Taylor's Tonics

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Regular; Container: 12 oz Glass
BevNET Review: If you’re someone that still likes to indulge in a carbonated soft drink now and then, but is tired of what the mainstream brands have to offer, then this is probably the product for you. Chai Cola, which, as the name suggests, is a blend of chai tea flavors and cola, is a very unique and well executed product that fits nicely into the super-premium CSD space. The flavors pair together quite well, with the chai flavors making for a smooth segue to the cola flavor. The combined mixture has a complex flavor that’s satisfying to the palate. Notes of cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, clove, ginger, and tea are easily distinguished from the mix. The product has a moderate level of sweetness, provided by evaporated cane juice. Packaging is a 12 oz. bottle, which they’ve decorated with an old-fashioned styled paper label. While old-fashioned isn’t necessarily what comes to mind when we hear Chai Cola, they’ve done a nice job of creating a brand that exudes a sense of high quality formulation. Overall, Taylor’s Tonics’ Chai Cola is certainly a niche product, but we like the fact that the product clearly has a sense of what it wants to be and does it extremely well. Definitely a product worth trying.Reviewed on: 5/13/2010

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Regular; Container: 12 oz Glass
BevNET Review: Taylor’s Tonics’ Mate Mojito is, as the name suggests, a unique CSD that marries the flavors of yerba mate and the classic Cuban cocktail, the mojito. While the sound of it might not whet the appetite, the flavor combination works extremely well together. Using real lime juice, spearmint, and mint flavoring, the product’s mojito flavor is quite accurate (sans rum, of course) and enjoyable. It’s sweetened with evaporated cane juice, but it’s not too sweet, at least in comparison to mainstream carbonated soft drinks. The addition of yerba mate and nettle leaf give the product some “extra zing” (their words, not ours) and adds a slight earthy note. And of course, it adds some natural caffeine to the tune of 40mg per bottle. Packaging has a quality vibey, with a nostalgic look that presents the product as something that’s “craft” as opposed to mass produced. For the type of consumer that’s likely to try a Mate Mojito, we think that’s a great approach and one that they successfully pull off on both the outside and inside of the bottle.Reviewed on: 5/13/2010