When it comes to sports drinks, Gatorade is considered the pioneer and market leader in the sports drink marketplace. Late last year, PepsiCo decided to discontinue the sale of the Gatorade Tiger to make room for other new products, and I thought that was the end of a golf sports drinks. That’s isn’t the case. A newcomer to the sports drink came on the beverage scene, with the release of 9 Iron Sports Hydration Drink, marketed at golfers.
9 Iron Sports Hydration Drink
9 Iron isn’t your typical sports drink, because it’s a caffeine free lightly carbonated lemon/lime beverage. 9 Iron was formulated with health and hydration in mind. With about 40% less sugar than traditional carbonated soft drinks (19g of sugar in 9 Iron vs. 27g in Redbull/Coke). So when I received my samples, I was curious to see how it would taste, and if it made me feel revitalized.
Taste
The can of 9 Iron looks a lot like those other energy drinks on the market, like Monster or Redbull, so I was predisposed into thinking it would probably taste like one of those drinks. When you pour 9 Iron into a glass, the first thing you’ll notice is how its almost a neon green in color, which reminded me of Prestone Antifreeze. I’ll be honest, I was little put off by the color and made me wonder if the intent was to drink this straight from the can instead. Or is the color meant to represent the grass on the golf course.
After my glass of 9 Iron stopped fizzing, I gave it a quick smell test and it had a nice lemon/lime scent to it which was quite familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until I tasted it.
The taste can be accurately described as lemon/lime taste of Alka Seltzer, which is kind of flat tasting and not overly sweet. Your tastebuds won’t be overwhelmed by the sweetness and it doesn’t leave a chemical aftertaste, like you find in other energy drinks. I did enjoy the light carbonation of the 9 Iron and think that’s what makes it kind of an interesting approach to sports hydration drinks. And even on their website they talk about using 9 Iron as a drink mixer, like with Vodka to make a drink called a Chipshot.
9 Iron is similar to other sports drinks, because it contains vitamins and electrolytes, but I felt no different after consuming it, than if I had drank a glass of water.
As much as I wanted to like 9 Iron, it really didn’t appeal to me because of the Alka Seltzer lemon/lime flavor. I think that some people, myself included would opt not to drink a can of 9 Iron during my round of golf or post workout. I would rather drink water or a non-carbonated sports drink instead.
9 Iron Sports Hydration Drink is a unique beverage that will appeal to those looking for something different in the sports drink marketplace, without the caffeine and calories (80 calories per serving/160 calories for the whole can). If your up for trying something different, give 9 Iron Sports Hydration Drink a try!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Even though the drink was originally designed with the golfer in mind. Even though the motto was “we get you tuned up not jazzed up”, the largest growing market is the teenage market. The kids consistantly pick the drink over the other hydration drinks as well as energy drinks which don’t taste very good and have an unpleasant after taste.
Restaurants and bars love the product because it can be used as a mixer without side effects( unlike products that have caffeine
in them)
Most people who try 9 Iron once buy it again
I’ve been drinking Nine Iron for the last few months. I feel it helps me conquer the perils of Lake Shawshawney. It work well as a mizer too!
I’ve been drinking Nine Iron for the last few months. I feel it helps me conquer the perils of Lake Shawshawney. It works well as a mixer too!