REVIEW: Sonic Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Slush

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Sonic Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Slush Cup

With the recent temperature increases in Florida, my slush cravings have hit hard. As if magic (or just a targeted ad), Sonic Drive-In’s new Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Slush was popping up on my feed. I’m already a huge Red Bull fan, so a chance to try the limited edition summer flavor in slush form seemed like an easy choice.

While Red Bull has been periodically releasing Summer Editions since 2014, it wasn’t until 2020 that Sonic started offering the limited edition flavors as part of its slush lineup.

As with most fast food companies, Sonic is very much pushing the use of its mobile ordering app. I bring this up only to note that if you order a drink through the app, they are all half price all day. I ordered a medium of the summer slush and raced it home. I had worried the 20-minute drive would cause it to lose some oomph. Luckily, the styrofoam cup kept it at the perfect temperature.

Sonic Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Slush Hello Kitty

Before transferring it into my Tervis tumbler, I took a few sips of the light pink slush. Red Bull tends to have a very sweet start and a slightly tangy finish in the flavors I’ve tried. This one was sweet all the way through. In fact, had you not told me it was part of the Red Bull brand, I would have thought it was just any other sweet-flavored slush. The strawberry and apricot (which comes across as more peach flavored) are subtle but present and blending the energy drink with the slush ice made for a pleasant sipping experience.

I reached out to Sonic about the caffeine content (I couldn’t find it anywhere on its website). I was shocked when I was told a medium has only 40 milligrams. For reference, the 8.4-ounce can has 80. It would appear it uses half a can which explains why the flavor might be more subtle than if you drank it straight. Honestly, learning that it wasn’t even an entire can in the medium (20 oz) lowered my opinion of the item. If I’m getting a Red Bull drink, I’m looking for the caffeine that comes with a Red Bull.

Sonic Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Slush Top

While a fine treat, the Red Bull Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Slush doesn’t deliver on what I feel a Red Bull slush should. The flavor in this form doesn’t stand out as uniquely as a Red Bull, and the lack of caffeine (in relation to what is expected from Red Bull) doesn’t have me racing back to get it again. If you’re curious, make sure to use the app to order so you get half off because I wouldn’t recommend it at the regular $3.99 price.

Purchased Price: $1.99 (half off via the Sonic app)
Size: Medium (20 oz)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Medium) 250 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 65 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 65 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Flavors at Walmart That Aren’t Pizza or Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

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Van Leeuwen Walmart Spring 2022 PInts

Update 9/9/22: We tried the Tapatio Mexican Hot Chocolate one! Click here to read our review.

Update 9/8/22: We tried most of the Fall 2022 flavors at Walmart! Click here to read our review.

Update 6/13/22: We also reviewed the Van Leeuwen Summer 2022 flavors at Walmart (Summer Peach Crisp, Espresso Fior Di Latte Chip, Campfire S’mores, and Honey Cornbread). Click here to read that review. There’s also a Grey Poupon flavor that we reviewed separately, click here if you want to read that.

Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen currently offers seven ice cream flavors exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide. They’ll be there for ten weeks and then disappear. The lineup includes new and fan-favorite flavors — Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Planet Earth, Pizza (new), Hot Honey, Royal Wedding Cake, Bourbon Cherries Jubilee, and Wild Blueberry Shortcake.

We already shared our thoughts about Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Pizza, so here are reviews of the other five flavors.

Hot Honey

Van Leeuwen Hot Honey Ice Cream Pint

“Hot” is definitely not the right adjective to describe this flavor, but “Slight Back of the Throat Burn After a Few Spoonfuls Honey” is too long to fit on any carton. The burn is so mild that folks who are averse to spicy foods might not mind it.

Van Leeuwen Hot Honey Ice Cream Top

The pint features a creamy, easy-to-scoop vanilla ice cream base with hard candy honeycomb pieces and hot honey swirls. I’ve eaten 1/4 of the carton, and every spoonful has had a honeycomb piece or some of the swirl. There are enough of the additions that after the first few spoonfuls, I thought the base was also honey flavored, but it turns out some of that sneaky swirl snuck onto my spoon. But I don’t mind because it has a wonderful honey flavor that eventually leads to the back of the throat heat.

Van Leeuwen Hot Honey Ice Cream Spoon

The honeycomb candy pieces have a very light honey taste, but I’m fine with that because the swirl does a lot of the heavy honey lifting. They do have a toffee-like crunch, which I love.

This was the first flavor I tried, and I had a difficult time putting it down. Partially because after I started feeling that back of the throat burn, I thought more ice cream would help. But mostly because it’s a tasty flavor.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 320 calories, 15 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 100 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 35 grams of sugar (30 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.

Wild Blueberry Shortcake

Van Leeuwen Wild Blueberry Shortcake Pint

What’s the difference between wild blueberries and, um, captive blueberries? I spent ten minutes researching that, and after those ten minutes, I realized that I don’t care because this pint of vanilla ice cream, blueberry swirls, and shortcake pieces is divine, and I’d rather eat it than gain blueberry knowledge.

Much like the Hot Honey, there are a lot of mix-ins, honey. I mean, look at all that in the vanilla ice cream. If you’re an archeologist and found that much stuff buried, I believe the academic term for such a discovery is JACKPOT!

Van Leeuwen Wild Blueberry Shortcake Top

The swirl has some tanginess, an occasional blueberry chunk, and reminds me of pie filling, except without the whole blueberries. The shortcake pieces are chewy and, to be honest, a bit boring on their own. But when combined with the swirl, their flavor is enhanced for some reason. Maybe it happened because some of the blueberry’s wildness rubbed onto the shortcake pieces. As for the vanilla base, it’s creamy, easy to scoop, and is pretty much a canvas for the mix-ins.

Am I wild about this Wild Blueberry Shortcake Ice Cream? Yeah. Will I be blue after I finish it? Berry much. Will I short-circuit if I’m not able to taste this flavor again? Cake.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 290 calories, 15 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 29 grams of sugar (22 grams of added sugar), and 4 grams of protein.

Bourbon Cherries Jubilee

Van Leeuwen Bourbon Cherries Jubilee Ice Cream Pint

It has just two components — sweet cream ice cream and swirls of bourbon cherry compote. Much like the pronunciation of Van Leeuwen, I had to look up what compote is. It’s fruit that’s cooked in syrup. Good to know.

Van Leeuwen Bourbon Cherries Jubilee Ice Cream Top

While bourbon is in its name and listed in the ingredients, don’t expect this to be boozy-flavored at all. It’s not something that stands out while eating the ice cream. But it does occasionally show up in the aftertaste. The sweet cream base has a noticeably sweeter flavor than the vanilla bases in the other varieties. Much like the blueberry pint, there’s a lot of fruity goodness. But while the blueberry swirl has some fruit, this cherry one has a lot.

It’s a delicious treat, but as I ate it, I couldn’t help but think this kind of tastes like Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, but without the fudge flakes and with more actual cherries. Like the blueberry one, it’s not a unique flavor, but it’s done really well.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 280 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 32 grams of sugar (26 grams of added sugar), and 4 grams of protein.

Planet Earth

Van Leeuwen Planet Earth Ice Cream Pint

If you’re expecting an ice cream flavor that tastes like dirt, water, and plants, I’m not surprised because, as I mentioned earlier, Van Leeuwen also offers pizza and mac & cheese ice cream. But rest assured that the pint just looks like Earth and doesn’t taste like it. Although it’s what Earth looked like millions of years ago (or what it’ll look like several thousand years from now) — mostly water and patches of land popping out of it. Representing the water is a blue spirulina almond ice cream, and the green patches are matcha green tea cake pieces.

Van Leeuwen Planet Earth Ice Cream Top

Unfamiliar with spirulina? It’s a blue-green algae, which explains the ice cream base’s color. The ingredients list spirulina, but there isn’t a hint of pond scum-ness in the base’s taste. From what I can tell, it’s only used for color. But that color might be messing with my head because it reminds me of cotton candy, and in turn, when I take some bites, it tastes like the carnival treat. Blue raspberry extract is also an ingredient, so I don’t know if that’s what my taste buds notice. But I also recognize the same almond notes I’ve had with other almond-flavored ice creams.

As for the matcha green tea cake, you’ll be disappointed if you’re a matcha maniac. They provide a chewiness that contrasts the creamy base, but don’t have a lot of matcha flavor.

The cotton candy that I think I’m tasting makes me like this pint. My wife didn’t care for it, though. After one spoonful, she said it tasted weird and had enough.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 320 calories, 21 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 130 milligrams of sodium, 180 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 25 grams of sugar (18 grams of added sugar), and 6 grams of protein.

Royal Wedding Cake

Van Leeuwen Royal Wedding Cake Pint

I’m not into royal weddings, and I’m also not too much into this pint that was inspired by the cake served at a particular royal wedding in 2018. It features sweet cream cheese ice cream with lemon sponge cake chunks and layers of elderflower frosting.

Van Leeuwen Royal Wedding Cake Top

It’s a serviceable flavor, but I’d rather have any other pint I reviewed above. There are a few things about it that have me scratching my head. First, why does this feel as if it has nuts even though, after looking through the ingredients twice, there are no nuts? Something about the cake’s texture is probably making me think that. Second, why are geranium water and orange blossom water listed in the ingredients? Finally, why does the elderflower frosting taste like strawberry Guri-Guri from Maui? I realize that’s a reference 99.5 percent of you will not be able to relate to, but I had to mention it tastes like that sherbet. Well, at least the cake has a pleasant lemon flavor, and the sweet cream cheese ice cream isn’t offensive. Though, I did expect it to be tangier.

With Hot Honey, Wild Blueberry Shortcake, and Bourbon Cherries Jubilee, I had a hard time putting them down. But I don’t feel that way about this flavor. Again, it’s okay, but it’s easily my least favorite of the bunch.

Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 340 calories, 22 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 155 milligrams of cholesterol, 260 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 25 grams of sugar (18 grams of added sugar), and 7 grams of protein.

These pints are my first taste of any Van Leeuwen ice cream, and I’m impressed. With most of the varieties, I had some of the same blown away feelings I felt after eating Jeni’s Ice Cream for the first time because they both pack a lot of flavors, thanks to the mix-ins’ quality and quantity.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from Van Leeuwen. Doing so did not influence my review.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen S’mores Shake

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Dairy Queen S mores Shake Cup

What is Dairy Queen’s S’mores Shake?

DQ’s latest shake mimics the flavors of the classic campfire treat. It has vanilla soft serve blended with marshmallow topping, chocolate flakes, and graham cracker bits.

How is it?

The first thing I tried to figure out was what the little grainy pieces were. They were so tiny that I couldn’t discern much flavor. Were they chocolate bits or graham cracker bits? When I had drunk more of the shake and could see beyond the whipped topping, it was clear that the really tiny bits were the graham and the larger flakes were chocolate.

Dairy Queen S mores Shake Top

Flavor-wise, it’s a giant marshmallow-flavored kick in the face. There’s no subtlety here, not that I wanted any. The graham bits and chocolate flakes added enough texture to create a nice mouthfeel, but the marshmallow flavor of the product still overwhelmed the graham and chocolate notes. Strangely as I got deeper into the shake, the chocolate pieces were bigger, and it added more chocolatey-ness to the experience.

This is a thick shake, so thick that I sometimes had trouble sucking it up with my straw. This isn’t Wendy’s Frosty “Give up on straws, you need a spoon here” territory, but it’s getting there.

For some reason, this shake didn’t strike me as being as addictive as the shakes from Five Guys, currently my go-to for milkshakes. It’s good, but it just doesn’t have that same “OMG I have to shovel this in my face immediately!” quality. What’s the secret? Perhaps the quality of the base dairy product? Clearly, I need to do more research on this topic and drink many, many more shakes — for science.

Dairy Queen S mores Shake Straw

I should note that the shake is very sweet, but let’s be honest: I’m a person who reviews milkshakes from Dairy Queen. If “too sweet” were ever an issue, I probably would not be in the milkshake-review game.

Anything else you need to know?

Dairy Queen’s website tells us that “One sip and you’re sure to be left wanting s’more,” so you can be satisfied that no opportunity to make that old-as-the-hills pun was spared. It’s not a lie though; I finished my whole shake and I still kind of want s’more. Having any more at this point would probably make me sick, but I still want it.

Conclusion:

Dairy Queen S mores Shake Angle

The S’mores shake is a very respectable attempt to turn the gooey, classic summer snack into a drinkable delight. It’s a little one-note, but fortunately it’s a tasty note.

Purchased Price: $4.79
Size: 8 oz (small)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 640 calories, 32 grams of fat, 21 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 77 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 64 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Van Leeuwen Limited Edition Pizza Ice Cream

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Van Leeuwen Limited Edition Pizza Ice Cream Pint

Yes, you read the title correctly. This is a review of a pizza-flavored ice cream, or is it ice cream-flavored pizza? Either way, the latest product you never knew you needed but are intrigued to try (or at least read about someone else trying) is from the folks at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, who are also responsible for the previously reviewed Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Ice Cream.

Van Leeuwen Limited Edition Pizza Ice Cream Top

I imagine there was a meeting of Van Leeuwen decision-makers where someone threw out the idea of pizza ice cream, and it seems that at least some in the meeting thought it wasn’t a terrible idea (perhaps the same ones who gave the thumbs up for mac and cheese ice cream). Now, if Van Leeuwen was run by a bunch of first graders, then I could understand this flavor getting the green light, along with chicken nugget ice cream. Even though I did not do any research to back this up, I’m guessing Van Leeuwen is not run by first graders, although the company’s website refers to their products as “pints” when they only contain 14 (not 16) ounces, so I guess they do struggle with numbers a little.

So, is this a terrible idea?

Van Leeuwen Limited Edition Pizza Ice Cream Base

Actually, no. I sort of liked it, even though it only sort of tastes like pizza. This does contain a good number of pizza-ish ingredients — tomatoes, unbleached flour, mozzarella cheese powder, and unnamed spices — but they come through with different levels of flavor. The base ice cream (the cheese) is wonderfully creamy; I suppose because it’s French ice cream, which the container explains contains more egg yolks than non-French ice cream. There’s a hint of mozzarella taste but much more of a cheesecake flavor, thanks to the decidedly non-pizza ingredient of cream cheese.

Van Leeuwen Limited Edition Pizza Ice Cream Tomato Jam

The sauce part was a pleasant surprise. Despite how mixing tomatoes and ice cream might make you cringe, it was more than palatable. That’s probably because it’s a tomato jam, according to Van Leeuwen, and, according to me, it pairs nicely with the cheesy ice cream base. It has enough tomato flavor so you know what it is, but its mild sweetness eliminates the grossness factor.

The crust, made of basil cookies, is the only part that didn’t win me over. There was not much there as far as texture or taste, but it didn’t do anything to the detriment of the ice cream as a whole. It’s like having a co-worker who rarely does any work but doesn’t screw things up either.

Van Leeuwen Limited Edition Pizza Ice Cream Pizza Box

As has been said in other reviews of Frankenstein-inspired freaks of food folly, this product is not a great substitute for either of the items it claims to be. If you are craving pizza, then even that cold pizza in the fridge that you question if it’s still OK is to eat is probably better. And if you have a hankering for ice cream, then just about any “regular” flavor will hit the spot better than this. But you only live once, and do you really want to be sitting in a retirement home playing bingo and wondering what pizza ice cream tastes like? I certainly do not, so I’m glad I tried this.

Purchased Price: $4.98
Size: 14 fl. oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 310 calories, 16 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 110 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 33 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

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Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew Cans

What is Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew Coffee?

It’s Monster Energy’s attempt to enter the slowly growing canned nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee market. Since 2020, Starbucks has been selling canned versions of its Nitro Cold Brew. Also, a handful of smaller coffee brands have theirs. But behind Starbucks, Monster Energy is probably the next biggest name to have one.

If you’re unfamiliar with the coffee drink, adding the element with an atomic weight of 14.0067 (I still remember it off the top of my head…after Googling it 10 seconds ago) into coffee gives it a smoother texture and head of foam when poured. Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew is available in two varieties — Sweet Black and Latte.

How are they?

Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew Latte

I like my coffee how I like my babies, full of milk. So I started with the Latte version. Pouring it created a thick foamy head, but perhaps too thick because of how I poured it. So I had to wait a while for it to shrink before drinking it. With the foam, its flavor reminds me of a regular Java Monster, but slightly watered down and less creamy, which I guess could be considered a smooth texture? Once the foam disappears into the liquid, the headless drink has more flavor, but it’s still less creamy than Monster’s regular coffee energy drinks. It’s okay, but I wouldn’t repurchase it.

Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew Sweet Black

Pouring the Sweet Black version resulted in a less pronounced foam head. It also has a less noticeable flavor. Even though there’s no sugar, it’s slightly sweet, and it isn’t very bitter, which is expected for cold brew. But much like the Latte one, it tastes watered down when drinking it with the foam. I thought, much like the Latte one, the flavor would perk up when the foam melts into the drink, but that wasn’t the case. While I enjoy Starbucks’ Black Nitro Cold Brew, I’m not a fan of this.

Anything else you need to know?

A can has 200 milligrams of caffeine thanks to the coffee and, of course, Monster’s proprietary energy blend. It’s the same amount you’ll find in most regular Java Monster flavors.

Also, the coffee is, I guess, pre-mixed with nitrogen. Unlike the Starbucks canned Nitro Cold Brew and Nitro Pepsi, there isn’t a nitrogen infuser at the can’s bottom that activates when opened. So, I’m sorry, ASMRers. There isn’t a satisfying hiss.

Conclusion:

As someone who loves Java Monster and Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, I thought there would be a good chance I’d enjoy Monster’s Nitro Cold Brew, but both varieties are underwhelming.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 13.5 fl oz cans
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Latte), 5 out of 10 (Sweet Black)
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) Sweet Black – 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 330 milligrams of sodium, 3 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein. Latte – 100 calories, 3 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 490 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of sugar (0 grams of added sugar), and 7 grams of protein.

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