NON-CARBONATED! (not sure if that's a good thing, but they make it abundantly clear with the bold/all caps). Interestingly, the website listed on the can goes to a motivational flash intro movie, then ends with a link to "enter". That takes you to some advertisement page for completely unrelated products, and opens about Napier's constant of pop-up windows. This particular can is also plugging "The Covenant" movie, and a chance to spend Halloween in Salem, MA. Unfortunately for me, this was for Halloween 2006. Perhaps I should start drinking these more closely to the time I buy them. Otherwise, the can is bright orange, which originally made me fear it was going to be another crappy orange flavored drink. There is also a big X, with some atoms maybe?
I was astonished at the good flavor of Atomic X Energy Drink. I stood in awe, staring into the distance, as I imagined what the world would be like after drinking Atomic X. Perhaps all old men who stand in convenience store windows with their mouth agape have just tried Atomic X for the first time. I doubt it though, because most violently old people know that energy drinks are a tool of "Gen Xers" to take away their license, cut Social Security, and make their medicine more expensive. As a "Gen Xer", I fully support all those things, and as a result, I support Atomic X. It tastes really good, and surprisingly, isn't too thick, despite its lack of carbonation.
I was reminded of other Thai energy drinks I'd consumed many moons ago: Carabao, Commando Bear, M150 and others. Though tasty, they were overtly thick and syrupy. Though it's not as syrupy, it still contains an eye-popping 300 calories per can.
Atomic X was energizing, and I have no complaints in that area.
As for value, it's no free dinner and a movie, which millions of high school and college girls extort every weekend from hapless tradition adherents every weekend, but who else besides Social Security leaching crotchety old people get a deal like that? Let's just hope Hillary Clinton comes in and makes being old, straight, and honest illegal, like I know she's planning to do.
I think it's fitting that I review this drink on Halloween. For one, the Covenant, which I don't remember at all, but after some research, I believe almost made back its production and marketing budget with box office sales. Secondly, to my pleasant surprise, this tastes like a can full of dissolved Spree candies. I have no idea if these candies even exist any more, but when I was younger, I devoured them like toilets gulp down turds. The lack of carbonation wasn't as fundamentally unsettling as I'd at first imagined. The drink goes down pretty smoothly, and like most drinks, is more refreshing when it's very cold, and consumed far away from people like Jason.
This energy drink was moderately energizing. 200mg of caffeine is a pretty good dose, and I'd never condemn a drink for relying on caffeine as a primary source of energization.
At $1.99, I can't particularly endorse or criticize this drink. I think this drink sets almost perfectly on the definition of "acceptable" in almost every respect. It gets bonus points for originality on flavor, but loses points for taking a small step back on the landing (Bela Karolyi expects perfection, and so do I). I'm sorry, but to get the perfect 10, you have to "Stick It" like Missy Peregrym.