Up Mountain Switchel: Cayenne

The Cayenne variety of Up Mountain Switchel is, as you probably can guess, the spiciest flavor of the lineup. The product starts out with a base of water, organic grade A maple syrup, organic raw apple cider vinegar, and fresh ginger. From there, the company has added cayenne -- and you can definitely taste it. The heat is, at least as far as cayenne-based drinks go, moderate, but it definitely lingers. It’s actually a very nice complement to the sweet and tart flavors that make up the switchel. And even with the cayenne, you can still taste notes of ginger, maple, and apple cider vinegar. The first sip is a bit intense, but it quickly turned into something that we couldn’t put down. That being said, this is definitely a flavor that we could see ourselves reaching for again. On the outside, the product uses a 12 oz. glass jar that is reminiscent of a jar of fruit jelly. Up Mouintain's approach to the label only reinforces this as it definitely does not look like a beverage product. Plus, it’s simply not practical in that the liquid inevitably spills out upon opening and when consuming. Overall, we really love the flavor, but the approach to packaging seems like something that should be reconsidered.