I may have expanded my repertoire to include shots and other such energy products, but when it comes to caffeine, I’m always going to be an energy drink reviewer before anything else. I freaking love reviewing energy drinks—I love tasting them, I love feeling their effects, I love posting reviews on new energy drinks. The shots and what not I don’t feel quite as enthused about—it’s more of a duty than anything else.
Anyway, if you want to understand my partiality, pick up a Monster Energy—Cuba Lima. It’s finding little gems like this that make energy drinking/reviewing worthwhile. You know the experience has been a good one when you slam the empty can down on your desk and think, “Man…I freaking love energy drinks!”
That said, on with the review….
CAFFEINE CONTENT
160 mg
EASE IN ACQUISITION—2
For the moment very uncommon, but look forward to a more widespread availability soon enough.
APPEARANCE/PRESENTATION—8
At first sight, this is pretty standard fare for Monster—black M with a green outline, and a strange little graphic of a lime in the bottom-right corner. Picking it up, though, you find that Monster’s done something a bit different in adding texturing to the can—in other words, it’s got little bumps all over it to help give it a better grip. Got mixed feelings on that (feels a bit strange), but at least I was never worried I was going to drop it.
TASTE—10
This is where Cuba Lima shines. I love Cuba Lima for the same reasons I loved Heavy Metal (for those of you who hated Heavy Metal—fear not; they taste NOTHING alike)—because it’s so dang different from everything else I’ve had. So what does it taste like? Mostly like lime with some salt and a splash of coke—yeah, kind of weird, but believe it or not, it tastes fantastic. It might not be quite enough to trump my love for Rehab—Lemonade, Orangeade and Rojo Tea and establish itself as the best beverage Monster currently produces…but it’s dang close.
KICK (INTENSITY)—8
Reminds me a good deal of Lo-Carb—high end of average. Enough to really enjoy, and more than enough to validate returning to the deliciousness that is the flavor of Cuba Lima time and time again.
KICK (DURATION)—8
Solid 3 hours, 45 minutes or so, without a crash to speak of.
THE DRINK OVERALL—8.67
Loved Cuba Lima, and certainly encourage the reader to give it a shot once it becomes available. Enough said.
WEBSITE: monsterenergy.com
KEYWORDS: Monster Cuba Lima energy drink review, new Monster beverage, Cuba Libre