When it comes to the question of whether or not I should reload my energy drink review series, I’m still very much on the fence. Recently, though, I came across a Red Bull Silver Edition Lime review draft I started in 2015, but never got around to finish. So regardless of the reload or not, it’s time to get this draft done and published. It’s based on the old, boring review format. I’ve decided to stick with it for this review, perhaps to prove a point, or perhaps because it’s the path of least resistance to get the review published.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

A variety of Red Bull flavors has appeared on the shelves lately¹. Marketed as “Red Bull Editions”, they sure are a welcome addition to a somewhat stale energy drink market. Most manufacturers desperately try to copy the original Red Bull flavor, when they should rather use the opportunity to innovate. Instead, it’s Red Bull itself that comes up with something new and original flavors. Give them a rounds of applause!

The Red Bull Editions come with the same energy related benefits as a can of the original Red Bull, but in a range of other flavors. Currently, three are available: Cranberry (The Blue Edition), Cranberry (The Red Edition), and Lime (The Silver Edition). In this review, we’ll give the lime flavored Silver Edition a try.

Can

The Red Bull Silver Edition Lime comes in a very nice, silver can, decorated with a green version of the familiar Red Bull logo. The unmistakable Red Bull cap is also there, an interesting detail I’m a bit surprised none of the other major manufacturers have copied. The can design is a lot more modern than the original Red Bull can, which is easily recognizable, but a little outdated and lifeless.

First smell

The first smell of the Red Bull Silver Edition is a bit of a surprise. Is it really lime? I’m not sure, to be honest. If so, it’s overly synthetic. Any fruit flavored drink should smell organic and natural, and not like this. We’re not off to a very good start here.

First sip from the can

The drink feels well carbonated, but the taste is surprisingly sour, and neither that nor the aftertaste has much lime in it. The sip leaves a fair amount of the familiar energy drink sugar slime in my mouth. This should not come as a huge shock, since a can of Red Bull Silver Edition Lime contains 11% sugar.

Taste from a glass

Drinking Red Bull Silver Edition from a glass brings out even more of the sour taste. It’s more lime-less than before. It’s refreshing, though, but the lack of actual lime flavor is a disappointment.

Visuals

The drink looks almost clear, with a hint of dirty water. Perhaps not the most mouth-watering color Red Bull could have chosen for its Red Bull Silver Edition Lime. There is little visual carbonation, which is somewhat weird since the first sip from the can felt well carbonated.

A quick side-note is in order here: The can of Red Bull Silver Edition I reviewed was a week past its expiry date when I popped it. I very much doubt that a can that had not passed its expiry date would have changed the outcome of the review much, but for the sake of full disclosure, I though you should know. The passed expiry date might explain the lack of carbonation, though.

After 5 minutes

I’m sorry to say that this isn’t exactly great stuff. While refreshing, the first sips of Red Bull Silver Edition Lime hasn’t got me craving for more, to put it that way.

After 10 minutes

Yes, we’re ten minutes in, but I haven’t really felt any need to take another sip of my Red Bull Silver Edition Lime since we last spoke. There might be hope, though. I had another sip now, and it felt quite good. Perhaps the Red Bull Silver Edition Lime is best suited as a beverage you sit down, and enjoy an occasional sip of, instead of chugging it down? Taking 5 minutes between each sip might turn out to be a problem, however, because of the fairly low carbonation level.

The can is empty

It took about 21 minutes to finish this 250ml (8 ounces) can of Red Bull Silver Edition Lime. There isn’t a huge amount of slime in my mouth, or the numb feeling you get from some of the budget Red Bull knockoffs. But I don’t feel any more refreshed that I did when I opened the can 21 minutes ago either.

The final verdict

The Red Bull Silver Edition Lime is a disappointment. It doesn’t live up to the high Red Bull standard we energy drink connoisseur have come to know and love. The highlight is the can. While the can is an important part of the experience, it’s what’s inside that counts. And that’s bad news for Red Bull Silver Edition Lime.

There is no real reason to buy a can of Red Bull Silver Edition Lime. Instead, you should purchase a can of the original Red Bull. Then take look at the Red Bull Silver Edition Lime can for a while just to satisfy your visual cortex.

Quick facts

Manufacturer

Red Bull is an energy drink sold by Austrian company Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the highest selling energy drink in the world. In 2013, it sold 5.387 billion cans.

Caffeine

A central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. The world’s most widely consumed psychoactive  is caffeine. Unlike many other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world. Caffeine is used to reduce physical fatigue and to prevent or treat drowsiness. It produces increased wakefulness, faster and clearer flow of thought, increased focus, and better general body coordination.

Taurine

Essential for cardiovascular function, and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system. However, its role in these processes is not clearly understood and the influence of high taurine doses on these processes is uncertain.