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Pop Culture: Mountain Dew Voltage

I'm not sure when the last time I had a Mountain Dew was, but the last time I remember enjoying one was back when the brand's Code Red flavor came out. I have vivid memories of using the stuff to wash down Flamin' Hot Cheetos while listening to The Writing's...
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I'm not sure when the last time I had a Mountain Dew was, but the last time I remember enjoying one was back when the brand's Code Red flavor came out. I have vivid memories of using the stuff to wash down Flamin' Hot Cheetos while listening to The Writing's On The Wall.

The Pepsi brand has released numerous colored versions since -- LiveWire, Pitch Black or the Taco Bell exclusive Baja Blast, anyone? -- but I haven't been tempted to bite. Yet something seemed inviting about Voltage (Dew charged with Raspberry Citrus Flavor and Ginseng) when I spotted it on the shelf, so I picked up a bottle of the stuff which, it seems, won some sort of people's choice competition prior to it's release in late December. Turns out it'd get my vote, and the vote of our tasting panel, too.

While there were groans when I pulled out a neon-blue 2-liter, we were all blown away by this stuff.

Verdict: Voltage is the best Pepsi product I've had in ages. It's sweet and tangy without being cloying. The blue raspberry flavor comes through, but overall its definitely reminiscent of original Dew, which I found reassuring. This is an instant classic. It's almost a shame Pepsi has diluted the Dew brand so much with other oddball flavors, or more people won't try it.

Jay: "The ultimate guilty pleasure pop. I used to drink a lot of Mountain Dew and this tastes like it, especially the aftertaste."

Jonathan: "Wow, that's actually very good."

Jasmine: "Wow. That's good."


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