As part of the bottled 4-Pack of drinks available for a limited time, the theme of the beverage certainly makes sense. And when you first open the soda a very strong scent greets you. It so wants to be authentic apple, but instead comes off emulating a green apple-flavored Jolly Rancher candy. So I guess we're going for the fake and syrupy angle here!

When you actually have the courage to drink this flavor, you'll find less of the apple experience than you hoped. In fact, it's the scent of this drink that really saves it from utter horribleness, because the flavor is more like cough syrup than any sort of apple.

That's unfortunate, because there is so much potential for a good apple soda. They are pretty rare. Stick with Sidral Mundet if you want something worth drinking.

But before we wrap up this review, let's at least give credit to the folks who were fortunate enough to get their photos on this not-very-good drink…

The "vomiting pumpkin" motif is a popular one around this time of year, and it's nice to know that Photo #10108 doesn't disappoint. This color image was sent along by Krystal Gamez of Leesport, PA.

Love cats? Well, I'm not a big fan, but apparently Scott Gandert of Alpharetta, GA is. His image (Photo #10091) features a white cat with a witch hat. Too bad that cat doesn't have any magical power to make this drink taste better.

Finally, we have some creepy pumpkin head zombies or something (Photo #10104). This photo was sent in by Edward Regan of Joilet, IL… which isn't that far outside of Chicago, the HQ for BevReview.com. Something about that photo just doesn't seem right.

Let's wrap things up with a look at both panels of the 4-Pack box. Side 1 showcases a pretty morbid-but-happy clown (Photo #10078) provided by Natalie Seymour of Jacksonville, NC. I think it's fitting to have this image on the box for Dread Apple. There's just so much dread when captured together like that.

Flipping the box around, Side 2 gives us some rather happy looking ghosts courtesy of Jeff Stillson of Nappanee, IN. I wonder if these ghosts are Amish?!

Did you like this review? Digg it.

This drink comes in a 12 oz. clear glass bottle with standard bottle cap, labeled as "Made in Mexico". The color of the beverage is darker than standard apple juice… sort of a light caramel cola look. I didn't really know much else about this drink, but after a little Internet research, I happened upon the official distributor to the United States, Novamex. My bottle noted that is was distributed by Tipp Distributors, which is obviously a subcontrator in the Novamex network. The official website for Sidral Mundet was very helpful in explaining the context of the drink:

In the first part of the 20th century, Mexico began bottling the so called "limonadas" or "gaseosas" in the classic marble bottles… One of the most representative names of this "golden" age in Mexico was that of Don Arturo Mundet, manufacturer since 1902 of the popular "Sidral Mundet", who also started producing bottle caps as soon as this concept was invented in the US.

Sidral Mundet, once bottled, is submitted to a pasteurization process, which consists in having the tapped bottles go through a series of water curtains at different temperature levels, resulting in the elimination of any yeasts, fungus, or bacteria from the soft drink. The beverage ends up free of any deteriorations or alterations, while keeping its refreshing flavors and nutritive qualities untouched.

…Today, Sidral Mundet is one of the most respected brands of Mexican soft drinks and a tradition of quality in Mexico. Moms trust Sidral to their children for stomach aches and as a hydrating serum when they get sick.

The ingredients of this beverage include purified carbonated water, sugar, blended apple juice, citric acid, caramel color, and sodium benzoate (as preservative). Nutritionally, a 12 oz. bottle will run you 195 calories, with 40.5g of sugar and 60mg of sodium. The drink is available not only in 12 oz. glass bottles, but also 20 oz. and 1.5 liter plastic bottles as well.

When you pop the cap, you aren't greeted by a very strong scent. That's not a bad thing, but compared to American sodas which have overpowering syrupy smells, it's different. There is a slight apple juice/ginger ale-influenced scent.

As for the taste… excellent. This is a light beverage that is very clean. It can probably best be described as tasting like an apple juice version of sparkling grape juice. The carbonation is light, just enough to make it fun. It's great that this drink uses real sugar… the clean taste shows. You can definitely taste the natural apple flavor and there is not a hint of artificialness in the drink experience.

I highly recommend Sidral Mundet. You should be able to find it at your local Hispanic supermarket or other specialty food retailer, such as a World Market. It's worth the hunt.