Jolly Ranchers might be the only candy that I don’t assign to a certain place or occasion. Reese’s Pieces are for Halloween, Dum-Dums are for doctors’ offices and haircuts, and Twizzlers are for movie theaters. I’ve definitely had Jolly Ranchers, but where do they belong at a core level? According to C4, the answer is “liquified inside a 16oz can alongside 200 milligrams of caffeine.” Yep, I tried three classic Jolly Rancher flavors-turned-energy drinks, here’s what I thought.
- Green Apple Jolly Rancher C4 Performance Energy
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Pros: I started with Green Apple because it’s my least favorite of the three Jolly Rancher flavors, and I’m a “rip the bandaid off” kind of reviewer. That said, this ended up being the most pleasant green apple energy drink I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely dead-on in both flavor and aroma of the green Jolly Rancher, no question. This even got a thumbs up from my mom, a dedicated, lifelong green candy hater.
Cons: If green apple isn’t your favorite flavor on Earth, this is going to taste a little like getting punched in the face. It has tartness in spades and there’s no getting around it. I took my time finishing this one—not because I was pacing myself with caffeine intake, but because it’s so tart and strong.
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
- Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher C4 Performance Energy
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Pros: Again, the aroma of this new C4 flavor is perfect. It is surprisingly subtle for a blue raspberry energy drink. C4 actually sells a punchier version of this classic flavor in their “Smart Energy” line and a literally punchier version in their WWE-branded “Ultimate Energy” line.
Cons: It might be too subtle? This is the first time I’ve ever been underwhelmed with a blue raspberry flavor. It’s not a flavor that screams restraint, but this is a very subdued blue raspberry candy flavor. If Green Apple was getting punched in the face, Blue Raspberry is a tap on the cheek.
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
- Watermelon Jolly Rancher C4 Performance Energy
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Pros: I saved this new C4 energy flavor for last and I was right to do so. Watermelon is the best Jolly Rancher, so it’s only appropriate that this is the best Jolly Rancher-flavored energy drink. “Candy watermelon” is a flavor on the rise, making a recent appearance in an overseas flavor of PRIME Hydration. I hope to see more drinks borrowing this concept in the future, because I’d be perfectly happy drinking candy watermelon everything for the foreseeable future. If you think there’s even a chance you’d like this, you’re going to love it.
Cons: My only complaint is that there are other C4 flavors on shelves when they could all just be this instead.
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!