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Rockstar Original
I expect more from the “Original” flavor of a successful line of drinks. Far and away, the taste is the biggest flaw with the product… I certainly feel that there are better options on the market
Overall Score
/10
Overall
3
As hinted in the Taste section, I am disappointed in the Rockstar Original. Far and away, the taste is the biggest flaw with the product. An aesthetically pleasing can and high caffeine content do not redeem the shortcomings in flavor. Add high sugar content to the equation and you are left with a drink that doesn’t particularly satisfy you or make you feel good. For all its shortcomings it is not the worst beverage on the market. Regardless, I certainly feel that there are better options on the market.
Taste
2.5
Warning: this is where the majority of my gripes with this product lie. Rockstar Original, in theory, should have a classic taste that is worthy of spawning many variants. I was disappointed to find the product neither sweet nor flavorful. The 16 oz. can has 64g of sugar, which seemed to make the drink feel sweet without making it delicious in any sense. The flavor I can best describe as the syrup for an almost bitter knockoff cola. The aftertaste was unsatisfying at best, and only my desire for caffeine encouraged me to continue sipping. I didn’t find the drink refreshing or particularly satisfying. Are there worse drinks out there? Surely. Regardless, I expect more from the “Original” flavor of a successful line of drinks.
Appearance
7
Let me be clear, the Rockstar Original can is no stunner. However, being the “Original” it certainly makes a case for understated graphics. The design is simple, with a black background and giant star, but manages to still catch eye with bright accents and styled fonts. While not the most likely to catch your eye on the shelf, it has an aesthetically pleasing design that satisfies this consumer.
Kick
4.1
The initial kick from carbonation and flavor had a minimal impact. However, the 160mg of caffeine in the can made itself known fairly quickly. Each individual’s desired kick is highly subjective. If you enjoy the immediate and impact of the caffeine and sugar, this could be the drink for you. I found it to be overwhelming and didn’t positively contribute to the enjoyment of the beverage. A more substantial initial kick would have been preferred, perhaps that could be blamed on the flavor.
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