[Energy Drink Review] Monster Import

Overview:

Monster Import is the newest flavor of Monster Energy. ‘Import’ isn’t just a fancy word they slap on the front of the can for connoisseurs like myself, no, the drink is actually imported straight from Amsterdam, the official home of public fornication and casual drug abuse. If you don’t want to try Import for the fact that it is a new Monster, then at least try it for that.

Straight from the can:

While in Europe last summer at the Spanish Moto GP, we saw a cool re-sealable can and knew it would be perfect for Monster. The can company said, “only available in Europe.” We said, “B.S., we gotta have it!”
Next stop Amsterdam, Holland and specialty plant to fill the funky can with our new super premium Monster Import formula. Monster Import has a clean, smooth Euro-flavor, less calories, but still gets you off as good as the original.
If you can open and close the can with one hand you probably dated a lot when you were younger.

Review:

Monster Import’s biggest selling point is easily the new tab on the top of the can. Made by a company called Ball-Packaging, the new cap twists to open and twists back to close. It’s an awesome technology that does its job amazingly well. In fact I trusted the resealable top to keep my Monster contained that I actually carried one around in a messenger bag that was also carrying two books, my camera, my DSi, various chargers, and my laptop computer.

Honestly I forgot the Monster was in there, but what’s it matter? Everything was bone dry and not a drop of liquid escaped the can. Now, this new tab is not to be confused with the Mega Monster, a drink that uses a technology called CAP CAN, which is essentially nothing more than an aluminum cap on top of a can (hence the name). In fact, that technology had once impressed me with its innovative design, but this easily blows it away and is several times more efficient at keeping your drink carbonated and contained.

The only complaint I have about the new tab is that every time you open the damn thing it shoots Monster all over the place. This is particularly obnoxious when driving as you have to use two hands to open it without getting the sugary liquid all over you car, one to pop the top and the other to hold over the opening to catch the eruption and defend your precious pleather seats.

Aside from that the new cap does its job wonderfully. It keeps your drink safely inside its container and retains carbonation as well as any bottle. The lid does obstruct the flow of liquid slightly, so you won’t be able to pound these back as easily as you may be used to, but the cascade showers at a comfortable level regardless.

Enough about the new can design, let’s talk about the what’s inside!

After tearing open my first can of Monster Import I leaned in to get a whiff of the sweet aroma venting from the aperture. It’s really hard to tell if it smells any different from the original Monster, especially with a big chunk of plastic between your nostrils and the drink, but it seems to be about the same. I didn’t notice any outstanding differences, at least.

But when it comes to taste, the separation between the two is much more noticeable though still very subtle. It tastes like the American blend at the roots, but has a much sweeter, heavier flavor that makes the drink more pronounced upon your taste buds. The differences are slight enough so that you can drink this interchangeably with the original yet pronounced enough so that it stands apart from the original as its own product.

Import carries the same awesome, high quality energy kick Monster is known for. No jitters, shakes or crash. Instead Monster Import will give you an uplifting charge that really punches you into high gear for two or three hours. You’ll notice increased stamina and concentration, and you’ll have a ridiculous urge to move continuously. It’s a great feeling that tapers off slowly leaving you feeling just as you were before drinking it.

Monster Import comes in an 18.6 ounce, 2.3 serving container for the fair price of around $2.50 – $2.75. I have seen it on shelves with a price tag of over $3, which is ludicrous. Don’t give these greedy corporate bastards any more than you would give the average greedy corporate bastards for a can of Import, as $2.75 is probably the average tag.

Final Words:

Monster Import’s innovative new twisting tab design works flawlessly and is guaranteed to keep your drink where it’s supposed to be. The drink itself tastes very much like the original Monster blend, only sweeter and more smooth. It can be drank as a replacement, in addition to, or interchangeably with the original formula without a problem. I definitely recommend picking it up and giving it a shot yourself.

Buy Monster Import Energy Drink

Pros

• Awesome new tab
• Actually keeps your drink carbonated and contained
• Tastes like a sweeter, richer version of the original
• Fairly priced

Cons

• Opening the can often squirts a small eruption of Monster, which is annoying

Score: 9.1/10 (Amazing)

Aroma: 9.0/10 (Smells a lot like the original, almost indistinguishably so)
Taste: 9.5/10 (A sweeter, richer, and smoother-tasting Monster Energy)
Kick: 9.25/10 (That same great kick Monster is known for)
Value: 8.0/10 (Reasonably priced)