‘Distortion’ adds a significant lime kick to the base Mountain Dew, and provides a bit or tartness. The balance is great, and really improves on the base in my opinion (I’ve always found non diet Dew a little sweet for my tastes). The lime flavor also intensifies as your beverage loses it’s chill and carbonation.

If you’re looking for a comparison, and have a long memory, 7-Up produced a green, caffeinated beverage called dnL (7up upside down) a few years ago, and the flavors strongly resemble one another. That’s great for me, because dnL was one of my favorite beverages before it was pulled off the shelves.

I have no trouble recommending ‘Distortion’ to any citrus soda fan, it’s a great product and a major ‘Win!’ for Pepsi. Even if this doesn’t win the Dewmocracy contest, I hope they’ll find a way to keep it in the portfolio.

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–Jeremy Hobbs

Today, corn syrup is much cheaper, and very few people can tell the difference. Coke ‘Classic’ really isn’t ‘classic’ at all, the original formula was based on sugar (and still is in other parts of the world). Pepsi’s story is the same. As well as Mountain Dew. I’ve tried the colas, and they’re okay, but the Dew is the one that really benefits from natural sugar.

Pepsi Throwback was smoother…. Mountain Dew Throwback is smoooooth. The stuff just glides down your throat, with none of the sticky residue that I’m used to from ‘regular’ Mountain Dew. The carbonation has been toned down a bit too, and while it takes a bit away from it’s ‘extreme’ image, it significantly adds to it’s drinkability. You have to love the old school label as well; that’s just slick!

Mountain Dew Throwback is a must try for any soda connoisseur. Feel free to check around for more consumer reviews, you don’t have to take my word for it. But I feel that it’s a definite must try. Available for a limited time only, so you better hurry!

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–Jeremy Hobbs

Pepsi apparently took notice of this little clique of consumers, and released a couple of new beverages just for them. Mountain Dew Throwback, which I’ll review later, and what I have now, Pepsi Cola Throwback.

Pepsi Throwback generally tastes like regular Pepsi, the only things that I noticed was that it was a bit less sweet, and slightly less carbonated. ‘Mouth feel’ is somewhat cleaner and less sticky. Naturally, all those combined make it significantly ‘smoother.’

To be perfectly honest, the only reason that I would consider picking this up over corn syrup Pepsi is that I think sugar is ‘healthier’ for you. Rather, both are bad, but I’m of the belief that pure sugar is the lesser of two evils.

Pepsi is saying this is a limited time product, and I’d tend to believe them. My gut tells me that there are not enough people that truly care about the differences, and certainly not enough to keep a spinoff brand profitable. If you like it, and it certainly isn’t bad, I’d stock up. Mildly recommended.

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–Jeremy Hobbs

They went back to the drawing board and came out with this; just regular Dr. Pepper with a bit of cherry flavor added in. Those of you with good memories might recall Dr. Pepper Red Fusion from a few years ago, and that’s pretty much what Dr. Pepper Cherry is. Red Fusion with a different color, and a diet sibling.

In all honesty, if you’re a fan of Dr. Pepper (or Diet Dr. Pepper), you’re more than likely going to enjoy the Cherry variants. It’s a bit hard to tell the difference, and I’m not entirely sure that I could in a blind taste test. Do I recommend trying it? I say; ‘Sure, why not?’ It isn’t something so unique and different that you should run right out for it, but if you see it somewhere and you’re thirsty, I would give it a shot. Enjoy Pepper-heads!

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–Jeremy Hobbs

‘Saved the best for last. Third time is a charm. Blind squirrels find nuts sometimes. Pick any corny line you want, but this version of the ‘Dewmocracy’ is the best of the bunch by far. This is a drink I can see actually holding it’s own in the line of Mountain Dew products.

It’s so far in front of it’s competition that I think Pepsi rigged the contest. How this raspberry version tasted so good, and the other were so bleh, indicates that they sank the most amount of effort into Voltage. Should voters be able to be depended on, this will win the contest going away.

The berry flavor is refreshing, not overly sweet, and the product doesn’t have that ‘watered down’ appearance to it. Vaguely reminds me of the old ‘Pepsi Blue.’

Mountain Dew Voltage is a beverage that I will buy again; I enjoyed it more than some other varieties of Dew, like Code Red. Calorie content is astronomical, and I realize a diet version may be to much to ask, but a guy can hope. Give it a shot, and if you like it, let your voice be heard at the link below.’

When I’m wrong, I’ll say I’m wrong. Mountain Dew Voltage was great for a one night stand, but after I made a commitment and bought a 2-Liter, I realized the mistake that I had made. This stuff is just WAY too sweet for regular consumption; I tired of it less than half way through the bottle.

So the parts of that review that I recant are a) the ‘not overly sweet’ part; and b) that I’d ever buy this beverage again. Dear readers, please forgive me for my sins…

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–Jeremy Hobbs

Now, you can create these experiences in your own home! For a few years now, I’ve had the fantasy of owning my very own soda fountain. That idea is completely impractical; the initial cost would be enormous, and it would take years to recoup your investment. Not to mention space constraints, upkeep costs, and the learning curve involved with a piece of machinery like that. Sodastream drink maker eliminates all of those problems, and offers a line of ‘mini fountains’ at affordable prices.

No larger than a large coffee maker, the Sodastream will make sparkling beverages for you one liter at a time. The kit arrives with the ‘chassis’ that holds everything together, two one-liter extra-strength reusable PET plastic bottles, a gas canister, and some syrup (amount/type depends on what you order). Set up was fairly easy, but I do recommend browsing the instructions before trying to put things together.

After everything is assembled, the Sodastream operates at the push of a button; just screw on the bottle of (cold!) water, and you’re good to go. The instructions say to give the button 3 presses for ‘average’ fizz, but I wasn’t satisfied with anything less than 4 ‘shots.’ Add the syrup slowly, cap it, and give the bottle a very gentle shake, and then you can start sipping!

The syrup I’ve sampled thus far I’ve enjoyed. Calorie wise, even the ‘regular’ versions have around half the sugar as the major brands, and the flavor doesn’t suffer for it. Too much. The ‘cola’ had a bit of a ‘store brand’ thing going on, but it was still more than drinkable. There is a large variety of flavors, sweetened and diet, as well as an energy drink blend, and a line of extracts that help you create flavored sparkling-water.

One idea that the folks at Sodastream seem to be pushing is Earth friendliness. The idea is sound; by using this machine along with the reusable bottles, you’re going to help eliminate excess waste, thus helping the environment. Noble, noble indeed!

Packages start at $79.99, and I think it’s useful enough that you’ll at least get your money back out of it. The Sodastream is a bit of a novelty, and I’m certainly not going to give up the name brands for good, but I love having it around. Recommended if you’re a soda enthusiast such as myself!

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–Jeremy Hobbs

You could try to lump this is in with other citrus drinks, like the original Mountain Dew and Vault, but this beverage does have a very unique taste. It’s flavoring consists or concentrated orange, and lemon juices, and it’s very light and refreshing.

Ski is a quality soda as well. Upon first glance, I was thinking ‘store brand knock off,’ but that’s why I sample the products before I review them. Ski left me wanting more than a sample, and it may find it’s own little niche in my beverage rotation; especially if I can find the diet version.

The excellent, unique flavor, and all around quality has me interested in trying other beverages produced by ‘Double Cola.’ I recommend giving these a try if you’re able to locate them; it’s nice to try something every now and then that isn’t a ‘me too’ product. Enjoy!

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–Jeremy Hobbs

It’s so far in front of it’s competition that I think Pepsi rigged the contest. How this raspberry version tasted so good, and the other were so bleh, indicates that they sank the most amount of effort into Voltage. Should voters be able to be depended on, this will win the contest going away.

The berry flavor is refreshing, not overly sweet, and the product doesn’t have that ‘watered down’ appearance to it. Vaguely reminds me of the old ‘Pepsi Blue.’

Mountain Dew Voltage is a beverage that I will buy again; I enjoyed it more than some other varieties of Dew, like Code Red. Calorie content is astronomical, and I realize a diet version may be to much to ask, but a guy can hope. Give it a shot, and if you like it, let your voice be heard at the link below.

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

I enjoyed ‘Revolution’ considerably more than ‘Supernova,’ though it still suffered from a rediculously sweet flavor. Both beverages would’ve tasted so much better if they had just toned the flavors down a little bit. Drinking a full 20 ounce bottle is a near-nausiating experience.

Everyone on the net that has gotten ahold of this is comparing it to the Taco Bell exclusive Mountain Dew ‘Baja Blast.’ I’m a huge Baja Blast fan, and I can taste the similarities, but it just strays too far from a great thing. Pepsi could have a real winner on their hands if they’d just bottle Baja and set it loose, that is some great stuff!

Again, cannot recommend this drink. I’m hoping that Voltage (raspberry citrus) will be more satisfying to me. It really pains me to keep giving one of my favorite brands a hard time, but they’re just not getting it done with this line of extensions.

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-–Jeremy Hobbs

Described as ‘Dew’ with a blast of strawberry melon flavor, Mountain Dew Supernova is one of the sweetest drinks that I have ever consumed. And I drink everything. I had a ‘cotton candy’ flavored soda once, and it pailed in comparison. Two sips of Supernova, and my thoughts were, ‘I’m done.’

The melon flavor was more prevalent than the strawberry, and I’d have never guessed it was a Dew product had it not been on the label. But the sweetness was most dominant. Cannot stress that enough, Mountain Dew Supernova is tooth decay SWEET!

Calories hit at 290 per 20 ounce bottle. 76 grams of sugar. Cannot recommend this, and it most definitely will not be getting my vote in the DewMocracy contest. I don’t care if the others are worse; I’ll just vote for Ron Paul.

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–Jeremy Hobbs