Red Bull - Peach Edition Energy Drink - 250 ml

As soon as you pour, you notice what this flavour is about. The peach comes across ripe and round, more like a soft piece of fruit than a sharp sweet. Underneath lies the base note you know from energy drinks, and it frames the fruit instead of getting in its way. The sweetness is clear; it simply belongs to this edition. The peach shows most clearly when the can is properly cold. The warmer it gets, the more the sweetness pushes forward. That is why I prefer to enjoy it in one relaxed go rather than spread over an hour.

To me peach is a summer flavour, and that is exactly how I use this edition. A warm evening on the balcony, the sun already low, friends who only meant to stay for a moment: that is where a cold Peach Edition belongs. At the shisha table on the terrace it is a welcome guest in our group too, because it is fruity without asking for anything. In winter I reach for it less often. On a grey afternoon it still reminds me pleasantly that the next summer is on its way. At a barbecue or a cosy film night it cuts a fine figure as well.

Because the peach comes across sweet and soft, I like to put something fresh or salty beside it. A small bowl of olives sounds unusual at first but works surprisingly well, as do salty crackers or, in summer, a few pieces of watermelon. I would not serve it with creamy desserts; that quickly becomes too much sweetness at once. Grilled chicken with lemon or a light salad with feta, on the other hand, get a lovely contrast from the fruitiness. When several cans are on the table for tasting, a sip of still water in between helps you recognise the peach clearly again.

The Peach Edition is an honest fruit flavour with no false bottom. If you are looking for edges, spices and surprises in your glass, you probably will not find them here. If you like peach and want a drink that makes sense straight away, you are spot on. My tip: try it once straight from the ice-cold can and once in a glass with ice. From the can it feels denser and sweeter, in the glass airier. After that you will know exactly how you like it best and can serve it next time in the way that suits your evening.