MAYrathon 2.0 Day 16 - Kickapoo Malibu

One of my very first reviews was that of Kickapoo Joy Juice, essentially a flatter Mountain Dew and an odd product placement for the backwoods, hillbilly-filled world of Al Cap's Li'l Abner. In the comic, two inbred poachers named Hairless Joe and Lonesome Polecat (shudder), made a delicious and mysterious elixir called Joy Juice. Let's take another look at a "hilarious" Li'l Abner comic.

Cuz it's satire?

Why would I want a shirt of this?

Since 1965, Kickapoo Joy Juice has been around and has enjoyed a mediocre run as America's favorite Hillbilly-inspired-1930s-comic strip-citrus soda. But I guess Kickapoo wanted more, because in 2014, unbeknownst to be until very recently, they dropped all the Abner tie-ins and created more flavors. Now Joy Juice was the name of one of the flavors and not the brand itself. Along with the original, Kickapoo launched Fruit Shine (sangria), Fuzzy Navel (peach) and Malibu (Pina Colada) which I hold in my hand today. I guess because Joy Juice has always been associated with moonshine, they decided to make all of their new flavors based off of mixed drinks.

The bottle here is very busy. On the front, along with the label it informs us that it is the original recipe (since 2014?), made with real sugar and is a Non-alcoholic pina colada flavored sparking drink. And on the back, along with the nutritional info it says this: "Kickapoo Malibu, another magical concoction with a unique pina colada flavor, leaves people all over the world happy and cravin' for more. So SWIG SOME SWAG and get the most out of today!" You lose points for poor grammar and the improper use of the word swag. Stop trying to be cool grandpa! The color of the soda is a very unique bright blue and it smells just like a pina colada. (tastes) It's pretty okay. SUPER sweet, and like the Joy Juice, very low carbonation. It's good for a hot day if your an alcoholic trying to ween off the good stuff, but I wouldn't go out of my way for another bottle. I guess I'll look for the other two flavors some day too.

Ski Soda

It's once again been a long hiatus here at the shack, and I am once again dusting off the old blog and giving it another go. 2017 did not start off well for me, and I've had to deal with a lot of crap, but I am slowly digging my way out of the muck and once again rediscovering things that I love like tasting obscure sodas and yelling obscenities at kids on bikes and jumping through sprinklers in my bikini. It's time to get back into those nostalgic moments that truly made me feel happy. And this one is double the nostalgia because not only is it on the list of classic sodas I've always wanted to try, but it's also one of the very first sodas I attempted to review when I started this blog in 2013. Why did it not happen? Because there were black floaties all over the bottle and it scared the crap out of me, so I pretty much put it out of my mind for a few years. But now, with a fresher bottle and a fresher perspective, I have returned to finally taste - Ski Soda.

Lefty, using his right hand like a prick.

Here's a jerk who LOVES Ski Soda.

Detroit has the Faygo Company and Vernors. Texas has Big Red. Montana has crippling depression. But if you were to travel to southern Illinois, St. Louis or Nashville, they you're in Ski country. It's in every restaurant's fountain machine right next to the big wigs like Pepsi and Coke. It all started when "Lefty" J. Meier used the money he won after foiling a bank robbery to open up his own soda bottling company. Eventually he joined forces with the Double Cola company where the popular Midwest soda is still manufactured today. This caffeinated classic is often compared to Mountain Dew or Mello Yellow, but unlike the two is known for having a distinct lemon, lime AND orange taste. 

Alright, I am excited to try this one as it's been four years in the making. The bottle is a simple green glass with a picture of a girl water skiing next to the large Ski logo. What's very odd is that it doesn't list the ingredients on the bottle. I thought that was a law or something. I don't really care though because I am NOT waiting another four years for this. Let's twist this bottle open and give it a sniff. It smells a bit like Kickapoo Joy Juice or maybe Sun Drop. The taste? Unique. I can see where people compare it to Mountain Dew, but it's very, very different. It's a bit flatter than most sodas, and the orange definitely plays a part in the flavor. I guess if anything, I would compare it to a mix between Kickapoo Joy juice and a flat Mountain Dew Livewire. I don't hate it!

Well, it's good to be back, and you can certainly expect more updates in the near future as I'm moving in a few months and I have a ton of crap that I need to eat/drink/vomit up before then.