Sunday, March 27, 2022

Root Jack Orange Flavored root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Welcome to the Interport home of RootJack, the Pirate's most delicious alternative to the bane that is known as Scurvy!

Rest ye squiffy boots and hear the tale of Cap'n Astrea Valentine and her magical elixir what kept the crew healthy and n'er put one foot in the locker.

Rootjack will not only balance out yer four humors, you'll step lively and spot futher than ye even thought possible. Thar's power in this draught.

RootJack's a tasty Root Beer with a hint of Orange flavor and Vanilla, Guarana to liven yer step, and a full daily dose of Vitamin C to keep scurvy in check.."

(from the bottle) "A tasty Root Beer with a hint of Orange flavor, Guarana to liven yer step, and Vitamin C to keep scurvy in check."

(note about website info): while the website ingredients show "high fructose corn syrup" and also proclaims that no preservatives are used, the actual bottle label lists "sugar" as an ingredient as well as "Potassium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (preserves freshness)," which are both preservatives, so I suspect the web info must be out of date.

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Manufactured for VooDoo Elixers, Inc, Mishawaka, IN. 190 calories, 47g sugar. 100% Daily Recommended Value of Vitamin C. 120mg Caffeine. Glass bottle with twist off top. www.rootjack.com (root beer site) www.PVKII.com (tie in with a video game). Not recommended for children, pregnant women or those sensitive to caffeine. 


Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Quillaja, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Potassium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (preserve freshness), Potassium Citrate, Caramel Color, Guarana Seed Extract, Calcium Disodium EDTA.


My thoughts: Yarrrrr! What be this draught of root beer? When me pirate crew needs a kick in the seat o' them britches, an energy drink they demand! Will this elixir ward off the scurvy, or tis it fit only fer them lily-livered landlubbers? We shall see if this earns its spot on me crew, or gets sent straight to the plank.

What an interesting concoction they have made. I can certainly taste the orange and there's some root beer flavor to it as well, but there's a good reason the two flavors are not typically mixed. While not awful, I don't think they are very complimentary flavors (and I really like orange vanilla coke, so I'm okay mixing orange with other flavors). Perhaps the problem lies not in the mixing, but in the base root beer taste. The drink has one of those slightly sour hints at first and I'm not a fan of the sour root beers. That sourness lingers around as the aftertaste leaves a very basic root beer taste that clashes with the orange. The aftertaste texture isn't too bad, as the taste fades away to a creamy, slightly vanilla, sensation.

When I think of pirates, I think of the high energy attacks on their enemies, with pirates swinging to and fro, leaping from banister to banister. Well, unfortunately the carbonation reminds me more of when they're in the middle of a large, empty ocean with the bright noon-day sun overhead, as the crew lounges around in the few spots of shade, the ship slowly lolling over gentle waves, rocking everyone to a lazy slumber. More directly to the point, the carbonation is weak, offering very little pizazz. In hand with this, there isn't enough carbonation to create a froth or creaminess to the drink, though there are hints of creaminess as part of the aftertaste, likely due to the quillaja in it. Not only does it betray me with little carbonation, but I'm left with a slightly filmier sugar feel in my mouth, with a touch too much sugar for my taste.

Shiver me timbers, this here root beer is goin' to walk the plank. It's got no sea legs and has no place on any self-respecting pirate ship, other than to ward off the scurvy. Alas, I be sending this one down to Davy Jones's locker. 

Rating: D
flavor: D
aftertaste: D+
sweetness: C-
smoothness: C-
carbonation: D-


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