Versus - Mr. Spice

Review

Versus released a new beverage in their lineup, Mr. Spice, which is their take on the classic Dr. Pepper - a personal childhood favourite of mine. Since the releases of Neon Rush, and Cali Blast, I’m quite excited to see them slowly expand their line-up to include other nostalgic names. That being said, the entire Sundial lineup for me seems to be hit or miss upon release, so I was curious how this one would hold up to the rest. Will this pass the test or be another miss? 

Packaging 4.5/5

This came in a standard sized can, and had one of the black “Can’t Top” CR seals. I was absolutely thrilled that this time around they changed their child-proof packaging and made it much more accessible for those with limited mobility. The logo design itself was very simple, and their choice of similar font to the Dr. Pepper one made it clear what beverage you were drinking. I like the simplicity, but admittedly, it almost got lost in the fridge with all the flashier cans. 

Visual Appeal 5/5

This was a dark, cola-coloured beverage that looked how you would expect it to. I got a ton of foam on the pour with this one that took a minute to settle. It reminded me of an old fashioned root-beer (and made for a pretty picture). 

Aroma/Taste 3.5/5

This was really interesting. The aroma was very heavy, something that reminded me of my Nonna’s amaretto cookies (almond?). The flavour was very heavy of cherry, a little bit of vanilla, and this unfamiliar “spice”. I was a little thrown off by the smell but after reading the ingredient list, I was quickly able to identify that it wasn’t almond, but it was indeed another nut. Versus is using real kola nut extract as opposed to “cola flavouring” that some soft drink companies use. It gave off an intense aroma, which I found pleasant and warm. There was zero cannabis taste, which was great. However, this can was only partially carbonated, and by the time the foam on top settled down the beverage had gone flat. This was disappointing, because the flavour was really good. 

Effects 3/5

I didn't really get any noticeable effects from this one, maybe just feeling a little heavier in the legs than usual. Like always, until Health Canada lets us have some higher dosed beverages, this will be receiving a score of 3 out of 5, or Average.

Overall 16/20 (80%)

This was so close to being a fantastic drink, but Sundial/Valens seem to have a trend of producing flat soda. The flavour was delicious, but I wasn’t too thrilled to drink the entire can because it went flat very quickly. In case you missed the other reviews, I faced the same dilemma with both the Vacay - Sparkling Pink Lemonade as well as the Neon Rush - Cali Blast. I’m starting to wonder if they intend them to be that way so you drink the whole can really quick. It was quite sweet with 38g of sugar, so the lack of carbonation definitely left a syrupy mouthfeel. I hope this formula gets altered, because I’d love to revisit this one in the future. But until the carbonation gets fixed, I won’t be too quick to recommend this one.

Review by Foggy