CAN DESIGN: Logo design could use some work. First off with soda cans you're often reading vertically so the fancier you make your text the harder it is to read. The BooKoo logo has kind of an Asian-lettering inspired flame look to it and flames are hard to read. The only reason it originally caught my eye was because it was in a shot can, half the size of most normal energy drinks including Red Bull.
CAN DETAILS: 5.75 oz, 80 calories
PRICE: 1.50 per can where I bought it.
WEBSITE: BooKooEnergy.com
The site has one ridiculous page at:
Who We are
The title of the page says: We're Starting A Revolution. And then they quote John Lennon which is really pushing it as far as marketing:

"You say you want a revolution, well, you know...
we all want to change the world"

BooKoo took lines of Lennon's song out of context in order to attempt to make them relevant to the "BooKoo Shot Revolution." It doesn't make any sense. The lyrics are from the song "Revolution" and the Beatles are actually criticizing proponents of Mao's revolution.

So what is BooKoo actually saying here? That their soda revolution is like Mao's horrendous overthrow of China? And then they want to change the world like John Lennon? In the song Lennon seemed to make a distinction between the words "change" and "revolution." You can't have it both ways. Here's two more quotes from the lyrics of the song that are not out of context:

"But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out"

"But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait"

The Beatles' song advocates change in a peaceful manner and through patience. Hardly what I would use to push a caffeine-driven drink. The ad man/woman who came up with this copy is truly an idiot or thinks consumers are idiots. It's pretty insulting to suggest that a new energy drink is equivalent to the thinking of John Lennon to begin with.

TASTE: Good
AFTERTASTE: Nothing Distinct
SUSTAINED EFFECTS: A small boost. The shot claims "double 2x power." What the hell this means I don't know. For there to be 2 times the power you have to have a standard to go by first. What is the power they are talking about? 2 times the caffeine compared to what? Coffee? A regular energy drink? What? A bunch of marketing dribble I would say.
OVERALL: Good

GENERAL COMMENTS: I really like the idea of energy shots and I think BooKoo might do well with this concept. For one, college students are probably going to purchase these before an exam or lecture in order to give themselves a jumpstart. And two, curious buyers may be more willing to try a small 5.75 fluid oz rather than 16 oz.

As I mentioned in my Blak Coke article, Monster Energy and the spawns it created can do a number on my stomach if I drink it all in one sitting or not have enough food in my stomach. The effects can feel like my stomach is being turned inside out in a slow manner. The Boo Koo Shot solves that problem by giving me the taste I like in an energy drink without the temptation of overdoing it. I can't see drinking Monster Energy before "any activity where there's inactivity" such as studying or working at the computer. It makes you jittery and restless. A small dose is all you need. If you're going to involve yourself in a sport it's not going to hurt to down a huge amount of junk energy (yeah, I do think it's bullshit that these drinks are good for you) or even possibly playing an adrenaline-pumping video game where there's pointless violence and mayhem.

As far as taste, both the Citrus and Berry aren't bad but if I had to choose between the two I'd go with the Citrus. My main complaint with this drink, ignoring the stupidity of their website that I mentioned, is again the price. A regular energy drink is around 2.00 and is 16 oz. Here I'm paying BooKoo 1.50 for 5.75 oz.

Hopefully as more energy drinks are added to "The Soda Wars" it will drive the price down. I'd recommend giving this energy drink a try if you like the idea of taking a shot versus consuming a monster.