# How can anyone stand Red Bull energy drink it's just vile! It's like liquid Smarties! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863 "2006-10-18T00:47:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/1 "2006-10-18T00:47:03Z")
I finally tried one of these to see what all the hoopla was about, and \*Good God \* I think I’d rather drink my own pee! This stuff is horrific! It’s like someone dissolved a bunch of Smarties candies in some sort of generic 7-UP. Are all energy drinks this piss like? ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/2 "2006-10-18T01:01:14Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Are all energy drinks this piss like? [/QUOTE] Pretty much. Red Bull is a bit sweeter than some. Pretty much all of them are very…bitter? tangy? Whatever, I’ll drink one now and again if I’m feeling frisky and I still can’t get over the taste. But I keep coming back for more. Of course, it goes without saying that adding a bit of vodka makes the experience all worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/3 "2006-10-18T01:01:58Z")
I think it’s pretty gross. I’ve only dared to try it with vodka in it too when someone bought me it at a bar. Most of the guys I used to work with lived off it, but it smelled funny and looked like either pee or beer. I’ve never tried any other energy drinks. They just don’t appeal to me at all. The caffeine in soda has never really noticeably affected me, and I can’t stand coffee. I pretty much only want caffeine when I have a headache. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/4 "2006-10-18T01:05:13Z")
You think that stuff’s vile? You should try Japan’s _Real Gold_ “health drink.” Very healthy stuff, I guess, if you consider caffeine and **nicotine** to be healthful. I personally never tried the stuff, but one of my Sailors had a daughter addicted to it. Poor kid was about 4 years old and so wired she practically left footprints on the ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/5 "2006-10-18T01:07:36Z")
Try [AMP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Dew_AMP). It’s very similar to Mountain Dew. Of course, Mountain Dew will keep you awake all night too, so what’s the point, really? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/6 "2006-10-18T01:17:55Z")
[Bawls Guarana](http://www.bawls.com/) isn’t bad at all, (in the blue bottle) I actually drink it. [Jolt](http://www.joltcola.com/) blue tastes like cotton candy. (Insipid I think, but Mr. Clawbane loves it.) I can’t stand the smell of most energy drinks, they smell unpleasantly musky, entirely too pisslike for me. Mr. Clawbane is also particularly fond of [Rockstar’s Juiced](http://www.rockstar69.com/) flavor and[Rip It](http://www.ripitenergy.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/7 "2006-10-18T01:19:30Z")
Adding, he likes Rip It’s [Power](http://www.ripitenergy.com/products/power/) flavor. It has 1000 mg. of Taurine in it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/8 "2006-10-18T01:59:44Z")
Red Bull tastes like children’s aspirin to me. I don’t drink it, but I don’t dislike the taste. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_With\_Words](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weird_with_words/32/385_2.png) [@Weird\_With\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_With_Words)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/9 "2006-10-18T02:32:29Z")
The stuff’s distinguishing ingredient is cow-bile. What’d you expect it to taste like? Candy? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/10 "2006-10-18T02:46:18Z")
[QUOTE=Weird With Words] The stuff’s distinguishing ingredient is cow-bile. What’d you expect it to taste like? Candy? [/QUOTE] Cite, please? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/11 "2006-10-18T02:51:18Z")
Oh, if you think Red Bull is bad, I would definitely steer clear of Red Bull with no sugar. It’s almost as bad as Rockstar, or any of it’s hundreds of derivatives. On a side note, I don’t suggest drinking Rockstar Camo (or whatever it was - it had a camo print on the can) while eating beef jerky after a week that started with a bachelor party and ended with an 8 hour drive. It makes your tummy hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/12 "2006-10-18T02:52:18Z")
I call UL on your claim, **Weird With Words**! While first isolated from Ox bile, that is not where they get the [taurine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine) for [Red Bull](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull). [QUOTE=Wikipedia] The main ingredient in Red Bull that purportedly provides energy is taurine, a substance that was first found within the bile of an ox in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin; **However, taurine that is used commercially is produced synthetically.** [/QUOTE] I doubted that they’d be able to get enough cow-bile to make the vast amounts of energy drinks that are produced… ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/13 "2006-10-18T02:53:10Z")
I kinda like Rockstar. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/14 "2006-10-18T03:07:09Z")
I like the taste of Red Bull, though the stimulant effects of it make me a little dizzy. Then again, back in the 80s when I lived in Japan, I loved the Real Gold stuff that **Monty** mentions, so what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_With\_Words](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weird_with_words/32/385_2.png) [@Weird\_With\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_With_Words)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/15 "2006-10-18T03:08:00Z")
Whudduhell’s “UL”? I’m assuming you’re not talking about United Laboratories? You know, like: “This Fire Exit is U.L. Certified”? Anyhow, yeah, I knew that. It’s just not as funny when you describe it as “similiar to an acid found in the bile of a cow”. And I figured what I was saying was accurate enough to jibe with my intellectual honesty. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/16 "2006-10-18T03:13:48Z")
UL = [Urban Legend](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_legend). ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_With\_Words](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weird_with_words/32/385_2.png) [@Weird\_With\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_With_Words)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/17 "2006-10-18T03:18:44Z")
Actually, the Urban Legend (at least, the one someone tried to pass off on me, causing me to look it up) is that Taurine is called such because it’s made from bull testicles. An no, I am not shitting you. He even thought he was being informative when he told me. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/18 "2006-10-18T03:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=Weird With Words] The stuff’s distinguishing ingredient is cow-bile. What’d you expect it to taste like? Candy? [/QUOTE] Yeah, I’d expect it to taste like candy because the OP says it tastes like liquid smarties and smarties are candy. Mmm … ox bile. Frankly, I never tried it and I was mostly put off by the name. I always thought it might be hematuric bull piss. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/19 "2006-10-18T03:49:03Z")
A friend of mine mixed up some red bull and cheap vodka, then offered me some. With no other mixers in sight, I drank the vodka straight, rather than drink it with the red bull. Tastes much better that way, IMO. Red Bull is vile. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863/20 "2006-10-18T11:59:03Z")
I love the current energy drink craze. Because if there’s one thing the average person in these parts needs, it’s an even **more** concentrated version of sugar-water…seriously, the only people I ever see drinking that garbage tend to be rather large and sedentary… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-stand-red-bull-energy-drink-its-just-vile-its-like-liquid-smarties/376863.md?page=2)