REVIEW: Red Bull Winter Edition Fig Apple Energy Drink

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Red Bull Winter Edition Fig Apple Energy Drink Can

My experience with figs is limited to one product — Fig Newtons. I’ve never taken a bite from the fruit, seen one in real life, or earned one as an ancient Olympian, but I know they can be purple.

However, if you showed me a purple onion but told me it was a fig, I’d believe you. And if you put a Purple Vienna kohlrabi in front of me and told me it’s a fig, I know you’re telling a fib. But now my exposure to the fruit has expanded beyond moist cookies thanks to Red Bull’s new Winter Edition Fig Apple Energy Drink.

The aroma from the spout smells like apple hard candy, but at times, my nose thinks it’s watermelon candy. Maybe that’s the fig? Whatever it is, it’s not repulsive unless you dislike the smell of Jolly Rancher.

Red Bull Winter Edition Fig Apple Energy Drink Glass

What I think is the fig is present immediately after taking a sip, and I’m going to describe it poorly as what I imagine artificial raisin flavor is like. It’s a weird introduction, but a familiar apple taste follows it, along with a noticeable sourness. After the initial burst, the fig fades, and it’s all apple, even throughout the aftertaste. And that apple makes this Red Bull a worthwhile, decent tasting energy drink that I’d sip again.

I also want to add that while I was drinking this, my taste buds had flashbacks to when it seemed like everyone, including your grandma, had their own energy drink that was a Red Bull knockoff. Maybe it’s the fig or the sourness, but that Red Bull knockoff-ness isn’t bad. It’s just something I noticed.

I’m too lazy to spend five minutes looking this up, but I think Red Bull’s Winter Edition Fig Apple is the first fig-flavored energy drink ever. (Internet, prove me wrong.) I wouldn’t place it among my Red Bull favorites, but I found it enjoyable. Although, if it was a straight-up apple-flavored Red Bull, I’d like it more.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 12 oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 160 calories, 0 grams of fat, 130 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 38 grams of sugar (including 38 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 114 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Hot Honey Pringles

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Hot Honey Pringles Can

What is it?

America’s preferred cylindrically containered potato crisp (fight me, Stax) unleashes what probably has to be its 900th variety, Hot Honey. The flavor, if you’re unfamiliar, is sweet like honey but is also spicy (hence the “hot”). It has recently been involving itself in things ranging from fast food chicken sandwiches to ice cream to frozen pizza from a rap-maker named Lil’ Yachty.

How is it?

Hot Honey Pringles Closeup

It’s fine. That’s all — fine. You’ve got your regular Pringles salty crispness, but you get an immediate mild undertone of honey. And it is very honey-esque, don’t get me wrong. (And not just, you know, artificial sugar dust, I mean.) It takes a few crisps before the heat begins to build, and it eventually does, but it is manageable and mild.

Anything else you need to know?

This is a Walmart exclusive flavor (along with a re-release of the Philly Cheesesteak variety), so if you don’t have a Walmart near you, (a) how is it possible to not live near a Walmart; (b) that’s honestly pretty cool; (c) you’re not missing much unless you’re a Pringles completist; and (d) okay, but seriously, doesn’t EVERYWHERE have a Walmart?

Conclusion:

Hot Honey Pringles Cluster

On our “Spotted” post regarding the Hot Honey Pringles, the caption said something to the effect of “I’m surprised they didn’t add chicken to this,” and that is 100% spot-on and likely would have transformed an extremely one-note chip into something much more fun to eat. As it is, I won’t exactly miss this when it’s gone.

Purchased Price: $1.98
Size: 5.5 oz can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 105 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of total sugars, less than 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Sonic Fried Cookie Dough Bites à la Mode

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Sonic Fried Cookie Dough Bites Everything

Wouldn’t fried cookie dough just be… a cookie?

That’s the thought I had when I heard Sonic was releasing Fried Cookie Dough à la Mode. Well, that and, “When can I get it, and how quickly can I shove it down my gullet?”

I thought a bit more, and realized I had no idea if I’ve ever had a fried chocolate chip cookie.

Do any of my favorite cookie brands swim in a vat of oil before they hit the shelves, or are they all baked? I guess it’s possible an unhealthy few might be fried? Either way, the only freshly fried cookies I’ve ever had were state fair-style Oreo, and those are great, so I was pumped when I saw Fried Cookie Dough finally pop up in the Sonic app.

How would I describe these things?

Well, let’s say you let your tray of cookies spend the last three minutes of cooking time roasting under the broiler, and they somehow came out of the oven with a crispy exterior while retaining the piping hot center. That’s Sonic Fried Cookie Dough.

Sonic Fried Cookie Dough Bites Middle

I’ve never attempted to air-fry cookies, but this is what I imagine a cookie “baked” in an air fryer might be like. They’re a little burnt and maybe a tad greasy, but they taste great.

It’s basically a balled-up version of a traditional chocolate chip cookie, but the fact the gooey chocolate and mushy dough center is encased in a fritter-like shell makes this a slightly fresh take on a cookie.

These may be the first cookies I’ve ever had that were equal parts soft and crispy while still being hot.

Sonic Fried Cookie Dough Bites Dipped

The three cookies are served with a tiny cup of vanilla soft serve, which quite frankly isn’t anything special, but it does the job. It’s not terrible or anything, but Sonic’s vanilla has always tasted like a poor knockoff of McDonald’s to me. Still, it makes for a nice pairing with the warm cookie dough bites, and the small size of the entire order is more than enough.

You wouldn’t even have to tell me where these came from, because they’re distinctly Sonic, and they’re a strong addition to the menu.

Sonic has always done a good job peppering said menu with weird little fried snacks. If you saw these with no prior knowledge, you might even think they were overdone tots, or fried cheese curds or something.

Side note: If any higher-ups at Sonic are reading this, you should add corn fritters to the menu.

Sonic Fried Cookie Dough Bites Exterior

Anyway, I’m not gonna sit here and call Fried Cookie Dough revolutionary. They didn’t reinvent the cookie, but it’s definitely a nice spin on an old classic.

When I ordered these, they were an app exclusive, but they may already be rolling out on the restaurant menus near you. If not, check out the app because I also got a free little “Wag Cup” of whipped cream for my dog. From what I can tell he rated it a 3 out of 10, but you’re here to read about cookie dough.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 3 Bites
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 440 calories, 25 grams of fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 410 milligrams of sodium, 50 grams of total carbohydrates, 10 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake

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Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake Cup

Jack in the Box recently overhauled its mobile app, and it’s been awful for me. It’s slow and doesn’t show the four Jack in the Box locations within three miles away from me, especially the one within walking distance. It lists one 11 miles away, but that one doesn’t accept mobile orders.

And because of that, I can’t order anything from the app. Now you might be thinking, “Why does this matter?”

Because to order the new Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake, I had to say this product’s stupid name through the drive-thru speaker instead of ordering it through the app that allows me not to mutter a word. It’s so stupid that I’m not going to refer to it by its name for the rest of this review.

The seasonal menu item combines Jack’s Oreo shake with pumpkin spice flavoring, and it’s crowned with whipped topping and a maraschino cherry. I thought the Oreo and pumpkin spice combination was something we’ve never seen before from a fast food chain. But a quick search led me to a site I’ve never heard of that has a review of Burger King’s Pumpkin Spice Oreo Shake that came out in 2015.

But back to Jack’s Oreo pumpkin spice shake. Not only is its name stupid, but so is its flavor. It’s stupid good.

Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake Closeup

Maybe because it’s October and I can now properly celebrate the fall season without my conscious wondering if it’s too early, but the Oreo and pumpkin spice combination gave me the fall feels. While it doesn’t quite taste like a pumpkin pie with an Oreo crust, it’s close. And now I’m curious about how a Pumpkin Spice Oreo would taste with chocolate wafers instead of the Golden ones. The cookie bits’ slightly bitter cocoa bite goes well with the sweet, creamy base with all the flavors you’d expect from pumpkin spice. But despite cookie specks floating throughout the shake, my taste buds sometimes wondered if they’re really there. Of course, when that happens, this tastes like a pumpkin spice shake, and I’m not going to complain about that.

Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake Whipped Topping

I am going to grumble about the whipped topping. When the white fluffy stuff melts into the shake, it noticeably dilutes the pumpkin spice flavor. When Jack’s app starts working for me again, I really have to start ordering these shakes without the toppings.

Jack in the Box Basic Witch Shake Top

I’m sure Jack in the Box’s mobile app will get better for me over time, but there’s no need for its Oreo pumpkin spice shake to improve. Well, except for its name.

Purchased Price: $5.92
Size: Regular
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (760 calories – other numbers unavailable).

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer

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Dunkin Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer Bottle

It might just be me, but I think the new Dunkin’ Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer tastes like International Delight’s Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer. It wouldn’t surprise me, though, because they’re both made by the Danone company.

I’d do a taste test, but I’ve been having difficulty finding the seasonal International Delight flavor here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. My calls to the Great Pumpkin have not been returned.

Dunkin Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer Descript

I want to say it maybe tastes a little more pumpkin-y than my memory of International Delight’s offering. There isn’t even anything that I could consider cake or icing-like.

But besides what my hazy memory can remember, there is a difference between the two. The Dunkin’ coffee enhancer is made with real cream. Well, cream and skim milk, to be exact, which International Delight creamers don’t have. Does that create a creamier creamer? I don’t think so.

There isn’t even a color difference. Maybe if Dunkin’ wanted to be cute, it could’ve made this Dunkin’ orange. But instead, it looks like most other creamers, so the coffee photo I took below could contain Dunkin’s Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer. Or it could be International Delight French Vanilla. Or maybe it’s Coffee mate’s Hazelnut. Or perhaps that’s a glass of storm water.

Dunkin Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer Color

Dunkin’s Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer is pretty much a pumpkin spice-flavored creamer without “pumpkin spice” in its name. If you’d like a slightly more natural pumpkin spice creamer than International Delight’s (or if the stores around you aren’t carrying it for some reason), but also don’t want to pay more for Coffee mate’s Natural Bliss version, this is a great tasting option.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 32 fl oz
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Tbsp) 35 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar (including 5 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

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