WING IN WITH A RED BULL (Red Bull)

Member Name: Stroody

Product:	Red Bull
Date:	03/11/07 (476 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty - unique beverage - can buy in packs or crate, a good money saver

Disadvantages: Expensive - Shops like to take advantage with the price of 1 single can

Red Bull is one drink that never gets overlooked in my household, I load up my Tesco trolley with two packs of twelve cans and off I go. Red Bull has now become my main drink, whether it is for social purposes or for an energy boost it always hit’s the spot for me. So how did I first get introduced to this drink? I am a keen consumer when it comes to trying out unusual beverages, I am not your average person who goes for the normal drinks like Coca cola, Pepsi, Lemonade etc - So the name Red Bull when first spotted on the shelves was a drink I just had to try, so much so that once paid for I didn’t even wait to get home. I cracked open the slim line can in Tesco`s car park and put it to my lips , for me it was an instant like despite the unusual smell & taste it initially had. I have been drinking Red Bull ever since, that was around 2003. Yet after four years of consuming this drink my palate has simply not had enough. - A tangy taste that I enjoy more and more. A few little interesting facts before I begin my review.


•[Facts @ Your Fingertips]•

•Company Red Bull was founded in 1984
•The idea of Red Bull also created in 1984
•Austria was the 1st country to have Red Bull - 1987
•1994 Red Bull was launched in Germany
•1997 Red Bull truly goes global, targeting entire Europe/North & South America
•2000 the Asian market being targeted - Japan being the first port of call


So it is clearly evident from the above information that the Red Bull drink is not a flash in the pan. This drink is here to stay, so much so that now on average there are more than 70 countries consuming this energy stimulation drink. Everybody seems to be jumping on the band wagon hence why Red Bull is often copied and at a fraction of a price: drinks like Red Rooster & Red Devil are trying to muscle into this lucrative market and yet from my experience they fail miserably. In the face of the monetary value of Red Bull, it still remains the number ONE energy stimulation drink - easily brushing aside its competitors. The often copied cheaper brands are simply not as good and I would rather pay for the real deal & enjoy the taste than all these imitation drinks that are hoarding the shelves of supermarkets and other outlets & taste foul.

So who would of thought a drink packaged in a small slim can and sold at a premium rate would ever stand a chance and more so a drink that was relatively unknown to the western world - methinks Coca Cola better look over its shoulder because this bull is rampant. Everybody has heard of this drink by now whether it be via the TV ads using its unique slogan “ Red Bull gives you wings “ or through sponsorships of numerous sporting events , so it appears that Red Bull has its finger in many pies. A beverage that can easily hold its own and one that is growing from strength to strength.


So what does this popular pint size of a can contain?


•[Red Bull Goes All Science On Us]•

We have already established that Red Bull is an energy drink but what properties does this drink claim to have in order to vitalize the body and mind. The unique combinations of ingredients you will find in this beverage are as follows:-

•Taurine- a natural amino acid that helps to regulate the body temperature, taurine can also be found in other foods such as fish, meat and certain baby foods.

•Glucuronolactone - a carbohydrate involved in detoxification, eliminating waste substances from body. This carbohydrate is also found in grain & red wine.

•Caffeine - beneficial on mental & physical functions, improves speed & concentration as well as stimulating fat burning during endurance activities. One can of Red Bull is equivalent to drinking the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.

•Vitamin B - supports mental & physical performance as well as the build up & break-down of carbohydrates, fat & protein.


I am sure no scientific doctor, specialist or consultant but if I read the above I would have no real concerns when drinking Red Bull - One can go into any supermarket nowadays and pick up all kinds of different foods and drinks which are far worse for you health wise than Red Bull. How many foods are laden with salt? However, I would like to add that I recently saw a documentary on stimulant drinks and the conclusions from the so called experts suggest that all stimulate drinks can or will eventually lead to people suffering from sleep walking. That remains to be seen but for now I always wake up beside my woman in my cosy bed - not curled up in some corner of the house lol.

Another added incentive this drink promotes & claims to offer is that it contains no animal products or substances hence it is suitable for vegetarians as well. So before I go any further let me dispel this myth that everyone seems to talk about when drinking this beverage. The myth being that taurine is made from bull’s testicles and semen - This to my knowledge is not true, according to Red Bull the taurine used in their drink is purely a synthetic substance produced by pharmaceutical companies and not taken from animals. In fact all ingredients found in the Red Bull drink are synthetically produced by pharmaceutical companies. So next time somebody throws this myth at you impress them by putting them straight. I always do.

•[Reds Bull Target Audience]•

From all the information & literature one reads about this drink you get the impression that Red Bull is targeting a specific audience - the can itself clearly displays the effects of Red Bull and the type of people is trying to reach. This drink and I quote “are appreciated by top athletes, busy professionals, active students & drivers on long journeys”. So basically what it’s saying that people who lead busy lives, have pressurised jobs, people who need to use mental & physical exertion would ideally look to Red Bull as an energy booster. However, having said and even though you may not classify yourself into the above category Red Bull is still a beverage than can be enjoyed in virtually any situation & moment . You can drink Red Bull at work, at home whilst relaxing or during any slow tempo leisure activity - What I am basically trying to say here is that you don’t have to be breaking sweat to enjoy a Red Bull.

•[Why Isn’t Red Bull Red?]•

Despite the drink name the carbonated liquid that comes out of the can is not red but a yellowish colour, not that appealing but hey we judge a drink not by its appearance but what it does to our palate. The taste is extremely SWEET and tangy, I find comparing it to another flavour is virtually impossible and that’s what sets Red Bull distinctly apart form all its competitors. You simply have to try it for yourself in order to know whether you will like it or not. There are many versions out there of what this drink taste like and I beg to differ so I will let you readers judge for yourself. One thing I can say though Red Bull has a very strong distinctive smell about it. You could blind fold me and place an open Red Bull can near my nose I will know that smell a mile away.

An odour that is not off putting, instead I find the smell enticing and very pleasant on the nose. When drinking Red Bull it does leave a sharp aftertaste in your mouth, an aftertaste that is not short lived; this is one reason why I like this drink. The taste buds and palate get a good working over when consuming this drink. This energy stimulation drink is lightly carbonated which I found surprising at first because when you open a can it sort of gives off an explosion sound like it’s really fizzy. When you start drinking it though, I soon realised that Red Bull was not as fizzy as I initially thought.

•[How I Drink Mine]•

This energy as well as trendy beverage is consumed in many ways but I have my own preference when drinking a Red Bull. I NEVER drink it in a glass only out of the can and the can has to be super chilled before I even contemplate drinking a Red Bull. Once the settings are precise only then can I drink & enjoy it. When out and about and I fancy a Red Bull I make sure it’s a pretty cold can before I buy it. I advice not to drink this beverage warm, for some reason it tastes disgusting - it’s like a complete and different mouthful altogether. Yuk!! - There are people that mix it with alcohol such as vodka & it has now become a very popular drink in the club and pub scene.

•[Whats The Damage/Value]•

Red Bull drink is pretty expensive and there is no getting away from that. In fact when compared to the countless drinks that parade the shelves of supermarkets and other outlets nowadays, this drink can be considered as somewhat of a luxury buy. A single, slim and pint size 250ml can will set you back around £1.00 to £1.30 and this can be consumed very quickly - leaving you a bit short changed as you may fancy another drink. So value for money I would have to say no - If a single Red Bull can were around £0.80 in price then I would consider that as fairness and better value for money when taking the size of the can into consideration.

So, to get around this expensive habit of mine I always buy my Red Bull in packs or in large crates. So if you’re a Red Bull lover as I am then buy in packs or crate not a single individual can as you will be better off and save a lot more money in the long run.

Let’s do the maths:

1 single Red Bull can is £1.15, so if you consume a can a day will set you back £8.05 a week.

1 crate of 24 Red Bull cans @ Costco`s will set you back £15.00

1 Pack 10 Red Bull @ Tescos will set you back £9.97 - Just under £10

Red Bull is also available in packs of: 4 - 8 - 12


So next time you want to buy a Red Bull in licensed premises or in any variety of shops that like to milk it by splashing a huge price tag of £1.40 - just think packs and crates.

You ain`t having my dosh Mr!

However, no matter how expensive this drink is I won’t stop drinking Red Bull. The crate and pack buy approach saves me huge amounts of money. My only stipulation of this drink is the price of a single can - Not just the price but what annoys me the most is how a single individual Red Bull drink can vary in price from one shop to another.

Trawled many areas in the UK and stopped off in many places to buy stuff and these are the prices that I have come across for 1 single Red Bull can - diverse is not the word.

•£0.92
•£0.95
•£0.97
•£1.15
•£1.35
•£1.40
•£1.55




I surly don’t drink Red Bull because of what it says on the can regards to improving performance either. I simply drink this beverage because I like it; I enjoy the taste, the smell and everything about it. A unique flavour beverage - a drink that is different on the palate. So if you haven`t tried this yet, then Red Bull is a good place to start if you are looking for that something that offers an unusual and different taste. A taste that you can savour and relish.





Thanks © Strood 2007 @ 4.00am 03/11/07

Summary: Watch out Coca Cola coz this BULL is rampant.