Spike Shotgun: Review
For all those who like big 16 ounce cans…
The legendary Spike Shooter now has a big brother: Spike Shotgun (currently at biotest.net).
It looks like the blend is similar to Shooter, but the caffeine concentration is less.
SPIKE® Shooter Formula 2,650 mg
- N-acetyl-L-tyrosine
- Beta-alanine
- Caffeine anhydrous
Spike Shotgun contains 350mg caffeine per 16 ounce can (Shooter has 300mg in an 8.4 ounce can).
Review & Taste Test
There is a five-letter word in the Energy Drink market that has caused quite a stir in the past year. Often invoking fear and panic attacks, angry mothers, raised eye-brows and talking that even someone on cocaine would have trouble keeping up with. Some of you might be frivolously counting the letters of your favorite drink, but I assure you, it’s no diablo, rather, something far better.
SPIKE: Shotgun is going to blow you away.
The West Gets Wilder
Before Shotgun I’d never really considered the meaning of Shooter, although I’m starting to see an American-West theme here. Now that I have thought about it though, both names perfectly describe each drink. SPIKE shooters are similar to an Energy Shot, a lot of ingredients condensed into a small amount of fluid meant to be drunk quickly. SPIKE shotguns on the other hand, are less condensed, with slightly less caffeine PER FL. OZ., (21.88 mg/oz VS 35.71) but more caffeine PER BEVERAGE (350mg VS 300) meant to be drunk over a longer period of time (or shotgunned if that’s what you’d prefer).
Opening the new 16 oz. can I was more excited than I have been for quite some time. Let’s just say that if the can had been covered in wrapping paper, Christmas would have some serious competition. I popped the tab, threw my head back in anticipation, and prepared for a double sized dose of SPIKE shooter bitterness…
There is a god people, and apparently he loves SPIKE. Not only does the new Shotgun not taste like complete and total ass. It actually tastes, dare I say, good. Take the old SPIKE flavor, remove that twangy-tart unripe attempt at a berry flavoring, sweeten, water down a tiny bit, and you’re left with something I would be content no, enthralled to drink everyday.
Caffeine Corral
Ingredient-wise, Shotgun has been modified slightly from the original Shooter formula but don’t be too put off. That well known SPIKE wallop is still alive and kicking. The main difference between formulas is the removal of the caffeine alternative Yohimbine (which is also an aphrodisiac) and the addition of the naturally occurring Amino Acid, Beta-Alanine.
Beta-Alanine is not seen often in energy drinks but contributes to decreased-muscular fatigue in athletes and decreased muscular degeneration. Combined, these changes gave a “smoother” feeling energy-buzz that didn’t feel like my nerves were being shredded as the caffeine jumped from cell to cell. My hands didn’t shake (as much) my heart didn’t race (as much) and I didn’t get that nervous feeling in my stomach, at least, not as much.
Yohimbine has strange effects on the nervous system that I can’t say I’m sad to see go away with Shotgun. Then again, there is something unusually kick-ass about flooding an already caffeine saturated body with large amounts of Yohimbine, and that is exactly why SPIKE shooter can never be completely replaced.
12 Gauge and a Magnum
SPIKE shooter’s have been my energy drink of choice since they came out and I have never failed to feel some sort of effect from them.
SPIKE shooter IS the standard for how I judge energy drink effects, and few others are able to come close. The one down side to Shooter is that it can be overwhelming and SPIKE shotgun does a perfect job at filling in for the times I’m tired but don’t want to, or can’t be, ultra wired. Shotgun is starting to trickle in to local liquor stores for around $3 per can but if you get really desperate it can always be purchased in a 24 pack over at Biotest for USD $59. Together, the SPIKE family is shaping up to be the reason for envy at many beverage companies and could easily fill a spot in anyone’s everyday lifestyle.
Overall Score (5/5)
Review by Josh (blog: Cubicalism & Coffee)
5 Comments
Spike changed my life!
I can’t find this. I tried a couple of liquor stores and some GNC’s and vitamin shops. They’ve never even heard of it. Can’t wait to get my hands on one though.
I had quite an experience with Spike Shotgun. Shooters are different, love ‘em. Have them all the time. When I had the Shotgun, I’d already had about half a 24oz bottle of Mountain Dew. Drank the Shotgun in about half an hour. I also smoke cigarettes. Finished the Shotgun, then the rest of the bottle of Dew. It was a VERY interesting next 4 hours. Oh, and this was on an empty stomach.
But I will the agree with the reviewer, Shotgun’s do seem smoother tasting. But I like the Shooter’s too.
i’m right there with tatsumaster. i can’t find shotgun anywhere, and the counter guys at 711 yell at me in some laguage i don’t understand when i ask them about it now. honestly though, i’m kind of sad to see the yohimbine go, i kind of like the almost uncontrollable feeling. the only thing i’ve found to match that jitter without the yohimbine (or at least i can’t find it on the label) is “EndoRush” which i found at GNC. but it doesn’t taste as good as spike..
I believe my comment was something along these lines before is was lost,
“Awesome! My new favorite energy drink”
right.