“Energy drink” used to mean “coffee.” Now it’s a euphemism for “high-caffeine soft drink brimming with various types of sugars, weird ingredients like taurine and guarana, and occasionally, a few useful vitamins.” Every so often, Dan (the Connoisseur) and Corey (the Junkie) will hold an informal, simultaneous taste-test in their search for the perfect power beverage — it’s their Energy Quest. It’s not scientific, but it is honest. And it might be extreeeeeeeeeeme.

Viso Vigor
20-ounce bottle
http://www.drinkviso.com

Corey “The Junkie” Cohen

Describe the flavor: Not bad, and very unique for an e-drink. The label says it's a mixture of “lemon, lime, and strawberry essences,” and I taste all three, but it also tastes kinda earthy and natural ― totally unlike the Red Bulls and Rockstars that give your mouth a taurine-laced chemical bath.

“The Jitters”: At 300mg of caffeine per 20-ounce bottle (almost twice as much caffeine as a 16-ounce Rockstar), Viso’s not messing around. It didn't give me shaky-hands or other tell-tale jitters, but I did feel tingly and a bit “off” after finishing it.

Focus & alertness: BAM! Could I be any more alert? Jitters aside, this stuff is a serious powderkeg, packing one heck of an energy explosion. It helped me crank through the day’s work (which included some obligatory Rock Band drumming) big-time.

Negative impact on co-workers: They couldn't tell it was an energy drink, so they said nothin’.

Stank breath: None.

Packaging sex appeal: The stylish green-and-blue bottle projects a confident health-drink vibe, underscored by the word “Energy” beneath the Viso logo. It's an intriguing mix right off the bat.

How hard did you crash?: Definitely a little crash factor. The buzz lasted all day — again, strong stuff here — but when it wore off, I felt the yawns coming on. Not terrible, but noticeable.

Other comments: Viso gets big points for being one of the healthiest energy drinks around: it’s refreshingly devoid of Sucralose, Sodium Benzoate, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and other artificial ingredients that Dan and I regularly ingest in the name of…well, something. You get Certified Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, 100% RDA of 14 vitamins and minerals, and a drink that tastes pretty good. E-drink newbies should fear the high caffeine count, but for those seeking a big, healthy buzz, Viso Energy’s a good choice.

THE VERDICT: 8.0 (out of 10) 

Dan “The Connoisseur” Amrich

Describe the flavor: Tastes and feels a bit like a flavored water, with a stronger lemon tartness. The bottle actually says it’s a blend of lemon, lime, and strawberry, but I don’t taste the strawberry personally. The lemon dominates — and that’s not a bad thing. Think homemade lemonade.

“The Jitters”: None.

Focus & alertness: Improved! I did feel it, pleasantly. I didn't have the slam-bang experience Corey did, but it certainly worked for me.

Negative impact on co-workers: They just had to listen to us talking about flavor subtleties like we were snooty wine tasters.

Stank breath: Nothing major, though I did have a little acidic aftertaste that let me know I’d just downed something made with lemon. It didn’t stick around too long, nor was it unpleasant.

Packaging sex appeal: Big. Blue. Bold. You know it when you see it. But you might not get that it’s an energy drink right away, with words like “vitamins” and “organic” prominently placed on the label.

How hard did you crash?: Nothing unusual or unacceptable for me.

Other comments: Viso Vigor is the opposite of most other drinks on the market. It’s not carbonated. It’s not full of high fructose corn syrup; in fact, it’s 100% organic. But there’s one way it’s similar to the competition: it’s got a serious amount of caffeine in it. A beefy 300mg in a 20-ounce bottle is significant. That’s not much more than a Red Bull in terms of caffeine per ounce, but there are simply more ounces here. Don’t be scared of the “100% Vitamins” tag on the front, or the fact that it doesn’t look extreeeeeme. This is the real deal and a good alternative to the sugary-sweet stuff out on the market.

THE VERDICT: 8.5 (out of 10)