Popping the lid off this can/bottle released a large amount of gas that immediately suggested that Rockstar was incredibly carbonated. Peering down at the liquid inside the can granted little in the way of insight, though its smell distinctly reminded me of Red Bull (ol' faithful).
The first sip was a surprising one, as not only did the drink not taste like Red Bull, but it wasn't very carbonated at all. Instead, Rockstar Original seemed to be more like a fusion between incredibly dry ginger ale and apple juice, being neither overly sweet nor distractingly bitter.
Rockstar describe the drink on their site as: "Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle," also being, "scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles-from athletes to rock stars."
It pretty much looks exactly how it tastes, too: a bright yellow liquid that almost looks like it's been ejected from someone with kidney failure. Almost. Still can't taste the milk thistle though.
I drank down to what I felt was roughly 250mL, and Rockstar was still pleasant enough to be enjoyable. I kept going, noticing a small cloying feeling at the back of my throat that was somewhat akin to eating a roast dinner without any gravy or a drink - not crippling, but definitely noticeable. I hit the 500mL daily limit pretty quickly, and was feeling quite awake. But why stop there, when there's a whole can to finish?!
By this point I was starting to feel a little weird. If I were to equate it in camera terms it's almost like I was running with the highest aperture of f/1.2 - pulling specific objects into focus, but blurring all else around. Hyperfocus. Superfocus. CLARITY.
There was a mostly-empty can beside me by the time I'd decided to stop, having had about 600mL of the drink. Drinking any more felt like swallowing a piglet whole, and there was an interesting feeling in my stomach that is best equated to the sensation you get when you walk into a spider web, only to find it's actually got a whole family of baby spiders on it, which are now on you, and you've got to flail around wildly to get them off. But with more stomach.
Though technically the can of Rockstar wasn't as much as the bottle of NOS in terms of caffeine content, Rockstar certainly has a powerful punch that'll be enough to put the fire up anyone who prefers sitting around being inactive. It's the kind of kick that blasts your eyes open wide and presses them against your monitor; absolutely essential for the LAN gamer. But is it a nice drink?
No, not really.
It's far too harsh in any quantity over 500mL (which suggests that you should follow that label after all), and though it is resealable, most people don't roll that way - potentially causing health problems for chronic users. The taste, though initially pleasant, soon becomes mediocre, and there is very little in the way of natural ingredients contained within.
That said, if you've got a mate to share one with, it's not a bad deal. Jump into the gallery of photos to see more of this gargantuan can, and post your own review if you've given Rockstar a go.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012