I can resonate with this one. Being forced to always find the cheapest one for the best quality energy drink (due to medical reasons) I sometimes try new ones.
I definitely have a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with Monster cans. They taste vaguely what the can describes, but it's awful quality for an awful price, so I only try new flavors only once, as so far my regret rate is 100%.
As for smell... it's definitely a mixed bag, but Monster cans do tend to sometimes lean towards the cleaning product territory. The rest (that is, basically everything except Monster) usually smell just energy drink + flavoring.
I also tried theirs, and it's mediocre at best.
I can get infinitely better quality ice coffee from a nation-local (big and well-known) dairy product company for a similar-ish price per volume, and it's better in every aspect.
Tasty tasty floor cleaner. Or urinal cakes. Tropical scented urinal cakes.
Anyway. they do have a unique flavor that really stands out. Part of their brand identity.
They started putting too much sweeteners in their drinks so I can't really stand most of them any more. But the ones I can stand really hit the spot for me.
I really like their Rehab line because it's flat. I don't really like carbonation and all energy drinks have to be carbonated for some reason.
Same reason I love Chinese Red Bull.
Haven't had a chance to try their coffee line, but it's probably like any other coffee in a can, tastes primarily of can.
Thank you for reminding me that I actually have energy drink tablettes
In all seriousness, while they do work like any other fizzy tablette, I think it's as flat as it's going to get. Though I do absolutely support the idea of flat energy drink, I have some last batch of Tesco energy drink, and afaik they were completely flat. I don't want to open it though to check, as I keep them for medical emergency.
I definitely have a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with Monster cans. They taste vaguely what the can describes, but it's awful quality for an awful price, so I only try new flavors only once, as so far my regret rate is 100%.