The Can Says: "Drink Cold

BRN  Says:  I've got a choice, 275ml bottles or 440ml cans. I opt for cans as quite simply there's no point in buying anything less than 330ml. I quickly note that the cans appearance looks somewhat different to my last foray in DW, would it be for better or for worse. we shall see. 

The can is surprisingly basic and makes no attempt to promote its potency or itself whatsoever.A quick butchers reveals that the once mightily healthy abv of 8.4% has been brutally cut back to 7.5% abv. No explanation has been given, so i can only assume that the original formula has been tinkered with. note to the manufacturers, if it ain't broke don't fix it and improvement doesn't always have to mean reduced abv!!! The cans silver with a blue diamond in the middle containing the name (in rather uninspiring fonts), the percentage (the lowly 7.5abv) and tiny 'Drink Cold' lettering. Looking at the can it doesn't exactly scream 'Drink me' at first glance, some may call its design contemporary, and classy but lets be honest about it here. How many people are going to be sat eating a 3 course a la carte meal with a can of this plonked next to it. Clearly the manufacturers aren't doing their market research into who drinks this stuff, you drink it to get pissed not to quaff with a fine veal!!!! So far the design, reduced abv and quantity (440ml) aren't exactly screaming "Value for money" at me. The can opens with an underwhelming plip rather than a chest puffed out, pythonesque Hiss. The smell is also pretty underwhelming, not so much an all powerful whiff, more like "Has little Charlie split his chemistry set again". So far the disappointment is as overwhelming as it has been underwhelming. I pour said liquid into the glass and its standard White Cider fare. I take a sip and am greeted by a foul taste of chemicals not to dissimilar to ICI oops sorry LCL Super. Quite simply it tastes crap. I quickly check the expiry date and no problems there. Its the drink itself. Its an erratic mix of sharp, bitter and sweet with inconsistent aftertastes. They have made an attempt to bring an apple flavour but it tastes artificial and like someone has poured a spoonfull of tango in there. It doesn't taste strong, just cheap and poorly conceived. I perserve through all 8 cans at a struggle. It does get you pissed, that I'll give you, but 8 cans of anything over 7.00abv will do that too you. Its all very underwhelming and the feelings certainly don't rival White Lightning,Carlsberg Special or any of the other leaders. 

I awake the next day with something definately amiss, my head is bad, the gut-ache is incredible and as I probably have, it feels like I've ingested 8 cans of chemicals. the hangover is akin to White Lightning, only without the good night before.

Conclusion: Not the drink it that it was when it was 8.4%abv and the new design and taste do it little favours. Its not pleasant, scant value for money (unless you get 13% extra free and a discount), and looks like its trying to appeal to a different demographic. In short there are far better drinks out there that offer a much better drunkeness/quantity to price ratio than this, and a better experience all round. 

Verdict: 3/10, Reduced abv,440ml cans, and awful taste relegate this to the 'Only drink it if its free' category