Back in March, we leaked information from a brochure on Red Bull Simply Cola, a cola outing from the folks at Red Bull GmbH. Other than the Sugar Free version of Red Bull, Simply Cola is the only other product spinoff from the popular energy drink franchise.
While returning to Chicago from a wedding in Kentucky, we discovered Red Bull Simply Cola for sale at a Speedway gas station for $1.50. It looks like the fuel franchise may be part of a test rollout of the drink, per some of the point of sale signage we saw.
It's packaged in the standard 8.4 oz. can associated with regular Red Bull, but features a more-pronounced red/silver/blue color scheme, with the colors and name aligned at angles. A callout at the top of the can refers to this as "Natural Cola", while the bottom denotes "Strong & Natural".
As we mentioned in our sneak preview of this product, there is a wide variety of ingredients in this drink. Here's a complete list:
Red Bull Simply Cola
Water, sugar, carbon dioxide, natural flavor (caramel), natural flavors from plant extracts (galangal, vanilla, mustard seed, lime, kola nut, cacao, licorice, cinnamon, lemon, ginger, coca leaf, orange, corn mint, pine, cardamom, mace, clove), lemon juice concentrate, caffeine from coffee beans
The drink is made in Switzerland and will provide you with 90 calories per 8.4 oz. can. Red Bull Simply Cola will also add 10 mg of sodium and 22 g of sugars to your life.
Interestingly, you actually won't find a ton of caffeine in this drink. Per a report on BevNet, Red Bull Simply Cola contains 3.8 mg/oz. of caffeine, which is only slightly higher than Coca-Cola Classic (2.9 mg/oz.) and Pepsi (3.2 mg/oz.). By comparison, regular Red Bull has 9.64 mg/oz. of caffeine, while other citrus-flavored soft drinks like Mountain Dew (4.5 mg/oz.) and Vault (5.83 mg/oz.) have substantially higher amounts.
The drink is colored like you'd expect from a cola, perhaps with more of a lighter brown color that's more translucent. It smells like a standard Pepsi or Coke-type drink, which is odd given how these scents are emanating from a Red Bull can… complete with a unique red pull-tab with a bull-shaped punch out.
As for the taste, not bad. It's definitely more Coke-like than Pepsi. Not very syrupy, more textured, with sort of a nutty, woody experience. You won't mistake it for a standard Red Bull… this one's definitely a cola. There are some unique flavors present which can probably be attributed to the previously-mentioned "natural" ingredients, but you'd have a hard time pinpointing exactly what you were tasting. The finish is somewhat bitter, with an aftertaste hinting at something you'd typically find with a drink that uses an artificial sweetener… though obviously none is listed on the can.
While the taste is pretty good, one wonders what the point of this drink really is? I mean, you'd expect a product with the name "Red Bull" and "cola" in the title to taste like a Coke/Pepsi but to also "give you wings" as they like to mention in their advertising. Yet there is very little caffeine or other "buzz" found in this drink. So what's the big differentiator? The "natural" ingredients? I'm sorry, but that's not going to fly, especially if you are looking at the premium pricing of $1.50 for 8.4 oz., while you could easily get a 20 oz. PET bottle of something for the same price to do the trick.
According to numbers from Nielsen, Red Bull still owns 39% of the energy drink market, making it the leader in terms of dollar share (when compared to Monster's 24%). However, Red Bull has slid behind Monster when you look at volume numbers. According to Beverage Digest, Monster owns 27.6% compared to Red Bull's 24.6% [Source].
If Red Bull is banking on their name recognition and strong following to help them in the cola market with a drink that does not feature the core elements that make their flagship work, then they are in for some serious hurt. It's no secret that the carbonated soft drink market is shrinking in sales yearly; this drink will not help that.
Overall, I liked Red Bull Simply Cola. While basically a standard cola, the unique blend of flavors and clean taste were a nice change of pace. However, one must ask "what's the point of this drink?" when you consider the trends in the CSD market, premium pricing, and comparatively low caffeine levels from a brand known for giving you a lift when you need it.
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This is one of the energy drinks I've been meaning to try. I'll post a Energy Drink Review of it after I try it. There's a bunch of other reviews on my site if you'd like to check it out.
It's pretty disappointing to hear that it doesn't pack the energy that its original counterpart contains though.
"what's the point of this drink?"
I thought the same thing whenever I heard of this stuff! I can see Red Bull aficionados trying it out, but I don't see the general population moving away from Coke and Pepsi for a Red Bull cola.
I just heard about this. I would love to try it as I am a huge fan of the energy drink. And of couse, being a big Nascar fan cheering for Red Bull Racing (Brian Vickers specifically), I'd love to support them any way I can. I'll definately keep an eye out for it!
Hi, I purchased a Red Bull Cola about a month ago at our local 7-11. I thought it was delicious. You see I found out about 2 years ago that I am allergic to the ingredients in Coke and Pepsi-Coke being my favorite. The ingredients in Red Bull Cola do not give me the same reaction. So I am PUMPED up to have found a drink that taste very similar to Coke, but has better ingredients. Unfortunately 7-11 did not sell enough to keep the Cola in stock, so now I have to find it elsewhere. Oh, and by the way, it had enough caffeine to wake me up!!
Hmmm…..whats the point of this RED BULL Cola? I havent done any tests, but considering the ingredients of this drink, I would have to say that this is probably healthier in terms of cola than a COKE or PEPSI. This drink is aimed at being refreshing while not overly powering with caffeine, yet containing more "natural" ingredients aimed at an audience more inclined to try a cola that isn't so bad for you. I may be willing to bet that this cola isn't stripping bolts or paint like its competitors.
I recently bought this drink (which set me back $2 for a can!) and was excited to find out if I got my money's worth.
I was first greeted with a taste not unlike Boylan's Cane Cola. But unlike the aforementioned soda, the after taste of Simply Cola was terrible. It was strong, bitter, and I never got used to it. I tried eating food with it but the bitter taste kept intruding on my meal. I was disappointed with the results, especially at the premium price they charge.
Avoid this cola if you don't like strong bitterness in your drinks.
I don't drink Red Bull, but I absolutely love this drink. It's a healthier and more natural alternative to Coke / Pepsi and it has the right amount of kick without being overly caffienated. I like the fact that it's not too sweet and has an interesting melange of flavors (lime, vanilla, ginger, etc.). The taste is too sophisticated for the sugar addicted masses in the U.S. and unfortunately I predict it will fail here…
Yeah I couldn't take the taste from start to finish. I'll just come to the conclusion that no matter how healthier it may be, it still sucks. I'll stick to Pepsi (plus I found this in only one store, for nearly twice the price of a 12oz can of soda).
i'm not sure why you've pooh poohed this drink. I found it at "Big Lots" for $.50, and it is delicious. I won't consume high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, sweeteners or flavors, or preservatives. Consequently, I appreciate that this drink is completely natural. It's not got an overly excessive amt. of caffeine, and it does not have harsh acids that can damage your tooth enamel. I bought every one that was on the shelf.
A fellow Big Lot-ter! I got mine there as well. I'm drinking it right now. Definitely an acquired taste but as long as it does its job I don't care. The energy shots are really nasty but I'll endure two seconds worth of nasty for three hours' worth of energy.