Monster Energy's Hitman Energy Shot: A Review

Price: $2.50-$3.50

Size: 3 fluid ounces

Availability: Most markets.

Website: http://www.monsterenergy.com

Hansen Energy the owner's of Monster Energy may have been late to the game when it comes to energy shots, but Monster Energy's Hitman may have been worth the wait. The shot is similar to other energy shots like 5 hour energy and Rockstar Energy shots. It is one of the biggest shots available coming in at just around 3 fluid ounces per shooter bottle. The shots also come in a lo-carb version and a smaller more concentrated version. But for this review, I sampled the green Monster Hitman 3 ounce shot.

The Taste:

I'm a bit partial to the taste of Monster Energy, I think it is one of the best tasting energy drinks on the market. So I set the bar high for Hitman in terms of taste. First off, Hitman contains 30 calories, 6g of sugar, and 7 carbs per bottle; according to Monster's website glucose (sugar) is important to energy drink blends. To reference a motto from another beverage they make (Lost Energy): "Calories taste good." So does this theory hold up in shot form?

All energy shot makers struggle to mask the bitterness of caffeine and other energy blend components because unlike the larger energy drink cans, these little shots pack the same if not higher amounts of caffeine in far less liquid.

The shot tastes slightly like the original Monster, no new flavors here, and is bitter and slightly metallic like most energy shots. But the aftertaste is smoother than some other brands, maybe due to the calories, sugar, and carbs. There is a low carb version available but you won't find a Monster energy drink completely devoid of calories and carbs due to the energy blend they use.

The Kick:

Energy shots are supposed to give you a quick boost without the "hassle" of drinking down a whole 8 or 16 ounce can of liquid. Monster's Hitman gives a decent boost and while Monster is one of my favorite brands I have to say that Rockstar Energy's shot delivered a harder hitting caffeine rush. But the sugar did add a bit to what was otherwise an average buzz.

A trade off occurs with Hitman, you get a smoother tasting shot but less of a caffeine jolt. Not to say that Hitman won't get you moving, it kept me with a steady buzz for a few hours. There was a slight crash due to the low amount of sugars in the shot, but nothing to complain about.

Overall:

Energy shots aren't meant to be savored for flavor. They are meant to be shot down in a second or less with little thought to flavor. But Monster develops new flavors all of the time so it isn't surprising that they wanted their shot to taste better than the standard energy shot. If you want off the wall energy, look to energy shots that have 200mg or more of caffeine. But if you want a decent energy buzz that actually tastes alright going down, Hitman is worth a try.