More Weird Drinks

[size=+1]More Weird Drinks[/size]​

Well, this ought to be fun.

Because I'm a weird bloke, I like to wonder into strange places and picking up some of the strange and unusual from the shelves of shops. Some are things you could likely find anywhere. Some are in places like Cybercandy in Brighton, which is a cute little place that stocks everything from Lucky Charms to an entire range of Reece's Peanut Butter things to Doctor's Orders; the Chocolate Bar flavoured like Fish Fingers and Custard.

So, here's a nice mixture of both what anyone in the UK could find to some things which might look familiar to things outside of Ol' Blighty.

Cog Curry Wurst Energy Drink​

I'm sure your waiting for me to exclaim that this is equivalent to Satan's excrement. It's an Energy Drink that is supposed to taste like a German Curried Sausage. Something that's covered in sauce and spicy. Something that can savage your throat as it rolls down.

Wouldn't you just love a carbonated version of that? With all the spice and vigour of the sausage itself! Something you could use to kick yourself into high gear!

The verdict is...It's OK. Which is a little boring...

I can't recommend it to anyone but...It's OK. If I had to drink a another can, I wouldn't be too upset. Granted, Monster tends to be a better flavour than this stuff but that's only because the curry flavour makes this more of a sipping drink.

It's a weirdly smoky flavour as the translation to soft drink is made. In very small sips, I grew to like it. But you cannot chug this stuff without getting the full brunt of the flavour, of which is vicious in large amounts. This German drink probably wouldn't find much of a following here where spiciness seems to split the country down the middle. It's more peppery than spicy as they seem to try and add sweetness.

It's a peculiar experience. Probably only for weirdos like me.

Dry Cucumber Soda​

Speaking of things that seem appealing only appealing to weirdos like me...

Cucumbers barely have any flavour. They're a fleshy, watery vegetables that don't really taste of anything, yet aren't particularly offensive. They're generally sweeter and more agreeable than most other vegetables. Try thinking of anyone that doesn't like cucumbers. Your likely to find few.

So, why is this stuff so disgusting? There's no flavour except carbonation in this stuff, making it only have a few variations of flavour that make it only marginally distinct when compared against Tonic Water. Carbonation seems to overwhelm almost everything cucumbers are adding to the drink. This stuff is genuinely hard to throw down your neck. I expected to find that I wasn't supposed to drink it as is and should have mixed it with something.

Perhaps a nice gin? Or a whisky? Like I said, it's so close to Tonic Water, I have the impression the 'Dry' bit is to hide the fact that the flavouring appears to come from whipping one down the side of each bottle. Unless you like Tonic Water or have some spare gin, avoid.

The Sopranos Chianti Soda​

This is one of the few TV show tie-in things I've tried. I've also seen some blue rock things in shops that links with Breaking Bad. Might look into that and the TV show one day but for now? Chianti.

Which is a wine from Tuscany. Apparently, it doesn't go with Liver, despite what a certain movie would tell you. That is honestly all I know about it. Other than it's red. And made from grapes.

The soda? Well, despite a slight after-taste of what I thought might have been a swimming pool, it's actually pretty good.

I have no idea on the translation from wine to soda but I don't care. I drank this after trying Curry Wurst Energy Drink and Dry Soda. It was blessed relief that this was very drinkable. I'm not sure if I would by this on a regular basis but, I would like to try a little more.

It's just sweet enough to be pleasant but not sickly, so it is pretty refreshing. If you like weird sodas, give it a go.

Grace Aloe Vera, Mango Flavour Aloe Vera and Strawberry Aloe Vera Drinks​

Aloe Vera is a plant that's been used in things all over the bloody place. Cosmetics, remedies, bog roll.

I'm serious. At the moment, there's toilet roll you can go buy even though there's no scientific benefit what so ever. Some have suggested there's something to do with better bowl movements, although that could be because the stuff is toxic in decent doses.

So, when there's not only one drink but three variations of it from the same company for a plant that I only really knew you could wipe your rear end with. Drinking it seemed bonkers.

Having sampled some of these drinks, they're not completely bonkers but I can't say they're anything but a fancy juice thingy. Allegedly, one bottle is 100% of your expected intake of Vitamin C, which...I guess, they have to have on there and tested or else face the judgement of Trading Standards so...I suppose it's legit.

Give scurvy a bloody nose with these things, apparently.

Original flavour is just straight up Aloe Vera flavoured juice with bits in it. For some reason, the stuff is swimming with Aloe Vera gel chunks that seem to retain a little bit of the original plants hair. The result is a beverage that tastes like a fruitier version of strawberry pencil sweets with parts of an unfortunate tarantula mixed in for added vigour.

The sensation of the bits in your mouth is weird. Unlike anything I've drunk or eaten before. Not a deal breaker, especially for those looking for a healthy alternative to whatever you were drinking and have an aversion to water.

Mango is basically Mango Juice with added Aloe Vera bits. The Mango tastes fine, even with the globules of added plant. Strawberry is roughly the same. They taste like what they're meant to. Albeit, an artificial version but, it's definitely mango and strawberry.

If you feel you need some extra vitamin C - and by 'extra' I mean a sodding boatload - then it might be worth looking into. They seem to suggest it's a good alternative to energy drinks to fight of tiredness and I feel remarkably OK and continued to all day, even after an iffy night's sleep. While a pound for a bottle seems a little steep, you might enjoy it.

Just don't go in expecting orange juice. It's probably more for health food nuts than the Coca-Cola crowd.

Septimus Spyder Medieval Brewhouse's Wild Hedgehog​

The drink is not bad. It's a herbal kind of thing that's pleasant but not overpowering. Some may consider it somewhat weak, like carbonated fruit tea but this was actually quite nice.

It's the bottle itself that baffles me.

One, it's the only drink I have ever brought where the bottom of the bottle is covered in a layer of wax. Why? I have no earthly idea. Does it lock in flavour? Was it encased in wax then suspended from the ceiling? Does it help stay on the shelf? Why, oh why, does it have wax around the bottom of the bottle?

And it came like this. Is it a wine thing? Did someone spill a candle on it by mistake? What?

Sadly, the guff on the side is kinda dull. Apparently, it's a drink made from 'Gruit' a herb and spice mixture that dates back to medieval England. So, it's the drink of choice for battle reenactors for that authentic, druid-y taste. And even this is a source of Vitamin C!

Sorry Scurvy! The Druids and Drink Manufacturers have it out for you!

If you see it, give it a go. It's a subtler drink than what you might be used to be I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Still no idea about the wax though...