While it's hard to find today, at one point Nehi was very popular. Launched in 1924, Nehi has been produced by a company that constantly was changing names, starting with Union Bottling Works, then Chero-Cola Company, and eventually the Nehi Corporation. Another successful brand from the same company, Royal Crown Cola (i.e. RC Cola) prompted another renaming of the owner, thus the Royal Crown Company was born. Thanks to corporate wheeling and dealing of trademarks and brands, today Nehi is owned in the United States by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, while internationally it's controlled by Cott Beverages as part of Royal Crown Cola International. As such, outside the U.S., the drink's flavors are known by the brand RCQ rather than Nehi. Confused yet?

So what exactly is Nehi? Well, basically it's a fruit flavored soft drink. While traditionally available in a wide range of tastes, today you can typically find it in grape, orange, and peach. The most common version can be found in cans or plastic bottles and is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. However, if you are lucky enough to track it down in glass bottles from the right source, then sugar is the sweetener of choice.

Upon popping the cap off my bottle of Nehi Grape, I'm greeted by a distinctive grape scent, but not like you'd expect from the likes of Fanta Grape or Grape Crush. Instead of seeming very syrupy, the grape smell is actually more subdued and authentic. Coloring of the drink is standard dark purple, as expected with most grape sodas.

When it comes to taste, upon sipping you'll find this flood of tingly grapeness on your tongue that's quite different, then a rush of what you typically expect from a grape pop after that. Unlike most grape soft drinks, however, the flavor ends cleanly, rather than stick you with a massively artificial aftertaste packed with syrup residue. Sure, there's artificial flavoring in Nehi as well, but it tastes less fake that most grapes out there. Because of that, it's a refreshing alternative. Oh, and it's very sweet!

If you can find Grape Nehi (Old 52 is always a great place to start), then you'll want to pick it up just to see what makes other grape beverages so inferior. It's a great grape!

C'mon, Radar wouldn't lie to you, would he?

Nehi Grape
Carbonated water, sugar, artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, citric acid, potassium benzonate (preservative), Red 40, Blue 1

A 12 oz. bottle contains 180 calories, 50 mg sodium, and 49 g carbs (47 g sugars). Caffeine free.

When you hear the name Thomas Kemper, you may think of the spiritual fifteenth century writer Thomas á Kempis, but no, Thomas Kemper Soda Company is a Portland-based soda brewer. This particular variety comes in a brown, opaque bottle, but all one can see is a seemingly nice, deep purple. The label has some attractive buzzwords/phrases, such as "craftbrewed" and "naturally caffeine free." The bottle also has a twist off cap, which I make note of as not all classic soda bottles have this feature.

The ingredient list reads as follows:

Thomas Kemper Classic Grape
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, pure honey, acacia gums, natural & artificial flavors, maltodextrine, citric acid, sodium benzoate (for freshness), tartaric acid, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40 

The serving size is one 12 oz bottle, which contains 190 calories, 45 grams of sugars, and 46 grams of carbohydrates, for those of you who are keeping an eye on those things.

So let's move on to the taste. I open the bottle, and with a quick "tsssht" the cap unwinds revealing an aroma of sweet grape soda. The taste is also sweet and not overly carbonated, allowing the slightly tart grape flavor to exude onto my taste buds. There is again, a slightly sweet aftertaste that beckons one to drink on. The soda is quite smooth and goes down easily.

There is a slight (and I mean quite slight) tartness to the flavor, but it is blended into the sweet. I also note a hint of flavor similar to that of root beer. Perhaps it is the honey. It really is a nice balance of taste, not overpowering, but clearly present. Another aesthetic feature is that once the cap is removed a sturdy bottle structure is revealed, adding to the overall experience.

Overall, this is a nice, easy grape soda. There is nothing brash about it, and it goes down smoothly. I must admit I was disappointed to see that high fructose corn syrup was the second ingredient on the list, but the taste is not overly damaged by this fact. I can recommend Thomas Kemper Classic Grape as a clean, subtle grape soda with a nice easy flavor.

Full Disclosure: This beverage was provided compliments of Old 52 General Store

• Thomas Kemper Classic Grape @ Old 52

The current hype in beverages these days are energy shots, made popular by market leader 5-Hour Energy, with familiar brands like Red Bull and Monster finally getting into the ring. Noted for coming in small packaging, being non-carbonated, not requiring refrigeration, having high concentrations of caffeine, vitamins, and functional "stuff", and featuring a relatively high price point, this new sub-category of energy drinks have become the new darlings of the beverage world.

Drank Deuce is the relaxing take on an energy shot, produced by a partnership between Drank owner Innovative Beverage Group and Layfield Energy. Those involved note that it's "under the specified liquid limit for airport security, which makes it the perfect travel companion when crossing multiple time zones." Another selling point being pushed is a lower calorie count. While a 16 oz. can of Drank packs 220 calories, a 2 oz. shot of Drank Deuce only has 16.

The packaging is the standard look of an energy shot… tiny plastic container with a narrow screwtop. Think a taller bottle of Liquid Paper and you get the right idea. In this case, Drank Deuce comes in black packaging with a wrapped label, showcasing the brand's "D" logo all "pimped" out with a crown and sparkly attributes. The bottom of the shot notes that this is a dietary supplement.

Upon opening the bottle, you are welcomed with Drank's notable grape-ish scent, which also influences the light pink/purple color of the beverage, keeping it in line with the original. As for the flavor itself, it's very different from the original Drank. While I thought the canned beverage was very syrupy, this is cleaner in nature. The grape taste is weak, feeling more watered-down in general, as if you made Grape Kool-Aid and didn't get the mixture quite right. There's no carbonation, and surprisingly, I didn't really miss it… nor did I mind that the drink wasn't refrigerated. While I think it would taste better with a stronger flavor base, I actually liked the taste of Drank Deuce more than original Drank. Granted, it's hard to really analyze when you are dealing with just 2 oz. of liquid!

Is there a big difference in the ingredients between the flagship drink and the shot? When comparing the ingredients, Deuce contains the same as standard Drank, complete with the flagship "relaxation" elements of melatonin, valerian root, and rose hips:

Drank Deuce
Water, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium citrate, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, niaciamide (Vitamin B3), D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5), valerian root extract, rose hips extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Red 40, melatonin, Blue 1, cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

Also just like the canned version, the following callout appears on the packaging:

Warning: This product may cause drowiness. Not recommended more than 2 servings within a 24 hour period.

A 2 oz. shot (which is a single serving) contains 10 mg of sodium, 4 g of carbs (which are sugars), 40 mg of Vitamin B3, 4 mg Vitamin B6, 12 mcg Vitamin B12, 20 mg Vitamin B5, and 42 mg of the aforementioned "relaxation" stuff, which Drank calls it's "Proprietary Calming Blend."

When we first reviewed Drank, I noted that while I loved the concept, I really didn't see many calming effects with the drink itself. I'm a light sleeper and quite sensitive to caffeine ("So why are you reviewing beverages, Steve?") and really wanted to see a personal correlation with the claims. With Drank Deuce, I think the calming effects are more notable, without all that extra stuff like 54 g of sugars and carbonation (Deuce just has 4 g of sugar). I'm not saying all the sudden I got drowsy and slumped over the keyboard, but there was a certain amount of "mellowness" present after about an hour or so. Take it for what it's worth!

Drank Deuce is the relaxation-oriented energy shot version of big brother Drank, making it a curious entry in this growing beverage classification. While the flavor could be stronger, the shot incarnation of the formula agrees with us better in regards to its functional benefits and taste.

Manufactured by the folks at Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Drank comes to you in 16 oz. cans, similar in size to that of your typical energy drink. The packaging is light purple, which also reflects the hue of the drink. The Drank logo showcases the phrase "Relax", while the front of the can proclaims "Extreme Relaxation Beverage." The back of the can features the following message describing the drink:

We have combined Rose Hips, Melatonin and Valerian Root with a great tasting beverage to create the industry's first "Relaxed Lifestyle Beverage."

These ingredients have the ability to relax your body, mind and soul, so when life comes at you fast, just remember to "slow your roll" with Drank.

The following interesting callout also appears:

Warning: This product may cause drowiness. Not recommended more than 2 servings within a 24 hour period.

So what does Drank taste like? When you open the can, you are greeted with a gentle, grape scent, similar to a grape-flavored SweetTarts candy.

As for the flavor, it started out a lot like 2004's Mountain Dew Pitch Black, with a subtle grape flavor. However, that flavor wasn't as strong, being more watered-down in general. Beyond the type of flavor, Drank seems to be very, very sweet. For a drink that desires to 'wind you down', that surprised me, as the sweetness seemed to counteract that purpose.

While the beginning of the drink experience was subtle grape, the aftertaste seemed rather unnatural, bitter, and syrupy. It wasn't as bad as something that used an artificial sweetener, but it also wasn't clean (for the record, the primary sweetener is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), though sucrose is also high in the ingredient list). The overall flavor experience was on the weaker side of the grape flavor, with a low level of carbonation.

Ingredients:

Drank
Water, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium citrate, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, niaciamide (Vitamin B3), D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5), valerian root extract, rose hips extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Red 40, melatonin, Blue 1, cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

A 16 oz can will cost you 220 calories, 120 g of sodium, and 54 g of sugars.

I'm a person who is quite a light sleeper, so in the past I have taken melatonin to help me sleep well. Because of this, the concept behind Drank really intrigued me, as it's not often you see a carbonated beverage marketed to not give you more energy, but less. That said, I can't say that I noticed a considerable difference after drinking a can of Drank. In fact, I wonder if it's counterproductive to offer such "calming" ingredients such as melatonin and valerian root, while at the same time packing a drink with the same amount of sugar as typically found in a regular soda.

I like the concept behind Drank, a functional beverage that produces a calming effect. The grape taste is light, but saddled with some negative aftertaste and an overtly sweet flavor. Unfortunately, I personally didn't experience the relaxing influence that the can proclaimed, however your mileage may vary.

BevReview.com has consumed several grape flavored sodas in the recent past with mixed results; Jones Soda Gruesome Grape was loved while Fanta Grape – not so much. That being said NuGrape Soda falls somewhere in between.

NuGrape Soda is bottled by the Orca Beverage Soda Works under the "American Classics" line which also contains Bubble Up, a classic lemon-lime soda reviewed here in January '08. NuGrape Soda has the tag line "A Flavor You Can't Forget" and was originally bottled in 1921 by the National NuGrape Company and sold to Big Red's North American Beverages division in 1999. While normally found in plastic, we experienced this drink in glass thanks to Orca. It is made with cane sugar instead of HFCS, which is something we like here at BevReview.com.

NuGrape has a definite purple color standard with all "grape flavored" beverages and foods. When you first open the bottle (churchkey required, this is not a screw top) a powerful grape flavor wafts up the neck of this "nostalgic 1950's style glass bottle." It's an aroma that really reminds me of classic grape sodas or grape popsicles of my youth. However, the scent dissipates almost immediately.

The first sip of NuGrape right out of the bottle is not overwhelmingly grape-y. It tastes more like a grape flavored cola. That isn't bad but I was hoping for something stronger, like if a grape had punched me in the mouth. The immediate aftertaste is very much like RC or other 2nd tier colas but after a moment it does return to a subtle "grape" flavor but doesn't linger on your palette for very long.

My partner Brad said it "tastes like fizzy grape juice… almost like non-alcoholic sparkling wine; not pop."

When poured over ice, the grape flavor reemerged as a very strong grape scent but disappeared quickly again. The bubbles were a cool purple color and very tiny which is consistent with using cane sugar as opposed to HFCS as we learned from the Kosher Coke review. My one big complaint was that the carbonation disappeared almost entirely several minutes after I poured it over ice and within 10 minutes the soda tasted as if it was going flat. I think this soda is meant to be gulped not sipped.

Overall NuGrape Soda is not the best grape soda I have tasted but definitely not the worst. The grape flavor tastes authentic and this soda would be refreshing and tasty on a hot summer day if consumed quickly but not one I would necessarily purchase again if I was craving some grape soda.

A full ingredient list is as follows:

NuGrape Soda
Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phosphoric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Modified Food Starch, Red #40, Blue #1, Artificial Flavor

Note: Contains No Juice. Serving Size 1 Bottle – 12 fluid oz. 200 Calories. 0g of Fat. 49g Sugar (16% RDA)

After drinking my first sip, all I can say is "Welcome back Pitch Black!"

Amp Energy Traction shares a lot in common with the 2004 limited edition Mountain Dew Pitch Black. For one thing, the smell is very similar, producing an obvious grape influence. The purpleish coloring of the drink is right in line with that famed Dew spinoff. And frankly, the taste is rather close. It's not a clone of Pitch Black, but it does seem to come from the same family. It's a muted grape taste with just enough citrusy, Mountain Dew-ness to remind you that the Amp Energy line is technically a spinoff of that brand.

Like the Amp Energy and Amp Energy Overdrive, Amp Energy Traction contains maltodextrin (146 mg per serving vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 55 mg per serving), ginseng (17 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 10 mg), taurine (148 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 10 mg), and guarana (124 mg vs. Amp/Amp Overdrive's 150 mg). Interestingly missing from this list is B vitamins, of which Amp and Amp Overdrive both contain B6 and B12. There is also the addition of 72mg of d-Ribose.

Amp Energy Traction also contains more caffeine than its siblings, breaking down to 10 mg/oz., in comparison to Amp/Amp Overdrive's 8.875 mg/oz. (Standard Mountain Dew contains 4.5 mg/oz.)

A full ingredient list is as follows:

Amp Energy Traction
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, taurine, maltodextrin, guarana seed extract, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), sodium hexametaphosphate (to protect flavor), caffeine, d-Ribose, gum arabic, niacinamide, panax ginseng root extract, calcium pantothenate, Red 40, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor), brominated vegetable oil, riboflavin, Blue 1

Amp Energy has gone through another packaging redesign, placing a stronger emphasis on the "Amp Energy" brand and less on its Mountain Dew roots. This seems to coincide with PepsiCo's increased marketing of the line, reflected through the NASCAR sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 car and a Super Bowl commercial. Even the name of the product, Traction, hints at a racing heritage (much like the cherry-flavored Overdrive does). The new packaging emphasizes one color (purple), complimented by a heavy dose of black. The Amp Energy logo remains unchanged, however the way the "Traction" flavor is noted seems to reflect larger, bolder placement. The Mountain Dew logo has been reduced to a monochromatic footnote towards the bottom of the can. It should be additionally noted that the phrase "Sustain" can be found on the front, calling out the inclusion of maltodextrin and d-Ribose. This is backed up by a small textual explanation under the secondary logo found on the back of the can:

The power of Amp Energy charged with grape and the specially formulated intense combination of maltodextrin and d-Ribose. Grab hold and mainatin (sustain) through the long haul with focus and control.

Amp Energy Traction – More Power To You

Finally, even though this is a 16 oz. version of the drink, the previous size brand of "Tall Boy" is nowhere to be found at the top. Instead, in that same space, is a callout of the supplements used in the drink, much like the original Amp can design many years ago. While you are looking at that section of the can, you'll note the Amp Energy tradition of coloring the pulltab to match the drink flavor has been continued; this time its purple.

Overall, I really liked Amp Energy Traction, probably because it reminded me so much of one of my favorite Mountain Dew line extensions, Pitch Black. The grape flavor is good, but not overpowering. It definitely still tastes like an energy drink, but it's a favorable experience all around.

The Mountain Dew co-branded beverage has seen an increase in visibility, thanks to Amp's NASCAR sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 car, as well as a somewhat scary Super Bowl commercial featuring a guy with jumper cables.

The rumored flavors include Orange and Grape, according to some folks who have been talking with Pepsi representatives. Prospective launch date is March 2008.

It should be noted that back in December 2007, a trademark filing for "Amp Energy Elevate" was discovered, which may indicate the name of a future grape or orange flavor. No other details were provided in the filing. Let's see if these rumors come true or not!

While the can design from 2006 was purple as well, it contrasted with the current offering by featuring a smiling green pumpkin face. For 2007, the can got meaner! This time around, a one-toothed sinister face (featuring green and orange colors) greets you while you drink this beverage.

Overall, it's a pretty good grape soda. Very sweet and candy-like, which makes the 8 oz. size just about right as far as consumption. I probably liked the less-sweet flavor found in Tropicana Twister Soda Grape better when considering it on the merits of a grape soft drink. But Gruesome Grape is superior in flavor to Fanta Grape.

As a novelty drink — and especially one from Jones — this is a pretty good installment. The fact that it was sweetened with inverted cane sugar also goes a long way regarding the enjoyment factor of this drink.

Tasty, but super sweet!

Grape was something I've been trying to find for some time now. I had previously reviewed the other flavors in the Tropicana Twister Soda line (Tropicana Twister Soda Citrus, Tropicana Twister Soda Orange, and Tropicana Twister Soda Strawberry).

Pepsi officially markets the Tropicana Twister Soda lineup as something that "gives you the powerful fruit flavored taste you're looking for. Tastes so intense, you'll sprain your flavor muscle!" Based on my previous experience with these flavors, that's a bunch of bunk. The flavors aren't strong. In fact, they pretty much fly under the radar, especially Tropicana Twister Soda Orange. The Strawberry flavor is extremely fake tasting, while the Citrus line extension has nothing to offer against Coke's Fanta Citrus. This is quite sad given that these drinks contain real fruit juice (albeit, just 1%).

I'm happy to report that Tropicana Twister Soda Grape breaks this trend of mediocrity! The grape flavor left a nice "bite" in the back of my throat and did not have the artificial taste that I previously found in Fanta Grape. It was quenching and respectable. That's not to say that this drink couldn't be improved quite a bit. Rather, I think it just rose above my rather low expectations given that it was part of the lame Tropicana Twister Soda lineup. I'm not sure it's "The Intensely Grape Grape" as Pepsi wants to claim, but it is superior to Coke's current grape offering.

Who would have thought I'd have to travel to the Atlantic Ocean to experience this!

Fanta Grape has a strong grape smell to it. When I think of good grape pop, I think back to the generic-brand Jewel Grape Soda my family used to pack on long camping vacations as we traveled these 50 states. That was some pretty good stuff. Fanta Grape's scent was far more potent that the grape of my youth.

As far as the taste, it was really, really fake. Didn't have a glimpse of anything natural in it. Overall, very chemical in nature. On top of that, you aren't left with a great grape aftertaste. It just doesn't last with you. In comparison, this fall's Mountain Dew Pitch Black also didn't have much of a grape aftertaste either, but I think it fared well overall when compared to Fanta Grape.

So, in general, I think Coke has really dropped the ball when it comes to fruit-flavored carbonated beverages. Their Fanta line is pathetic here in the U.S.