $3 on these bad boys.

Appearance

Giving this a 5 - the logo is boring but +1 over Quake Original for a nice matte red color scheme. Pours clear with medium carbonation.

Taste

Ok I’m impressed. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for black cherry, maybe it’s because my expectations were so low, or maybe it’s because it’s my first caffeine of the day; but I’m a fan. It’s just the right amount of sweetness, and the medium carbonation that I called out in the Quake Original review doesn’t bother me at all here.

The best comparison for taste is probably Cheerwine if you dial the flavor back just a bit. If you haven’t had cheerwine, get with it.

Kick

Quake packs a punch, as usual, with 250mg of caffeine and an energy blend that includes COQ10, creatine, electrolytes, and BCAA (amino acids) for the nerds out there. Perfect for my current situation in which I haven’t had my morning coffee.

Conclusion

Overall I’m a huge fan of this drink. Basically spiked Cheerwine with just the right amount of sweet. If you follow my reviews, you know that I usually trend towards simple flavors with high carbonation (e.g. Monster Zero Ultra, Uptime Original Citrus). So we’ll have to see if the strong flavor of Quake Black Cherry will stand the test of time.

Introduction

Black cherry is a wonderful taste for an energy drink. It is delicious while masking the bitterness of caffeine without the need for too much artificial sweetener. When I initially heard that Quake was a 7-11 brand, I did not have high expectations. Quake Black Cherry has surpassed all expectations, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has not tried it yet.

Upside

The major upside is the taste. Black cherry is among the best tasting Quakes (right up there with Berry Blast) in my opinion. It tastes more natural than you would expect for a drink with 5 Calories (0 sugar). Another upside is the kick. The caffeine content is wonderful at 250mg per can (15.625/floz). It will still wake you up thoroughly, but does not quite have as much as Bang or Reign which can make people jittery (with 300mg). The only reason the kick is not higher is because of the mouth feel. I like the mouth feel as it is smoother than most energy drinks with this much caffeine (no causation, just an observation). There really is not much of a bite, so it is still enjoyable to have while doing a low-key activity. Also, the can looks really cool. I do not think the Quake logo is anything special, but the sleek purplish-pink can really pops.

Downside

There is not much downside to Quake Black Cherry. If you do not like the black cherry taste, you will not like this one as much. The only reason it is not rated higher is because I think it could be improved. Adding sugar or some artificial sweetener could enhance the taste by making it sweeter in my opinion. It is not too bitter per say, but it could afford some extra sweetener.

Upshot

Overall, Quake Black Cherry is a fantastic beverage. For not having many downsides, I rated this surprisingly low. 8.3/10 is still a wonderful rating for a drink that could afford improvements. If you like black cherry (which we all do), then I recommend this drink. Next time I try it, I am going to add one drop of liquid Splenda to see if it makes a difference. It is not as sweet as many energy drinks with similar caffeine contents, but it is a delicious beverage that is worth going out of one's way to obtain.

Appearance

In an entire market of attention grabbing, brightly colored cans, Quake Black Cherry is understated. The top is the traditional aluminum finish, while the font and graphics are respectfully contained. You could say the can is classy, even. It falls more in line with a traditional soda can than energy drink. I certainly don't mind it. The can has a smooth finish that may not help with grip, but it feels nice and is unique. Quake Black Cherry certainly does not have not the most aggressive packaging, but you also won't catch me complaining about it.

Taste

The taste of Quake Black Cherry is also reminiscent of soda. I can't say that it's really a surprise that the flavor is similar to a cherry cola. It doesn't really taste like cola per se, although the cherry flavoring is on point. The drink is not too sweet and is quite refreshing by energy drink standards. Quake definitely has a winner here. I wouldn't go as far as saying it's the most delicious energy drink, but if you like cherry flavoring you cannot go wrong with this one.

Kick

The kick is not particularly strong both in terms of immediate aftertaste and feeling. Make no mistake, the 250mg of caffeine will pack a punch if you're not expecting it so don't underestimate the drink. The smoothness that contributes to the drink's refreshing quality also limits its kick. If you're looking for a drink with a lot of punch, you probably should look elsewhere.

Overall

This is a delicious, quality drink. It may not fit the traditional energy drink mold, but a lot of those atypical elements are the best qualities of Quake Black Cherry. You may not instinctively reach for an energy drink when you're hanging out but if you need a little caffeine to brighten your casual afternoon, this could be the right choice.