Quake Orange Fusion

Introduction

This is my third Quake in the last week, with another waiting for me in my fridge, and I’m not even mad about it. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions (and caffeine) after being disappointed by Quake Original, which tasted like a watered down Red Bull, and then being floored by how good Quake Black Cherry was. Admittedly I’m a sucker for black cherry flavor, so I can’t wait to see how 7-11, who manufactures Quake, did with Quake Orange Fusion.

Appearance

Boring design but +1 for the color which definitely pulls you in. I shouldn’t have been surprised when this poured out clear like Black Cherry did, but it does pour out clear with medium carbonation.

Taste

Another banger to follow up Quake Black Cherry, in my opinion. This tastes EXACTLY like the Creamsicle pops you can get from ice cream trucks (Choco Taco energy drink, anyone?). Or orange cream soda, because that’s a thing right?

It hits you with the orange flavor immediately, which made me think it would be more Fanta-esque. But then you get a strong dose of vanilla aftertaste, which is well done. Not too sweet. I prefer more carbonation, but I actually think this is the right amount for the cream soda vibe. Orange, vanilla, and heavy mouth feel might be too much.

Kick

BCAA (amino acids), creatine, electrolytes, and COQ10 (an antioxidant, I had to look it up) along with 250mg of caffeine that’s standard with the Quakes I’ve seen. 250mg is my sweet spot right now, with 100 feeling like too little and 300 giving me the jitters. Solid kick if you’re looking for a boost.

Conclusion

I could be wrong but I don’t know of any other orange vanilla energy drinks on the market, so I think that 7-11 did a great job capturing that niche. It’s smooth, packs a punch, and is cheap (as of the time this review is being written).

My only issue, as it always is with strong-flavored energy drinks, is that re-drinkability takes a hit. However, this isn’t at the level that NOS Sonic Sour or Rockstar Thermo Tropical Fire are on. I could see myself reaching for a Quake Orange Fusion after a couple of weeks, for a refreshing change of pace that hits the spot.

Introduction

Quake Orange Fusion tastes very similar to Reign Orange Dreamsicle. It has the taste of an orange creamsicle, but there are some distinct differences. Since There is not as much artificial sweetener in Quake, it has a mildly bitter aftertaste. I would say it is softer than other beverages because it is not quite as sweet or bold as some other orange drinks. Overall, I enjoyed it more than Reign Orange Dreamsicle, but most orange drinks (such as Crush and Fanta) are far superior in taste.

Upside

Like all Quake, it does not have much artificial sweetener. If you do not like that “aspartame-y” taste, this is good news for you. It also has 250mg of caffeine per can (15.625/floz), which is a solid amount for any energy drink. It has more than most standard (160mg) and less than most “performance enhancing” (300mg) energy drinks, so it usually delivers a strong kick without making you too jittery (assuming that you have some level of caffeine tolerance).

Downside

The taste is the worst of all Quakes in my opinion. The bitter orange creamsicle taste is not my first choice for any beverage, and is disgraceful to other orange drinks being called “Orange Fusion.” Quake generally does a great job of masking the bitterness with sweet flavors rather than using excessive amounts of artificial sweetener, but this one does not fit the bill.

Upshot

Quake Orange Fusion tastes like an orange creamsicle, which is not a good flavor for an energy drink in my opinion. Since Quake does not use as much artificial sweetener as other brands, there is a bitter taste from the caffeine that is not masked by the flavor. I ranked Quake Orange Fusion (4.4/10) better than Reign Orange Dreamsicle (3.3/10), but I would not recommend either of them. The can looks sleek with a bright neon orange under the red Quake logo, and the caffeine content is nice at 250mg/can. While these are above average variables, you can find much better beverages with superior metrics all around.

Appearance

Quake always seems to get the color scheme right. I haven't been disappointed yet, and I've had a few. Quake cans are almost identical aside from the flavor respective color scheme changes, so the usual complaint(s) apply. An interesting note is that all Quake drinks I have tried are a clear liquid regardless of flavor. Personally I find it a bit odd, but it also would be naive to say that most drinks are heavily loaded with artificial food coloring. The packaging evokes a soda or seltzer flavor and not really an energy drink. If you prefer a relatively lowkey appearance, this could be the drink for you.

Taste

Orange creamsicle. I know that it's technically called "Orange Fusion" but orange creamsicle is the most appropriate. It's not as good as an orange creamsicle made out of ice cream but it's tasty. It's kind of an odd flavor for an energy drink and I can't honestly say that I would want it all the time. It feels like a dessert but at least it isn't too sweet. I'm in the middle on this one.

Kick

Not a strong kick. Similar to other Quakes, the Orange Fusion lacks much carbonation and any sort of initial bite. The 250mg of caffeine will catch up to you eventually, but don't expect to feel much in the interim. I relate it to drinking a slightly flat soda. It's smooth, but too smooth for me.

Overall

Quake Orange Fusion is the dessert wine of energy drinks. It's tasty but is limited in the range of scenarios in which you can drink it. Positively, it avoids the classic mistake of being too sweet. The drink has its ups and downs, but probably is best as a change of pace when you're tired of your go-to choices.